Sunday, February 8, 2009

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Byron Williams: Some of our lifestyle changes should have come long ago Top
I was recently forced to purchase a new car. Well, new for me. I also made a personal commitment to drive only when necessary. That said, twice this week I had meetings in downtown Oakland. I rode my bike to the BART station only to find that I was not alone in my new approach; the train was filled with commuting cyclists. Beyond the exercise, not paying for parking lots, or searching for a parking space, which creates the added pressure not to receive a parking ticket, it's simply the right thing for me to do. This seems to be the mode of thinking for many, be it individuals or government. There's nothing like challenging economic times to do what should already be done. We are moving away from a Roaring '20s mentality to one that is, dare I say it, European in nature -- Scandinavian at that. I suspect the cause for universal health care has gained some new converts as cascading layoffs have hit those who once had the luxury of opposing "socialized medicine." I'm also certain those in position to do so will save at a much higher rate than in years past. In tough economic times, more restaurants will undoubtedly go the extra mile for customer service. That 5-year-old car in need of repairs now means a person must decide whether it's worth getting a few more years out of that car. Gone are the days of people using their home as an ATM to simply purchase a new one. In a year that credit cards will be used more judiciously, credit card companies are now rewarding those who pay on time for six consecutive months. As we collectively tighten our economic belts, going out to dinner will not be the default it once was when one doesn't feel like cooking at home. The proposed stimulus package, if passed, would put billions into infrastructure projects nationwide. This leads me to conclude when the economy is flush, it's fine to drive through gaping potholes at 65 mph or delay the creation of green jobs. We are seeing a bipartisan coalition of governors from red states and blues states singing in a harmonious key that their state is in dire need of federal stimulus. All of this points to the federal government once again being back in vogue. Heck, it's possible that one can self-identify as a liberal and mention raising taxes without the possibility of paying a political price. The California Legislature may be finally poised to do what voters sent them to Sacramento to do. The possibility of a $42 billion budget deficit means no more fuzzy math to tout a balanced budget; no more passing tough decisions on to the voters under the guise of direct democracy; and no more standing on ideology for ideology sake, tough decisions and compromise is now the order of the day. Many changes that are now happening should have already occurred. The emphasis that many of us now place on reorienting our lifestyles as individuals, and collectively as government, should not have required an economic downturn. Persuaded by fear and uncertainly, we are once again reminded that the economy is a cyclic process. The January employment report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the U.S. economy has shed nearly 3.5 million jobs since the start of the recession in December 2007, with 2.8 million jobs lost in the last five months. Those who lived through the Great Depression never forgot it. They came out of it having developed careful saving habits and frugality based on never wanting to return to those difficult days. Time will tell if this generation will do likewise. Or will we view an economic recovery as a sign to return to many of those bad habits that felt so good but proved harmful in the long-term? But there are some habits that we have been forced to embrace due to the current economic challenges that we should try to maintain regardless of the economy. Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist. He is the author of Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections of the Iraq War. E-mail him at byron@byronspeaks.com or visit his website: byronspeaks.com
 
Craig Newmark: UK "Power of Information Taskforce Report" Top
Hey, Tom Watson at TechPresident.com draws our attention to really good work happening in the UK. This really is a big deal. Folks there have done a very impressive piece of work, the Power of Information Taskforce Report , which offers a lot of real suggestions about opening up the UK government online, for example: Unlock innovation in leading public sector sites using a 'backstage model', a standing open online innovation space allowing the general public and staff to co-create information-based public services. This capability should be a standard element of public information service design. The government should start by creating a live backstage service for Directgov by end June 2009 or earlier. To take advantage of the potential of new online techniques to open up the policy dialogue online the government needs to do the following: * Implementing the tools - readily available elsewhere on the internet - which allow people to comment on individual items, to comment on other's comments and to collaborate in developing and improving the content (perhaps through the sort of collective authorship we see on Wikipedia); * Participation by officials in the process in line with the Government's recently published code of practice on social media, so that the consultation period is one of active dialogue * Use of the same tools to explain at the end of the consultation period, in the same level of detail, what the Government had decided and why * Mandatory publication of consultation materials in open, semantic, electronic formats that not only allow the relevant government website to host the material but also allow others to take the material, present it, gather views and feed those back to government in innovative ways.
 
Italy's Silvio Berlusconi Seeks Law To Keep Comatose Woman Alive Top
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is pushing a law through parliament to force doctors to resume feeding a comatose woman in a right-to-die case that has plunged the country into a constitutional crisis. Berlusconi says he is in a race against time to save Eluana Englaro, who has been in a coma for 17 years and has not been fed since Friday in line with a high court ruling that she should be allowed to die. More on Europe
 
Why Television Is An Old Media Medium That Still Shines Top
And yet television stands out as the one old-media business with surprising resilience. Though we are spending a record amount of time online, including a record amount of time watching video, we are also watching record amounts of very old-fashioned television, according to Nielsen Media Research. Our attachment to the medium, of course, is obscured by the splintering of our attention across so many cable offerings, in addition to the major networks.
 
Chesley Sullenberger Gets Standing Ovation At Broadway Play Top
NEW YORK — Weeks after starring in his own story of bravery and heroism, the pilot who safely ditched his jetliner in the Hudson River received a standing ovation Saturday from the audience at a Broadway performance of "South Pacific." At the end of the classic revival, the show's stars introduced Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger as the pilot who set down the disabled plane within reach of rescue boats last month, saving the lives of all 155 people on US Airways Flight 1549. "It could have been tragic, but it wasn't. It became a miracle," said Kelli O'Hara, who plays the show's lead female character, Nellie Forbush. "We've never been more honored than to perform for you, Captain." As she spoke, a spotlight was trained on Sullenberger in the audience, and the crowd stood, cheered and applauded. The pilot's wife, Lorrie Sullenberger, began wiping tears from her face. He hugged her, then turned back to the crowd and waved as the cheers grew still louder. Many in the audience already had recognized him. Murmurs of "look who's here" had buzzed through the crowd during intermission. "It was quite exciting just to see this guy who saved so many lives," said David Feldman, who found himself sitting two rows behind the pilot. "It's so nice to have a hero who's a real hero, instead of movie stars," added Feldman's wife, Ellen Schwartz. The 58-year-old pilot, his wife and their two daughters went backstage after the show and met the cast of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which tells of the romances and heroics of a group of American aviators, nurses and sailors stationed far from home during World War II. It was an appropriate choice for Sullenberger, who was named best aviator in his Air Force Academy class and served in the military from 1973 to 1980. He flew F-4 Phantom II fighter planes and served as a flight leader in Europe and the Pacific. The calm and steadiness with which he handled the Jan. 15 near-disaster _ witnesses said he walked the length of the waterlogged plane to make sure everyone got out _ could have fit right in with the feats depicted on the Lincoln Center Theater stage. A propeller plane even forms part of the show's set. Sullenberger and his fellow crew members are in New York as part of a media blitz, including an interview with the pilot that is set to air Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes." He also is expected to appear Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS's "The Early Show" and to receive a key to the city from Mayor Michael Bloomberg later in the day.
 
Ann Coulter Under Investigation For Voter Fraud Top
The New York Daily News reports that Ann Coulter is under investigation by the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission for allegedly voting in that state while registered to vote in New York City. Officials are responding to a formal complaint filed by Coulterwatch.com blogger Dan Borchers. "For over 10 years, Ann Coulter has gotten away with illegal, immoral and unethical behavior, ranging from plagiarism to defamation, perjury to voter fraud," claims the conservative Borchers. Coulter declined to comment, but in the past has branded Borchers a stalker. He says the FBI has determined he poses no threat. Coulter was investigated and cleared of wrongdoing in 2006 for allegedly violating Florida's voter registration laws by voting in the wrong precinct. An official previously told the Daily News that they would investigate "if we received a complaint under oath." Read more about Daniel Borchers, who filed the complaint, here .
 
VIDEO: Australia Fires Rage, Entire Towns Destroyed Top
Entire towns have been destroyed by Australia's deadliest-ever wildfires. Authorities say it will take days to get the flames under control, the AP reports. Watch these videos of the wildfires: More on Australia
 
Ann Coulter Voter Fraud Investigation: Report Top
The New York Daily News reports that controversial and outspoken conservative Ann Coulter is being investigated for voter fraud by the Elections Enforcement Commission of Connecticut. A commission spokeswoman confirmed to the paper that Coulter is being investigated to determine if she broke the law by voting in Connecticut while living in New York City. Recently Huffington Post editor Roy Sekoff squared off against Coulter to debate Obama's first 14 days. Watch it here . RELATED: Ann Coulter Slams Michelle Obama In New Book
 

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