I am going to have to take a blog day off. Long day in springfield

Right to Life begins in South Dakota

The first state to step to the plate and actually do something about this hot topic:

South Dakota's state senate voted on Wednesday for an abortion ban aimed at giving the conservative-tilting Supreme Court an opening to overturn rulings granting women the right to the procedure.

Only an unlikely veto by Republican Gov. Michael Rounds could prevent the legislation from becoming law, people on both sides of the issue said.

(Hat tip: Mainstream Iowan)

Ethanol Fun time!!

One of the biggest issues facing the country today is the dependancy on foreign oil. Many people are looking toward the farms and the corn of Iowa to help reduce those needs. Well, we may need to look farther...

Ever since farmers started selling their corn to be fermented into alcohol for motor fuel, the ethanol business has wrestled with the question: Is it a waste of energy to make energy from corn?

Recent studies could put that question to rest.

But they also raise a new problem for corn ethanol: It appears to be a lot more energy-efficient — and better for the environment — to make ethanol from corn stalks, rather than the corn itself.

Two previous studies by David Pimentel at Cornell University and Tad Patzek at the University of California-Berkeley concluded that it took more energy to grow corn and process it into ethanol than the alcohol was worth.

This is a great issue facing the nations and it is good to see that both sides of the aisle can agree on something. The research needs to move foward and hopefully will. Everyone has to do their part and continue on the right path toward correction.

Big Government...No good

Dear Iowa government, we would like you to reduce the size of your grip over my life. I know you feel presure from the left to spend, spend, spend, and than take away my rights, but you know, it would not be cool. In fact, please try your hardest to stay out of my life.

Iowa lawmakers are unlikely to ban smoking in the workplace or prohibit teen drivers from using cell phones.

Proposed laws requiring the registration of beer kegs and banning the sale or rental of violent movies to minors also appear to have reached a dead end in the Legislature.

Scores of bills are about to fall by the wayside this week — roughly the midpoint of the 2006 session — as the Legislature winnows its workload in an effort to adjourn by the middle of April.

Stem Cell California Style

Does California understand their role in this society? Honestly folks (Read this):

Human embryonic stem cells are created in the first days after conception and give rise to organs and specialized tissues in the body. Scientists hope someday to use stem cells to replace diseased tissue, but many social conservatives, including President Bush, oppose the work because human embryos are destroyed during research.

When voters approved Proposition 71 in November 2004, creating the institute, stem cell scientists anticipated new traction to a field hamstrung by federal limitations on funding.

The Bush administration caps the federal funding at about $25 million annually and has imposed strict research guidelines that scientists say limit advances.

Proposition 71 authorized the institute to dole out an average of $300 million in research grants each year over the next 10 years. But 15 months later, the agency has yet to hand out a dime because of its legal troubles.

The people of California need to learn to follow the rules of the law that each of the other states do. Stem cell has the potential to be an exciting new science but there needs to be a check on those who yield this amazing power. Limits are not the end of the science but they place a level of respect and obligation upon those who are yielding it.

Olympics

Finally, the Winter Olympics are over. After Bode decided to go hang out on the slopes, the Hockey teams litterally chocking, and the ending of what I thought was a really exciting Ski Jump contest; One event seems like it should just be place it in the summer because it is way to cool:

Luge is one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympic games, and the athletes who race down an icy, high-banked track at up to 90 mph (140 km/h) are a special breed. In this article, we'll learn all about Olympic luge and find out what it takes to finish first.

In the summer months, luge athletes train hard to build upper body muscles through swimming...

I think i found my post swimming sport.....

Iran and the Bomb

With all the news from home, we need to step across the pond (the atlantic ocean) for a brief moment this morning:

TOKYO (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Japan on Monday Tehran would not suspend its atomic research and development, casting doubt over whether a Russian agreement would defuse a crisis over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

On Sunday, Iran's nuclear chief said his nation had reached a "basic" agreement with Russia on a joint venture to enrich uranium, but it was unclear what the deal involved and both Russian and Iranian officials had identified serious obstacles to a full deal.

Last year I read this pretty interesting book named the Persian Puzzle. The book was written by former CIA agent and author of The Threating Storm Kenneth Pollack and gives some interesting background information on the relationship between Tehran and Washington. But the big question that I have is, Can Iran show enough responsibility to yield the awsome power of Nuclear power?

Welcome!!

Hi everybody and welcome to the Loras College Republican Weblog. This Weblog or Blog will be committed to educating those who read this blog about the lives of the Loras College Republicans and the issues facing our lives. We ask, and invite everyone to particapte and really make it your blog, we will just help point you all in the right direction.

Thanks,
George Petruck

This is just a test