Montgomery County, MD Green Party Blog

Oh yeah, I’m geeked about this news…

The strongest evidence yet for the existence of dark matter has been spotted 5 billion light-years away in the ongoing collision of two clusters of galaxies. Astronomers have detected what appears to be a vast ring of dark matter — so wide that even light would need 2.6 million years to cross it.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/05/15/darkmatter_spa.html?category=space&guid=20070515140000&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000

On Saturday, June 2nd, the MGP will be holding its annual convention.  Click here for more information.

Be there, or be square!

GM Set to Eliminate SUV by June
Huzzah! The senior mangagement at General Motors finally concedes that bigger is not necessarily better… Of course, “The Limits To Growth,” (Club of Rome, 1972) is still apostacy to them — even in this era of peak oil.

GM has steadily expanded the Hummer line but shrunk the models’ size. In 2002, GM introduced the H2, a medium-size version, and last spring it brought out the H3, the smallest of the group. The H3, which sports a 5-cylinder engine, is popular, but the entire Hummer group has been outsold this year by the Toyota Prius, [my emphasis–N.B.] a gas-electric hybrid. A key member of GM’s board of directors has suggested that GM scrap Hummer altogether to save cash.

Click here for link.

Hey folks,

If you have a My Yahoo page, you can easily add this blog as a feed to your headlines section by clicking the little button on the right side of the blog page that says, Add To My Yahoo. Then whenever a new story appears in the blog, the title of the article will appear on your My Yahoo page along with its age. Cool and easy.

Adam

The Montgomery County Green Party at its’ meeting today decided to endorse the Gubernatorial and Lt. Gubernatarial campaigns of Ed Boyd and James Madigan, respectively (Important caveat: The Takoma Park / Silver Spring Green Party was not, repeat, NOT a party to this decision. The Takoma Park / Silver Spring Green Party is independent of the Montgomery County Green Party on a number of issues AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. Nothing in this statement should be construed as implying that the Takoma Park / Silver Spring Greens have endorsed the the Boyd / Madigan Campaign. This writer is making this disclaimer so that he does not get accused of misrepresenting the views of the Takoma Park / Silver Spring Green Party membership.). Please note that this endorsement is largely symbolic as the decision as to whether or not to nominate Ed Boyd and James Madigan will be made during the caucuses. It is that vote which will determine the fate the Campaign.

There will be a discussion/celebration of May Day at Irv Riskin’s Place. Please call 301/986-9320 to R.S.V.P. and to get directions.

Discovery Called Key Evidence Of Vertebrates’ Ocean Origins

Researchers found several fossils between four and nine feet long. The creature was a fish — with scales, fins and gills — but it moved its head independently of its body, could drag itself along on land as today’s seals do, and may have walked, although the research team did not find fossil hindquarters to test that hypothesis.

The discovery provides the best evidence yet that fish emerged from the oceans and rivers of the early Earth between 380 million and 360 million years ago and evolved into terrestrial vertebrates beginning with amphibians and reptiles, and ending up with mammals and, ultimately, humans.

Click here for link.

5 minutes — Introductions; select timekeeper and (interim) Recording Secretary; approve agenda (Nathan)
45 minutes — Ed Boyd Speaks; Q & A; shall we endorse his campaign? (Nathan)
30 minutes — Les Evenchick speaks; Q & A; shall we endorse his campaign? (Nathan)
45 minutes — Kevin Zeese speaks; Q & A; shall we endorse his campaign? (Nathan)
20 minutes — Shall we stand a place-holder candidate against Van Hollen? (Nathan)
10 minutes — Officer elections (Co-chairs, Recording Secretary, Membership Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator) (Nathan)
10 minutes — T.P./S.S. Report (Mary)
10 minutes — M.G.P. Report (Nathan)
10 minutes — MGP ballot access petition (Nathan in place of Tim)
10 minutes — Shall MoCo endorse the BG&E rate hike protest? (Brandy Baker)
5 minutes — MoCo teleconference: When? (Nathan)
Because of a request that I could not deny, John A. Murphy will not be speaking at our meeting this month; instead, he will be speaking at our April meeting.

Duncan Seeks Applicants for East County Citizens Advisory Board

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is seeking applicants to fill six vacancies on the East County Citizens Advisory Board. Four incumbents are eligible to apply for reappointment.

The Citizens Advisory Board was formed to ensure active public participation in governmental affairs that directly impact the eastern area of the County. Members serve three-year terms without compensation and usually meet the first Wednesday evening of each month at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center.

The 18-member board serves as a liaison between the community, the County Executive, County Council, and County government departments by identifying community concerns and recommending possible solutions. It also advises the Director of the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center on transportation, economic development, housing, education, human services, environment, recreation, public safety, and other issues of importance to the area. The group reviews and comments on the County’s capital and operating budgets and master plans; assists with strategies to tailor services to regional needs; and conducts workshops and forums, as well as acts on other ad hoc issues.

The advisory board is representative of more than 95,000 residents in eastern Montgomery County. This area includes the neighborhoods of Burtonsville, Fairland, White Oak, Cloverly and Colesville. The service area is bordered on the north by Howard County, on the east by Prince George’s County, on the south by Interstate 495 and on the west along Northwest Branch stream to Ednor Road.

Interested applicants should write by January 27 to County Executive Douglas M. Duncan at the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe St., Rockville, MD 20850 or by e-mail to Douglas.Duncan@montgomerycountymd.gov. A letter and a brief resume, including work and home phone numbers, work experience and business, civic or community group associations should be enclosed. Incumbents requesting reappointment should indicate current employment information in your letter. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members of this Board are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended.

Duncan’s appointments are subject to confirmation by the County Council. Applications of those selected for appointment are made public as part of the confirmation process.

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Duncan Seeks Applicants for Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is seeking applicants to fill five vacancies on the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board. Two of the vacancies must be filled by area business representatives and three vacancies must be filled by area residents. The incumbents are eligible and the two business representatives and two of the three residential representatives have indicated that they intend to apply for re-appointment.

The Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board represents the residential and business communities of Bethesda, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, North Bethesda, and Potomac. The 15-member board advises the Director of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, the County Executive and the County Council on community needs and priorities such as transportation, human services, environment, public safety, and other issues of local importance.

Members serve three-year terms without compensation and contribute approximately six hours each month, attending both board and committee meetings. Board meetings are held the third Monday of the month and begin at 7:00 p.m. Committee meetings could be held in the morning or evening depending on the issues to be discussed.

Individuals should apply by January 27 to County Executive Douglas M. Duncan at the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850 or by e-mail to Douglas.Duncan@montgomerycountymd.gov. A letter and brief resume, including your interest in being a residential or business representative, should be enclosed. Members of County boards, committees, and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Mr. Duncan’s appointments are subject to confirmation by the County Council. The resumes of those selected for appointment are made public as part of the confirmation process.

Event: “A Call to Protect and Democratize U.S. Elections: A Panel Presentation on the challenges to American elections,” September 16 at the National Press Club.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Green Institute, the Liberty Tree Foundation, and Fairvote will sponsor a panel discussion on the future of U.S. democracy and elections, on Friday, September 16 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

“A Call to Protect and Democratize US Elections: A Panel Presentation on the challenges to American elections” will feature political and activist leaders who are experts in a variety of areas ranging from long-term barriers to access to new problems with technology, and the challengescaused by the structure of American elections.

The panel will provide the media with concise information on these problems and offer concrete solutions for restoring the promise of American democracy. The web page for the event is located at The Green Institute.

Confirmed participants include Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), 1980 independent presidential candidate John Anderson (who now heads Fairvote), Melanie Campbell of the Coalition for Black Civic Participation, and other confirmed and invited speakers.

MC’s own Linda Schade, co-founder of TrueVoteMD, will be speaking also.