Just two days into his tenure as Alaska Pacific University’s new president, you can hear Dr. Don Bantz talk about higher education. He’s the guest on today’s edition of “Talk of Alaska”. The broadcast is from 10am to 11am. You can tune in on your local public radio station (KSKA 91.1 FM in Anchorage) or listen online via your computer’s mp3 player at http://kska.org/listen.m3u.
The interview will be archived at aprn.org for later listening as well.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Hear APU's Pres While You Wait to Hear Who UA's Pres Is
While we wait to hear from the Board of Regents to announce their presidential selection, you can hear APU's new president today. I got this email today:
Constitutional Amendment to Enlarge Leg - House and Senate Versions Differ
Constitutional Amendments aren't offered as a 'bill.' They're offered as a 'joint resolution' or 'JR.'
SJR (Senate Joint Resolution) 21, sponsored by the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee, has now made it through the Senate State Affairs, Senate Judiciary, and Senate Finance committees to the Senate Rules Committee. (You can see the history of the resolution here.) I've only been to one of the hearings and I'm not completely sure of this, but I think it is relatively intact. It's still called SJR 21, not CS(Committee Substitute)JR 38. What I do know is that it still calls for increasing the House by eight members and the Senate by four members. And it's made it all the way to the Rules Committee, the last step before going to the Senate floor.
SJR 21
03/15/10 1823 (S) REFERRED TO RULES
Meanwhile, the House version, sponsored by Peggy Wilson of Wrangell, has been changed from HB 38 to CSHB 38 and would now only increase the House by four members and the Senate by two members. That happened in its first committee - State Affairs - when Rep. Seaton proposed the change and sponsor Rep. Wilson accepted it. It's now made it through House Judiciary and is in House Finance.
CSHJR 38
03/15/10 1737 (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE
Whichever version passes on the chamber floor - the Senate floor or the House floor - will become the version that moves on. That isn't very clear is it? I'll try again. If the Senate Joint Resolution passes on the Senate floor before the House Joint Resolution passes on the House floor, from then on it will be called SJR 21 and CSHJR 38 will disappear. At least that's how I understand it.
Basically, if the resolution passes, a Constitutional Amendment "shall be placed before the voters of the state at the next general election..." to increase the size of the legislature.
The rural legislators want this bad. The 2010 census data is expected to show increased population in Matsu, Anchorage, Kenai, and Fairbanks and decreased population in rural Alaska. These will certainly be in the more urban districts required. Without raising the number of legislators, some rural districts will be merged and they will get geographically bigger. One Senate district is already the largest in the US and getting around to visit constituents requires expensive travel. Meanwhile urban legislators can walk across their districts in a few hours.
The urban legislators aren't particularly excited, and it means there will be first year expenses for remodeling the Capitol to accommodate the additional legislators plus their regular annual expenses: $6 million the first year (would include the remodeling) and $4 million every year after for the Senate version, and half that for the House version since they cut the number of new legislators in half. (You can click the links to see the fiscal notes for the House and Senate.)
The people I've asked about this don't think it has a chance. Neither the Senate nor the House versions have passed either full body yet, and then they will have to reconcile the different numbers of members to be increased.
SJR (Senate Joint Resolution) 21, sponsored by the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee, has now made it through the Senate State Affairs, Senate Judiciary, and Senate Finance committees to the Senate Rules Committee. (You can see the history of the resolution here.) I've only been to one of the hearings and I'm not completely sure of this, but I think it is relatively intact. It's still called SJR 21, not CS(Committee Substitute)JR 38. What I do know is that it still calls for increasing the House by eight members and the Senate by four members. And it's made it all the way to the Rules Committee, the last step before going to the Senate floor.
SJR 21
03/15/10 1823 (S) REFERRED TO RULES
Meanwhile, the House version, sponsored by Peggy Wilson of Wrangell, has been changed from HB 38 to CSHB 38 and would now only increase the House by four members and the Senate by two members. That happened in its first committee - State Affairs - when Rep. Seaton proposed the change and sponsor Rep. Wilson accepted it. It's now made it through House Judiciary and is in House Finance.
CSHJR 38
03/15/10 1737 (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE
Whichever version passes on the chamber floor - the Senate floor or the House floor - will become the version that moves on. That isn't very clear is it? I'll try again. If the Senate Joint Resolution passes on the Senate floor before the House Joint Resolution passes on the House floor, from then on it will be called SJR 21 and CSHJR 38 will disappear. At least that's how I understand it.
Basically, if the resolution passes, a Constitutional Amendment "shall be placed before the voters of the state at the next general election..." to increase the size of the legislature.
The rural legislators want this bad. The 2010 census data is expected to show increased population in Matsu, Anchorage, Kenai, and Fairbanks and decreased population in rural Alaska. These will certainly be in the more urban districts required. Without raising the number of legislators, some rural districts will be merged and they will get geographically bigger. One Senate district is already the largest in the US and getting around to visit constituents requires expensive travel. Meanwhile urban legislators can walk across their districts in a few hours.
The urban legislators aren't particularly excited, and it means there will be first year expenses for remodeling the Capitol to accommodate the additional legislators plus their regular annual expenses: $6 million the first year (would include the remodeling) and $4 million every year after for the Senate version, and half that for the House version since they cut the number of new legislators in half. (You can click the links to see the fiscal notes for the House and Senate.)
The people I've asked about this don't think it has a chance. Neither the Senate nor the House versions have passed either full body yet, and then they will have to reconcile the different numbers of members to be increased.
Keeping Your Website Up-to-Date: UA President Search
Early on March 16, the Board of Regents' Presidential Search page of the University of Alaska looked like this:
They met March 15 to make select the new President of the University. No announcement means either they didn't decide on a particular candidate or, more likely, they did, but haven't settled with that candidate on conditions of the appointment - salary, etc.
But it would be nice if they didn't have old news up on the Presidential Search webpage. Websites are important. A lot of organizations concentrate on getting them up, but not keeping them up-to-date. As this example shows.
They met March 15 to make select the new President of the University. No announcement means either they didn't decide on a particular candidate or, more likely, they did, but haven't settled with that candidate on conditions of the appointment - salary, etc.
But it would be nice if they didn't have old news up on the Presidential Search webpage. Websites are important. A lot of organizations concentrate on getting them up, but not keeping them up-to-date. As this example shows.
Monday, March 15, 2010
New Firefox - 11 Days to Download?
It actually said 62 days when it started. I've seen hours before, but never days. Fortunately, it actually only took a few minutes altogether to download the new Firefox 3.6. I've had a fair amount of trouble with compatibility between Firefox and Snow Leopard. I was hoping this new update would smooth things out. We'll see. The 62 days warning doesn't bode well, but the speed it actually loaded was fine.
Red Shirts Back in Bangkok - What's Happening?
With so many countries around the world, it is hard to keep the various political parties and leaders straight. Things have been heating up in Thailand for several years now. While the Thai king has been revered in most of the country (in the far south where there is a larger Muslim population in this mostly Buddhist country, he's less respected), he is the longest reigning monarch in the world and his health has become a question. While there is a Princess who has followed her father's footsteps and tirelessly worked to help poor Thais, she is not in line for succession and her brother is not held in the high esteem as their father. When the moral power of the current monarchy is gone, there is no telling what will happen.
That is the backdrop of the clash between the yellow shirts and the red shirts. It's tempting to equate unknown foreign situations to better known home situations, but it's also misleading. You have to take things for what they are and not fill in the blanks with what you are familiar with. It's hard to leave the blanks blank. But you're going to be more accurate if you leave the ?????? there than if you fill the blanks in with your own cultural fillers.
Basically there is a clash between the 'yellow shirts' who are the better educated, more urban, more middle class and elite Thais, with power centered in Bangkok and the less educated, more working class and rural Thais, whose power is centered in Chiang Mai. The yellow represent the traditionally more politically powerful, but a smaller portion of the population.
The current prime minister, Abhbisit, born in UK and with bachelors, masters, and doctorate all from Oxford, represents a more 'rational' legal, and elite Western perspective. He came to power when the military deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin. Thaksin also has a Western education.
You can read about both Abhisit and Thaksin in far more detail at Wikipedia.
Here's the beginning of an on-the-ground guest blogger post on New Mandela:
Bangkok Pundit is monitoring the coverage of the red shirt march on Bangkok.
That is the backdrop of the clash between the yellow shirts and the red shirts. It's tempting to equate unknown foreign situations to better known home situations, but it's also misleading. You have to take things for what they are and not fill in the blanks with what you are familiar with. It's hard to leave the blanks blank. But you're going to be more accurate if you leave the ?????? there than if you fill the blanks in with your own cultural fillers.
Basically there is a clash between the 'yellow shirts' who are the better educated, more urban, more middle class and elite Thais, with power centered in Bangkok and the less educated, more working class and rural Thais, whose power is centered in Chiang Mai. The yellow represent the traditionally more politically powerful, but a smaller portion of the population.
The current prime minister, Abhbisit, born in UK and with bachelors, masters, and doctorate all from Oxford, represents a more 'rational' legal, and elite Western perspective. He came to power when the military deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin. Thaksin also has a Western education.
Master's degree in Criminal Justice at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky in 1974 and a PhD in Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas in 1978. . [Bangkok Post]Thaksin, a media industry billionaire, is more populist, He's also been convicted on corruption charges and would be arrested if he returned to Thailand. That probably would set off riots even greater than what we've seen already.
You can read about both Abhisit and Thaksin in far more detail at Wikipedia.
Here's the beginning of an on-the-ground guest blogger post on New Mandela:
Most commentators appear to be trying to figure out the end game of the next few day’s red shirt rally in Bangkok and speculating about the possibility that violence will break out, but there are few who pay much attention to ordinary red shirt supporters. This has been a persistent pattern among both journalists and academics, though it is refreshing to note that some recent Bangkok Post reports include some references to ordinary red shirt people and their motivation in traveling to Bangkok for the demonstration of 14 March 2010, in marked contrast to its reporting a year ago. Nonetheless, the main focus of the [primarily state-run] TV media has been the prospect of violence, as with the local Thai and English-language press. I offer this descriptive cameo account simply to put some flesh on the bones of the leeched accounts of the red shirts and to give readers a sense of immediacy in the current events as they are unfolding. It is made as preliminary to what I’m sure will be a compelling and dynamic portrait of evolving events from the intrepid Nick Nostitz, who is pounding these Bangkok streets as I write, having myself returned from the blazing heat of the rally site to the comfort of my air-conditioned room in Sukhumvit. . . [The rest is here.]
Bangkok Pundit is monitoring the coverage of the red shirt march on Bangkok.
BP: Are the reds going away?
BBC on Abhisit's response to the red shirts:
Flanked by ministers and coalition allies, Mr Abhisit said on national television, from the barracks: "The protesters have demanded that I dissolve the house before midday (0500 GMT) today, but the coalition parties agree the demand cannot be met."BP: If the coalition parties don't budge, then what for the red shirts?
"Elections must be held under common rules and genuine calm. We have to listen to other people's voices, not just the protesters," he said.
btw, BP can't live blog, but check out Nirmal Ghosh of the Straits Times' blog with hourly updates so far. Key quote:
1115hrs Bangkok time: Probably about 500 soldiers with riot shields and communication equipment deployed about 20m inside wrought iron fence at 11th Infantry HQ. Main gate protected by coils of razor wire. A thicket of razor wire also lines the inside of the fence. Clearly anyone trying to get over risks severe lacerations.Siam Report also has a live blog post with plenty of updates:
There are around 5,000 reds here and growing. Road outside clogged with their vehicles. Two pedestrian overhead bridges clogged with reds. They are jeering and shouting abuse at the soldiers. A mood of excitement is in the air not one of aggressiveness.
Thailand has a history of compromise which kept the nation uncolonized as all its neighbors became either French or British colonies. In WW II it was able to maintain its pro Allied connections through a government abroad, while the country was taken over by the Japanese. I'm just not close enough to what is happening to really be able to interpret the current years of turmoil with too much confidence. But the two blogs I've linked here and in the column on the right - Mandela and Pundit - do give useful reports.Thai Rath: เมื่อ เวลาประมาณ 09.50 น. วันที่ 15 มี.ค. นายอภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ นายกรัฐมนตรี พร้อมแกนนำพรรคร่วมรัฐบาล อาทิ นายวรรณรัตน์ ชาญนุกูล หัวหน้าพรรครวมใจไทยชาติพัฒนา นายชาญชัย ชัยรุ่งเรือง หัวหน้าพรรคเพื่อแผ่นดิน นายชุมพล ศิลปอาชา หัวหน้าพรรคชาติไทยพัฒนา นายโสภณ ซารัมย์
Sophan Sorlam BJT commm. & transport minister was there for government announcement that there won't be a House dissoution. I guess Thanong will have to find some new sources or change the story a bit.
Board of Regents Meeting in Anchorage on Presidential Decision
I just called the board of regents office and was told they are in Anchorage meeting and no predictions on whether they would announce today.
Rep. Gatto Praises Rich Mauer's ADN Article
The House Republicans press conference just ended this morning and they spent a fair amount of time on oil and gas issues. If Alaskans are going to be informed voters, I think it behooves them to listen in on the legislators first hand now and then so they understand not only the issues but the people who represent them. The press conference is on Gavel to Gavel.
Here's the page for today's legislative schedule ("today" means 'today' everyday) on Gavel to Gavel. The press conference just finished and they don't have the audio up yet. It will be on that page later today, maybe within the hour. If you want to hear a previous day's hearing you can play with the calendar on that page. You can see it shows in red the day of the schedule you are looking at. The press conference that is just completed is on the bottom.
In any case, during the discussion between media representatives, Rep. Gatto who made a strong stand for the legislature to stand by its legal commitment to the AGIA law that the legislature passed by an overwhelming majority, praised Rich Mauer's piece in the Anchorage Daily News today. Here's the beginning of the article. Get the whole article at the link.
Here's the audio of the press conference:
In any case, during the discussion between media representatives, Rep. Gatto who made a strong stand for the legislature to stand by its legal commitment to the AGIA law that the legislature passed by an overwhelming majority, praised Rich Mauer's piece in the Anchorage Daily News today. Here's the beginning of the article. Get the whole article at the link.
Legislators hear plans for alternative energy
With a gas pipeline still a dream, wind, hydro, volcano possible.Published: March 15th, 2010 08:35 AM
Last Modified: March 15th, 2010 08:36 AMJUNEAU -- With some legislators fuming over the pace of in-state gas development and broadly supporting energy diversification, a special House committee summoned the promoters of six large Railbelt projects last week to explain themselves and whether they should be subsidized with public funds.One of the projects -- a wind farm already under construction by Cook Inlet Region Inc. on Fire Island -- is poised to change Anchorage's view to the west and the approach to the city's international airport. The Anchorage Native corporation, owner of the island, plans to prepare sites for 36 wind turbines this summer and have the project in operation by the end of 2011. . .
Read more: http://www.adn.com/2010/03/14/1183482/legislators-hear-several-energy.html#ixzz0iGlxbV3q
Here's the audio of the press conference:
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Southeast Alaska Regional Science Fair - Great Work, Great Kids, Great Mentors
We went to the Southeast Alaska Regional Science Fair yesterday. I wouldn't have known anything about it except one of the participants had emailed to get permission to use a cow parsnip picture he found on my blog.
Here's David, a bit surprised that I actually showed up, explaining his project using ground up cow parsnip mixed with water to test whether it would kill mosquito larvae. I talked to a lot of kids about their projects and all were as enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I did keep the camera close to his face because I was afraid the background noise would drown out his voice. Below are pictures of other exhibits to give you an idea of the wide range of topics explored.
All these pictures can be enlarged with a double click.
The Auke Bay Lab (ABL) has become a major contributor to the success of the SASF. More than 25% of the ABL staff serves as mentors; projects generally take several months for students to complete. In addition, more than 50% of ABL staff serves as judges for the fair. ABL staff members represent a significant proportion of the fair’s board of directors and were responsible for developing the rules for judging. In the last five years at least one of the projects advancing to ISEF has been mentored by ABL staff and these projects have won prizes in three of the last five years.
This one is clear if you enlarge it.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Good Mail, Bad Mail: Fair and Festival
I got a good blog related email this week and one not so good. The good one was from a Juneau Douglas High School student who asked if he could use one of my photos for his science project. Part of their rules requires that they get permission to use photos and give credit for photos they use on their posters. He didn't know I was in Juneau and I surprised him when I showed up to see his project.
Here he is explaining his project where he tested crushed cow parsnip in water as a way to naturally kill mosquito larvae. I'll do a longer post on the science fair later.
The other communication wasn't nearly as pleasant. It was a letter from a San Diego attorney alleging that I had libeled his client and that he was giving me a week to remove the offending post. While I didn't think there was anything wrong with the post - you regulars know that I'm pretty careful about what I say - I have engaged an attorney. I can say that the letter caused me to poke around a bit and things get more and more interesting. I'll put up more soon. The offending post is this one.
Friday, March 12, 2010
House Judiciary: Liens, More Legislators, and Guns for Felons
At least one plane made it out this morning, but the word was that most legislators were stuck in Juneau even though the Anchorage caucus had scheduled a meeting this weekend in Anchorage.
| (H)JUDICIARY | STANDING COMMITTEE * |  | ||||||
| Mar 12 Friday 1:00 PM | CAPITOL 120 | |||||||
| + | HB 253 | MECHANIC/MATERIALMEN LIENS | TELECONFERENCED | |||||
| *+ | HB 408 | MISCONDUCT INVOLVING WEAPONS | TELECONFERENCED | |||||
| + | HJR 38 | CONST. AM: INCREASE NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS | TELECONFERENCED | |||||
| + | Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled | TELECONFERENCED | ||||||
Opening at 1:14pm. Two excused members are here because of the snow storm and they apparently weren't able to fly out.
Summary
HB 253 Mechanic/Materialmen Liens - sponsored by Committee Chair Ramras - would change the amount of time a business has to put a lien on someone for non-payment. It would change the time limit from 90 days to 120 days. Rep. Ramras called this the "Rocky Bill."
The first to testify was Rocky Pavey owner of Rocky's heating. Rep. Ramras introduced him as a friend since age 14 and Lathrop High Shool's best ever athlete and Hall of Fame Football player. His testimony was similar to his written letter, though the friendly bantering continued between Chair Ramras and Rocky throughout.
So, 90 days isn't long enough to be civil with one's long time customers yet weed out those who are going to stiff you. He said he's lost tens of thousands, if not a hundred thousand to people who take advantage of the 90 day limit. Another 30 days would be the right amount he and others said.
The others testified along the same lines and Chair Ramras said the bankers lobbyists are opposed, but I didn't catch the reason.
The bill passed out of committee. Next stop the Rules Committee and from there it would go to the House floor and then it would have to go through all that on the Senate side. And there are less than 40 days left.
HJR 38: CONST. AM: INCREASE NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS
This one I've heard argued in State Affairs and in the Senate version, but I can't remember where. This passed out of committee after Rep. Herron played the "Angel's" advocate by asking who is going to promote this Constitutional Amendment among urban voters who will not see they have anything to gain. Rep. Gruenberg said it keeps all districts a little smaller than they would be in terms of population and that's good for everyone. It was passed out of the committee. I think it goes to House Finance next.
HB 408: MISCONDUCT INVOLVING WEAPONS
This would allow felons who had served their time to carry weapons, including concealed weapons. Alaska had a law with which, apparently, everyone was reasonably satisfied. It let felons (I think just those who had not used a weapon in their crime) gradually gain back the right to have weapons up to, but not including, concealed weapons. All was fine, until the Feds passed a law that said if you had any state weapons restrictions, you couldn't have any weapon. So the part that prohibited concealed weapons use, essentially prevented people from using any firearms. Testimony came from reformed felons who wanted to go hunting, who needed weapons to go fishing in bear country, and a bush pilot who needs a weapon as part of his business in rural Alaska. Also from Robert Judy of the NRA Alaska and Wayne Anthony Ross. Everyone seemed to be supportive, but they wanted more information to tweek the bill a abit.
I'm going to post this now and add my notes when we get back from dinner later tonight.
UPDATE March 13: I've added the rough notes, if this works, it should be linked after the break. [I've tried this unsuccessfully before. It's not working, I'll have to figure out how to make this feature work.]
Here are my ROUGH NOTES. AGAIN, ASSUME THESE ARE CLOSE, BUT DON'T DEPEND ON THEM. CHECK THE AUDIO FROM GAVEL TO GAVEL (Get House Judiciary March 12, 2010) TO GET A MORE ACCURATE ACCOUNT.
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