Author Archives: Arthur Crown

Do We Need More Business Folks In Congress?

Mother Jones

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Ed Kilgore points to a new Gallup poll that asks what kind of people you’d like to see in Congress:

So is this a vote for more business experience? Or even—shudder—a retroactive yearning for Mitt Romney? Like Kilgore, I’m skeptical. At a guess, people who answered the question about business experience were implicitly contrasting it with lawyers or career politicians, and that’s a rigged deck. Of course business leaders will come out ahead compared to those two despised professions.

Which makes it too bad that Gallup screwed up this question. Instead of throwing out a kitchen sink of qualities (occupation, religion, ideology, etc.) they should have asked specifically about a list of occupations. Do you think the country would be better governed if our legislatures had more:

Business folks
Teachers
Lawyers
Doctors
Retired people
Military leaders
Scientists
Etc.

That would be kind of an interesting poll. Personally, I’d vote for more kindergarten teachers. I suspect that’s a pretty appropriate background for serving a few years in Congress.

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Do We Need More Business Folks In Congress?

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Pebble Mine project in Alaska is on the ropes

Pebble Mine project in Alaska is on the ropes

Friends of Bristol Bay

A waterway that leads to Bristol Bay.

The future of the controversial Pebble Mine, which could excavate 186 square miles [PDF] of pristine Alaskan terrain, is now very much up in the air.

The proposed mine near Bristol Bay would dig up an estimated $300 billion worth of gold, copper, and molybdenum. But it would threaten another treasure: one of the world’s biggest salmon runs, which provides half the world’s supply of sockeye.

One of two global mining giants involved in the project announced Monday that it was walking away from what it regards as a high-risk venture. U.K.-based Anglo American had spent $541 million getting the 50/50 joint-venture project nearly to the point where it could begin applying for state and federal permits. By quitting now, it avoids spending nearly $1 billion more it had agreed to sink into development of the mine. Anglo told shareholders it would write $300 million of intangible assets off of its ledger at the end of the year — the price of walking away from a deal that it once thought would lead to bountiful riches.

It’s too early to say what this will mean for the fate of the project, but environmentalists rejoiced in the news while investors choked on it.

“Anglo American’s decision to pull out of the potentially disastrous Pebble Mine highlights the incredible risks the project brings to Bristol Bay’s local communities and fisheries,” World Wildlife Fund Arctic campaigner Dave Aplin said. “When a company is willing to accept a $300 million charge to walk away from a project, it gives you a sense of just how bad of an idea the proposed Pebble Mine really is.”

Opponents of the mine worry that it would wreck an ecologically rich and remarkable landscape. Local fishermen are particularly concerned, fearing the project could destroy their livelihoods — and the livelihoods of the processors and traders that rely on them [PDF].

The timing of the announcement was interesting: It came just weeks after EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy visited the site, which environmentalists and fishermen are lobbying her to protect using provisions of the Clean Water Act. Results of a recent poll indicated that more than 60 percent of Alaskans would vote in a favor of a proposed 2014 ballot initiative to block the mine.

The announcement also coincides with falling worldwide commodity prices.

In Monday’s announcement, Anglo American said it wants to reduce financial risks and reduce spending on “such projects during the pre-approval phases.”

Northern Dynasty Minerals, a publicly traded subsidiary of Canadian mining company Hunter Dickinson, is now left all alone in trying to push through with the mine. Its chief executive put an optimistic spin on the news during a call Monday with reporters. “We will now be back in possession of 100 percent of the Pebble Project and the beneficiary of something north of $540 million worth of expenditures by Anglo over the past five years,” Ron Thiessen said. He insisted the project would move forward, but acknowledged that he really doesn’t know what lies ahead. The company’s board of directors has not yet met to discuss next steps.

Northern Dynasty might be trying to sound upbeat, but investors were having none of it. The company doesn’t have enough money to develop the mine alone. Shares in the company were being traded at $1.50 on Monday — an all-time low, well below the $5 at which its shares were trading a year ago.

If the project is called off, what’s bad news for the mining company’s investors would prove to be wonderful news for the environment.

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.Find this article interesting? Donate now to support our work.Read more: Business & Technology

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Pebble Mine project in Alaska is on the ropes

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Groundwork Laid, Growers Turn to Hemp in Colorado

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Dogtripping – David Rosenfelt

David Rosenfelt’s Dogtripping is moving and funny account of a cross-country move from California to Maine, and the beginnings of a dog rescue foundation When mystery writer David Rosenfelt and his family moved from Southern California to Maine, he thought he had prepared for everything. They had mapped the route, brought three […]

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Merle’s Door – Ted Kerasote

Now including a wonderful new photo insert chronicling Merle’s life, this national bestseller explores the relationship between humans and dogs. How would dogs live if they were free? Would they stay with their human friends? Merle and Ted found each other in the Utah desert— Merle was living wild and Ted was looking for a pup to keep him company. As their b […]

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Warhammer Battlefields: Border Wars – Games Workshop

Races clash endlessly across the battlefields of the Warhammer world, fighting bloody skirmishes to expand their domains and repel invaders. Border Wars is a two player Warhammer campaign that can be set anywhere in the war-torn Warhammer World. It allows players to use any armies they choose in a series of linked battles, charting a bitter war between rival […]

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Colter – Rick Bass

COLTER pairs one of America’s most treasured writers with our most treasured “best friend.” Colter, a German shorthair pup, was the runt of the litter, and Rick Bass took him only because nobody else would. Soon, though, Colter surprised his new owner, first with his raging genius, then with his innocent ability to lead Bass to new territory a […]

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Warhammer: Lizardmen – Games Workshop

Long before the rise of the new races, the Lizardmen ruled supreme. Alien, enigmatic, and without mercy, the Lizardmen will stop at nothing to restore order to a chaotic world. It is what they were made to do. After long ages of fighting to preserve their ancient civilization, the Lizardmen now seek to conquer, fully enacting the unfinished plans of their lo […]

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How to Paint Citadel Miniatures: Lizardmen – Games Workshop

Brightly coloured scales, tarnished golden weapons and yellowed claws are all distinctive visuals of the Lizardmen army. From the markings denoting specific spawnings to the icons of the ancient Slann cities, each Lizardmen force has a unique appearance. This product contains eleven painting guides for a wide variety of Lizardmen Citadel Miniatures, includin […]

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Warhammer 40,000: The Rules – Games Workshop

There is no time for peace. No respite. No forgiveness. There is only WAR. In the nightmare future of the 41st Millennium, Mankind teeters upon the brink of destruction. The galaxy-spanning Imperium of Man is beset on all sides by ravening aliens and threatened from within by Warp-spawned entities and heretical plots. Only the strength of the immortal […]

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Warhammer Battlefields: Lustria – Games Workshop

The jungles of Lustria ring with the sound of battle as the Lizardmen march to war. This product details a two player Warhammer campaign set in the steamy wilds of Lustria, allowing you to battle against a friend across the tabletop. It also includes digital campaign tracker, so you can mark your progress toward victory.

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How to Raise the Perfect Dog – Cesar Millan & Melissa Jo Peltier

From the bestselling author and star of National Geographic Channel’s Dog Whisperer , the only resource you’ll need for raising a happy, healthy dog. For the millions of people every year who consider bringing a puppy into their lives–as well as those who have already brought a dog home–Cesar Millan, the preeminent dog behavior expert, says, “Yes, […]

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Index Astartes: Company Champions – Games Workshop

Honour bound to defend their Company Commander, the Company Champion seeks out powerful foes and answers challenges from enemy warlords. The Champion is always a great warrior, chosen from the most skilled veterans of the Company and is deadly in battle. About this Series: The Adeptus Astartes are genetically engineered warriors, created by the Emperor […]

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Groundwork Laid, Growers Turn to Hemp in Colorado

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The Best Tips And Guidance To Finding A Good Solar Panel Contractor

Finding a solar panel installation contractor to assist in all your home improvement projects is critical to the success and outcome of these projects. Use these tips and suggestions to find the very best in contractors to help with your next home improvement project.

If a solar panel installation contractor demands you to pay in cash it is a faulty idea to use them. A contractor can save money by not reporting the cash you pay them as income and avoid paying taxes on the money. This is not legal and you should not participate in tax fraud.

Even if the solar panel installation contractor has an amazing advertisement, it is important to perform adequate research on all contractors that you are considering. Look through their references, work history, professionalism, certifications, and licenses before deciding who to hire for your project.

Depending on the size of your project, hiring each member of the work crew and solar panel experts can be an exhausting task. Usually the solar panel installation contractor will accomplish this on your behalf. They have a pool of workers they trust and have experience with the process of hiring, payroll and labor laws as well as other aspects of personnel management.

You’re going to be spending a lot of time with your solar panel installation contractor and your project outcome will depend entirely upon them. So, take your time when choosing one and don’t rush the process. You don’t want to get halfway through the project to realize that the contractor you picked is all wrong.

Taking the time to go through the references of a solar panel installation contractor will not only assist you in understanding more about them, it will also assist you in determining the right questions to ask during the interview. The more you know about the contractor, the more you can feel rest assured that you made the right hiring decision.

Some solar panel installation contractors, such as contractors, are required to provide a license number in all ads. Plumbers and electricians are not necessarily required to do this, but a homeowner should ask for this information. If this makes you uncomfortable, explain that your home owners insurance requires the number for a claim.

Ask around your area for recommendations on solar panel installation contractors. If you find a contractor with a good reputation in the area, they’ll want to keep up that reputation and provide professional business.

Be honest with your solar panel installation contractor and expect the same from him or her. If special accommodations need to be made for an older parent who is handicapped, a toddler in the home, or even an aggressive pet, then be clear. A contractor needs to know and understand any accommodations that need to be made or restrictions placed on the work area.

Visit any large search engine and enter go green energy today into search box. You may discover a few interesting tips about solar energy you can utilize immediately.

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Yeah, Marco Rubio Is Toast (for Now, Anyway)

Mother Jones

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Josh Marshall and Ed Kilgore are arguing about whether Marco Rubio is toast. Can I play?

Here’s my guess: he’s toast for 2016, but might make a comeback later. He’s pretty young, after all. The specific question that Josh and Ed are tossing around, though, is this: how can we say that Rubio is doomed just because he’s pissed off the base over immigration reform? After all, the last two Republican nominees had big base problems too.

I think the answer here is fairly simple, and it’s something that gets lost a lot: the tea party makes up only about half—or maybe slightly less than half—of the Republican base. In the past two GOP primaries, what’s basically happened is that there was a huge clown show between a bunch of candidates all sprinting rightward in order to win the tea party vote, and only one or two candidates seriously going after the more moderate vote. John McCain and Mitt Romney were by far the strongest candidates among moderates, and that’s how they won. They got the bulk of the non-tea party vote all to themselves, added in a bit of tea party support here and there, and that was enough. All the other candidates were tearing each other apart for the tea party vote, and in the end that meant none of them could build a commanding lead.

Rubio’s problem is that, immigration aside, he’s very clearly a creature of the tea party. If he runs, he’s going to be one of the guys competing like a pit bull for the 40 percent of the base they represent. But with immigration working against him, he has no chance of coming out on top. In a nutshell, he’s dead to the tea partiers and he’s too rabidly right-wing to make a play for the center. For now, he’s got nothing.

That could all change in the future, and frankly I think he’d be smart to regroup and think about 2020 or 2024. But this is why Rubio is toast for now. Immigration was his ticket to a share of the moderate vote, and that’s now looking like a bad bet.

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Yeah, Marco Rubio Is Toast (for Now, Anyway)

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The Right Solar Panel Contractor Could Only Be Found Using The Right Method

When shopping for a skilled and affordable solar panel installation contractor, you have many things to evaluate before making a final decision. Write a list of requirements that your contractor should have. Here are some other friendly tips to help ensure that you make a wise decision.

Always discuss your expectations to your solar panel installation contractor and their solar panel experts. You want everyone working on your project to have a clarified understanding of what’s to be expected and what is required. This will help you to stay within budget, keep the project’s schedule on track and also give you the best possible outcome.

When you’re conducting online research, don’t take just anyone’s word on a solar panel installation contractor’s reputation, references or professional standing. Only consult sites that are considered “reputable” – you can find these by using the Google Rank feature, which will organize web pages for you based on their reputability.

When you are unfamiliar with the improvement process, do research prior to choosing a solar panel installation contractor. In this case you may want to look for a contractor willing to explain in details each step of the project to ensure you are kept in the loop.

The main responsibility of a solar panel installation contractor is to communicate with solar panel experts. This makes you relief from over burden work and from contacting multiple people. All you need is to hire a good responsible contractor, who understands his duty and pay the solar panel experts with honesty.

Ask what can be done to make sure the solar panel installation contractor consistently delivers quality without overcharging you and have the contractor sign a contract so it is enforced. Ask what the contractor’s priorities are and make sure you like them. Inspect the work site to check for professionalism.

Converse with family and friends about the topic of hiring a solar panel installation contractor, more often then not these people will hold previous experience and valuable insight on the topic of getting the most out of your money.

Always make sure the solar panel installation contractor you would like to select has a clause in the contract that lets you to hold at least 10% of the total amount you will owe. Holding at least 10% of the amount owed the contractor will ensure you get an accomplished project. You don’t have to pay them until they have finished the job totally.

While you’re doing research online, you should never take anybody’s work to the fullest extent on a solar panel installation contractor. Always contract their references and see their professional rank, see if they’re legitimate or a terrible contractor. This should make your choice much easier.

Never leave the solar panel installation contractors office without getting at least one copy of the signed contract. There are many things that are discussed in your contract and it can be impossible to keep track of everything. Besides, you will want to have the contract for reference if anything goes wrong on the worksite.

Going on the web to get more tips could be a good idea. You can visit Yahoo and search for solar panels perth wa. You might be pleasantly impressed with new tips about solar panels perth.

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Knowing Your Project Needs And Finding A Great Solar Panel Contractor

Your renovation should be done right, no matter how big or small a project it is. To ensure positive results, you need a solar panel installation contractor equipped with both the rights skills and the right experience. Gain a clear understanding of the nature of your project, and make sure to interrogate prospects about their pertinent work history. Continue reading to find some more good tips on how to hire the most suitable professional.

While looking for a solar panel installation contractor online you can use social networks as well. Twitter can be one of the great sources for this purpose. Tweet to your followers by providing them with a link of contractors you have and you can get to know if any of your followers has experience with them. Use as much Social media sites you can for variety of better options and then filtering your preference regarding your contractor.

Be sure to talk with your solar panel installation contractor before any work begins and get the written contractor sorted. Make sure that the very first deposit you make doesn’t cover a majority of the costs. Be sure to check if they’ve got a physical location ready and if they’re tailored to your needs.

Taking a look at contracts is a great way to ensure that you understand what you are signing before entering negotiations. You do not want to be taken advantage of just because you don’t know all the terminology. Knowing this terminology will ensure that everything will work out during your project.

Finding a great solar panel installation contractor can be as easy as contacting your trade association directory and community center to see if they have any recommendations. Contact the references and ask for a background check and agree for an in-person interview. Go with your gut feeling during the interview. Ask them detailed questions about the cost and length of time the project will take.

It is important to remember that you are in charge of your project and you can determine the rules. Ask the solar panel installation contractor for a daily progress report to ensure the job is being performed correctly.

In order to save time, you can perform a telephone interview with several solar panel installation contractors before inviting them to a formal interview. This will help you determine right away if they are even interested in the project or will be the right fit.

Be sure you are clear with your solar panel installation contractor regarding your requirements and goals at all times. This will help avoid any misunderstandings or mistakes later on which can be costly to correct.

Designers can be good sources of professional solar panel installation contractors since they mostly have an in house contractor who might turn out to be as well good for hire. In addition this saves you a lot of time and money when looking for a contractor and averts any delays on your project. Utilize contractors’ recommended to you by designers.

Did the tips above spark an interest about solar heat? Why not go to Google and start typing in solar hot water heaters tucson? We promise you’ll discover useful answers.

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