Obama Remembers Kennedy on 50th Anniversary

Jan 20, 2011

President Barack Obama delivered a speech today in commemmoration of the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.

The speech was given at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C.

Watch John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961:

Full text of President Obama’s speech.

Thank you so much, everybody. Thank you. Thank you. To Caroline and the Kennedy family, to all the members of Congress and distinguished guests here tonight, it is an extraordinary pleasure to join you to mark the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. (Applause.) And I can’t think of a better place to do it than here, in a living memorial that reflects not only his love of the arts, but also his recognition of how the arts can help sustain our national strength. (Applause.)

Now, we mark this anniversary with a measure of sadness, as we remember the extraordinary life of Sargent Shriver –(applause) — a man who embodied the spirit of the New Frontier as well as anybody. When a person passes away, there’s often an urge to define their legacy, and find a way in which it will endure. In the case of Sarge, that is not hard to do. His legacy is written in the villages around the world that have clean water or a new school through the Peace Corps. It’s written into the lives of all the children in our own country whose fortunes have been lifted through Head Start. And it will endure in the work of his children who are living out his legacy of service, and our thoughts and prayers are with them tonight. [Read more...]

Thoughts

Jan 20, 2011

There is not less wit nor less invention in applying rightly a thought one finds in a book, than in being the first author of that thought. – Pierre Bayle, philosopher and writer (1647-1706)

New Enrolment Quota Set in South Australian Redistribution

Jan 20, 2011

As part of its redistribution of electoral boundaries in South Australia, the Australian Electoral Commission has determined that the enrolment quota is 100,636.

This means that each of the 11 electorates in South Australia will be redrawn to ensure that as near as possible they contain that number of voters. Electorates are allowed to vary by 10% above or below the quota. Projected population growth and decline will be taken into consideration to ensure that over time electorates converge on the quota figure.

Redistributions are required in each state every 7 years. A Victorian redistribution has just been completed. The new boundaries in both states will take effect from the next general election, due in late 2013.

This is the text of a media release from the Australian Electoral Commission.

The acting Electoral Commissioner, Mr Paul Dacey, has announced the first step in the process of redistributing the federal electoral boundaries in South Australia by setting the enrolment quota.

“The enrolment quota for the redistribution in South Australia is 100 636,” Mr Dacey said.

The enrolment quota was determined by dividing the number of electors enrolled in South Australia as at 12 January 2011, which is the date the redistribution formally commenced, by the number of House of Representative seats to which the state is entitled (11).

When the boundaries are redrawn during the redistribution process, each electoral division must have between 90 573 and 110 699 electors – that is, a margin of up to 10% variation is allowed from the quota.

A media release was issued by the Electoral Commissioner on 12 January 2011 advising that under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 a redistribution of federal electoral boundaries was required in South Australia as seven years had elapsed since the last redistribution. South Australia’s current entitlement to 11 seats in the House of Representatives will remain unchanged.

“A Redistribution Committee will soon be formed to begin the task of redrawing electoral boundaries within South Australia,” Mr Dacey said.

The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires that the Redistribution Committee comprise the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the state, as well as two senior state officials, usually the state’s Surveyor-General and Auditor-General or equivalent positions.

“The Redistribution Committee will undertake an extensive process of consultation and provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to make suggestions and comments on matters affecting the drawing of federal electoral boundaries and the naming of divisions.”

Public suggestions and comments about the redistribution will be invited in early April. The redistribution process is expected to be finalised on 16 December this year.

Obama Hits Halfway Mark of Presidential Term

Jan 20, 2011

President Barack Obama is now halfway through either his first presidential term or his presidency.

Obama and Vice-President Biden took office on January 20, 2009. The next presidential election will be held in 21 months time on November 6, 2012.

2010 Equals Record For World’s Warmest Year

Jan 20, 2011

The year 2010 ranked as the warmest year on record, together with 2005 and 1998, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Data received by the WMO show no statistically significant difference between global temperatures in 2010, 2005 and 1998.

In 2010, global average temperature was 0.53°C (0.95°F) above the 1961-90 mean. This value is 0.01°C (0.02°F) above the nominal temperature in 2005, and 0.02°C (0.05°F) above 1998. The difference between the three years is less than the margin of uncertainty (± 0.09°C or ± 0.16°F) in comparing the data.

Global Average Temperatures

These statistics are based on data sets maintained by the UK Meteorological Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit (HadCRU), the U.S. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Arctic sea-ice cover in December 2010 was the lowest on record, with an average monthly extent of 12 million square kilometres, 1.35 million square kilometres below the 1979-2000 average for December. This follows the third-lowest minimum ice extent recorded in September. [Read more...]

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