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AARP: A resource for seniors, ‘boomers

By Rev. Charles Moreland | June 22, 2008 |

AARP (American Association of retired Persons) is a national organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens. Clarksville has a dynamic AARP chapter where an enthusiastic groups of people age 50 and meet socially and serve the community with a variety of social actions.

AARP is political but non-partisan, and wields considerable influence on state and federal legislation, serving as the voice of their demographics. They do so without endorsing specific candidates and they remain issue oriented.

To educate and inform their membership. AARP publishes a monthly magazine with the largest circulation in America. the March/April edition got my attention with the cover photo of a smiling Jack Nicholson, one of the outstanding actors of our generation.

Besides an insightful article on him, the magazine from cover to cover offers articles with practical information. Two articles in particular that apply to many of us involve dealing with stress: “Riding Out a Recession” and “Finding Faith” (a search for spiritual peace). «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Events, Issues, Opinion | 1 Comment »

Scott Ritter: Dealing with Iran

June 21, 2008 |

It’s happening in Louisville, Kentucky, but it would be worth the travel from Clarksville to join former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter and special guests Lizzie West & Baba Buffalo for a lively discussion about the “War on Terror” with Iran in the crosshairs. Ritter will speak at The Clifton Center, 2117 Payne St. in Louisville on Thursday June 26th, 7:30pm. The subject: how to deal with Iran.

In an interview with Amy Goodman on April 28, Ritter stated:

“There is no doubt in my mind that the US is planning right now, as we speak, a military strike against Iran.” Ritter warns that such an attack is unnecessary, and if launched, could provoke a massive response with catastrophic consequences to millions of people, including Americans.

“The most important thing to know about Scott Ritter is that he was right.” — Seymour Hersh

Ritter famously and accurately argued in 2002 that Iraq no longer had WMD when he spoke in Louisville that year. He now recommends diplomatic engagement with Iran, and supports local and national efforts to pass resolutions urging President Bush to refrain from ordering any military attack against Iran without explicit Congressional authorization. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Education, Events, Issues, News, Politics | No Comments

‘Abstinence Only’ is government censorship

By Chris Lugo | June 20, 2008 |

Chris Lugo, author of this position statement, is the Green party Candidate for the Tennessee State Senate.

According to a recent report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at least one in four teenage girls nationwide have a sexually transmitted disease. Clearly abstinence only school programs do not deter young people from sexual activity, but in fact this direction actually deters young adults from access to information that they need to make responsible and safe choices. We must act immediately to withdraw funding for this program and allow teachers to present sensible sexual education curriculum.

As a candidate for federal office I believe that young people must be presented with all the facts available to them. Instead of relying on religious rhetoric and the value system of a fundamentalist minority, I believe that we must look clearly at human behavior as biological fact. The school system is not an avenue for proselytizing about various belief systems. Sexual activity is a fact of life, much like any other human activity and young people need to know the facts before it is too late. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Issues, Opinion | 2 Comments

Biofuel research by APSU biology prof could help lessen fuel crisis

June 15, 2008 |

Research by an Austin Peay State University biology professor could help to manufacture hydrogen more efficiently for use as a biofuel in vehicles – and become part of a solution to the current fuel crisis.

Dr. Sergei Markov, assistant professor of biology, has developed a prototype bioreactor that uses the purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus to produce enough hydrogen to power a small motor. He recently presented a paper, titled “Hydrogen production by purple nonsulfur bacterium in a bioreactor,” at the 108th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Boston.

As a result, his work, initially supported by grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, has appeared in a dozen of publications on the Internet, including Science Daily, and on several foreign news Web sites. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News, Technology | No Comments

Awkward facts about climatic disruption

June 15, 2008 |

Cautionary words on climate from a May 1 statement by George Woodwell, the founder and Director Emeritus of The Woods Hole Research Center.

I explore below paths that might, if followed, lead out of the chaos of an open-ended climatic disruption. Unfortunately the issues are complicated, the time for action is now late, and effective action is growing more difficult daily. Effective action is possible, however….

The changes in climate are far more serious than they may appear…. These changes, the warming of the higher latitudes, the destruction of forests, the accelerated decay of organic matter in forests and tundra soils, the melting of permafrost, the change from a reflective frozen white to black open water in the Arctic Ocean, and the warming of the surface water of the oceans all point to an acceleration of the warming trend. These are “positive feedbacks” which dominate as the earth warms and accelerate the disruption. Despite their importance, they have not been included in appraisals that suggest that a two degree average change in the temperature of the earth might be acceptable. The fact is that the feedbacks will almost certainly take the disruption beyond human control well before the temperature rise is two degrees C. Stopping at 2 degrees will not be possible. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News, Opinion, Technology | No Comments

Termination appeal rejects CFD firing; next stop - the Mayor’s desk

By Turner McCullough Jr. | June 13, 2008 |

Appeal panel rejects termination. CFD Engineer Steve Sherlock’s 18.5 year career tentatively continues.

In what became a marathon of persistence, a termination appeal hearing was conducted at the Clarksville Human Resource Department’s meeting room. The hearing was for Clarksville Fire Dept. Engineer Steve Sherlock in his quest to continue his service with the city’s fire department.

The hearing panel consisted of City Councilman Geno Grubbs, Sharon Hurst [CPD employee], and City Councilman Richard Swift. The hearing was conducted under a rotating police presence.

For over seven hours, the career of CFD engineer Steve Sherlock’s future with the fire department was up for review. During the tedious ordeal, testimony was given that reflected on past city government policies and practices which affected the ability and practice of city employees doing business with the city.

The debate went back to the early days of Mayor Piper’s first administration and the transition to Don Trotter’s return to the mayor’s office. There was tense debate and objections between the attorneys representing both sides. Political intrigue was even made mention as a motivation for the termination action and pursuit.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News, Politics | 2 Comments

Naomi Wolf speaks on ‘The End of America’

By Christine Anne Piesyk | June 13, 2008 |

Naomi Wolf, author of the groundbreaking book The Beauty Myth, has been on the speaker circuit promoting her latest book, The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot. It is a different track that her prior emphasis on women’s rights and feminism. The End of America is “a harbinger of an age that may finally see the patriarchal realm of political discourse usurped.”

Wolf enters a male-dominated political commentary arena dominated by men to make a compelling argument for civil rights. Her analysis falls closer to the bones of political discourse as presented by Emma Goldman, and presents her case with an energetic urgency as she cautions Americans of a dangerous “fascist shift” brought about by the Bush administration.

Chapters outline the “Ten Steps to Fascism” citing historical corollaries (as well as the pigs in Orwell’s Animal Farm), with headings like “Invoke an External and Internal Threat,” “Establish Secret Prisons,” “Surveil Ordinary Citizens,” “Restrict the Press,” and “Target Key Individuals,” making a case for the existence of fascism outside of a dictatorship. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Issues, News, Politics | No Comments

Ballpark expansion, accessibility and drainage triggered Mericourt tree-cutting

June 12, 2008 |

On Wednesday evening Clarksville Online took a first hand look at the clearing of Mericourt Park off Pageant Lane, where decades old trees have been cut down, an action that caught many city residents unaware. The action has triggered a mix of outrage and unanswered questions. Ward 10 City Councilor Bill Summers has responded to the issue of extensive tree-cutting at Mericourt Park via e-mail through the City Council’s email service. These are his comments on this controversial issue:

There has been interest about the new softball fields that are being constructed at Mericourt Park, which is located by Moore Elementary School. I believe I have some information and insight that I can share through years of direct experience with these softball fields and from being a member of the Parent Information Network (PIN). [Wednesday night] PIN, as usual, attended the school board meeting. The improvements at Mericourt Park were brought up, but some data and information was not mentioned and PIN asked for additional information. PIN has received this additional information and sent it out through its email network. [I am sending that same info through my council network. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Issues, News | 1 Comment »