Reuters:

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Want to get across to Asia’s youth? Do it through media or music, with a survey revealing that most spend on average 10 hours a day watching TV, on the Internet, reading magazines or listening to the radio.

In findings bound to cheer advertisers, the annual Synovate Young Asians survey, which polled some 13,000 people aged between 8 and 24, also showed many of these youth have a say over a variety of purchases ranging from their own snacks and clothes to the family holiday and even the family car.

Politico:

Free speech advocates from across the political spectrum are accusing President Barack Obama of impinging on First Amendment rights and are gearing up to take their case public.

At issue is an unprecedented directive that Obama- who has long railed against lobbyists as the personification of a corrupt Washington culture - issued last week barring officials charged with doling out stimulus funds from talking to registered lobbyists about specific projects or applicants for stimulus cash.

Under the directive, which began going into effect this week, agency officials are required to begin meetings about stimulus funding for projects by asking whether any party to the conversation is a lobbyist.

“If so, the lobbyist may not attend or participate in the telephonic or in-person contact, but may submit a communication in writing,” reads Obama’s memo, which requires the agencies to post lobbyists’ written communications online.

The Hill:

The United States wouldn’t even be eligible to enter the European Union if it wanted to because of its debt levels, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) claimed Thursday.

“We won’t even be able to get into the EU if we wanted to,” Gregg said this morning on MSNBC, “because our government is so large and so huge.”

The European Union’s Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) adopted in 1997 requires a budget deficit to be less than three percent, and requires a national debt beneath 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We’ve been lectured by France on the fact that we’re not fiscally responsible right now,” Gregg, the would-be commerce secretary, noted with incredulity.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the yearly budget deficit would fall well beyond that threshold in coming years.

WCBSTV.com:

One New Jersey SPCA official said it was probably the worst case he’s ever seen.

Nearly 100 cats and one dog were found Thursday living in a home in a million-dollar neighborhood in Morris County.

SPCA spokesman Matthew Stanton said there was 2 feet of feces in one room of the home on Farm Road in Chester Township. Investigators wore masks to help them breathe through the stench of urine, Stanton said.

“The conditions were absolutely horrific - there wasn’t one inch of the house that wasn’t covered in feces or urine,” SPCA Lt. Rick Yocum says. “There were three foot piles of feces in the hallways.

“It was one of the worst houses I’ve ever entered into,” Yocum says.

HT Club for Growth.

WSJ:

The problem with Diamond Lounge, A Small World and other “elite” social-networking sites is that they tout themselves as high end but can’t verify people’s wealth or income. Inevitably, the online riff-raff spoil the party of the elites.

But affluence.org says it has found a solution. The site accepts only people with a net worth of $3 million or more or with household income of at least $300,000. To test its members, it uses algorithms and data from consumer-marketing companies and credit-reporting firms. It also does follow-up interviews to check the accuracy of applicant claims. (Applicants also can get in with a sufficient number of referrals from existing members)

The site turns down 1 in 40 applicants, but has about 30,000 members-all the more impressive for launching in the midst of the global financial crisis.

I talked with Scott Mitchell, affluence’s 37-year-old founder and CEO, about “the algorithm,” the online obsessions of the rich (you’ll be surprised) and why some formerly wealthy members are getting kicked out.

Computerworld:

March 27, 2009 (Computerworld) In the four years since the Mac Mini was introduced, the versatile little box has been updated four times, with the latest permutation finally showing up this month.

I say “finally” because the Mini — Apple Inc.’s lone foray into the low end of the computer market — has gained something of a cult status among its fans, and they were rather annoyed that their favorite Apple computer had been neglected since August 2007. In fact, a lot of them had given up on ever seeing a new Mini, assuming the diminutive machine had been left for dead.

Certainly, when I bought a Mini last August, I figured it was a mere matter of days before Apple either pulled the plug on the device or morphed it into something different. I was wrong on both counts. Apple didn’t kill off the Mini; it simply waited another seven months before rolling out the latest version — along with an updated line of iMacs and refreshed Mac Pros.

Computerworld:

March 25, 2009 (Computerworld) Microsoft Corp., tacitly acknowledging the continued popularity of Windows XP, said yesterday that it was updating the operating system’s antipiracy technology to detect illegal copies installed with newlystolen or faked product keys, or with new activation cracks.

In an entry to a company blog, Alex Kochis, director of Microsoft’s Genuine Windows group, spelled out the update to WGA Notifications. That’s the antipiracy component that provides the messages and other on-screen prompts when the other half of WGA, dubbed Validations, detects an illegal copy of the operating system.

“This update includes the latest validation information, including recently stolen or misused product keys and other information,” said Kochis, who elsewhere in the blog noted that the “other” category included “attempts to circumvent product activation.” Such circumvention methods, called “cracks,” are popular downloads on file-sharing sites that also feature pirated software.

KMBC:

The floor that will be used in the Final Four basketball championship was made in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and arrived in Detroit Wednesday.

JCCC:

GREEN DISCUSSION GROUP DATE CHANGES

Please note the revised dates for Green Book Discussions, which now occur on Wednesdays.  Books and spaces remain for the April 1 session, which will discuss “Animal, Vegetable and Mineral” by Barbara Kingsolver and runs from 5 to 6 p.m. in 264 GEB.

Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Kingsolver’s book is an enthralling narrative that will open your eyes in a hundred new ways to an old truth:  You are what you eat.  It chronicles the experience of her family as they abandoned the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life-vowing that, for one year, they’d only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it themselves, or learn to live without it.

The sessions, dates, topics and CRN numbers are listed below. Books will be provided for the first 10 registrants; you may do so through MyJCCC using your selected CRN.

• Wednesday, April 1: CRN 30517, Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

• Wednesday, April 29: CRN 30518, David Korten’s book, The Great Turning
• Wednesday, May 13: CRN 30519, William McDonough & Michael Braungart’s Cradle to Cradle

Newsmax:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s popularity has fallen to a new low for the year, with 60 percent of likely voters now viewing her unfavorably according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday.

Even worse news for the California Democrat: A whopping 42 percent characterize her job performance as “very unfavorable.”

The trend looks bad for Pelosi as well. Just two weeks ago, 53 percent of those surveyed viewed Pelosi somewhat or very unfavorably, and her “very unfavorable” rating was 36 percent. A 7 point favorability decline in two weeks suggests Pelosi’s popularity is in a serious tailspin.

Despite this week’s rally on Wall Street, pundits say Democrats are taking it on the chin over the bad economy and the fallout over AIG bonuses.

RCP:

Newt Gingrich believes extending the Treasury Secretary’s power could be the biggest political power grab in history.

Politico:

Senate Republicans are trying to create a wedge between President Obama and candidate Obama in a growing campaign to undermine his ambitious agenda.

On Tuesday morning, the National Republican Senatorial Committee unveiled an ad titled “Change We Can Believe In?” that attacks Obama for flip-­flopping on spending, taxes and earmarks and his handling of the lavish bonuses for AIG.

These attacks represent a new front for Senate Republicans, who are building a financial and political infrastructure for the 2010 midterm elections, which they believe will be a referendum on President Barack Obama’s agenda.

Democrats reject the attacks, saying the GOP is merely developing a communications strategy to attack Obama but is bankrupt on ideas for how to solve the nation’s woes.

The area blog Kaw and Border on JCCC President Terry Calaway, Board Chair Shirley Brown-VanArsdale, and Vice chair Lynn Mitchelson:

Ben has worked very hard to bring transparency and openness to the JCCC Board of Trustees. Unfortunately, as Yael Abouhalkah (of all people) at the Kansas City Star recently editorialized, the JCCC Board and President (outside of Hodge) have been conducting meetings in secret in violation of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. Ben didn’t like that and as a result, has been lableled a nuisance by Steve Rose. One would think that Steve Rose, whose name is synonymous with Johnson County’s long time suburban newspaper, the Johnson County Sun, would appreciate Ben’s efforts at upholding a state law that even The Star had to correct the college on, as Ben describes on RedCounty.com here.

Of course, JCCC President Calaway and the other 5 establishment board members have tried to come up with lame excuses for their secrecy, as described in this recent article in the Gardner News, that apparently KOMA doesn’t apply to written documents, just verbal communication. Right.

Not only that, they subsequently violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act back in November as well when four of the board members, a majority, wrote a letter to The Star discussing Ben’s claims in his own letter to The Star regarding the board’s possibility of raising the mill levy. Problem is, having four people sign a letter was a violation of KOMA as well. Ben discusses these issues at length here.

OP:

For Immediate ReIease: March 30, 2009

Overland Park residents can dispose of tree limbs at two sites

Overland Park, KS - Saturday’s late season storm not only brought not only rain, ice and snow, but also broken tree limbs.

The Parks and Recreation Department is opening two drop-off sites for Overland Park residents starting today through Monday, April 6.

The locations are Young’s Park, 77th and Antioch, and St. Andrews Golf Course, 135th and Nieman. Have your driver’s license ready to prove residency.

The sites are not open to commercial tree companies. Tickets may be issued for illegal dumping.

Most of the damaged trees reported in Overland Park are Bradford pear trees with the most significant damage from College Boulevard south to 119th Street.

There will be no pickup of tree limbs by the city. The drop off sites will close at the end of the day on Monday, April 6.

For more information, call 913/895-6000.

# # #

Flint Hills Center:

Title: Kansas Style Budget Transparency Spreads Across America

Author: Jonathan Williams
In 2007, Kansas lawmakers took the lead with first-in-the-nation legislation to create an innovative budget transparency Web site. Led by Rep. Kasha Kelley and Sen. Tim Huelskamp et al., this legislation, which created the widely popular www.kansas.gov/kanview/, now allows Kansas taxpayers to see how their hard earned dollars are being spent with the click of a mouse.

Based on the Kansas experience and model legislation developed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), legislators across the nation are now promoting legislation to increase transparency and accountability in state budgets. This growing movement toward greater transparency has been one of the most promising recent developments in state policy. (more…)

Rasmussen:

The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures consumer confidence on a daily basis, gained two points on Sunday. At 70.8, the Consumer Index is up six points from a week ago and up sixteen points from the all-time low reached just three weeks ago. Consumer confidence is now at the highest level since Barack Obama was elected last November.

Please take a moment to predict where the Consumer Index will be on April 30.

The Rasmussen Investor Index shows that investor confidence is also at its highest level since early November. At 74.8, the Investor Index is up eight points from a week ago and up eighteen points from a month ago. Investor confidence is still down eighteen points from a year ago.

The biggest change over the past month has been reduced pessimism over the economic future. Fifty-one percent (51%) of consumers now say the economy is getting worse. That’s down from 67% a month ago. Among investors, 48% say the economy is getting worse, down 69% from a month ago.

Thirty-five percent (35%) of investors would put new investment money in real estate while 29% would put the money in a savings account. That’s a reversal from recent months when a bank savings account was the top choice. Just 17% would put their new investment money in the stock market.

Todd Tiahrt:

March 27, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Website - Contact Me - About Todd - Services - Newsroom - Legislative Resources - 4th District U.S. Capitol Update March 27, 2009 Dear Friend, Welcome to this week’s U.S. Capitol Update. ABL Program Critical to the Future of our National Security Capabilities On Monday, I was joined by six of my congressional colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates requesting his support for continued funding of the Airborne Laser (ABL) program. The ABL program is critical in maintaining America’s technological edge and national security capabilities to destroy ballistic missiles from the moment of launch. I am also pleased this program will bring increased job opportunities to Kansas workers with modification of the Airborne Laser expected to be done by Boeing in Wichita. Click here to read the text of the letter. I also enjoyed appearing on Fox News to discuss the importance of the ABL Program. Click here to watch the video. 2nd Amendment Self Defense Bill This week I co-sponsored the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill (H.R. 197). This legislation recognizes that those who have a valid state-issued concealed firearms permit should not have to forfeit their safety when traveling to other states. Not only does this bill protect the rights of concealed firearm permit holders, it also maintains the right of states to issue concealed weapons permits as they desire. Click here to read more. Ethical Stem Cell Research Initiative I was proud to become a co-sponsor of the Patients First Act (H.R. 877), a bill that supports productive and ethical stem cell research by prioritizing scientific breakthroughs with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefits. For years stem cell research has been a divisive issue, but the Patients First Act will help bridge the divide between protecting life and advancing scientific endeavors. With more intensified research, I have confidence we will see treatments available for many more ailments and diseases while honoring the sanctity of life. Click here to read more. Spring 2009 Satellite Office Hours The Spring 2009 satellite office hours are happening now. This is your opportunity to meet with a member of my staff who will be available to offer assistance with federal agencies, answer questions about the federal government, and discuss your concerns and opinions. No appointment is necessary, just come during the scheduled hours. Please feel free to share this information with your family and friends. You can find the complete satellite office schedule on my website by clicking here. Or for more information, please call my office at: 316.262.8992 or toll free at 1.866.668.8478. 2009 Congressional Art Competition I would like to invite all high school art students to participate in the 2009 Annual Congressional Art Competition: An Artistic Discovery. This unique competition provides members of the U.S. House of Representatives an opportunity to showcase the artistic talents of high school students within their districts. We have many talented young artists in Kansas, and I encourage as many to participate as possible. The winning entry from each district-wide contest will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Click here for more information. Job Resource Center Located on my website you will find a Job Resource Center to help aid constituents impacted by layoffs. Through the Job Resource Center, you will find links to job banks, job training resources, and unemployment benefits information. Click here to be directed to the Job Resource Center. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help to you or your family. You can reach my Wichita office by calling 316.262.8992 or click here to send me an electronic message. Best regards, Do you think President Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget plan will help or hurt the economy? It will help It will hurt Undecided *By answering this survey, you are subscribing to my newsletter. If you are having trouble, click here. Please Feel Free to Tell a Friend E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: Office Locations Wichita Office 155 North Market St., Suite 400 Wichita, KS 67202 phone: 316.262.8992 fax: 316.262.5309 Washington Office 2441 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 phone: 202.225.6216 fax: 202.225.3489 Update My Profile - Unsubscribe - Privacy Policy

Weekly Standard:

Here, from the Associated Press, is a partial account of DNI Dennis Blair’s first press conference today (emphasis mine):

During his news conference, Blair also said the Obama administration is still wrestling with what to do with the remaining 240 detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, which the president has ordered closed.

Some of the detainees, deemed non-threatening, may be released into the United States as free men, Blair confirmed.

That would happen when they can’t be returned to their home countries, because the governments either won’t take them or the U.S. fears they will be abused or tortured. That is the case with 17 Uighurs (WEE’-gurz), Chinese Muslim separatists who were cleared for release from the jail long ago. The U.S. can’t find a country willing to take them, and it will not turn them over to China.

Blair said the former prisoners would have [to] get some sort of assistance to start their new lives in the United States.

“We can’t put them out on the street,” he said.

Independence Institute:

In the fall of 2008 there were 7,023 registered homeschool students. After 20 years, some organizations still desire to limit homeschool freedoms. The law needs consistent defense against those who would restrict parental rights.

Politico:

The Obama administration asked Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, to step down and he agreed, a White House official said.

On Monday, President Barack Obama is to unveil his plans for the auto industry, including a response to a request for additional funds by GM and Chrysler. The plan is based on recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, headed by the Treasury Department.

The White House confirmed Wagoner was leaving at the government’s behest after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason.

General Motors issued a vague statement Sunday night that did not officially confirm Wagoner’s departure.

“We are anticipating an announcement soon from the Administration regarding the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry. We continue to work closely with members of the Task Force and it would not be appropriate for us to speculate on the content of any announcement,” the company said.

Washington Examiner:

Americans do not have the rights they always thought they did. There is no right to protest government. There is no right to assemble.

Redstate.com:

CNN (Continental News Network) Boston, 1773: The city of Boston canceled a proposed protest over tea taxes today, citing the fear that too many people dressed as Indians would be gathered near the wharves. Organizers expressed sadness over the cancellation, but meekly returned to their homes fearful of upsetting the officers of the Crown. Taxmen breathed a sigh of relief as the tar and feathers were put away not to be used this day.

You don’t remember that pre-revolutionary history? I should say you shouldn’t, because it didn’t happen. But flash forward a few hundred years and you’ll find it is happening today in Cape Coral, Florida where city officials canceled a tax day tea party gathering because they “feel too many people could show-up.”

That’s right, folks, the God-given, long-held American right to assemble and protest the actions of our government has been canceled due to too much popularity of the protest.

And what does it come down to? Money. You see, the city officials want an insurance policy taken out so that organizers can cover any loss that might occur as a result of the rally. And those insurance policies cost hundreds of dollars.

KFL:

Call To Action

6-member jury finds Tiller not guilty but state Medical Board moves to revoke his license for same charges + fraud!

While it was frustrating that Tiller escaped conviction for 19 misdemeanors this afternoon, he is in MUCH bigger trouble right now. Tiller’s use of one doctor, dependent on him for her entire salary - was a defiant criminal act, and although the jury today didn’t see that, the state Board of Healing Arts-under a new Executive Director, Jack Confer-absolutely described that relationship as “symbiotic” and as clearly banned under the late-term law! They are charging Tiller with 11 counts of fraud, unprofessional conduct and failing to use an independent second referral. The Board has issued the first step in revoking Tiller’s medical license! No need to call yet-we’ll keep you informed. Please pray for all the members of the Board.

Women’s Right to Know & See act signed today

Gov. Sebelius quietly signed the Woman’s Right to Know and See act today, knowing it had passed by veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate. Thank you to those who contacted her, urging her to do the right thing and sign it. This is a wonderful bill insuring a woman can have access to the sonogram of her unborn child and helping stop coercion at abortion clinics. We thank all those who helped it pass, especially the bill author, Rep.Lance Kinzer.

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AFP:

Tax Day Tea Parties planned in Kansas, April 15
Americans for Prosperity

Americans for Prosperity-Kansas
March 26, 2009
In this issue:

* Tax Day Tea Parties planned for April 15
* Budget Stabilization fund passes both chambers
* Taxpayer-funded lobbying
* AFP-Kansas is now on Twitter!

***********

A Message from State Director Derrick Sontag: (more…)

Rasmussen:

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of voters now think politics in Washington, D.C. will be more partisan over the next year rather than more cooperative. That’s up from 49% a month ago, 40% two months ago, and 34% in early January.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 26% expect things to be more cooperative. That’s down from 48% in early January.

Half of U.S. voters (50%) now believe President Barack Obama is governing as a partisan Democrat. That’s up seven points from a month ago and eleven points from two months ago.

But voters continue to think Congress is acting on a more partisan basis than the president.
Sixty-four percent (64%) now say congressional Democrats are acting like partisan Democrats, while 20% say they’re bipartisan.
As for Republicans in Congress, 57% of voters say they’re acting like partisan Republicans. Twenty percent (20%) say their actions are bipartisan.