h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

1) The reversal of the sneek and peek provision of the Patriot Act is in the works. It enables police to come into your home at any time without notice, without a warrant, or specific reason other than suspician. They had 30 days to tell you they entered. It was decided it is not practical due to opportunity for abuses of the law during those entries.

2) The Governor of California has been challenged to a recall election. I assume this is a good thing,if the citizens are that displeased.

3) The FCC has been limited in it scope of being able to allow companies to grow larger. They will repeal the percentage allowed back to it's former level. There is also an investigation into Clear Channel for anti-trust laws. They are a larger than normal radio station owning company.

Entry ID: A781887
Here is an entry about how to prepare yourself for President of the US. I found it interesting to review.

Thanks. I guess the world's not totally insane... yet...

I was thinking "good US news" would be the thing to post once a week!

"2) The Governor of California has been challenged to a recall election. I assume this is a good thing,if the citizens are that displeased"

I know that the reason for the recall is the budget shortfall and crisis in California, and the fact that many lay the blame for it firmly at Gray Davis's door, but I know no more than that.

I have to wonder though, bearing in mind that so many other states are having similar problems, if the people of California are refusing to take blame for a problem of their own making. In American politics, any politician who says that he will increase taxes to pay for essential or necessary services is doomed to oblivion, whereas another politician who promises a reduction in taxes (regardless of the consequences) will be voted in with a landslide majority. There comes a point where there simply isn't enough money to pay for schools, police departments, fire departments, and other services which people demand, but how many of them will put up their hand and say 'Yes, I'll pay more tax so that we can have these services.'?

THE RUBBER DUCKY FLOATILLA IS COMING HOME!!!!

Really. After eleven years at sea, thousands of bathtub toys that were washed overboard during a storm at sea are approaching shore. In a remarkable case of seizing the moment and using it to increase our understanding of surface ocean currents and weather patterns, scientists have been following the journey of these "mighty ducks" pretty much since it started.

http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/toys/story/0,1587,1003629,00.html

"Like all good stories, this one begins on a wild and stormy night. In January 1992 a container ship en route from Hong Kong to America ran into trouble in the middle of the Pacific ocean, somewhere near where the international date line splits the western and eastern hemispheres. With the ship rolling violently from side to side in heavy seas, several of the containers broke free from their moorings and tipped into the water. At least one was forced open, spilling its curious cargo of 29,000 plastic bath-time toys."

"Pushed along by the wind and ocean currents, this flotilla of yellow ducks -together with some red beavers, green frogs and blue turtles - began one of the world's great journeys; a journey that may be now nearing its end. More than 11 years and several thousand miles later, scientists think the toys have made their way up the western seaboard of North America, across the icy waters of the North Pole and are now bobbing their way down through the North Atlantic. Any day now, they could wash up on the shores of Britain...."



In other news, high school students are being actively encouraged to learn about the environment.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/07/27/envirothon.ap/index.html

"POTOMAC, Maryland (AP) -- Seventeen-year-old Valerie Shen is scared of bats -- but not for the usual reasons.

Far from fearing close contact with them, she's afraid she doesn't know enough about the critters for the Envirothon, a six-day competition that will bring 235 North American high school students to Emmitsburg on Saturday.

Besides memorizing reams of wildlife data, the students are cramming on aquatics, forestry, soils and agricultural land conservation.

The rewards are substantial: a $3,000 scholarship for each of the five students on the winning team, plus exposure to scores of environmental scientists eager to provide career guidance...."



And, finally, political awareness still happens. "Citizen Weapons Inspectors" have located weapons of mass destruction. In Colorado.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030726_923.html

"Hundreds of demonstrators Saturday fanned out across parts of Colorado and Nebraska to carry on the work of pacifist nuns sentenced to prison for their anti-war protest at a missile silo."

"Religious and political activists targeted the Minuteman III site, known as M-11, about 140 miles northeast of Denver one of 49 silo sites in Colorado to pray, sing, dance, beat drums and hang an eviction notice. Officials said protesters also gathered at three missile sites in southwestern Nebraska...."

"...Colorado protesters arrived at the missile site in cars with signs proclaiming 'Citizen Weapons Inspector.' A plane flew overhead with a banner stating: 'We found the weapons of mass destruction here in Colorado.'"

I'm glad you posted the rubber ducky story ! I thought that was a nice one. Accidental discoveries seem to be the best. It's just no accident someone moves on it I hope people will read it if they have not.

The nuns recieved 41-33-30 months sentances.I was also going to follow up on that story. So thanks!

I know it is budget concerns in California. All of the states are in trouble. The state of Colorado has the strictest budget restraints in the nation. I am expecting an election to come along to ask for approval of more tax collection.

Is it common in states to have 33% entertainment tax on baseball tickets and the like? Just noticed it had gotten that high

That 33% tax rate is pretty high. I haven't bought a ticket to a sporting event in years, so I hadn't realized where it was. It's actually more Denver tax than Colorado tax. At least, what I could find was. Then again, I could only find enough to add up to 17.2%. Any possibility the other half is "fees" or "service charges" or something like that?

Her's what I've got:

Facilities Development Admissions tax (seat tax) rate: 10.0%
Colorado sales tax rate: 2.9%
Denver sales tax rate: 3.5%
RTD sales tax rate: 0.6%
Scientific and Cultural Facilities District tax rate: 0.1%
Football Stadium District tax rate: 0.1%

Total 17.2%

0

"I know it is budget concerns in California. All of the states are in trouble. The state of Colorado has the strictest budget restraints in the nation. I am expecting an election to come along to ask for approval of more tax collection."

Ain't it fun living in a state where the politicians can reduce taxes whenever they want but can't raise them again without voter approval?

And our @%&%#^* governor still talks about his permanent tax cuts like they were good things.

0 - stepping back off soapbox, onaccounta this thread isn't really the place for it.

good news once a week from america,thats going to be hard to find suppose rubber duckies will be turning up in ice blocks like ice age man in two thousand years starting all sorts of debates and theries as to wether they where part of ritual practise or the like of

"Hundreds of demonstrators Saturday fanned out across parts of Colorado and Nebraska to carry on the work of pacifist nuns sentenced to prison for their anti-war protest at a missile silo."
"Religious and political activists targeted the Minuteman III site, known as M-11, about 140 miles northeast of Denver one of 49 silo sites in Colorado to pray, sing, dance, beat drums and hang an eviction notice. Officials said protesters also gathered at three missile sites in southwestern Nebraska...."
"...Colorado protesters arrived at the missile site in cars with signs proclaiming 'Citizen Weapons Inspector.' A plane flew overhead with a banner stating: 'We found the weapons of mass destruction here in Colorado.'"


RIGHT ON!!!!

It's good to see some folk are still willing to put their money where their mouth is!!!



And the rubber ducks heading for Britain? I'll be keeping my eye out, the Gulf Stream washes right onto the coast I call home! Great to hear some good news for a change!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F102610?thread=272371 Here is my previous "Nuns in Jail" thread if anyone wants to read more.The picture of the site in the Westword is well worth a look.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F96332?thread=300647&post=3829544#p3829544 For a good chuckle this is what 6th graders say about the history of the world.

How do we know they were 6th graders?

True.
I see the Leno show (late night tv)interview people on the street asking about current events. The second time I saw it they went to a teachers convention - Hotel and asked the same sort of questions. The answers were appalling, not unlike these!

true