Every US President in the past 26 years has invaded Iraq at least once
(http://reason.com/blog/2014/09/11/watch-each-of-the-last-four-presidents-a)
via (https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z135ythz0xnixft3n233gdehdkrqinlb304)
Charlton, MA recycling facility fined $15k for 2013 oil spill
Excel Recycling LLC of South Dartmouth has been penalized $15,100 by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to resolve the company’s failure to notify MassDEP and conduct timely cleanup actions for a waste oil spill at its Charlton facility.
On March 6, 2013, during an unrelated inspection, the Charlton Fire Department observed heavy black oil spreading across the company’s yard and traced it to several scrap underground storage tanks. The tanks had been brought to the facility to be recycled and should have been empty; however, two of them contained an estimated 150 gallons of waste oil.
MassDEP met with the facility operator and Fire Department and determined that a cleanup was necessary. Upon further investigation, MassDEP determined that Excel Recycling had discovered the spill on March 4, 2013, but did not take action or report it to MassDEP until the Fire Department discovered the release two days later.
MassDEP oversaw cleanup work. Excel Recyclying has revised its facility spill plan, conducted employee training to minimize the potential for accepting contaminated scrap in the future and agreed to the $15,100 penalty.
The company paid $3,250 of the fine to the Commonwealth, $9,750 of the penalty was directed toward purchasing spill response equipment for the Charlton Fire Department as a part of a Supplemental Environmental Project, and the remaining $2,100 has been suspended pending finalization of the SEP and no further environmental violations for a year.
(http://www.telegram.com/article/20140907/TOWNNEWS/309079997&TEMPLATE=TOWNPORTAL)
Venezuela gets unanimous endorsement from Latin America and the Caribbean to represent the region on the United Nations Security Council
The US thwarted Venezuela’s last campaign in 2006 but hasn’t opposed this yet.
Venezuela must muster a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot of 193 member nations at the U.N. General Assembly next month.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/09/11/4342032/venezuela-wins-backing-for-un.html
Senate moves forward with amendment to the Constitution on elections
The Senate on Monday advanced a constitutional amendment meant to reverse two recent Supreme Court decisions on campaign spending.
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The amendment from Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) would authorize Congress and the states to regulate and limit fundraising and spending on federal candidates.
It would also prohibit the Supreme Court from reversing any future campaign finance legislation passed by Congress.
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The amendment is almost certain to fail, as it would need to win two-thirds support to pass the Senate, and then would still need to move through the House and be ratified by two-thirds of the states.
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Republicans are likely to vote against the amendment when it comes up for a final vote, but, by allowing it to proceed, ensured it would tie up the Senate for most of the week.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the vote was a political stunt by Democrats ahead of the midterm elections.
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Image source (http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/CU%20edit%20memo%20House(1).jpg)
Annie’s Mac and Cheese box
Listen to this fascinating discussion about the history of teaching in America
(http://www.npr.org/2014/09/02/345104706/a-lesson-in-how-teachers-became-resented-and-idealized)
Amazon releases Kindle Kids’ Book Creator, a free tool to create illustrated children’s Kindle books
Great White Shark Attacks Kayakers off Plymouth, MA Coast
An oral history of Cheers
A great, long, nine page read. Highly recommended.
(http://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201210/cheers-oral-history-extended)
danelabonte 