Tuesday, November 25, 2008

EVENT: Monday, Dec. 1---The Anatomy of an Election: A Political Look at Why Obama Won and McCain Lost

The Anatomy of an Election: A Political Look at Why Obama Won and McCain Lost

Monday, Dec. 1 from 5:30-7:00 in the COM Student Lounge

***A Conversation with Michael McShane***

Mr. McShane is Vice President, Political Affairs, for the Grocery Manufacturers of America. He served in the Carter White House as a special assistant for Vice President Walter Mondale and has worked on 11 presidential campaigns in senior positions, including Vice Chair for the Lieberman for President campaign. He chaired all of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) activities at the Democratic convention in Chicago (1996) and Los Angeles (2000)

Monday, November 24, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: Monday, Nov. 24---Change.org and MySpace Join Forces to Launch "Ideas for Change in America"

PRESS RELEASE:

Change.org and MySpace Join Forces to Launch "Ideas for Change in America"
Unique and Inspiring Program Designed to Help Define Presidential Agenda and Provoke Social Change

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 24, 2008 -- Change.org, the leading online platform for social change, and MySpace, the world's premier social network, today announced the launch of "Ideas for Change in America," a groundbreaking citizen-driven effort to help define President-elect Barack Obama's presidential agenda. The campaign is supported by more than a dozen voter mobilization organizations that played an integral role in the record-setting voter turnout, including Declare Yourself, Student PIRGs, Voto Latino, and HeadCount. Media and nonprofit partners include techPresident, Netroots Nation, the Sunlight Foundation, GOOD, and Change Congress.

The 2008 campaign brought unprecedented levels of political participation and excitement, mobilizing millions of new voters. But with election over, the most pressing question has now become: What's next? How can the millions of people inspired by the campaign work with the new administration to create real change?

With the launch of Change.gov earlier this month, President-elect Obama made the first step toward providing the transparency his campaign promised in setting up the Obama Administration. But while Change.gov allows users to submit their stories about the campaign, it does not enable citizens to publicly express their own ideas for how the Obama Administration should advance change or to collaborate in the ways they had become accustomed to during the campaign.

In response, Change.org has created an open platform at www.change.org/ideas that allows anyone to submit an idea for how they would advance change on an issue of importance, discuss ideas with others, and vote on the best ideas from around the country. MySpace has also created a parallel site at www.myspace.com/changedotorg that has the ability to enable nearly 118 million monthly active MySpace users around the globe to directly submit video ideas for the change they would like to see.

"In his victory speech, President-elect Obama talked about his commitment to opening up government, and called for citizens to participate in their own democracy again," said Change.org founder and CEO Ben Rattray. "Ideas for Change in America answers that call by empowering Americans to get involved in the process of identifying solutions to the most important problems we face."

In the lead-up to Inauguration Day, Change.org, MySpace, and their partners will hold an event in Washington, DC to announce the top 10 rated ideas and deliver them to a representative from the Obama Administration. Change.org and MySpace will also announce a formal nonprofit sponsor for each idea. Each sponsoring nonprofit will then launch a national campaign to mobilize the millions of people on both sites to ensure that each top idea gets the full consideration of the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress.

"During the election millions of MySpace users participated in the campaign like never before through meaningful programs that MySpace developed with the goal of engaging users in the political process," said Lee Brenner, Director of IMPACT & Executive Producer of Political Programming. "We are excited to partner with Change.org to continue this momentum. Ideas for Change in America is an additional tool to enable the MySpace community to continue their active involvement in politics and in making an impact post the election."

About Change.org:

Change.org is an online hub and media network for social issues and collective action. The San Francisco-based social entrepreneurship venture operates a network of blogs covering more than a dozen major social issues and has partnered with more than 2500 leading nonprofit organizations to provide outlets for powerful action. Change.org was founded by two former classmates from Stanford, Ben Rattray and Mark Dimas, in 2006.

About MySpace

MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media Inc., is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends, discovering popular culture, and making a positive impact on the world. MySpace has created a connected global community by integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities, and member forums. MySpace's international network includes more than 30 localized community sites in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, India, Japan, and New Zealand. Fox Interactive Media is a division of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS - News, NWS.A - News; ASX:NWS - News, NWSLV - News).

Among the top 2000 domains comScore Media Metrix, September 2008. For more information on comScore Networks, please go to www.comscore.com.

About MySpace IMPACT

MySpace IMPACT's goal is to empower users to make a difference in the world by building partnerships and programs focused on voter education, voter registration, and voter turnout. To educate MySpace users about candidates and issues, the company teamed up with MTV in the primary season to produce a series of highly interactive candidate town hall events geared toward young and first-time voters called the MySpace/MTV Presidential Dialogues; partnered with NBC News and msnbc.com to deliver high-quality election coverage and citizen journalism opportunities to users through a hub called Decision08; and worked with the Commission on Presidential Debates to power MyDebates.org, the official online companion to the Presidential Debates. MySpace IMPACT's online voter registration is powered by the non-profit nonpartisan organization Declare Yourself

Contacts:

Change.org
Ben Rattray
ben@change.org
202-253-1288


MySpace:
Jamie Schumacher
jschumacher@myspace.com
310-969-7087

Sunday, November 23, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: Sunday, Nov. 23---Real WorldLatin America: A Contemporary Economics and Social Policy Reader

We are pleased to announce the publication of our latest title, *Real World
Latin America: A Contemporary Economics and Social Policy Reader*.

Looking for diverse perspectives to explain the profound economic and social
transformations taking place in Latin America? Real World Latin America
brings together the best recent reporting on the region from *Dollars &
Sense* and *NACLA Report on the Americas*.

Forty-five well-researched and clearly-written articles will give students a
thorough introduction to Latin American economic policies, including the
region's changing political maps, the hidden costs of development, struggles
for human rights, international trade deals, and the role of the United
States in the region.

Chapters on social movements and alternative forms of production document
the grassroots challenges to the Washington Consensus that are rising from
Argentine factory shop-floors, Venezuelan cooperatives, Oaxacan schoolrooms,
and elsewhere. Further chapters look at the impact of migration on home
countries and diasporan communities, and the challenges of responsible
environmental stewardship.

*Praise for Real World Latin America:*

The editors of *Dollars & Sense* and *NACLA Report on the Americas* have
done us a great service. This is a timely collection of essays,
sophisticated yet highly readable analysis of the most pressing issues
facing Latin America today. The book is ideally suited for undergraduate
courses on the region, and will be of interest to a broader readership as
well.

—Eric Hershberg, President, Latin American Studies Association

Latin America is on the move, finding its way towards new approaches to
economic development with social justice. *Real World Latin
America*provides a compelling picture of change, political conflict,
and the real
stakes involved in the region. It is a valuable guide to the contemporary
history of the present, inviting readers to stay tuned for more to come.

—Michael A Cohen, Director of the International Affairs Program, New School
University

This is a timely and invaluable overview of current political, economic,
social and cultural dynamics in Latin America. It brings together an
impressive array of experts who write in a concise and accessible manner on
a wide range of topics that define the current Latin American and
hemispheric reality. Here the reader will find analysis and context for
making sense of today's headlines. I cannot imagine a more important
collection for classroom use and for readers from the general public
interested in understanding contemporary Latin America.

—William I. Robinson, Professor of Sociology, Global Studies, and Latin
American Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara, and
author of *Latin
America and Global Capitalism*

Click here for more
information.
Click here to order an exam
copy.

EVENT: Tuesday, Nov. 25-Sunday, Dec. 7---Passim Annual Holiday Fundraising Auction

Passim Annual Holiday Fundraising Auction!
We're kicking-off our Annual Holiday Fundraising Auction Early and Online this year!

The Passim Holiday Auction opens for bidding on Tuesday, November 25th at 8:00am. Online bidding will close on Thursday, December 4th at 8:00pm. However, for most items bidding will continue during a Live Auction at our Members' Holiday Party on Sunday, December 7th, where we will have even more items! You need not be present at the live event to win.

This is a great way to help out Passim and take care of holiday gift buying needs!

View All 5 Items
Week on the Vineyard!

Enjoy a week at a cottage on Martha's Vineyard! Amazingly located along the water in East Chop this retreat boasts a colorful history, beautiful views, a guesthouse, and friendly backyard ducks! Call your family or get some friends together for a...
Value
$3,500.00
Current Bid

Tripping Lily House Concert

The next time you host a party, create a unique experience and impress your friends with live music! Bid to get an exclusive house concert from innovative roots group Tripping Lily. Tripping Lily weaves a beautiful musical collage of ukulele, vio...

Donated by:
Tripping Lily
Value
$1,000.00
Current Bid

Pete Seeger Photograph

Pete Seeger takes a classic pose in this iconic photo of the folk legend. Taken at Woodyfest in Oklahoma this beautiful shot is something you don't want to pass up!

Donated by:
Artistic Touch Photography
Value
$200.00
Current Bid

Passim Folk Music & Cultural Center
26 Church St Suite 300 Cambridge, MA 02138
Ph: 617-492-5300
http://www.passimcenter.org/

You are receiving this email at adonohue@bu.edu because you have requested information from Passim Folk Music & Cultural Center or have participated in one of our online fundraising auctions. You may UNSUBSCRIBE if you no longer want to receive auction-related emails.

EVENT: Nov. 20-Dec. 31---THE HELP GROUP & RIGHT START LAUNCH NATIONAL IN-STORE HOLIDAY

THE HELP GROUP & RIGHT START LAUNCH NATIONAL IN-STORE HOLIDAY
TOY DRIVE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS

In Natick, Massachusetts, Hundreds of Holiday Toys will be given to Underserved Children

This holiday season, Right Start, a national specialty retailer of juvenile products for infants and young children, in collaboration with The Help Group National Autism Foundation, will conduct a toy drive in all of its 36 store locations throughout the United States. This wonderful program will brighten the holiday season for children with autism and other special needs, ages 5 and under, whose families have limited financial means.

The Help Group National Autism Foundation, established under the auspices of The Help Group – the nation's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit of its kind serving children with autism and other special needs – welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with Right Start to create greater awareness about the special needs community and to reach out to even more children and families this holiday season.

"The Help Group is proud to partner with an organization whose leadership promotes community involvement," said Dr. Barbara Firestone, President and CEO of The Help Group. "We salute Right Start for its commitment to caring and including the public in ongoing awareness campaigns on behalf of children with autism and other special needs."

To maximize the reach of toy donations, The Help Group invited applications for participation from qualified nonprofit autism organizations in each of the Right Start cities throughout the country. These local partners will distribute hundreds of toys to families who may not otherwise have access to toys this holiday season.

Each of these beneficiary autism organizations also received a complimentary copy of Dr. Barbara Firestone's highly acclaimed and award winning book Autism Heroes: Portraits Of Families Meeting The Challenge. This awareness and outreach initiative is part of The Help Group's multi-site, multi-community book distribution program to underserved families made possible through a generous foundation grant.

The holiday toy drive will kick-off on November 20, 2008 and continue through December 31, 2008. "The Right Start's mission is to provide the tools for every stage of a child's life. This holiday season, our customers will have the opportunity to help an underserved child with autism or other special needs by visiting any one of our store locations and buying or donating a new, unwrapped toy," said Hope Neiman, COO, Right Start.

Friday, November 21, 2008

EVENT: Tuesday, Nov. 25---Sex and the Spirit: What do our spiritual lives teach us about our sexual relations?

Sex and the Spirit

What do our spiritual lives teach us about our sexual relations? A weekly discussion of sex and religion using the book 'Sex and the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance, and Religion on America's College Campuses' by Boston University Professor Donna Freitas, CAS Religion. Hosted by Br. Larry Whitney, LC+, University Chaplain for Community Life at Marsh Chapel, Boston University.

When: Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 at 5:00pm until 6:00pm on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008
(Repeats on every Tuesday each week until Tue Dec. 9th, 2008)
Where: Marsh Chapel, 735 Commonwealth Avenue (Thurman Room)
Who: Open to General Public

Admission is free

More Info, contact:
Marsh Chapel
Br. Larry Whitney, LC+
lwhitney@bu.edu
617-358-3392

EVENT: Monday, Dec. 1---Panel Discussion: Europe Confronts Its Past

Panel Discussion: Europe Confronts Its Past

Igor Lukes
University Professor and Professor of International Relations and History, Boston University; Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Boston/

Martin Simecka
Editor-in-chief of Respekt,* a weekly newsmagazine in the Czech Republic, reporting on domestic and foreign political and economic issues, as well as on science and culture.

*On October 13, Respekt published an article by a historian from the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes reporting that a team of historians had uncovered a police document identifying Czech-born Milan Kundera as having informed in 1950 on Miroslav Dvoracek, who served 14 years in prison after being uncovered as a spy. Respekt has refused to apologize to author Milan Kundera for publishing allegations he once informed on a Western spy.

Introduction: Peter Muzila

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovakia in Boston

This event takes place in conjunction with a panel exhibit prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Slovak National Museum entitled "The Magic Number 8 in the History of Slovakia."

Slovak history is interesting in that many important and pivotal events took place during years that end in the number eight. These crucial years include 1848, 1918, 1938, 1948 and 1968. The year 1989 also belongs in this category because the historical turning point that was the November Velvet Revolution of 1989 actually began in 1988. There are important internal connections between the "8" years and their events. The Slovaks' national emancipation process began with the uprising in the revolutionary year 1848 and culminated in 1918 with the founding of Czechoslovakia. This common state of Czechs and Slovaks was then exposed in 1938 to a challenging historical test. The historical ties between 1948, 1968 and 1989 are also strong. They mark the founding, crisis and fall of the communist system in the former Czechoslovakia. In terms of their meaning for history, the "eight"-year anniversaries that fall in 2008 are a natural reflection of both Slovak history in a broader context and of that history's connections to the present. This is also the goal of the exhibition, The Magic Number Eight in the History of Slovakia, whose organizers seek to improve mutual knowledge and understanding among nations.

6:00 PM
Boston University Photonics Center
8 St. Mary's Street, 9th Floor

In cooperation with the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Slovakia
Free and open to the public | Reception to follow
More Information: 617-358-2778 or ihs@bu.edu

EVENT: Friday, Nov. 21---History, Memoir and Comics: Graphic Representations of 9/11

History, Memoir and Comics: Graphic Representations of 9/11

Professor Davida Pines has a long-standing interest in, and fascination with, the way the art of comics lends itself to the simultaneous representation of personal and public history. She will consider the difference that comics make when representing serious historic events, and the relationship between form and content in two different graphic works on "9/11: Art Spiegelman's In the Shadow of No Towers and Alissa Torres' American Widow."

Speaker(s): Davida Pines, author and professor
When: Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 2:00pm until 4:00pm on Friday, Nov 21, 2008
Where: College of General Studies, 871 Commonwealth Avenue (CGS Katzenberg Center, Room 330A)
Who : Open to General Public

Admission is free

Contact: College of General Studies Faculty Research & Scholarship Committee
Prof. Joellen Masters
joellenm@bu.edu
617-358-3205

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

EVENT: Sunday, Dec. 7---21st Annual Foster Children's Holiday Party at Tufts

21st Annual Foster Children's Holiday Party at Tufts
A Volunteer Opportunity for the Tufts Community

The Boston Tufts Alliance, a chapter of the Tufts University Alumni Association, in partnership with the Association of Tufts Alumnae and the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, invite your volunteer participation in a great community event now celebrating its 21st year!

Tufts' annual Foster Children's Holiday party is a service event bringing the Tufts community together with neighboring foster families for an afternoon of generosity, warmth and holiday cheer. Tufts volunteers have the opportunity to wrap holiday gifts in advance and/or help to host the party by serving snacks, leading arts and crafts activities, reading, singing, and distributing holiday gifts.

Thursday, December 4
Alumnae Lounge, Medford/Somerville Campus
Gift Wrapping: Open Hours for volunteers (you do need to register to attend):
6:00-8:00pm

Sunday, December 7
Alumnae Lounge, Medford/Somerville Campus
Party Hosts: Volunteers sought for two shifts as follows:
Shift A: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Shift B: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Party runs from 2:00 - 4:00 pm - volunteer shifts include set-up and clean-up.

RSVP: Please email FCHP@tufts.edu to coordinate a volunteer assignment and include with your email: full name, class year (if applicable), phone number and specific volunteer shift.

Questions? Email Samantha Snitow, A02, at samantha.snitow@alumni.tufts.edu

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: Tuesday, Nov. 18---Columbia Journalism Review

A dirty little secret of journalism has always been the degree to which some reporters rely on press releases and public relations offices as sources for stories. But recent newsroom cutbacks and increased pressure to churn out online news have given publicity operations even greater prominence in science coverage. Cristine Russsell reports in The Observatory, science desk of CJR.org, the Web site of the Columbia Journalism Review.

Meanwhile, the health care discussion of the past year has been remarkable for the narrow range of ideas and opinions that have floated down to the man on the street. As a potential corrective, our Trudy Lieberman is introducing a series of interviews with a wide range of people and perspectives on the subject, by way of urging the press to follow suit. Here is the first, an interview with Yale professor Theodore Marmor, a health care expert and the co-author of a recent op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The headline, "Health-care plans familiar; Obama and McCain fall into old traps when it comes to financing,"

We hope you find them both illuminating.
The editors

The Observatory — November 14,
Science Reporting By Press Release
An old problem grows worse in the digital age
By Cristine Russell
http://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/science_reporting_by_press_rel.php?page=all

Excluded Voices
An interview with Theodore Marmor
By Trudy Lieberman
http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/excluded_voices.php?page=all

PRESS RELEASE: Tuesday, Nov. 18---Disney/ABC Supporting and Creating Opportunities for Diverse Talent

DISNEY | ABC TELEVISION GROUP'S CASTING DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES

A NEW INITIATIVE AS PART OF ITS 22nd ACTORS SHOWCASE SUPPORTING

AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE TALENT

An Industry First, Actors Will Receive a Network Mentor for One Year

NOVEMBER 18, 2008 - As part of its continuing effort to find and develop culturally and ethnically diverse talent and actors with disabilities, Disney | ABC Television Group's Casting Project will hold its 22nd showcase featuring 11 promising upcoming actors on Wednesday, November 19 in Los Angeles. Casting directors, talent agents and other industry professionals will view a series of one-act performances. The event is produced in partnership with the Disney | ABC Talent Development & Diversity Department, AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Guild), East West Players, Media Access Office, Nosotros, the Robey Theatre and SAG (Screen Actors Guild). The showcase is not open to the public.

An unprecedented industry first, all 11 actors will be assigned a network executive from the Casting Department who will act as their mentor. The mentor will help nurture their talents and provide guidance and advice throughout the year. As in past years, each showcase participant will also audition throughout the year for ABC's current series and pilots.

The talented actors to be featured are Tish Hicks, Bryan Keith, Jenn Liu, Tiffany Lowery, Geno Monteiro, Emily-Grace Murray, Juan Pacheco, Eddy Rioseco, Mylinda Royer, Amol Shah and Ellen Williams. Past participants include Jorge Garcia from "Lost," Carrie Ann Inaba from "Dancing with the Stars" and Monique Gabriela Curnen ("The Dark Night") and ABC's upcoming primetime drama "The Unusuals."

PRESS RELEASE: Tues. Nov. 18---To Generate Revenue, Tax the Casino

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

To Generate Revenue, Tax the Casino

Interviews Available

CHUCK COLLINS, cell: (617) 308-4433, Chuckcollins7@mac.com, http://extremeinequality.org

Collins is senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he coordinates the Working Group on Extreme Inequality. He wrote the piece "A Fair Plan to Pay for Economic Recovery," which states: "The corporations that rigged the casino economy and the wealthy CEOs and investors that profited at everyone else's expense should bear the recovery costs, not our kids and grandchildren." http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081006/collins

Among Collins' specific proposals:
"Institute a Financial Transactions Tax. Congress should levy a tax on financial transactions such as sale and purchase of stock and more exotic transactions such as credit default swaps, options, and futures. The UK has a modest financial transaction tax of 0.25 percent, a penny on every $4 invested. This is negligible for a long-term investor, but imposes a cost on the fast-buck flippers. Estimated annual revenue: $100 billion. ...

"Eliminate the Tax Preference for Capital Gains. Wealth extracted from Wall Street windfalls will pay out income for years to come. There's no economic reason for taxing income from corporate dividends and capital gains at 15 percent while taxing income from actual work at 35 percent. Taxing wealth and work at the same rates would generate $95 billion a year in revenue. ...

"Eliminate Taxpayer Subsidies for Excessive CEO Pay. Five loopholes that benefit top executives should be abolished. These include eliminating offshore deferred compensation, capping the tax deductibility of excessive pay and eliminating double standards for stock option accounting. Closing these tax loopholes would generate $20 billion a year. ...

"Close Offshore Corporate Tax Havens. Congress should prevent corporations from playing games by claiming expenses in the United States and profits in countries that don't collect taxes. According to the Government Accountability Office, two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no corporate income tax between 1998 and 2005. Closing this loophole would generate over $100 billion."

Collins' books include "Robin Hood Was Right" and, with William H. Gates Sr., "Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes."

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020, (202) 421-6858; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

PRESS RELEASE: Tuesday, Nov. 18---Army of Women

Army of Women

What's the study about?
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst are studying the breast cells normally found in breast milk to see if there are any differences in the DNA of women whose biopsies turn out to be healthy and those whose biopsies show a problem, such as cancer. Learning more about these genetic differences may eventually help researchers develop a way to provide women with information about their breast cancer risk.
What's involved?
You will be shipped a milk collection container, informed consent form, and questionnaire. You will be asked to complete the consent form and questionnaire and to donate about 2.5 ounces of fresh breast milk from each breast. You will put the consent form, questionnaire, and breast milk in a box that will be picked up by Fed-Ex. If a breast biopsy occurs, you will be asked to provide a copy of the biopsy report. Approximately 1 year after sending your breast milk sample, the researcher will contact you to ask about any breast problems you have had in the last year.
Who can participate?
Breastfeeding moms who may need a breast biopsy
Who is conducting the study?
Kathleen Arcaro, PhD, Douglas Anderton, PhD, and Sarah Lenington PhD, at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Where?
Anywhere in the United States



YES, SIGN ME UP Yes, Sign Me Up NO, THANKS No Thanks RECRUIT A FRIEND Recruit a Friend

Get Involved
Grow the Army of Women



© 2008 Love/Avon Army of Women

This email was sent by:

Love/Avon Army of Women | 2811 Wilshire Blvd. | Suite 500 | Santa Monica | CA | 90403
info@armyofwomen.org

Monday, November 17, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: Monday, Nov. 17---New Oil Shale Regulations A Step Toward National Energy Security

New Oil Shale Regulations A Step Toward National Energy Security

Environmental Extremists Vow to Block Development of World Class U.S. Oil Reserve and the Key to Reducing Foreign Oil Imports

Denver, Colorado – Americans for American Energy hailed today's publication by the U.S. Department of the Interior of new commercial leasing regulations for oil shale as a major victory for the nation's drive to be more independent of foreign oil imports. AAE also warned policy makers in Washington, D.C. not to take steps backward to destroy the fledgling oil shale industry as it moves forward with stalled research that could unlock more American oil reserves than is contained in the entire Middle East. AAE anticipates that national environmental groups will step up their campaign to shut down any development of new American oil from oil shale as soon as the new Congress convenes and the Obama Administration takes power in January

"Americans won't soon forget $4 dollar gasoline and we should recognize that here is a big part of the answer to solving our oil and transportation fuel supply right here at home, said Greg Schnacke, President of Americans for American Energy. The new leadership in Washington would be making a huge strategic mistake if they heed the call from the environmental extremists to block this important domestic energy resource."

The new regulatory framework put in place includes strict rules that apply to the industry regarding operational requirements, environmental rules and constraints, royalty and rental rates and other administrative regulations. Before any site-specific plans of development could be approved, additional NEPA environmental analysis would be conducted.

"Industry planners have said all along that they could not move forward with the $1 billion dollar-plus investment for research and development needed to move to environmentally responsible commercial development of over 800 billion barrels of American oil potential unless clear and established federal regulations were in place. If Washington doesn't mess this up, we can change the equation on America's dangerous reliance on foreign oil," said Schnacke.

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 19---Witness Genocide - Darfur Refugee Speaker

Witness Genocide - Darfur Refugee Speaker
Join us for this rare opportunity to hear a firsthand account of genocide. We are honored to welcome Mohamed Yahya to Boston University.

Yahya was born in a small village in Darfur. In 1993 his village was destroyed by government-backed militias in some of the first attacks that led to the current conflict. Yahya came to the United States in 2002 and founded Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, an organization to promote the human rights of the Darfur victims.

Speaker(s): Mohamed Yahya
When: Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 at 7:00pm until 8:00pm on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008
Where: Sargent College, 635 Commonwealth Avenue (SAR 101)
Who : Open to General Public
Admission is free
More Info: http://www.damanga.org
Contact: BU Darfur Coalition
darfur@bu.edu

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 19---EnerNoc Energy Start Ups

EnerNoc Energy Start Ups
Boston's EnerNoc have emerged as one of the potential breakout companies in the small but growing market for clean technology, a broad field that encompasses new types of solar panels, water purification systems, fuel cells and more. EnerNoc has installed systems in New England, California and New York.

Mat Tuttleman speaks about the risks and rewards of working at an energy start up. Tuttleman will discuss his career path at EnerNOC where he started as the company's seventh employee. He has helped the company achieve fantastic growth, issue an initial public offering, and become a leader in demand response energy management. Discussion will include an overview of the company, its energy management technologies, and future plans for growth.

When: Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 at 5:00pm until 6:00pm on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008
Where: SMG 228 (595 Commonwealth Avenue)
More Info: http://people.bu.edu/buenergy
Contact: BU Energy Club

EVENT: Tuesday, Nov. 18---Latino Women & Sexism

Latino Women & Sexism

Come join professor Diane Balser and the sisters of Chi Upsilon Sigma in discussing the issues of sexism present in the world around us.

Admission is free and open to the University community.
When: Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 at 7:00pm
Where: Women's Resource Center, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, lower level
Contact: Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sority, Inc.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

EVENT: Friday, Nov. 14---America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day

Come celebrate all things recycling on Marsh Plaza. Raffles, food, and complimentary coffee if you bring your own mug! Get involved with sustainability issues and support recycling on campus.

**Co-hosted with the Environmental Student Organization

Friday, Nov 14, 2008 at 11:00am until 4:00pm on Friday, Nov 14, 2008

Where: Marsh Plaza, 735 Commonwealth Avenue
Who: Open to General Public
Admission is free
More Info at: http://www.bu.edu/recycling/

Contact: Environmental Health & Safety
Mackenzie Welch
recycle@bu.edu
617-353-4094

Viewzi As A Research Tool For Radio?

Almost two years ago, we started with a question: "Does one size fit all?"
We've since spent that time exploring whether there is more than one way to look at search. We've also spoken to lots of people about how they see information now and more importantly how they'd like to see it.

My name is Giovanni Gallucci and I work at a Dallas-based company called "Viewzi" (http://www.viewzi.com). I just want to introduce you to Viewzi. We have found that journalists and educators alike have taken quite a fancy to us for all kinds of rich media searches on the web.

What do we do and why do you care? We built Viewzi, a new type of search engine that is well-suited for web research and pop culture searches. This product isn't just a "techie" website. It is specifically geared towards all kinds of general interest research. Viewzi provides Internet users a way to visually experience the best results for celebrity, music, news/weather, pop culture, recipes and top search engines as text, picture, music, and video results to make search more fun.

The Viewzi Difference
Have a peek at the difference between traditional search engines and Viewzi Views:
General: http://www.viewzi.com/search/power_grid/election%202008
Albums: http://www.viewzi.com/search/therecordstore/Pearl%20Jam
MP3's: http://www.viewzi.com/search/joshuamp3/Britney%20Spears%20Womanizer
Video: http://www.viewzi.com/search/videox3/barack%20obama
News: http://www.viewzi.com/search/newsprint/election%202008
Pictures: http://www.viewzi.com/search/phototile/AIG%20bailout
Books: http://www.viewzi.com/search/amazonbookbuy/stephen%20colbert
Timeline: http://www.viewzi.com/search/cronotron/david%20hasselhoff

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

EVENT: Nov. 19: U.S. Policy in Iraq: The Challenges Ahead

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS LECTURE

Richard Schmierer
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
(Middle East Affairs)

U.S. Policy in Iraq: The Challenges Ahead
November 19, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
Asean Auditorium

Dinner to follow in Mugar Café
Dinner reservations required (Business Casual Attire)
RSVP to karen.mollung@tufts.edu

In June 2008 Richard Schmierer became Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Schmierer was Director of the Office of Iraq Affairs. In his current position, he oversees the State Department's support of and contribution to U.S. policy towards Iraq.

Mr. Schmierer is a career Foreign Service Officer and member of the Senior Foreign Service, rank of Minister-Counselor. He is the author of Iraq: Policy and Perceptions (Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University, 2007). Mr. Schmierer received the State Department's 2005 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy, conferred by The Fletcher School.

In June 2004 when the US Embassy re-opened in Baghdad, Mr. Schmierer assumed the position of Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs. From 2000-2004, he served as Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs in Berlin and from 1997-2000 as Counselor for Public Affairs in Riyadh.

Mr. Schmierer's other overseas assignments include service in Germany in Bonn, Frankfurt, and Hamburg, and in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His domestic assignments have included service as the head of the Middle East office of the International Visitor Program, and later in the Agency's Office of European Affairs. Mr.Schmierer received his Bachelors degree from Lehigh University and his Masters and Doctoral degrees from the University of Massachusetts.

Dinner to follow in Mugar Café
Dinner reservations required (Business Casual Attire)
RSVP to karen.mollung@tufts.edu

Friday, November 7, 2008

EVENT: Dec., 2---"The Health of Poetry" - The Julia S. Phelps Annual Lecture by Gwyneth Lewis

The Julia S. Phelps Annual Lecture by Gwyneth Lewis

Gwyneth Lewis-- Mildred Londa Weisman Fellow Poetry, Independent Scholar (Wales)

A Hospital Odyssey

Gwyneth Lewis was appointed Wales’s inaugural National Poet in 2005. She is an award-winning poet in both Welsh, her first language, and English. Lewis wrote the six-foot-high words on the front of Cardiff’s new Wales Millennium Centre, rumored to be the largest poem in the world. She is also a prizewinning playwright and librettist. Her first nonfiction book, Sunbathing in the Rain: A Cheerful Book on Depression (Flamingo, 2002), was short-listed for the Mind Book of the Year. Her second, Two in a Boat: A Marital Voyage (Fourth Estate, 2005), recounts a voyage made with her husband on a small boat from Cardiff to North Africa. Both titles are also published in the United States.

During her time as a Radcliffe fellow, Lewis will work on “A Hospital Odyssey,” an epic poem about the body’s journey through ill health. The poem will use the epic tradition to follow an emotional trajectory through illness, diagnosis, and healing on a mythic stage. She will address such questions as: What is health? How are we responsible for our own bodies and those of others? What does it mean to care for another person?

Lewis is a member of the Royal Society of Literature and an honorary fellow of Cardiff University. She spent three years in the United States as a Harkness Fellow and has also held a NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) Fellowship and a Wellcome Trust arts award.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---National Feminist Town Hall Forum Tonite!

CENTER FOR NEW WORDS...where women's words matter
CNWNews November 5, 2008

Tonight: Make and Understand History with Feminists Around the Country

"What Happens When A Woman Takes the Pulpit?"

Don't mess these upcoming events:

The Day After
A Feminist Town Forum
Lesley University Ampitheater, 1815 Mass Ave, Cambridge
Wednesday, November 5 @ 7:00PM

Sarah Sentilles
A Church of Her Own
First Church, 11 Garden St., Cambridge
Friday, November 7 @ 7:00PM

Radical Mommyhood
with Amy Richards & Maegan "Mamita Mala" Ortiz
Arlington St. Church, 351 Boylston St., Boston
Thursday, November 13 @ 7:00PM

Mouthful
An Open Mic for Open Minds
CNW, 7 Temple Street, Cambridge
Friday, November 14 @ 7:30PM

Alison Bechdel
Essential Dykes to Watch Out For
Lesley College, 1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Tuesday, November 18 @ 7:00PM

Jean Kilbourne & Diane Levin
So Sexy So Soon
Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston
Thurssday, November 20 @ 7:00PM

Feminism & Dessert
Gender & Toys
CNW, 7 Temple Street, Cambridge
Tuesday, December 2 @ 7:00PM

Mouthful
An Open Mic for Open Minds
CNW, 7 Temple Street, Cambridge
Friday, December 12 @ 7:30PM

As a nonprofit organization, CNW relies on the support of individual donors. Please join us in creating spaces and places where women's words matter by mak ing a tax-deductible donation today?

Have you spoken out yet?
This Is What Women Want
Click for more details...

Dear CNWers,

As promised yesterday, we have a new venue for tonight's amazing DAY AFTER National Feminist Town Hall Forum. It's at Lesley University Ampitheater, 1815 Mass. Ave in Cambridge, and we couldn't be more excited. Come live, and join in the conversation with feminists watching live from around the country!

Come exhilarated, energized or exhausted, but make sure you're there. It's a big moment, and we need your voice and ideas.

Tonight: Make and Understand History with Feminists Around the Country

It's been a long election season, and now it's FINALLY time to come together to figure out what it all means and what's next.

At this culmination of our This Is What Women Want election project, join us, our panel of national leaders, and feminists around the country TONIGHT to discuss what happened on Election Day, and what we should be thinking about and doing now to fight for equality and justice for all.

This is a first of its kind event convening feminists from around the country live via the blogosphere! Watch live, converse with other audience members around the country and submit your comments and questions in real time.

Panelists will include:

BYLLYE AVERY
Founder of the National Black Women's Health Project and MacArthur Genius Award Recipient

MICHELLE GOLDBERG Journalist and author of Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism

ANNE ELIZABETH MOORE Critic, activist, artist, journalist and author

PAULA RAYMAN
Founding Director of the Radcliffe Public Policy Center

LORETTA ROSS
National Coordinator, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective

ANDREA BATISTA SCHLESINGER
Executive Director, Drum Major Institute for Public Policy

Come optimistic, disgruntled, angry, or just exhausted. Just come. We need to hear every voice and idea!

FREE. Wednesday, November 5 @ 7:00PM
NEW VENUE: Lesley University Ampitheater, 1815 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
RSVP & invite friends via Facebook

PARTICIPATE IN PERSON: NEW VENUE: Lesley University Ampitheater, 1815 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

PARTICIPATE ONLINE IN REAL TIME: Participate by logging on 11/5 at 7PM EST to any of our participating blogs, including Feministe, Feministing, Girl with Pen, WIMN's Voices, No Cookies for Me, Viva La Feminista, Writes Like She Talks, Heartfeldt Politics, TakePart, or at our mogulus channel.
Get all the details...
What Happens When A Woman Takes the Pulpit?

Women have been among the most dynamic and successful ministers; but in divinity school, Sarah Sentilles discovered that some of the best and brightest of them were having trouble and even leaving the church altogether.

What was happening? To find out, she entered the lives of female ministers -- women of various ages and races in a range of churches -- and emerged with the first real portrait of what it's like to lead as a woman of faith today. What Sentilles found was that despite many churches' resistance -- conscious or not -- to re-imagining ministry for anyone but a man, many of these women are achieving remarkable transformations in their congregations. And now she's coming to share their stories with us!

To learn more about Sarah Sentilles, please visit: www.sarahsentilles.com

Friday, November 7 @ 7:00PM
First Church, 11 Garden St., Cambridge
Co-Sponsored by the Women's Theological Center.
Don't miss out...

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---SED Pedalathon for the Earth Highlights Wasting Energy

School of Education hosts a pedalathon for the Earth today, Nov. 5 from 8am-8pm


"Visitors are welcome to stop by to pedal on a stationary bicycle attached to a battery. The pedaling will transform human kinetic energy into chemical energy, which will then power a laptop and a stereo system and heat up free apple cider. SED hopes that participants’ efforts to create energy will make them think twice about wasting energy in the future.

The event will include conversations about sustainability ideas, plans, and actions, as well as a photo of the volunteer on the bike. The pedalathon is a collaboration between SED and the College of Arts and Sciences geography and environment department.

The pedalathon for the Earth will take place today, Wednesday, November 5, in the SED lobby, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Douglas Zook, an SED associate professor."----BU Today

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---Newsweek Columnist and Creator of Fake Steve Jobs on Campus Today

Dan Lyons is a technology columnist at Newsweek and the creator of Fake Steve Jobs, the persona behind The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs, a leading technology blog. Dan Lyons will be giving a lecture at Boston University on the subjects of Mac Culture, Apple Inc, and blogging. A reception to follow.

Before joining Newsweek, Lyons spent 10 years at Forbes. Over the past 25 years Lyons has written for a wide range of publications, including the New York Times Magazine, GQ and many technology trade publications.

Visit Dan Lyons' blog for more information.
Speaker(s): Dan Lyons a.k.a. Fake Steve Jobs
When: Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 at 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008
Where: Photonics Center Auditorium, 8 St. Mary's Street (PHO 206)
Who: Open to General Public
Admission is free
More Info: http://realdanlyons.com/biography/
Contact: MacBU (Macintosh User Group at Boston University)

Juan Jhong Chung
macbu@bu.edu
857-233-3717

EVENT CANCELLED: Nov. 10---Picturing America at Boston National Historical Park

The National Endowment for the Humanities and National Park Service regret to inform you that the November 10th event for Picturing America at Boston National Historical Park has been cancelled.

www.PicturingAmerica.neh.gov (https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=292567)

Election Day---Voting Rights Concerns

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Day: Voting-Rights Concerns

Interviews Available

TOVA WANG, (202) 736-5729, twang@commoncause.org, http://www.commoncause.org
Wang is the vice president for research at Common Cause.

WENDY WEISER, [via Susan Lehman], (212) 998-6318, susan.lehman@nyu.edu, http://www.brennancenter.org
Weiser is the deputy director at the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.

CHRIS KROMM, (919) 419-8311 ext 26, c.kromm@southernstudies.org, http://www.southernstudies.org/facingsouth
Kromm is the executive director of the Institute for Southern Studies.

ALEX KEYSSAR, (617) 495-1042, alex_keyssar@harvard.edu, http://ksgfaculty.harvard.edu/alexander_keyssar
Keyssar is the Stirling Professor of History and Social Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and the author of the book "The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States."

HARVEY WASSERMAN, (614) 231-0507, (614) 738-3646, harvey@freepress.org,
Wasserman is co-author of the books "What Happened in Ohio?" and "As Goes Ohio."

RICHARD KIMBALL, (406) 859-8683, aelm@votesmart.org, http://www.votesmart.org
Kimball is the president of Project Vote Smart.

SUJATHA JAHAGIRDAR, (323) 309-6120, sujatha@studentpirgs.org, http://www.newvotersproject.org/
Jahagirdar is the program director for the New Voters Project of the Student Public Interest Research Group.

PAUL SULLIVAN, (202) 558-4553, Paul@VeteransForCommonSense.org, http://www.VeteransForCommonSense.org
Sullivan is the executive director of Veterans for Common Sense.

MATTHEW SEGAL, (847) 502-5012, matthew.segal@savevoting.org, http://www.savevoting.org/
Segal is the founder and executive director of the Student Association for Voter Empowerment.

MICHAEL ALVAREZ, JONATHAN KATZ, [via Jon Weiner], (626) 395-3226, jrweiner@caltech.edu, http://www.vote.caltech.edu/
Alvarez and Katz are both professors of political science at Caltech and co-directors of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project. They will be available on a conference call on Wednesday morning, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss voting technology issues. [For the conference call dial (877) 468-2139; participant code: #150292]

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020, (202) 421-6858; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Great Debate: Is the American Century Ending?

THE GREAT DEBATE
Is the American Century ending?

Boston University College of Communication presents The Great Debate on Wednesday, November 5th, 2007 6:30 –8:30 p.m., Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.
The Debaters who will be arguing the question are:

For the Affirmative:

Andrew J. Bacevich
Professor of International Relations and History
Founder, REAP Coalition

Robert S. Litwak
Director of International Securities Studies
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Sarah Thomas, '10 MS
College of Communication

For the Negative:

Robert J. Lieber
Professor of Government and International Affairs
Georgetown University

Ruth Wedgwood
Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy;
Director of the International Law and Organizations Program
Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies

Andrew Jones, '09
College of Communication

The Great Debate is free and open to the Boston University community. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, Contact Lauren Glaser at leglaser@bu.edu or 617-353-5015

Monday, Nov. 3---Frightening: Utilities Cut Off Record Numbers

Frightening: Utilities Cut Off Record Numbers

After the record number of home foreclosures, Americans face a new peril. Utilities are shutting off more customers who cannot pay their bills. In Pennsylvania, an electricity company has cut off supplies to 78 percent more homes than last year. The utility companies say they are under pressure to clean out accounts that are weighing down their books at a time when their stocks are being hammered and earnings growth has slowed, The Wall Street Journal reports. And it is not just the poor that are at risk. "We're seeing an uptick in middle-class people who have never been in this situation before," said Eric Hartsfield, of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Read it @ The Wall Street Journal

From: The Daily Beast

PRESS RELEASE: Mon., Nov. 3---What If Provisional Ballots Exceed the Margin of Victory?

What If Provisional Ballots Exceed the Margin of Victory?

***Interviews Available***

Novakowski is a senior policy analyst with Demos and the author of the recent report "Provisional Ballots: Where to Watch in 2008." He said today: "When implemented correctly, provisional ballots can enfranchise voters. However, when states adopt unnecessarily stringent standards for counting them and poll workers are not adequately trained in their administration, provisional ballots can have the opposite effect."
According to the report: "More than one in three of the nearly two million provisional ballots cast in the 2004 election were ultimately rejected. Compared to 2004, fewer provisional ballots were cast and a higher percentage were counted in the 2006 election, yet problems remained. In 2008, continued high rates might exceed the margin of victory in several highly contested states in the November presidential race, possibly resulting in uncertainty on the ultimate outcome and increasing the likelihood of post-election litigation. ... The largest percentage of rejected provisional ballots, 43.1 percent in 2006, were invalidated because voters were logged as 'not registered,' despite the voter's belief that they were in fact registered. ... Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia categorically reject all provisional ballots [cast in the wrong precinct]. ... Where multiple precincts are housed in a single polling place, a voter who merely gets in the wrong line can see her ballot voided. In 2006, 15.4 percent of rejected provisional ballots were thrown out because they were cast in the wrong precinct. ... Ohioans cast 127,758 provisional ballots in 2006, the second-highest number in the nation."

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020, (202) 421-6858; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

PRESS RELEASE: Mon., Nov. 3---Bankrupting Coal Industry Would "Turn America's Lights Out"

Americans for American Energy

For Immediate Release: Nov. 3, 2008
Contact: Greg Schnacke, 866-416-0659

Bankrupting Coal Industry Would "Turn America's Lights Out," Democratic Senator Warns

Denver, CO (Nov. 3, 2008) -- Bankrupting the American coal industry, as presidential candidate Barack Obama has reportedly suggested, would crash the already strained U.S. electrical grid, turn America's lights out and increase America's reliance on foreign energy even more, according to the Democratic chairman of Americans for American Energy.

"I am shocked that any candidate for public office, Democrat or Republican, would suggest bankrupting any industry, much less one that literally keeps America's lights on each day," said Wyoming State Senator Bill Vasey (D). "As recently studies have noted, our electrical grid is already strained to the maximum in some places and is in serious need of new baseload power plants. Preventing the construction of clean coal power plants with carbon capture and sequestration would literally lead to turning America's lights out and destroy our economy."

"Clean-coal-fired power plants provide America with more than one-half of the electricity America needs every day. They give us the affordable and reliable energy that keeps us competitive in global markets. And, we have enough clean coal reserves to last us for centuries. We need to accelerate these technologies even faster so that we can build the clean coal power plants of the future as soon as possible," Vasey said.

Vasey is chairman of Americans for American Energy, a non-profit grassroots group that promotes greater reliance on all forms of American energy and less dependence on imported energy. Vasey runs AAE with two other state legislators, Colorado State Senator Bill Cadman (R) and Utah State Representative Aaron Tilton (R).

"Any approach that bankrupts coal would dramatically increase our reliance on natural gas for electric power generation, and that poses its own problems," Vasey said. "Replacing coal-fired power plants with natural gas plants would require an additional 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, in addition to the seven trillion cubic feet we now use for power generation. That means that all natural gas that is available to America would have to shift to power generation, instead of going to families and businesses for home heating and manufacturing processes. We would have to import huge amounts of natural gas from foreign nations -- much more than we do already."

"Shifting solely to natural gas for power generation also would drive energy prices through the roof, which would hurt our economy and our citizens," Vasey said.

"I call on all candidates for office to distance themselves from any policy that seeks to bankrupt the coal industry," Vasey concluded. "America's energy strategy must rely on a balanced portfolio of American resources."

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---SUBURBAN COALITION MEETS

The Suburban Coalition hosts a meeting Wednesday night and the group is looking for specific items that its members believe should be part of the coalition’s agenda in the face of slumping tax revenues, budget cuts and a state budget crisis. The coalition features local elected officials and its legislative priorities include education and local infrastructure funding, property tax relief, increasing the stock of affordable housing, and exploring new sources of public revenues.

(Wednesday, 7:30 pm, The Education Collaborative, 1112 High Street, Dedham)

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---READINESS FINANCE COMMISSION MEETS

The Readiness Finance Commission, charged with coming up with a price tag for Gov. Patrick’s education reform proposals, holds a public hearing. Education Secretary Paul Reville attends. The commission, co-chaired by Suffolk Construction CEO John Fish and Bentley College President Gloria Larson, is due to issue a report by mid-November.

(Wednesday, 5 pm, Dwight Hall, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon St., Watertown)

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT MEETING

The Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust board meets. The board is chaired by Treasurer Timothy Cahill.

(Wednesday, 1:30 pm, One Ashburton Place, 12th floor conference, Boston)

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---REVILLE AT LESLEY UNIVERSITY

Education Secretary Paul Reville discusses the implementation and long and short-term goals of Gov. Patrick’s education reform effort, the Readiness Project. Those goals, which include big-ticket items such as free community college, are expected to be set back as the state is expected to struggle with falling revenues. After the speech, Reville will participate in a question-and-answer session.

(Wednesday, 2 pm, Lesley University, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge)

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---COHEN AT NEW BEDFORD CHAMBER

Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen addresses the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce.

(Wednesday, 8 am, Country Club of New Bedford, 585 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth)

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---FAMILY REUNIFICATION HOUSE OPENING

Lt. Gov. Murray and Undersecretary for Criminal Justice Mary Elizabeth Heffernan will join Correction Commissioner Harold Clarke Wednesday to open the Family Reunification House. The 1,628 square foot structure replaced a trailer used by incarcerated mothers for extended visits, including overnights and weekends, with their children.

(Wednesday, 10 am, South Middlesex Correctional Center, 135 Western Ave., Framingham)

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---HEARING ON CAPE WIND CABLES SET

State officials will hold a public hearing Wednesday on Cape Wind's application for a chapter 91 license to construct and maintain two electric cable systems that would span 7.5 miles beneath Nantucket Sound and connect the 130-turbine wind farm on Horseshoe Shoals with mainland facilities in Yarmouth's Lewis Bay. The wind turbines will be located in federal waters and the cable system, which will be buried in trenches six feet deep and wide, represents the only portion of the project within the state's jurisdiction under Chapter 91. The Department of Environmental Protection hosts the hearing. Advancing the project was among Gov. Deval Patrick’s campaign promises.

(Wednesday, 6:30 pm, Mattacheese Middle School, 400 Higgins Crowell Road, West Yarmouth)

Wed., Nov. 5: WILKERSON ANNOUNCEMENT

Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, in the face of federal bribery accusations and a call for her to resign from her Senate colleagues, said last week she would announce her intentions Wednesday. Wilkerson has about two months left in her term and is not actively seeking reelection.

EVENT: Wed., Nov. 5---ELECTION WRAP-UP

The day after Tuesday’s elections is set aside for reviews of results, political analysis, victory rallies and the inevitable recount possibilities. Democrats have a solid grip on the House and Senate and Republicans here have indicated any gain in seats would be considered a victory. A major shift in the party balance within the Legislature is not expected, but each election brings its share of surprises such as incumbents being knocked off.

EVENT: Tuesday, Nov. 4---GREENWAY CONSERVANCY

The board of directors for the Rose Fitzgerald Greenway Conservancy meets. The board, headed by Peter Meade, managing director of Rasky Baerlein, will discuss an initial approach to park operations and the Greenway corridor zoning process. Executive director Nancy Brennan will also provide a report. The conservancy has taken control of the Greenway from the Turnpike Authority.

Tuesday, 9 am, Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston

EVENT: Tuesday, Nov. 4---AERONAUTICS COMMISSION

The Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission meets “for the sole purpose of going into executive session,” according the Executive Office of Transportation.

Tuesday, 11 am, Conference Room 7, 2nd floor, State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston

EVENT: Tuesday, Nov. 4---BEATTY CAMPAIGN

On election night, Sen. John Kerry’s GOP opponent will gather supporters at Westborough’s Doubletree Hotel as the long-shot candidate hopes to unseat the four-term Democrat.

(Tuesday, 8 pm, Westborough Doubletree, Route 9, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough)

EVENT: Monday, Nov. 3---NEW REGISTRY HOURS

The Registry of Motor Vehicles on Monday will begin opening most of its 35 branches at 9 am, instead of 8:30 am, a cost-cutting measure. Eighteen branches that used to close at 7 pm on Thursdays will also now close at 6 pm and open at 10 am. More info: mass.gov/rmv/branches/index.htm.

EVENT: Monday, Nov. 3---BOARD OF ED ADVISORY COUNCILS

Members from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s 17 advisory councils hear a presentation from board chair Maura Banta and Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester on the board and department’s priorities in the coming year.

(Monday, 10 am, Hogan Campus Center, Holy Cross College, Worcester)

EVENT: Monday, Nov. 3---LEADERSHIP MEETING

LEADERSHIP MEETING: The semi-regular meeting between Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders is on for this week.

(Monday, 3pm, Gov. Patrick’s office)

EVENT: Tuesday, Nov. 4---GOP ELECTION NIGHT PARTY

GOP ELECTION NIGHT PARTY

Tuesday, 8:30 pm, 903 Boylston St., Boston

On Tuesday night, the state GOP holds its official results-watching party at the LIR Irish Pub and Restaurant, where party chairman Peter Torkildsen and former Gov. Paul Cellucci are the featured guests. Cellucci will join the party from 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm. McCain campaign officials will join the GOP at the pub. Limited wireless Internet access will be available.