I am advising a student who will be interning at WWF-Hong Kong. In the process of filling out some paperwork, the travel document asks for “Marital Status.” You can check Married, Divorced, Separated, and Widowed…but you can also check “Bachelor/Spinster.” I don’t think she was happy about checking Spinster.
April 7, 2011
April 7, 2011
WI Supreme Ct Race: Kloppenburg by 204 votes? Prosser by 40?
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under UncategorizedLeave a Comment
April 7, 2011
Senate Rejects Bills to Limit E.P.A.’s Emissions Programs
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under UncategorizedLeave a Comment
April 6, 2011
In case you are having trouble thinking up Property Exam questions…
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under UncategorizedLeave a Comment
…Harvard’s Property exam in 1871. See pages 1-2.
http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/17936031?n=1&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.25&printThumbnails=no
April 6, 2011
Wisconsin Elections Update: Kloppenburg leads by 204 votes
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under UncategorizedLeave a Comment
Yesterday, I live blogged the Wisconsin Elections. I went to bed at 1:04am with the Supreme Court race too close to call. I received an email at 1:15am that 8,000 absentee ballots in Milwaukee had yet to be counted, all votes were counted in Republican-dominated Waukesha & Washington counties, one third of vote from Dem Eau Clare county yet to be counted, and Wausau had yet to be counted (likely 50/50). This all favored Kloppenburg, and the Prosser campaign was described to me as “tense.”
Currently the race remains too close to call:
Supreme Court, 100% Reporting
Joanne Kloppenburg, 740,090, 50%
David Prosser (inc), 739,886, 50%
A recount is likely, as I now see no precincts outstanding. Read more here about the race, and the AP will not call the race.
April 6, 2011
Czarnezki on Treehugger.com
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Announcements, Books, EnvironmentLeave a Comment
Join BookHugger in Reading Everyday Environmentalism and Get 30% Off Cover Price
This month, BookHugger presents Everyday Environmentalism: Law, Nature, and Individual Behavior by Jason Czarnezki. Readers can order a discounted copy today to get ready for the live chat with Czarnezki on April 21 at 3pm EST.
In Everyday Environmentalism, Czarnezki investigates the individual decisions that have the worst environmental impacts, along with the ecological costs of food choices and the environmental costs of sprawl. In the process, he reveals how public policy can both respect and influence personal choice to drive environmental change.
To get the book at a 30% discount, visit Island Press via this link and use the coupon code 2HUG.
Then, join Jason Czarnezki for a live chat on April 21 at 3pm EST.
April 5, 2011
Live Blogging the Wisconsin Elections: Abele wins Milw Co Exec; Supreme Court Race Too Close to Call
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Politics1 Comment
8:52pm EDT: I’m a Wisconsin native, and now that the NY Times has declared that today’s Wisconsin elections are a “referendum on the Governor,” I thought I’d do some live blogging. There are two key races in Wisconsin today. First, the Supreme Court race between incumbent Justice David Prosser and the challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg. (For the record, I oppose elections for judges.) And, second, the race for Milwaukee County Executive, a nonpartison race, between philanthropist Chris Abele and Republican State Representative Jeff Stone. More details here.
I have no clue who will win these races, given the political turmoil in Wisconsin and the shifting demographics of southeastern Wisconsin, other than predict that the races will be close.
Polls close in Wisconsin in 8 minutes.
9:00pm EDT: Polls have closed in Wisconsin.
9:04pm: Another reason judges should not be elected. See here.
9:21pm: Some Wisconsin towns and cities ran out of ballots.
9:23pm:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 1% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 9,985 | 60% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 6,629 | 40% |
9:26pm:
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 0% | |
| Chris Abele | 383 | 56% | |
| Jeff Stone | 302 | 44% |
9:29pm:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 2% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 16,868 | 53% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 14,828 | 47% |
9:37pm:
| County | Precincts | D. Prosser (i) | J. Kloppenburg |
| Total | 155/3630 | 44,267 49% |
45,379 51% |
9:40pm:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 6% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 55,415 | 50% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 55,300 | 50% |
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 1% | |
| Jeff Stone | 2,054 | 60% | |
| Chris Abele | 1,353 | 40% |
9:45pm: With 8% reporting, Supreme Court race still too close to call. Prosser has taken 234 vote lead.
9:51pm:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 9% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 101,156 | 51% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 97,422 | 49% |
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 2% | |
| Jeff Stone | 3,023 | 57% | |
| Chris Abele | 2,285 | 43% |
9:55pm: 11% reporting. Prosser 51%, Kloppenburg 49%
10:00pm: Milwaukee County Executive, 7%: Chris Abele, 7,797, 58% /Jeff Stone, 5,684, 42%
10:02pm: Prosser maintains small lead with 13% reporting.
10:07pm:
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 14% | |
| Chris Abele | 15,585 | 60% | |
| Jeff Stone | 10,487 | 40% |
10:12pm: I’ve been trying multiple websites for the quickest results. It looks like this website is doing the best: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/118885959.html
10:13: With 17% reporting and over 300,000 votes in the Supreme Court race is too close to call. Abele has opened up a large lead in the County Exec race, but I wish I knew what districts were reporting.
10:16pm:
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 27% | |
| Chris Abele | 28,678 | 61% | |
| Jeff Stone | 18,216 | 39% |
10:30pm:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 29% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 237,031 | 51% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 225,445 | 49% |
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 44% | |
| Chris Abele | 52,344 | 60% | |
| Jeff Stone | 34,565 | 40% |
10:31pm: So far, these results are good news for the Obama re-election campaign. A too-close-call statewide race and a, so far, “democratic” lead in the non-partison Milwaukee County race is good news from Dems as voter turnout among Dems in Milwaukee will be much higher in a presidential election year.
10:33pm: Are we in for a long wait on the Supreme Court race result?
10:38pm: Abele up 60-40 with 55% reporting. Supreme Court still at 50-50%.
10:44pm:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 38% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 319,941 | 52% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 301,187 | 48% |
10:47pm:
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 60% | |
| Chris Abele | 74,319 | 61% | |
| Jeff Stone | 48,433 | 39% |
10:53pm. I’m slight confused right now, or the Stone campaign was very wrong about their chances. See here.
10:56pm: Abele maintains significant lead with 65% reporting.
10:57pm: “We’re feeling it’s very close and it may be a long night,” said Kloppenburg campaign manager.
11:04pm: Supreme Court back to 50-50%. Abele still up.
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 77% | |
| Chris Abele | 94,151 | 61% | |
| Jeff Stone | 60,037 | 39% |
11:06pm: CHRIS ABELE PROJECTED WINNER IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXEC RACE.
11:08pm:
| Milwaukee County Executive | REPORTING | 81% | |
 |
Chris Abele | 101,509 | 62% |
| Jeff Stone | 62,971 | 38% |
Results from JSONline.
11:09pm: Supreme Court race still very tight.
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 55% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 438,201 | 50% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 434,445 | 50% |
11:10pm: Again, this is all very good news for WI state Dems, and has to concern any legislators that may be potentially recalled on both sides of the aisle, given the tone and turnout of a spring nonpartison election. Still good news for the Dems in WI in 2012.
11:14pm: Article on the Abele win. See here. See here too.
11:16pm: Very high turnout. And 70% (!!!) turnout in Madison.
11:19pm: Report from a Milwaukee friend, “Jeff Stone gave what seems to be a concession speech just after 10:00pm [central time].”
11:25pm: It looks like the Supreme Court race won’t be able to be called for some time.
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 66% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 515,891 | 50% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 514,475 | 50% |
11:42pm:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 73% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 559,970 | 50% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 553,243 | 50% |
11:46pm: 76% reporting, Supreme Court race still close to call. My reports on the ground tell me that half the Madison votes have yet to be counted (good for Kloppenburg as she’s getting 72% of votes in Dane County), and still many outstanding votes is Waukesha County (good for Prosser as he’s getting 73% of the vote there). Kloppenburg only getting 57% of vote in Milwaukee county. Dems usually need 60% of the vote in Milwaukee County to win a statewide race. Will the turnout in Dane County be enough for her to keep a slight lead at the end?
11:50pm: Lot of Waukesha vote out yet (very good for Prosser).
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 78% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 583,113 | 50% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 575,930 | 50% |
11:52pm: Even the campaigns aren’t sure who’ll win this thing. See here.
11:54pm: Too close to call.
11:57: Kloppenburg up 51-49% with 82% reporting.
12:04am: Kloppenburg still up 51-49% with 85% in.
12:10am: Race tightening. 50-50%, less than 5000 vote difference with 88% of precincts in.
12:13pm: Unrelated to elections update from Vermont – it’s snowing, and I still have 3 feet of snow in my backyard.
12:14am:
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 90% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 670,661 | 50% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 668,985 | 50% |
12:24am: 92% reporting, Kloppenburg up be less than 2000 votes.
12:30am: still too close to call, but Prosser takes small lead.
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 92% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 687,274 | 50% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 686,683 | 50% |
12:41am: updated results.
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 95% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 703,414 | 50% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 701,624 | 50% |
12:45am: Prosser up by less than 2000 votes with 97% reporting.
12:49am: Here are the county by county results. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/by_county/WI_Supreme_Court_0405.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS
1:04am: Bedtime. Below are the current results. I wonder if there might be a recount.
| Supreme Court | REPORTING | 97% | |
| David Prosser (inc) | 724,355 | 50% | |
| Joanne Kloppenburg | 722,518 | 50% |
X
April 5, 2011
President Would Veto House Legislation Stripping EPA of GHG Regulatory Authority
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under UncategorizedLeave a Comment
OMB released “A Statement of Administration Policy” stating:
The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 910, which would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) common-sense steps under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to protect Americans from harmful air pollution. H.R. 910 would also increase the Nation’s dependence on oil and other fossil fuels as well as contradict the scientific consensus on climate change.
If the President is presented with this legislation, which would seriously roll back the CAA authority, harm Americans’ health by taking away our ability to decrease carbon pollution, and undercut fuel efficiency standards that will save Americans money at the pump while decreasing our dependence on oil, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.
The underlines for emphasis are in the original.
April 5, 2011
Guangzhou, China, wins 2011 Sustainable Transport Award
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under UncategorizedLeave a Comment
As many know, I was a 2009-2010 Fulbright Scholar in Guangzhou, China. One of the highlights of living in Guangzhou was its fantastic subway system. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy has now awarded Guangzhou the “2011 Sustainable Transport Award.” Congratulations.
April 5, 2011
What to do about Nuclear Waste and Yucca Mountain?
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Uncategorized[3] Comments
“Republicans Open Inquiry on Yucca Mountain Shutdown.” See http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/republicans-open-inquiry-on-yucca-mountain-shutdown/
This raises the issue about what we should do with nuclear waste. I have a basic question: Regardless of political opposition, where is the safest and best place, from a scientific standpoint, to store nuclear waste? Is that place Yucca Mountain.
JASON J. CZARNEZKI 