West Wing Week: May 20 - May 26, 2011

West Wing Week "OCONUS III: A Homecoming of Sorts"

This week, President Obama embarked on a six-day trip to Europe, visiting Ireland, the United Kingdom, France and Poland to engage our allies in the region on a host of issues. While overseas, the President pledged support for those back home affected by devastating tornadoes in Missouri and across the Midwest. Before leaving, the President met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and went to the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA. That's May 20th to the 26th, or "OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) III: A Homecoming of Sorts.

West Wing Week: May 6 - 12, 2011

West Wing Week:  5/13/11 or "On the Border"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

This week the President talks clean energy and gas prices in Indiana, focuses on fixing our broken immigration system in Texas, and honors Top Cops here in the Rose Garden.

West Wing Week: April 22 - 28, 2011

West Wing Week: "Final Adjustments"

This week, the President celebrated Easter, worked on short term and long term ways to get away from high gas prices, pledged support for Alabama and other states in the South hit by devastating storms and announced new key members of his National Security team.

West Wing Week: April 15 - 21, 2011

West Wing Week:
"My Old Number, 23"

This week, President Obama held townhalls in Northern Virginia, California, and Nevada, to speak directly to the American people about his vision for reducing our debt and bringing down our deficit based on the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity

West Wing Week: April 8 -14, 2011

West Wing Week: 

 "Open for Business"

This week, with the threat of a government shutdown averted, President Obama focused on fiscal responsibility and balancing the need to cut spending and the deficit while continuing to support education, clean energy, and other investments needed to win the future. The Amir of Qatar also visited the White House.

West Wing Week: April 1 - 7, 2011

West Wing Week:

"Windmills? Call Them Wind Turbines!"

This week, President Obama focused on securing our nation's clean energy future, making stops at facilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania; met with Congressional leadership, hoping to avoid a government shutdown in the face of budget disagreements; and kept his eye on foreign policy, discussing world events with foreign heads of state.



via The White House Blog

The positive benefits of high gas (petrol) prices in USA

US study suggests high petrol prices leading to safer roads Highways in the US are at their safest since the 1960s as the rocketing price of petrol puts a strain on America's love affair with fast cars. The number of fatalities on US roads is on track to fall by 10% this year to around 37,000 - the lowest since 1961, according to research suggesting that deaths are plummeting as people cut out leisure travel, especially in the evenings, to save money. (link via guardian.co.uk) That is good news! And there is more: 12 Reasons Why High Gas Prices Are GOOD For America Have you changed your driving habits (in the USA) due to the rising price of gas?

"Neighbourhood safety zones" with police checkpoints in Washington DC

Washington D.C. police will begin stopping motorists in a safety zone set up near a neighbourhood with crime trouble. The motorists could be asked to show proof of residence in the neighbourhood or explain why they are entering the neighbourhood. This is in the U.S.A - in the nation's capital - and there are plans for special checkpoints in four more neighbourhoods! Very scary. What is happening to America?! (link via The Washington Post via a post on Junkfood Science blog)

JK Rowling delivers the Commencement Address at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association

One of the reasons I like delicious (a social bookmarks manager) so much, is that I never know what I will discover when I check in each day for a new batch of links on the web to peruse. Today, I found a link to J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement: Harvard Magazine. You can watch a video and/or listen to an audio recording as well as read the text via the link. Her speech, "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination" is incredibly powerful and well worth taking the time to read and/or listen to. I also found a report on the Harvard University website about her talk: Yes, it was a magical talk - Rowling casts spell at Afternoon Exercises (link via Harvard News Office, Harvard University Gazette Online)

Giant (Burmese) pythons invade Florida & other southeastern states

In Britain, there is a problem caused by invasive non-native species such as the North American bullfrog, the grey squirrel (grey squirrels were brought to Britain from America in 1876 and they have thrived at the expense of the native red squirrel) the American mink, and the American signal crayfish. They have all made an impact with serious detrimental affect on our native wildlife and habitats which is definitely cause for concern and yet it doesn't seem nearly as bad as the recent news from the USA where giant pythons capable of swallowing a dog and even an alligator are rapidly making south Florida their home, potentially threatening other southeastern states. (link via physorg.com) Yikes! It makes me shudder because I have a real phobia about snakes and I noticed this observation : The largest python caught so far in Florida measured five meters (16.4 feet) and weighed 70 kilograms (154 pounds).