| Viewing all entries for: December 2007
While America and Europe have lamented the loss of manufacturing jobs to Southeast Asia, they frequently neglect to mention the corresponding outsourcing of pollution and carbon emissions. Since 1990, Germany's annual carbon emissions have fallen by 19 percent, and the Times adds:A study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that if all the goods that the United States imported between 1997 and 2004 had been produced domestically, America’s carbon emissions would have been 30 percent higher.Galling, then, that America would demand emission reductions from China before pursuing its own. Of course, many climate policy observers have speculated that China would be reluctant to take any action which could hinder its economic growth. This analysis ignores, however, the fact that environmental degradation itself is harming the developmental process.
Pistons-Pacers Preview
The Pistons will be facing a struggling Pacers team as they look to continue building momentum. Indiana has lost three straight and 13 of 17, including a 98-96 defeat to woeful Miami on Saturday in the finale of a four-game road trip. The Pacers led by nine at the half, but the Heat pulled even at the end of the third quarter before jumping out to a six-point lead with 9:53 remaining and leading the rest of the way. "It just seems like we really shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes," said Mike Dunleavy, who scored 25 points to lead the Pacers. Indiana averages 103.2 points per game - tied for sixth-most in the NBA - but has been held below 100 in the last three contests. The Pacers averaged 112.2 points in the six games prior. Indiana's problems also stem from its inability to stop opponents on the offensive end, as the Pacers are allowing 106.5 points in January.
Church growth is legacy of Mormon leader
While the church is among the fastest growing in the U.S., membership is rising more rapidly overseas, primarily in Africa and Latin America. "Without a doubt that was part of his vision from the first," said Bruce Olsen, managing director of public relations for the church. "His ability to articulate that vision and see the big pictures helped that move along." Mormons have always been missionaries, but the first major international effort to grow the church was in the late 1830s, when missionaries were sent to England, drawing more than 1,000 converts back to the United States. From there the work spread to Denmark and other part of Western Europe. In a statement Monday, President Bush praised Hinckley as a "deeply patriotic man." "While serving for over seven decades in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon demonstrated the heart of a servant and the wisdom of a leader," Bush said.
Did Obama beat ... Jackson?
Worse, it's hard to see an easy way out of it for Obama, at least before the wave of primaries and caucuses on Feb. 5. He could try to make Hillary the pet candidate of Latinos the way he's being cast as the pet candidate of blacks--but that would require a shift to the right on immigrant legalization that he doesn't seem willing to make. (I hope I'm wrong about that.**) The more obvious move is to find a Sister Souljah--after Saturday--to stiff arm. The most promising candidate is not a person, but an idea: race-based affirmative action. Obama has already made noises about shifting to a class-based, race-blind system of preferences. What if he made that explicit? Wouldn't that shock hostile white voters into taking a second look at his candidacy? He'd renew his image as trans-race leader (and healer).
Flexibility serves Osgood well in his golden years
All the other stuff that goes around the game doesn't bother me anymore. I just play. I enjoy it." And ironically, he enjoys the relationship he's forged with Hasek, the same guy whose arrival back in 2001 forced Osgood to leave town. Hasek, who turns 43 today, calls Osgood the best goaltending teammate he's ever had in the NHL. "We just ended up playing together at a perfect time in our careers," Osgood said. "We're both veteran goalies who have played a lot of games. There's no egos. We just play, and we want to see each other do well. We're not mad or unhappy if the other guy plays well. Maybe earlier in our careers it might not have worked. But now I think it's the perfect situation for us." You can reach John Niyo at john.niyo@detnews.com. .
Butcher shop finds home in Piedmont
But neighboring businesses objected, in part because they worried that a meat market would lead to odors, flies and other nuisances.After a lengthy fight, the Rapid City Planning Commission in January denied the Goosens a conditional-use permit for the property at Highway 79 and Minnesota.Then the Goosens tried to buy the antique mall building in Summerset. Again, the couple ran into opposition from neighboring property owners."If you say slaughterhouse or kill floor, people get Black Hills pack in their mind," she said.Black Hills Packing Co., later Federal Beef Processors, was a large-scale slaughter facility just west of downtown Rapid City. It was an industrial facility, and at times, the smell of livestock was apparent several blocks away.But Rebecca Goosen said the type of facility they plan will be low-key.
Tuesday morning bits and pieces
We publish letters to the editor, thousands a year, some good number of which call us to account and provide citizens with the opportunity to criticize our work. We publish every day a column that acknowledges our mistakes. We offer a number of ways online through our blogs and other systems for people to interact and challenge. I have yet to see any public agency anywhere in our region make those opportunities available to citizens on this scale. When was the last time you saw City Hall publish daily a log of the mistakes made, big and small. Seems to me things are backwards. In a free society, you would think tax-supported government would be the open system and private enterprise, which is what the newspaper is, would be the closed system. steve .
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