Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on September 10th, 2010
Good morning.
I’m going to go a little loco today, and I don’t mean crazy. I mean loco as in “local”, as in “California”, my home state. I mentioned Barbara Boxer yesterday and her run in the Senate race against Carly Fiorina, aka: Palin #2, and Palin’s latest BFF. Can you tell I am just not excited about Fiorina to say the least? Boxer is my girl. Always has been. But more on Boxer later. Fiorina needs a little exposing…
By the way a little side step towards Palin…I can’t tell you how many times I misspell her name as “Plain”, as in “simple or ordinary in character, not special or remarkable, no pattern; in only one color, bearing no indication as to source…etc”. Huh…no wonder I misspell her name all of the time. It is a reminder to me of who she is.
Anyway back to Fiorina…I found this website Carly Exposed, and did a little reading on Hewlett Packard’s ex girl…eh…ex-CEO. In case you’re not in the know, Fiorina was fired from HP with a severance of 21 million. And now she’s running for California’s Senate against my girl, Boxer.
Here’s some important facts about Fiorina:
- Carly was a failure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard. She was fired from that job, after she destroyed a corporate culture which once prided itself good relationships between management and employees, killed 30,000 jobs, shipped thousands of American jobs overseas, and drove down the company’s stock price. For more info about Carly’s tenure at H-P, and the thousands of jobs she shipped overseas, watch our video “Carly the Job Killer.”
- Carly is being helped in her campaign by some of the most extreme and shadowy elements of the political right. Karl Rove’s new conservative group, “American Crossroads GPS,” dumped $1 million on a TV ad attacking Boxer in the Los Angeles area. The U.S. Chamber, The Club for Growth and lots of Carly’s other corporate pals are planning ad campaigns attacking Boxer as well. The anti-gay National Organization for Marriage, via the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, is running a $1 million program to boost Fiorina among Latino voters. And, as we’ve mentioned, her BFF is Sarah Palin.
- The real Carly Fiorina is a right-wing extremist. During her primary campaign, she mocked Barbara Boxer’s leadership on climate change as being “worried about the weather.” She’s a darling of the Tea Party movement, the same people who put up the billboard in Iowa comparing President Obama to Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin. And, she recently said, “I agree with them.” Last month she was hob-nobbing at an L.A. fundraiser with Andrew Breitbart, the same wingnut who decided to edit down the speech Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod was giving to an NAACP chapter to make it look like Sherrod was a racist.
Last week Boxer and Fiorina went head to head in a debate here in the East Bay. How I missed it, I am clueless.
Ms. Boxer: First, let me apologize that I missed your debate last week. I watched the debate this morning. You’ve got my vote.
Readers: If you live in beautiful California, I hope you are joining me and voting for Boxer. Want to do more to expose Fiorina and help Boxer win this November? Here’s 4 things to get you going:
1. Make a commitment to help the Lantern Project’s CarlyExposed.com team to expose the record of Carly Fiorina. Exposing her record and agenda is our sole mission, but we need your help to get the job done.
2. Consider supporting our efforts exposing Carly Fiorina by donating $50, $25, $10 or whatever you can afford right now. The funds raised by The Lantern Project today will go directly to the work we do tracking Carly Fiorina and will help us offset the cost of producing original video content for distribution in the weeks to come. And your contribution can help us put the truth about Carly on the air through a set of smart, concise television ads in California before Election Day.
3. If you haven’t already done so, watch our video called “Carly the Job Killer.” This hard-charging 2-minute video tells the story of the Carly’s tenure as Hewlett Packard’s CEO, when she laid off 30,000 Americans and shipped their jobs overseas. The story isn’t new, but the way we tell it is.
4. Spread the word. Tell your friends about CarlyExposed.com. Forward the video to everyone on your contacts list. Join our Facebook page, and ask your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
Live In the Bay Area? Fiorina is going to be in Mill Valley this morning. Support Boxer and be there.
Fiorina Is Coming to Mill Valley (Meeting)
Carly Fiorina is holding a Town Hall in the heart of Blue Marin and we want to make sure she knows just how Blue we are.
We are gathering outside the Mill Valley Community Center at 11:30 a.m. to show support for Senator Barbara Boxer & No On Prop 23!
Please bring homemade signs, or we will have rally signs available.
We will be joining the Crush Prop 23 folks!
Time Friday, September 10, 2010 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Host Patti Ravitz, Marin County Democrats Vote 2010. Location:
Mill Valley Community Center (Mill Valley, CA)
180 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941
**********
It’s Friday… Start Flappin…
Robert: Thanks. And good observation.
Marcie: Loved it!
Chrissy: That is really scary. If this happens and people actually fall for this Big Pharma BS, they are in my opinion, lazy when it comes to taking care of their body, their temple.
When nonfat and fat-free products started hitting the stores many years ago, people assumed that meant they could eat as much as they wanted. And now our country has more obesity because of it. People need to be accountable for their actions. Adding statins to fast-food restaurants will be the excuse some people are looking for that will need to allow them to visit there more often, and eat more than needed. I understand that people are busy and when money is tight they might opt for something easy and fast, but fast food shouldn’t be it, and certainly not with statins on the menu. This is a subject that is relevant to many. Thanks for posting.
Peace out….
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)
September 10th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Life and Leadership Secrets of Legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden
Brian D. Biro
Coaching Leadership and Synergy Services
UCLA’s John Wooden, the “Wizard of Westwood,” is the most acclaimed basketball coach in the history of the NCAA.
His teams won 10 National Championships — no other coach has won more than four — and he coached such superstars as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.
When I was vice president of a training company, I interviewed Wooden to learn the secrets of his success on the court — and off.
He said it came directly from what he calls The Pyramid of Success.
Here are six major elements of the Pyramid, along with strategies for tapping into them…
INDUSTRIOUSNESS
Wooden neither fostered nor condoned workaholism. He believed it led to burnout. Industriousness is more a function of focus than of time.
Wooden’s basketball teams had the shortest practice sessions in the NCAA, lasting only 90 minutes. Two-and-a-half to three hours is typical for other teams. Thanks to Wooden’s inspiration, the players made each second matter.
To improve industriousness…
Keep meticulous records of your work. Wooden kept careful notes about every practice session.
This strict attention to detail allowed him to maximize his efforts by comparing what his team was doing at the identical point in past seasons. He used that insight to plan upcoming practices.
Make meetings productive. Everyone participated during Wooden’s staff meetings. These always started on time and rarely lasted more than one hour. Wooden divided each meeting into three equal parts…
Brainstorming. A fast-paced, free-flowing examination of problems, opportunities and solutions. He solicited input from everyone.
Prioritization. The team broke into groups to clarify vague ideas and determine what should be put into action. Groups changed at each meeting.
Planning. Everyone left with clarity about their next steps.
Each meeting ended with recognition and appreciation for the team’s efforts.
ENTHUSIASM
Wooden said that an average team is willing to give its best… a great team is eager to do so. To promote enthusiasm…
Find meaning in fundamentals. Connect mundane tasks to the larger success picture.
Example: Each season, Wooden lectured his players on how to put on their socks. The new players couldn’t believe their legendary coach spent time on such trivia.
But sore feet compromised performance. Over time, the players came to appreciate such detail.
Learn constantly — no matter how well you are doing.
Example: Every off-season, Wooden selected a basketball topic to study for the next six months. Refining his knowledge reenergized Wooden for the new season.
DETERMINATION
Determination in the face of adversity is the ability to pursue goals actively even when prospects for success seem dim.
When you think of Wooden’s unparalleled record, it’s easy to forget that he coached at the college level for 18 years before he won his first championship.
He told his players that their greatest challenge wasn’t their opponents or the limitations of their talent — but their own self-doubt.
To master determination…
Ask questions that fill you with positive expectation, rather than those that engender doubt or fear.
Example: In the 1967–1968 season, the NCAA banned dunk shots. It was widely believed that the change was instituted to lessen UCLA’s star center Abdul-Jabbar’s dominance on the court.
Wooden insisted that Abdul-Jabbar see the ruling as an opportunity to build his other skills. That season, Abdul-Jabbar perfected his famous hook shot, which made him more valuable when he went pro.
If you find yourself asking doubting questions, such as Will this work?, put a positive twist on your self-talk — How will I make this work?
ALERTNESS
Alertness boosts creativity. To keep your brain sharp…
Be fully present when listening to someone.
When your mind drifts, you miss information and the speaker senses your distance. Don’t tune out the speaker’s final sentence to formulate your response. Listen until the very end.
Take a breath before responding. Your conversation partner will be more receptive to what you say.
Focus on what’s useful. Each of us has a Reticular Activating System (RAS) — a cluster of cells at the base of the brain that helps filter out unnecessary stimuli and enables us to focus on information of interest.
Example: As soon as you have selected a new car to buy, you suddenly notice that type of car everywhere you go.
To engage your RAS to help with a problem, imagine your desired outcome.
Warning: The RAS works both ways. If you become fixated on what you don’t want, your RAS focuses on information that confirms your fears. That’s why you must not dwell on problems.
CONFIDENCE
Confidence is the knowledge that everything works out for the best when you are free to be yourself and others are free to be themselves.
Wooden noticed that his players were often full of doubt. He strove to build on moments of confidence they could carry with them, regardless of the situation.
To build confidence…
Use anchoring. Anchors are triggers for conditioned emotional responses. Use them to inspire yourself at challenging times. How it works…
Write a brief description of five to 10 personal victories. List a few emotionally charged words to express your feelings about each victory.
Create a physical anchor for your personal victories. For example, some of Wooden’s players would think of their game-winning baskets and clench their right fists.
Strengthen the anchor with additional elements, such as imagining the roar of the crowd or exclaiming in an inner voice, Yes!
Reread your personal victory descriptions. Visualize each event as if it were actually happening.
When you feel your emotions surge, invoke your physical anchor. Whenever you need a confidence boost, repeat a favorite trigger three times.
COMPETITIVE GREATNESS
Wooden believed that his players could accomplish only so much through talent and effort. To soar beyond that, they had to change their narrow definition of success.
Wooden encouraged players to see success as peace of mind, available every day and in need of replenishing.
To achieve competitive greatness…
View your competition not as a threat, but as a catalyst for your talent, energy and determination.
The greater the efforts of your opponents, the more you derive from the challenge.
Devote yourself to a purpose that reaches beyond you. Sure, Wooden’s players wanted to win.
But they had loftier goals as well — they wanted to secure UCLA’s place in history and improve themselves as human beings.
Personal interviewed Brian D. Biro, president, Coaching Leadership and Synergy Services, consultant to Fortune 500 companies, Asheville, North Carolina.
http://www.BrianBiro.com He is author of Beyond Success: The 15 Secrets to Effective Leadership and Life (Perigee), which is based on Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Anchoring works with almost anything positive, Wooden utilized it very well.
Larry I guess go west young man was just a turn of phrase, I agree a number is just a number
Kevin, thank you : )
…and Owen Owen Owen – oh now you’ve given me a fun idea, thank you, too.
Luv, Zen Lill
September 11th, 2010 at 8:12 am
I’m with you Michelle on this one. The republicans think they can field any woman and we women will just go alone with the joke.
I for one see through their lies. I can think and I don’t intend to just vote on a woman they put before us. As you have pointed she is as bad as any of the men republicans.
Cynthia
September 11th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Zen Lill
I hope what you have in mind involves a face and a little more skin. I mean a truly gorgeous woman isn’t supposed to be that shy about flaunting her beauty.
At least they don’t in my country.
Pablo
September 11th, 2010 at 8:18 am
This is a great ad by Nissan ushering in their new 100% electric car. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/10/nissan-leaf-polar-bear-ad_n_712714.html?ref=email_share
September 11th, 2010 at 8:27 am
In just 5 days the critical U.S. Senate GOP primary will take place in Delaware for the seat that had been held by Vice President Joe Biden.
This has become a critical national election representing a battle between conservatives and tea party activists who are backing Christine O’Donnell and liberals who are backing liberal RINO Mike Castle. Mike Castle is so far to the left that he had the most liberal voting record of any Member of Congress last year.
The most recent poll showed liberal Mike Castle (with 43%) and conservative Christine O’Donnell (41%) in a dead-heat. This race is going to be a nail-biter, and we are poised for a great victory for the conservative in this campaign – except we have one big problem.
That problem is this: we have thus far been able to keep up with the campaign fundraising of Mike Castle who has over $2 million and has been dumping more and more money into TV and radio ads. We must be able to fight back in these final 5 days and raise money to match liberal Mike Castle dollar-for-dollar on the airwaves.
We have one chance to do this, and we will need your help. This email is being sent to 400,000 of our supporters at Tea Party Express – with the request that you please make a donation to our final push in this campaign for Christine O’Donnell. But to raise enough money, we need your help to also send this to at least 10 conservative friends. And ask them to forward it to 10 of their conservative friends too.
We must get every conservative in this nation to keep forwarding this email on so we can all unite, stand together, and beat back the liberal special interest groups who want to see the Republican Party become more and more liberal – just like the Democrat Party.
We have just increased our MoneyBomb goal for Christine O’Donnell to $250,000 and you can help us blow past that goal by making a contribution – HERE.
September 11th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Get a Second Opinion on Investments
George Mannes
Money
Get a second opinion on investments if you aren’t comfortable with your broker’s recommendations.
Financial professionals often have differing viewpoints. Best: Go to a planner who charges a flat fee or hourly rate?as opposed to a broker, who may be compensated on commission.
Find a planner through http://www.acaplanners.org or http://www.garrettplanningnetwork.com. A one-time assessment of your finances is likely to cost a few hundred dollars.
Personal interviewed George Mannes, senior writer, Money, Time-Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, New York City 10020.
September 11th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Zen Lill
I tried all day yesterday to get in. That comment by you, “oh now you’ve given me a fun idea, thank you, too.” gave me a hard on that lasted through the work day.
All it took was a view of you in my mind’s eye experiencing that “fun idea.”
I can hardly wait for the blog experience.
Jacob
September 11th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Hafa adai
It seems that now adays when I attempt to post an article about military movements around Guam I get this admonishment.
“Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!”
And no post. It seems censorship is alive and doing quite well.
Peter
September 11th, 2010 at 9:05 am
Mischa, forgot to comment on she who shall not be named and her pal, farina or fiarina or diarama or whatev…as soon as CF showed up on the scene in a TV interview, I looked at someone (cannot recall who, might’ve been C) and said, didn’t she practically tank HP single-handedly? Yeah, um, just bc they have similar plumbing doesn’t mean I would vote for a woman (or repug at all) who is really just another aneastasized GOP puppet (female and/or OTW and GOP in same sentence, yeah nice try…they just want you to think you’re meaningful – you’re not)
Jacob, wow, you took my thoughts and ran with it, nicely done, you’re a man after my own heart : ) ZL footage will be forthcoming, though I am on a time line for a variety of things that make me my moula so while it is my pleasure to entertain all of you, I must tend to the physical future of ZL and co (da child, da house, etc…) and that takes $’s, that other life, the ethereal one that costs me nothing but my Zen attention and tantrica imagination, well, you can imagine, I’d rather live there full time ; )
Women of MM blog, haven’t forgotten you, just pressed for time, even today, so I’ll keep it brief bc I have been busily trying to decide just how much I want revealed here, : ) so just for today, remeber the ben wa’s at the gym usage, sit up’s on the large exercise ball, if you have perfected that technique and it can take some time, keep practicing, it’s well worth the pay off…and for those of you who want to check it out, leave them in for play time, too. It’s now been tried and proven out : ) (I will stop at nothing to be your guinea pig for everything and normally I like to try things out for a while before I report here but I thought 2-3x’s was enough on this) trust me it will please you and your partner…I’ll share my reported findings when you report yours – I say enough around here : )
OK, enjoy the weekend, Luv, Zen Lill
September 11th, 2010 at 9:19 am
This ad was made by Nissan as a promo to their new all electric car.
http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=69016&sitesection=ndnsubss&VID=97088
I think it is great.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:26 am
I’m really glad to hear that age is not an issue with you. I am 28 but very mature of my age.
I look forward to meeting you. I live in LA but I haven’t had the pleasure of running into you.
It would be my greatest pleasure to meet you.
Barry
September 11th, 2010 at 9:44 am
The thoughts and prayers of the Bay Area and the nation go out to the victims of the natural gas explosion in San Bruno.
The Bay Area congressional delegation, led by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, will work closely with state and local leaders to ensure that all necessary assistance is promptly delivered to recover quickly from this devastating tragedy. However, our first responsibility must be to the families of those who have lost lives, the injured, and those who have lost their homes.
Our thanks go out to the hundreds of first responders, who continue to valiantly work to save lives and homes. Any residents affected by the fire may contact the Red Cross at 1-888-4-HELP-BAY (1-888-443-5722) for assistance.You can learn about donating blood or other ways to assist residents at http://www.redcrossbayarea.org and http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php.
Fighting for Working Families
On Monday, we celebrated Labor Day and renewed our commitment to fulfilling the goals at the heart of our economic success: a full day’s pay for an honest day’s work, fair treatment in the workplace, and equal opportunity for all.
Democrats in Congress are working with President Obama to keep our economy moving in the right direction. We are committed to creating jobs here at home and closing tax loopholes to prevent good-paying American jobs from being shipped overseas through our “Make it in America” agenda. While we have made progress, there are too many families struggling to get by and workers without a regular paycheck.
We must keep America moving forward – not back to the failed Bush-era economic policies that cost us more than 8 million jobs, cut taxes for the wealthiest 2 percent, and nearly doubled our national debt.
Remembering 9/11
Tomorrow marks the 9th anniversary of September 11, 2001 – a day when America stood in shock at the tragedy that unfolded at Ground Zero. In the weeks that followed, we were inspired by the thousands of firefighters, first responders, medical personnel, construction workers, and others who arrived at the scene to help New Yorkers clean up and recover.
Celebrating Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is a time of renewal, reflection, and introspection for the Jewish community in the United States and around the world. May this Rosh Hashanah begin a year of joy and celebration for the Jewish community. Shanah tovah u’metukah – may this be a happy, healthy, and sweet new year.
Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my Web site. I am now on Twitter http://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi.
Sincerely,
Member of Congress
September 11th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Hafa adai Peter. Sorry to hear you are being prevented from posting about all the military stuff that’s going on on Guam.
Was this the article you were referring to?
===========================
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington, an amphibious ready group with Marines and an Air Force expeditionary wing will be part of the exercise Valiant Shield 2010 starting Sunday near Palau and ending 10 days later in Guam, the Navy said.
Three Pearl Harbor submarines, the Hawaii, Greeneville and Tucson, and the Pearl Harbor destroyer Chung-Hoon will be participating, the Navy said.
The big U.S. exercise was held in 2006 and 2007 near Guam. In the 2007 Valiant Shield, three aircraft carriers were part of a 30-ship contingent.
The flotilla this year will be smaller, with 19 ships and 14,000 sailors, Marines and airmen.
The Navy in 2007 said Valiant Shield “tested the military’s ability to rapidly bring together joint forces in response to any regional contingency.”
Valiant Shield 2010 will focus “on integrated joint training among U.S. military forces,” the Navy said. “It enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces’ ability to detect, locate, track and engage units at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.”
The U.S. Pacific Fleet said there will be no port visits by ships to Pearl Harbor in connection with the Sept. 12 to 21 (Guam time) war games.
Air Force B-52 bombers, and F-15, F-22 and F-16 fighters will participate, officials said.
The exercise will begin in the vicinity of Palau and consists of war games with opposing forces as the ships steam east, the Navy said. The training ends near Guam.
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Hey man now they are bringing Pearl Harbor to us.
Lance
September 11th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Natural Cures for Constipation
Mark Stengler, NMD
La Jolla Whole Health Clinic
Twice as many women as men suffer from constipation and its side effects — abdominal pain, bloating, hard stool and hemorrhoids.
Long-term laxative use worsens the problem by halting digestive contractions. Prevention…
First thing every morning, drink eight ounces of warm water with two teaspoons of lemon juice to improve flow of bile, a laxative digestive fluid.
Sit on the toilet for two minutes at the same time each morning, even if you can’t move your bowels, to help train your nervous system to go on schedule.
Avoid cow’s milk, bananas and fried foods…eat high-fiber whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Ask your doctor about nonconstipating alternatives if you use an antacid, iron supplement, antidepressant or blood pressure drug.
When you are constipated, try the remedies below, one at a time, in the order listed. If one does not help within a week, switch to the next. All are sold in health-food stores (see labels for dosages).
Flaxseed oil, which lubricates stool.
Triphala tablets, an herbal formula that stimulates digestive contractions.
Dandelion root capsules to promote the flow of bile.
Probiotics (beneficial bacteria) — supplements that restore the digestive tract’s normal balance of flora.
Constipation can signal an underlying medical problem, such as a thyroid disorder, uterine prolapse (uterus dropping into the vagina) or colon cancer. If natural remedies don’t help, see your doctor.
Women’s Health interviewed Mark Stengler, NMD, director of La Jolla Whole Health Clinic in La Jolla, California, and associate clinical professor, National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, Oregon. He is author of Bottom Line/Natural Healing (www.DrStengler.com).
September 11th, 2010 at 10:35 am
[...] Cynthia: Nicely said. Like many women, we’re in support of women, but not “any” woman. [...]
September 11th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Zen Lill
It is difficult for me to keep the wa balls in. How does one do it?
September 11th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
My partner and I arrived here on Guam because of the potential for some huge profits. We like the people. They are way browner than I thought they would be but I’m into chocolate.
I got this news release and I wanted my peeps back in SC. to see what I told them was true.
===================================
Guam buildup decision to be released Sept. 20
By Brett Kelman – Pacific Daily News (Guam)
Posted : Friday Sep 10, 2010 13:10:41 EDT
The Defense Department had planned to release its Record of Decision on Friday, but the document that would signal the start of the military buildup won’t become public until Sept. 20.
The delay will allow the military to take more time to consider and include comments from the community, the Joint Guam Program Office announced.
The massive document will solidify many plans for the coming military buildup, which would transform Guam in the coming years. More than 14,500 people are expected to move to Guam for the buildup by the end of next year. And the island’s population will continue to climb until 2016, when the buildup numbers peak at 41,194 new residents, the final Environmental Impact Statement states.
The release of Record of Decision is the next step in the NEPA process, following the final Environmental Impact Statement, which was released July 28.
“The delay is necessary to ensure that all comments received on the [final Environmental Impact Statement] are able to be fully considered in the [Record of Decision],” JGPO announced. “In addition, the consultation processes under the National Historic Preservation Act and Endangered Species Act are still ongoing.”
JGPO oversees military buildup readiness in Guam for the Defense Department.
Shortly after the announcement of the Record of Decision’s delay came out, local leaders praised the longer time frame.
Guam Gov. Felix Camacho said in a statement that he appreciated that the military would take the time it needed to “thoroughly review” the comments provided.
Public comments on buildup plans have been collected since November, but many local officials have questioned whether the military is listening.
“This [delay] will help ensure that the federal government has a better understanding of our island’s concerns, and we are hopeful that with this additional time they will find ways to satisfactorily address our concerns,” Camacho wrote.
On Aug. 27, Camacho submitted more than 200 comments on the final Environmental Impact Statement his office collected from local government agencies and members of the public.
Camacho said that number didn’t compare to the more than 10,000 comments submitted on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, but said the Defense Department should weigh all concerns.
Yesterday, JGPO Communications Director Paula Conhain said the military had always expected a large number of comments on both the draft and final Environmental Impact Statements, and the delay announced Thursday was needed to make sure all voices are heard.
The Record of Decision will solidify many of the buildup plans, but it won’t set everything in stone, Conhain said.
“I think one of the things to remember is that this is a very complex [project] with a lot people involved on Guam and other federal agencies, and so there are a lot of details that will be continued to be worked out as we all collaborate together,” Conhain said. “There will still be a lot of work to be done to implement this in a way that works out the best way possible.”
In a news release, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo said she hoped the Defense Department would use the additional 10 days to consider alternatives to an aircraft carrier wharf location, which is planned for Apra Harbor, and a firing range planned to be built near the Pågat area.
The Defense Department has already delayed its decision on where in the harbor to place the wharf, and Conhain said Thursday the Record of Decision won’t include a final location.
In the final impact statement, the Defense Department promised it would study the coral in the harbor more before it places the wharf because some local scientists questioned whether the Navy had underestimated the amount of coral that would be destroyed.
As for the firing range, Conhain cited the facility as an example of how the buildup plan could continue to evolve after the Record of Decision is released.
JGPO has promised that the culturally important Pågat area near the proposed firing range will be available to the public during every weekday, according to Pacific Daily News reports.
Conhain said Thursday that details about how the range and public will co-exist — in terms of what hours the area would be open to civilians — could be determined after the Record of Decision is released.
She made no mention of the Record of Decision moving the firing range away from Pågat, which has been the military’s preferred choice since the draft Environmental Impact Statement was released. Despite passionate protests by local residents, there has been no official indication the range will move.
Guam Sen. Judith Guthertz, the chairwoman of the Legislature’s military buildup committee who is seeking re-election, said: “Let us hope that this isn’t just a ploy to soften us up for the final document.”
==========================
There is a lot of money to be made here. They speak english and they ain’t half bad looking. There are a lot more white people here than I thought would be. So you want be lonely.
My advice, get your tools and head for Guam
Jimmy