Could You Pass The Current Citizenship Test

Could you pass the latest U.S. citizenship test?

As of October 2008 a new version of the U.S. citizenship test will be taken by all applicants. Could you pass it? The questions are usually selected from a list of 100 samples that prospective citizens can look at ahead of the interview. Some are easy, some are not. We have picked some of the more difficult ones.

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Could Oregon's Trees Make Us an Energy Exporter?

The Switch: Could Oregon’s Trees Make Us Energy Exporter?
BY ETHAN LINDSEY - OPB News
Bend, OR June 22, 2009 10:48 a.m

GRP: What used to be considered merely fuel for a bonfire is now considered Biomass.

When you flip the switch, where does your power come from? And what will power Northwest homes and businesses in the future?We're asking these questions and more for our special series The Switch.
Just like last summer, gas prices have soared again and Oregon is near the national high – about $2.81 per gallon.

Which brings us to OPB’s energy series, The Switch.

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Obama Calls Wyden Health Plan Radical?

Obama Calls Wyden Health Plan Radical
By Charles Pope - The Oregonian
Wednesday July 01, 2009, 8:53 PM

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama praised Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden on Wednesday as a "real thought leader" and ally on health care reform but said he could not support Wyden's controversial plan for providing medical insurance to virtually every American.

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A New, More Militant Tom Freel?

The Sky: Will It Fall?
Ask any of the anti-LNG crowd and the answer isn't just "yes" it's a resounding "hell yes".After all, it's very important to keep fear alive when you are battling a big energy company that has the nerve to go through years and years and years of being roasted over a slow fire just to bring in a billion dollar project that will shore up our faltering local economy. The fear factor is vital if you plan to unseat local and state office-holdersThe same people who brought you a Port Commissioner who couldn't even complete her term is positioning itself to take more (apparently temporary) control of local and state politics and the LNG issue. I can't wait for the Peter Hutula campaign for state rep to kick into full swing. I wonder who will be angling for the County Commission?
Posted by Tom Freel at 10:13 AM

GRP:That's some very aggressive language coming from KAST's morning voice and of late, one of the biggest noises supporting NSNG/Bradwood even to the point of suggesting a local restaurant is the headquarters of environmental radicals and sitting quietly by while his loyal audience of anonymous posters discourage doing business with the place.

For Tom's 'Coastwatch Blog' it truly appears the ideal of the saw "Freedom of the press is a wonderful privilege, especially when you own it" is in play here at one of New Northwest Broadcasters broadcasting centers as any challenge to his musings will never see the light of day.

Then, again, it seems, over recent history, that Mr. Freel gets a little more vocal in defense of LNG Speculation in our community when a controversy arises that may threaten its now, even shakier, future in this part of the world and coincidentally we have another Clatsop County Board of Commissioners hearing on a couple of LUBA Issues impacting Bradwood Landing's future coming up so, guess what, a whole lot of noise coming out of NNB Headquarters including another blitz of those Brandwood Landing endorsement/commercials.

Wonder who's going to take the lead at NNB for the Oregon LNG advertising campaign when/if that project gets any traction. Somebody's going to have to do some fine tippy toeing on that one. How's that going to work?

And let's not even get into the discussion that the Western Natural Gas and coalition Pipeline Industries say that the flow of Natural Gas, for many years to come, in the Western Markets will not be impacted in the least by the lack of any LNG Speculation and Development whatosever even from Alaska which has its own overland pipeline slated, with a MidWest terminus and just announced and endorsed by its Governor Sarah Palin.

I'm thinking now the "Fear Mongering" is indeed pointless as a more poignant issue has arisen...the simple need for this LNG Process maybe just isn't there in the first place and our efforts may be better spent attracting cohesive and compatible industry to our community that will put thousands of us to work for years to come.

Public Employees Unions;The Fight For Control Of Oregon

The Fight for Control of Oregon
By Larry Huss - Oregon Catalyst

Wednesday, July 1. 2009

The 2009 legislative session has ended. The most notable accomplishment was to raise taxes by more than $1 Billion. With the Democrats having a super majority in both houses of the Oregon legislature, the fact that taxes would increase was a foregone conclusion. The general fund budget will increase by nearly $1 Billion while the all funds budget will increase by $5.4 Billion.

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The LNG Front; Oregon House Bill 3058 Dies Along With HB977 And State Senator Walker Is Pissed!

Walker’s adjournment more bitter than sweet
Posted by David Steves - Register-Guard
06/29/099:50pm

While everyone else in the Legislature was getting into the “sign-my-year-book” school’s out vibe of adjournment Monday night, Sen. Vicki Walker was hopping mad.

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From Peter Huhtala - Executive Director, Columbia River Business Alliance - "Congratulations to all who worked to educate our legislators about the insidious foolishness of these proposed LNG terminals. The session is now over and the Oregon Senate did not take up 3058, which as you know could have expedited LNG pipeline permits.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 977, which would have recovered some of the state agency costs associated with LNG speculation, also failed to pass. Senator Vicki Walker (D-Eugene) let both houses of the legislature know how she felt before the end of the session. http://blogs.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/capitol-notebook/comments/walkers-adjournment-more-bitter-than-sweet/ I sent a thank you note.
In defeating 3058 we showed the strength and effectiveness of our coalition. I am confident that we can persist and ultimately reject the LNG terminal proposals. And we have certainly learned a bit about those who represent us in Salem."

Peter Huhtala
PO Box 682
Astoria, Oregon 97103
(503) 468-8038
peterhuhtala@gmail.com

AP: LNG Laden Rail Tank Car Explodes In Italy, Kills 10, Injures 50, Evacuates 1000, Extensive Damage

Freight Train Derails, Kills 10 In Italy

By MARTA FALCONI – 8 hours ago

VIAREGGIO, Italy (AP) — A rail car filled with liquefied natural gas exploded when a freight train derailed in the middle of a small Italian town, setting off an inferno that killed at least 10 people and injured 50 others, officials said Tuesday.

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LNG? LPG? CNG? What's the difference?

Warrenton Fiber? Wants To Build A Road and Bridge On Port Land Across Harbor Drive From Costco?

With a proposal submitted by Nygard's Warrenton Fiber to 'Port' and signed off on by, what seems like, every local 'Double Dipping Attorney' somehow involved in mutli-aspects of our County Governments to build an access road through Port Property, which will later be deeded to The City of Warrenton, I ask, 'For what Reason' as it seems that part of it, in the report, was conveniently skirted.

State Senate Votes To Put Oregon In The Hemp Business

By Michelle Cole - The Oregonian
Friday June 19, 2009, 5:01 PM

SALEM -- When the history of the 2009 Legislature is written, it may record that this was the year lawmakers put Oregon in the industrial hemp business.
The Senate voted 27-2 Friday to approve a bill that clears the way for hemp to be grown and processed in Oregon if and when the federal government gives growers a green light.

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