Washington DC Bound

Screw the High Alert!

Also means less people in the area and cheap cheap cheap hotel rates! :)

Ok so Anne and I are headed out to our old haunt in DC for a few days to see friends and visit old haunts from our Masters Degree Days. My voice is gone from the cold I had--got a good one. We will be taking many pictures and will post them in the pictures section when we get back. Hope everyone is having a great holiday!

NYC Dept. of Ed. default

NYC Dept. of Ed. default

I began teaching at 164 on December 22nd of this year. I am taking over for an existing teacher in Math for the 8th grade. You can check the link here to understand more about the kids I will be working with at this school. On wednesday I gave the kids an interactive assignment involving CD's and two CD Plans. Of these two plans the kids had to choose the one they would most like to join. Since I only had 45 Minutes with this class they are about half way thorough the lesson. The kids went to work right away on this lesson and seemed excited about the subject. Each group was able to complete the task correctly. Woohoo! On Wednesday the kids were given an assessment by me to see how they comprehended the multiplication of decimals. It is clear that we will have to re-visit the decimal issue at the beginning of the year.

The administration, the staff, and my fellow teachers have been very supportive! As required I am very sick at the time of this writing--seems that all teachers must get the latest germs when they arrive at a school so I am off to the doctor.

MSNBC - Saddam Hussein has been captured in Iraq

MSNBC - Saddam Hussein has been captured in Iraq

Ok so we have one down. Woohoo! This is a great win for the people of Iraq--who can now live without the fear that their old leader will come back in to power. It will be interesting to see if this makes it easier to put a new government together. Now we need to concentrate on the real person behind the terrorism and world trade center attacks. OSAMA!

IS 164 and Math

Looks like IS 164 could use somebody like Drew Pecunia to teach Math. I was very impressed with the school at my interview today. Of special note was the AP I would be working for Mr. Estrella, and the Principal. Both were very dedicated and supportive.

Problems for the United States?

China's Growing Thirst for Oil
Remakes the Global Market

Beijing's Buying Keeps Prices
High -- and Could Reshape
Politics of Middle East
By PETER WONACOTT, JEANNE WHALEN and BHUSHAN BAHREE
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL


With its factories working overtime, and its consumers on course to buy almost two million cars this year, China is developing a world-class thirst for oil. And its hunt for steady supplies is reshaping the global energy market, the environment and world politics.

China -- which this year surpassed Japan as the No. 2 petroleum user after the U.S. -- is increasing its oil purchases even faster than it is pumping up its brawny economy. Imports for the first 10 months of 2003 are up 30% from the year-earlier period. The International Energy Agency expects imports to double to some four million barrels a day by 2010. By 2030, the IEA expects China to be importing about 10 million barrels a day, roughly what the U.S. brings in now. Domestic oil output, meanwhile, is flat.

From Houston to London to Moscow, oil companies are looking to secure market share in China, as China roams the world looking for oil fields to develop. Some fear that China, which doesn't have large strategic reserves of fuel, might grow so desperate for oil that it would battle the U.S. for influence in the Middle East or even trade weapons technology to terrorist states. Others are more optimistic, and think China will realize it has a vital interest in keeping the region stable.

"China is having an incredible influence on energy flows, not just in Asia but on a world-wide basis," Peter Davies, chief economist at BP PLC, told reporters on a recent trip to Russia, from where BP hopes to supply China with Siberian gas. "The whole center of gravity of the world energy market is changing."

So far, the most obvious impact has been on prices. In recent years, China has drawn fire in the U.S. and Japan for exporting deflation, as its factories pump out low-price T-shirts, sneakers, radios and other goods. In the $1 trillion-a-year market for oil, the opposite is happening. This year and next, China is expected to account for about a third of the increase in global oil demand. China's purchases are an important reason OPEC, whose members regulate output to prop up oil prices, has been able to keep oil at or above $30 a barrel for much of this year.

Chinese demand is also making geopolitical waves in the U.S. Last month, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a committee of congressional appointees, debated how China's thirst for oil would affect U.S. access to energy supplies. Last year, the Pentagon reviewed a report on what it would mean for U.S. national security if the Chinese and Saudis grew closer. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter, is negotiating to build a huge refinery in China with Exxon Mobil Corp. The desert kingdom's state oil company has even begun sending students to Chinese universities to get undergraduate degrees and learn the language.


Meanwhile, China's mushrooming fleet of cars is adding to worries about this smokestack nation's impact on the environment. In the next decade, the number of cars on Chinese roads is expected to grow fivefold to 100 million, approaching half of the U.S. total, according to the Development Research Center, a government think tank. China is set to tighten its emission standards by 2005, and in 2008 it plans to introduce standards that could be even tougher than those in the U.S.

"If all our bicycles turn into our cars, that's a horrible figure," says Zhai Guangming, retired director of oil exploration at state-run China National Petroleum Corp. "It would scare the world."

Flip Side

The flip side of growing Chinese oil imports is increasing vulnerability. Used to having leverage over foreign multinationals seeking access to its market, China finds the shoe on the other foot as it is forced to compete with Japan and other buyers for oil. Chinese oil companies -- starting decades behind U.S. and European giants -- are struggling with limited success to acquire stakes in oil ventures overseas.

China is particularly exposed in the Middle East, the source of half its imports, pointing up a little-noted twist: China's energy lifeline is increasingly dependent on the U.S. fleets that guard the world's shipping lanes. Like Washington, Beijing will increasingly need stability in the Middle East to ensure reliable oil supplies at moderate prices. In the long run, this confluence of interests might tug Beijing closer to the U.S. But several analysts warn that China's thirst could lead to Beijing's emergence as a competitor for influence in the Middle East.

"Saudi Arabia could possibly begin looking to the Chinese for those economic, security and political needs it now garners from the U.S.," last year's Pentagon study noted.

Energy security has been gripping Chinese economic planners for years. Government economists long warned about the danger of importing growing amounts of oil because of the foreign exchange it sucked out of the country, and because of the dependence it created on volatile overseas markets. Importing oil stabbed at the heart of Communist Party notions of self-sufficiency.

In the past decade, technocrats concluded China couldn't go it alone. Domestic oil output peaked as demand soared.

China's factories were gobbling up huge amounts of oil. The fuel is the key feed stock for petrochemicals, which the factories use to crank out plastics, mobile phones, toys and computer parts.

At the same time, the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s brought about vast economic changes that led to increased demand for oil. Like smaller Asian countries, China was overly dependent on exports for growth and exposed to sudden slowdowns abroad. To stimulate the economy, Beijing began investing billions in infrastructure, encouraging bank lending and relaxing curbs on home purchases and auto production to get people spending. The moves sparked explosive sales in apartments and cars -- growth that filtered through the rest of the economy and led to quantum leaps in oil use.

"The only force that could help the economy grow at 8% is consumption," says Ma Xiaoye, a former economic official and now director of Academy for World Watch, a think tank in Shanghai. "We had no choice."

The challenges of fueling that growth are clear outside the capital in the shadows of Cat Ear Mountain, the site of the Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Co. refinery. It was established in 1968 at the height of the Cultural Revolution, when self-sufficiency was China's watchword. The refinery became an island of industrial stability, expanding output even as political chaos enveloped the nation. Movie theaters, shops, schools and eventually a town sprang up around it. Trucks and later a pipeline solidified a supply link with the huge Daqing field to the northeast, the refinery's lone supplier.

Turning to Russia

These days, output from the Daqing fields is declining. "They are reducing crude-oil production every year," says Chang Jiang, a senior engineer at Beijing Yanshan. "So we are turning to Russia."

In July, the refinery, a unit of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., or Sinopec, processed its first shipment of oil from Russia, the world's No. 2 exporter. In May, the Chinese and Russian presidents endorsed the idea of building a pipeline to supply Siberian crude to Daqing, which could then be fed to Yanshan. OAO Yukos, Russia's largest oil company, and CNPC, a Chinese oil giant, signed supply pacts promising to send 400,000 barrels of Russian oil a day via the pipeline, slated to be built by 2005. In eastern Siberia, Yukos has stepped up its search for new oil reserves, setting up a camp for surveyors in the tundra.

But Russia may be an unreliable lifeline. Yukos's main shareholder, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has been jailed amid a political battle with the Kremlin, casting doubt on the company's ability to keep pushing the China pipeline ahead. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has put the China project on hold while President Vladimir Putin mulls an alternate pipeline to Russia's Pacific port of Nakhodka, which has the advantage of being able to supply not only China, but also Japan and other Asian consumers. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is lobbying hard for Nakhodka, pledging billions of dollars to help finance the pipeline. He even brought a judo master to a St. Petersburg summit in January to amuse Mr. Putin, himself a black belt in the sport.

The Chinese are scurrying for other deals. They are pressing for access to reserves in Iran, the second-largest exporter in OPEC after Saudi Arabia. In Iraq, CNPC is hoping the new government will stick by a deal inked in 1997 under which the oil company will develop Iraq's Al-Ahdab oil field. Beijing is pushing forward plans for a multibillion-dollar pipeline from oil-rich Kazakhstan, even amid doubts about the feasibility of the project. During a visit to Kazakhstan in June, Chinese President Hu Jintao signed an agreement to revive a long-delayed pipeline project that would pump oil across the Chinese border.

China's insecurity is making global oil czars nervous. Top on their list of worries: China, unlike other major industrial powers, lacks a large strategic reserve of oil to buffer the country during supply shocks. That gap alarmed the industrial world's energy watchdog early this year. As the U.S. and Britain prepared to invade oil-rich Iraq, officials at the International Energy Agency say they opened a dialogue with Chinese officials. The aim: to preclude panic buying of petroleum by China, which might roil an already-jittery world oil market.

Chinese officials are loath to discuss the politically charged topic of energy security. Oil czar Zhang Guobao -- the 59-year-old vice-minister of a super-agency whose purview includes autos, high-tech and energy -- turned down requests for an interview.

But pieces of a strategy are starting to emerge. The State Energy Administration, which Mr. Zhang also heads, plans to create a strategic oil reserve, but officials won't say how the agency will finance and build the stockpile. By 2005, China plans to store 50 to 55 days' worth of oil imports and 68 to 70 days' worth by 2010, according to Wu Kang, energy analyst at the East West Center in Hawaii.

In Washington, national-security strategists are sorting through a welter of possible consequences of Beijing's oil thirst. The study reviewed by the Pentagon last year, "Sino-Saudi Energy Rapprochement: Implications for U.S. National Security," concluded that the world oil market will be able to accommodate China. The study also predicted that Beijing is coming to share America's interest in ensuring the Middle East remains a reliable supplier of oil.

"We have common strategic needs," says Amy Jaffe, senior energy analyst at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and one of the authors of the study.

Still, many analysts are wary of a Beijing that could begin to feel boxed in by its energy needs. The study noted that China might emerge as a major arms supplier to the Saudis. Other analysts fear that China might be tempted to trade weapons technology for access to oil in countries such as Libya and Iran.

More than 60 years ago, another emerging Asian power felt squeezed on energy: Japan. The U.S. responded to Japanese aggression in East Asia by imposing a natural-resources embargo on Tokyo, which hit back by attacking Pearl Harbor. Kent E. Calder of Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies says those events point a way forward for China and the U.S. as they seek to head off future conflict.

"Obviously, historical parallels are never exact," Mr. Calder told the congressional commission last month. "Yet Japan's belligerence when it was vulnerable suggests that taking positive steps to support China's energy security can be in America's national interest."

Umm Hello

[ Tue Dec 02, 12:45:23 PM | Drew Pecunia | edit ]
In Heart of Steel Country, Bush Talks of Economy, Not Tariffs

Umm Talk to the hand. Shouldn't we be protecting some of our industries? We all know a country can't run on services alone. Certainly it can not create jobs for its less educated people. Does anyone remember the concept of mercantilism. It is the process by which you keep the colonies dependant on you for all of your goods. Sound familiar? Made in China

Anyone remember when it used to be Democrats that got accused of spending too much. So now we are spending too much, we gave a big tax break, and mortgage refinincings are done. Yet we still have no new jobs being created in the economy. In order to keep unemployment at its current level--not so good--we need to create yes create 60,000 new jobs a month. To encourage the type of boom we had in the 1990's would require 300,000 new jobs to be created every month. This is clearly not the way to do that.

Not all spending is created equal. How do I mean. Well spending by the government on infrastructure--roads, mass transit, ports, construction and the like directly creats decent paying jobs in the construction sector and pays dividends for years to come in side business created from those jobs. Spending on military conflicts in the gulf, interest on the debt and the like creates no tangible long term benefit to the economy.

Not all tax cuts are created equal. Creating a stimulus to the US economy and indeed any economy--with the purpose of creating jobs requires that the tax cuts be targeted at people who will immediately spend the money. The last tax cuts did not achieve this aim -- and therefore no jobs were created. What do I mean? Well, when my parents get a tax cut that money is simply invested for retirement. They have more than enough money coming in every month to cover bills so they invest in bonds or the like. While this makes it easy for business to raise capital--it is not necessarily spent on creating jobs.

Let's try another example. If someone who is just barely getting by--paying for rent, keeping that old car held together with gum and ruberbands, or is just dealing with that old energy hog refrigerator gets a tax cut. Well they replace the car and refrigerator! So they buy that on the economy. The stores make money right away, the factory has to produce more goods, and Americans work. That is assuming that they buy American.

Well what if the entire cylcle I just described had been repeated over and over again by giving the people most in need of a tax cut a cut. The answer is fairly straight forward as I am sure you have guessed. Many people replace their cars, refrigerators, etc. This results in a huge boost to the economy.

So isn't this what we should be doing instead of our current policy? Think logical!
- Drew, 12:42 PM

The Seattle Times: Pace of growth not likely to last

The Seattle Times: Pace of growth not likely to last

Growth is good and this is a good sign. However what if all this growth only results in small job gains. Will that continue to excacerbate the rift that continues to grow between rich and poor. Well I am doing my part to help out! I just got off the internet and bought only goods produced in the United States. I figure after driving from Washington to New York and seeing first hand the number of factories out of business they could use the help. Hope the economy keeps moving ahead and that it starts creating jobs rather than just lowering the decrease.

Ahh what passes for good news these days!

Ahh what passes for positive news these days in the tech sector and in the regular private sector is that the rate of job loss is slowing. In a way I guess that is better than the alternative greater rates of job loss. Nonetheless this is still negative. An 8% 2002 and 4% this last year is not going to encourage people to pick up tech as a major in college, nor is it going to [rovide and relief for the estimated 300,000 former techies who lost positions in those years. For sure this s going to continue the downward pressure on wages in the sector.

Looks like we will have to wait a few more years for any true improvement in the technology job picture. By that I only mean actual job creation rather than job loss.

Connecticut: In Schools, Bad Behavior Is Shown the Door

Connecticut: In Schools, Bad Behavior Is Shown the Door

Interesting story on New Yorks new initiative. I just got back from a marathon session of math at PACE University in New York City. It was from 9-3 with two 15 minute breaks. I will be having another marathon session this Tuesday. In addition I will be in class on Monday and Wednesday night. The big day for the CST is this Saturday. Must eat and sleep now.

Marist Poll :: Home

Marist Poll :: Home

MINDS MADE UP?
38% of registered voters definitely plan to vote to re-elect President Bush in 2004 and 44% definitely plan to vote against him. The remaining 18% are not committed either way. This is bad news for Bush and great news for the country. Even Alan Greenspan, not exactly a beacon of liberalism frowns on the long term deficits this President has created in light of the upcoming baby boomer retirement. Please see todays reflections on this in The Wall Street Journal.

Murphy leads GOP to Somers sweep

Murphy leads GOP to Somers sweep

Yesterday my dad did not win the election. However he was able to garner over 41% of the vote in a town where only 37% of the voting town is registered Democrat. What that means is that my dad was able to get all of the Democratic Votes cast and a lare number of cross over votes. For the first time in Somers history the Republicans in town stood in front of post offices and even printed literature for the election. So if nothing else this campaign has signaled the end of the assured win without campaigning of Republicans in the town of Somers.

In adition, the Republicans were forced to address and make promises regarding our most important issues. See you in 2005!

A&P Supermarket

Budget gap balloons to record high

Budget gap balloons to record high

Yikes! What happens if people stop financing our debt?

In other news my brother is now a special agent with the secret service--having finished his special agent training last week. He is looking for a house, but for now we are all living happily at the pecunia compound in Somers. My dads campaign is heating up and so is the literature. I hope to have copies posted to andypecunia.com soon.

Bob Parrish
Looks like Anne's brother may be getting called up to go out to Iraq for a while. ugghh! So we are all worried for him. He is in the National Guard as an officer. We just got some shots of Bob and his new girlfriend at the military ball. She looks great and so does bob.

Also, just came down with a nasty cold.

Ta Ta

Education Law May Hurt Bush (washingtonpost.com)

Education Law May Hurt Bush (washingtonpost.com)

Ahh unfunded mandates!

After railing against unfunded mandates in his bid to become president Bush is feeling the pain from states as he heeps on No Child Left Behind. While many agree with the overall approach they ask where is the money $$$$, dinero!

Hmm sounds similar to where is the money for homeland security?

Wait I know. There is none left after tax breaks to rich friends and companies. What a surprise.

Schwarzenegger to talk transition

Schwarzenegger to talk transition

Schwarzenegger to talk transition

Yahh surrre! I will crush that pumped up deficit in California until it is puny and small. You Know. You know CAHLIFORNIA is loohking for some real leadership. You Know its like when I came from AUWSTRIA to this country as a kid. SUURRE my mus-kles were not puny but they were not so pumped and large. You Know California is feeling small right nahwuhh, but when I get going on it it will be great. It is like Maria always says. . . .

Nuff said. . .

I will be down in the city tonight for class but if anyone wants to give me a shout or has a comment let me know.

Among the 10, Two Are Tested the Most (washingtonpost.com)

Among the 10, Two Are Tested the Most (washingtonpost.com)

Did you watch the debates last night? Yeah, Ok, I know the bachelor was on but come on! In general each of the candidates did about as well as they thought they would. Seems to make sense that Clark couldn’t have anything prepared so he really was not going to be helping any of us out with any specifics. The other candidates did come off much more ready than he did in this debate. Carol Mosley Braun made some sense last night, and came through really well. I don't seriously think she has a shot in hell, but she may be a good person to energize the vote. I also look for her to be the strong voice she has always been for causes in the party. She is getting much better and we should keep an eye on her for the future. The Rev. Al. What can I say he was doing great until he started talking about the Amsterdam News and the Wall Street Journal.

Kerry and Lieberman seem to be stuck in the old Washington lip-speak. I did not feel that either of these gentlemen was in the zone. Nor did I think that either of these men had a plan or a grasp of the current economic situation.

Edwards although better than either Kerry or Lieberman on the honesty vote, and what is going on is still a little old Washington.

Speaking f old Washington--Gephardt--! He seemed to be moderating his views and speaking well last night and I have to give him credit for standing up for what he believes he moves more toward Dean an that guy from Ohio with the bad comb over.

Ich the comb-over and stuff, Certainly, I was with this man on the issues. Well ok until he started talking crazy at the end about his plan for a new nirvana. Did anyone else feel like he was starting a cult towards the end Geez!

Dean--
Although battered and bruised Dean was honest. I get the feeling that this man was being straight with me. When he says, no we can't have our cake and eat it too that seems reasonable. I like a guy who is honest. He said no we can't afford the tax cuts we got, and the baby boomer retirement, and the war, and health care.

So on the downside he has a temper. He is very very honest about his opinions and adds no sugar to his spice! Is this cause for concern? Guess it could be--but wouldn't it be a fun change from Bush?

Keep letting me know what you think. I am really enjoying the e-mails and responses.

Optimum Online - News

Optimum Online - News

Ok so no surpise really on this one.

Levi to close all N. America plants

Levi to close all N. America plants

Here go some more jobs. Guess I will be switching to another jeans manufacturer that keeps jobs in the US.

Andy Pecunia .COM and Thursday!

Main Page at AndyPecunia.com web site or the Home Page

So moving right along. . . .

My dads web site is geting better all the time. He is now in the dog days of the election. There is only a short time to go until the election in November and he is hitting the streets every day.

Last night we had this great duck dish. Anne got a migrane and went to bed after arriving home at about 8PM after class. Since she gets up at 5AM this makes for a very long day. She took the train yesterday because she was tired and there was no way she was going to fight the traffic coming out of Central Park after the traffic.

Today is the day the cleaning lady arrives. She comes twice a month. Good thing too--with all of us at meetings an out at work it has been very hard to keep up with any of that around here. My brother is still looking for a house!

It is pretty cold here this morning. My mom actually turned on the heat for a bit this morning! It was about 50F.




DNC: Kicking Ass
Hey the Democratic Party is getting in the groove with blogging. Check out the new page--It Kicks ASS!




The Seattle Times: Nation & World: 1.4 million more Americans in poverty in 2002

It seems odd that as the economy continues to create record profits for companies and we created tax breaks for wealthier Americans that nothing was done about this problem. Allowing our next generation to falter through policies that allow our children (and I use that in the our america sense) is just plain wrong. While an astonishing 12% of the American public are now living in poverty the figure for children is 17.2%.

Keep in mind that the poverty threshold differs by the size and makeup of a household. For instance, a person under 65 living alone in 2002 was considered in poverty if income was $9,359 or less; for a household of three including one child, it was $14,480.

Seems like something could be done about that in a country as great as ours. It also seems like it would be in our interest to get the children out of poverty since new studies point to economic status as one of the prime determing factors in creating poory educated adults. Can the United States affford to have 17.2% of its popution in poverty and potentially undereducated in an increasing competitive world? I think not!




EPA ruling questioned

I am not sure why the EPA would want to lift a ban on building on sites contaminated by PCB's. These substances are amongst the most cancer causing in the world. What is interesting is how it was done so quietly so as to keep the lifting of the ban out of the news. Please read this article and pass it along if you can.




Michael Craig and Family

This is one of my good friends Michael Craig. He has just started blogging and he is doing a great job. Take a look at his blog!

Drew on Tuesday. . .

So today is a big day for my dad he is headed over to Heritage Hills for a big campaign event. I am headed over at about 7:30PM to be the official picture taking guy. We got some great pictures this weekend which will show up on my dads web site after they are finished developing on Wednesday.

I am taking the LAST test on October 18th!

My friend Eric Lorson sister got married this weekend. We took a trip up to Old Saybrooke on the Waters of the Long ISland Sound for a great wedding and party. Woohoo! Anne had to be in class the next day so we are a little tired this week now. Jenny married a man she has been friends with for a long time an we are so happy. It was great to see all of the Lorsons.

Yesterday I was in Inwood studying for the LAST exam and getting the transmition fluid changed in the car an going to the bank. The websites for digitalschools ad pecuniatechnology group will be worked on today so look for changes. They are in the early stages at their new home. Worked on some more contracts this week.

Trade Alert - Home

Trade Alert - Home

I came by this site in my research on foreign trade problems in the United States. They have an excellent range of statistics on US Trade and jobs

Fight brews over fixing US foreign-trade imbalance

Fight brews over fixing US foreign-trade imbalance

Here is an interesting article that brings into light some of the interesting facts about the United States Trade Deficit and what can be done about it!

Spending on Education Doubled! Spending on Social welfare up 900% and economy on fire!

Spending on Education Doubled! Spending on Social welfare up 900% and economy on fire!: "In the past five years, spending on social welfare has increased nine-fold and spending on agriculture and education has doubled, Mr Xiang reported"

So while we continue to say we can not afford to pay money for schools and education China continues to spend gobs of money on education! Where do we think this will lead us in about 20 years? Just for information 20 years ago 3/4 of all sweaters in the United States were made in New York factories. Try to find a sweater made in the US now! This has got to stop before we spend all of our money building up other countries and watch all that we love disappear!

Digital Schools -- Technology for Teachers Administrators and Youth

Digital Schools -- Technology for Teachers Administrators and Youth

Digital schools is in the process of now being moved to its new home with its new domain name. You can now reach us by clicking on the link listed above. Look for some great resources to be added soon as the site builds.

America For Clark

America For Clark

With all the talk about clark this morning I thought I would give everyone a chance to check this guy out by suplying a link to his web site. His views are interesting!

CNN.com - Clark to launch 2004 presidential bid Wednesday - Sep. 16, 2003

CNN.com - Clark to launch 2004 presidential bid Wednesday - Sep. 16, 2003

Well well well. . .this is a very interesting development in politics. We knew that Clark had been talking to Dean but we were not necessarily thinking that he would run outright!

It would be very hard for Bush and company to run against this guy by pulling out the anti-military card now wouldn't it.

It is just a fantastic day here in New York it could not be any nicer. Only problem is as they say this could just be the calm before the storm Ugghhh! Seems that we are due for a bunch of rain and some good wind. I am putting away all the lawn furniture and such and taking in the umbrellas from the back today.

Charge up your batteries folks!

Show U.S. The Money (washingtonpost.com)

Show U.S. The Money (washingtonpost.com)

Reagonomics Revisted? Please read this Sunday News!

Today is Sunday and it is cold and rainy in New York. Remenants of the last hurricane. We had quite the string of great days last week so we were due. We spent most of yesterday grading Anne's papers--even into the evening--though we thought we would be done earlier. My parents are up to see my ailing cousin--my grandmothers sisters kid in Kingston today. Anne and I have to stay and finish her lesson plans and grading.

Exporting U.S. Jobs - The New American - September 22, 2003

Exporting U.S. Jobs - The New American - September 22, 2003

Given the sad state of job loss in our country over the last 3 years I thought this news article shed some light on the reasons why the United States economy is having trouble finding footing towards recovery. Any thoughts?

Ford Vehicles: All New F-150

Ford Vehicles: All New F-150

I just thought I would put this link up for everyone so they could see a really slick marketing web and internet campaign by Ford. I think this is a very cool use of technology to sell the new F150--see if you agree.

Things are cooling off here in New York with the overnights and mornings in the 50's. Nothing but clear skies and great weather. My dads campaign is moving along very well.

Anne is now teaching kids and was given a group of honors(smart) kids in her school. She is in inwood at PS52. You can read more about it by doing a search on New York City Schools if you are interested.

Our friend Jen in Washington was involved in a car accident but she is ok--only a broken arm. She totaled her car though--time for a new one--maybe an F150 ehhh. We hope she feels better are glad she did not get hurt and hope she has a speedy recovery. By the by Jen works for the Sonics if anyone needs tickets!

I started taking on line math algebra courses this week and I am taking the LAST test on October 18th so I am studying for that test as well. I am thinking of building my of C# version of a blog and setting it all up. I will let you know more as that develops.

Final touches are being made to the digital schools site and then it will be going through QA before widespread distribution to New York as a test market and then on to other areas.

Talk to everyone later.

PS Has anyone seen my friend Naraen?

That is all for now I will check back in later today.

Hey all its FRIDAY!

Just got off the phone with the lorsons about building a great energy site for their company. WOOHOO!

It also made me think about news feeds. I have added for fun and amusement the AHNOLD news feed to the site. It is the subject of fodder around the globe and in the United States. Anne gets off at 3:00PM today and could use some R&R before the kids arrive on Monday. YIKES!

My dads web site is really comming along at AndyPecunia.com I am going to step out for a little while and move some dirt in the front lawn for my parents. My dad has been working all week at MERCY. He is supposed to only work one day a week vut he is getting good $. My brother is still in training until October. Hope all is well with everyone.

U.S. infrastructure gets a D-plus

U.S. infrastructure gets a D-plus

So how did we get in this mess. Simple really. Unlike families who reinvest in themselves by getting college educations, buying homes, fixing up homes and adding additions, and starting new businesses the United States has been doing just the opposite. Let me explain. The United States built the bulk of its schools, infrastructure and Dams with projects like WPA in the 1930's. We then had a little effort in 1965 called the Intersate highway system. Most of the railroads in this country and subways in cities were built long before that time.

What are we doing instead? Well like drunken fools we are taking a ride on our fathers and grandfathers dime. Instead of reinvesting we deemed it a good idea to give ourselves a great big tax break. Well not really just people making the big bucks got the most of that tax cut. This at a time right before we know we have a very large liability coming up in the baby boomers retirement and health care costs. So we must be building jobs and manufacturing for the future right? Nope. We are buying up foreign cars faster than you can say LEXUS. It's pretty simple really. If we all went to the store and made sure we tried to buy a product made in America or a car the economy would pick up. People would be working.

We could afford the very infrastructure projects that CHINA is building right now with the money we keep sending them for products that used to be made right here in the United States. A wise man once said vote with your pocketbook.

Here is what I am doing. I bought an American car. Every time I go to the store to buy something I try to buy American if it is available. Why? Because I know it matters what I purchase. I am supporting jobs at home rather than shipping another factory overseas. You see I think the best way to help people is to give them good paying jobs, just like George Bush said in his innaguration speech! If we all did that America would start working again. Without a solid manufacturing base no country can survive and its power and dominance will wane. That is why I am putting my money where my mouth is--how about you?

As City Goes Back to School, Bloomberg's Plan Faces Test

As City Goes Back to School, Bloomberg's Plan Faces Test

Big changes at New York City schools as Anne started this week to get her class ready. I went down yesterday and helped Anne begin the process of setting up her calss. We moved and arranged the desks, cleaned the entire room, and bought a lock for her
possessions. Anne's classes start at Fordham this evening. Whew!

My dad's campaign is heating up and he is getting many hits at his new website. AndyPecunia.com

I should be on line today although very busy. Please drop me a line when you get a chance everyone.

Bush's Resume -- Sorry Could Not Resist :)

GEORGE W. BUSH ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT:

• I spent the US surplus and bankrupted the US Treasury.

• I shattered the record for the biggest annual deficit in history (not easy!).

• I set an economic record for the most personal bankruptcies filed in any 12 month period.

• I set all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the stock market.

• I attacked and took over two countries.

• I am the first president in decades to execute a federal prisoner..

• I am the first president in US history to enter office with a criminal record.

• In my first year in office I set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in US history (tough to beat my dad's, but I did).

• After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, I presided over the worst security failure in US history.

• I set the record for most campaign fund raising trips by any president in US history.

• In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their jobs.

• I cut unemployment benefits for more out-of-work Americans than any other president in US history.

• I set the all-time record for most real estate foreclosures in a 12-month period.

• I appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.

• I set the record for the fewest press conferences of any president, since the advent of TV.

• I signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any other US president in history.

• I presided over the biggest energy crises in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.

• I cut health care benefits for war veterans.

• I set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind.

• I dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.

• I've made my presidency the most secretive and unaccountable of any in US history.

• Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. The poorest multimillionaire, Condoleeza Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker named after her.)

• I am the first president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously struggle against bankruptcy.

• I presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud in any market in any country in the history of the world.

• I am the first president in US history to order a US attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation, and I did so against the will of the United Nations and the vast majority of the international community.

• I have created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States, called the "Bureau of Homeland Security"(only one letter away from BS).

• I set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any other president in US history.

• I am the first president in US history to compel the United Nations to remove the US from the Human Rights Commission.

• I am the first president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the Elections Monitoring Board.

• I removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.

• I withdrew from the World Court of Law.- I refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.

• I am the first president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors access during the 2002 US elections.

• I am the all-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.

• The biggest lifetime contributor to my campaign, who is also one of my best friends, presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).

• I spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.

• I am the first president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied, saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)

• I am the first US president to establish a secret shadow government.

• I took the world's sympathy for the US after 9/11, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).

• I am the first US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.

• I changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.

• I set the all-time record for the number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling their huge investments in corporations bidding for gov't contracts.

• I have removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.

• I entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.

RECORDS AND REFERENCES:

• I have at least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine (my Texas driving record has been erased and is not available).

• I was AWOL from the National Guard and deserted the military during time of war.

• I refuse to take a drug test or even answer any questions about drug use.

• All records of my tenure as governor of Texas have been spirited away to my fathers library, sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.

• All records of any SEC investigations into my insider trading or bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.

• All minutes of meetings of any public corporation for which I served on the board are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
• Any records or minutes from meetings I (or my VP) attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review.


PERSONAL REFERENCES:
For personal references, please speak to my dad or Uncle James Baker. (They can be reached in their offices
at the Carlyle Group where they are helping to divide up the spoils of the US-Iraq war and plan for the next one).

Poverty in America Up for 2002!

The Seattle Times: Nation & World: 1.4 million more Americans in poverty in 2002

It seems odd that as the economy continues to create record profits for companies and we created tax breaks for wealthier Americans that nothing was done about this problem. Allowing our next generation to falter through policies that allow our children (and I use that in the our america sense) is just plain wrong. While an astonishing 12% of the American public are now living in poverty the figure for children is 17.2%.

Keep in mind that the poverty threshold differs by the size and makeup of a household. For instance, a person under 65 living alone in 2002 was considered in poverty if income was $9,359 or less; for a household of three including one child, it was $14,480.

Seems like something could be done about that in a country as great as ours. It also seems like it would be in our interest to get the children out of poverty since new studies point to economic status as one of the prime determing factors in creating poory educated adults. Can the United States affford to have 17.2% of its popution in poverty and potentially undereducated in an increasing competitive world? I think not!

PCB's are now OK for building sites says EPA?

EPA ruling questioned

I am not sure why the EPA would want to lift a ban on building on sites contaminated by PCB's. These substances are amongst the most cancer causing in the world. What is interesting is how it was done so quietly so as to keep the lifting of the ban out of the news. Please read this article and pass it along if you can.

Michael Craig and Family

Michael Craig and Family

This is my good friend from Solucient Michael Craigs web blog. Check it out.

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

We had a good labor day doing the most American thing you can do. . . We were shopping!

Well someone has to help the economy. . . We picked up a buch of supplies that Anne needs for school. She starts her assignment this week although she will have no classes until next monday when the children arrive. My dads web site is now up at andypecunia.com. Things are looking pretty good for him in the election.

We went to the movies with my parents last night and saw http://www.hollywood.com/movies/detail/movie/1614797 Open range. Quite a cool movie! It has some great scenery from the west----err of Canada. . . since that is where they shoot these movies these days. Welll I am off to get a little R&R we get up at the crack of dawn in the morning for Anne's classes.

Have fun everybody!

Halliburton scores big off Iraq

Halliburton scores big off Iraq

"In the councils of government we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

"We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded.

"Down the long lane of history yet to be written, America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect." End of quotes and, as I wrote previously, none are taken out of context, but I made a mistake.

The person I was quoting was not a liberal Democrat. I just remembered that it was General Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell speech to the nation in 1961 as he spent his last day as President of the United States of America.

So here this article is very interesting in that it points to something very wrong in the way the United States is now seemingly conducting wars. It is not that I do not support the troops or for that matter the idea of the war in Iraq. It is rather that I am so inflamed by the very idea of the Bush Administartion throwing aside the advice of the Pentagon and not sending enough troops to do the job. And what of this new twist?

Why exactly are we having private companies conduct our wars? Can anyone think of a problem with the very idea of this? Imagine if you will the possibility of this process resulting in the choosing of particular wars because they are more profitable than others?

Just a thought?

Draft Wesley Clark for President

Draft Wesley Clark for President

Here is an interesting thought what if this guy ran with Dean as the Vice Presidential candidate? This would take the wind out of the sails of any movement by the right to attack Dean on Military issues now wouldn't it? Please take a look and let me know what you think?

Andy Pecunia .COM

Andy Pecunia .COM

My dad is in the process of setting up his campaign web site for supervisor. It is not official yet and still very much under construction. We are planning on having an official launch this Sunday with e-mails out to the crew! :)

Intermediate Algebra Homepage

Intermediate Algebra Homepage

This is a very cool algebra review page for anyone studying for the math CST for New York State. It is also loads of fun if you are a student studying to pass the Math A regents in New York State. The examples are clear and concise, and it includes many examples for the interactive user. I will be adding this to the math section of the Digital Schools Site.

Been busy had a huge contract to do for Microsoft and an interview and Anne had her last three days of things for training before getting another week off before school. I went with Anne to the city on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday and explored the city and took care of some things we needed to take care of in the city. As well I had a telephone screen for an excellent job position. Today is Sunday and things have cooled off in New York. In fact last night it was below 60 F. Just put the F for our international friends.

We are off this afternoon to a political fundraiser for my dad, and then off to NJ for a party at the home of Anne's professor Frank Melia. It is a get together of all of the fellows in her program and it should be fun. Which we will need since my dad went ahead and ordered 5 yards of dirt to be distributed (by US) around the edges of the new driveway. This is scheduled to arrive at 9AM and the digging and shoveling and such should begin promptly. Wanna join in the fun! Stop by and free beer is included. (I don't seriously think anyone will take me up on this of course!)

We spoke with Anne's mom and she seems like she is very very busy with new applications at the school. She is an assistant director of financial aid at a college in Washington.

Next week looks nice and Anne is off. We plan on having a little fun. Hope all is well with everyone.

Hey all just returned from the Italian American Club Somers BBQ at Reis park. 
It was a great event and turnout was very strong.  Needless to say the
people were very entertaining and the food was fantastic.  Lots of families
and kids at the event!  Yesterday we went to a winery in
North Salem that is on a farm and
had lunch a museum in Katonah. 
Both are about 3 miles from my parents house in Somers.

This weekend we visited the
Brotherhood Winery in upstate New York and went to the
Church Home
called Olana.  I am including all of the links I can so that all of you can
see what we have been up to these days.

Anne is back to school prep for the first three days of this week and then
she is off again for about 1 and 1/2 weeks before resuming a normal work and
school schedule.  Anne is actually out with my parents right now heading
back to the Italian American Club.  I am off to the gym since it is closing
at 5PM.  Hope all is well with everyone else.

Just about 7:46 PM and just got back from moving Anne's NYC Teaching Fellow cohort into his new apartment (Nick is very Nice--he will be working with Anne at her new school) in Inwood about 4 blocks from Anne's School and on the Park at Riverside on the Hudson River. He is going to keep up with the Super of the apartment because we would like to rent there as well :). It was very hot but we got everything moved in for Nick and will be looking forward to his housewarming party. We met a great woman also in the fellows program who volunteered to help him out of the goodness of her heart named Jenifer. We hope to see more of her as well she is very nice.

While waiting for Nick to get the U-haul we spent some time touring the neighborhood again and found it to be loaded with parks and an off leash dog park for the gusaroo. The entire area is surrounded by a 196 acre park! And it is in NYC. Anyway I stink and should probably take a shower before we head out to dinner with my parents. Hope to hear from everyone soon.

Drwe

Ok. My parets are back from Prague and Vienna and they had just a great time even tough as everyone knows it was hotter than heck in Europe. We watched the video last night and I can really say that I would enjoy a trip there myself. Anne is getting really relaxed and has another week off. We are in the final push for signatures this week and Anne and I are off to help get my dad on the IND ballot. He is already on the democratic ballot of course :).

IT IS NOT RAINING TODAY. Things are supposed to dry out by the end of the week. Things are moving along with digitalSchools.org. I got hit pretty hard by a virus on my computer this weekend. . .icky... Hey if anyone has a moment check out my friends site at http://www.leelafever.com. He is a great blogger and a guy with a very simple but profound idea about corporate communication.

Well its off to get those petitions signed. . . .

What's new Today If your reading this you have nothing to do!
I had no idea how many people were reading my bog and keeping up with things this way.  While this is great I do want you all to know that you need to get out more and get away from your computers. This weekend on Sunday we spent some time with the Larsson'  Many of the people I had not seen in upwards of ten + years.  It was great to see everyone and get caught up with things.  Eric and Lauren did a great job holding the shin dig and we are set to get together with them again on Thursday at my parents home.  We managed to snag an invite to Jenny Larsson wedding this September 21st, 2003.  We are glad we can be a part of her day and share in the family festivities. Back at the Pecunia household things are going pretty well.  Anne is finally getting some much needed rest, although she is having a hard time adjusting to her life of leisure.  She thinks of all the things she has to do in about a week and a half.		OK so I have an interview on Wednesday with a rather large and well known company for a job.  I am probably one of seven hundred candidates but we will keep positive and see how it goes. We picked up brand new Dunlap Sport A2's for tires for the car and had a computerized alignment on Monday.  I must say the new tires are pretty cool.  Sure beats sliding all over the place in the rain. Did I mention the rain!  It has been nothing less than a non-stop rain and humidity fest in New York this Summer.  Having the house to ourselves has been nice and we are enjoying the space and the time together. We are heading out for signatures for my dad this week just to see if we can fill up some of the signatures for his independent campaign. Speaking of campaigns is anyone else keeping up with this Dean guy.  He seems pretty interesting.  I like a guy who tells it like it is, is strong on a balanced budget, and is serious about reducing our trade deficit.  He was on a couple of CNN and MSNBC programs and his website has more information.  I think I smell victory if the Democrats end up picking this guy!

Anne got her
assignment
for a school today at her job fair!  That means she has a job in the
Fall.  I also have a job interview this Wednesday for a position. 
Woohoo!  I drove Anne down for the job fair and there are quite a few
decent apartments in the area close to her school that are of reasonable price. 
Tomorrow I am driving her over to the school so she can fill out paperwork and
then we are heading out for some fun with her group of fellows.  Perhaps we
will also look around the area and make note of areas we would like to live. 
My friend Eric Lorson is having a big get
together at his house on Sunday and we are headed out there for a little R&R as
well.  My parents leave for Eastern Europe on Friday so we have the house
to ourselves!  Uh Oh!  Things with Digital Schools are moving along
and it is now a full fledged non-profit.  Grant proposal writing to get
funding is on its way.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Talk to you all
soon.

 

 

Movies. Yes movies. We saw the

Pirates of the Caribbean this
weekend at the Jefferson Valley Mall with my parents.  I have to say it was
very good.  All four of us were impressed with the animation and although
the story was somewhat predictable in eventual outcome the plot was well thought
out.  Unlike some of my ramblings on this site :).  This past weekend
Anne got to relax.  She is done with her major course work for now and we
worked a little on the
digital schools site
which is really coming together. 
It looks like we may be able to procure a free server and some resources after
all.  We are working on some grants next and we will see where all of that
leads.  I am sending out resumes to companies here in the
New York
area as the jobs become available.  This morning my Dad and I spent some
time at the Metro North Train Station at Goldens Bridge and then went off to the
Shenorock (Somers),
Post office and garnered a good amount of signatures for his campaign and the
independent ballot.

This coming Wednesday Anne has a job
fair and my friend
Eric
and I will be in the city drumming up
business for our business venture.  As well Anne graduates from her summer
program for the
New York City Teaching Fellows
this Friday and I will be attending. 
After that she has two weeks of vacation.  We will have the house to
ourselves while they are away gallivanting around Eastern Europe. 

Today is very hot in New York. 
Wet and looking to head up to 90 plus degrees so we are all trying to stay cool. 
I have a couple of errands to run so the best way to reach me is on my cell (no
I'm not putting the number on the site).  I have to hit the bank, Trader
Joes and the Food Store as well as get a workout in before Anne gets home. 
I try to do all my job search stuff, business, and things in the morning. That
makes it easy to be somewhere air conditioned by afternoon.  Hope all is
well with everyone.

Hi everyone.  Here are some

pictures sent to me by my father in law from the Highland Games in
Enumclaw Washington.  He is of course the dashing young gentleman in the
front row with the distinguished looking grey hair.  Anne finishes her
coursework for the summer today at 1PM and should be going out with her fellows
in the city after that.  Rain Rain Raining.  It has been warm raining
and muggy here in New York for the last couple of days, yet we are promised a
great weekend.  My parents are getting things together for the big trip to
Eastern Europe and my brother is leaving this Sunday after being home for the
last two weeks.  He will be off in Maryland for training for the next 11
weeks.  He has not had much luck on the house hunting front since he is
looking in the very bottom of the range 350,000 in New York!  I have been
sending e-mails to all to let everyone know what we are up to but the best way
to reach us is still e-mail, and keeping up with us through the blog.

My ankle twist from this past Friday looks like it is
healing and I am back to the gym today.  I am still keeping off the 20lbs I
lost on the diet and all is good on that front.  Gus is well but he still
misses all of his friends from Klahanie.  This is especially true of Roxy
our downstairs neighbors dog--Ned and Kelsey.  Ok well I am off to the post
office, campaigning, job searching and the like.  Drop us all a line with
links and such.  Miss everyone.

Ok so now I am doing four things. I got the EIN number for digitalschools.org and the domain name will be transfered once the site is complete. The EIN number is for non-profit status. The web site can be looked at while it is being built at http://drewpecunia.netfirms.com. Eric Lorson and I are moving along on our business plans and I have delivered my HIPPA analysis for Andy Wagner and Eric. I am starting to get calls from companies for a regular job but the economy here is only slightly better than the one in Washington.


The new driveway is in at my parents house.

Interesting I spoke with Elena Pecunia a relative from France who I met on line while doing family hisytory research. We are trying to set up a pow wow online since she speaks French and I speak English. Anne speaks French so she can be the go between althouh she doesn't know it yet.

The house is getting clean clean clean and my mother is getting a little crazy with it before my dads big party and fundraising event this Sunday. For those of you who don't know he is running for supervisor--which is like mayor of Somers. The Wine and Cheese PArty is this Sunday. My brother is still here and will be through next week. He has been taking gus out for 3 mile runs and gus is now warming up to him.

The diet is continuing and I am down 20lb and much fat now. Fitting into size 34 pants now for the first tome in years :). I have been making it to the gym almost every day and feel much better.

Anne is working very hard and just received her first two grades from Fordham University. A's of course! She is doing well and is attending a teacher placement fair for the fall on wednesday. She is taking the all important Social Studies CST for the State of New York on Saturday and has been studying. She is still up at 5pm and to the train and back at 7:30PM from the city. After that she is doing homework until about 12PM. UFFFF!

I got some great shirts in the mail from Anne's mmom and that was a really nice surprise. Thanks! Her Mom and Dad are very very nice.


Anyway it looks like my mom would like a little more help cleaning and getting ready for the big event and I have some job prospects to get back to now. Ta Ta

Anne is back in the city and waiting for her grades to come in from Fordham. It is taking quite a while for the posting of the grades. The new skylight is getting its final touches today and the new driveway is being poured Tuesday of this week. I just got back from having the car looked at, and it looks like we need new front brakes and new tires all the way around. My dads big party is this weekend and the Italian American Club is this Thursday.

My brother Eric is here and he is off until Monday so we are doing some catching up. Anne is back in Bronx teaching away and is starting to get interviews for her permenant placement in the fall. I am putting together the not for profit digital schools web site today and created some information for Active Directory for the business Eric Lorson and I will be running. The low carb diet Anne and I are on is starting to work. Since I arrived in New York I lost 17 pounds and three inches off my waist. Woohoo!! Anne has lost as well. The gym in Yorktown is working out fine for now and we will decide on a perment place to live when Anne gets her final assignment. I am staying in touch with dotnetusers.org and the Walthers are scheduled to come out for business in October. We are looking forward to seeing them.

My dads party for his election is on the 20th and we will be sure and post some pictures form the event up on the blog. Well I am off to the gym. Talk to you all later. Keep the comments coming they are fun. :)

Ok so I let a few days slip sorry bout that folks :). I met with my friend Eric Lorson and we are putting together more marketing strategy documents for our business plan. As well I am in the process of starting the non-profit group digitall schools.org. Yes we own the domain. It will be a resource for teachers--and will be based on a blog but have many more free resources for teachers and administrators. Not good to have a web guy with too much time on his hands. My dads campaign is moving along and things are looking very positive for the fall. Anne has finished her first 6 credits and started her second class round today. My brother is due from a break from his training and will be in town for 18 days starting Thursday and we are looking forward to seeing him.

Hey all you Washington people we have not seen! We miss everyone. You can call us anytime or just drop us a line on e-mail and let us know what your up to. Also, just a thought you can start your own web BLOG! :)

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

We went to the parade in Somers and did some political gladhanding at the picnic and get together at Reis Park this long weekend. Many people are unhappy with the current Supervisor improving mt Dad's chances of being elected in the fall. We went to a pool party at the Hengsts after the Reis Pak celebration in Somers.

The Hengst's owned the Montessori school where I went and my brother went as children. My mom was a teacher at the school for quite a while. They are very very good friends of the family. They have an outdoor full size pool an indoor full size pool and a hot tub on a piece of property on a lake on over a acre. Pretty swank. Guess Montessori schools can be good for the pocket as well as the mind :).

Anne is putting out resumes for her fall placememt at schools this weekend and Eric and I will be heading to the city for some business this week.

Another scorcher in New York Today. 95 plus degrees. Anne is getting all A's in her program what else. She will have 6 graduate credits by July 1st. She then gets a break for a few days over the fourth of July Holiday. Eric Lorson and Drew are moving forward on business plans and plan to start visiting companies after the fourth in New York City. Drew also has resumes out to many companies in New York City.

This fourth of July we will be a celbrating and pounding the pavement for Drew's Dad's run for Supervisor. We have now been on the low carb diet for two weeks and we are starting to see some good results! :). Hope all is well with everyone else and we miss all of you from Washington. A special shout out to my friends Todd, Becca, Steve, Ruth, Kelsie, Ned, Jen, Kris, Naraen, Yuri, Sharai, and Sol. Keep the faith ya'll.

The Sun is out in New York. Oh my God!



It has been raining steady since we got here to New York and it is finally
letting up. Today is just great! Tomorrow is supposed to be 92 and sunny.

My dad is off door knocking in Shenorock tonight, just after the Supervisor
got creamed last night in a meeting at Town Hall.

You can read all about it right here. My dad and I set up all his mailings
for his campaign fundraising party and licked stamps and enveloped. This is a
requirement for any type of campaign.

Anne started her second week of the New York City Teaching fellows after a
marathon weekend in which we did nothing but her schoolwork. Gus is out in the
yard and doing well. Loves being outside in a great big yard. Our new diets are
going well as we attempt to back in shape and healthy for the summer. We are
doing a low carbohydrate thing with my parents.



The high hat lights are in in the kitchen and there is much much more light.
Look for July 4th pictures on this site soon!

Thinking about the United States economy this morning. When manufacturing in the United States or any nation increases its GDP is affected in a substantial postive way. If the United States does not buy more of its own products it affects our GDP negatively and reduces investment capital.

As the largest purchasing nation we could pull ourselves out of the recession just by buying American made products instead of foreign ones. That would keep our wealth in the United States rather than exporting that wealth and jobs overseas. How can this be encouraged? Could we start by American campaigns? How do our trade agreements affect this process? In crafting agreements like NAFTA and most favored nation trading status--do we demand the same access that other nations expect from us? How do we train our manufacturing sector employees--our non college bound workers? Some insight can be found in the ways Germany and Japan go about training non-college bound youth for high paying and rewarding technical specialty careers--but what application does this have to the United States situation?

If anyone has any comments please e-mail me! :)

Its raining in New York again! Uggh! My parents are having the roof redone and they won't be here until tomorrow. In preperation my dad and I are putting in recessed lighting in the kitchen today--since a skylight will be where the current light is now located. This will also allow us to have light once the work starts. The job hunt is on and I am starting to get some leads and calls. The economy is much better here than in Washington State. Anne is working every night until about 12:30PM on school work and I am trying to be supportive by doing some research on the web for her. My friend and business associate Eric is calling me today top set up leads and appointments for next week on a project we are working on together. Anyway, my dad wants me to get to work on the ceiling so so long for now. . . .

My Parents are having the roof re-done and the supplies arrived today. My dad is still getting signitures for his campaign, and Anne is still in New York City at 6:00PM

Drew and Anne are now in New York.  It was one of those things that happened very
very quickly.  Arrival was June 5th. We left Washington on on June 1, 2003 for the big apple and New York City!
We had about a week to pack after learning that Anne was accepted for the
target="_blank" href="http://www.nycteachingfellows.org" style="text-decoration: none">
New York City Teaching Fellows Program
Anne gets a free second Master Degree at Fordham University and gets paid!
Anne got her assignment and will be in Division 10 
This could be either
Harlem or the South Bronx.
My dad has asked me to be his campaign manager in his run for Town Supervisor of Somers New York
--We started June 6th getting started and will be going around getting more signatures this evening to get him on the ballot.


Here is Andy's Blog. . .Here is Anne's New York City Teaching Blog. . . I have joined the gym in
Yorktown Heights and made contact with my fraternity brother (the technical
recruiter) about getting a job in the city.