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2008 YEAR OF CHANGE
by Cyril Josh Barker April 12, 2011 October 19, 2021
Rev. Al Sharpton led a march in Suffolk County after John White was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter for shooting 17-year-old Daniel Cicciaro, Jr.White, a Black man, shot Cicciaro, who is white, after White believed a "lynch mob" was in his front yard to attack his son and rape his wife. The case involving activist Viola Plummer continued. Plummer sued City Council Speaker Christine Quinn after Quinn fired Plummer from her position as Councilmember Charles Barron's chief of staff. The controversy stemmed from Quinn deciding to stop the renaming of four Bed-Stuy blocks after activist Sonny Abubadika Carson. The 2008 presidential race started the year off when Hillary Clinton won New Hampshire in the Democratic primaries over Barack Obama. Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential election.In the quest for justice, the Sean Bell case prepared for trial as lawyers for the three officers charged requested a change of venue, contending that potential jurors in New York City had been bombarded with biased media coverage. The motion was denied and the trial remained in Queens. President George W. Bush announced an economic stimulus package that gave American households between $800 and $1,600 in tax refunds. The state of New Jersey became the fifth state to apologize for slavery. New Jersey governor Jon Corzine vowed to increase tolls in the state by 50 percent every four years to reduce New Jersey's $32 billion debt. Protesters voiced their outrage after an 18-year-old Black youth was beaten and arrested after taking a picture of a New York Police Department officer sleeping on the job in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Reverend Calvin O. Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. Anxiety about a recession lingered as stock markets around the world plunged as a result of the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2007. The nation's oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, celebrated 100 years. A headquarters for Barack Obama opened in Harlem. Sen. Bill Perkins led a march celebrating the opening of the office. The editor of Golfweek Magazine was fired after placing a noose on the magazine's front cover. The display stemmed from a comment made on the Golf Channel by an anchor who said that a "lynch mob" would attack Tiger Woods for dominating in the PGA.
Black History Month was celebrated in its 82nd year. The theme was "Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism." In Westchester an off-duty Black police officer was shot and killed by his own colleagues of the Mount Vernon Police Department. Officer Chris Ridley attempted to arrest a homeless person who had assaulted another man. Officers responding to the incident mistakenly shot Ridley. A judge honored the wishes of the attorney for the three officers charged in the shooting death of Sean Bell to have a bench trial. Rather than having jury rule on the case, Judge Arthur Cooperman was named to oversee the trial. John Edwards dropped out of the presidential race. The New York Giants won Super Bowl XLII, beating the New England Patriots 17-14.The FDA approved the sale of meat from cloned cows, goats and pigs.A march held in Harlem commemorated the 11th anniversary of the police killing of Amadou Diallo. On Super Tuesday Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton in the "Potomac Primaries," taking D.C., Virginia and Maryland. "The Color Purple" ended its run on Broadway after 910 regular performances. At the 50th Grammy Awards Barack Obama won Best Spoken Word Album for his book "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream." Big winners also included Kanye West and Herbie Hancock. Fidel Castro retired as president of Cuba after 49 years. Opening statements began in the Sean Bell trial. Actor Wesley Snipes was found guilty for failing to file income tax and sentenced to three years in prison. The trial of ex-Newark Mayor Sharpe James began. James was charged for embezzlement, bid rigging and ethics violations. Civil Rights Movement pioneer and friend to Rosa Parks, Johnnie Carr died at age 97.
Two Staten Island police officers were charged with first-degree unlawful imprisonment for driving a Black teen into a wooded area and leaving him alone in his underwear after arresting him for throwing eggs on Halloween. Lisa Thornton was sworn in as a judge for the State Superior Court in New Jersey. She is the second Black judge to be named in Monmouth County. Rock drummer Buddy Miles died at age 60.A small bomb exploded at the military recruitment station in Times Square. No injures were reported. New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced he would step down after he was linked to a prostitution ring. Lt. Gov. David Paterson was promoted, making him the state's first Black governor. He also became the first legally blind governor of New York. Barack Obama won the Mississippi primaries. The City Planning Commission approved the 125th Street rezoning. John White of Long Island was sentenced to two to four years in prison for the accidental shooting death of the 17-year-old who he thought was coming to harm his son. Four people were killed and 17 were injured after a construction crane fell on a residential building on the Upper East Side. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer expressed his outrage over Building Department safety. Barack Obama condemned his affiliation with his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The pastor made controversial remarks regarding race that Obama felt would hurt his campaign. Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a plan to reduce traffic congestion in the city by charging an $8 toll for drivers who go below 60th Street in Manhattan. Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was indicted with felony charges that included perjury and obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from Kilpatrick lying on the stand in a court case about his alleged affair with his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty. Their affair was uncovered in a series of text messages they exchanged. H&R Block, along with other tax companies, was investigated by the New York State Human Rights Division. The state agency claimed that the companies, was targeting communities of color to buy overpriced refund anticipation loans during the tax season. Actor and director Ivan Dixon died at age 76.
City Council members voted 30-20 in favor of congestion pricing proposed by Mayor Bloomberg. Joe Guzman, one of the victims injured during the Sean Bell shooting, took the stand as the trial heated up. Rev.Al Sharpton commemorated the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by leading a march in Memphis, Tenn., where King was assassinated. The congestion pricing bill was shot down in the State Assembly, not even making it to the Senate. Harlem advocate Gloria Thomas died at 59. Questions lingered in the City Council, as it was uncovered that millions of dollars over time had been tucked away in a "slush fund." The money was slated for fake city organizations. GM announced it would stop production of some of its large vehicles. The move led to massive layoffs and trouble in the auto industry. Assembly-member Diane Gordon lost her political seat after she was convicted of charges that included bribery. Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James was found guilty on federal corruption charges that included fraud and tax evasion. The waiting game for a verdict began as the Sean Bell trial reached an end. The city agreed to pay $21 million to Black and Latino employees who filed a class-action lawsuit against the Parks Department for discriminatory practices. Protesters made a human chain on 125th Street in outrage over the city's plan to rezone the historic thoroughfare. Pope Benedict XVI made his first visit to the United States. The Pope held a mass in Yankee Stadium for an audience of 57,000 and visited the World Trade Center site. Laurence Fishburn returned to Broadway in the one-man show "Thurgood" about the U.S. Supreme Court's first Black judge. A group of Jewish men attacked a Black man after he and a Jewish man exchanged aggressive stares in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The incident re-ignited racial tension in the neighborhood between Blacks and Hasidic Jews. Former school principal and wife of City Councilmember Charles Barron, Inez Barron, declared her candidacy for New York State Assembly after disgraced Assemblymember Diane Gordon left the seat vacant. Florida became the sixth state to apologize for slavery. The officers charged in the killing of Sean Bell, Giscard Isnora, Michael Oliver and Michael Cooer, were acquitted on all charges. Judge Arthur Cooperman ruled the verdict in a bench trial.
In response to the Sean Bell verdict, Congressmembers from around the country came to New York to discuss possible federal government involvement in the case. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers led a town hall meeting with testimonies from Al Sharpton, NAACP New York State President Hazel Dukes and others. Barack Obama won the North Carolina and Oregon Democratic primaries. The city's highest ranking Black police chief, Douglas Zeigler, became a victim of racial profiling when he was mistakenly stopped at gunpoint and ordered to get out of his vehicle by two white officers. Zeigler served as the head of Community Affairs Bureau. In response to the Sean Bell verdict, Rev. Al Sharpton led a citywide protest where thousands of citizens participated in an act of civil disobedience. Protesters attempted to slow down rush-hour traffic by blocking bridges. Hundreds of people were arrested, including Sharpton himself, Councilmember Charles Barron and Rev. Herbert Daughtry. Benjamin Jealous was tapped to be the new president of the NAACP and became the youngest person to ever lead the organization at age 35. Gov. David Paterson signed a bill that made displaying a noose in New York State a Class E felony. Four police officers in Philadelphia were fired after kicking and dragging three Black male suspects after a high-speed chase. TV news cameras caught the incident. Racial tensions rose in Crown Heights as a slew of incidents occurred between Blacks and Hasidic Jews.
The Brooklyn Bridge celebrated 125 years. Gov. David Paterson pardoned Slick Rick. Blues icon Bo Diddley died at age 79. Barack Obama took the first step toward history when he secured the 2008 U.S. Democratic Party presidential nomination. He became the first African-American presumptive presidential candidate for a major political party. As summer got into full swing, a spike in violent crimes riddled the city, including shootings. Hotspots included Harlem, Crown Heights and Far Rockaway. Sharpton led a march in Harlem to bring awareness about the problem. Jazz organist Jimmy McGriff died at age 72 in New Jersey. The NYPD announced that officers would carry Taser guns on their belts. Former Assemblymember Diane Gordon was sentenced to two to six years in prison for felony bribe taking, along with other charges. Mayor Michael Bloomberg attempted to close Off-Track Betting, which would have left 1,500 people jobless. Gov. Paterson stepped in and announced that the state would assume both assets and liabilities of OTB. At the 62nd Annual Tony Awards, "In the Heights" earned eight awards, including Best Musical. "Passing Strange" won Best Book of a Musical. Journalist Tim Russert died at age 58. Brooklyn-born David Paterson completed his first 100 days as governor of the State of New York. Columbia University professor Madonna Constantine was fired for alleged plagiarism. Constantine previously made headlines in 2007 after a noose was found on her office door. Radio personality Don Imus was under fire again for making racial comments about a Black NFL player being arrested.
The City Council passed a $59 billion budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The budget received harsh criticism because of city programs that got cuts, including summer youth jobs, senior services and the closing of several community centers. As a result of budget cuts in the city, crime began to increase among youth who had more free time in the summer. Several shootings took place across the city and a large number of those killed were teenagers. CNN premiered its documentary "Black in America" with mixed reviews. Sharpton threatened to disrupt the 2008 MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium by holding another civil disobedience protest but cancelled. A Brooklyn judge dropped the case against Black attorneys Michael and Evelyn Warren. The Warrens became victims of police brutality in June 2007 when they were assaulted and arrested in Brooklyn by an officer after they tried to stop police officers from beating a man. The AFL-CIO endorsed Barack Obama. NFL player for the San Diego Chargers, Terrence Kiel, was killed in a car crash at age 28.Gov.David Paterson appointed Paul T. Williams to head the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. Williams was the former president of One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York City. The Grace Tabernacle Christian Center and the church community were put in a state of shock and sadness following news that the Rev. Timothy Wright, his wife Betty and 14-year-old grandson D.J. got into a car accident. Timothy Wright survived the accident with serious injuries but his grandson and beloved wife died in the crash. Esmin Green, 49, died on the floor of Kings County Hospital after she was left unattended for 24 hours. The incident was caught on security cameras and her family sued the hospital for $25 million. Public relations icon Patricia L. Tobin died at age 65. Mayor Michael Bloomberg reformulated the standard for poverty in the city. To be classified as poverty-stricken, a family of four had to make less than $26,138 annually. This raised the poverty rate in the city by 23 percent. The NAACP held its 99th annual convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Barack Obama addressed the delegates in the convention. A grand jury decided not to indict NYPD Officer Sean Sawyer for the shooting death of Jayson Tirado. Sawyer, who was off-duty, shot Tirado, claiming self-defense during a road rage incident. Reports surfaced that longtime Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel had more than one rent-stabilized apartment in Lennox Terrance. He was using one of the apartments as a campaign office and later gave it up. National Black Theater executive director Barbara Ann Teer died at age 71. Her funeral and processional attracted thousands of mourners. Two white NYPD officers from the 25th Precinct allegedly put a Black baby doll head on their car's antenna and drove around Harlem, vexing the community. A man who attempted to take a picture of the doll head with his camera phone said the officers snatched off the doll head before he could take the picture. Actor and dancer Andrea Edwin Smith died at age 41.
Ex-Newark Mayor Sharpe James was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Harlem business owner Sikulu Shange was evicted from his store, the Record Shack, after nearly 40 years in business. The United House of Prayer for All People, the building's owner, did not renew his lease. The 2008 Summer Olympic Games took place in Beijing, China. The United States won 36 gold medals. Sharpton appeared in court on charges for his civil disobedience protest after the Sean Bell verdict. Nelson Mandela turned 90.The 34th annual Harlem Week was held. Jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin died at age 80. Harlem double-dutch league founder David Walker died. Police shot and killed 20-year-old Darryl Battle in his Brooklyn home. Officers claimed they felt they were in danger when Battle allegedly threatened them with a kitchen knife. Monsignor Wallace Harris was removed from his position after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused two minors 20 years ago. Longtime activist Marquez Claxton announced that he would run for City Council in 2009 for the 31st District in Queens. Gov. David Paterson announced that the state would cut funding for his new $2.6 billion savings plan if passed by the Legislature. The governor aimed to reduce spending on Medicaid, and raise tuition for CUNY and SUNY students. In a tragic weekend, soul legend Isaac Hayes, 65, and comedian Bernie Mack, 50, died within one day of each other's passing. The city of Detroit called for disgraced Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to resign after he violated his probation. Former City Councilmember Stanley
E. Michaels died at age 75.The Democratic National Convention was held in Denver, Colo. Barack Obama and Joe Biden were declared the Democratic president and vice president nominees. Four white men were arrested in Denver for allegedly plotting an assassination against Obama. The third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina was commemorated. The second annual African Day Parade brought out thousands of spectators in Harlem. Venus and Serena Williams won both of their matches at the U.S. Open. Hurricanes Gustav and Hannah caused 628 deaths in the United States, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Hurricane Ike caused devastation and 107 deaths in the United States, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. As Election Day neared, qualified voters scrambled to register. A record number of Black people and first-time voters registered. Brooklyn celebrated the 41st annual West Indian Day Parade. Thousands of New Yorkers participated in the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure in Central Park, including staffers from the New York Amsterdam News. The three-mile walk/run supported breast cancer research. Voters turned out to cast their ballots in local primary elections that included congressional, Senate and Assembly positions. Victorious wins included Inez Barron, Ed Towns, Kevin Parker and William Boyland. Americans paused to remember those who lost their lives on the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Reports surfaced that Rep. Charlie Rangel failed to report income from a rental property in the Dominican Republic. Rangel owned up to his mistake and agreed to pay back taxes. Calls for Rangel to give up his congressional seat did not faze him, as he was also the chairman of the House of Ways and Means Committee. Disgraced Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick resigned after pleading guilty to two felony charges and admitted to lying under oath. As a result, he was sentenced to four months in prison. Crisis began on Wall Street when Barclays announced it would buy the struggling global financial services firm Lehman Brothers for $2 billion after the federal government denied a bailout. The move saved 9,000 jobs but was the start of a major financial meltdown in America. The U.S. government bailed out mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an effort to save the housing market. The U.S. Senate passed the Till Bill, named after the 1955 murder victim Emmett Till. The bill established a cold case unit with the Justice Department to open up unsolved crimes during the civil rights era. Ex-Newark Mayor Sharpe James reported to prison to begin his two-year sentence. As a result of the Wall Street meltdown, Mayor Bloomberg announced, the city agencies would have to cut $500 million from their budgets. The 39th annual African-American Day Parade was celebrated in Harlem. However, festivities were tainted when the NYPD clashed with the New Black Panther Party along the parade route. The outburst caused several arrests. Harlem Hospital broke ground on a new patient pavilion. The $319 million project is scheduled for completion by 2011. Motown song-writer and record producer Norman Whitfield died at age 67. Journalist Nancy Hicks Maynard died at age 61.
Mayor Bloomberg announced that he wanted to extend term limits. The economic crisis motivated him to propose the idea because of his expertise in finances. The idea outraged several politicians while many supported him. At the same time, Bloomberg started a campaign to keep city schools under his control. President George W. Bush created a $700 billion Treasury fund to purchase failing bank assets when he signed the revised Emergency Economic Stabilization Act into law. Police killed 35-year-old Inman Morales after he climbed the ledge of his building. In an effort to get him down, officers Tasered the mentally disturbed man, stunning him and causing him to fall to his death. Barack Obama and John McCain met for their final debate at Hofstra University. Women's and children's advocate Elinor Guggenheimer died at age 96. Sharpton and nine other people were found guilty for their participation in the civil disobedience protest in reaction to the Sean Bell verdict. Sharpton and the others were sentenced to time served and fined $95.Comedian Rudy Ray Moore died at age 81. New York State reached its voter registration deadline. The Rev. Al Sharpton turned 54. In Chicago, Minister Louis Farrakhan commemorated the 13th anniversary of the Million Man March. Collin Powell endorsed Barack Obama. Two white men in Texas allegedly tied up 24-year-old Brandon McClelland, a Black man, and dragged his body attached to the back of their truck. Police found his body mutilated and dismembered. Scandal broke out when the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) became the root of an alleged voter registration scam. Investigators claimed the organization filled out phony voter registration forms. Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs died at age 72. Tragedy hit Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson when her mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot and killed in Chicago. Police named Hudson's brother-in-law, William Balfour, as a prime suspect.
Brooklyn resident Michael Mineo claimed that he was sodomized when three NYPD officers assaulted him after he was caught smoking marijuana in a subway station. The officers pled not guilty when they were indicted by a grand jury. Mineo's medical records, along with witness accounts, proved an attack took place. Gov. Paterson broke the news to New Yorkers that the Wall Street crisis had caused the state to go into the largest budget deficit in history. The state faced a $1.5 billion shortfall for the current fiscal year. The City Council passed a bill that extended term limits to three terms in a 29-22 vote. City Comptroller Bill Thompson states the he will definetly run for mayor. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York held the 23rd annual Minority, Women and Small Business Conference in Albany. The theme was "Making the Right Connections … A Networking Event." Writer and journalist Clayton Riley died at age 73. Barack Obama made history when he was elected America's 44th–and the first Black–president of the United States. Revelers took to the streets in celebration on election night across the city and nation after flooding the polls. On the state level, Inez Barron won State Assembly for the 40th District and Rep. Charlie Rangel was re-elected. The Amsterdam News sold a record number of its Election Day newspaper. The MTA announced plans to increase fares in 2009. The proposed fare would increase a single ride from $2 to $2.25. The NYPD shot 21-year-old Dwayne David and 22-year-old Keyshawn Forde in Brooklyn. Officers claimed the two aimed guns at them after hearing gunshots when a club let out. Witnesses reported not seeing any weapons on the two men. Political consultant and education lobbyist Terence Tolbert died at age 44. Miriam Makeba, better known as "Mama Africa," died at age 74. Michelle and President-elect Barack Obama prepared for their transition to the White House when they met with President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in Washington. The New York Urban League hosted the 22nd annual HBCU Fair at Riverbank State Park. The event drew thousands of high school students from the tri-state area. The U.S. Senate held a hearing on the automotive crisis. The heads of Chrysler, Ford and GM explained why they needed $25 billion to avoid bankruptcy. President- elect Barack Obama began making cabinet appointments. The FDNY mourned the death of probationary firefighter Jamel M. Sears, 33, who died after collapsing during a training exercise. Sharpton led a march and candlelight vigil for the two-year anniversary of the police killing of Sean Bell. Lawyers and family members met with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District in hopes of bringing federal civil rights charges against the NYPD. Abyssinian Baptist Church celebrated its 200th anniversary. Harlem celebrated the 100th birthday of the late Adam Clayton Powell. Harlem youth mentor Cynthia Kirkpatrick died at age 42.The New York City Coalition Against Hunger reported that 1.3 million New Yorkers, including 400,000 children, suffered from hunger. The report also revealed a higher demand for food pantries and soup kitchens because of the dwindling economy. Terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, killed 164 people and injured 250. Hip-hop artist MC Breed died at age 37. New York Giants player Plaxico Burress was charged with criminal possession of a handgun after he shot himself in the leg in a Manhattan nightclub. Riots in Jos, Nigeria, killed 381 and injured 300.
In the stock market, the Dow dropped 680 points, the fourth worst drop in history. Folk singer and civil rights activist Odetta died at age 78. President-elect Barack Obama appointed former rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. Gov. David Paterson must choose a replacement to fill her seat in the Senate. Several candidates, including Carolyn Kennedy, were suggested for the job. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested by the FBI for allegations of "pay for play" for Obama's vacant senate seat to the highest bidder. Rioting broke out across Greece after police killed a 15- year-old boy. MTA bus driver Edwin Thomas was stabbed to death after he refused to give a passenger a transfer in Brooklyn. Assemblymember-elect Inez Barron held two community inauguration ceremonies. The NYPD announced that new recruits were being trained to use M4 machine guns in response to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. In an exclusive interview with the Amsterdam News, police spokesperson Paul Brown said that, despite reports, new recruits would definitely not be getting the machine guns for New Year's Eve patrol. The third annual Big Apple Classic took place at Madison Square Garden. The officer convicted in the 1997 torture of Abner Louima, Justin Volpe, wanted President Bush to give him a pardon or reduce his 30-year prison sentence. To deal with the state's $15 billion deficit, Gov. Paterson informed New Yorkers that he will tax things like beer, sugary sodas, movie tickets and even music downloads. Bronx Borough President Aldofo Carrion was tapped by President-elect Barack Obama to head the White House Office of Urban Policy. An Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at President Bush during a press conference in Iraq. Mayor Bloomberg announced that city services and 500 city jobs would be cut to help New York City's budget problem. The FDNY and NYPD were slated to get a reduction in services that included a reduced police academy intake and eliminating some firehouses' overnight operations. President Bush announced that he approved a bailout plan that would give GM and Chrysler $17.4 billion. Singer and actress Eartha Kitt died on Christmas Day at age 81.
Activists call on Gov to pardon John White
People's pastor, Herbert Daughtry, hailed in Brooklyn


A favorite of Japanese anglers, the Jackall Darts Hog, has recently debuted in the United States and the reception has been amazing. Released in early 2014, this bait seems to have developed the same level of devotion among American fisherman that it had among their Japanese counterparts. The consensus is that when it comes to hunting for bass in murkier water, you need look no further than a Darts Hog.
While we at Fishingurus.com offer a wide range of what we would call 'Jig Accessories,' we also want these accessories to function greatly even without combining. Jackall never disappoints us when it comes to creating artificial baits that not only look like but also act like what they are meant to be imitating. The Darts Hog excels at not only mirroring the crawfish 'look' but also how the crawfish would move.
If imitation were the sincerest form of flattery, the Jackall Darts Hog would make any crawfish blush. The way that Jackall designed the Darts Hog is to have a lighter, sloped tail that moves in one of two ways that a crawfish tail can move. This gives the fisherman using it the ability to adjust their technique depending on the changing environment.
For example, if you are targeting bottom dwelling fish, a quick jerk from the rod will simulate a 'hopping' motion that makes the tail stick upwards every time the lure drops. This usually looks like a defensive crawfish that is wounded and cannot reach cover quickly. When targeting almost anywhere that is not the bottom, reeling in the line quickly and consistently creates a wavy effect in the tail that attracts the more predatory fish.
It is not lost on us here at Fishingurus.com that we would not be able to what we do if there wasn't such a large and dedicated community surrounding this fantastic sport. We also realize that we have a responsibility to do our best at providing our customers with lures that will last the test of time and are not toxic to the fish. The Jackall Darts Hog is a product that we look to as an example of what this means because these lures are hand poured to ensure that they function as they are supposed to and are biodegradable so that losing a lure doesn't result in a polluting effect.


From 1/13/17 through 1/23/17 I did not work. I was told there wasn't work available. I wasn't given a date to return until 1/23. I filed an unemployment benefits claim with the Texas Workforce Commission on 1/15/17. I returned to work on 1/24/17. On 1/25/17 I arrived late to work and was immediately fired. I have continued to make payment requests with TWC. TWC is treating the two separations as one claim, filed 1/15/17(my account only shows the one claim) After a few weeks I received a notification that my claim had been approved. In the notice, the claim investigator made a note that a single incident of tardiness was not misconduct. On 2/14/17 my former employer filed an appeal with TWC. Yesterday, 03/01/17 I received two packets about their decision. In both packets are records of phone interviews that TWC conducted with me and my former employer separately. My former employer made several false statements about me being habitually late and verbal warnings being issued. They also falsely claimed that in the past I had always called in to notify them if I was running late. I must clarify that I had one supervisor, and he is the one that made the false statements.
Jan.25,2017 was the first and only time I had been late so the warnings and the claim that I would notify him if running late are not true. I searched my phone records and found two days where I spoke with my supervisor before 7:00am. On one of those days he called me. On the other day I called him to receive work location orders. I worked for this company from 07/12/16 through 01/25/17. My appeal hearing is scheduled for 03/13/17. The only documents I can think of that might help my case are my phone records and maybe some daily invoices. I believe my former employer will be better prepared for the hearing than myself alone. That is why I am seriously considering hiring an attorney to assist me. If I lose the appeal I will have to payback the money I have received so far. I'm also angry and frustrated by the fact that false accusations are being made against me. In my line of work, reputation very important. It takes years to develop work relationships. I can't afford to be smeared by lies. That's true for anyone. I know this description is long. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
You seem to have a pretty good grasp of the case at hand.
I would request that a subpoena be issued by TWC for all of your time records from the employer. I would print out your phone records and provide them the the TWC as well.
When the time for the hearing rolls around anger will not help you. Facts and written proof will.
Thank you for the suggestion about the time records. I agree about anger not helping at the hearing.


A full draft agenda is available at the above web link. We received over 50 abstract submissions this year, so the agenda was jam packed with inspiring best practices. With nearly 300 delegates, the Ontario Bike Summit continues to be the largest annual gathering of active transportation professionals in Ontario.


Computer glasses are ideal for medium-distance work, e.g. computer work.
For those who need excellent continuous vison and comfort for desk and computer work but who also need to maintain ability to see at longer ranges while doing their work we can offer more sophisticated degressive lenses.


First of all, I just want to wish ALL of my sweet Canadians friends a "HAPPY THANKSGIVING" today! You are LUCKY Thanksgiving comes early! I LOVE Thanksgiving but ours isn't until November 24th!
Good Morning Miss Emma. it's great that your boys are off of School for a week but sorry that Anthony has to have surgery and know how hard it is on a mom when her kiddo has to go thru something like this. So keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. No thoughts about posting after all being with your kiddos while they are off of school and just hanging out and enjoying time together is where you need to be. Take good care and again...sending Loving thoughts your way!!
Hi Emma enjoys those moments with your boys because as you know they grown up so quickly. Praying for a successful, full and speedy recovery!
Emma, enjoy your time with your boys. I know you love having them home with you. Blessings to Anthony through his surgery. Have a fantastic week.
Awe no worries Emma! You take all the time you can get with the boys because it goes by so fast! I will be saying prayers for Anthony!
What a great layout Miss Kim had! She knew just what to add to give her page more interest. The border springy stamps were a perfect embellishment I think. I do hope all goes well for Anthony and he will heal up quickly. Have a good week with the boys.
Beautiful layout! Good luck to Anthony this week! Will keep him in my prayers. Hugs!
Hope everything goes well for Anthony.
went smoothly. Praying his will too.


This post is sponsored by Wayfair. All opinions are 100% my own.
Your entryway–no matter how small–is the first impression of your home. Today I'm sharing 7 easy, practical things you can do to create an organized entryway and make the most of your space no matter its size.
When you set out to make over a space, always begin by considering the functions it needs to serve. Most modest-sized homes don't devote a lot of square footage to the entryway, yet it's a space that demands hardworking storage and systems. No matter how big or small your entryway is, there are a few basic things you can incorporate that will help you create a clutter-free, organized entryway.
I shared all of the pretty photos and fun before and afters of our Modern Navy Small Entryway Makeover last week and am so glad you all love it as much as I do! I'm back today to really break down the more functional things I used to make sure this little area not only looks stylish but is also packed with things that will keep our family organized.
Our entryway is basically a small hallway. Both the front door and the garage door open up into this room, making it a high-traffic area and the first impression people see when they walk in the door.
Although I really only had one itty bitty wall to work with, I knew that with a little planning I could incorporate some features that would make this space pretty while improving the way this space functions.
No matter how big or small your entryway is, it's important to stand back and evaluate what types of organization you can add that will help keep your home organized. The good news is you don't have to sacrifice style for function! There are so many easy ways to create organized systems in an entryway that are super functional and also look really nice.
Today I'm highlighting 7 simple and practical things you can do to create an organized entryway!
Adding a console table, small table or even a shelf (if your entry is super tiny) is an excellent way to improve the way your entryway functions. Having a surface for dropping keys and mail will help keep things organized and off of the floor.
You may remember a while ago that I was shopping for the perfect console table for our small entryway. Since our entry is basically a narrow hallway, I needed something slim and ended up falling in love with the Brandy Entry Console Table from Wayfair. Isn't it pretty? The faux marble top looks remarkably realistic and the wood is such a pretty color. Shop more console tables at Wayfair.com.
Wayfair sells a lot of pretty console tables with drawers or doors that I initially thought would be the best since they would give me even more storage, but I ultimately decided to choose a console table that's more open. Since you see the side of this table when you walk in the front door, I thought a more open table would keep things light and from feeling too cramped in this small area.
Plus, it's always a good idea to add more storage space if you need it but when I really thought about it, I decided our coat closet offers enough closed storage for us. Sometimes adding storage space you don't really need just encourages you to hoard clutter.
Shopping Tip: When you are shopping for a table for your organized entryway, first measure your space so you have an idea of what size table will fit. I opted for a more open console table that can hold baskets and bins on the bottle shelf. There are also tons of table options with drawers, doors and smaller shelves that will give you even more storage space.
Every entryway should have a designated spot for keys and other odds and ends! If you get in the habit of always dropping your keys in a bowl or hanging them on little hooks right when you walk in the door, you will avoid the panic that ensues when you are rushing to leave and madly searching for your keys.
I love to set out a pretty bowl on the table for everyone to drop their keys in. Pretty bowls are easy to find and fun to switch out with the season. The bowl on our table holds our car keys and is also a great catch-all for loose change and other little things.
Shopping Tip: Look beyond organizers specifically designed for keys! You can find cute key hooks but also look for decorative bowls in the kitchen and household sections.
Every entryway should have at least a few hooks on the wall. These make it easy to hang up jackets, scarves, hats, backpacks, and purses so you can prevent them from piling up on the floor or a chair. Even if you have a coat closet, I think adding a few hooks are perfect for guests and give you a convenient spot if you're in a rush and don't want to bother with a coat hanger.
We are fortunate to have a nice coat closet in our entryway, but I still thought it was important to incorporate a few hooks. I hung some decorative hooks on our entry wall that look pretty but are also super functional.
Shopping Tip: Choose decorative hooks that look pretty but are also super functional! Hooks can be purchased individually or you may want a hook bar for even more storage space. Consider over-the-door hooks for the inside of a coat closet door or add a couple small hooks to the back of your front door if you're really tight on space.
Seasonal items like hats and gloves can quickly clutter up a small entryway. Storing them inside a decorative box or basket is a great way to hide the clutter but still keep them easily accessible. Add a pretty label to your storage box or basket to make things look even more organized and stylish.
Think beyond cold weather items, too! Our storage box is a great place to corral winter items, but it's also perfect for stashing things like umbrellas and sunscreen in the summer.
Shopping Tip: Look for pretty storage boxes with lids to keep clutter out of sight. Having a lid also makes it easy to stack other things on top of it!
If you are a family that tends to pile shoes by the door, consider designating a space for them so they don't end up strewn all over the entryway floor. If you have room for a small bench, you can tuck your everyday shoes under it or potentially find a bench with built-in storage. Otherwise, a large basket makes a great drop zone for shoes!
I added a basket to the bottom shelf of our console table that is the perfect place to stash a few pairs of shoes. Tucking a decorative throw pillow or blanket in the basket is a great way to add something pretty and conceal your stash of shoes underneath.
Shopping Tip: Shop for a small bench that can store shoes if you have the room. Otherwise, a large basket or crate is a great place to stash shoes.
One item that you may not think to add to your entryway is a basket or bin to hold outgoing items. Whether you have library books, store returns or items borrowed from friends, it's helpful to have a central place to store those things so you remember to grab them on your way out the door.
I added a medium sized wire basket to the bottom of our console table that is decorative and the perfect spot for outgoing items.
Shopping Tip: Shop for a medium sized basket or wooden crate that's decorative so it can be left out in your entryway.
If you have room in your entryway, a stool, chair or bench gives you a place to sit and put on your shoes when you're coming and going.
Our entryway is too narrow for much seating, but I added a small ottoman near our console table that makes a great impromptu seat or a place to drop bags when we come in the door.
Shopping Tip: Measure your entryway and shop for seating that fits your space. Trying to cram a too-large piece of furniture into your entry will make it feel smaller. A small stool or ottoman is a great way to add seating without taking up much space. If your console table is open on the bottom, you could even tuck a stool underneath the table when not in use.
Which items are you going to use in your organized entryway? Is there anything you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments!
Shop for all of your entryway organization needs at Wayfair.com (they have such a huge selection of great organizing products and entry furniture!).
See product sources and more photos of our Modern Navy Small Entryway Makeover in this post.
You can also catch up on all of the real-time updates from our entryway makeover by watching the highlights in my Instagram stories!
Planning your own room makeover?
I created a free Home Project Planner to help you plan everything from your ideas and budget to your project tasks and shopping list. Download the FREE Home Project Planner here.
« Design Plans For Our Front Room – Which Option Should I Choose?
I love your entryway makeover and the color is beautiful. I would love to incorporate your ideas, but right now I am living in a rv so there is not much space, but maybe eventually. Thank you for sharing.
I'm so glad you like the makeover, Robin! Check out the DIY Mommy blog/Youtube for inspiration for decorating an RV. Hers is super pretty inside!


Rldona Goldstock is the commissioner of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor. He is on the faculties of Cornell, Columbia and New York University law schools and is the former director of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force.
SIGNIFICANT elements of the pervasive corruption, extortion, racketeering and organized crime that reigned in the Port of New York and New Jersey in the Fifities, as accurately dramatized in the film "On the Waterfront," remain today.
The mob – exiled from various other industries – effectively sees the port as the last realm in which it can exert a dominant influence.
The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor was created in 1953 to investigate, deter, combat and remedy criminal activity and influence in the port and to ensure fair hiring and employment practices.
Two weeks ago, Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, introduced a bill to abolish the commission, eliminating its key powers – which included ensuring a diverse workforce – and transferring its responsibilities to the Port Authority. A second bill was introduced by the senator establishing gubernatorial oversight of the commission.
The proposed measures are premised on the simplistic notion that changes in the industry have obviated the need to drive out organized crime influence. The legislation suggests that the commission is justifying its own existence through fear-mongering and that it has become an impediment to future job growth and prosperity at the port.
If passed, this legislation will effectively ensure that the Cosa Nostra families will continue to exert criminal control over the waterfront.


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Submissions and Resolutions
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Trade Clippings October 2020
Dear Members of the CBA International Law Section, here are the international trade and investment articles and publications of interest for the month of October 2020.This month's edition has been prepared by Ewa Gosal. Ewa is the Secretary of the Section Executive.
Election 2020: For Canada, stakes go beyond trade Freight Waves (October 30, 2020)
Despite starkly different approaches to international trade and foreign relations, the implications of a Biden administration or four more years of Trump may not be as significant for Canada.
"They are both pretty protectionist, so I don't think it's going to make a big difference for Canada there," Barry Prentice, a professor of supply chain management at the University of Manitoba, said, noting said, noting that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ultimately provides the basis for how the U.S. and Canada trade with each other.
But looking beyond trade policy, Prentice said the election outcome could affect Canada and its Canada transportation and logistics sector in terms of how the next president and Congress handle the recovery from COVID-19.
Early U.K.-Canada trade deal prospects not looking good The Western Producer (October 29, 2020)
The United Kingdom was no longer be included in Canada's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union as of January 1, 2020, and the two countries have been hoping to reach their own deal.
While the U.K. says trade talks with Canada have begun, opposition MPs like Gray contend Ng and the Liberal government are not transparent about the status of negotiations.
Earlier this year, the governing Liberals agreed to inform parliamentarians of any negotiations it enters into within 90 days, but by mid-October, no notification had been made.
Moon requests Canada's backing for S. Korea in WTO chief race The Korea Herald (October 27, 2020)
President Moon Jae-in had spoke with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday as part of efforts to broaden international support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's candidacy to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Late PCT national phase entry in Canada as of right will soon come to an end International Law Office (October 26, 2020)
Substantial amendments to the Patent Act and new Patent Rules came into force on 30 October 2019 (for further details please see "Detailed overview of deadlines and requirements under new Patent Rules" and "New Patent Rules in force").
A significant change concerns the deadline for entering the Canadian national phase of a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application. Historically, a PCT application could enter the Canadian national phase up to 42 months from the earliest priority date as a matter of right, provided that a C$200 late fee was paid if national phase entry occurred more than 30 months from the earliest priority date.
Landmark settlement is a message to Canadian companies extracting resources overseas: Amnesty International CBC (October 23, 2020)
A human rights lawsuit alleging slavery and torture has been settled outside of court with a Canadian mining company for an undisclosed amount, according to Amnesty International.
In February 2020 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the case could be heard in B.C. despite the fact it involved events in Africa.
The terms of the settlement remain confidential but human rights advocates say the outcome of this legal proceeding will resonate.
U.S. encourages Canada to hit China with sanctions over Uyghurs The Globe and Mail (October 22, 2020)
The Trump administration is lauding Canadian MPs for condemning China's brutal persecution of largely Muslim minorities as "genocide," and is encouraging Ottawa to join Washington in imposing sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for the repression.
Dairy farmers demand compensation amid pandemic, citing new losses due to CUSMA The Canadian Press (October 20, 2020)
Canadian dairy farmers are demanding compensation from the Canadian government because of losses to their industry they say have been caused by a series of international trade deals.
Canada may not slap anti-dumping taxes on Vietnamese corrosion-resistant steel VN Explorer (October 20, 2020)
The Canada Border Services Agency on October 16 made a final decision on the anti-dumping and countervailing investigation of certain corrosion-resistant steel (COR) sheets imported from several countries, including Vietnam.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is continuing its inquiry into the question of injury to the domestic industry, and will make a finding on November 16. If there is no injury or threat of injury established, Canada will not levy anti-dumping tariffs on Vietnamese COR steel, among other countries
Environmental impacts of free trade deal with Brazil ignored by review, advocates say Yorkton This Week (October 19, 2020)
A federal environmental assessment of a proposed trade deal between Canada and the Mercosur countries ignores major environmental and human rights violations in Brazil, environmental advocates say.
The assessment, which was released last week, is a standard part of trade deal negotiations meant to flag any proposed environmental issues that could arise from increased trade. Focused largely on potential impacts in Canada, it makes scant mention of devastating deforestation and fires in the Brazilian Amazon driven by cattle ranching and soy production.
Canada Casts a Wider Sanctions Net Over Belarus McCarthy Tetrault (October 19, 2020)
Earlier this month, Canada and the United Kingdom had announced the coordinated implementation of a first set of targeted sanctions against Belarus, imposed in response to what Canada has called "gross and systemic human rights violations" committed by the government of Belarus.
The Regulations create what is commonly referred to as an "asset freeze" by prohibiting any person in Canada, and any Canadian outside of Canada, from "dealing in" any property owned, held or controlled by, or providing any financial or related services to or for the benefit of, persons listed in the Schedule to the Regulations. Canadians are also prohibited from making "any goods available" to a listed person, or to a person acting on behalf of a listed person. In related regulatory action, those same individuals are also inadmissible to Canada under our immigration and refugee laws
Turks accuse Canada of 'double standard' in freezing military exports to Turkey but not Saudi Arabia The Globe and Mail (October 6, 2020)
The Turkish government is accusing Canada of practicing "double standard" in freezing exports of military-grade target acquisition gear to the Turks while continuing to allow shipments of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia.
Ankara is also alleging that Canada is failing in its duty to help a fellow member of the NATO military alliance.
Turkey was responding to the Canadian government's announcement that it was suspending permits enabling the export of made-in-Canada targeting and imaging systems that is at the centre of allegations that Azerbaijan is using Turkish-made drones to attack Armenia.
Blueberries could be next in line for U.S. tariffs The Star (October 6, 2020)
Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce requested the country's International Trade Commission investigate whether imported blueberries are seriously harming American producers. It's an unprecedented move that could hit B.C. hard: blueberries are B.C.'s third-largest export and close to 95 per cent of them are sold in the U.S.
NFI's Robert DeHaan Testifies Before U.S. International Trade Commission Perishable News (October 2, 2020)
The U.S. International Trade Commission is examining the effect of a lobster trade agreement, between Canada and the European Union, on America's lobster industry.
Noting that, "U.S. lobster exporters suffered an immediate and continuing loss of business starting over three years ago" from the Canada deal, DeHaan implored trade officials to push EU member countries to adopt a new U.S. - EU bilateral accord, announced in August 2020, to eliminate tariffs on lobster products, diminishing the impact of the Canadian pact.
How the U.S. presidential election outcome could shape the future of Canadian trade BNN Bloomberg (October 2, 2020)
Canada's relationship with its largest trading partner has never been perfect, but the result of November's U.S. presidential election may bring new challenges.
The next president of the United States could hold two high-stakes cards for the future of Canadian trade. One will be in his approach to protectionism, while the other will depend on his handling of America's relations with China, according to some experts.
Lupaka submits arbitration request against Peru Stock Watch (October 29, 2020)
Lupaka Gold Corp. has completed the next step in its international arbitration claim against the Republic of Peru. The company has now submitted a request for arbitration in accordance with Article 36 of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States and Article 824 of the free-trade agreement between Canada and the Republic of Peru.
The dispute stems from the Republic of Peru's actions, namely the illegal acts of its subdivision, the Community of Paran, which illegally invaded Lupaka's project held through Invicta Mining Corp. and set up a permanent blockade to the site, as well as from the lack of support from the Peruvian police force, prosecutors and central government officials to remove the illegal blockade and restore Lupaka's rights to its investment.
Tribunal Initiates Final Injury Inquiry — Decorative and Other Non-Structural Plywood from China Canadian International Trade Tribunal (October 26, 2020)
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal initiated a final injury inquiry to determine whether the dumping and subsidizing of decorative and other non-structural plywood originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China have caused injury or retardation or are threatening to cause injury.
On February 19, 2021, the Tribunal will determine whether the dumping and subsidizing have caused injury or retardation or are threatening to cause injury to the domestic industry.
WTO launches new import licensing platform WTO (October 9, 2020)
Four years of work by the WTO Secretariat bore fruit with the launch on 9 October 2020 of the new import licensing database. The new platform gathers together import licensing information, analysis and reporting and streamlines notification procedures for WTO members. At a meeting of the Committee on Import Licensing, members commended the work done by WTO staff to provide a one-stop shop for members and interested parties seeking to access information on import licensing procedures.
Opinion: Restoring order to global trade Goderich Signal Star (October 27, 2020)
The general problem is that the WTO rules drafted in 1947 are simply not up to the task in a world where so much has changed.
These shortcomings have been increasingly recognized by more committed WTO members. Canada has taken a leading role in gathering some of these like-minded countries together in the "Ottawa Group," which seeks a road to pragmatic WTO reform — in the belief the agreement must be updated or face the possibility of tumbling into 21st-century irrelevance.
International Trade: Canada's Relationships With Its Key Trading Partners Bennett Jones (October 22, 2020)
Darrel Pearson hosted a discussion with Valerie Hughes and John Weekes on Canada's trading relationship with the United States, how the CUSMA will affect Canadian businesses, trade and investment relations with China, Canada's unique position with its CPTPP and CETA partners, and the importance of the WTO to Canada.
How Businesses Can Risk Manage the USMCA: Anti-Corruption Bennett Jones (October 29, 2020)
How Businesses Can Risk Manage the USMCA: Labour Bennett Jones (October 28, 2020)
How Businesses Can Risk Manage the USMCA: Trade and Customs Bennett Jones (October 27, 2020)
A Primer on Canadian Sanctions Legislation - October 2020 Blakes (October 21, 2020)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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This arrangement — which was hatched in the Senate on Tuesday night and on the way to the governor's desk less than 24 hours later — is probably the worst of all the awful governance plans that were floated over the past two years, as senators attempted to look like they were giving the governor control of the commission without actually giving her control.
Rep. Jonathan Hill — who rarely says anything that makes sense and has become so annoying that he can't even get nine of his 123 colleagues to join his requests for recorded votes on his motions — summed up the situation correctly Wednesday when he observed that this arrangement puts everybody in charge. Which means nobody's in charge. Still.
YEAR IN REVIEW: Naive optimism crashes into legislative reality
Currently, the governor appoints one commissioner, and small groups of legislators pick the other seven. S.1258 does allow the governor to appoint all eight commissioners. But those seven small groups of legislators — each group composed of the legislators who live in a given congressional district — will have veto power over her appointments. Worse, they can exercise their veto under cover of darkness: If they don't vote to approve within 45 days, the bill says, "the appointee is deemed to have been disapproved." Appointees who are not disapproved still have to get through a joint legislative screening committee and then be confirmed by the Senate.
Sen. Tom Davis, who is urging the governor to veto the bill, warns that this will quickly degenerate into a magistrate-like situation: By law, the governor appoints magistrates. But since the local senators must confirm the appointment, what really happens is that those senators tell the governor who to nominate, she does that, and they confirm that person.
Even as crazy as this Transportation Commission arrangement is, it might still be workable if the governor could remove her appointees. But to do that, she has to get approval from that same small group of legislators who approved the appointment to start with. Which takes us back to that first principle of employment: Your boss isn't your boss if she can't fire you.
Why we need real reform, what it would look like
Rep. Gary Simrill, who has worked for two years to get us reform and more funding, told the House on Wednesday that with just one day left in the regular session and powerful senators unlikely to approve any reform after the June 14 primaries, this was the best negotiators could drag out of the Senate. It was this or nothing, he said, and while a lot of House members might have been fine with no reform, they weren't willing to go home without a road funding plan — even one everybody acknowledged was inadequate.
Senate Republican Leader Shane Massey, one of the leading proponents of real reform, actually sponsored that awful amendment. He defends it as a step forward because the governor "gets to initiate the selection" of commissioners, and it reduces the power of the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank. But like Mr. Simrill, Mr. Massey told me that this was the best arrangement he could get the votes to pass.
It seems extraordinary that we could end up here after the Senate voted, less than three months ago, to let the governor appoint all the commissioners, without all these constraints, and remove them for any cause or no cause.
But many senators — possibly a majority — never wanted reform. They voted for it in March betting that the House would insist on changes to the bill, which would give them a chance to come back and sabotage the reform. It was a good bet, improved by the inclusion of a plan to steal $400 million a year from the state's general fund to pay for roads.
Sure enough, the House rejected the Senate's March bill and sent it to a conference committee, from which it never emerged. Short of accepting that unacceptable funding plan, there's probably nothing the House could have done differently. It was simply outmaneuvered by a master player.
The Senate has always been the place where reforms go to die. Usually senators kill bills by refusing to let them be debated. But some bills are too big to be ignored. In that case, the procedure is to hollow out the bill, leaving the shell intact, and then vote for the hollowed-out remains. That's what senators did here.
The upshot is that we don't have significant reform, we don't have a permanent funding source for roads, and we have a plan that forces the Legislature to steal $200 million a year from general state needs unless or until the Legislature creates a new funding source for roads.
The good news is that House and Senate leaders have made it clear they consider the funding in this bill a temporary fix, until they can raise the gas tax, and House leaders tell me they will use the gas tax as leverage to fix the flaws in the Senate's governance model. I don't doubt their commitment, although I do worry about their ability to avoid getting out-maneuvered by the Senate. Again.
Ms. Scoppe writes editorials and columns for The State. Reach her at cscoppe@thestate.com or (803) 771-8571 or follow her on Twitter @CindiScoppe.


Lime House is in the (shared) middle of the original Lime building, now divided into four. The current owner is Camille Anne-Marie de Kok, company secretary and a director of Lime Park Estates Limited as recorded on the Companies House, Land Registry and other websites.
Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6QE, UK.
On or about October 2011, we are told that Lime Park Estates Limited cleared the base of Camille de Kok's garage and started lighting bonfires dangerously close to the Steam House historic building and the garage belonging to Lime Cottage - just 22 feet away. The local Fire Brigade were informed. The gardener's insurance policy covered him to light bonfires so long as they were 20 feet away from any building.
The picture above is from August 2012 - Bonfires had ceased, but garden waste was not being disposed of - no fault of the gallant gardener who was only following client's instructions. The gardener in the picture employed by LPE is Russell Pike of Perfect Gardens. The Lime Park Heritage Trust is worried about the situation, but is not part of the drive management company, formerly Wickens Estates Limited (now Store Property Development Limited, 41 Eastcheap, London, EC3M 1DT) hence can only ask what is causing this problem. It occurs to us that if any company knowingly sets out to create a statutory or other nuisance, then that may be an abuse of a directorship. We'd be interested to know on what basis Wickens Estates allowed transfer of the shared drive. For example, did Lime Park Estate Limited provide an indemnity to Store Property Limited?
October 2012 - The picture above shows that the garden waste is building up to the point where Claire Lambert's garage is nearly covered. We'd hardly call this a Perfect Garden. In fact it's a magnet for vermin, mice and rats. At one point the gardening team was paid £240 a month for their work. Other parts of Lime Park are well looked after by Mr Russell at this point in time. His quality of work elsewhere is superb, his workers conscientious. The problem therefore is/was not with Perfect Gardens.
Maybe Ms De Kok does not want a garage for her car, but why is she allowing a dump to accumulate on her garage base and what about Claire Lambert's fast disappearing garage? That was in October 2012 - and the situation remained unchanged for many months, but we are pleased to report that earlier in 2013, Mr Pike came in on a weekend and cleared most of the green detritus personally. Lime Park Heritage Trust cannot thank Mr Pike enough for his sterling efforts. The question though remains, will the fire hazard begin again and what of vermin infestation. We are hoping for a happy ending.
During the summer of 2014, Ms De Kok sold Lime House. The new owner then decided to clear the accumulated earth from the plot to see why nobody had bothered to repair the dilapidated wooden garage that once stood there. And this is what he found. To the right of the concrete is a large Holm Oak, the last remaining tree from a 20 strong Tree Preservation Order. You can see from this picture that the concrete base has been lifted to a considerable angle and cracked into many pieces as it was pushed upwards while the tree grew. This is a mature tree, meaning that the major movement was probably 20-30 years ago. That would mean that the base has been unsuitable for car parking for some time. Indeed, we cannot remember when the site was used for parking. To make repairs to this concrete would almost surely cause harm to the Oak tree - and that we think explains why this plot came to be buried under several inches of soil. A replacement garage could not be installed on such a wonky base. Another Holm Oak had caused similar damage to a wall some 30 feet away. In that case the wall took priority, because of the history attaching to the building.
Perfect Gardens now have a new van, this is their old one. The business appears to be thriving - and no wonder with the service that they provide. Long may it continue. Perfect Gardens undertake fencing, shed installation and many other jobs associated with a comprehensive gardening service.
Landscape Gardening, All Aspects of Gardening and Landscaping. Sheds and Bases, Patios, Decking, Garden Clearance, Hedge and Lawncutting, Turfing, Small Tree Work, Fencing. Regular Maintenance.
Estate Agent Links: Rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale requires attention to large sash windows as at 19-9-12. Internal decoration well above average for this interesting part of the Lime Park estate. No garaging at present (garage area apparently used for bonfires and composting).
This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2019 Max Energy Limited, an educational charity working for world peace. The bird logos and names Solar Navigator™ and Utopia Tristar™ are trademarks. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.


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Nibiru Planet X March 17, 2013 The UFO Connection and the Pole Shift
UFO's are here to witness the awakening of our species and to help restore the planet . | Source
Once again NASA is playing the CME, Solar Flare warning as a cover for Nibiru Planet X, the question is how long will the public buy their nonsense? | Source
CME (Coronal Mass Ejection)
Once again NASA is covering its ass by warning the public of a possible CME heading our way this weekend, which could affect satellite communications, probes and the (ISS) International Space Station. I'm not doubting the veracity of Coronal Mass Ejections or their predictions by NASA but I am doubting the reasons for the disruptions of satellite communications.
NASA has made many of the same predictions in the last ten years since Nibiru Planet X entered our solar system with little or no results to show for their warnings. I suspect this weekends warnings will show similar results, as it is just a cover for the continued disruptions caused by Nibiru Planet X's massive dust cloud as it wafts towards our planet.
Because of their past failures in predicting solar flares and CME's disruptions of satellite communications and the fact that the MSM (mainstream media) and the public rely on NASA for all their space related information these types of warnings are often sensationalized but when they fail to materialize little or nothing is said, a classic case of disinformation.
However if they don't make these kinds of predictions, then when satellite communications do fail they would have to admit the true reasons for them, we know this as CYA (cover your ass), just in case!
Although NASA is more than capable of warning us of Solar Flares, the dire consequences of them never seem to materialize | Source
The Push For Mars
Has anyone else wondered why so many of the rich elite are making a hard push for space exploration and a manned mission to Mars? In this article Nibiru Planet X March 17, 2013 The UFO Connection and the Pole Shift I will explore the reasons so many of the rich elite on this planet seemed to have such a keen interest in leaving it and how UFO's are connected to Nibiru Planet X and the Pole Shift.
Just recently (March 3, 2013) the first active private spacecraft (the SpaceX Dragon) was able to dock with the International Space Station for a resupply mission. Among the 1,268 pounds of supplies were seeds used in the experimentation of plant growth in space. This was the third successful re-supply mission since October of last year paid for by NASA, which means ostensibly the American taxpayer is footing the bill for private companies.
The founder of SpaceX or Space Exploration Technologies, Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal is putting up $100 million dollars of his own personal fortune to finance this venture which he started in 2002, the year before Nibiru Planet X arrived in our solar system. Considering he has landed a $1.6 Billion dollar contract with NASA to provide 12 unmanned cargo deliveries, he has already made his investment back ten-fold. Ask yourself where NASA gets its money from and you have the answer to who exactly is financing this venture and making this man filthy rich.
Why after more than forty years (Apollo Missions) is there a demand to put men into space and establish a base on Mars?
Why would these private companies be looking at manned missions to Mars when the Moon is much closer?
Orbital Sciences a company launched in 1982, the year before NASA discovered Planet X on the fringes of our solar system is a publicly traded company worth $1.1 Billion dollars. They too have a contract with NASA to provide eight unmanned cargo missions to the ISS, worth $1.9 Billion (US taxpayers) dollars.
Perhaps the most revealing and intriguing plans by a private space company are those of Bigelow Aerospace and the Sundancer and BA-330 spacecraft. These inflatable craft are designed to serve as mini-space stations orbiting the Earth with a crew between three and six astronauts. The founder of the company Robert Bigelow is hoping to use this inflatable technology to build a private moon base and has invested $180 Million of his own dollars to make this happen.
All three of these companies are developing spacecraft capable of creating livable conditions for a limited amount of people (astronauts) to survive in space. With the International Space Stations ongoing experiments of growing plants in space, it clearly shows that these rich elite are trying to develop self contained environments capable of allowing a limited few to survive in space.
The safest location for anyone anticipating a global cataclysm would be off the planet, on another planet or orbiting in a space station or spacecraft designed to support life.
Many of these types of space exploration companies keep a low public profile to avoid scrutiny and keep the masses from guessing their true agenda or guessing the real reasons behind their sudden interest in investing millions in personal fortunes with little or no return.
The space exploration company Blue Origin founded by Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com fame, has maintained a tight lid of secrecy on its plans and goals for its spacecraft named New Shepard.
Perhaps the most controversial agenda comes from Dennis Tito, a former rocket engineer, who made a fortune while working for Wilshire Associates an investemnt firm in California. He made history in 2001 when he paid $20 Million dollars to take an eight day trip to the ISS aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Since that trip he has kept a low public profile but recently revealed a plan to send two astronauts on a round trip 500 day mission to Mars and back beginning in 2018.
What is interesting to note is that this plan involves the 'nonprofit' organization Inspiration Mars Foundation lead by Tito himself. This organization which cannot be found on any tax-exempt nonprofit organization databases claims it is "committed to accelerating America's human exploration of space as a critical catalyst for future growth, national prosperity, new knowledge and global leadership."
Since Dennis Tito's initial space flight six other non-astronauts have made the journey all aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz, below is a list of these people, nationality, duration of trip and year, the money they paid to make the flight and the source of their wealth.
Mark Shuttleworth • South African/British • 11 days/2002 • $20 million • Thawte
Gregory Olsen • American • 11 days/2005 • $20 million • Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
Anousheh Ansari • Iranian/American • 12 days/2006 • $20 million • Telecom Technologies, Inc.
Charles Simony • Hungarian/American • 15 days/2007 • $25 million • Microsoft Office
Richard Garriott • British/American • 12 days/2008 • $30 million • Origin Systems
Guy Laliberte • Canadian • 11 days/2009 • $40 million • Cirque du Soleil
Considering the exorbitant amounts ($190 million total) of money these six individuals paid for a relatively short trip into space there is obviously some very real interest by the rich elite to leave this planet, the question is why?
UFO Connection
Not only are they here but are ready to provide support, guidance and safe energy resources for the survivors after the Polar Shift. | Source
Phobos (Greek God of Fear)
Phobos, one the Moons of Mars is controlled and mined by the Annunaki, the 'Gods' of ancient Earth. | Source
Although the Annunaki, the name the ancient Sumerians gave to the 'Gods' or EBE's (Extraterrestrial Biological Entities) that visited our planet in search of gold and other precious minerals, may have interfered with mankind's early development, they did not arrest our evolutionary process according to the Council of Worlds.
Whether or not you believe that a Council of Worlds exist and controls the development of evolving species throughout the Universe, there is ample evidence to support this claim. When the Annunaki were deemed to be interfering with the spiritual development of our race by pretending to be Gods, they were asked to leave by the Council of Worlds and they did roughly 3,000 years ago.
These Annunaki or Nephelim (in the Bible) were the ancient Gods of the Greeks, Romans, Hindus, Mayans and many other cultures in our recent recorded past. Often considered myths and legends by orthodox history the overwhelming evidence points to their domination of our planet for thousands of years.
Interesting to note is that the Annunaki's home world is Nibiru Planet X and although this world has returned to our solar system, we have seen no evidence that they intend to return. Although they are allowed to continue to mine gold on the Mars Moon, Phobos, they are not allowed to interfere with mankind's development by returning to this planet.
The Powers That Be have tried to downplay their role in mankind's history as way of distorting the truth and censoring information as to the nature of mankind and our role in the Universe. Remember Knowledge is Power and those that don't have it end up paying for it one way or another.
For if mankind were to learn the true history and awesome potential they possess, many institutions and governments would simply become obsolete. The Powers That Be understand the true purpose of the Pineal Gland the God Organ and have set about to block mankind's ability to use it through calcification.
Does anyone really believe that God in her infinite wisdom forgot to put fluoride in our water?
The French philosopher Descartes believed the pineal gland was the seat of our soul and even modern scientist claim they do not understand the purpose for this incredible organ. The pineal gland develops in the embryo seven weeks after conception, Buddhists believe that the soul is reincarnated seven weeks after death, coincidence?
The UFO Connection
There are many theories to why so many UFO's now are being seen by millions of people world wide. The one that makes the most sense to this author is that they are here to provide support and witness the awakening of our species. Depending on what you choose to believe it is fairly obvious that UFO's have been sighted in the skies of Earth for a very long time dating far back in the history of our species.
There are stories from the Bible (Ezekiel), the ancient Sumerians, the Hindu Vedas, the Mayans and many other cultures of visitors from space and spacecraft. I submit to you that we (humans) have been genetically engineered specifically for this planet to evolve unmolested from outside influences as way of propagating the humanoid species (Panspermia) throughout the galaxy.
When developing species are on the verge of space exploration, advanced technologies and weapons of mass destruction they are watched closely by more developed races to ensure that they have developed spiritually as well and will not take any aggressive tendencies outside the confines of their planet or solar system.
Surely any advanced race capable of traveling the stars would not welcome or allow any aggressive race to wander the Universe unsupervised.
Any race of beings that would allow their own kind to starve to death while there is more than enough food and resources to feed everyone, would not be considered spiritually enlightened enough to join the rest of the Galaxy.
Any race capable and willing to kill their own kind for profit, in the name of God or simple for land and resources would not be considered spiritually enlightened beings and would need to be quarantined on their own planet until they had evolved to the point that they had outlawed War.
Any race that would willingly pollute their only home with toxic waste, nuclear fallout and industrial contamination surely would not be the kind of species that other more evolved beings were looking for as neighbors.
Surely any race that felt it was necessary to censor information from the majority so that a few elite groups could live like kings and enslave the vast majority to indentured servitude, essentially creating a class system that favored the few while depriving the many, would not have reached the spiritual plateau that was necessary to join a galactic brotherhood.
These are the reason why we have not been allowed to leave this planet despite our desire to do so. The UFO's that mankind has been seeing in the Earth's skies for a millennium are here to watch but not interfere. They are here to offer subtle guidance and to prevent this planet from being destroyed through our own ignorance, greed and unmoral behavior.
They are also here to witness the awakening of our species when we are faced with a lesson in which everyone on this planet will receive at the same time. This lesson will be invariably how we will react to a cataclysm of global proportions.
This lesson of course is the Polar Shift caused by Nibiru Planet X, the real reason why so many of the rich elite are willing to spend huge fortunes to leave this planet for a safe location in space, the Moon or Mars.
These alien watchers will be there to help us pick up the pieces and restore order but they will not interfere with the spiritual lesson that has been designed to awaken our species and allow us to create a new paradigm closer to the heart.
Needless to say, I do not believe the rich elite will succeed in their plans to leave this planet however they will be allowed to try. Interesting to note that unmanned spacecraft, probes and satellites are allowed to leave the planet as well as the ISS but these are all tools of enlightenment and knowledge.
PANSTARRS Comet and the Moon
Interesting to note the illuminated part of the Moon is on the bottom clear evidence of the increase in the Earth Wobble. | Source
Does anyone truly believe an advanced race capable of interstellar travel would have any difficulty in conquering and taking this planet by force?
No, most alien races would have an easy time conquering this planet.
Yes, guns and human ingenuity would prevail.
Still waiting for the History Channel and the Evening News to tell me what to think!
Alien Agenda: Investigating the Extraterrestrial Presence Among Us
Alien Disclosure at Area 51: Dr. Dan Burisch Reveals the Truth About ETs, UFOs and MJ-12
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I firmly believe that our Moon was specifically designed as a space station/observatory and as a means to create regular seasons on our planet and a way for our species to develop unhindered by adverse weather conditions and interference by other alien races intent of exploiting the planet's resources. I believe that our Moon actuality is a spacecraft and is hollow with its' working parts on the inside so they can be protected from the elements of space and will be unobserved by outside influences from the Earth or spacecraft.
I also believe that many alien species have bases on the Moon, underground on Earth or on the bottom of our oceans or beneath our oceans, that is why so many UFO's are observed near large bodies of water or emerging from our oceans.
I suspect that the Earth is an investment of time and energy by alien races and they are here to monitor our evolutionary progress and protect the Earth from being destroyed, either by outside influences or from nuclear war by its own citizens. Consider for a moment that nuclear weapons were used in war almost 70 years ago but have not been used since.
Do you really believe The Powers That Be haven't tried to use nuclear weapons since then, or is it more likely they have been prevented from doing so?
What better way to provide an excuse for the 'War on Terrorism' than to detonate a nuclear weapon anywhere in the world and blame it on terrorist?
Any alien race worth their weight in enriched plutonium and can travel the stars effortlessly could easily disable a nuclear weapon in flight. If you subscribe to the theory that the planet Earth is an invaluable resource (as I do) then allowing it to be contaminated by nuclear radiation is not an option. Perhaps the human race isn't worth saving, after all look at the misery we inflict on each other in the name of greed, power and unmoral behavior however the planet certainly is, as our own scientist have proven there are not many worlds in the Universe like this one.
I believe the real reason UFO's are being seen easily by so many throughout the world is to indoctrinate mankind to the concept that we are not alone in the Universe despite what our governments, religious leaders and scientist would have us believe.
I also believe that they have tried to warn many of our governments of the impending cataclysmic geographical upheavals due to Nibiru Planet X and the Polar Shift for a very long time and that this information has been censored from the public for obvious reasons.
If you believe that our souls do not die and that we are reincarnated on this planet and others, as I do, then whether or not we survive the lesson we are about to receive in the form of a Polar Shift from Nibiru Planet X, will matter very little. The important thing we need to learn is the lessons that our race has received over the last 3,000 years.
War is not the Answer, only Love can conquer Hate! - Marvin Gaye
Among these lessons is that we are all one race and that Earth is our home, we must share its resources with each other, preserve it and treated as the living being that it is and learn to love each other unconditionally if we are to ascend to the next level of being and regain our rightful place in the brotherhood of the Universe.
We must create a new paradigm of existence that outlaws war, hunger and the sharing of information and technology. We must eliminate the social class systems, money and diseases as a way of life and embrace the potential God has given us on this planet we call Earth.
Without a doubt the majority of mankind recognizes that UFO's are real and many also agree that any species capable of traveling the stars would have the technological sophistication to conquer this planet easily.
So why should mankind feel the need to wait on our governments and institutions to tell them what to think when we can recognize that UFO's and alien civilizations are here now for the purpose of helping mankind achieve spiritual enlightenment?
The time for Full Disclosure by our governments and scientific institutions has elapsed and anything they say now will only test our credibility in them. The decades of lies, censorship and disinformation will only exemplify their deception and reinforce their true agenda to keep the public in the dark.
How could we believe anything they have to say, after all this time?
As Gloria Steiniem said "The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off!"
The whole point of this article Nibiru Planet X March 17, 2013 The UFO Connection and the Pole Shift is to provide my readers with the information necessary to consider the real reasons that alien species are here now, learn to trust your heart and soul and you will be deceived no longer!
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Evolution? What, the progression from the tentacles of dreamland via the unity of it all? Free Spirit = Universe minus Concern!
What and violate the Prime Directive, Star Fleet would frown on that activity. Who is too say that haven't already intervened, after all there is evidence that they altered our evolution already.
I suspect they are more concerned with protecting the natural resources of this planet and are not all that concerned with the inhabitants, after all who said we are worthy of saving?
The "aliens" are just another blame-shift used upon our pathetic progress. If the galactic Spam Hams really cared, they would intervene in our current affairs and not stand by that "don't cross our moon territory" baloney... The "aliens" have their own concerns, and I doubt if they are waiting on us...
Ah . . . one man's inane drivel is another man's beacon of enlightened wisdom, I see grasshopper.
Is the reason you don't need to run to mommy because you still live with her?
Nothing wrong with being strangely expressive, hopefully you'll try it soon . . . just having a little fun being rudely expressive!
somethgpink
This is not drivel and I don't need to run out to my mother...
Since when is it not okay to be strangely expressive? Why must it be viewed in a negative light? Who's life doesn't have room for explicit admiration?
I assume that in all your ego-inflated ramblings there was a point in there some where . . . ?
No, the Aliens are not going to help anyone leave the planet in fact they will prevent it, that is the whole point.
No advanced race of alien beings are worried about our petty progress of ignorance... People who clean the house are not worried about the ones still sitting on the pot.
Many people on this planet "feel" a sense of doom that is being impeded upon while the same thing works in reverse, such as the universal progress and/or enlightenment, blah, blah...
What is the hold up, one must ask... As many of the things you speak about, sound like an '80s re-run of old ideas about space exploration, yet there are bad intentions now, I suppose...
Is it just now becoming a conspiracy?
As if the ETs would help the "elite" folks jump off this planet...
Well, sure, that sounds like a sound idea if you think 3rd grade planets resound sound thoughts of sheer intuition in a universal sense of the spiritually elite; ha!
UFO Connection with a Polar Shift? Sure, if they all dock on one side of a hemisphere, albeit I don't think that alien alloy weighs enough!
Autoimmune, this is lightened up . . . if you insist on posting inane drivel then you should expect to be Hub slapped, if you can't handle it run home to mommy.
I will have to check it out Sparkster, I should've been notified automatically by Hub Pages, don't know why that didn't happen.
I published the crop circle hub a few days ago. They were definitely 100% disinfo agents, I remember seeing a documentary where they caught up with chorley and bower, they admitted they had been paid to claim it was them. I also mentioned alterations to the crops (caused by microwave activity).
geesh
can't u find humor in the idea that a music video could be the answer to anyone's questions? lighten up. u erased the other posts....ha. i suppose u understood them though.
Dear Autoimmune Deficiency,
The key words in your comment are 'I think' which is clearly false, based on my research you are told what to think and do so blithely. The inane drivel you refer to clearly shows a lack of a discriminating thought process.
You are a prime example of what is commonly known as a 'sheeple', conditioned by The Powers that Be to exhibit no imagination or original thoughts, bravo!
I think this video will answer many of the questions you are struggling with. Please take a moment and view it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYtGl1dX5qI
I just finished his chapter on Crop Circles, that's why I mentioned it, Doug and Dave are part of a disinformation campaign lead by the military. He explores all the far out theories while revealing the changes the circles make in the plants themselves.
Send me your address and I will send you my spare copy of Alien Agenda, you'll love it.
Ah crop circles, that's one I'm working on at the moment!
Indeed I am finding Marrs' work very interesting.
I use Rule By Secrecy as a research tool, the great thing about Marrs is that although he is very thorough he also gives you reason to dig deeper. He gives you many perspectives so that you can make your own determinations.
His views on crops circles leaves you pondering all aspects of the phenomenon.
I have only delved a little into Rule By Secrecy, it's already got me on a huge research mission which looks like it goes about 5 miles deep!
After nearly 200 PVs someone finally comments, thanks Sparkster, almost finished with Alien Agenda . . . !
Great information. Global warming/Climate change gives TPTB the perfect excuse for looking for ways of leaving the planet, portraying the illusion that they are concerned about the future of mankind.
The moon is being used a base to monitor ongoing events on Earth. Whether it's a hollowed-out spacecraft or not I don't know (Alex Collier claims this also). However, I do believe that another moon was placed close to Earth in 1996/1997 for the purpose of observing Earthly events - there are two moons!
Earth may provide valuable resources for the aliens, radioactive contamination and nuclear war are not an option