In February 2009, Continental flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, plunged into a suburb of Buffalo, NY, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground. Pilot error was named as the chief cause of the crash, and investigators focused on pilot fatigue as one of the primary problems. The co-pilot had taken a cross-country, overnight flight the day before the crash, and only slept briefly in an airline lounge before she was required to pilot the flight.
When the plane encountered an ice storm as it attempted to land in Buffalo, the pilots struggled to respond appropriately, and The National Transportation Safety Board found that their “performance was likely impaired because of fatigue.” Both pilots were heard yawning on the cockpit voice recorder.
Families of the victims channeled their grief into action in the following months, launching a 15-month campaign to convince Congress to enact a variety of pilot performance safeguards. The bill passed last summer and, among other things, required the FAA to create tougher rules aimed at controlling pilot fatigue.
But today, the Republican House of Representatives passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) to a Republican-drafted aviation bill that would essentially gut the planned pilot fatigue rules by requiring extensive tailoring to many different segments of the aviation industry, and exempting several others.
Hero pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger blasted the amendment yesterday before it passed, saying “it creates a huge obstacle to new regulations,” and that, “at some point in the future, we don’t know when, it’s likely people will die unnecessarily.” Last night on the Ed Show, Sullenberger said the bill is a “slap in the face” to the Flight 3407 families. He also decried “special interests only interested in the bottom line.”
Watch it:
Family members of those killed on Flight 3407 are already speaking out against the Republican vote. “You can try to dress this up however you like, but we all know which special interests that [the amendment] is attempting to help and what it’s attempting to do for them, which is make it more difficult for the FAA to do its job and regulate them,” said Susan Bourque, who’s sister, Beverly Eckert, was killed in the crash.
Eckert’s husband, Sean Rooney, was killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and in the years following his death, Eckert became a leading 9/11 activist and helped lead the push for the 9/11 Commission. She was flying to Buffalo that evening to attend the unveiling of a scholarship in her late husband’s name.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) has vowed to prevent the Shuster Amendment from becoming a part of the final aviation bill, after the House and Senate versions are reconciled.
Concessions.
Combined with the $ 10 billion that’s already been cut as part of the two short-term budget resolutions that have passed, that would mean total cuts this year of roughly $ 30 billion — halfway between the GOP’s demand for $ 61 billion and the Democrats’ demand for, well, squat. Serious tactical question: Is this worth doing? The […]
There is sad news to report … Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman Vice Presidental candidate to run on a major party ticket has died at the age of 75. According to reports, Ferraro passed away from complications from multiple myeloma that she has fought for many years. She passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital surrounded by her family. Our prayers go out to her family, may she rest in peace.
Rest in Peace
Geraldine A. Ferraro, who earned a place in history in 1984 as the first woman to run on a major party national ticket for vice president, has died. She was 75-years-old.
Ferraro, who was born in Newburgh, New York, passed away today at Massachusetts General Hospital while surrounded by her loved ones, a statement from her family read.
The cause of death was complications from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that she had battled for twelve years, her family said.
Geraldine Ferraro is most famously known for being the first female to be a VP candidate on a major party ticket. Before there was Sarah Palin, there was Geraldine Ferraro who was Walter Mondale’s VP candidate who faced Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in the 1984 election. She broke the glass ceiling of the old boys network of having a man on both the top and bottom of the ticket. However, it would not be until 2008, some 24 years later before another woman would be named as a VP choice. Sarah Palin wrote on her Facebook page regarding the passing of Geraldine Ferraro.
My family and I would like to express our sincere condolences to the family of Geraldine Ferraro. When I had the honor of working alongside Geraldine on election night last year, we both discussed the role of women in politics and our excited expectation that someday that final glass ceiling would be shattered by the election of a woman president.
More from CNN, “Geraldine Anne Ferraro Zaccaro was widely known as a leader, a fighter for justice, and a tireless advocate for those without a voice.
Family statement via The Hill:
“To us, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, a woman devoted to and deeply loved by her family. Her courage and generosity of spirit throughout her life waging battles big and small, public and personal, will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed.”
There is sad news to report … Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman Vice Presidental candidate to run on a major party ticket has died at the age of 75. According to reports, Ferraro passed away from complications from multiple myeloma that she has fought for many years. She passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital surrounded by her family. Our prayers go out to her family, may she rest in peace.
Rest in Peace
Geraldine A. Ferraro, who earned a place in history in 1984 as the first woman to run on a major party national ticket for vice president, has died. She was 75-years-old.
Ferraro, who was born in Newburgh, New York, passed away today at Massachusetts General Hospital while surrounded by her loved ones, a statement from her family read.
The cause of death was complications from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that she had battled for twelve years, her family said.
Geraldine Ferraro is most famously known for being the first female to be a VP candidate on a major party ticket. Before there was Sarah Palin, there was Geraldine Ferraro who was Walter Mondale’s VP candidate who faced Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in the 1984 election. She broke the glass ceiling of the old boys network of having a man on both the top and bottom of the ticket. However, it would not be until 2008, some 24 years later before another woman would be named as a VP choice. Sarah Palin wrote on her Facebook page regarding the passing of Geraldine Ferraro.
My family and I would like to express our sincere condolences to the family of Geraldine Ferraro. When I had the honor of working alongside Geraldine on election night last year, we both discussed the role of women in politics and our excited expectation that someday that final glass ceiling would be shattered by the election of a woman president.
More from CNN, “Geraldine Anne Ferraro Zaccaro was widely known as a leader, a fighter for justice, and a tireless advocate for those without a voice.
Family statement via The Hill:
“To us, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, a woman devoted to and deeply loved by her family. Her courage and generosity of spirit throughout her life waging battles big and small, public and personal, will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed.”
Hollywood’s most giving an glamours megastars has passed away.
Actress Elizabeth Taylor has passed away at the age of 79. She literally was the last of a dying breed of Hollywood actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood whose life on and off the silver screen was larger than life. The two time Oscar winning actress had a list of movies that is just too long to mention. According to her publicist, “Taylor passed away from congestive heart failure in hospital last night having suffered from the condition since November 2004″. She died surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton
Taylor died “peacefully today in Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles,” said a statement from her publicist. She was hospitalized six weeks ago with congestive heart failure, “a condition with which she had struggled for many years. Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be.”
A Place in the Sun (1951)
From ‘National Velvet’, to ‘A Place in the Sun’, to ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, to ‘Cleopatra’ to the many many others … Elizabeth Taylor will be more than missed. Who could not forget her in ‘Lassie Come Home’? On a personal note, Elizabeth Taylor was one of my mom’s favorite actresses. Never did an Elizabeth Taylor movie not come on when I was growing up that did not take precedent on the tube. I did not realize until later on in life that a pic in my house was not that of Elizabeth Taylor, but was in fact my mom. Now with the passing of Mrs. Taylor, I guarantee one of her biggest fans will be greeting her in Heaven.
Rest in Peace.
Globe and Mail |
Ovechkin: This was the right time to rest
SportingNews.com First there was an Alex Ovechkin sighting on the ice at the Washington Capitals' Arlington, Va., practice facility. Then reporters got a big dose of a playful Ovi as he discussed — kind of — his injury and the reasons for his impromptu hiatus from … Alex Ovechkin of Washington Capitals says now is good time to rest Ovechkin discusses injury; predicts return Capitals center Jason Arnott: Injury was 'building up for awhile' |
Globe and Mail |
Matt Cooke suspended for rest of season, first playoff round
USA Today Pittsburgh Penguins winger Matt Cooke will be suspended for the remainder of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs for his elbow to the head of the New York Rangers' Ryan McDonagh. "The suspension is warranted … Source: Penguins' Matt Cooke gets lengthy suspension Penguins concur with League on Cooke punishment Pens' Cooke suspended for Sunday elbow |
Things are bad enough in Japan and around the world without cranking up the baseless rumor mill.
Jeff Schogol at Stars and Stripes debunks a radiation scare map being circulated on the web:
Japan is facing the very real possibility of a massive release of radiation following three explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where workers are frantically trying to cool the overheating reactors before they completely melt.
Perhaps more alarming to our readers in the United States is a map circulating on the Internet that purportedly shows the fallout from the ongoing disaster will expose the U.S. West Coast to 750 rads of radiation. The map, allegedly from the Australian Radiation Services, doesn’t say what exactly that means, but it sure sounds bad.
Fortunately, the map is a hoax, according to the real Australian Radiation Services, which has put a disclaimer on its website letting readers know it had nothing to do with the map.
One of the giveaways is that the “rad” is an outdated unit of measurement and is no longer widely used, said Joe Young, managing director for the service.
…THE RUMOR DOCTOR’S DIAGNOSIS: This map is a fake, but the situation at Fukushima is real. Still, U.S. citizens — like those in Japan — should remain calm.
In Loving Mememory of 2NJSons_Mom …
Loss is always difficult and saying goodbye is especially hard when it is one of your own.
Sadly, we learned over the weekend that 2NJSons_Mom, a long time beloved Scared Monkey and moderator had passed away. The shock of the news was only outdone by the tears. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of 2NJSons_Mom as we all at Scared Monkeys deal with her loss. As news spread of her passing, Scared Monkeys members expressed their sorrow, tears, condolences and prayers for 2NJSons_Mom and her family.
I’m so sorry to let you know mom passed this afternoon. She was up and alert this morning ready to start cancer treatment next week. Something with her heart gave out this morning and she went into cardiac arrest and was put on life support. We waited until all family was there to later take her off.
While I’m truly saddened to pass this news, I want to express our gratitude for your little community that she was so into and enjoyed being part of. Thank you also for all the well wishes along the way. She’s at peace now after a rough few weeks.
Thanks,
2NJ’s Son
WE REMEMBER 2NJSONS_MOM … ALWAYS IN OUR HEART
Scared Monkeys would like to thank the family of 2NJSons_Mom for sharing her with us. She was a special person who touched many lives. You touched so many of us with your character and just being you. The pain of letting you go is only comforted by knowing that Heaven just became a better place and that you are no longer in pain and in eternal peace with The Father.
Dear Father,
As we let go of 2NJ’s hand, we know that You hold her and that You will never let go. Thank You for the gift You gave us in 2NJ. You gave me a family when I was devastated without mine and 2NJ was a dear member and close to my heart. Thank You for 2NJ’s character, humor, strength, and caring nature. The world is changed because she walked within it, and her footsteps created paths and inroads for many that we will take everytime we remember 2NJ. I will remember 2NJ …
Read the many tributes prayers and condolences for 2NJSons_Mom from those that knew her at SM. Special comments for a special person.
2NJSons_Mom, Rose Anne Jordan’s obituary. The viewing and funeral arrangements can be seen HERE.
JORDAN Rose Anne (Della Penna), 61, of Hewitt on Friday, March 11, 2011. Born in Paterson, lived in Wanaque before moving to Hewitt thirty-five years ago. She worked for Spherion Corporation in Ringwood for ten years, retiring in 2006. She was a parishioner of St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Pompton Lakes. Beloved wife of Paul (Gus) Jordan of Hewitt. Loving mother of Thomas Jordan and Joseph Jordan both of Hewitt. Dear sister of John Della Penna and wife Sharon of Pompton Lakes, Michael Della Penna and wife Brenda of Tampa, FL, and Amy Pellechia and husband Victor of Wayne. Also survived by nephews and nieces. Funeral from D’Agostino Funeral Home, 881 Ringwood Avenue, Haskell, on Wednesday, 8:45 AM and a 9:30 AM Mass at St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Pompton Lakes. Interment at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa. Visiting on Monday, 7-9 PM and Tuesday, 2-4 and 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Foundation Fighting Blindness, 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21046, 1-800-683-5555, www.fightblindness.org
Please sign the Guest Book.
It is with our deepest sympathies that we say goodbye to 2NJSons_Mom, a special person who helped make Scared Monkeys a special place and the world a better place. Please know dear God that the memory and spirit of 2NJ’s Son Mom will forever be in our hearts and a part of Scared Monkeys. Until we meet again dear 2NJ’s Son Mom, I only say good bye for now, until we meet again my friend … thank you for making a difference and this world a better place.
With all of our profound sadness and love,
Your family at Scared Monkey … God Bless You and Rest in Peace my Friend.
Globe and Mail |
USC suspends coach Kevin O'Neill for rest of Pac-10 tourney
SportingNews.com The Southern California Trojans will continue their drive to reach the NCAA Tournament without their head coach, Kevin O'Neill, who was suspended for the remainder of the Pacific-10 Tournament by athletic director Pat Haden. … USC suspends O'Neill for rest of Pac-10 tourney USC Suspends Coach for Rest of Pac-10 Tourney Kevin O'Neill Suspended By USC For Pac-10 Tournament |
Now, we trust every man, woman, and child in America will forever remember where they were yesterday when word came of Charlie Sheen’s firing. It was top news even outside of the U.S. media.
Meanwhile, Copts in Egypt entered into a second day of protests (according to Reuters) after the massive, savage attack on a church by thousands of Muslims shouting “Allahu akbar,” over a relationship between a Muslim woman and a Christian man. They protested in front of the state television building, where heaven knows if they had any chance of being seen by people with cameras, it would be there.
Predictably, the Western mainstream media has been virtually silent on Christian protests in Egypt. Acknowledging them — acknowledging the systematic, centuries-old victimization of the Christian minority at the hands of the Muslim majority — would upset the accepted, tidy, storybook narrative of an Egyptian revolution built on interfaith cooperation. It would tarnish a feel-good story out of the Muslim world, and the media are loath to let that pearl of great price roll away.
“Egypt’s prime minister meets Christian protesters,” by Ahmed Aleiba for Reuters, March 7:
Prime Minister Essam Sharaf joined some 1,000 Christian protesters on Monday evening, who welcomed him but refused to talk to him before the Helwan governor resigns.
Egyptian Christians protested on Monday after a church was set on fire on the outskirts of Cairo, the latest sectarian flare-up in a country already facing political turmoil.
The army vowed to rebuild the church before Easter holidays, but the protestors say the governor of Helwan (south of Cairo) refuses to rebuild the church in its original location, and suggests another site outside the village.
Christians oppose this suggestion.
“We demand the resignation of Helwan governor,” said one of the protestors gathered in front of the state TV building.
Some Muslims also joined the crowd who gathered outside the state television building in central Cairo. Banners called for a unified law for worship buildings. Protestors say they won’t leave before our demands are met.
Witnesses and a security source said the church in Helwan was torched after a row sparked by a romantic relationship between a Christian man and a Muslim woman.
Christians say many muslims saved and protected priests when the blaze was started. “But there were others, some unknown, who attacked the Muslims who rescued the Church clerks.” [clerics?]
In the original story, a priest and three deacons remained unaccounted for. Updates since then have not mentioned them.
Los Angeles Times |
Lakers' Andrew Bynum just might make the rest of the NBA quit
Los Angeles Times When the young center plays defense as he did Sunday in a rout of San Antonio, the Lakers are almost unbeatable. By TJ Simers Folks awoke here Sunday morning to shocking news. The front-page headline in the San Antonio Express-News read, "Alamo Falls … Bryant three techs short of game ban Kobe Bryant gets 13th technical Lakers regain championship form with dominant win over Spurs |
Los Angeles Times |
Lakers' Andrew Bynum just might make the rest of the NBA quit
Los Angeles Times When the young center plays defense as he did Sunday in a rout of San Antonio, the Lakers are almost unbeatable. By TJ Simers Folks awoke here Sunday morning to shocking news. The front-page headline in the San Antonio Express-News read, "Alamo Falls … Bryant three techs short of game ban Kobe Bryant gets 13th technical Lakers regain championship form with dominant win over Spurs |
Los Angeles Times |
Lakers' Andrew Bynum just might make the rest of the NBA quit
Los Angeles Times When the young center plays defense as he did Sunday in a rout of San Antonio, the Lakers are almost unbeatable. By TJ Simers Folks awoke here Sunday morning to shocking news. The front-page headline in the San Antonio Express-News read, "Alamo Falls … Bryant three techs short of game ban Kobe Bryant gets 13th technical Lakers regain championship form with dominant win over Spurs |
Los Angeles Times |
Lakers' Andrew Bynum just might make the rest of the NBA quit
Los Angeles Times When the young center plays defense like he did Sunday in a rout of San Antonio, the Lakers are almost unbeatable. By TJ Simers Folks awoke here Sunday morning to shocking news. The front page headline in the San Antonio Express-News read: "Alamo Falls … Bryant three techs short of game ban Kobe Bryant gets 13th technical Lakers regain championship form with dominant win over Spurs |