Congressman Brooks spoke about the “Obama Kill Jobs Bill” and the futility of trying to compromise with people who have an “aberrant ideology”.  Mo may have said “abhorrent” – either adjective is correct when describing the left…

MCGOP meeting:

Some of you know that I support changing the name of the Men’s Club and opening up ‘membership’ to women (the Club “is the easiest club in the world to join”).  I don’t know why the organizations are still organized into Men’s and Women’s clubs – to me it is an anachronism.  It is some comfort to know that we’re better than the Alabama Democratic Party, which practices gender apartheid.

Anyway, Club President Elbert Peters publicly addressed the issue today, saying that he approached the women’s clubs and offered: “if the women will take ‘women’ out of their name, we’ll take ‘men’ out of ours”.  Thanks to Elbert for taking this seriously and working with the other interested groups.

Presidential candidate Herman Cain is speaking at the Alabama Federation of Republican Women state convention on 29 October 2011.

More Mo:

Congressman Brooks contrasted the 4.5% national unemployment rate in November 2006, before Democrats took the House (Nancy Pelosi) and Senate (Harry Reid), with the 9.8% unemployment rate in November 2010, saying that the “philosophy of government changed radically”.  Brooks blamed “Obamacare, class warfare, and extreme environmental regulations” for the “seven million jobs lost” under Democrat rule.

Brooks said “three straight years of trillion dollar deficits… risk government insolvency”.  Brooks favors cutting “consumptive, not productive” programs, such as “unearned wealth transfer programs”.  Brooks pledged to “do everything I can to protect national defense”.

Brooks noted that the “Obama Kill Jobs Bill” includes “tax increases on oil companies”, which would result in “domestic oil jobs lost” and “raise gas prices”.  Brooks said that the “Obama Kill Jobs Bill” would “add to the national debt”, ”increase lawsuits” (due to unemployment status), and “create two government agencies”.

“Free enterprise versus Socialism”.

Site update:

Thanks to readers who’ve expressed support during the blog transition.  You may have noticed that the photos associated with posts are ‘x’d out; I still need to upload those files.  Then I need to create users (like Ben) and upload all their archived posts.  Once we get back to full functionality we’ll think about other changes…

Adam Isackson is writing a book about local political campaign management and posted some of his thoughts at REDSTATE.  So far, Isackson has posted two articles:  “Things to consider before running for public office” and  “Precinct analysis and canvassing strategy”.   Anyone interested in the subject should read the articles.

Here are some of the questions Isackson suggests that one considers before running for public office:

Are you willing and able to commit the time necessary?
Are you financially stable?
What effects will running have on your finances?
Are you the best candidate for the job?
Are you willing to have your baggage aired out in public?
Do you have strong interpersonal skills?
Can you ask people for money?
Would you likely face primary opposition?
Are you electable?
Can you build a strong campaign infrastructure?

Isackson’s precinct analysis and canvassing strategy article is very detailed.  Here are some snippets to pique your interest:

Local campaigns in particular are largely about meeting more voters then your opponent. You can only meet a small percentage of likely voters by attending community functions and meetings. To reach the rest of them you need to go door to door. In a local campaign where you face any, even minor opposition this shouldn’t be a matter of debate. Going door to door should be a, if not the central aspect of your campaign for public office.

…Good maps will save you a TON of time out in the field.

…First and foremost you’re going to want to look at the most relevant recent elections data and look at the precinct by precinct results.

…Another thing you want to consider before you start pounding the pavement is the use of walking lists. If you’re running for partisan office you’re going to want to get a hold of your state or local political party and find out what resources they have available.

I’ll be on the lookout for more from Isackson…

I wrote earlier this summer about poo at the Fairhope Beach;  what I didn’t know is that the City of Fairhope started source tracking testing about the same time (after waiting on the State for seven years).  I like that the City stopped waiting and funded the testing themselves, after all, it is their poo and their park. 

Enterococcus faecalis

Russ Henderson at the Mobile Press-Register wrote “Swimming advisory again issued for Fairhope public beach”:

The Baldwin County Health Department issued a public swimming advisory on Tuesday for the waters of Mobile Bay at the Fairhope Public Beach.

It is the sixth time this year that such an advisory has been issued for the Fairhope beach. Their cause is unclear.

The city has been conducting weekly tests of local waterways this summer in an effort to find out — after many years of speculation — what causes the periodic high bacterial readings found at the municipal park’s beach and duck pond.

Henderson at the MPR wrote about the source tracking effort “Fairhope seeks source of beach contamination”:

Recent tests suggest that residential areas in Fairhope whose homes remain on septic tank systems are much more likely to blame for the water contamination than feces from animals such as ducks, geese and cats that live at the park and are often fed by visitors, Mayor Tim Kant said Friday.

“This goes back to the ‘Cat-Duck War of 2000’ and earlier,” Kant said. “It’s a longstanding problem we’re trying to make progress on solving. Hopefully we will have some clearer answers soon.”

…The water samples taken since June have shown some interesting trends, Kant said.

Bacteria levels at the duck pond are always literally off the charts, with the number of colonies “too numerous to count,” according to test records.

Also, tests show higher and higher levels of bacteria as samples are taken along Fly Creek from south to north. Readings are particularly high in the area of Colonial Acres, one of the city’s older neighborhoods, where most homes remain on septic systems, according to the records.

“We ran a sewer line to Colonial Acres years ago but we never required them to hook up to it,” Kant said. “We may have to look at that again.”

Kudos to the City and Mayor Tim Kant for addressing the issue.

***

Closer to home, can you imagine what the poo levels must be like in the duck pond at Big Spring Park, which flows into Pinhook Creek…

***

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) monitors water quality from 25 sites at Alabama beaches through the Coastal Alabama Beach Monitoring Program.  Enterococci is an “indicator bacteria” that is not harmful to humans but may indicate the presence of “potential human pathogens”.  To aid in my understanding, I just call it poo.

Recently appointed Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Chuck Malone was the featured speaker.  Attendees included: Court of Criminal Appeals Judges Liles Burke and Mike Joiner; Circuit Court Judges Dennis O’Dell, Alan Mann, and Ruth Ann Hall; District Court Judges Dick Richardson and Alison Austin, Madison County Circuit Court Clerk Jane Smith;  prospective District Court Judge appointees Jonathan Pippin and Robert Rodgers; plus District Judge candidates Chris Messervy and Don Rizzardi. 

I listed the judges to illustrate how completely the people of Alabama have entrusted the judiciary to Republicans.  Consider that before 1994, no Republican held a statewide judicial seat (since Civil War Reconstruction).  Now every statewide judge is a Republican, furthermore, every State office is held by Republicans except Public Service Commission President Lucy Baxley (D).   The Republican Revolution is transforming the State at the County office level too.  Madison County Republicans won every office on the ballot in 2010.  Their rejection at the polls helps explain why Democrats push for unelected judicial selection instead of election by citizens.

More notes from the meeting…

Chief Justice Malone was Chief of Staff to Governor Dr. Robert Bentley before his appointment to the Alabama Supreme Court.  Malone and Dr. Love have served as church Deacons together since the 1970s.  Malone was welcomed with a standing ovation.  Here are some highlights of his speech:

Speaking of a judge’s responsibility for fairness, Malone said “I’ve locked people up then sat next to their grandmother at church”.
“Judges that serve are the gatekeepers to our Constitution”
“Treat people with respect”
“Worst thing is… for victims to become victims of our system”
“Do what’s right and what’s just”
“God judges me for what I do”
“The law must be followed”
“Educating people on how important it is for the judicial system to be adequately funded”
“Never sacrifice justness and fairness because the money’s running low”

Marian Accardi of The Huntsville Times wrote “New Alabama Chief Justice Chuck Malone sees changes coming for courts”:

“I have a vision for the Administrative Office of Courts and courts throughout the state.”

…He’s in the process of getting input on that vision from state legal and budget personnel, the presidents of Alabama’s Circuit Judges Association, District Judges Association, Bar Association and Clerk Association as well as presiding judges, probate judges and clerks.

“There will be some changes in the court system that I believe will help the court system.”

…”We’ve got some serious things we’ve got to address.”

…”I believe I came into this position with all the tools” to uphold the Alabama and U.S. Constitutions and laws, Malone said. He had his own law practice for 20 years in Tuscaloosa, and represented a mix of individuals and businesses. He was elected a Tuscaloosa County circuit judge in 2000 and then re-elected in 2006. In 2003 and again in 2010, he was elected to serve as the presiding judge.

***

Listen Up!  Shelby County businesswoman Kathy Peterson is running for PSC President.  Y’all may have heard of her husband, Dale. 

Peterson says “the Public Service Commission can help” Alabama “by working as an advocate to get the federal government off our backs”.

“Less federal regulation = more jobs for Alabamians.”

WVNN Talk Radio Superstar Dale Jackson and I beat the bus!   We walked about 3 miles in 45 minutes, edging out Jason Marks (on the Huntsville Shuttle bus) by seven minutes.  Even though walking was faster, I was a hot mess when we arrived at the VBCC while Jason was air-conditioned and fresh.

Jason had to transfer buses once, but note that he saw a total of 11 people riding both buses (during evening rush hour).  The first bus was about 10 minutes late and Jason had to wait about 10 minutes for the transfer bus (route 9 to route 5).  Overall, Jason seemed to have an okay experience riding the bus, however, no one who has a car would trade the 10 minute drive for an hour on the bus.  Jason loves his Jeep even more now…

The Amazing Dale Jackson Beats the Bus

My interest in The Amazing Bus Race was to investigate Huntsville sidewalks.  Sidewalks are the fundamental basis of public transportation and it is silly to spend money on buses (or rail) without first having a good sidewalk system.  The rule of thumb is that people will walk about 1/4 mile to ride a bus or 1/3 mile to ride a train.  I took some pictures of the sidewalks (/light sarcasm) encountered during the race.  This is on Pulaski Pike south of Oakwood:

"Sidewalk" on Pulaski Pike

This is downtown on Holmes:

"Sidewalk" on Holmes Avenue

The City budgets about $300,000 per year for sidewalks (which doesn’t include the Federal stimulus money spent on new bus shelters).   Huntsville is paying $71,000 for a transportation consultant to “to recommend new routes and other improvements”.   If the consultant doesn’t recommend sidewalk improvements I’ll just consider it more money wasted on useless consultants.  The City would’ve been better off hiring someone to walk around the City listing sidewalk improvements.

The highly touted and totally stupid (for Huntsville)  Google Transit  was an epic FAIL.  Dale Jackson has more on that – I’ll just add that the people who ride the bus don’t have iPhones, and that people who have iPhones don’t (and will not) ride the bus.

Poorly sited trees at Merts

New hotness – making informed decisions based on a long range vision…

I attended the HCS Board of Education meeting at noon today – which illustrates the sense of urgency that I believe Superintendent Dr. Casey Wardynski brings to the schools.  The Board has been meeting fairly often and on fairly short notice to make decisions, and I commend them for taking prompt action.  My Board member David Blair ‘attended’ the meeting via telecom – which is a welcome use of time and technology.

The School Board approved:

1) a Human Resources report hiring 18 people, mostly for replacements.  The schools still need to hire another 15 or so people to be approved at the next Board meeting.  Note that no classes are unsupervised and that substitute teachers are filling in for now.

2) Temporary agreements for 11 nurses through October.  The plan is for the State to train some nurses to cover multiple venues and then re-evaluate / rightsize the agreements for the next fiscal year.

3) a new job description for the Director of Community Engagement and Partnership Development.  This position seems to roll three current (but unfilled?)  positions into one job - replacing Public Relations, Grants, and Partnership positions.  The position was recommended by The Schools Foundation Speak Up program. 

IMO, Speak Up seems like a feel good PR program – nice website but not much substance; for example, Speak Up posted their Huntsville City Data Results on July 14, 2011, but the data ‘presented’ was from the ‘community engagement initiative’ of 2006 and 2007.  The presentation consisted of four PDF files (92 page, 41 page, 29 page, 41 page) listing ideas gathered at the meetings.  My guess is that the meetings covered more than education – comments about getting a Macy’s department store and more restaurants seem more appropriate for the Mayor’s business initiative.  There may be some nuggets in the files but there are no results.

Wardynski spoke about the University Place Elementary student who got onto the wrong bus Wednesday.  The child was expected to be on an after school bus but didn’t have the parental note – Casey said that the principal resolved that issue and that the bus procedures were “fine”.  The schools are looking at setting up a swipe card system to track students, in addition to the GPS and video on board the buses.

However, this afternoon a second child got on the wrong bus at Morris Elementary. 

The procedures may be “fine” but it seems like a mishap reduction stand down may be necessary.

***

Special education parent Russ Winn attended the meeting.  Winn posted ‘Perturbed by Change’ in which he includes this quote from Wardysnki:

The interests of the kids will always come first. I do have resource constraints… We’ve attempted here to make sure we have a plan that we can live with. That they won’t be perturbed by change.

Casey was answering a question about the special ed consolidation using the Providence to Williams move as an example:  minimizing disruptions to kid’s educations through planning.  Let’s hope Casey comes up with a good plan that satisfies the needs of the kids and the taxpayers.

Winn also wrote:

…there was a time not too long ago when I thought that fighting the central office decisions concerning my son’s education was not terribly wise. I was concerned about retaliation and becoming known as Dr. Moore put it once, one of those “confrontational” parents.

Casey assured us that people won’t be punished for speaking up (remember C.J. Grisham), however while Dr. Moore may be ‘gone’, many of the people involved in retaliating against a parent for speaking up at a PTA meeting are still employed by the school system.  Winn’s concern is authentic and valid.  IMO until those involved are held publicly accountable the public cannot really trust the school system.

***

The dead trees at the Merts Center were planted in the wrong place – whoever planted them didn’t have a good long term plan for growth. That’s old and busted – let’s hope the schools have the new hotness.

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Marcus Drymon of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab published “Distributions of Sharks across a Continental Shelf in the Northern Gulf of Mexico” (11 page PDF – pretty fascinating reading), which found that the most abundant taxa are the Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, Blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus, and Blacktip Shark C. limbatus.  By my rough calculations based on their data, these three species accounted for more than 75% of the 22 species of sharks identified in the study. 

DISL found that:

Blacknose sharks had the highest catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the middepth stratum (10–30 m), blacktip sharks had consistently higher CPUE in the shallow depth stratum (<10m), and Atlantic sharpnose sharks showed high abundance throughout both the shallow and middepth strata. Length frequency and sex ratio analyses suggest that Atlantic sharpnose and blacknose sharks are using waters greater than 30 m deep for parturition, whereas adult blacktip sharks are probably using shallow waters for parturition.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides these tips on Shark Safety:

Always stay in groups since sharks are more likely to attack a solitary individual.

Do not wander too far from the shore — this isolates an individual and additionally places one far away from assistance.

Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage.

Do not enter the water if bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating — a shark’s olfactory ability is quite acute.

Wearing shiny jewelry is discouraged because, to a shark, the reflected light resembles the sheen of fish scales.

Avoid waters with known effluents or sewage and those being used by sport or commercial fisherman, especially if there are signs of bait fishes or feeding activity. Diving seabirds are good indicators of such action.

Sightings of porpoises do not indicate the absence of sharks — both often eat the same food items.

Use extra caution when waters are murky and avoid uneven tanning and bright colored clothing — sharks see contrast particularly well.

Refrain from excess splashing and do not allow pets in the water because of their erratic movements.

Exercise caution when occupying the area between sandbars or near steep dropoffs — these are favorite hangouts for sharks.

Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present and evacuate the water if sharks are seen while there. And, of course, do not harass a shark if you see one!

Piers and surf fishing attract sharks - why do we build piers and allow surf fishing in beach areas?   Is there a better way to balance fishing and kids playing at the beach?