Harvard student vs. Barney Frank: who caused the economic meltdown? | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times

“Recently, Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank was giving a speech at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government when a student asked him how much responsibility, if any, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee felt for the global economic meltdown.
Frank, perhaps defensive over charges that he fought Bush administration efforts to reign in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in 2001, dismissed the question as ‘a right-wing attack,’ and challenged the student to make clear what else a Democratic congressman from Massachusetts might have done to prevent the crisis.”

Le Mars Daily Sentinel

“Let us get back to the OTHER products affected, they include, to my biggest chagrin, Books and Clothing. BOOKS! Can you believe it? When is the last time you heard of lead levels in a book hurting someone? How many librarians have had kidney damage and speech problems? Maybe Congress should research that. Congress tries to make it sound better by saying only books before 1985 are affected. They also have a solution for all the schools and public libraries. The institutions just have to have their books tested for lead which costs have all been quoted over $100 (some as high as $800) per book! With Le Mars having to make cutbacks (including cutting operating days for the library) and our schools having to make enormous cutbacks, how are we supposed to pay for all this testing? Mind you if we don’t, our libraries could face a $100,000 fine unless they cut off service or get rid of all books printed before 1985 that are available for kids 12 and under. The director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch, David Arkush told CNN, ‘They don’t have to test every book, obviously. They don’t even have to test anywhere near every title. I think they really have to test a reasonable sample size of different classes of books — different types of binding, different types of materials used.'”

More on the Product Safety Improvement Act

New Push in Congress To Exempt Books from Lead-Ban Regulation – 4/6/2009 – Library Journal

“Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) has introduced legislation that would exempt ordinary books from a regulation in the recently enacted Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), which seeks to protect children from the dangers of lead. Implementation of CPSIA was put on hold for a year in February.
Responding to concerns from libraries in his district, Fortenberry has put forth a bill that would let CPSIA allow children’s books to remain on library shelves “for the benefit of millions of our youth.” See more from School Library Journal.”

Just more to show how a law can go too far, this ban includes books like Dr. Seuss’s books. I grew up with these books, and was never tempted to lick the pages. Well okay maybe a few scratch n sniff books, but never Dr. Seuss or Peanuts.

AMA Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith defies federal law banning sale of youth motorcycles and ATVs

“In an act of defiance against what he says is a ridiculous law, AMA Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith sold three youth OHVs on March 19 despite a federal ban on the sale of those vehicles.”

“Among those attending the rally were fellow AMA Hall of Famers Jeff Ward, Jeremy McGrath and Scot Harden. AMA Western States Representative Nick Haris, Troy Lee and Glen Helen Raceway owner Bud Feldkamp also were there to show support, as well as many other off-road riders and motorized recreation enthusiasts.”

“A new law — the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 — has effectively banned the sale of youth off-highway vehicles (OHVs) as of Feb. 10, 2009. Under the law, which is administered by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers are barred from making, importing, distributing or selling any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part.”

So now some parents are buying larger motorcycles for their kids, which the kids may not be ready or physical able to handle. This also is reported to include the sales of childrens helmets and some safety gear. Meaning they will be wearing no protection or improper protection, which can only make bad worse. If your child does not have sense enough to not like the parts of any mtorized vehicle, you probably out to stop and have a talk with them.

The Associated Press: Tony Blair criticizes Vatican attitude toward gays

“Roman Catholic leaders are out of step with ordinary believers in their attitude toward homosexuals, former Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an interview published Wednesday.”

Should the Ten Commandments be changed too?

Broncos send Cutler to Bears for Orton, 3 picks

Broncos send Cutler to Bears for Orton, 3 picks

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Global currency story gains steam

Global currency story gains steam

“We’re actually quite open to that suggestion – you should see it as rather evolutionary rather building on the current architecture rather than moving us to global monetary union,” he said.
“The only thing concrete I saw was expanding the use of the [special drawing rights],” Geithner said. “Anything he’s thinking about deserves some consideration.”

The G-20’s Funny Money – WSJ.com

The G-20’s Funny Money
The IMF has a plan to create cash and pass it all over the world.

“A hint of what’s in store came from Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso earlier this week when he said that he will propose an increase in ‘special drawing rights,’ or SDRs, at the IMF. If the term ‘SDR’ sounds vaguely familiar, perhaps that’s because it was the subject of a short-lived proposal last week from the head of the People’s Bank of China to create a new global reserve currency that could replace the U.S. dollar.”

DREAM Act

“The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The ‘DREAM Act’) is a piece of proposed federal legislation that was introduced in the US senate, and the US house of representatives in March 26, 2009. This bill would provide certain immigrant students who graduate from an American High School, are of good moral character, arrived in the US as children, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill’s enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency. The students will obtain temporary residency for a lapse of six years. Within the six year period, a qualified student must attend college, and earn a two year degree, or serve in the military for two years in order to earn citizenship after the six years period. If student does not comply with either his/her college requirement or military service requirement, temporary residency will be taken away and student will be subjected to deportation.”

Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats accepts officer’s apology – ESPN

“An NFL player said Monday he accepts the apology offered by a Dallas police officer who stopped him with a drawn gun in a hospital parking lot while his mother-in-law was dying inside.”

We need more people like this in the world. Would be hard for most people to do. Especially so soon after the incident, I applaud him for showing such great strength of character!