University of Oregon receiving stimulus money for research? I didn't the U of O was a research college

The Register Guard --

The U of O had been awarded $40 million in federal stimulus funds with the "lion's share" going to expanses at the core of the University of Oregon's Mission: paying faculty and doing ongoing research.

research???

About $27.5 million will ultimately go to faculty salaries and benefits with the remainder going to research projects and graduate student support with a total allocation will help support 1,148 jobs according to Oregon University system figures.

“It was pretty critical,” UO Provost Jim Bean said of the stimulus money, which helped the university accommodate a 4 percent increase in enrollment. Without it, “it would have been very difficult in the schools and colleges to handle all the students,” he said.

Gee, with a 4% increase in enrollment, you would think the increase in money would be enough to handle it by itself without outside help.

"the UO received almost $500,000 in stimulus money to buy a sophisticated instrument to examine materials at the nano level and prepare molecular-level bits for examination by even more powerful electron microscopes...

“If we didn’t have this tool, there’s no way we could do high-resolution microscopy in this facility,” said Kurt Langworthy, director of the UO’s nanofabrication lab.

The UO research projects funded by stimulus grants run the gamut from million-dollar studies of the universe to small-scale research by just a few students

okay, I could be wrong... but somehow I don't think this is what President Obama had in mind.

Oh yes, from the outside looking in with all the construction going on around the University of Oregon it sure doesn't LOOK like they really need any stimulus money does it?

the Senate version of the health-care bill HR 3590 passes 219-212 So what is the health-care plan really got a cost YOU?

Robin's commentary --

last night, Congress voted in favor of restructuring the nation's health care system by 219-212, which paves the way for President Obama to sign into law most of the 10 year, the $940 billion plan within the next few days.

The plan itself will require every American to obtain health insurance that meets the qualifications of the US government.

This is really a good idea?

I will agree that we do need some type of nationwide health insurance.

I mean, when you look at the amount of taxes that we pay into the system and the huge amount of money that we consistently give away overseas for aid (or other excuses)there shouldn't be any reason why we should not have national health care coverage, and one that does not cost the TAXPAYERS anything. Or at least you would think.

But if you think for a moment that the national healthcare is going to be free... think again.

HR 3200 which is one version of the Obama health-care proposal... all 1017 pages long makes for some interesting reading.

For example, the IRS is getting involved... that should be a red flag right there.

Why?

title IV, amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986... shared responsibility section 401 which reads... "tax and individuals without acceptable health care coverage." Page 167

"Tax imposed -- in the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection D at any time during a taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5% of the access of the taxpayer modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year...

so in other words, you could kiss your tax refund goodbye.

Employers to are going to get hit with fees and penalties for not providing insurance.


Unfortunately, due to time and space limitations I cannot state everything that I see that could be a problem with this bill.

The only thing I know, is personally, that we are scraping financially to try to make ends meet from month to month and ANY new expenses can be catastrophic to our budget.

I really encourage you to read the full 1017 pages of the plan because it's really an eye opener.

Oh yeah, one final thought,

All of our Oregon representatives including Peter DeFazio voted in favor of the act.

President's proposal
HR 3200 1017 pages

'Davy Crockett' Star Fess Parker Dies at 85

BBC-

Actor Fess Parker, famous for playing American pioneer Davy Crockett in Walt Disney's classic 1950s TV series, has died in California at the age of 85 of natural causes.

Peter Graves Dies at 83

New York Times --Peter Graves, the cool spymaster of television’s “Mission: Impossible” and the dignified host of the “Biography” series, who successfully spoofed his own gravitas in the “Airplane!” movie farces, died on Sunday. He was 83.

national ID card for healthcare... national ID card to curb illegal immigration And other stupid ideas

News Max
New efforts by Senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R- S.C to revive the debate over "Real ID" card, a national ID card which will contain all sorts of information regarding the holder, including unique biometric data created from either fingerprints or a vein patterns on top of the hands.

Graham's approach to the idea a unit that unlike Social Security cards, the national ID card would be tamperproof.

yeah, just like the design of the new [monopoly] money which is designed to be counterfeit proof and was counterfeited within the first week of its release.

The idea or bottom line is that employers will not be able to hire applicants who do not present a valid ID.

"It’s the nub of solving the immigration dilemma politically speaking,” Schumer told the Journal. The card, he argued, would nip in the bud any surge of illegal immigrants. “If you say they can’t get a job when they come here, you’ll stop it.”

Alex Nowrasteh, an analyst at the pro-business Competitive Enterprise Institute feels that "every worker would have to ask permission from the federal government to get a job..."

I am totally against any type of national ID card outside of the Social Security card, which of course can be easily stolen and often used fraudulently by illegal aliens.

No system is going to work until you change the mindset of greedy and unpatriotic businesses who hire illegal aliens and those who offer sanctuary that encourages people to cross our borders illegally.

Take the INS I-9 form for example, where you are supposed to prove that you have the RIGHT to work in the United States... Gee, that's working so well. NOT!

This excuse for a national ID card is just that, another excuse to try to get the government more into your life and will have little or no effect on illegal immigration.

In the meantime, brush up on your Spanish because you're going to need it in the future to find work or keep the job you have if the pattern continues.

should we be changing Beltline Road to Randy Pape beltline?

KMTR --

A Proposal by Oregon's Ted "tax And Gouge Me" Kulongoski Proposal to Rename the Beltline Highway or otherwise known to Eugene residents as Beltline Road will soon be getting a new name "Randy Pape Beltline" in honor of Randy Pepe who died two years ago of a heart attack at the age of 58 has gotten approval today.

Randy Pape said on the Oregon Transportation Commission and led the Pepe group in Eugene. He also pushed the Connect Oregon Grant program which provided more than $3 billion to transit projects in the state.

The renaming and the replacement of 50 signs along the Beltline is estimated to cost about $250,000.

However, this is not the first time that beltline has been renamed since it was completed in the summer of 1968.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) made a name change to a "Oregon State Highway 569 in January 2007, {KVAl - TV }claiming that for years people have been getting the name "Beltline" confused with Interstate 105.

On a side note, changing the name to 569 only cost ODOT a few thousand dollars.

So the question is, especially in this recession where money is tight and we don't seem to have enough funds for essential projects about spending $250,000 on renaming a street?

Personally, I have no problem with honoring somebody who has been a contributor to our society, but when money is as tight as it is and we can't afford some of the essential services maybe we should come up with another way of honoring this individual.

Perhaps, we should put the idea on the ballot and let the people decide... after all, it's all OUR money.

still here... will be posting again shortly

education committee voted 6-4 to remove the ban on religious dress at work in schools

The Oregonian --
Education committee after a two-hour debate voted 6-4 in favor of a bill that would in Oregon's 87 year ban which denies teachers the right to wear religious dress at work.

"Religious minorities are being discriminated against currently," vice chair Michael Dembrow, D-Portland said. "The legitimate contribution they can make to our communities as teachers is being curtailed... Just because a woman is wearing a head covering, that is not bullying, that is not proselytizing."

Primary opponents of the measure through the children will be proselytized if their teachers wear headscarves, crosses, Wiccan robes and other faith-related items.

"About every other year a new private school opens in Oregon," Hinkle testified. Christian parents "have created those private Christian schools largely because they feel that the public school system is hostile to their religious beliefs. Those parents and people like them are going to feel even more so if their first-graders are being taught by Muslim women in burkas and Sikh teachers in turbans... I look forward to the day when the orthodox Jewish parent welcomes the fact that his 6-year-old daughter is going to be a captive audience in the Muslim teacher's or the Wiccan teacher's classroom for 180 days a year."

Charlie Hinkle, a lawyer testifying for the civil liberties group was concerned that if teachers are allowed to wear burkas, turbans they could frighten children or parents and drive them away from public schools.

being around women that are wearing burkas reminds me of working in a clean room, with the only things you see to the bunny suit is your coworkers eyes. It was hard enough to identify who your coworker was especially if you could not see their badge, even harder is when you met them outside of work.

However, I can see how a child would be traumatized that the only thing that he could see from his/her teacher is their eyes. It would be like teaching a class wearing a mask or other type of disguise. Conversely, if you have a hearing problem and you are not able to see the speaker's mouth, that could create difficulties as well.

Then there's the issue of safety and identity, especially in the 21st century, where the full face should be exposed if nothing else for identification purposes.

I also cite a case from the District Court of Appeals of the state of Florida fifth District, 2005 { link} Freeman versus the Department of Highway safety and motor vehicles, case number 5D03-2296, where the Florida Department of Highway safety and motor vehicles canceled Freemans driver's license because she refused to have her picture taken without her veil citing claims of due process, privacy and free speech violations.

The order follow a non-jury trial on her claims that the department violated Florida's religious freedom restoration act of 1998 by requiring that she be photographed without her veil to obtain the Florida drivers license and violated her constitutional right to free expression of her religion.
The court ruled that "Notwithstanding chapter 761 or s. 761.05, the requirement for a fullface
photograph or digital image of the identification card holder [or licensee] may not be
waived."

Perhaps one solution to this is what they are proposing to do with kids in school, and that is to require kids and faculty to wear uniforms.

One other interesting note regarding this case,

"Freeman believes that photographs of the human face and animals are prohibited and does not allow photographs of faces in her home. Her daughter plays with with faceless dolls and if an item from the grocery store has a face on it, Freeman blacks it out with a marker."

"Legislators plan to focus on economic recovery" IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!pass some more Top Ramen please

The Oregonian --

As the Oregon Legislature begins its special session this last Monday just after the passage of measures 66 and 67, lawmakers intend to concentrate on economic recovery issues which cannot wait until January 2011, such as job creation, secure financing or to extend loans or grants to in-state companies that hire Oregonians to fill new jobs and an additional six weeks extension of unemployment benefits to 18,600 jobless whose benefits are about to expire.

"The two dominant areas of focus of this special session are one: jobs, and two: helping families that have been hit by this economic crisis,” said House Speaker Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone.

Roughly 215,000 Oregonians receive a weekly unemployment check in December which makes the statewide unemployment rate average at 11%.

"Clearly, we have a large number of people in our state who are hurting and have been out of work for a long time," said Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland, who chairs the committee."

like DUH!

"Duke Shepard, of the Oregon AFL-CIO, said unemployment runs as high as 35 percent among some of his member groups. "People have been looking for work for more than a year and just have run out of benefits."

isn't it interesting that if it hadn't been for sleepy Ted "tax and gouge me" Kulongoski wanting to call a special session to reduce the kicker, these guys would not be back in this "special session" to talk about the economy, which is something that they should have been focusing on during the regular session.

But instead, all we heard was the Legislature's focusing on issues such as designating the Dungeness crap as the state crap, the cell phone ban, raising taxes and how bad the state governments financial situation woes are and very little regarding the current recession.

I can't help but think that the Oregon Legislature finally wanting to seriously look at the recession is based on the rumors of the financial effect of measures 66 and 67 which is also a retroactive tax which is forcing some businesses to seriously think about either laying off people and/or leave the state altogether along with rumors coming from other states such as Chicago Mayor Daley who according to the Sun times considers "Oregon's tax blunder spells opportunity for Chicago" as he tries to entice Oregon businesses to relocate.

Unfortunately, I feel that the current session of the Oregon Legislature although I am very happy to see them FINALLY focusing on this recession, I think it's too little too late.

The damage is done.

taxes: thank you for the candy... now gimme another piece

the Oregonian --

The day after Oregon voters approved measure 66 and 67, Ted "tax and gouge me" Kulongoski, says it's time to re-look at the kicker [which refunds money to individuals and corporate taxpayers when state revenue exceeds projections by 2% or more] and that he is going to consider the kicker reform his top priority for the month-long legislation session that will start Monday. Kulongoski suggested that if lawmakers don't do something about the kicker, he'd use his authority to order them back to Salem until they do.

"As much as the Legislature can call itself into session, I can call them into session," he said. "This is one of those critical points in Oregon history where we have to make a decision on this."

Kulongoski suggested the first 3% to 5% of the revenue above the forecast would be put away in what he calls the "emergency reserve fund" and any excess amounts over that would be refunded back to taxpayers. Once the fund is "full" roughly about $1 billion, the kicker would go back to working as usual.

"I am determined -- and there are others who feel the way I do -- that now is the time to do some serious reform of our unstable tax system," said Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, who chairs the Senate Revenue Committees "The measures we just passed are nothing more than a Band-Aid to solve a critical revenue shortfall from the recession."

Both Kulongoski and Burdick believe that it [the kicker] would give the state a cushion against the kind of revenue shortfalls that prompted the tax increases because without it, the state will continue on its "boom or bust" cycle.

Oregon kickers fund which was passed by the 1979 Oregon Legislature which requires the state to REFUND EXCESS REVENUE to taxpayer when actual general fund revenues include a forecast amount by more than 2%.


Now consider this...

The purpose of the kicker fund is to refund excess revenue to the taxpayers when actual general fund revenues EXCEED forecast by 2%

If the forecast for the general fund does not exceed 2% , then the kicker does not apply.

Okay, this is government, so follow along with me and see if I have this straight because I'm confused.

Measures 66 and 67 says that services could be cut because there's not enough money in the general fund. So we need a new source of stable revenue.

Kulongoski is concerned about the kicker because it will give money back to the taxpayers if general fund revenues exceed the forecast of 2% or greater.

If the state is constantly running in a deficit in the general fund, and then worrying about the kicker would not be a concern or a priority.

However, Kulongoski and others are concerned about the kicker which would therefore indicate that there is a surplus in the general fund, then why would we need to give them more money such as measures 66 and 67?

In either case, they say that schools and state services would be affected if they don't have these revenues, but how can that be if you're concerned about the kicker which should be refunding revenues over the forecasted revenues for the general fund?

So in either case, they say that schools and state would be affected if they do not have these revenues and that is why we should have both measures 66 and 67 and make changes to the kicker.

So roughly translated, "if I am lying and I tell you that I'm lying... and I'm telling you the truth... but I'm telling you the truth that I'm lying... then I'm lying..."

I have a headache and I'm going to go lie down.