The Hayseeds blog, No. 278 for the week starting October 12, 2008.
September 28, 2008
Hayseeds No. 277
October 12, 2008
Hayseeds No. 278
October 19, 2008
Hayseeds No. 278
Visit the Hayseeds Index
to see all previous entries.
The TU looks at the story behind local bans on transfats and how much they actually benefit public health.
Pete Van Kuren today in the Times Union talks about the general state guidelines relating to the placement of political and other temporary signs along state highways. They're allowed, as long as they aren't a hazard and are removed within 3-days of event.
Some communities may have additional restrictions, however it's unconstitutional to ban all political signs in private places regardless of how long it is before the election. Of course, if you want to get a pissing match with your friendly yoko-locals, then so be it. I'm sure they won't stop your neighbor from spreading manure on your day of your family picnic.
While playing nice to Senate Republicans, he's raised $2 million for Senate Dems. It seems likely they will have the majority next year.
Markets continue to drop this morning.
One of the other good things added to the bailout.
It continues to drop on bad news in the markets.
A true conservative majority could dominate the court should John McCain win the presidency. Otherwise it could tilt the other way, with Democrats appointing several justices that may retire.
New York Magazine has a profile of our governor and the rocky economic times he faces as the national and state economies decline.
Should churches be allowed to endorse or support candidates? Stanley Fish has an perspective on this issue.
Americans as a collective group are very worried about recent economic news.
Many are concerned that voters may be harassed while trying to engage in legal right to vote by poll watchers and mail challenges.
They are still having serious issues with technology, slowing them down more then helping at times.
It seems like in the latest round of smokestack chasing that Malta will get there chip fab plant after all in their campus, after the state invested some billion and half for it.
The Daily Gazette still questions if the investment is worth it in the down economy that may still kill the project.
The comptroller says funds where misspent, the DA says it's political.
In Saratoga you have to pay to get an Obama sign.
It's quite purty and worth a look.
It's official that he plans to run for governor in 2010, hopefully by when the fiscal crisis is over and life is good once again.
Theoretically it does not under the AMD label but a spin-off chip manufacturer that has gotten capital from Abu Dubuai government.
And the TU has a run down on the highlights of the debate.
Local assemblymembers will be providing a $1/4 million dollar member item to pay for the restoration of Howe Library windows as part of the restoration of the library.
He is discussing what kind of spending reductions are possible to save the state money as revenues continue to drop.
They think that New York has no choices but big cuts to programs across the board if they want to deal with the deficit. I tend to disagree, but if we must cut, we should have an honest discussion of the impact of cutting legitimate programs and infrastructure improvements.
Local political leaders herald yet another big box, which promises more low-wage jobs and more closed small business and shoppingmarts.
The Times Union points out that despite AMD coming to Malta, the impact on life in the area will be modest as people in the Capital Region frown upon unbridled growth without restraints addressing environmental, land use, and climate change impacts.
They say we've spent a billion dollars, and got another smoke stack industry in our town.
To keep little kiddies from getting bad idears about smoking.
He's concerned about the cost of debt service in such tight credit markets.
A Fort Johnson forum in Montegomery County allowed candidates to discuss their views on issues.
The Capital Region Planning Commission chair tells it point blank:
“While it’s very positive and very good, it’s not going to drive up the price of my house by very much more,” said Lief Engstrom, program manager of the Capital District Regional Planning Commission.Engstrom is skeptical about The Foundry’s impact on home values. He noted how the company’s 1,465 workers — plus the estimated 5,000 indirect service jobs it is expected to bring to the area — would account for only 1 percent of the region’s work force. By August, the region had 448,700 nonfarm workers.
From August 2007 to August 2008, the Capital Region’s professional, scientific and technology sector experienced a Foundry-sized influx of jobs, growing from 1,700 to 30,000. But during the same period, the greater Capital Region’s median home sale price decreased by 2 percent to $197,500.
It's a drop in the bucket, and 1/8th the size of IBM's plant in Burlington, much less the plant Fishkill which is dozens of times bigger.
A study shows the neccesity of cellphone and internet access in New England and Northern NY.
In the Capital Region, most new voters are registering democrat.
The Daily Gazette is happy with some of the concessions the people have gotten against this plant, and with the infrastructure already built and the money invested, they say it's time to accept the plant for what it is.
They are thinking it may be time for dramatic action to fix the stock market's problems.
All this multitasking in our lives may actually be hurting us all.
Do they have the right to license their technology under technology sharing agreements?
They are giving false information on who is eligable to vote. I'm quite surpised, but I'm sure some of it's ignorance on their own part.
Many states think this is one fair way to raise revenue.
That's the rumor the Times Union is promoting.
This from the only in Rensselaer County file.
It looks like county taxpayers will be paying more in taxes due to Medicaid and fuel costs.
Spending on new and expanded social programs, restorations of previous cuts, and inflation has lead to dramatically higher spending.
They say we must do something to try to stop all the bleeding in the market, as it floats in the low 8,000, a big drop from the 14,000 a year ago.
The Connecticut Supreme Court has struck down civil unions and discrimination over gays as it's relates to gay marriage. A step forward, one step at a time, as Massachusetts, California, and now Connecticut have gay marriage.
She gets a slap on the wrist for her use of troopers firing.
It seems as though democrats are leading registrations in key marginal majority senate seats.
The Times Union says that only time will tell on the real impact of this chip plant.
Some tech companies are doing well, but most are struggling in the down market.
He talks about the economy the difficult changes we as a society are undergoing as credit starts to shrink back down to reality.
The US government will U.S. take a stake in banks for the first time since the Great Depression, a dramatic attempt to stop the out of control credit crisis.
That of course is today, and is an important day to observe and celebrate for all of the LGBT people deserving rights in our country.
Less buying up a mortgage backed securities, and more direct injection of money into banks to save the economy, as things continue to slide downward.
Some sad times for the Clinton County DA and his family.
An interesting story about two political memorabilia collectors.
There are all kinds of agreements you sign that bind you to be involved in the Tuperware industry long after you try to get out.
A nice rundown of Tonko and Burhmonster's positions on the issues.
That's what some business leaders are suggesting. They promote the idea of induced growth that will create more jobs then just the relatively small plant in virgin forest will create.
Most counties are finding it hard to raise revenues or borrow money with the downturn in the economy.
There is a thought that the stock market is undervalued.
Some ideas for leaving coherent message on somebody's machine.
We knew this was bound to happen.
Blacklisted individuals discuss their status at a Washington forum.
The down economy may not effect you directly, but it may change your outlet on the world.
Sometimes the weirdest accidents happen that make us all think.
