Third Party Candidates Debate Today

A third party debate will address economic issues Thursday, October 30th at 4:30 PM at the City Club of Cleveland, 850- Euclid Ave, Cleveland.

The forum, organized by the City Club will effectively break the media blackout on viable third party candidates running in the presidential race. Third party candidates in the debate include Independent Ralph Nader, the Green Party’s Cynthia McKinney and the Libertarian Party’s Bob Barr.

C-Span will be there and should air it tonight. (Probably the only media that will be there)

Obama's 30 min. Ad

What did you think of Obama's primetime 30 minute ad?

Presidential Candidate Giving Away a Firearm

The donor who makes the highest contribution to the Barr Presidential campaign online before 12:00 midnight EDT October 29 will receives this fine example of American technology and craftsmanship, an autographed 12 gauge Mossberg Model 590A pump shotgun.

Barr says that, "Unlike many politicians who claim to be pro-gun, Bob Barr walks the walk. Yes, he exercises his right to own and carry firearms, just like me and millions of other law-abiding Americans. And when he does, it's a .45 Glock that he has holstered."

Drinking Water in Danger?

The Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement's (OSMRE) proposes to revise the Permanent Program Regulations Implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 Concerning the Creation and Disposal of Excess Spoil and Coal Mine Waste and Stream Buffer Zones.

What does that mean?

For the past 30 years this rule has prohibited mining activities within 100 feet of perennial or intermittent streams, which serve as habitats to a vast array of aquatic life and provide drinking water to local communities.

The rewrite of this rule could allow for waivers and effectively eliminate the buffer, giving mining companies the green light to mine through streams across the Appalachian region.

Download the proposal here and submit your comments there too.
Comments are due Nov. 23.

Barr loses ballot status in Conn. due to bureaucratic failures

A U.S. Federal District Judge yesterday allowed the state of Connecticut to keep Libertarian Presidential Nominee Bob Barr off the November ballot despite Barr meeting the legislative requirements for ballot access.

The Libertarian Party of Connecticut properly submitted over 12,000 signatures to meet the 7,500-signature requirement of the state.

The state miscounted the number of petitions submitted by the Libertarian Party of Connecticut and improperly struck hundreds, if not thousands of voter signatures denying Bob Barr access to the ballot. The administrative mistakes of the state bureaucracy were quickly uncovered.

Judge Janet Hall, based her decision on the inability of the state to quickly reprogram electronic voting machines and reprint machine-readable ballots before the election.

"We are outraged by the decision of Judge Hall. To allow a candidate for the highest national office to be unlawfully excluded from an election because it would inconvenience state workers or interfere with bureaucratic procedures goes beyond the pale," stated Russ Verney, campaign manager for Bob Barr.

Verney continued, "It takes a few days to print good, old paper ballots which served us well for over 100 years. Throw the machines in the river and allow democracy and justice to take precedent over technology. If the state of Connecticut maintains a level of incompetence so great that they cannot print ballots before the election, I encourage them to look to private industry and call Kinkos."

Libertarian Party Presidential Nominee Bob Barr's name will appear before 95% of Americans when the vote on Election Day – more than any other third-party or independent candidate.

Sandblast Rally Returns to SC

Sandblast Rally scheduled for Feb. 7, 2009, in Cheraw, Chesterfield and Patrick.

Sandblast Rally, sanctioned by NASA Rally Sport, is a rally racing event that takes place on closed roads throughout the Sand Hills State Forest. High horsepower all-wheel drive vehicles blast through the woods at speeds over 120 miles per hour. The two-wheel drive cars fight a very competitive battle, with driver skill coming to the forefront as they tackle the sandy roads.

Motorcycles also compete at Sandblast Rally. Like the rally cars, these motorcycles are fully street legal, registered, and insured. The bikes will be fighting for the second full-season championship and exhilarating competition is guaranteed.

Spectators for the race can designated locations throughout the forest. Information on spectator guides is available on sandblastrally.com. The event is also looking for volunteers to help marshal the race. "The marshals get a great deal", says event chairman Anders Green. "Volunteers are positioned right on the course. They'll see more of the race than I will! We try to take care of them as best we can with free event t-shirts, lunch, and an invitation to the awards banquet." Training will be available in advance for new volunteers. People who want to volunteer should register as a volunteer online or contact event director Amy Feistel at 919.434.3267, amy@nasarallysport.com.

Teacher of the Year Blog

South Carolina Teacher of the Year Jenna Hallman is recording her experiences this year on a personal blog - Jenna’s Journey.

A science teacher at Calhoun Academy for the Arts in Anderson School District 5, Hallman was named South Carolina Teacher of the Year this past April. As the representative for more than 50,000 teachers, Hallman is participating in a yearlong residency at the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement.

Her activities also involve several other statewide organizations such as Leadership South Carolina and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators' Education Policy Fellowship Program.

“This year I have the wonderful opportunity to visit schools, classrooms, colleges, and universities across the state,” Hallman said. “I am able to talk with teachers, administrators, future teachers and students about a wide variety of issues affecting education in South Carolina today.”

The ambassador says that her travels provide her a unique view of public education in the Palmetto State. Since her tenure began in August, she’s logged more than 11,000 miles.

“I am able to witness first-hand all of the amazing instruction that is happening in classrooms. My blog allows me to serve as a personal tour guide to others who are not able to view education from this vantage point.”

Being an American Essay Competition

CONTEST GOAL: To explore the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and the civic values that unite us as Americans.

ESSAY QUESTION: “What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American? Trace the enduring importance of this value throughout the American story by discussing: a Founding document that reflects this value; a figure from American history who embodies this value; and ways you can personally put this value into practice.”

STUDENTS ELIGIBLE: Students in grades 9-12 who are U.S. citizens or legal residents and are either attending public, private, religious, or charter schools, being home-schooled, or participating in a GED or correspondence school program but are no older than 19 years of age.

ESSAY LENGTH: No more than 750 words.

JUDGING CRITERIA: Adherence to Essay Guidelines, Originality, Organization, Writing Style, Depth of Analysis

Deadline Dec. 1. Winners will be announced Spring 2009. Cash prizes up to $5,000 for students and their teachers.

View full contest details here.

Collegiate fishing match turns 35

The Coastal Carolina Invitational will be observing its 35th year as this nation’s oldest intercollegiate fishing match and seminar. On Oct. 31, student anglers will be fishing for king mackerel and black sea bass on the New Inlet Princess out of Captain Dick’s Marina in Murrells Inlet. In the past Captain Jack Orr has had to run up to 35 miles off the beach to find the kings, but in some years the kings have been in as close as 12 miles.

Participating schools for 2008 will include Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University and the University of South Carolina. Retired Coastal Professor Richard Moore will be judging the competition as he has done every year since 1974. Professor Donald Millus will be organizing and directing the Invitational for the 35th time, assisted by Professor Erin Burge of Coastal’s Department of Marine Science, Dr. Joey Sanders of Conway and Captain Ryan Powers, a Coastal alumnus. Patricia Millus will provide the catered lunch, traditionally hero sandwiches.

Coastal Carolina University is the defending champion, having dethroned the University of South Carolina by a score of 100-96 in last year’s match. The public is invited to the weigh-in at Captain Dick’s Marina at 4 p.m. on Halloween.

For more information, call Don Millus, professor of English at Coastal Carolina University and founder of the tournament, at 843-349-2431.

State Park Service Photo Contest

The S.C. State Park Service is holding a year-long photo contest in celebration of the parks’ 75th anniversary.

The first-place winner in each category received a prize pack worth approximately $50. More than 1,200 photos have been submitted in the contest since it began in April. The monthly contests will continue through next April 30.

The grand prize is an Edisto folding kayak outfitted with a special fish and photo package – a $2,500 value donated by Folbot North America in Charleston (www.folbot.com). Best-of-show winners will receive prizes such as a state park cabin overnight getaway or digital cameras.

Contestants are submitting their photos for display online. Entry information and the entries themselves are at www.SouthCarolinaParks.com. Click on the “Come Out and Play” button and then the “photo contest” link.

Subject categories include mammals, birds, other wildlife, plants and “connecting people to South Carolina state parks.” The latter category can include anything from the wide range of activities – from paddling to picnicking and fishing to birdwatching – that have made the parks an integral part of South Carolina life since the first were built in the 1930s.

The judging panel includes professional photographers and staff members from the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, the Park Service’s parent agency.

Winning and other selected entries will be displayed on the Web site during the year to help showcase the photographers’ work and the natural, cultural and historic sights and activities that more than 7 million visitors a year now enjoy at South Carolina’s 47 state parks, which trace their beginnings to enabling legislation passed by the General Assembly in 1933.

NASCAR Foundation Calls for Fans to Join in on Make a Difference Day Oct. 25

The NASCAR Foundation, in a continuing effort to promote volunteer opportunities, is calling on NASCAR fans to join more than three million Americans expected to volunteer for USA WEEKEND’s Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 25. It is America’s largest day of service and an estimated 25 million people benefit each year on this annual “day of doing good.”
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Tips Teens Can Use to Overcome Challenges, Focus on Strengths

1. Write Down a List of Your Goals. Make long and short term goals for yourself, and try to have at least one that is related to finding a new activity or hobby to engage in. If you can try to stay focused on what you want, it’ll be easier to stay calm when school gets busy. You’re also more likely to have time to pursue a hobby or passion if you set goals and achieve them within certain time limits.

2. Create a Schedule for Yourself. By creating a schedule, you can figure out how much time you need to spend on homework. You’ll also be able to plan time for your friends in a schedule without getting behind on schoolwork. Planning ahead can also leave you with some time for any other activities you might have.

3. Don't Spend Hours on Facebook or AIM. It’s so easy to get sucked into reading the latest celebrity gossip blogs and playing tennis on your Wii. Try to finish all your homework before getting onto facebook or AIM. This will reduce your stress level.

4. Get Some Sleep, You Earned It! Try to sleep early; it’ll help you stay awake in class the next day, and you’re less likely to be irritable and fight with your friends if you’re well-rested. Aim for an absolute minimum of six hours per night. Stay off the energy drinks! They’ll affect your sleep cycle even more.

5. Create Challenges For Yourself. Trying new things will help build your confidence, keep you learning, and introduce you to new people. Choose and try at least one new fun activity that is different than what you routinely do. If you find something you are passionate about that is different from the rest of your life, you’ll be able to ignore the pressures at school with less difficulty.

From Ketaki Shriram, author of “Sorceress of the Himalayas” (Crystallius Press). She began writing in the fifth grade, and penned this novel at age 13. She is currently a high school student in Menlo Park, Calif. and this is her first published novel. Her writing has been inspired by the events and people in her life. She also uses writing as a way of teaching, learning, and as an emotional outlet for coping with negative situations and emotions. Her story focuses on succeeding and overcoming obstacles, something that she has applied to her own life. www.sorceressofthehimalayas.com

Natural Gas Exploration Focus of Joint Legislative Committee

Members of a joint legislative and private sector committee held a foundational meeting today to begin the process of understanding how the use of natural gas can positively impact the future of South Carolina and the growing need for additional energy sources.

“We want to understand what the exploration and potential development of natural gas resources can mean to South Carolina, both the pros and the cons,” says Senator Paul Campbell, co-chair of the study committee. “This is an education process. We need to know how offshore drilling will increase revenue, if any, and how that same activity may or may not impact tourism. At the end of the process we want the General Assembly and all South Carolinians to know what natural gas can do for the state.”

Renee Orr, with the U.S. Mineral Management Service reported that the possibility exists for at least 14 million barrels of oil and 3.86 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to be found off the coast of South Carolina.

Currently, 25 percent of homes in South Carolina use natural gas as the primary heating source. Although prices for natural gas continue to rise, the supply of natural gas is also on the rise. South Carolina pays approximately 35 percent more for natural gas than the rest of the country, due to a lack of infrastructure and current availability of the resource. Since the first quarter of 2007, the supply of natural gas in the U.S. has increased at least 9 percent. Over the next 20 years demand for natural gas in the U.S. is expected to grow approximately 10 percent, while global demand for natural gas is expected to rise 60 percent during the same time period.

Senator Frank Wagner, Virginia State Senator and sponsor of the Virginia Energy Plan, is expected to share the details of Virginia’s effort to manage their energy needs during the committee’s next
meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28. The committee is working to deliver a preliminary report to the General Assembly by early November.

Final Presidential Debate

If you missed the last presidential debate last night, you can watch it here.
Once you have watched it, please post your comments about the debate and who you think won/lost and why in the comments.

Can't Beat 'em Join 'em

Through the miracle of modern technology, voters will finally have a chance to compare Bob Barr with Barack Obama and John McCain.

Starting this evening at 9 p.m., live and concurrent with the broadcast of the closed debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees, you will be able to see where Barr differs with his opponents. Using digital video recording technology, Barr's responses to the moderator's questions will be spliced in in real time for viewing at the campaign's Web site at www.bobbarr2008.com/counterdebate. Bob will be broadcasting from Newport News, Virginia on the campus of Christopher Newport University before a live audience.

2008 White House Christmas ornament

The 2008 White House Christmas ornament honoring the presidency of Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893), the twenty-third president of the United States was inspired by the Harrison family’s Victorian Christmas tree, the first recorded tree to decorate the White House. The ornament, the 28th in a series started by the White House Historical Association in 1981 presents the White House as a family home.

The cost of the ornament is $16.95 plus packing and delivery and can be ordered from the White House Historical Association, P.O. Box 96586, Washington, D.C. 20090-6586, or you can call toll free 1-800-555-2451, or visit online at www.whitehousehistory.org. Each of the 27 ornaments (from 1981-2007) is also available, along with educational brochures.

The White House Historical Association was established in 1961as a non-profit organization to enhance the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the White House. All proceeds from its trusts and sales of ornaments, publications and other association products are used to fund acquisitions of historic furnishings and art works for the permanent White House collection, assist in the preservation of the public rooms, and further its educational mission.

US Senate Race Heats Up

Polls have Bob Conley edging up to 41% to incumbent Lindsey Graham's 50%. This is a phenomenal amount of support given Conley's lack of funds (and Party support) compared with Graham incumbent warchest.

The "Ron Paul" Democrat had a good showing in Saturday night's ETV debate with Graham, which focused a lot on the current economic crisis. Graham voted for the $700B bailout package while Conley opposed it. Both men stood their ground on the issues and made rebuttals often, making it more of a debate than the two presidential debates.

Most, if not all, experts consider Graham will keep his seat. Voters will have the final say on Nov. 4.

Information on the candidates:
Graham - Web site - On the Issues
Conley - Web site - On the Issues

If you missed te debate, watch it here.

Don't forget to Watch Saturday Night!

The ETV and The State Newspaper Senatorial debate between GOP incumbent Lindsey Graham and Democratic challenger Bob Conley will now take place on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. The debate, produced in Columbia, will air LIVE on all 11 ETV stations and eight ETV Radio stations. The debates will also be streamed over the Internet at www.myetv.org.

Scarecrows in the Garden Exhibit Open through October

Historic Columbia Foundation will offer autumn fun each day in October during “Scarecrows in the Garden.” This special outdoor exhibit features more than 35 handcrafted scarecrows from families, businesses, organizations, and an entry from Governor Mark Sanford and family. The free exhibit opened on October 1 and ends on October 31. Hours are Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sundays, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the historic Robert Mills House and Gardens, 1616 Blanding Street.

Visitors can also enjoy a scavenger hunt and participate in a contest to find Sneaky Steve, the missing scarecrow. Historic Columbia Foundation will announce scarecrow contest winners on Saturday, October 25 during Family Day, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Family Day: Fun in the Fall is open to the public. Admission is $5 and $3 for children. Members are free.

For more information, call 803.252.1770, ext. 33 or visit www.HistoricColumbia.org.

Fraudulent E-mails Claim to Be From the FDIC

E-mails fraudulently claiming to be from the FDIC are attempting to trick
recipients into installing unknown software on personal computers. These
e-mails contain the subject line: "Funds wired into your account are
stolen."

Recipients of the fraudulent e-mail should not reply and should not attempt
to open the attached file.

For additional information about safe online banking and avoiding online
scams, click here.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web
site.

Senator Shane Massey Will Not Accept Pay When Legislature Returns for Budget Talks

Today the Board of Economic Advisors announced that the state must trim 6%, nearly $420 million, from the annual state budget. Senator Shane Massey told WRDW (CBS-Augusta) that he will refuse pay when the legislature returns to debate those cuts.

Massey says, “if lawmakers are called back, it would cost somewhere around $50,000, and I for one will not be accepting any pay. This is a problem that everyone needs to fight together.”

The full WRDW story can be found here.

Cat's Meow Fundraiser

Darlington's Bella Domani was the site of an indoor bake sale and outdoor adoption tent, both in support of the Darlington County Humane Society. A few photos follow, and more will be available by Wednesday on the News and Press's dotphoto page (http://newsandpress.dotphoto.com/CPListAlbums.asp). The News and Press Blog will also feature some adoptable pets that will be available at next Saturday's Sweet Potato Festival.

1) Sassafras, a 12-week-old kitten, says hello. Adopt her at the Sweet Potato Festival. 2) Kameryn Rheuark hugs a pup. 3) Bobby, a 14-week-old kitten, indulges a close up--adopt him at the Sweet Potato Festival. 4) Puppies greet potential pet parents. 5) A lovable little face. 6) An enthusiastic doggie. 7) Volunteer Joanna Baker with Bobby. 8) Archie, a neutered two-year-old dog, favors us with a subtle smile.

Infantry Museum Coin to be Minted in 2012

Silver coin commemorating Soldiers and the new museum will raise $3.5 million

Congress has approved legislation creating an official coin commemorating the Infantry Soldier and the new National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Columbus, Georgia.

The legislation directs the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury to mint and issue $1 silver coins “emblematic of the courage, pride, sacrifice, sense of duty, and history of the U.S. Infantry, in commemoration of the legacy of the U.S. Army Infantry and the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.” Congress permits the minting of only two such coins each year.

“This is a great project on so many fronts,” said National Infantry Foundation Chairman MG (Ret) Jerry White. “It not only honors Soldiers for their service and sacrifice, but also recognizes the importance of the new museum and Soldier Center as a world-class facility that will educate visitors and families on the role of the Infantry Soldier in securing and protecting the freedoms we all enjoy.”

350,000 coins will be minted for issuance in 2012. The $1 coins will sell for $10 each, raising $3.5 million to establish an endowment to support the maintenance of the new museum.

The measure has been approved in the House and Senate, and is pending the President’s signature.