River Sweep 2007 Information

Just thought I'd pass this on if anyone's interested. You can find more information about "River Sweep" here.

2007 RiverSweep Press Release

RIVER SWEEP DATE SET

Contact:
Jeanne J. Ison
(513) 231-7719

Volunteers are needed for River Sweep 2007, scheduled for Saturday, June 16 along the shoreline of the Ohio, Allegheny, Monongahela, Beaver, Kanawha, and Kentucky rivers and other tributaries.

River Sweep is a riverbank cleanup that extends the entire length of the Ohio River and beyond. More than 3,000 miles of shoreline will be combed for trash and debris. This is the largest environmental event of its kind and encompasses six states.

"River Sweep is very important because for a few hours on one day volunteers can help make a difference in the appearance of this great natural resource," said Jeanne Ison, Project Director. “The Sweep has grown so much in the past few years, we’ve been able to expand the project to tributaries and feeder streams of the Ohio River.”

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), in partnership with various industries throughout the Ohio River Valley, sponsors the Ohio River Sweep. Other sponsoring agencies are the West Virginia Make It Shine Program, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, Illinois EPA, Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, and Kentucky River Authority. ORSANCO is the water pollution control agency for the Ohio River and its tributaries.

“Industries throughout the Ohio River Valley play an important role in this great environmental event,” continued Ison. “Not only do they provide financial support, they also provide volunteers and in-kind services.”

Persons wanting to volunteer for this event can call 1-800-359-3977 for local coordinators in their area.

Source: ORSANCO - RiverSweep Corporate Sponsors

I'm A Terrible Person

I've been so busy this week that I forgot all about Jerid's fundraiser for The New Hampshire Project. I wouldn't have been able to go anyway but I still meant to pass the word on. You can still send Jerid some money through PayPal.

Find out more at The New Hampshire Project HQ | Buckeye State Blog.

I Guess Rudy Hates Poor Farmers

Speaking of Rudy, here's this little clip from a small Iowa newspaper about "America's Mayor" backing out of a speaking engagement that his campaign had setup because the hosts weren't rich.

OLIN–Last weekend Deb and Jerry VonSprecken of Olin received a call from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s campaign office asking them if they would be interested in holding a campaign rally on May 4, after she had donated to his campaign.

“We thought it would be an honor and agreed,” said Jerry.

The campaign office continued to contact the VonSpreckens throughout last weekend and were told a security check would be needed. The couple passed the security check and began putting plans in place.

“We started making phone calls. We got the sheriff and fire department and Olin school was going to let out early. We were also expecting kids from the Anamosa school,” Jerry explained. “Deb even went around and personally invited people.”

On Tuesday Deb received a call from Giuliani’s Des Monies office and was asked to call New York.

“They wanted to know our assets,” she revealed, and added that she and Jerry have a modest 80 acre farm and raise cattle.

Later she received a call from Tony Delgado at the Des Monies location.

“Tony said, ‘I’m sorry, you aren’t worth a million dollars and he is campaigning on the Death Tax right now.’ then he said they weren’t going to be able to come,” Deb continued.

I'm sorry but wasn't the lie (well it was) argument that they always used against the death tax was that it would cause farmers to lose their land (even though they couldn't find a single example of that ever happening)?

I'm also anxiously awaiting the main stream media to pick up this story like they did with John Edwards new house.

Source: Anamosa Journal Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa (H/T to The Horse's Mouth)

Giuliani To Speak On His Abortion Views

This should be good. There's nothing better than watching the other party fight amongst themselves (oh come on Republicans, you know you love it when we do it),

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani will fully outline his position on abortion rights before next week's GOP debate in South Carolina, Giuliani advisers told CNN on Thursday.

The former New York City mayor's remarks will reassert his personal opposition to abortion, but also emphasize his support for a woman's right to choose whether or not to terminate a pregnancy, the advisers said.

Giuliani has come under fire for fumbling an answer he gave on this controversial issue during last week's Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Los Angeles, California.

One adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to CNN, acknowledged that Giuliani was subject to sharp criticism for his handling of the question at the debate, but noted that the campaign is confident that when given more time, Giuliani will be able to fully explain his position.

I still have to admire the man for sticking to his position though, especially because I sort of agree with him.

Source: Giuliani plans to outline views on abortion rights - CNN.com

Pizza For The Poor? Nashville Say's No

I just don't get it. A man asks only that his last meal before his execution, a vegetarian pizza, be given to a random nearby homeless person and the prison refuses. The man could have asked for a more expensive meal for himself and gotten it without anyone giving it a second thought, so what's the problem with him giving his last meal away?

(CNN) -- Hundreds of homeless people in Nashville, Tennessee, ate well Wednesday evening -- all in the name of a man who the state put to death just hours earlier.

Philip Workman, 53, requested that his final meal be a vegetarian pizza donated to any homeless person located near Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.

He was executed there at 2 a.m. ET Wednesday.

But prison officials refused to honor his request, saying that they do not donate to charities.

That apparently upset a few people willing to pay for and deliver a lot of pies themselves.

Homeless shelters across Nashville were inundated with donated pizzas all Wednesday.

"I was like, 'Wow, Jesus!' " said Marvin Champion, an employee of Nashville's Rescue Mission, which provides overnight shelter, food and assistance to more than 800 homeless people a night.

I used to support the death penalty, I really did. Now I just think it's such a waste. By the time the entire judicial process is carried out in a death penalty case there's really no financial benefit and it's really nothing more than an act of revenge. Maybe I'll write up a separate post on the topic sometime.

Source: Executed man's last request honored -- pizza for homeless - CNN.com

Don't Quote A Klan Leader On The House Floor

It's just common sense that you probably shouldn't use the words of a former Ku Klux Klan leader to support your cause on the House floor. Apparently Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) didn't realize that when he misquoted a "successful Confederate general" that just happened to also be one of the original KKK Grand Wizard's.

POE: Mr. Speaker, does anybody realize there’s a war going out there in the desert sands of Iraq and the rough mountains of Afghanistan? Apparently not or Congress would be taking care of our troops. Mr. Speaker, the troops will be out of funds to carry the fight to the enemy by the end of June. So where’s the money? Spending money is what Congress does. Why hasn’t this body provided the funds for our troops and equipment and more personnel?

This is an emergency. Delay will put our troops at risk. We should authorize the funds now. Send equipment now. And if needed send more troops. The American people expect our military to do their duty. Well the American people expect us to do ours as well. Congress needs to quit talking about supporting the troops and put money where our mouths seem to be. Nathan Bedford Forrest, successful Confederate general, said it best about winning and victory and the means to do so. He said, “Git thar fustest with the mostest.”

Read More: Think Progress » Rep. Poe Quotes Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard On House Floor

The Tragedy Of Du’a Khalil Aswad

I saw a video yesterday that sickened me so much that I still can't find the right words to explain how wrong it is for people to do what this video showed. It was a grainy cell phone video of the April 7th "honor killing" of 17 year old Du’a Khalil Aswad in Northern Iraq.

What is an "honor killing"? In this case it was over 100 grown men throwing this half naked 17 year old girl on the ground and then kicking and stoning her until she died, all because she loved a boy that practiced a different religion. The even video shows several Iraqi police officers standing around right before the events take place. It sure sounds real honorable to me.

You can read more about this from ABC and this press release from Amnesty International. Don't go looking for the videos, you'll regret watching them. If you must see them you can email me for the link but don't say that I didn't warn you.

Edit (5:30 P.M. 5/18/07): My email address is david@leftofohio.com. I've also written a follow-up post about 4 arrests made in this case here.

CNN To Release Debate Coverage Into Public Domain

CNN has decided to start releasing footage of it's debates restriction free.

Media Advisory for release: May 5, 2007

CNN to Make Presidential Debate Footage Available without Restrictions

As previously announced, CNN will team up with Hearst-Argyle's WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader to host two presidential debates to be held in America's first primary state. The debate featuring Democratic candidates will be held on Sunday, June 3, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the Republican debate will be held on Tuesday, June 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Due to the historical nature of presidential debates and the significance of these forums to the American public, CNN believes strongly that the debates should be accessible to the public. The candidates need to be held accountable for what they say throughout the election process.

The presidential debates are an integral part of our system of government, in which the American people have the opportunity to make informed choices about who will serve them. Therefore, CNN debate coverage will be made available without restrictions at the conclusion of each live debate.

We believe this is good for the country and good for the electoral process. This decision will apply to all of CNN's presidential debates, beginning with the upcoming New Hampshire debates in June.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, CNN.com's premium live video news service; CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and two Web sites.

Will candidates act differently knowing that this is their big chance at a YouTube moment?

Source: CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker