| Commentary: Promises, promises
You need look no further than the Speaker Pelosi's willingness to poke a sharp stick into the eyes of one of America's closest allies in the war on terror, and one of our strongest supporters, Turkey. Ignoring the fact that Turkish support is vital to our troops in Iraq, the madam of the House threw her full weight behind a resolution to condemn Turkey for something that happened nearly a century ago, and in which not a single living being in Turkey had any part. Why? Simply because it would please a voting bloc in Mrs. Pelosi's home state. Fortunately, a number of her fellow House Democrats suddenly realized that she was leading them into the quicksand, and saner heads seem to be prevailing as Pelosi's political turkey heads for the chopping block. This, however, is symptomatic of the problem of handing power to the current Leftist-dominated Democrat party, which has a two-pronged approach to governing the nation: do everything possible to win elections by satisfying certain various voting blocs no matter how much their policies threaten the safety and security of the American people, and move as far to the left as possible without revealing their total dedication to the coercive policies of Karl Marx.
MasterCard Europe and Europay France to Integrate Operations in France
PARIS, and WATERLOO, Belgium, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MasterCard Europe and Europay France today announced an agreement to integrate their operating structures in France, a priority market for MasterCard in Europe. The integration will support French banks' efforts to provide competitive payment services. Under the terms of the agreement, a new company is to be formed. Additional terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed on April 1, 2008 and will enable French and international banks in France to benefit from a direct relationship with MasterCard Europe for payment services. The two businesses have a history of combining their strengths, with MasterCard International and Europay International having merged their pan-European activities in 2002.
One million HSBC customers getting contactless cards
The US arm of international bank HSBC is giving contactless debit cards to one million customers before the end of the year. The bank is planning to reissue all customer debit cards to include MasterCard PayPass technology which allows people to place debit cards on scanners rather than sign their name when they make a purchase under $25. In a press statement, Kevin Newman, senior executive VP for HSBC's personal financial services, said: "With [this], we're adding time savings and convenience to our debit checking account packages and using technology to improve our customers' experience." In a similar way to London Underground's Oyster Card, contactless cards transmit payment details wirelessly between the PayPass device and a retailer's terminal.
Florida Schools To Teach Evolution as ‘Scientific Theory’
Following numerous public complaints, though, the state Department of Education suggested the wording change to clearly label every scientific law and theory — not just about evolution — as such. The seven-member board adopted the alternate proposal, and therefore the standards, by a 4-3 vote. Religious advocates wanted more. They proposed a so-called "academic freedom" amendment to counter what they say is the "dogmatic" tone of the standards that call evolution "the fundamental concept underlying all of biology." The amendment would have given teachers explicit permission "to engage students in a critical analysis of that evidence." But supporters of the standards and a majority of the board said the proposal was anything from unnecessary to redundant to suspect.
The State News
Illinois head coach Jolette Law said Davidson's two 3-pointers, which gave MSU a permanent lead, were like a dagger to the heart of her team. "She had the swagger about her that said, 'I'm going to will my team to win'," Law said. "I know she is very offensive-minded, and once she gets going she's a great player. "Tonight, she put MSU on her back and willed them to victory." Against Purdue on Feb. 24, the Spartans were crushed on the boards by almost 20 in the 69-59 loss. Thursday night, however, MSU turned the tables and dominated Illinois 46-28 on the boards. "The Purdue game was kind of like a slap in the face," freshman guard Brittney Thomas said. "We were doing good, but don't forget how you got there and why you're doing good.
RISPCA president warns pet owners to take care of their furry friends ...
If it's too cold for you to be outside, it's too cold for most domestic pets, one adage says. Conversely, with adequate precautions, Dr. Finocchio said there is another side of the cold weather coin. "I have a black lab, eight years of age, who prefers to be outside, rolling in the snow," Dr. Finnochio said. "I see nothing wrong with an animal who has evolved as a cold weather dog, in a nice yard, cordoned off, with an igloo or dog house not touching the ground (he recommends four inches of space between the ground and the structure), with insulation if possible, being outside. It all boils down to common sense and knowledge," he said, also noting that dogs kept outside in the winter need to be given approximately 25 percent more food to convert into fuel for warmth.
Brent Boyer: Good news — more content
Dave's Sunday Outdoors page is one of the most popular sections of our newspaper, and I'm happy to report Shively isn't going anywhere. He has been named our first full-time magazine reporter, assuming responsibility for much of the editorial content in At Home in Steamboat Springs magazine as well as our other magazine products, including Explore Steamboat, Yampa Valley Real Estate and Colorado Hunter. Dave's new phone number is (970) 879-7762. His e-mail address is dshively@steamboatpilot.com. Two additional staff updates worth noting: Steamboat Springs High School senior Katie Birch is doing a reporting internship at the newspaper. She's already had one story published, and we'll push her to continue producing one story a week throughout the remainder of the second semester.
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