Monthly Archives: January 2013

StarNews: Rep. Susi Hamilton sponsors bill to compensate eugenics victims

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Submitted by StarNewsOnline.com on Wed, 01/30/2013 - 12:58pm.READ MORE:

By Kevin Maurer

StarNewsOnline.com

A local lawmaker is one of the primary sponsors of legislation in the N.C. House to compensate victims of the state's former eugenics program, which during parts of the last century sterilized residents deemed unfit to reproduce.

Rep. Susi Hamilton, D-New Hanover; House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg; Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham; and Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, introduced the bill Wednesday to provide tax-free payments of $50,000 per eugenics victim. A $10 million fund has been set up by the Department of the State Treasurer, according to Hamilton's release.

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StarNews: Rep. Susi Hamilton sponsors bill to compensate eugenics victims

Bill filed in State House to compensate victims of eugenics program

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RALEIGH A bill has been filed in the State House that would compensate victims of North Carolina's former eugenics program.

Up until the 1970's, victims of the program were forcibly sterilized and some state leaders believe that the state should offer a monetary reimbursement to the victims. A bill offering $50,000 per victim was approved by the House last year but died in the Senate.

On the opening day of the 2013 legislative session House leaders put in a bill to make another attempt at this proposal.

We believe we can convince the senators that it is a good idea. We are not facing a huge budget crunch this year, like we were last year, $3 billion dollar deficit. This needs to be done. This needs to be done sooner rather than later and might as well do it in 2013, said Rep. Paul Stam

If the bill were approved by the full General Assembly, it would make North Carolina the first state to compensate eugenics victims.

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Bill filed in State House to compensate victims of eugenics program

Local eugenics victim speaks out

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Submitted by Holden Kurwicki on Wed, 01/30/2013 - 10:44pm.READ MORE:

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- They became unwilling victims after their home state deemed them unfit to reproduce. Now 39 years after the Eugenics program ended they are being given a voice inside of the state house.

"I can't understand why did the state do what they did to us, said Elnora Mills. I don't know why they did it to us."

When Elnora Mills was 16-year-old she says she went to the doctor for appendicitis, and while in surgery doctors performed a eugenics procedure on her.

She was unaware that any such procedure had been performed until years later when she and her husband tried to have children.

"When I went to the OBG doctor and I told him we were trying to have children, said Mills. He examined me and he told me I was sterilized."

Mills was devastated to find out that her dream of having children would never be realized. She says she often wonders how her life could have been different had this procedure not been forced on her.

"I would be happy, said Mills. I know I would have grandkids and kids and so it's lonesome."

State Representative Susi Hamilton tried to ease her suffering by sponsoring a bill that would give the Eugenics victims a settlement of $50,000, but Elnora says she is skeptical that she or any of the other victims will ever see a dime.

"As long as Thom Goolsby and Bill Rabon do not pass this bill it's going to go right back down the hill again, said Mills. In my opinion I think the state is waiting for us to go on and leave this earth because they won't ever pay us."

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Local eugenics victim speaks out

Rep. Susi Hamilton sponsors bill to compensate eugenics victims

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Rep. Susi Hamilton, who sponsored legislation that will provide compensation to the victims of the sterilization and asexualization programs, speaks with Rep. Kelly Alexander (Mecklenburg Co.) on the first day of the long legislative session in Raleigh, N.C. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.

A local lawmaker is one of the primary sponsors of legislation in the N.C. House to compensate victims of the state's former eugenics program, which during parts of the last century sterilized residents deemed unfit to reproduce.

Rep. Susi Hamilton, D-New Hanover; House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg; Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham; and Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, introduced the bill Wednesday to provide tax-free payments of $50,000 per eugenics victim. A $10 million fund has been set up by the Department of the State Treasurer, according to Hamilton's release.

"This long-overdue act of compensation is a way to acknowledge that we were wrong, our policies inhumane, and that we as a legislative body acknowledge that and want to do all that we can to make it right," Hamilton said in a statement. "We can never give back what we have taken away, but we can make an attempt at compensation. It is the very least we can do."

The N.C. Eugenics Board implemented a program of involuntary sterilization that took place in all 100 counties between 1929 and 1974. By the end of the program, nearly 7,600 documented people were sterilized. The program was aimed at creating a better society by weeding out people many of them poor women who were deemed feeble-minded or otherwise defective.

As of late October, the N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation said it had verified 186 victims of the former Eugenics Board in 61 counties, including 168 who were still alive. There are three victims in New Hanover County who have come forward and been verified by the foundation, and one each in Brunswick and Pender counties.

Hamilton said North Carolina is the only state offering to compensate victims of eugenics programs.

"North Carolina stands for justice, equality and opportunity for all its citizens," Hamilton said.

Tillis, leader of the 120-member House, said in an interview last month that the stripping of people's ability to reproduce by the former N.C. Eugenics Board is akin to other "government takings," such as people's properties through eminent domain.

During the 2012 legislative session, the Republican-controlled House approved the bill. Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue also recommended the payments in her budget proposal, and Gov. Pat McCrory supports payments to victims.

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Rep. Susi Hamilton sponsors bill to compensate eugenics victims

Metal Gear Rising – Revengeance – ‘Cyborg Troops Trailer’ HD QUALITY – Video

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Metal Gear Rising - Revengeance - #39;Cyborg Troops Trailer #39; HD QUALITY
#9658; #9658; Don #39;t forget to like and subscribe for more #9668; #9668; Armed with swords, grenades, rocket launchers and more, you better bring your #39;S-rank #39; game if you hope to stand a chance against these cybernetic foes. Combo, parry, and zandatsu your way to victory in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Publisher: Konami Developer: PlatinumGames Genre: Action Release Date: US: February 21, 2013 EU: February 22, 2013

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Metal Gear Rising - Revengeance - 'Cyborg Troops Trailer' HD QUALITY - Video

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – Cyborg Troops Trailer – Video

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Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - Cyborg Troops Trailer
Check out this break-down on the Cyborg Troops you #39;ll be cutting and carving through as Raiden in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on GameTrailers: http://www.gametrailers.com Official Website: http://www.metalgearsolid.com Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Publisher: Konami Developer: PlatinumGames Release Date: February 19, 2013 Genre: Action Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 ESRB Content Rating: "M" Rated "M" for "Mature" Blood and Gore Intense Violence Strong Language http://www.esrb.org

By: gametrailers

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Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - Cyborg Troops Trailer - Video

Dana White Thinks Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos is Afraid of Ronda Rousey

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UFC president Dana White doesn't think former Strikeforce women's champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos is excited to fight UFC's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

"[Bantamweight] is the only division we have," said White on UFC Tonight. "It's been real interesting. You know, I've been in the fight game since I was 19 years old and I've been doing this for 15 years and what I get out of this deal with Cyborg is that she wants nothing to do with Ronda Rousey. She does not want to fight Ronda Rousey."

Santos and Rousey have been trading verbal jabs for months. Rousey has poked fun of Santos for testing positive for steroids and said she won't fight "Cyborg" unless she makes the 10 pound weight cut. There have been reports from Santos' camp that she knows making the extra cut in weight might endanger her health.

"We don't have a 145 pound women's division, so I don't know how this is going to end up," said White. "It's been weird."

There is no word if the UFC plans to sign Santos to a contract now that her suspension is over.

Related Content

Get more great MMA news and analysis over at Fightline.

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Dana White Thinks Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos is Afraid of Ronda Rousey

Researchers create cyborg robo-battle-sparrow of doom

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To learn more about bird behavior, Duke University researchers go all Dr. Frankenstein by reanimating a dead sparrow with robotics.

When sparrows attack. Robo-bird gets a beat-down from a living sparrow.

It's a surprisingly dangerous world out there in the trees. Sparrows sing, flit about, and fight like they're auditioning for a role on "Game of Thrones." Male swamp sparrows will even take their battles to the death. Before they get that far, though, there's a whole lot of wing-waving going on to mark their territory and signal their aggression.

Duke University biologist Rindy Anderson wanted to learn more about how these birds communicate with each other, so she and engineering undergraduate student David Piech built a cyborg robo-battle-sparrow of doom.

The Frankensparrow consisted of a miniature computer and robotics gear stuffed into the body of a dead sparrow. This allowed the researchers to control the wings. They took the Frankenstein sparrow to a breeding ground, played swamp sparrow invasion songs, and made it wave its wings at other males, the sparrow equivalent of flipping them the bird.

"I am broadly interested in male-male competition and in the mechanisms that maintain reliability in aggressive signaling systems," Anderson says.

She discovered the birds were much more aggressive when the cyborg taxidermy waved its wings than when it was sitting still or just twisting around. She believes the wing-waving signals are a method the birds use to warn each other off and avoid a potentially damaging sparrow smackdown.

I'm hoping the first time Anderson and Piech turned the sparrow on for a test drive, it was raining outside. Thunder sounded. Anderson raised her fists to the heavens as lightning split outside the window. "My creation lives!" she called out as the robo-sparrow flapped its wings. At least, that's how I imagine it went.

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Researchers create cyborg robo-battle-sparrow of doom

MMAFighting: 'Cyborg' doesn't want Rousey fight

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The way UFC president Dana White sees it, former Strikeforce women's champion Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos isn't too eager to step into the Octagon with UFC women's bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey.

Ever since talks of a Santos-Rousey women's superfight have surfaced, Santos has been adamant in her desire to fight at a weight higher than 135. In recent weeks, her manager, Tito Ortiz, has said her fighter will try to make it down to 135, but won't go through with it if it isn't safe.

In response, White said on Tuesday's edition of UFC Tonight that it's basically 135 pounds or nothing for Santos.

"[Bantamweight] is the only division we have," White said. "It's been real interesting. You know, I've been in the fight game since I was 19 years old and I've been doing this for 15 years and what I get out of this deal with Cyborg is that she wants nothing to do with Ronda Rousey. She does not want to fight Ronda Rousey.

White said he's ultimately not sure how this will end up.

"We don't have a 145-pound women's division, so I don't know how this is going to end up. It's been weird."

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MMAFighting: 'Cyborg' doesn't want Rousey fight

Cyborg Lashes Out at Rousey; Challenges Her to 140-pound Catchweight Bout

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COMMENTARY | On Feb. 23, Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche will become a part of mixed martial arts history, as the first women to step inside the number one testing ground in MMA, the UFC's Octagon.

The bantamweight title fight between the two will headline the UFC 157 fight card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Given how dominant Rousey has been in her short MMA career, defeating all of her opponents via armbar in the first round, she has definitely earned the right to don the UFC's women's bantamweight title.

However, in order for her to cement her status as the baddest woman in the MMA, she'll eventually need to square up against former Strikeforce women's featherweight champion, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos.

UFC president Dana White recently said he didn't think Cyborg wanted any part of Rousey during a recent appearance on UFC tonight. But Cyborg explained her position via Instagram, vehemently stating her desire to face Rousey.

"I am not afraid of Rhonda!" Santos wrote. "I will fight her anywhere and anytime for free - everyone knows I barely make 145- but I am willing to sacrifice and meet her half way at 140- I can't believe dana says I want nothing to do with Rhonda- what he wants me to do is fight Rhonda with both my hands tied behind my back or comatosed-so that she can have a chance-which is what making me fight at 135 is- to finally shut everyone up - i will fight Rhonda with one hand tied behind my Back at 140lb and still kick her ass and prove that I'm the real champ not her- and let the winner take ALL come on rhonda step up bitch!"

While it easy to understand Santos' frustration with the fact the UFC wants her to drop down to 135 pounds to face Ronda, she really doesn't have much of a choice.

Cyborg -- who ended the reign of the first female face of MMA, Gina Carano -- was once considered the best female mixed martial artist in world, but she lost some of her mystique when she tested positive for steroids (stanozolol) after her 16-second destruction of Hiroko Yamanaka in 2011. Santos was subsequently stripped of the Strikeforce featherweight title and issued a one-year suspension.

While Cyborg was serving her suspension, Rousey was busy winning MMA fans over to her side, taking the Strikeforce bantamweight title from Miesha Tate and successfully defending it against Sarah Kaufman. At this point, it's clear Rousey is the new face of women's MMA, and she's the one who'll get to dictate the terms of a potential fight between the two.

Given the fact bad blood between Rousey and Cyborg, it's obvious "Rowdy" will force the Brazilian to drop down to 135 pounds, if she wants to prove she's still the best female MMA fighter in the world. If Santos is serious about fighting Ronda, she needs to start figuring out the best way to get down to 135 pounds.

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Cyborg Lashes Out at Rousey; Challenges Her to 140-pound Catchweight Bout

Styrofoam from tsunami blankets Alaska beaches

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By Reuters

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska cleanup crews last year found some beaches covered with polystyrene foam that floated across the Pacific from the 2011 Japanese tsunami and threatens wildlife, a state official told legislators on Tuesday.

A main concern of environmentalists and officials is that the lightweight specks, which have been broken down by storms and waves, will harm small animals. They could choke or die slowly from malnutrition if pieces block their intestinal system, officials say.

So far, no dead birds have been found on the beaches, Elaine Busse Floyd, acting environmental health director for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, told lawmakers in her report. But officials are on the lookout for animals harmed by the ingested foam, she said.

Polystyrene foam accounted for 30 percent of the weight of the total debris, compared to the usual 5 percent rate before the tsunami, she said. Considering that it is so light, "it's a huge volume."

Closed-cell extruded polystyrene is often referred to as Styrofoam, a trademarked name owned by Dow Chemical Co., which manufactures it for insulation and crafts, among other uses. It is not biodegradable because it resists breaking down in sunlight, so it can in theory last forever.

Scattered bits of foam are difficult to retrieve from the environment and are easily mistaken by animals for morsels of food, Floyd told a legislative committee in Juneau.

Animals are already munching on tsunami polystyrene foam, said Chris Pallister, president of the nonprofit Gulf of Alaska Keeper which conducted most of last year's beach cleanups.

"We have personally seen plenty of animals eating it, pecking at it, playing with it," Pallister said.

Cleanup crews have spotted foam bits in scat from bears and other animals, he said. "The question is, are animals metabolizing that or is it breaking down and being released into the environment?"

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Styrofoam from tsunami blankets Alaska beaches

McKendree University – Astronomy Lecture Chapter 4 – Video

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McKendree University - Astronomy Lecture Chapter 4
This is a video Lecture recording for Astronomy 101 at McKendree University. This Lecture covers Chapter 4 from the Textbook on the History of Astronomy: Heliocentric/Geocentric Universe, Retrograde Motion, Kepler #39;s Laws, Newton #39;s Laws and the Universal Law of Gravitation.

By: ProfColby

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McKendree University - Astronomy Lecture Chapter 4 - Video