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Southern California Earthquake Watch: 4.9 70 Miles North of Los Angeles
The temblors in the San Joaquin Valley about 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles began with a magnitude-4.0 jolt that was quickly followed by the 4.9 at 1:24 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena.
Seismologists recorded at least five aftershocks ranging between magnitudes 3 and 3.7.
“The only things we’re getting reported is that some items toppled over on shelves, but we’ve gotten no reports of damages or injuries,” said Kern County fire Capt. Doug Johnston.
Johnston said the area contains mostly dairies and farmlands.
Flap did not feel the earthquake in Thousand Oaks.
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SCOTUS WATCH: Justice Ginsburg Whines “I have a list of highly qualified women, but the president has not consulted me.”
The ASSociated Press has Ginsburg: ‘Any Woman Will Not Do’ for Job.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg told an audience Wednesday that she doesn’t like the idea of being the only female justice on the Supreme Court. But in choosing to fill one of the two open positions on the court, “any woman will not do,” she said.
There are “some women who might be appointed who would not advance human rights or women’s rights,” Ginsburg told those gathered at the New York City Bar Association.
The retirement of Ginsburg’s colleague Sandra Day O’Connor has fueled speculation about whether President Bush will nominate a woman to her position.
Flap handicaps that the President will appoint a woman as the next Associate Justice.
Ginsburg stressed that the president should appoint a “fine jurist,” adding that there are many women who fit that description.
“I have a list of highly qualified women, but the president has not consulted me,” she added during a brief interview Wednesday night.
And why should the President consult with a current Supreme Court Justice and the former General Counsel of the ACLU?
Look for the President’s nomination of Judge Priscilla Owen tomorrow.
Technorati Tags: Supreme Court, George Bush, Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Priscilla Owen
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: New Add Comparing Arnold to George Wallace OUTED
Boi From Troy OUTS Rob Reiner with Reiner Strategist behind gay attacks on Schwarzenegger.
Something seemed out-of-character when Equality California started comparing the man they described as “America’s Most Gay-Friendly Governor†with George Wallace. Matt Szabo even remarked that he, “to wonder whether there were secondary motives or agendas behind the decision.â€
I think I have found the secondary agenda–and it involves rumored Gubernatirial candidate Rob Reiner.
Well the Fox News affiliate in Reno buries a lede that could reveal the true story behind the scenes here: “The ad, which was funded by Equality California and produced by Los Angeles-based political strategists Chad Griffin and Mark Amour, starkly presents the choice facing Schwarzenegger in terms of the civil rights struggle of the 1960s.â€
Chad Griffin, you may know, is Rob Reiner’s political consultant…the same Rob Reiner who has been mentioned as a possible candidate against Schwarzenegger in 2006.
Flap hasn’t seen the ad on Los Angeles broadcast television yet but will keep an eye out for the smear. Matt Szabo has more on why it is NOT in the Gay Communities best interest to bag on Arnold and why the ad is over the top, Wallace-Schwarzenegger Comparison in Pro-Marriage Ad Crosses the Line.
To see the ad with Quicktime CLICK HERE.
To see the ad with Windows Media Player CLICK HERE
Stay Tuned……
Do you think the MSM will pick up this story? The LA Times?
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rob Reiner
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Dentistry Believe It or Not: Gummi Bears Can Be Good for your Teeth
Newswise from the University of Washington Health Sciences has Brush, Floss and Eat Your Gummi Bears!
Volunteers are chewing up Gummi Bears sweetened with xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar that reduces tooth decay, to prove that the special Gummis can be as good for your teeth as xylitol-sweetened chewing gum – and a lot more fun.
“It surprises a lot of people that any kind of Gummi Bear could be healthy for teeth, since these candies are so sticky, and really cling to teeth,†says the study’s lead researcher Dr. Peter Milgrom. “Our goal was to get xylitol, which is good for teeth, into kids’ diets, without encouraging them to chew gum in school. Gummi Bears are the answer!â€
Milgrom, University of Washington professor of dentistry and the director of the Northwest/Alaska Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, convinced a California candy maker to add xylitol to batches of Gummi Bears.
“It’s already a popular sweetener for chewing gum,†Milgrom notes. “After they started using it in Japan in gum, it took over the market. I expect the xylitol Gummi Bears to do the same here, especially since the sweetener doesn’t change the flavor or sticky texture.â€
Milgrom’s team has worked with food manufacturers to add xylitol to cookies, pudding and other desserts that could be introduced into meals at schools and Head Start programs.
The xylitol Gummi Bears are not on the market, so kids and adults don’t yet have dental permission to eat sugary Gummi critters by the handful. After the UW study results are compiled next spring, a trip to the dentist could end with the advice, “Every day, I want you to brush, floss, and eat your Gummi Bears!â€
Flap remembers how sugary life-saves caused many cavities in his own teeth as a child and adolescent.
The gum chewing market has been successful with sugar substitutes and the addition of Recaldent which aids in remineralization of tooth enamel.
Gummi Bears with Xylitol would be a good example and an incentive to the candy market to change their formulations away from decay producing sugars.
Technorati Tags: dentistry, dental, dentist, Gummi Bears, Xylitol, teeth
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Air America Scandal: Boys & Girls Club Have Voted To Drop Bronx’s Gloria Wise Club
Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club Beacon 113 of Bronx, New York, kicked off their inaugural Jr. NBA/Jr.WNBA basketball seasonThe New York Post has CHARITY BOOTS KIDS’ CLUB OVER AIR AMERICA SCANDAL.
The embattled Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club in The Bronx — under investigation for taking $875,000 from programs for kids to help fund the start-up of Air America radio — was booted yesterday from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The national board of the Boys & Girls Clubs voted to yank Gloria Wise’s charter, barring them from using the much-heralded organization’s symbols and fund-raising clout because of a breach of ethical standards and failing to file audits.
Michelle Malkin has AIR AMERICA: GROVELING FOR CASH.
Al Franken’s liberal radio network, Air America, is now scraping the bottom of the barrel for investors. Having taxed the patience of deep-pocketed liberal sugar daddies, Air America execs have cooked up a new campaign to hit up their own listeners for cash donations.
My investigative blog partner Brian Maloney and I received multiple forwarded e-mails of the pitch being sent to Air America fans. Brian has the amusing scoop.
Wouldn’t one think that Al Franken and Air America would actually help out the KIDS they ripped off?
Flap supposes it is not in their character.
Technorati Tags: Air America, Al Franken, New York City, Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, theft, Michelle Malkin
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Judge John Roberts Watch: Nomination Clears Senate Judiciary Committee
Ranking Senate Judiciary Committee Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) (R), speaks in favor of the nomination of John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the Senate Judiciary Committee mark-up hearings on Capitol Hill, September 22, 2005. Listening to Leahy are from L-R: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Arlen Specter (R-PA).The ASSociated Press has Roberts Nomination Sent to Full Senate.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved John Roberts’ nomination as the next Supreme Court chief justice, virtually assuring his confirmation by the Senate next week.
Three Democrats joined the committee’s 10 majority Republicans in a 13-5 vote to advance the conservative judge’s nomination to the full Senate.
The three Democrats who voted for Judge Robert’s are:
Herb Kohl of Wisconsin
Russ Feingold of Wisconsin
Patrick Leahy of Vermont
The five Democrats who voted against confirmation are:
Joe Biden of Delaware
Dianne Feinstein of California
Dick Durbin of Illinois
Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts
Charles Shumer of New York
Feinstein told a packed Judiciary Committee hearing room that her vote was decided after Roberts refused to fully answer questions from her and other Democrats in his confirmation hearing last week.
“I knew as little about what Judge Roberts really thought about issues after the hearings as I did before the hearing. This makes it very hard for me,” said Feinstein, an abortion rights supporter.
“I cannot in good conscience cast a ‘yea’ vote,” she said. “I will cast a ‘no’ vote.”
DiFi had no rationale except “I do not know you, John”.
The senior Senator from California is definitely slowing down and at 73 will she make it through another term?
And who cares what Kennedy, Biden and Durbin have to say? They would vote NO for any nominee by a Republican President.
Stay tuned for the next nomination – Flap handicaps an announcement tomorrow afternoon around 3PM Eastern.
Tehnorati Tags: John Roberts, Supreme Court, Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein
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Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bear Flag League, California, Election 2006, Politics, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Special Election 2005
California Special Election Watch: Why Schwarzenegger Has Already Won the Election II
Robert Sallady of the Los Angeles Times has Initiative Drive Puts ’06 Governor’s Race in Gear.
Schwarzenegger has called a special election for this November, not next year when he is up for reelection. That has added heat at a time when politicians traditionally would be trying in vain to get attention while also quietly filling their war chests.
The special election has allowed Schwarzenegger and his chief rivals to piggyback on the tens of millions of dollars being collected for the Nov. 8 initiative fight, promoting themselves along the way. It will allow Schwarzenegger to appear in more TV ads than he might otherwise.
“It allows him to kick-start his reform package but also his gubernatorial campaign — by being very present in the voters’ minds and constantly dominating the airwaves,” said Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause.
The MSM is finally GETTING IT. Maybe……..
Flap has been writing that the Governor has already WON the November Special Election for months.
Dan Weintraub of the Sacramento Bee agrees.
But, Sallady misses the point by dwelling on how November initiative losses will aid Democrat Governor hopefuls California State Treasurer Phil Angelides and California Controller Steve Westly.
The California public employee unions will be drained dry with the November special election media buys and they risk alienating more of their members with increasing dues assessments to fund more television. Whether these unions can spend enough to promote their gubernatorial candidates and defend against other elecion year initiatives is doubtful.
In the meantime, Arnold will be on the airwaves every day for the next six weeks promoting a REFORM agenda (Propositions 74, 75, 76, 77) and fulfilling his promises to the voters made during the recall election.
The Governor has WON.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77
Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page