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States, Provinces to Cap and Trade Sans Federal Governments

LibertySugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Seven western US states and four Canadian provinces have agreed to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 15 percent before 2020. Proud of the Western Climate Initiative, Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asserted:

We’re sending a strong message to our federal governments that states and provinces are moving forward in the absence of federal action, and we’re setting the stage for national programs that are just as aggressive.

So how will Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec curb climate change? To find out, read more.

The states and provinces will set a mandatory cap on greenhouse gas beginning in 2012. The cap will get smaller every year. All sectors of the economies, from transportation to housing to electricity, will be expected to cut and pay for emissions. Industries, however, will receive allowances for their emissions. One allowance will cover every metric ton of emitted heat-trapping gas, and allowances can be traded on a secondary market.

Are you happy to see the states coming up with climate change alliances, or would it be better if there was a united national plan?

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States Struggling: Budget Crises Lead to Desperate Measures

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:01:09 -0700

If you thought your wallet was feeling light, it's not just you - states are feeling the budget crunch just as hard - with unique ways to manage the money meltdown.

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has just threatened to pay state employees federal minimum wage in an effort to push lawmakers to agree on a budget. Even though minimum wage hikes up today, it would still mean thousands of workers would only take home $6.55 an hour (which is still $1.45 an hour less than CA's minimum wage.)

The budget stall comes as Republicans and Democrats battle to bridge the $15.2 billion budget shortfall California is facing. Republicans want to deal with money crisis through cuts, Democrats are angling for more taxes. Schwarzenegger says he won't sign a budget unless it contains improvements like a rainy day fund to help the state through tough times. Hmm. Just like we're supposed to have at home!

Also in the category of, "Governments! They're just like us!" Gas! Though consumers have been concerned about the price of fuel for months, state budgets - especially for driving heavy departments, like the police - are way overdrawn on fuel bills. To see how cops have to carpool, read more.

In Montana, where the Highway Patrol sometimes has to drive up to 100 miles to answer a call in their fuel inefficient Crown Victorias (a big ol' 15 m.p.g) they've busted their budget by $340,000 in gas bills alone. Where's the money coming from? The personnel budget. No new cops 'til the tanks get filled.

Over in New Mexico, they're in similar straits, and are waiting for the governor to call a special legislative session to get their gas card paid off. They're trying to though! In addition to carpooling whenever they can, one Lieutenant says, "we have asked officers to shop around and know where the cheapest gas is to buy." Shopping for gas - that won't take time out of the "keeping us safe" part of the day or anything.

Nevada is $1 million dollars over budget on gas. Their solution is getting officers to drive less. So less patrolling, more speed-trapping. If you're headed through the Silver State, watch for smokies under the overpasses - they'll be sitting there, saving fuel.

Are any of these state measures to save, smart? What's the solution when states are as pinched as taxpayers - the same ones who give the states money to begin with?

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Awaiting Results: The Final Countdown

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:06 -0700

Aw! What a long, strange trip it's been! Jan. 3 in Iowa to June 3 in South Dakota and Montana, Liberty and I are getting a little weepy now that the primary season is all done but the counting. It seems like forever, especially when we dug back through everything that's happened in the past six months. It's almost like a funny yearbook. Take a peek while we wait for the results tonight. Stay sweet, don't change, BFFs etc. - do you remember this?

Hillary's sparkly sweet Christmas wrappingy-goodness television ad, where the gift tags all had presents the tax payers had actually purchased. I wonder if she saved the gift receipts?
Ha! Remember when we thought Super Tuesday might actually determine who was going to be the nominee? So cute and so wrong! Legendary Obama baby picture included.
Some of you might have been psychic? Way back on Feb. 5, 50 percent of you voted for Obama, 30 percent for Hillary. Hmm . . .
Oh, yeah! There was that guy who got in a stabbing fight with his brother-in-law over the candidates. I love the quote that set it all off.
Gloria Steinem's eyebrow raising "secretary" comment? That seems like 100 years ago!
Well, however it turns out tonight, we can all look back on that one shining moment when Barack and Hillary kissed - really kissed - and made up.

What's been your favorite (or most maddening!) moment of the campaign so far?

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Front Page: Australia Leaves Iraq, GM to Close Plants, South Dakota and Montana Primaries

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:01:08 -0700

Australia Leaves Iraq: Australia has ended its combat operations in Iraq. One of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a campaign promise to bring the troops home - and they're set to return in a couple of days. Pegging his decision on the actions of the previous government, Rudd said, "of most concern to this government was the manner in which the decision to go to war was made: the abuse of intelligence information, a failure to disclose to the Australian people the qualified nature of that intelligence." Australia's 500 troops have helped to train 33,000 Iraqi soldiers. No Australian soldiers were killed in Iraq.

GM to Close Plants: Car maker GM, in response to a growing shift to smaller vehicles with better gas mileage, said yesterday that it would end production at four factories in the United States, Canada, and Mexico that produce trucks and sport utility vehicles. In perhaps the biggest news of all - the Hummer brand might be discontinued. The CEO says the market shift to smaller vehicles is permanent, "we at GM don’t think this is a spike or a temporary shift.". The company plans to build a new small car in Ohio in 2010. The cuts will affect about 2,500 workers at each of the four plants.
South Dakota and Montana Primaries: Voters head to the polls today in the last two primaries of the six month season. Obama will hold a rally tonight in St. Paul, MN - the site of the Republican National Convention - and Clinton plans what's being called by some, a "farewell speech" in New York. Obama is floating the idea of a “unity meeting” with Clinton to come together and regroup after the long and brutal primary battle with his rival. Check back tonight to see the results (and any major announcements) as they break.

On My Soapbox About the New PSP Lilac Bundle

GeekSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:05:39 -0800

Honestly, I kind of hate the way game companies categorize women. Take this new lilac-colored PSP bundle for example. According to Sony, it's being released later this year "as part of a new focus on expanding the PSP market to female gamers" and is coming packed with the latest installment of the Hannah Montana PSP game. Okay, so what's so wrong with Hannah Montana? Nothing really, except for the fact that Sony is also releasing Assassins Creed as a bundle, as well as bringing Little Big Planet to the PSP later this year. So why the Hannah Montana bundle? Oh right, cause women must not like to play the same games guys do.

For me to drop my $200 dollars on a game bundle, you better be packing my PSP with LBP, or even the recently announced Rock Band Unplugged. I know gamers are still going to pick up this bundle just for the console color, but come summertime, I'm betting on seeing quite a few copies of Hannah Montana for the PSP in the bargain bin, causing "women" to spend more money on a game they'll actually play. Am I the only one frustrated with this bundle announcement?

Miley Cyrus Brings Hannah Montana: The Movie To The UK!

PopSugarUK — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:30:27 -0700

Miley Cyrus brought the tween madness of Hannah Montana: The Movie to the UK last night at the premiere in Leicester Square! Miley was super-excited to be in London and brought along her costar dad Billy Ray for the screening. Demi Lovato, Pixie Geldof, Jason Donovan, Jemma McKenzie-Brown and Mitch Hewer were among the guests on the purple and yellow carpet!

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Miley's Pole Dance, Time to Turn Off Hannah Montana?

LilSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:33 -0700

Miley Cyrus might have more explaining to do. Following the distribution of scandalous photos of the Disney star and her then-boyfriend on the Internet and a suggestive Vanity Fair photo spread last year, the 16-year-old star performed a short pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards that aired last night. While singing her "Party in the USA," Cyrus stood on an ice-cream cart and shimmied her short shorts and black leather boots up and down an umbrella pole.

The Hannah Montana star has become more provocative as she tries to move beyond her squeaky-clean tween image, but her personal growth may be lost on her young (even preschool-aged) fans. Do a children's TV star's off-screen antics affect what you let your lil ones watch on the boob tube?

Twilight Leads the People's Choice Awards Nominations

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:43:12 -0800

The 36th annual People's Choice Awards nominees are here, and last year's Twilight is leading the charge! American Idol's Kris Allen was among the announcers this morning for the nominees, which also include lots of nods for The Proposal - but of course, everyone's favorite bloodsucking love story landed in many categories, including favorite on-screen movie team.

Why didn't they look to 2009's New Moon? Because last year's nominations debuted before the first movie in the Twilight saga.

To see the full list of nominees, just read more.

MOVIES

FAVORITE MOVIE
Twilight
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Star Trek
The Hangover
The Proposal

FAMILY MOVIE
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Up
Where the Wild Things Are

COMEDY MOVIE
17 Again
Bride Wars
He's Just Not That Into You
The Hangover
The Proposal

INDEPENDENT MOVIE
(500) Days of Summer
District 9
Inglourious Basterds
Paranormal Activity
Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

FAVORITE MOVIE FRANCHISE
Twilight
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Star Trek
Transformers
X-Men

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTOR
Brad Pitt
Hugh Jackman
Johnny Depp
Robert Pattinson
Ryan Reynolds

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS
Anna Hathaway
Drew Barrymore
Jennifer Aniston
Kristen Stewart
Sandra Bullock

FAVORITE ACTION STAR
Christian Bale
Gerard Butler
Hugh Jackman
Shia LaBeouf
Vin Diesel

FAVORITE COMEDIC STAR
Adam Sandler
Ben Stiller
Jim Carrey
Ryan Reynolds
Vince Vaughn

FAVORITE BREAKOUT MOVIE ACTRESS:
Anna Kendrick
Emily Osment
Ginnifer Goodwin
Miley Cyrus
Zoe Saldana

FAVORITE BREAKOUT MOVIE ACTOR
Chris Pine
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Sam Worthington
Taylor Lautner
Zachary Quinto

FAVORITE ONSCREEN TEAM
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, The Proposal
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, Twilight
Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, will.i.am, Dominic Monaghan and Daniel Henney, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

TELEVISION

FAVORITE TV DRAMA
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Grey's Anatomy
House
Lost
NCIS

FAVORITE TV COMEDY
Desperate Housewives
How I Met Your Mother
The Big Bang Theory
The Office
Two and a Half Men

FAVORITE TV DRAMA ACTOR
Hugh Laurie
Kiefer Sutherland
Mark Harmon
Matthew Fox
Patrick Dempsey

FAVORITE TV DRAMA ACTRESS
Anna Paquin
Blake Lively
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Katherine Heigl
Mariska Hargitay

FAVORITE TV COMEDY ACTOR
Alex Baldwin
Charlie Sheen
Jim Parsons
Neil Patrick Harris
Steve Carell

FAVORITE TV COMEDY ACTRESS
Alyson Hannigan
America Ferrera
Amy Poehler
Eva Longoria Parker
Tina Fey

FAVORITE TV OBSESSION
Dexter
Gossip Girl
The Hills
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
True Blood

FAVORITE TV TALK SHOW
Chelsea Lately
Live with Regis & Kelly
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Tyra Banks Show

FAVORITE TV SCI-FI/FANTASY
Heroes
Lost
Supernatural
The Vampire Diaries
True Blood

FAVORITE TV COMPETITION SHOW
American Idol
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
So You Think You Can Dance
Survivor: Samoa

FAVORITE ANIMAL SHOW
Animal Cops
DogTown
Dog Whisperer
It's Me or the Dog
Rescue Ink

FAVORITE NEW TV DRAMA
Eastwick
FlashForward
Melrose Place
Mercy
The Forgotten
The Good Wife
The Vampire Diaries,
Three Rivers
NCIS: Los Angeles
V

FAVORITE NEW TV COMEDY
Accidentally on Purpose
Brothers
Community
Cougar Town
Glee
Hank
The Cleveland Show
The Middle
Modern Family

MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Eminem
Jason Mraz
John Mayer
Keith Urban
Tim McGraw

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Beyonce
Britney Spears
Carrie Underwood
Pink
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE COUNTRY ARTIST
Brad Paisley
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Rascal Flatts
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE BREAKOUT MUSIC ARTIST
Adam Lambert
Demi Lovato
Kris Allen
Lady Gaga
Susan Boyle

FAVORITE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Eminem
Flo Rida
Jay-Z
Lil' Wayne
T.I.

FAVORITE ROCK BAND
Daughtry
Green Day
Kings of Leon
Muse
Paramore

FAVORITE MUSIC COLLABORATION
Cobra Starship & Leighton Meester, "Good Girls Go Bad"
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat, "Lucky"
Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West, "Run This Town"
T.I. & Rihanna, "Live Your Life"
The Lonely Island & T-Pain, "I'm on a Boat."

FAVORITE R&B ARTIST
Alicia Keys
Beyonce
Jennifer Hudson
Mariah Carey
Usher

FAVORITE POP ARTIST
Britney Spears
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
The Black Eyed Peas

FAVORITE WEB CELEB
Andy Samberg
Ashton Kutcher
Miley Cyrus
P. Diddy
Will Ferrell

Miley Cyrus Unbelted

babysugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:00:14 -0800

Since they are in the spotlight, celebrities often bear the burden of being role models. Miley Cyrus, a.k.a. Hannah Montana is the current girl de jour under the microscope. To read about her public gaffe, read more.

The seemingly sweet, Miley recently celebrated the release of her new 3–D movie Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour. And according to cinematical.com, a portion of the film reveals the pop singer and her achy-breaky famous father, Billy Ray, unbuckled in the back seat of a Range Rover en route to a concert rehearsal.

ConsumerReports.org is up in arms over the incident saying,

It seems to us that Miley, her father, and Disney had a perfect opportunity to help influence teens and counteract-rather than encourage-this trend.

While I strongly believe everyone should wear a seatbelt at ALL times, I think it's a tad harsh to spotlight the young songstress for negative behavior when so far, she's been near angelic compared to her Hollywood peers.

Update: Miley Cyrus and her father, Billy Ray Cyrus admitted to People magazine that they goofed:

We got caught up in the moment of filming, and we made a mistake and forgot to buckle our seatbelts. Seatbelt safety is extremely important.

What's your opinion of this seatbelt situation?
Source

Sugar Bits - Amy Winehouse Rushed to the Hospital

PopSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:30:56 -0700

Amy Winehouse was rushed to the University College Hospital in London yesterday after suffering a reaction to her medication; she was discharged today. - PopSugarUK
The trial involving Oprah Winfrey's school in South Africa has begun, and the school's former matron has plead not guilty to allegations of abuse. - CitizenSugar
Mario Lopez will be the new host of Extra starting Sept. 15, replacing Dayna Devon and Mark McGrath as Mark focuses more on Sugar Ray. - AP
Ryan Seacrest was bit by a small shark while swimming off the coast of California this weekend. Thankfully, Ryan was fine, though the shark did leave one of its teeth behind where it bit. - Us Weekly
Guy Oseary is coming out with Madonna: Confessions, a book of photos from her 2006 tour. Madonna cooperated with the publishing of this book, due in October. - Page Six
The third season of Hannah Montana might be the last, as Miley says she might be ready to move on. - E! Online

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