Category: News

2010 Census Results Are In

The 2010 Census Results are in and both New York and Massachusetts are set to loose seats in the US Congress. NY will loose two seats when the current 29-member Congressional delegation drops to 27 (the lowest number since 1823). Massachusetts will be losing one of its 10 seats in the House. State lawmakers will be tasked will the responsibility of drawing new district lines, which must be completed in time for the 2012 elections.

Nationwide, the U.S. population is 308.7 million, which is up 9.7 percent over the 2000 population of 281.4 million. This growth reflects the lowest growth since the Great Depression.

 

Rare Lunar Eclipse Tonight

Tonight, technically Tuesday morning, the moon will move into the earth’s shadow, causing a lunar eclipse.

Tonight, technically Tuesday morning, the moon will move into the earth’s shadow, causing a lunar eclipse. This will be the first time a lunar eclipse has occurred on the Winter Solstice since 1638 so Druids, Pagans and Twilight Fans are sure to be out chanting in the moonlight.

Depending on cloud coverage in your area, the eclipse will be visible to anyone in North America. Starting around 1:30 a.m. Eastern time, the earth’s shadow should begin showing on the moon’s lower left area. Our planet’s shadow will slowly creep across the moon and the entire moon will be covered around 2:40 a.m. The moon will remain in the Earth’s shadow for an hour until it starts moving out of the shadow, which should be completed around 5 a.m.

DATE/TIME:
December 20, 2010: 1:30am

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Jeff McKinney is a Realtor in Columbia County, NY. Connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest.

Senate Votes to Repeal Ban on Gays in Military

From CNN.com:

The military’s prohibition of openly gay people serving within its ranks is one step closer to ending, after the Senate voted Saturday to repeal the armed forces’ “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Eight Republicans and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut joined the chamber’s Democrats to back the legislation, which passed by a 65-31 margin. The bill needed a simple majority — meaning support from 51 of the Senate’s 100 members — to pass.

“I want to thank all of the gay men and women who are fighting for us today,” said Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, one of several Republicans who voted for the measure. “We honor your service, and now we can do so openly.”

President Barack Obama will sign the bill into law next week, White House press secretary said in a Twitter post moments after the Senate vote.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, applauded Congress’s action, which he said “preserves the military’s prerogative to implement change in a responsible, deliberate manner.”

 

Read the full article on CNN.com

Problems With Paladino

What a week it’s been for Buffalo millionaire and New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. After insulting every New Yorker who happens to be gay with his incredibly insulting comments, he has been forced to wiggle and squirm through the week trying to convince everyone that he doesn’t hate gay people. To prove that he isn’t a homophobe, Paladino publicly outed his nephew when he said that he (Paladino) couldn’t be a homophobe because he has a nephew who is gay. Hmm. I have a mom who is a woman so does that mean that I can denigrate and insult all women and not be a misogynist? No. It does not.

Gay New Yorkers are not the first people who Paladino has insulted. Lets not forget the racist email he found funny enough to spread back in the Spring and the incredibly insensitive comments he made on CNN opposing a woman’s right to choose even in cases of rape and incest.

This guy wants to be elected to an office that requires him to serve ALL New York Citizens and not just straight, white, religious men. New York is a wonderful mix of all walks of life and our governor needs to be someone who will fairly work for and respect (even when he or she disagrees with) all of us.

Paladino Makes Anti-gay Remarks, Blames Jews for His Remarks

Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino told Orthodox Jewish leaders he doesn’t want children “brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality” is acceptable.

“I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family,” said Paladino. His prepared remarks included this line: “I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option–it isn’t. There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual. That is not how God created us,” which turned into this: “That’s not how God created us and that’s not the example that we should be showing our children.”

Paladino’s Democratic opponent, Andrew Cuomo, seized on the remarks, which he called a display of “stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality.” He went on, “These comments along with other views he has espoused make it clear that he is way out of the mainstream and unfit to represent New York.”

Paladino, sensing the gravity of his mistake, claimed later that he didn’t approve of all his comments, which, he said were suggested by the “hosts at the synagogue,”.