Conservative Revolutionary American Party III

Sunday, May 25, 2008

May 23:

1934 : Police kill famous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde

On this day in 1934, notorious criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are shot to death by Texas and Louisiana state police while driving a stolen car near Sailes, Louisiana.

Bonnie Parker met the charismatic Clyde Barrow in Texas when she was 19 years old and her husband (she married when she was 16) was serving time in jail for murder. Shortly after they met, Barrow was imprisoned for robbery. Parker visited him every day, and smuggled a gun into prison to help him escape, but he was soon caught in Ohio and sent back to jail. When Barrow was paroled in 1932, he immediately hooked up with Parker, and the couple began a life of crime together.

After they stole a car and committed several robberies, Parker was caught by police and sent to jail for two months. Released in mid-1932, she rejoined Barrow. Over the next two years, the couple teamed with various accomplices to rob a string of banks and stores across five states--Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico and Louisiana. To law enforcement agents, the Barrow Gang--including Barrow's childhood friend, Raymond Hamilton, W.D. Jones, Henry Methvin, Barrow's brother Buck and his wife Blanche, among others--were cold-blooded criminals who didn't hesitate to kill anyone who got in their way, especially police or sheriff's deputies. Among the public, however, Parker and Barrow's reputation as dangerous outlaws was mixed with a romantic view of the couple as "Robin Hood"-like folk heroes.

Their fame was increased by the fact that Bonnie was a woman--an unlikely criminal--and by the fact that the couple posed for playful photographs together, which were later found by police and released to the media. Police almost captured the famous duo twice in the spring of 1933, with surprise raids on their hideouts in Joplin and Platte City, Missouri. Buck Barrow was killed in the second raid, and Blanche was arrested, but Bonnie and Clyde escaped once again. In January 1934, they attacked the Eastham Prison Farm in Texas to help Hamilton break out of jail, shooting several guards with machine guns and killing one.

Texan prison officials hired a retired Texas police officer, Captain Frank Hamer, as a special investigator to track down Parker and Barrow. After a three-month search, Hamer traced the couple to Louisiana, where Henry Methvin's family lived. Before dawn on May 23, Hamer and a group of Louisiana and Texas lawmen hid in the bushes along a country road outside Sailes. When Parker and Barrow appeared, the officers opened fire, killing the couple instantly in a hail of bullets.

All told, the Barrow Gang was believed responsible for the deaths of 13 people, including nine police officers. Parker and Barrow are still seen by many as romantic figures, however, especially after the success of the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty.

http://www.history.com/tdih.do

General Interest
1934 : Police kill famous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52702

1701 : Captain Kidd walks the plank
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5027

1900 : Forgotten Civil War hero honored
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5028

1911 : New York Public Library dedicated
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5029

1960 : Eichmann captured
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6906

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Worst. Poltical Ads. Ever!

Posted by Brave New Films, Brave New Films at 3:15 PM on May 21, 2008.

Winning awards in categories like Improper Props, Guilt By Association, and Rated Sexxx, and more!

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Tonight Growth & Justice, an economic think tank, will hand out the awards for the worst political advertising in America. We'll bring you the winners of the non-partisan lampooning after they're announced. The UpTake's Mike McIntee gets a preview of some of the videos that are in the running from Growth & Justice President Dane Smith.

In our video preview we see examples of bad ads from the following categories: Improper Props, Guilt By Association, and Rated Sexxx. We also talk about ways to improve political advertising and how new media such as The UpTake may play a role in that.

There are many other categories and videos that will be seen tonight at the Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN and start at 8pm. The headliner of the event is veteran journalist Aaron Brown, formerly of CNN and currently the Walter Cronkite Professor of Journalism at Arizona State University.

Tagged as: politics, ads

ZP Heller is the editorial director of Brave New Films. He has written for The American Prospect, AlterNet, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Huffington Post, covering everything from politics to pop culture.

Farmed Salmon Being Subjected to Excercise Regimes to Stay Fit

Posted by Erin Greenfield, Food & Water Watch at 10:45 AM on May 21, 2008.

Really, doesn't it seem easier to protect wild salmon than to put mini heart monitors on farmed fish?

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Sit-ups, crunches, weightlifting, interval training -- sounds like a rigorous workout for anyone trying to get in shape. Could this be a fitness regimen for salmon too? That's what the scientists in Norway are trying to prove.

Since training and exercise are essential in maintaining good health for humans, could the same be applied to fish? In order to make farmed salmon stronger and more resistant to disease once they are transferred to ocean cages, a research group in Norway is trying to get farmed juvenile salmon in shape for ocean water using some techniques from the top football team of Spain (we here in the U.S. call it soccer). Scientists from the project discovered that the heart capacity in wild salmon is greater than in farmed salmon, so they put the farmed salmon on a strict training regime to make their hearts stronger.

The exercise? They say the equivalent of jogging -- swimming faster with increased water velocity in their tanks. The fish in the trial were divided into three groups -- one was a control group (normal fish tank conditions), one group was put in a tank with increased water velocity throughout the day, and one group was put in a tank for "jogging" or intervals of increased water velocity (what the scientists call "high intensity training").

And how do they measure their heart rates? With tiny heart monitors, of course. Although the experiment is still ongoing, the scientists are optimistic that their training program will help farmed fish handle the stresses of the ocean. Senior scientist, Harald Takle said:

Less stress means the fish have greater energy reserves to tackle the challenges of everyday life...In the long-term, we believe that this can make the fish even more robust. It's just like with us humans, healthier fish thrive better, and this will in turn increase profitability for the salmon farmers

While the researchers claim that less stress could reduce the chance of disease in farmed salmon, the experiment is not getting to the root of the problem. Cramming thousands of genetically identical fish in ocean cages will inevitably lead to the spreading of disease.

Once one gets sick, they often all get sick and can even spread diseases to wild salmon populations. Instead of spending millions of dollars on a short-sighted experiments, these groups should be investing in research on promoting sustainable wild fisheries. Scientists need to be looking at the bigger picture to protect marine resources rather than trying to solve the numerous problems created by fish farms.

Tagged as: salmon, farmed fish, water

16% of Biology Teachers are Young Earth Creationists

Posted by PZ Myers, Pharyngula at 7:01 AM on May 21, 2008.

For a significant portion of American biology teachers, evolution takes a back seat to the Bible.

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Also in PEEK

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Here's the most depressing thing I've seen all week (and I'm grading genetics exams): it's the result of a national survey of high school biology teachers.

creationism_in_hs

At least 16% of our high school teachers are young earth creationists. Furthermore, 12% our our teachers are using biology classes in public schools to teach creationism in a positive light. The majority are still pro-science, but even in the good cases, relatively little time is spent on teaching evolution.

The news isn't all bad. One constructive discovery is that it is neither legal battles nor demanding state standards that determine how much effort is put into teaching evolution — it's how much education the teachers have in the subject. The obvious lesson is that we ought to be encouraging more coursework for teachers; help educate the teachers, give them more material they can use in the classroom, and the students benefit.

Here's the conclusion of the paper, which lays it all out very clearly.

Our survey of biology teachers is the first nationally representative, scientific sample survey to examine evolution and creationism in the classroom. Three different survey questions all suggest that between 12% and 16% of the nation's biology teachers are creationist in orientation. Roughly one sixth of all teachers professed a "young earth" personal belief, and about one in eight reported that they teach creationism or intelligent design in a positive light. The number of hours devoted to these alternative theories is typically low--but this nevertheless must surely convey to students that these theories should be accorded respect as scientific perspectives.

The majority of teachers, however, see evolution as central and essential to high school biology courses. Yet the amount of time devoted to evolutionary biology varies substantially from teacher to teacher, and a majority either avoid human evolution altogether or devote only one or two class periods to the topic. We showed that some of these differences were due to personal beliefs about human origins. However, an equally important factor is the science education the teacher received while in college. Additional variance is likely to be rooted in pressures--subtle or otherwise--emerging from parents and community leaders in each school's community, in combination with teachers' confidence in their ability to deal with such pressures given their knowledge of evolution, as well as their personal beliefs.

These findings strongly suggest that victory in the courts is not enough for the scientific community to ensure that evolution is included in high school science courses. Nor is success in persuading states to adopt rigorous content standards consistent with recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and other scientific organizations. Scientists concerned about the quality of evolution instruction might have a bigger impact in the classroom by focusing on the certification standards for high school biology teachers. Our study suggests that requiring all teachers to complete a course in evolutionary biology would have a substantial impact on the emphasis on evolution and its centrality in high school biology courses. In the long run, the impact of such a change could have a more far reaching effect than the victories in courts and in state governments.

Tagged as: creationism, intelligent design, evolution, science

Who killed Rachel Hoffman?

Nearly two weeks ago, an SSDP member lost her life in the crossfire of the War on Drugs

In memory of Rachel Morningstar Hoffman...
December 17, 1984 -
May 7, 2008

Donate to the Rachel Morningstar Foundation

Rachel Hoffman had just graduated from Florida State University, with plans to attend culinary school. As an undergrad, she was popular among her group of friends, many of whom she met through her involvement in FSU's chapters of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Like many college students, she shared marijuana with her friends, and would often "go in" on larger amounts in order to save money. And that's how she got busted.

Rachel was threatened with prison time, then promised a slap on the wrist if she agreed to wear a wire and set up a deal with her suppliers. Tallahassee police gave her $13,000 in cash and told her to purchase 1,500 ecstasy pills, 2 ounces of cocaine, and a handgun. They never informed her attorney, family, or the state prosecutor before they sent Rachel into the lions' den that day. And nobody had the chance to tell her she was in way over her head.

After police found Rachel's body, they held a press conference and blamed her for her own death. Among Rachel's family and friends, sadness quickly turned into outrage and action. Last Wednesday, hundreds of students marched in protest of the role the Tallahassee Police Department played in Rachel's death. They held signs that read "Who Killed Rachel?" and "No More Drug War" while wearing t-shirts from SSDP and other allied organizations. Please take a moment to watch this powerful video of the demonstration:

In her memory, Rachel's parents have established the Rachel Morningstar Foundation, the goal of which is to pass a law requiring legal advice to be sought before a civilian can consent to undercover work. They will also work to decriminalize marijuana in Florida. Please make a generous donation to the foundation today, and include a personal note to Rachel's parents if you are moved to do so.

In the meantime, Rachel's murderers must be brought to justice. But the drug dealers who pulled the trigger clearly aren't the only ones responsible for her death. They are the police who coerced her into being an informant and the politicians who justify waging a War on Drugs to "protect young people from drugs," while using those very same young people as pawns in their deadly game. On Wednesday, one protester's sign poignantly asked, "Do you feel safe?"

Whether you are a student, an alum, an educator, or a nonstudent, there are plenty of ways you can join with SSDP in the fight to replace the War on Drugs with policies of regulation and control that will actually make us safe.

But for today, I hope you'll take a moment with me to reflect upon the countless lives lost in the name of this unjust war, and to honor the passing of one of our own.

Then, let's get to work.

Sincerely,
Micah Daigle
National Field Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Daily Grist: Bay Area biz will pay carbon fee, Big Oil claims victimhood, and more

TOP STORY

4.4 Cents and Sensibility
Bay Area initiates first-of-its-kind fee on biz greenhouse-gas emissions

Businesses in nine San Francisco Bay Area counties will pay 4.4 cents for every ton of greenhouse gases they spew, after the district air-quality board voted 15-1 Wednesday to approve the fee. Set to take effect July 1, the fee will affect more than 2,500 businesses; the district estimates that perhaps seven power plants and oil refineries will have to pay more than $50,000 a year, but most businesses will pay less than $1. The fee is modest enough that dramatic emissions reductions are unlikely to occur, but proponents laud the precedent. Businesses were, unsurprisingly, less enthusiastic, expressing concerns about the cost of tracking and reporting emissions, duplication of state efforts to address warming, and the authority of an air-pollution board to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions. The fee is expected to generate $1.1 million in the first year, which will help pay for projects aimed at reducing the region's emissions.

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sources: Associated Press, The Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle
see also, in Grist: Boulder, Colo., passes municipal carbon tax

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TODAY'S NEWS

Slick Schmooze
Big Oil tries to evade blame for high energy prices

It's a cryin' shame that energy prices are so high, but it's totally not Big Oil's fault, top execs at the five largest oil companies told a Senate panel Wednesday. Big guns from BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon, and Shell -- almost all the same rich white guys that gathered at a similar hearing last month -- said the record price of oil is a supply-and-demand problem. It's Congress who should initiate the fix, they said, by letting Big Oil stick its drills in more U.S. land and offshore areas, resisting "punitive" taxes on oil companies' windfall profits, and avoiding policies too favorable to clean energy. "We support incentives for alternatives, but taking one form of energy to encourage production of another will reduce the ability to keep up with growing U.S. energy demand," said Robert Malone of BP. "This nation should be encouraging production of all forms of energy, especially oil and gas." Emphasis ours. Because really, wow.

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sources: Thomson Financial News, Associated Press, CNNMoney, Houston Chronicle

Grease Is the Way We Are Stealin'
Thieves targeting used cooking oil

Leftover cooking grease is a hot commodity these days, and restaurants across the country are reporting being hit by slippery-fingered thieves. Biodiesel producers must legally register with the U.S. EPA, but DIY biofuelers are helping themselves to waste cooking oil as its value skyrockets along with the price of diesel. David Levenson, owner of a grease-hauling business in San Francisco, has contracts with local restaurants, but says his drivers too often find empty barrels on their cooking-oil runs. Other grease haulers say oil thievery has lost them thousands of dollars. Says Levenson, "It's like a war zone going on right now over grease." We can just hear the thieves now: "I stole grease under sniper fire!"

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source: Associated Press

In Good Company
Green group highlights biz innovations

The Environmental Defense Fund has produced a new report highlighting processes, products, and technologies that are making the biz world more eco-friendly. The green group's Innovations Review 2008 draws attention to developments good for both business and the environment. The report focuses specifically on innovations on the cusp: not yet widely implemented, but not still in the R&D phase. So what's on the horizon? Solar-power purchase agreements in the real-estate biz, data systems that help shipping fleets reach maximum efficiency, technological advances in teleconferencing, and much, much more.

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source: GreenBiz
straight to the report: Innovations Review 2008

Passing Lane
Consumers shunning hefty hybrids

Automakers may have assumed that hybrid SUVs would be a hit with the eco-minded-soccer-mom market, but drivers aren't buying it -- literally. Analysts are seeing a tepid reaction to SUVs like the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and hybrid GMC Yukon, both launched in fall 2007. Concern about climate change and fuel prices has attached a stigma to large cars that isn't much lessened by the word "hybrid" plastered all over it, say analysts. Most consumers are flocking to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, though original Tahoes and Yukons have also been selling significantly better than their hybrid counterparts -- likely thanks to the fact that the non-hybrids are about $20,000 cheaper.

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source: MSNBC

In Brief
Snippets from the news

• House passes renewable-energy tax incentives.

• Senate panel votes to overturn EPA's California waiver decision.

• Alaska will sue over polar bears.

• Kansas lawmakers won't try to override coal-plant veto.

• Hydrogen-powered phone on the horizon.

• The Queen invests in the world's largest wind turbine.

• USDA eliminates pesticide-tracking program.

• Ocean-seeding startup seeks funds.