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Category Archives: New York
Does Sex Ed Undermine Parental Rights to Create Ignorant Children?
In today’s New York Times, two op-ed contributors wrote about their disdain for the new mandatory sex ed classes in New York City. Although there is a parental “opt out,” the contributors do not believe that it is enough.
The main problem they have with the new system is that it is the government forcing parents “to send their children to classes that may contradict their moral and religious values on matters of intimacy and personal conduct.” Since studies have proven that kids whose parents don’t want them to have sex always abide by that rule, it just makes sense that they would never need to know about the repercussions of unsafe sex.
My favorite part is when they say, “to subject children to indoctrination in deeply personal matters against their parents’ consciences is no less a violation than forcing Muslim parents to send their children to a Catholic Mass.” Exactly. When I think about educating the children in our country on safe sex, the only thing I can equate it with is when you accidentally let children know about religions that are different than their parents’.
Posted in Blog, Education, New York
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Scott Murphy Officially Wins NY-20 Race
Although we all knew that he had won for quite some time, Scott Murphy has officially won the NY-20 congressional race after Republican Jim Tedisco dropped the legal challenges to his victory.
This is significant for several reasons. First, there’s another Democratic vote in the House. Always a good thing. But maybe more importantly than that, it shows that Democrats are viable in even stronly Republican districts, even without Barack Obama at the top of the ticket. NY-20 is a R+2 or R+3, depending on who you ask, meaning that it is about 2-3 points more Republican than the average district. A Democratic victory in a R+3 district is a good sign for Democrats in the future.
[Source]
Oh, and in case you were wondering, it’s been 171 days since November 4, and we still have no Senator from Minnesota.
Posted in Blog, New York, Progress, Stuff Democrats Like
Tagged Jim Tedisco, NY-20, scott murphy
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Oh, Canada
Stephen Harper on a pleasant stroll through Times Square
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper went on a media blitz in New York City recently. He went to the United Nations, stopped by Fox News for an interview and continued to express displeasure with renewed American protectionism. Harper fears American protectionism will hurt trade with Canada and ultimately the economy as a whole. “Buy American” provisions in the stimulus bill are of particular concern to Harper’s government. Here are a few tidbits:
We don’t have a mortgage problem. Certainly we have a downturn in our housing sector, but it’s not structural — there will be no government bailout of mortgages in Canada.
On Obama’s visit to Canada as his first official trip as President:
Because we’re not a squeaky wheel, we often don’t get the grease and we’re forgotten. So it was great to have that kind of attention from our great friends in the United States.
Posted in Barack Obama, Blog, Canada, Economy, Foreign Affairs, New York
Tagged Canada, Eskimos, flapjacks, New York, NYC, obama, Sam Harper, Stepehn Harper
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Co-Opting Israel? by Rebecca Egler
There are truly some moments when I hate my home hood
It’s yuppie, it’s hipster, lined by Prospect’s old wood
And though I’m not sure what to think
About our Co-Op’s new stink
I do believe a little controversy always does us some good.
Squared Time by Rebecca Egler
You’d think that the passing of seven plus years
(Grounded, of course, by the flooding of tears)
The city’d deliver
More than ideas on the river
And finally memorialize instead of projecting empty fears.
Posted in Blog, Domestic Affairs, Limerick, New York
Tagged Limerick, new york city, port authority, world trade center
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Self-Promotion by Rebecca Egler
There once was a limerick in which I had much to discuss
Brooklyn’s falling apart, Daschle incited a fuss.
Yet I’m a selfish young lass
So I’ll use this to pass
The fact that I started my own babbling bus.
The state of my… other state.
Believe it or not, there are moments when I get stuck in bouts of… urban elitism. I suppose I only sort of believe that the New York is the center of the universe (Brooklyn, it’s pulsating heart with Manhattan as a brain) and I do recognize the uniqueness and homeland pride that comes with most residents of any state. That being said, despite its inherent superiority and timeless position as the face of class – I mean, despite everything that makes New York so special, the Empire state is finding itself in a somewhat scary place lately.
Posted in Blog, Economy, Environment, New York
Tagged aquarium, astroland, coney island, Economy, mike bloomberg, New York, plastic bags
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Old York by Rebecca Egler
And alas they’re saying my city’s going broke,
Less funding for zoos, plastic bag tax ain’t no joke
So when the gardens close down
And subway rails bend with a frown
We’ll see NYC of the 70′s in a neon strip mall’s cloak.
Posted in Blog, Limerick, New York
Tagged elegy, Limerick, michael bloomberg, New York, new york times
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Swan Lake by Rebecca Egler
Please, sue me for irrelevance -
Which I try to shroud with eloquence.
But you deserve to know
That stuck in the snow
Are two swans – wintry decadence.
Decision by Rebecca Egler
As I sit here knowing that sleep is for suckers,
It’s come to my attention that Patterson’s used his pluckers
And whether Kennedy you love our hate
My New York state
Has Gillibrand for Senate, from upstate truckers.