Edwards charges $55,000 to speak to UC Davis students about poverty

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who as a Democratic presidential candidate recently proposed an educational policy that urged “every financial barrier” be removed for American kids who want to go to college, has been going to college himself—as a high paid speaker, his financial records show.

The candidate charged a whopping $55,000 to speak at to a crowd of 1,787 the taxpayer-funded University of California at Davis on Jan. 9, 2006 last year, Joe Martin, the public relations officer for the campus’ Mondavi Center confirmed Monday.

That amount—which comes to about $31 a person in the audience—included Edwards’ travel and airfare, and was the highest speaking fee in the nine appearances he made before colleges and universities last year, according to his financial records.

The earnings—though made before Edwards was a declared Democratic presidential candidate—could hand ammunition to his competition for the Democratic presidential nomination. The candidate—who was then the head of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina—chose to speak on “Poverty, the great moral issue facing America,” as his $55,000 topic at UC Davis.

FreeRepublic

and fleas

A Denver Zoo monkey has died of bubonic plague, apparently after eating a squirrel stricken with the disease, Colorado health and zoo officials said on Monday.

Five squirrels and a rabbit found dead on zoo grounds tested positive for the flea-borne disease in recent weeks, Denver Zoo spokeswoman Ana Bowie said.

Zookeepers on May 15 noticed the 8-year-old hooded capuchin monkey was lethargic, and the next day it was found dead in its enclosure. Zoo veterinarians sent tissue samples to a state laboratory where it was determined the animal died of the plague. The death was announced on Monday.

Zoo veterinarian Dave Kenny said that the risk of plague spreading to humans was extremely low [ ?????????????? ] but that visitors were being urged to avoid squirrels and rabbits.

and zoos

CHEAP LABOR? Isn’t that what the whole immigration issue is about? Business doesn’t want to pay a decent wage. Consumers don’t want expensive produce. Government will tell you Americans don’t want the jobs But the bottom line is cheap labor. The phrase “cheap labor” is a myth, a farce, a lie…

Read the rest of this gem in comments here.

AUSTRALIANS look for important qualities when choosing their most trusted people: medical practitioners and scientists have them and so do musicians who relate to kids.

The Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Poll ranks burns specialist and 2005 Australian of the Year, Dr Fiona Wood, as the most trusted Australian for the third year in a row.

The creator of the cervical cancer vaccine, Scots-born Professor Ian Frazer, is the second most trusted Australian and children’s band The Wiggles
[ AH!!!!!!! AH!!!!!!!!!!! AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ] come in third on the list.

HOW would you feel if you got in trouble not for telling an off-color joke, but simply for laughing at one? Sounds inconceivable, right?

Not at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where school policy prohibits not only “inconsiderate jokes” but also ”inappropriately directed laughter.” Not only won’t they let you tell certain jokes, they promise to punish you for finding them funny.

Here at the KisP Brain Institute that’s a requirement!

DUPED! *

In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday.

*so were we but hey.

..they pull me back in!

Super Otaku-man!

Here’s how it happened.  I’ve pretty much sworn off getting involved in another Science Fiction show and generally any TV show.  So for months when coworkers, friends, and colleagues would talk about this comic book superhero show I’d say “no thanks, not interested”.  They would go on and on about how it was just like the X-men movies and how I would love it.  “No thanks” I would respond.  “But, but, it’s got characters who speak Japanese, you love the Japanese language”.  “Sorry, no time, not interested” I would say back

Then one fateful Monday night I went over to my Mom’s for dinner.

My mom, who thinks that Angela Landsbury and Andy Griffith are the pinnacle of actors introduced me to.... Heroes.

So now I’m trapped.  I love and identify Hiro and I’ve got the hots for Jessica (too bad she’s so thin, though) and I wish I had Claire’s super power (failing having Peter’s, but for those who know me you’ll understand why I would want Claire’s)

So how do you all think it will end?  Will Sylar be killed?  Will Peter go Splodeydope? And will someone kick Mohinder’s annoying ass?

Tune in to see…

6714130049 people and counting realize that it’s JUST A FUCKING CANDY BAR

Mars has abandoned plans to use animal products in its chocolate, and has apologised to “upset” vegetarians.

The firm had said it would change the whey used in some of its products from a vegetarian source to one with traces of the animal enzyme, rennet.

The Vegetarian Society organised a campaign against the move, asking members to voice their concerns to parent company Masterfoods.

Mars said it became “very clear, very quickly” that it had made a mistake.

In just one week, more than 6,000 people bombarded the company, which produces the Mars, Snickers, Maltesers and Galaxy brands, with phone and e-mail complaints.

Forty MPs also signed a petition to voice their opposition.

Fiona Dawson, managing director of Mars UK, said the company had listened to customers and decided to reverse its decision.

“The consumer is our boss and we had lots of feedback from consumers who were unhappy about the change,” Ms Dawson said.

“It became very clear, very quickly that we had made a mistake, for which I am sorry.

“There are three million vegetarians in the UK and not only did we disappoint them, but we upset a lot of the consumers.”

“MARS” bar...coincidence, I think not.

“This person is truly trying to relay a message to the public and the way he travels and the way he leads his life should not be splayed out like that.”

Spring has arrived in this southeastern Vermont town known for its live-and-let-live culture. The trees are less bare, and some local residents are more so.

Resident Theresa Toney said she was dining at a downtown restaurant when she spotted this spring’s first naked person.

~STRIP~

^ROLLOVER FUN^

Nudists could pop up anywhere, he said. “I am concerned we don’t know where they are going to strike.”