The Wage Gap in Virginia

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A recent report shared that the difference between the top 10% and bottom 10% of earners in Virginia is the widest in thirty years, second only to New Jersey.

The report, published by the Commonwealth Institute, revealed that the top 10% made a minimum of 5.7 times more than the bottom earners.

Michael Cassidy, the organization’s president, explained: “High earners have made wage gains despite the recession.”

Northern Virginia- A State of Its Own

“When you look at the northern part of the state, that’s where all the information sciences are, the defense contractors are,” explained Daraius Irani of the Division of Economic and Community Outreach at Towson University. “If you look at the southeastern/southwestern corers of Virginia, that’s where the problems are. Northern Virginia is, in itself, a state to some degree.”

Due to the high-paying technology and government jobs, Northern Virginia has had the highest average weekly wage rate for years. Another factor is college graduates, who have a significant advantage over those with less education.

“Individuals without college of high school diplomas are always going to be suffering, and unfortunately, this recession has exacerbated that fact,’ Mr. Irani said.

Amanda Knox Returns to Seattle

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Amanda Knox has returned home to Seattle, Washington, following her acquittal of the murder of Meredith Kercher.

Knox was interrogated and placed in an Italian prison in 2007 after her foreign exchange student roommate was found murdered in their apartment, and has finally been released and sent home. Feeling very emotional, Knox expressed her appreciation for the people who believed in her.

“I’m really overwhelmed right now,” she said. “I was looking down from the airplane and it seemed like everything wasn’t real.

“They’re reminding me to speak in English, because I’m having problems with that. Thank you to everyone who’s believed in me, who’s defended me, who’s supported my family. My family’s the most important thing to me so I just want to go and be with them, so thank you for being there for me.”

According to Amanda’s father Curt, the 24 year old will be returning to school at the University of Washington in the future, but in the meantime the “focus simply is Amanda’s wellbeing and getting her reassociated with just being a regular person again.”

He expressed his concerns, saying “What’s the trauma… and when will it show up, if it even shows up? She’s a very strong girl but it’s been a tough time for her.”

Jellyfish Eat Up Fishing Business Along the Coasts of Alabama and Mississippi

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Natural disasters have been popping up around the world recently, the latest of which being slightly unusual. Affecting fishermen and shrimpers along the coasts of Alabama and Mississippi, jellyfish have clogged the northern waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

One year ago, the same fishermen were left to deal with the consequences of the BP oil spill, the largest offshore oil spill in the history of the U.S. Though different, the jellyfish have made fishing and shrimping incredibly difficult in the area, and business has been at a standstill for nearly three weeks now.

Fisherman and bait shop owner Harry Jemison explained: “I catch bait, so they’re stopping me right now. It’s just like a thunderstorm or a hurricane.” He added, “It’s all part of living in God’s world down here.”

According to William ‘Monty’ Graham of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Science Department, the jellyfish bloom depends mostly on water temperatures and storm activity. He explained that it is hard to predict just how long the swarm will stay. He added that two years ago, a similar situation occurred, and the blanket of jellyfish “kind of ate up the entire white shrimp fishing season.”

“The problem we had two years ago was that the blooms lasted until the end of December. They usually peak around September and are gone by November, but if the weather stays quiet and the water stays warm, I suspect they’ll stick around.”

Michigan Needs Tax Assistance

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Apparently, the current situation in Michigan today is that it has become almost impossible for businesses to succeed with the current situation of the state’s personal property tax. Further, if this continues, life for the regular guy in the street – the state taxpayer – will become unbearable too. And the lame excuse that is being put forward – that it is very hard for this tax to be properly administered – just doesn’t sit right. All the tax seems to be doing right now is taking Michigan down a rung on the ladder when trying to compete against firms from other states, not burdened with such a hefty tax.

Better Times Ahead?

Despite this seeming doom and gloom, there is talk about things improving in the not-so-distant future for the state. According to an editorial in the Detroit Free Press, by January 1, 2012, Michigan-based businesses are set to “enjoy an unprecedented and beneficial new tax regime.” That’s all well and good, but apparently, this is going to hit the local taxpayer as well as impact services offered by the state. So clearly this is not the solution. What has to happen instead therefore, is that those implementing the law have to weigh up how it is going to work before making another change which could increase the burden of Michiganites.

So perhaps the personal property tax isn’t all bad. It does actually go towards local government everyday operations, as well as community colleges and school districts. And indeed, in 2011, it accounts for approximately 8.5 percent of the state’s taxable value, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency, which amounts to around $1.2bn statewide.

It remains to be seen as to what the best move is for Michigan vis-à-vis its taxes. Lawmakers have to seriously weigh up all sides of the spectrum before making any further decisions, to ensure that both the taxpayer and small business is able to live in the best environment in which to thrive.

“Missouri Get Your Business Online” Helps Small Businesses Establish Online Presence

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To many, it seems obvious that all modern-day businesses have online presences. However, while 97% of Americans look for local services on the web, only 63% of small businesses have any information available there.

So while it may be true that “the nation’s 27.5 million small businesses comprise half the US GDP and create two-thirds of all new jobs,” they are also the ones who deal with the greatest number of difficulties. Therefore, the state of Missouri has joined forces with Google and Intuit for the new “Missouri Get Your Business Online” campaign.

The campaign offers a free, simply-built website to all small businesses in the state. The companies are also given a customized domain name and hosting for a year. When the year is up, the hosting will cost $4.99 a month, while the domain will cost $2 monthly. With the help of the project, the businesses will be able to claim their Google Places listing, as well as set up free business email accounts through Google Apps.

According to Jim Heeter, the president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, “Because more than 90 percent of our members are small businesses, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce understands the impact that small businesses have on the local economy, and we know that having a Web presence is becoming more and more important to the success of small businesses. Google’s free resources to help get Missouri businesses online represent a significant opportunity for our region. We are thrilled to be partnering with Google on the initiative.”

Virginia Eartquake Rattles Millions

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Hundreds of people took to the streets when a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck in Virginia, spreading tremors along the East Coast. Though no major injuries or extensive damage were reported, a power plant in Virginia was shut down, and buildings and offices were evacuated as well. Cell phone service was affected by the sudden surge in phone calls that followed the quake.

Three aftershocks were recorded throughout the evening, and monuments in Washington D.C. were closed early in precaution. The Washington Monument was inspected by a helicopter and declared structurally sound, though some cracks will require minor touch-ups.

By lateTuesday evening most federal buildings and memorials were reopened, though officials took numerous precautions before approving the buildings. The U.S. Capitol was opened temporarily for employees to collect their belongings, but was then closed again for additional inspection.

“It’s one of the largest that we’ve had there,” U.S. Geological Survey Seismologist Lucy Jones said of the quake.

Here is a video from CNN news:

 

Ohio Crosses Endangered Species Off the List

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Much to the relief of nature enthusiasts in Ohio, the Lake Erie watersnake has been removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife as a result of over a decade of hard work. Along with the announcement, the Interior Department explained that the state has been working to protect both the species and its habitat in Ohio and Ontario.

Another Success Story

“Today, the Lake Erie watersnake joins species such as the bald eagle, the American alligator and the peregrine falcon that have rebounded from the threat of extinction and no longer require the protection of the Endangered Species Act,” the Interior secretary Ken Salazar explained. “These species- and the hundreds of others whose extinction has been prevented by the act- are living testimonies to its ability to bring species back from the brink by protecting them and conserving and restoring their habitat.”

A Joint Effort

The Interior Department was joined by Ohio wildlife officials, local citizen organizations, Northern Illinois University, the Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The various organizations will help keep track of the species over the next few years, marking its progress and providing aid when necessary.

“Recovery of the Lake Erie watersnake is cause for celebration both for this species and for the Endangered Species Act’s long record of success,” said Collette Adkins Giese from the Center for Biological Diversity. “Before its listing under the Act, the snake faced intense human persecution and habitat destruction. Through the reasonable efforts of state and federal agencies and the public, the survival of this once imperiled species is now assured.”

Wisconsin Recall Elections Disappoint Democrats

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Despite millions of dollars and endless work invested by Democrats and union groups, only two Republican state senators lost their seats in recall elections throughout Wisconsin this week.

The Republicans have maintained their control of the State Senate, making Gov. Scott Walker victorious despite protests following his move to limit bargaining rights for public workers.

The majority now held by the Republicans is 17-16, after losing Senators Dan Kapanke of La Crosse and Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac to Democratic challengers. Previously, the Republicans had led with a 19-14 majority. With six recall elections in one day, Republicans could have suffered worse damage.

In the recall election, four Republicans held on to their job, including Senators Robert Cowles of Green Bay, Luther Olsen of Ripon and Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls. Senator Alberta Darling, the Republican co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee had been described as “the crown jewel of our recall efforts” by the Democratic Party. The counting of her votes took several hours, but she was deemed the winner in the end.

 

Nine Year Old Girl’s Tragic Death May Save Thousands

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A 9-year-old girl’s heart-wrenching story has spread across the US, drawing more than $745,000 in donations and supporting clean water for almost 40,000 people.

Rachel Beckwith of the Seattle area had a wish to give back for her ninth birthday. She asked friends and family to donate her birthday money to a fundraising page which she created through Charity Water.

Millions of People Don’t Live Till 5

“On June 12th, 2011, I’m turning nine,” she wrote. “I found out that millions of people don’t live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn’t have access to clean, safe water so I’m celebrating my birthday like never before. I’m asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday.”

Tragedy

She aimed to reach $300 for 15 people, and when she turned nine in June, she was only $80 short. When a horrific car accident left her on life support for three days, she had already passed her goal. She died on July 23rd, and her fundraising page “Rachel’s 9th Birthday Wish” has since collected more than 21,000 donations, with children in Seattle and beyond picking up where she left off, and starting their own birthday clean water funds.

Rachel is Smiling

Two days after her death, Rachel’s mother updated her daughter’s site stating “I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughter’s dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope. Thank you for your generosity! I know Rachel is smiling!”

Is Human Identity Under Crisis from the Modern World?

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It seems that the modern world we’re living in is threatening human identity: established ideas of our identities, actions and behavior.  According to a book soon to be published by Susan Greenfield entitled, ‘The Quest for Identity in the 21st Century,’ “the human brain – that most sensitive of organs – is under threat from the modern world.”

Battling the Crisis

So what can we do to fight off this crisis?  As reported in a Daily Mail article, we need a big wake-up call to the damage our brain is encountering from the “gadget-filled, pharmaceutically-enhanced 21st century.”  If we fail to do this the article continues, “we could be sleepwalking towards a future in which neuro-chip technology blurs the line between living and non-living machines, and between our bodies and the outside world.”

Potential of Damaged New World

So what would this new world look like?  Apparently one in which these devices could lead to a strengthening of our muscles/senses in an abnormally-exaggerated way.  That might not sound so bad, until you find out that to achieve this, we would need a “daily cocktail of drugs to control our moods and performance.”

Today’s Gadgets and Human Identity

And it may not be so far into the future.  Right now undergoing development is an electronic chip that might enable a patient who is paralyzed to “move a robotic limb just by thinking about it.”  And we already have mood manipulating drugs (although it is often tougher to access them without a prescription).

We take pills against depression, shyness or hyperactivity! So clearly we’re trying to clone ourselves (and others) into a “perfect person” but this will come with it the added factor of human identity loss.  So while these things may have certain advantages, we will definitely have to tread carefully to avoid becoming a nation of one-type beings, devoid of their own specific, particular, human identity.