Memos at Random

 

WHAT ELECTION?: A miniscule turnout of district residents elected Cheryl Siskin to the Brandywine school board. She will take the seat currently occupied by her opponent, Aletha Ramseur, who was appointed by the board last year to complete the term of Nancy Doorey, which runs through June, 2009. Siskin will serve, beginning in July, for the remaining year. Her victory margin was 56.4% to 43.6%, but only 929 votes were cast on May 13. The 2007 board election attracted slightly larger participation, 1,123 votes, but both fell well below the 13,889 votes cast at the June, 2007, tax referendum. (CLICK HERE to read previous Delaforum article.)

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PRINCIPAL APPOINTED: The Catholic diocese reached into the Philadelphia archdiocese to select a principal for the merged St. Helena-Holy Rosary elementary school. According to a notice in the local diocese's newspaper, Monica Malseed, assistant principal of St. Maximilian Kolbe parish school in Westtown, Pa., got the job. Neither Holy Rosary principal William Beliveau nor his St. Helena counterpart, Patricia Quinter, responded to a Delaforum request for comment. The diocese refers to the merged school as new. Opening in September at the St. Helena site near Bellefonte, it will be known as Pope John Paul II School. (CLICK HERE to read previous Delaforum article.)

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Bush Arrives for
Middle East Tour

He landed in Israel, the first stop on a five-day, three-country Middle East tour that will mix ceremony with substance as he marks the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding while trying to prod along faltering peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.

-- New York Times

Clinton Crushes Obama
in West Virginia
Primary

While her win does not change the dynamics of the race, the margin was striking given that much of the Democratic political establishment has already coalesced behind Barack Obama as the party's nominee.

-- Boston Globe

-- New York Times

 

Inflation Threatens
Living Standards

Nearly seven in 10 Americans are worried about maintaining their standard of living, as concern has spiked higher in just the past five months, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Soaring consumer prices are a major challenge, with many people struggling under the weight of the rising costs of fuel, food and health care.

-- Washington Post

Rescue in China
Uncensored

The earthquake rescue effort playing nonstop on Chinese television is remarkable for a country that has a history of concealing the scope of natural calamities and then bungling its response.

-- New York Times

China Death Toll
Rises to 12,000

-- Washington Post

 

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--- The Cost of War ---

IRAQ:   4,076 killed  30,059+ wounded

AFGHANISTAN:   501 killed   1,958+ wounded

CLICK HERE to access official Department of Defense reports on U.S. casualties.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

 

 Memos at Random

 

aCURATOR PROPOSAL REJECTED: The proposal by B.T.L. Foundation to be resident curator of historic Ivyside House in Bechtel Park has been rejected. C.R. McLeod, communications director for County Executive Christopher Coons, did not give a reason why its bid was turned down. He did say that and other properties in the program will be re-offered "with a modification of some requirements and the clarifying of the necessary standards as well." B.T.L Foundation submitted the only proposal for Ivyside. None were received for houses in Jester and Talley-Day Parks, the other Brandywine Hundred properties offered.  (CLICK HERE to read previous Delaforum article.)

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China Moves Quickly
with Quake Relief

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao flew to Chengdu less than two hours after the quake hit. He told reporters en route that government leaders have "asked officials at all levels to be at the front line of the fighting the earthquake and lead the people in their rescue work."

In Burma, There Is
 Frustrated Quiet

-- Christian Science Monitor

McCain Differs With Bush
on Climate Change

In a speech at a wind power company, he sought to distance himself from the President as he called for a mandatory limit on greenhouse gas emissions in the United States to combat climate change.

-- New York Times

Report: Wind Can Supply
20% of U.S. Electricity

-- Washington Post

 

Cigarette Bill Treats
Menthol With Leniency

Some public health experts are questioning why menthol, the most widely used cigarette flavoring and the most popular cigarette choice of African-American smokers, is receiving special protection as Congress tries to regulate tobacco for the first time.

-- New York Times

Candidates' Signatures
Say Volumes

The country can't help but marvel: John McCain, once a longshot, wouldn't lie down. Barack Obama, the new kid, charmed voters. And Hillary Rodham Clinton has yet to surrender. But Arlyn J. Imberman would say clues to the nomination fight were in plain sight, every time a candidate wrote a thank-you note, inscribed a memoir or autographed a pair of boxing gloves.

-- Los Angeles Times

 

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--- The Cost of War ---

IRAQ:   4,076 killed  30,004+ wounded

AFGHANISTAN:   501 killed   1,944+ wounded

CLICK HERE to access official Department of Defense reports on U.S. casualties.

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Sunday, May 11, 2008

 

 Memos at Random

 

BIRD'S EYE VIEW:

County Councilman Robert Weiner 'released' this aerial photograph of the cleared site in Claymont formerly occupied by Brookview Apartments. The view, looking south, he said, illustrates the strategic location of the future Renaissance Village between Interstate 495 (lower left), the Amtrak right-of-way (along the Delaware River) and Interstate 95 (right). Site preparation is underway with initial construction said to begin during the coming summer. Woodshaven-Kruse Park is at the lower right of the photograph.

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Truce Reported
in Sadr City

Shi'ite groups brokered a reported cease-fire with militants fighting U.S. and Iraqi forces in Baghdad's Sadr City. It may not necessarily end the seven-week-old clashes which the  U.S. military has attributed to breakaway groups.

-- Boston Globe

Obama and McCain
Map Fall Strategies

In a sign of what could be an extremely unusual fall campaign, the two sides said that they would be open to holding joint forums or unmoderated debates across the country in front of voters through the summer.

Pragmatic Politics Was
Forged on the South Side

-- New York Times

Clinton's Loyal
Base Perseveres

-- Washington Post

 

Stores Out To Grab
All of Your Rebate

The government wants the checks to spur the economy through consumer spending. But the oxymoronic nature of the marketing campaigns — spend money to save money — has prompted finger-wagging from some corners, particularly about offers that require consumers to spend hundreds of dollars at only one store.

-- New York Times

Jenna Bush's Wedding --
'Crawford's Last Big Fanfare'

The President's daughter and Henry Hager said "I do" in a private, closely guarded Methodist ceremony attended by about 200 relatives and close friends at the family's ranch. The White House doled out only sparse tidbits about the 'wedding of the year'.

-- Dallas Morning News

 

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--- The Cost of War ---

IRAQ:   4,073 killed  30,004+ wounded

AFGHANISTAN:   498 killed   1,944+ wounded

CLICK HERE to access official Department of Defense reports on U.S. casualties.

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Friday, May 9, 2008

 

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Burmese Still
Without Aid

All told, the storm killed at least 22,000 people and left 40,000 missing, the Burmese government has said; U.S. diplomats have suggested that the death toll could reach 100,000. About 1.5 million survivors are in urgent need of aid, the United Nations said, as concern turned to a potential second wave of deaths caused by infectious diseases and malnutrition.

-- Washington Post

Obama Takes
a Victory Lap

Even as Hillary Clinton persisted with her campaign for the nomination, Barack Obama made a celebratory return to the Capitol, where he received an enthusiastic reception on the House floor in an appearance staged to position him as the party’s inevitable nominee.

-- New York Times

 

Big Oil Launches
Massive Ad Campaign

The industry is trying to convince voters -- who, in turn, will make the case to their members of Congress -- that rising energy prices are not the producers' fault and that government efforts to punish the industry, especially with higher taxes, would only make pricing problems worse.

-- Washington Post

One Dad Vail Rower
Had Long, Hard Pull

Rowing attracts a certain kind of spirit, someone committed more to strength and endurance than flashy moves. That brio helped Hilary Armstrong reclaim her dream of competing for St. Joseph Universitys, which had recruited her for its team.

-- Philadelphia Inquirer

 

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--- The Cost of War ---

IRAQ:   4,075 killed  30,004+ wounded

AFGHANISTAN:   496 killed   1,944+ wounded

CLICK HERE to access official Department of Defense reports on U.S. casualties.

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Thursday, May 8, 2008

 

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Clinton Closer
to Endgame

Her last best hope, analysts say, is for some factor to intervene that makes Senator Obama appear unelectable to superdelegates – Democratic elders and elected officials – who will decide the outcome.

-- Christian Science Monitor

Did Limbaugh
Tilt Indiana?

-- Washington Posts

Burma Relief
Efforts Hampered

Aid workers and supplies from some U.S. nonprofit groups are not being allowed into the country, and some of those charities said yesterday that they are refusing to funnel aid through the Burmese government.

-- Washington Post