(SkyNewswire.com) --- Bobby Mardis, Producer / director, and original member of Robert Townsend’s “Hollywood Shuffle,” had almost competed editing his film, “Obama: Tears of Joy,” when his home was burglarized. All his valuables were stolen including his prized possession which was the film. For the last two years, Mardis was shooting, downloading stock footage, compiling and editing a film about the moment Barack Obama announced his president elect status in Chicago’s Grant park. At the “moment of realization” of Mr. Obama becoming a candidate, tears rolled down citizens’ eyes. This film analyzes those tears and the history. It is also about the triumphs and accomplishments of people of color. The film spot lights the rocky road to freedom and progress that is forever embedded in our minds. This film, the presidency and history represents the progress of a clearly oppressed group of people, but is a source of pride and uplifting hope.

Tears continued to flow on February 22 when Mardis’ home was burglarized. He was in San Francisco undergoing testing to give his ailing mother a kidney when the burglars broke in his home and robbed him of his edit bay. Now, Mardis has to make up for two years worth of work and over $300,000 in equipment and intellectual properties by replacing the edit system. Mardis is using a website on the internet to gain support from the general public to help in getting this important film back on track. The site is called kickstarted.com where people can go on and pledge their support for the film. This revolutionary site helps artists complete their projects in an “all or nothing” method where people pledge an amount on a credit card, if the financial goal is not met, then the pledges are not charged. If they are met, then the artist reaches his/her financial objective, and the project gets completed. This internet methodology is helping more independent filmmakers with financing in this weakened economy.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (Case #: 10-CV-1142) alleges that, on both the 2000 and 2010 Census forms, the United States Census Bureau’s and the Office of Management and Budget’s "representation of race was false, misleading, deceptive, and, therefore, fraudulent," and that its "negligence contributes to a historical and sustained pattern of personally-mediated, institutional, and internalized racism in this country..." The 2000 and 2010 Census forms are singled out because the complainant states that she participated in those Census periods by completing and returning the Census forms.


Using the pseudonym Jane Koe, the complainant requests a number of remedies, among them, asking the court to order the defendants to notify all recipients of the 2010 Census form that “race in this country is defined by the Office of Management and Budget, reflects a social definition of race, and in no way conforms to any biological, anthropological or genetic criteria.” Koe charges that based on verbiage in a section entitled “Questions and Answers for Census 2000 Data on Race” on its 2000 Census site, the Census Bureau is aware that the concept of race is merely a social construct (a concept that is the artifact of a particular group rather than the product of science). Koe says she believed “race was a concept grounded in scientific fact” based on the federal government’s historical propagation of the genetics-based race “fact.”

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Three prominent leaders in urban development from the Midwest have been selected to provide thought leadership to developers and government officials in Wellington, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. Wellington City will host a three-day Master Class featuring these leaders scheduled for July 22 – 24, 2010. In Sydney, they will conduct a series of workshops on July 25 and 26, 2010, hosted by Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), a leading global engineering, sciences and project delivery firm based in Sydney. The selected team is:


John Brancaglione, Vice President PGAV Urban Consulting in St. Louis, has 43 years of experience that represents a broad scope of planning expertise involving comprehensive planning and zoning, community and economic development, industrial development, central business district planning, recreational planning, tax increment financing (TIF), market analysis, environmental planning and grant application administration. He has provided urban planning consulting services to more than 300 communities and is a recognized expert on TIF, having managed TIF planning assignments for more than 100 cities and counties in 12 states. He has worked with the city of Chicago for 14 years.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- On April 20, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger endorsed California Assembly Bill 1844, named "Chelsea's Law," designed to strengthen criminal penalties for sexual offenders. The bill was introduced shortly after it was disclosed that John Albert Gardner III, who pled guilty in April 2010 to the brutal rape and murder of two San Diego teenagers, had been convicted in 2000 of molesting a 13-year-old girl. Gardner spent five years in prison for that offense, but considerable outrage was expressed over the fact that he was no longer on parole at the time of the murders, despite numerous parole violations.


The bill includes three main provisions.
1. A one-strike provision for the most serious crimes against children younger than 18 -- putting even first-time offenders behind bars for life without the possibility of parole
2. The required lifetime parole with GPS monitoring of certain offenders -- those committing sexual crimes against victims younger than 14 years old -- after their release from prison
3. A convicted sex offender would be charged with a misdemeanor and a parole violation if found near a park where children frequent, resulting in a return to prison

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Mr. Paul Chehade presented today to Gov. Charlie Crist a solution to this tragedy by making available new technologically advanced equipment from Italy that will effectively clean the sand and sea of the Gulf of Mexico. He also mentioned that one of the most important Italian Conglomerates is in the financial position to invest in the eradication of the Florida coast contamination.


Mr. Paul Chehade, President of Solidary Foundation, declares today that no entity in charge or the media has mentioned the truly profound consequences of the tragic BP oil spill event. The oil spill contamination is not only destroying the Gulf of Mexico's marine life for many decades, but it will increase the risk of cancer and other serious diseases that could be fatal to the population of the affected four states of the union due to toxic acid rain. Acid rain will be one of the direct consequences of this devastating accident due to the evaporation of the polluted waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- A new campaign manager has taken the helm of Delegate Karen Montgomery’s campaign for the District 14 State Senate seat. Bronwyn Beistle, a veteran of Democratic campaigns in Florida and Maryland, assumed the position of campaign manager last week. She succeeds Peter Blaes who was recruited for a position in The White House with the Obama administration. Blaes served in the 2008 Obama campaign as a field director in the midwest.


Beistle worked on the Cardin-O’Malley coordinated campaign in 2006 and has extensive experience in environmental and energy issues, a strong focus of the Montgomery campaign. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, she joined the 2004 presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry in her native state of Florida. Beistle also has worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute and was outreach director at The Carrots and Sticks Project, non-profit organization advocating for energy efficiency and clean transportation.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- With a United States federal budget $1.4 trillion in the red, ongoing wars, economic slump, and an ever-increasing scope of government, many Americans are looking to alternate ideologies for political answers. Code Publishing looks to capitalize on that shift with the new libertarian political thriller by J.S.B. Morse entitled “Gods of Ruin,” (GodsOfRuin.com) which thrusts the reader into the corruption of near-future Washington D.C.


“There is a growing population of people that are simply sick of the corrupt, intrusive nature of government that is coming from both parties,” author Joseph Morse said. “‘Gods’ is an attempt to harness that sentiment in an entertaining format.” Already, libertarian-minded novels and non-fiction books litter book sellers’ top 100 lists. Novels like Ayn Rand’s epic “Atlas Shrugged,” which has been a perennial bestseller since its 1957 release, and the popular “Overton Window” by television and radio personality Glenn Beck have found a large market in small-government readers.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Economic strain on local governments is forcing municipal courts in the DFW metro area and around the state to ramp up attempts to collect revenue from fines associated with tickets arising from speeding, parking violations, disorderly conduct and more. Cities are not only getting more aggressive in their efforts to receive payments, they are also finding more creative and cost-effective ways to do so.

In recent years, municipalities have not only steadily increased the number of tickets written, they have worked hard to make sure that the people who get the tickets actually pay the fines imposed upon them. Traditional collection methods, setting a court date and issuing bench warrants if payments are not made, have not been altogether successful. Now city administrators and municipal court directors throughout Texas are thinking outside the box to find new ways of convincing people to pay up. These include:
- Publishing a "Top 10" of people with outstanding fines for Class C misdemeanors
- Allowing payment plans for higher fines
- Using collection agencies
- Calling those who haven't made a timely payment
- Sending reminder letters that payments are due
- Offering alternate payment options; payments can now be mailed in, paid over the phone, online or at satellite offices (reducing the wait time and frustration that keep many people away from paying their fines in person)
- Offering non-interest-bearing extensions of payment dates for those in need
- Prohibiting renewal of drivers' licenses and/or vehicle registrations
- Doubling fines if a warrant must be issued
- Negotiating settlements

(SkyNewswire.com) --- As the Gulf of Mexico oil spill continues to dominate headlines and the extent of the environmental damage unfolds, the media has mostly forgotten the human tragedy that first brought attention to this disaster. On April 20, 2010, eleven workers were killed in the explosion and resulting fire, many leaving behind spouses and children. Many others were seriously injured and all will suffer from the mental consequences of going through such a horrific event. For businesses relying on the sea for their livelihood, damages continue to mount. The list of injuries includes severe burns, broken bones, respiratory damage, and post traumatic stress disorder. Whether or not they sustained physical injuries, workers are faced with a lifetime of horrific memories, including plunging 70 feet into the flaming oil-covered sea to escape the inferno. Commercial injuries include the loss of revenue and the possible failure of businesses.


Physical and Financial Damage
Working on offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most hazardous occupations in the U.S. From 2006 to 2009, 30 workers were killed and another 1296 were injured due to fires, explosions or other accidents. Typical injuries included crushed limbs due to shifting machinery, disfiguring burns from sudden fires and shattered bones from the force of explosions. Cost cutting and constant pressure for increased productivity too often create an environment where worker safety takes a back seat to profit. In the case of the Deepwater Horizon, it is already clear that time pressures and the desire to save money made safety and prudent judgment take a back seat.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- A significant volume of mercury-containing waste in the U.S. is finding its way into Canadian landfills because some treatment standards, recovery requirements and enforcement of those standards are less stringent than in the U.S. U.S. federal regulations require that hazardous wastes including mercury be treated using "Best Demonstrated Available Technology" which requires high temperature retorting. According to one report, if exports to Canada continue, U.S.-based mercury recycling facilities will be undermined. Likewise, investments in the best available technology will be punished instead of rewarded.1


Uniform national policies in both the U.S. and Canada that prohibits land disposal would help eliminate confusion from the disparate policies. Infrastructure and recycling capacity already exist, but as long as exemptions and low enforcement remain, and recycling remains optional, increasing the rate will continue to be a struggle. Suffice it to say, U.S. and Canadian mercury recycling laws are in need of a major overhaul to protect the environment in the years to come.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Houston, Texas April 30, 2010: More than 42,000 gallons of oil have been leaking daily following a massive explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico last week, with the potential to cause major economic and environmental damage. The oil spill resulted from the explosion and sinking of the oil platform Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20th. Coast Guard officials estimate 5,000 barrels a day are leaking into the Gulf. The oil slick made landfall in southern Louisiana early Friday and is expected to reach Mississippi and Alabama within the coming days.


Experts are calling this the worst environmental crisis since the Exxon Valdez and are predicting the economic impact to be greater than that associated with hurricane Katrina. They estimate the massive oil spill has the potential to negatively affect the entire Gulf coastline. This includes a negative economic impact on thousands who earn their livelihood in the fishing industry, as well as tourism, itself a major industry along the scenic oceanfront. Additionally, the environmental impact is expected to be severe, with oil and byproducts damaging fragile marshlands, marine and bird life.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Many contractors stand ready to help save the Gulf of Mexico, but rigid insurance requirements are thwarting their efforts. Contractors are required to purchase specific liability, pollution and federally mandated workers’ compensation coverages designed for employees working on, around or near waterways. To aid contractors with the requirements, MarketScout has developed OSCAR (Oil Spill Cleanup and Remediation) to provide a comprehensive insurance solution for contractors working to clean the British Petroleum oil spill. Four leading energy insurance companies are participating in OSCAR. MarketScout is the manager and founder of OSCAR.


According to Richard Kerr, MarketScout’s Chief Executive Officer, “Many contractors strive to help the BP cleanup; but, federal insurance statutes require complex insurance policies not available from most insurers. Oil spill cleanup contractors must show proof of insurance with policies designed to provide pollution, third party liability and federally mandated workers’ compensation coverages. These insurance requirements slow down the process of getting contractors for these jobs. The more quickly oil is cleaned the more quickly the Gulf Coast economy will recover and less likely our beautiful wetlands and beaches will be soiled. Contractors now have a one stop solution for adhering to the federally-mandated insurance provisions.”

(SkyNewswire.com) --- If you want to be successful, getting a good education is a good start. Since running for office in 2008, President Barack Obama has made education a priority issue for his administration. Scholarships and grants are only a small part of the education system makeover. For decades, college prices have steadily increased. Besides tuition and housing, fees for books, travel and eating are often not covered. Low-income students suffer the most if they are unable to secure enough scholarship or grant money. One group that is particularly hit hard is single mothers. More education helps single mothers achieve on their jobs and take care of their families. Creating college grants for moms is one way the President is dealing with this issue.


If you've heard of Obama grants for moms, know that people are referring to Federal Pell Grants. To help with university costs, a student can earn more than $5,000. This is an increase of $1,000 over the previous maximum, and the goal is to help working mothers return to school. With these grants for moms, they can pay for tuition, books or any other school-related expenses. Another incentive to consider is the American Opportunity Tax Credit. With this tax program, the first $4,000 of community college or university expenses are free. Especially for less expensive schools, $4,000 could be a significant help for a student. Both of these tax programs help single moms tremendously because they are traditionally low-income individuals.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Shirtlab is delighted to announce that twenty custom-made team t-shirts have been donated to Volunteering England's London Charity Softball League (LCSL) team. The LCSL is a substantial softball league consisting of thirty-two teams across four divisions, hosted in Hyde Park. For more information, visit http://www.shirtlab.co.uk or call 0800 1072144.

Steve Beynon, MD and founder of Shirtlab said; "I initially contacted Volunteering England regarding Volunteer's Week, but got chatting and learnt about their charity softball team. As Shirtlab produces lots of customised t-shirts for sports teams, I offered to sponsor their LCSL team. Soon they'll be raising money for charity in great new t-shirts designed using our online t-shirt design software." In addition to other t-shirt design features, Shirtlab offers a team shirt service which makes a design into a template into which individual team member names can be added.

(Reuters) --- More than half of Russians think bribing officials is the best way to "solve problems," according to a new poll.


Oddly Enough
Fifty-five percent of respondents to a Levada Center poll of 1,600 Russians said they believed that "bribes are given by everyone who comes across officials" in Russia. President Dmitry Medvedev, halfway through his four-year term, has pledged to fight Russia's all-pervasive graft and build a law-abiding state, where everyone observes the rules rather than looking for ways around them.