White House Bailout deal at a stalemate

Monique Jones/Editor in Chief

The revised White House bailout deal that appeared to have satisfied both the Democratic and Republican Parties seems to be stalled.

Earlier today, the new bailout plan-a $700 billion financial system rescue plan that would give strong supervision of the government bailout and provide taxpaying citizens with a stake in any firms that benefit from the bailout and limit the pay of their executives-seemed to be closer to being agreed upon. ”We are very confident that we can act expeditiously,” said Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.  

But a recent flare-up is now blocking the plan from being passed, causing the inital feeling of accomplishment to unravel. 

The plan intially thought to pass stated that the Treasury would be able to spend $700 billion, but would only get $250 billion initially. Another $100 billion would be released when the Treasury secretary certifies the money is needed. The last $350 billion could be canceled if Congress passed a joint resolution of disapproval. 

The Treasury Department would also set standards to stop excessive executive compensation for participating comapanies, allow taxpayers to share in the profits of the firms that are benefiting from the bailout, establish a “strong oversight board with cease and desist authority,” modify mortgages for homeowners risking foreclosure, and bar the government from “acting in an arbitrary or capricious manner or in any way that is inconsistent with existing law.”

  Conservative House Republicans offered their own plan, which would allow for less government intervention, permit Washington to provide insurance to firms buying risky assets and would pay insurance premiums to the government in exchange for coverage. 

 Further complicating the problem is Sen John McCain suspending his campaign in order to go back to Washington to participate in the bailout talks. 

McCain is hoping that his trip back to Washington will convince voters that he puts the needs of America first and is willing to rise above politics, but the decision might put McCain at risk of looking opportunisitc and placing political tactics in the middle of what is supposed to be a bipartisan effort.

EDIT-Talks about the bailout plan have finished for tonight and will resume 11:30 a.m. ET Friday.

UAB homecoming events

courtesy Monica R. O’Brien, UAB Media Relations

UAB CELEBRATES HOMECOMING 2008

 

UAB will celebrate Homecoming Week Oct. 12-18 with a host of activities, including the annual hospital Gurney Derby, parade and homecoming game when the UAB Blazers take on the Marshall University Thundering Herd at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Legion Field. UAB has also debuted its first Homecoming blog at

http://blogs.uab.edu/homecoming/.

 

UAB students and staff will start the week off by taking part in Paint the Town Green and Gold to decorate windows of campus buildings and local businesses. Students and staff will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Hill University Center , Concourse, 1400 University Blvd.

 

Also on Oct. 12, the UAB Women’s Soccer team will take on Houston beginning at

2 p.m. at the West Campus Field. The following are a list of just some of the

Homecoming Week events scheduled:

 

Monday, Oct. 13        IS Junior Advisory Board Golf Tournament – 8 a.m., Shotgun Start, RTJ, Oxmoor Valley , Valley Course, 100 Sunbelt Pkwy. ; To purchase playing spots, email camilleamos@uab.edu.

 

School of Health Professions Alumni Luncheon – 11:30 a.m.-

1:30 p.m., UAB Hospital , North Pavilion Atrium, 1802 6^th Ave. S.

The event is free and is open to all UAB employees who are graduates of the UAB School of Health Professions. R.S.V.P. by calling 205-996-5930.

 

School of Engineering: Blazer Steel Dragon Dedication & Homecoming Kick-off – Noon, West Side of Business/Engineering Complex, 1150 10^th Ave. S. The event is open to UAB School of Engineering students, alumni, faculty and staff.

 

Caricature Artist – Noon-4 p.m. at the Commons, 900 16^th St. S. A caricature sketch artist will be on hand to draw for students.

 

School of Business: Dunk Your Favorite Professor – 3 p.m., in front of the Business/Engineering Complex, 1150 10^th Ave. S. The event is open to UAB School of Business students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends.

 

Monday, Oct. 13

 

Blazer Hustle Competition – 7 p.m. For the first time ever, UAB will present Blazer Hustle. Teams will race around campus in search of answers to clues they will receive. Participants will have fun and learn about UAB. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Commons, 900 16^th St. S. Teams will consist of 3-15 people. The first 20 groups to sign up will be accepted. For more details contact Melissa Kougher at 205-934-8020.

 

Pancakes & Karaoke – 10 p.m., next to Commons on the Green, 900 16^th St. S. ; students can enjoy food and fun entertainment. Student IDs required.

 

Tuesday, Oct. 14

 

Building Decoration Competition – Begins at 11 a.m., on the UAB Campus; Judges will seek out the best decorated building on campus.

 

School of Business: Building Decoration Pizza Party –

The fun begins immediately following judging for the building decoration competition at the Business/Engineering Complex, 1150 10^th Ave. S. The event is open to UAB School of Business students, faculty and staff.

 

UAB School of Nursing Building Decoration Cookout – Immediately following the judging in front of the School of Nursing , 1701 University Blvd. The event is open to UAB School of Nursing students, faculty and staff.

 

School of Engineering Tradition Stands Tall: Judgment Day Celebration – 11 a.m., west side of Business/Engineering Complex, 1150 10^th Ave. S. The event is open to UAB School of Engineering students, alumni, faculty and staff.

 

School of Medicine: Student Homecoming Kick-Off Luncheon

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Volker Hall, Lobby, 1670 University Blvd. Open to UAB School of Medicine students only.

 

Foam Dance Party – 7 p.m. Must be over 17 to attend. UAB Mini Park , corner of 14^th Street South and University Boulevard . At this party you can dance in an endless supply of non-toxic foam.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 15

                  

UAB School of Nursing : Freshman Involvement Activities –

8 a.m.-Noon, School of Nursing Garage, 1701 University Blvd.; The event is open to First Year Experience students, nursing students, School of Nursing faculty and alumni.

 

School of Health Professions: Art Show – The reception will be held 9-11 a.m., followed by the art show 9 a.m.-4 p.m., School of Health Professions Building, Room 236, 1705 University Blvd. The event is free and open to the public. Students, faculty, staff and alumni of the School are welcome to exhibit their artwork. Call 205-996-5930 for more details.

 

School of Business: Business Honors Homecoming Potluck –

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Business/Engineering Complex, Room 203, 1150 10^th Ave. S. The event is open to UAB School of Business students, alumni, faculty and staff.

 

Gurney Derby – Registration at 11 a.m. The heats begin at noon. In one of UAB’s oldest traditions, teams consisting of students and staff members dressed in costumes will race hospital gurneys on 13^th Street South to University Boulevard and back. The starting gate is in front of the Humanities Building , 900 13^th St. S. Teams will compete for prizes. The event is sponsored by the UAB National Alumni Society.

 

University Programs Council Homecoming Cookout – 12:15-2:30 p.m., UAB Mini Park, corner of 14^th Street South and University Boulevard; the event is open to all UAB students, faculty and staff. I.D. is required.

 

UAB Department of Psychology’s Distinguished Psychology Alumni Award Ceremony – 3:30-4:30 p.m., UAB Campbell Hall, Room 327, 1300 University Blvd. New York University (NYU) Professor Clancy B. Blair, Ph.D., winner of the UAB Department of Psychology’s Distinguished Psychology Alumni Award for 2008, will be honored during a ceremony. During the event, Blair will present his lecture, “The Development of Self-Regulation in Young Children.” The event is open to UAB students, faculty and psychology alumni. Call the UAB Department of Psychology at 205-934-3850 for more details.

 

Thursday, Oct. 16

 

School of Arts & Humanities: Tent Party Picnic – 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., behind the Humanities Building , 900 13^th St. S.

The event is open to School of Arts and Humanities students, alumni, faculty and staff.

 

School of Dentistry : Student Pizza Luncheon – Noon, Student Faculty Center , Room 639, 1919 7^th Ave. S. The event is open to School of Dentistry students only.

 

School of Engineering : Society of Women Engineers Ice Cream Social – 2 p.m., Hoehn Engineering Building , Lobby, 1075 13^th St. S. The event is open to UAB School of Engineering students, alumni, faculty and staff.

 

School of Business: Coffee Break – 4 p.m., Business/Engineering Complex, Lobby, 1150 10^th Ave. S. The event is open to UAB School of Business students, faculty and staff.

 

School of Nursing : Homecoming Reception – 5-7 p.m., in the School of Nursing , Lobby, 1701 University Blvd. The event is open to School of Nursing alumni, clinical partners and Sigma Theta Tau Conference participants.

 

School of Health Professions: Graduates of the Last Decade Reception – 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Wine Loft, Cahaba Village, 2800 Cahaba Circle, Suite 14; the event is free and open to School of Health Professions alumni who graduated from the school within the last 10 years, faculty, staff and friends. R.S.V.P. by calling 205-996-5930.

 

Dragon March and Blaze the Night pep rally, Bonfire, and the UAB Fight Song Competition – Beginning at 7:30 p.m. at UAB Mini Park, corner of 14^th Street South and University Boulevard.

 

Friday, Oct. 17

 

UAB School of Business: MBA Homecoming Breakfast –

7:15 a.m., Commons on the Green, 900 16^th St. S.; the event is free and open to School of Business alumni, faculty and staff. Guest speaker will be UAB athletic Director Brian Mackin. R.S.V.P. by sending an e-mail to Glenn Kinstler at gkinstler@gmail.com.

 

Annual Homecoming Parade – Noon; Parade route TBA

 

School of Engineering : Parade Pizza Party – Immediately following the Homecoming Parade; Hoehn Engineering Building , Lobby, 1075 13^th St. S. Admission open for UAB School of Engineering students, alumni, faculty and staff.

 

School of Social & Behavioral Sciences: Homecoming Reception – 3-5 p.m., Heritage Hall, Lobby, 1401 University Blvd. The event is open to UAB School of Social & Behavioral Sciences students, alumni, faculty and staff.

 

School of Education vs. School of Business Softball Game –

6 p.m., West Campus Intramural Field at 11^th Street South and 9^th Avenue South; watch the UAB School of Business and the School of Education students, alumni, faculty and staff compete.

 

Annual Homecoming Stompdown – 7 p.m., Campus Recreation Center , 1501 University Blvd. Students showcase their talent in dance, step or skits. The event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the UAB Homecoming Committee and the UAB Black Student Awareness Committee.

 

Women’s Volleyball, UAB vs. Tulsa – 7 p.m., Bartow Arena, 617 13^th St. S.

 

Saturday, Oct. 18

 

National Alumni Society Homecoming Tailgate Party – 1 p.m., at Blazer Village , north side of Legion Field; UAB Blazer fans will tailgate before the game. Special musical performance by Sam Hunt, former UAB quarterback.

 

 

Saturday, Oct. 18

 

 

Spirit Competition Awards – The awards for the Homecoming Spirit Competition will be announced one hour before the game at Blazer Village , at the UAB National Alumni Society Tent at Legion Field.

 

School of Medicine: Tailgate Party – 1:30-3 p.m., at Legion Field, outside Gate 5; The party is open to UAB School of Medicine students, alumni and friends.

 

Homecoming Game – 3 p.m., at Legion Field, UAB vs. Marshall

 

Mr. and Miss UAB Competition, The presentation will be held during halftime at Legion Field.

 

Men’s Soccer, UAB vs. Kentucky – 7 p.m., West Campus Field

 

 

Student and professional networking event today

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Family and friends of Kapali Swamy seek justice for his death

Jared A. Sutton, Staff Writer
Published On: 09/ 8/2008

The family of a UAB alumnus who was tragically killed is now seeking justice for their loss.

The family of Kapali Giridhar Swamy, a 27-year old who received his MBA from UAB in 2005, have created an online petition entitled, “Justice for Kapali Swamy: A Call to Fight Bias and Racism in the Justice System.”

According to information posted on the petition’s Web page at GoPetition.com, Swamy and two other individuals, Gina Gonzalez and Christopher Brett Pennington, were riding in a car to Pennington’s house in Cullman, Ala., early in the morning on Nov. 18, 2007.

The authors of the petition estimate that at some point during the drive Swamy and Gonzalez got into a verbal confrontation that turned fierce. The conflict continued after the car stopped, which is when Pennington became involved.

A verbal altercation quickly turned into a fatal physical conflict as Pennington delivered a blow to Swamy’s face, which dropped him to the ground; Swamy did not have a pulse when EMTs arrived.

The Facebook group, “Justice for Kapali Swamy,” notes that two independent witnesses assert that Swamy touched neither Pennington nor Gonzalez.

The report made by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Department, as highlighted by the Cullman Times, portrays Swamy quite differently, as the physical aggressor.

Lt. Phillip Lambert said in the report that Swamy pushed both individuals, first Gonzalez and then Pennington, when Pennington came to Gonzalez’s defense. According to Lambert, the fatal blow came only after Swamy had become physically aggressive toward the two individuals.

Pennington was arrested two weeks after the incident on Nov. 30 and charged with both manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. However, a Cullman grand jury brought Swamy’s family’s initial quest for justice to a close when it brought about no indictments against Pennington and dismissed the case in January.

The grand jury cited a lack of evidence as its reason not to proceed, and Pennington was released.

Some advocates for a closed case also claim that uncertainty still exists regarding whether Swamy died from the trauma inflicted by Pennington’s punch or from the impact of his head hitting the street. An autopsy report lists the manner of death as a “homicide.”

Members of Swamy’s family believe that there is more to the abrupt closing of the case than a lack of evidence.

According to an e-book compiled by Swamy’s older sister, Pooja Swamy Dorward, they “question the adequacy of the prosecution” and are forced to hesitantly consider the “possibility that race may have played a part in the criminal proceedings.”

In the e-book, Dorward also notes a lack of objectivity from the Cullman media, who she says go out of their way to portray Pennington as a person acting in self-defense. The online petition is the family’s attempt to bring about “an investigation of the flawed prosecution of Kapali’s case, and … to bring his killer to justice.”

Though this is truly a sad and troubling story, its fruits haven’t all been bitter.

Dorward has used the e-book to increase awareness of the prevalence of events such as these, with the compilation including many other stories of “accidental” homicides very similar to that of Swamy.

The online petition has received over 3,500 signatures from around the world, including the U.S., Japan, India, and France.

Reesha Shah, one of Swamy’s best friends, said that he would be very happy to see such a passionate response.
“Kapali felt deeply about a lot of issues, and he would feel touched to know that some good came out of something so horrible.”
 

Email: jsutton@uab.edu

For more information:

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21816495124

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/justice-for-kapali-swamy.html

Birmingham humane societies care for pets evacuated from Hurricane Gustav

Michelle Amaral, News Editor

Evacuations along the Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Gustav brought many pets to local animal shelters in the Magic City. 

“All and all, around 100 dogs and cats have been transported to our shelter from Mississippi so far,” said Stacey Norwood of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS). “We accept any pets in need of our assistance (hamsters, rabbits, reptiles, birds…all types).”

 

Many pets experienced health related problems such as heat exhaustion on the trip to Birmingham.

“Our veterinarian is giving each one a physical, and medical treatments are being administered as needed,” said Norwood. “Once our veterinarian is confident that the animals are healthy, they will be available for adoption through the GBHS, Atlanta Humane Society, and North Shore Animal League.”

GBHS is in need of donations; their wish list is available at www.gbhs.org. Items of greatest need are full-size bath towels, gentle dog shampoo (without any flea or other medications added), and small & medium size Milk Bone-type treats.

GBHS offers volunteer opportunities to help out at the shelter. Visit their website, www.gbhs.com and click on “Ways to Help” for more information.

In addition to caring for evacuated shelter pets, GBHS also worked with the EMA to provide shelter for those pets brought to Birmingham with their family. They provided food, water, attention, and medical care for these pets until they could return home with their family.

All photos courtesy of Stacey Norwood at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.

Gas prices spike overnight in Birmingham and across the Southeastern US

Michelle Amaral, News Editor

Hurricane Ike continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico, making its way toward Galveston, TX. Meanwhile, gas prices spiked sharply amidst fears that Ike will cause a shortage of gasoline at the pump as refineries in the Gulf closed ahead of the storm.

Thursday night and Friday, people flocked to area gas stations to fill up, creating chaos and contributing to shortage fears. Many gas stations actually ran out of gas, posting signs stating, “No gasoline.” Others would not accept debit or credit cards, with cash being the only medium accepted. These gas stations could only offer ‘premium’ grade gas, as they had quickly ran out of the other two. Another common request was that customers limit their purchase to 10 gallons, in an effort to ration gas and ensure that everyone could fill their tank.

The highest price recorded in Alabama came in at $5.15 per gallon! Other areas of the state reported prices between $4 to $5 per gallon, which was a sharp rise from the average $3.50 only 24 hours earlier.

On Friday afternoon, Governor Riley issued a state of emergency for Alabama, citing that Hurricane Ike would likely bring energy shortages to the area. 

Around the Southeast, respective governors warned gas stations about price gouging, a practice where prices are set higher than necessary in order to make money off the customers.

Parts of Florida reported $5.49 per gallon, up nearly $2.00 a gallon in one day. 

The price of a barrel of oil, however, dropped below $100, the lowest it has been since the end of March 2008.

European physicists bring monstrous super-collider to life

Jeremy Manier
Chicago Tribune
(MCT)
CHICAGO _ Sounds like the premise of a bad sci-fi movie: Big-time physics experiment accidentally destroys the Earth. Scientists really don’t think that will happen when the Large Hadron Collider fires up at the Swiss-French border on Wednesday, but the fact it’s being debated tells you how unprecedented the new device is.
Seven times more powerful than Fermilab’s main particle collider in Batavia, Ill., the new facility will smash together intense beams of subatomic protons, producing so much energy that some theories predict it could form tiny black holes. That has led to two lawsuits _ one filed in Europe, one in Hawaii _ seeking to halt the project and save the planet.
The most far-out fear is that the device’s little black holes could blossom into big ones, with gravity so strong that they swallow first the collider, then the Swiss-French countryside, then the Earth as a whole.

Burp.
      Still, don’t quit your job expecting a physics-aided apocalypse in a few days. Even if the European collider gives birth to black holes _ and that’s only a theory _ each one would be smaller than a subatomic proton, says Fermilab theorist Joe Lykken.
At that size, each black hole will evaporate almost as soon as it is created, in a shower of so-called Hawking radiation, named after famous black hole theorist Stephen Hawking. If a black hole somehow survives for longer than an instant in the pipe that carries the proton beam, the immensely powerful magnets that steer the beam would also hold the black hole in place.
      Experts also say that if powerful particle collisions really could spawn black holes, we probably would have seen one by now. Fermilab scientists have not found any black holes in 25 years of running the world’s most powerful collider. And the Earth receives a constant rain of cosmic rays from deep space, some of which carry far more energy than the beam in the new collider.
“In theory, the probability that the LHC will produce pink elephants is not zero,” Lykken said. He said the chances that the collider will spin off dangerous black holes is “in the pink elephant category.”
      If the collider does manage to produce tiny, short-lived black holes, most physicists think that would be . . . pretty sweet, actually. That’s because the black hole scenario rests on a theory that also predicts the existence of extra dimensions hidden in the subatomic realm. The same collisions that produce black holes also could provide insights into those hidden dimensions.
The Large Hadron Collider’s main goal is to find the Higgs boson, a still-theoretical particle that may hold the key to what gives everyday objects their mass. But theorists also hope for a deeper understanding of gravity, which is surprisingly weak compared with the other fundamental forces of the universe, such as electromagnetism.
If the LHC churns out black holes, it might mean that gravity was much more intense when the universe began than it is now, and more in balance with the other basic forces. Lykken said it is even conceivable that the black holes could be harnessed as energy sources _ but don’t cut up that gas card just yet.
The new collider eventually will displace Fermilab’s Tevatron as the world’s most powerful particle accelerator. Engineers will take at least several months to ramp up the European collider’s energy and surpass the Tevatron, and it will be a couple of years before researchers can publish papers based on the collider’s findings.
That means that Fermilab researchers will continue their sprint to discover the Higgs boson, or at least give a better estimate of how heavy it is. If the Higgs has a low mass, the Tevatron may find the particle before the LHC can.
Fermilab will soldier on with other projects even after the Tevatron closes down, either next year or in 2010. But once the European facility starts up, the Tevatron’s days are numbered.
The dream outcome of this science thriller for Fermilab would be a sequel: the International Linear Collider, an even bigger and more expensive device that would build on the European collider’s findings.
There’s no word yet on whether the proposed collider would pose a threat to life as we know it.
___

Republican Convention Day 4

Apologies for the late update–

The Republican Convention ended with a rousing speech by Senator John McCain. Before him, his wife, Cindy McCain, introduced him.

-Cindy McCain made the point that Sen. McCain would not use his presidency to further his career. She also said that he is a loving husband, terrific father and the man most suited to be president because of his war service.

-Sen. McCain also made the point of his war service as a qualification for his presidency. His speech was written as a means to elevate his party and separate himself from President Bush. He said that he would be the maverick that he always has been-he would work across party lines and use a good idea whether it came from his party or the Democratic Party. He made it clear to his party that he was going to win in November. “I will fight for your future,” said McCain. “I’ve been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I’ve been her servant first, last, and always.”

Republican Convention Day 3

-The  Republican Convention kept on its path of steamrolling the Obama Campaign on Wednesday night.

-Featured speakers are Senator Mitt Romney, former Mayor Rudy Guliani, and the vice-presidential nominee, Governor Sarah Palin.

-Romney took a vieled jab at  Michelle Obama, wife of Senator Barack Obama, saying, “”Just like you, there has never been a day when I was not proud to be an American.” The Obama Campaign have since fired back with a heated response. “Barack Obama has said that families are ‘off-limits’, and we thought that John McCain agreed,” said Obama adviser Anita Dunn in a statement. “But tonight, John McCain’s handpicked attack dog, Mitt Romney, exposed the fake outrage that the Republicans have been peddling all week as the blatant hypocrisy that it is. The McCain team’s disgusting attack on Barack Obama’s wife shows they would rather generate false outrage to distract from their own problems than talk about the issues facing the American people,” Dunn also said. “Mitt Romney’s attack on a candidate’s wife is as pathetic as his failed presidential campaign.”

-Guliani praised Palin and the Republican ticket, saying, “Governor Palin represents a new generation. She’s already one of the most successful governors in America — and the most popular,” he is to say, according to excerpts of his speech released by the convention. “And she already has more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket. She’s led a city and a state.”

-Palin hit both the Obama Campaign and the media, saying that the role of mayor of Alaska is “something like a community organizer, except there is…responsiblity,” and that she’s “not going to Washington to seek their good opinion, I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.”

Republican Convention Day 2

The Republican Convention got off to a shaky, but roaring start due to Hurricane Gustav.

-Featured speakers were President Bush, Senator Fred Thomspon and Senator Joe Lieberman

-Bush, who was speaking via satellite from the White House, said McCain was a person who was not afraid to speak his mind and say when he didn’t agree with his colleagues. He also said that McCain is “ready to lead” due to his lifetime of service to the United States. Bush’s speech via satellite makes for the second time a sitting president has not been present at his party’s convention.

-Thompson went head-on against Senator Barack Obama and his campaign, saying that Governor Palin and Senator John McCain would “drain that swamp” that is Washingotn, D.C. “To deal with these challenges [of running the government and international threats],the Democrats present a history making nominee for president,” said Thompson. “History making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president. Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it’s the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation’s history. Together, they would take on these urgent challenges with protectionism, higher taxes and an even bigger bureaucracy. And a Supreme Court that could be lost to liberalism for a generation. This is not reform. And it’s certainly not change.”

-Lieberman, who is an independent senator from Connecticut who ran as vice-president on Al Gore’s ticket in 2000, praised McCain, saying he is “his own man,” and that Obama’s “eloquence is no substitute for a record.”