Relatives of the late Robert C. Henry unwrapped a nice present on his birthday Thursday, July 16.

His family and the city unveiled a street sign honoring the former mayor with a dual naming of Center Street as Robert C. Henry Way from High Street to Perrin Avenue.

Henry was the first black mayor in the country of a city of Springfield’s size.

Seeing the street sign with his name would have delighted him, his wife, Betty Henry, said.

“He was a very down-to-earth man with much to offer ... He would have liked to be remembered as a friend to all,” she said.

He grew up on Center Street and opened a funeral home there. His children — Robert II, Alan and Lisa — now run the business.

He served on a fact-finding commission to Vietnam under President Johnson, then later returned there to inspect nonmilitary activities under President Nixon.

Robert C. Henry died in 1981 at 60. His birthday was July 16 and he would have been 88 years old on Thursday.

He helped anybody he could and never looked for rewards, his son Robert C. Henry II recalled.

“No matter who you were, where you came from, he just loved doing for other people,” his son said.

The change is a dual street naming, so residents and businesses can use either name. The remaining signs will be installed in the next few weeks.

Mayor Warren Copeland said the naming is overdue. Robert C. Henry must have been quite a man to have been selected the nation's first black mayor, Copeland said.

“We in this community may not understand how historic this was,” he said. “People around the country recognized that something had happened.”

City Commissioner Orphus Taylor read a 1968 editorial from The Sun newspaper lauding Henry.

Taylor said it was a great honor to talk at the unveiling about Henry, whom she described as a man of quiet strength and demeanor.

“He transcended race and took all humanity as his province,” she said.

source

this is a vanity post because this was my grandfather :) the article says he was the first black mayor of a city of a certain size, but, if i recall correctly, he was the first black mayor of a city of ANY size.

California Sprouts 'Green Rush' From Marijuana

A drug deal plays out, California-style: A conservatively dressed courier drives a company-leased Smart Car to an apartment on a weekday afternoon. Erick Alvaro hands over a white paper bag to his 58-year-old customer, who inspects the bag to ensure everything he ordered over the phone is there.

An eighth-ounce of organic marijuana buds for treating his seasonal allergies? Check. An eighth of a different pot strain for insomnia? Check. THC-infused lozenges and tea bags? Check and check, with a free herb-laced cookie thrown in as a thank-you gift.

It's a $102 credit card transaction carried out with the practiced efficiency of a home-delivered pizza – and with just about as much legal scrutiny.

More and more, having premium pot delivered to your door in California is not a crime. It is a legitimate business.

Marijuana has transformed California. Since the state became the first to legalize the drug for medicinal use, the weed the federal government puts in the same category as heroin and cocaine has become a major economic force.

No longer relegated to the underground, pot in California these days props up local economies, mints millionaires and feeds a thriving industry of startups designed to grow, market and distribute the drug.

Based on the quantity of marijuana authorities seized last year, the crop was worth an estimated $17 billion or more, dwarfing any other sector of the state's agricultural economy.

Experts say most of that marijuana is still sold as a recreational drug on the black market. But more recently the plant has put down deep financial roots in highly visible, taxpaying businesses:

Stores that sell high-tech marijuana growing equipment. Pot clubs that pay rent and hire workers. Marijuana themed magazines and food products. Chains of for-profit clinics with doctors who specialize in medical marijuana recommendations.

The plant's prominence does not come without costs, say some critics. Marijuana plantations in remote forests cause severe environmental damage. Indoor grow houses in some towns put rentals beyond the reach of students and young families. Rural counties with declining economies cannot attract new businesses because the available work force is caught up in the pot industry. Authorities link the drug to violent crime in otherwise quiet small towns.

"For those of us who are on the front lines, it's not about pot is bad in itself or drugs are bad," said Meredith Lintott, district attorney in Mendocino County, one of the country's top marijuana-producing regions.

"It's about the negative consequences on children. It's about the negative consequences on the environment."
( Collapse )

it frustrates me so much to see socialized health care misrepresented by both the right and the left in the states. this is a pretty good article on the shortcomings & successes of canadian health care, and how the US can learn from our mistakes.

it's written by a politician so it's not completely well-rounded, but it is honest.

-----

As President Barack Obama drafts his health-care plan, he could profit from reviewing the successes and shortcomings of the Canadian system that has operated successfully for more than 40 years. Canada spends more than a third less per capita on health than the United States and still covers everyone, whereas the U.S. system leaves 46 million people without insurance.

( Collapse )

source

Free Republic Founder Jim Robinson Calls For Overthrow Of U.S. Government

 

Jim Robinson, the founder of Free Republic, the most widely-read conservative internet forum, has issued a call for the overthrow of the U.S. government.

Therefore, We the People of America choose to exercise our right to throw off and alter the abusive government by peacefully recalling and removing from office the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States and all U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives effective immediately.

An interim provisional Chief Executive and congressional representatives will be established as follows: The Secretary of State shall immediately assume the office of interim Chief Executive. The Chief Executive shall appoint and the interim Senate shall confirm an interim Vice President. An immediate election shall be held within each state legislature to appoint two interim senators to represent each sovereign state. A special election shall be held by all states within 30 days to elect interim members of the House of Representatives. Elections for regular government offices shall be conducted in November, 2010 as previously scheduled, except that elections will be held for all elective offices, including President, Vice President and all U.S. Representatives. U.S. Senators will be elected per class schedule by the various state legislatures.

Robinson's lengthy call to arms goes on to plan for the repeal of the 16th and 17th amendments, the abolishment of the IRS, the dissolution of social security, and the return of federal buildings, properties, and military bases to "their sovereign owners," the states in the which they are located.

Source
Source

(Macro by schmiss)


Republicans Embrace Ron Paul On Domestic Policy
“He hasn’t bombed Iran yet,” says Ron Paul, when asked to assess the best and worst characteristics of President Barack Obama’s six months in office.

“The worst thing is he is probably still thinking about it.”

No sooner does the representative from Texas’ 14th Congressional District, nicknamed “Dr. No” by his detractors, find himself embraced by mainstream Republicans (and even some Democrats) on domestic policy issues, then he pivots his focus to foreign affairs.

Obama, Paul told POLITICO during a sit-down in his office this week, “has talked a little better than his action, but he has already expanded [the number of troops] in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He became the peace candidate: ‘Yeah, we’re going to end that war in Iraq.’ But it’s not sincere. I don't think they had any intention, never did.”

It’s a unique time for Paul. With the economy in the tank, the same cable news shows that spurned him during the election now keep asking him on to talk monetary policy. Republican House members are finally voting with him on spending measures.

( Collapse )


Once again, he proves that he's a fucking joke. Paul needs to STFU about Palin. She's NOT mainstream at all and she's more awesome than he could ever dream to be!


SOURCE

( Collapse )




______________

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Bill-O is an IRL troll, but honestly, it's 100% satisfying to hear somebody call him out on ALL the things that makes his Blow-Hard-jesty revoltingly obnoxious.

A+. Would LOL again.

Twenty years ago, a pilot from SeaTac somehow landed a United Airlines DC-10 jet with no normal means of control onto an Iowa runway after the plane's tail engine exploded. Of the nearly 300 people aboard, 185 survived, and 111 died.

By Dominic Gates

Twenty years ago today, passengers and crew aboard United Airlines flight 232 from Denver to Chicago heard a loud midair blast at the rear of the plane. The engine mounted in the tail of the DC-10 had exploded at 37,000 feet.

With two good engines still operating on the wings, Capt. Al Haynes, of Seattle, wasn't unduly worried as he shut down the fuel flow to the dead engine.

But shrapnel from the exploding engine had severed all the hydraulic lines.

From that moment on, Haynes couldn't budge any of the flight-control surfaces on the wings and the tail. It was as if, when driving a car, the steering wheel would no longer turn the wheels.

( Collapse )

I thought it would be interesting to post this after the Sully story. I remember vividly when this happened, and it certainly was a crash that changed aviation and how airlines conduct inspections. The Sioux City paper naturally has some good coverage today of the anniversary: http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/ I also find it sadly ironic his wife died ten years nearly to the day after the crash. :-( I also wanted to provide some background as a lead into this story:

Flight 232: Attendant pledges to renew fight for children

By Michele Linck | Posted: Sunday, July 19, 2009
SIOUX CITY -- Former United Airlines flight attendant Jan Brown spent the years following the crash of Flight 232 campaigning relentlessly to change commercial airlines' regulations to require the use of child safety seats for children under age 2.

Today she is frustrated by the 2005 decision of the Federal Aviation Administration to stop exploring new safety provisions for young children aboard aircraft, continuing the practice of allowing those under age 2 to sit on someone's lap. FAA regulations do require that children age 2 and older have their own seat and recommend those under 40 pounds use an FAA-approved child (car) safety seat.

( Collapse )

I don't understand why this hasn't been made into law. We've made laws to protect children in vehicles, and while flying may be safer, why would airlines want to take that risk? Extra expense of a seat or not, it's better than losing a child.

‘The Colbert Report’ interested in Des Moines Social Club and 2 a.m. dance ordinance

By Sophia Ahmad • sahmad@dmreg.com • July 17, 2009

“The Colbert Report,” the Comedy Central satirical newscast hosted by political comedian Stephen Colbert, heard about Des Moines’ dancing in the dark troubles and wants to do something about it.

Des Moines Social Club executive director Zach Mannheimer received an e-mail from a “Colbert Report” producer interested in shooting a segment in Des Moines about the city’s ban against dancing after 2 a.m. and the Social Club’s ties to the ordinance, according to Des Moines Social Club marketing director Jessica Miller.

The Des Moines Social Club got caught in the spotlight when it tried to host a dance that was planned to go beyond 2 a.m. The event got canceled.

“The story was mentioned on “(Late Night With) Jimmy Fallon” and Anderson Cooper,” Miller said.
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/07/17/the-colbert-report-interested-in-des-moines-social-club-and-des-moines-2-am-dance-ordinance/

That's so awesome. XD

Mark Sanford’s Still Sorry, David Gregory’s Skilled Groveling



No inkling of a resignation in his 800-word OpEd in The State today. But he is really, really, sorry:

It’s in the spirit of making good from bad that I am committing to you and the larger family of South Carolinians to use this experience both to trust God in his larger work of changing me and, from my end, to work to becoming a better and more effective leader.

I think all that has transpired will be particularly relevant in the way I deal with the legislative body and other state leaders going forward. Micah 6:8 asks us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, and as I begin these steps into the last 18 months of this administration, it will indeed be with a more contrite and humble spirit.

I’ve realized that as much as I have and will continue to advocate for things ranging from restructuring to responsible spending to school choice, my approach needs to be less about my will and more about looking for ways to more humbly present the greater principals and ideas at play.

Via Steve Benen, “Sanford will, in other words, keep pushing the same conservative agenda, but this time, with a meeker, ‘less strident’ persona. The embarrassment — for Sanford and the state — will continue.”

The more interesting Sanford-related news this weekend was Friday’s revelation of David Gregory’s groveling to get him on Meet the Press:

( Collapse )

As skeptical as I am of Sanford's ~change~ and annoyed at his refusal to resign, I hope he is serious about being less of a showboat and being more humble.

As for David Gregory, how fitting is it that this comes out the same weekend as Walter Cronkite's death?

Ultra-Orthodox, Jerusalem Court Reach Deal As Rioters Continue To Wreak Havoc


STEVE WEIZMAN | July 17, 2009 09:46 AM EST | AP


JERUSALEM — A judge in Jerusalem and leaders of the city's ultra-Orthodox Jewish community agreed Friday to a compromise aimed at ending days of rioting by religious protesters, Israeli police said.

( Collapse )

It's Sunday and she still hasn't had the evaluation...

source

Signs of Hope Emerge in the West Bank


By ETHAN BRONNER
Published: July 16, 2009

NABLUS, West Bank — The first movie theater to operate in this Palestinian city in two decades opened its doors in late June. Palestinian policemen standing beneath new traffic lights are checking cars for seat belt violations. One-month-old parking meters are filling with the coins of shoppers. Music stores are blasting love songs into the street, and no nationalist or Islamist scold is forcing them to stop.

In the Nablus shopping district, a woman with bags and a balloon waited for transportation. The removal of an Israeli checkpoint has made access to the city easier.


( Collapse )

source

Generation Y Is Generation Big Government

HuffPO has up a little article about Bill Maher comparing Sanford vs Foley.

It's to die for.





Love v Lust