BY KATIE QUINONEZ
The Tristate Transit Authority conducted Wednesday its monthly meeting of the board.
Paul Davis, CEO and general manager of the TTA, said ridership for the month of December was down by 582 customers and fare box revenue was down by $1,000.76.
Davis also said Dial-A-Ride ridership was down by 442 customers.
"Considering the weather conditions we have had tis winter, that is not too bad," Davis said.
According to the performance report, bus ridership is up by 10, 163 trips, or .02 percent, and Dial-A-Ride is down by 980 trips, or .1 percent.
The iT bus to Charleston carried an average of 22 people per day during the month of January with a total of 470 passengers.
Board members breathed a sigh of relief when Senate Bill 493 died Wednesday morning. The bill would have allowed the Department of Health and Human Resource to create a request for proposal in order to establish a brokerage system for Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation, said Jennifer Woodall, assistant manager of the TTA.
Operating revenues were about $4,000 more than expected during the month and the 7.4 percent favorable variance was a result of the continued growth of the NEMT revenues, according to the February 2011 chief financials officer's report. Woodall predicts the agency will receive $15,000 or more in NEMT revenue this year.
The 18 transit authorities that make up the West Virginia Public Transit Association were opposed to this bill because it did not allow the participation of WVPTA in the design of the RFP for brokerage services, Woodall said.
TTA received two new Dial-A-Ride vans, both of which exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for lift capacity. The vans can carry three wheelchairs at a time.
TTA board members and transit agencies across the state will attend Transit Day March 7.
Davis and another board member attended the Annual American Public Transportation Association's CEO and General Manager's Seminar in San Diego, Calif. in June 2010. Davis said the seminar provided many networking opportunities. The trip caused TTA corporate expenses for Jan. 26 to Feb. 22, 2011 to be $1,616.93.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tristate Transit Authority board meeting on Wednesday
I will be attending a board meeting for the Tristate Transit Authority Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. I was unable to attain an agenda for the meeting. Paul Davis, the CEO of the TTA, said there have not been any new developments on the horizon for the TTA so I am interested to see what the meeting will consist of and what topics will be discovered. I anticipate them discussing extending the service of the TTA to KineticPark due to the new business that will be opening up there, an orthodontic office.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A report on Lowes Industries
BY KATIE QUINONEZ
Lowe's Industries announced Larry D. Stone would retire from his position as President and Chief Operating Officer of the company June 12, 2011, according to the company's U.S. Security and Exchange Commission 8-K form, which was released Jan. 28, 2011. Stone's decision to retire was not based on a disagreement with the company, according to the 8-K form. According to form E424B2 released Nov. 18, 2010, Lowe's stated its 2.125% notes would mature April 15, 2016 and the 3.750% notes April 15, 2021. The amounts to be registered are $475 million and $525 million respectively. Lowe's stated the use of the net proceeds, totaling at approximately $994 million after deducting estimated offering expenses, will be for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and working capital needs. Lowe's also stated they would use net proceeds to repurchase shares of common stock.
Lowe's Industries announced Larry D. Stone would retire from his position as President and Chief Operating Officer of the company June 12, 2011, according to the company's U.S. Security and Exchange Commission 8-K form, which was released Jan. 28, 2011. Stone's decision to retire was not based on a disagreement with the company, according to the 8-K form. According to form E424B2 released Nov. 18, 2010, Lowe's stated its 2.125% notes would mature April 15, 2016 and the 3.750% notes April 15, 2021. The amounts to be registered are $475 million and $525 million respectively. Lowe's stated the use of the net proceeds, totaling at approximately $994 million after deducting estimated offering expenses, will be for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and working capital needs. Lowe's also stated they would use net proceeds to repurchase shares of common stock.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Latino stereotypes continue to plague society
While many like to believe that the world has made tremendous strides in putting an end to racism, it is still present in the media. But, are these simply isolated incidents or does the media use these stereotypes to perpetuate an image of a certain group?
In an episode of Judge Judy, both the plaintiffs and defendants are Hispanic. Both cases were related to one incident, in which the group was involved in a drunken fight. Some might argue that this perpetuates the stereotype of a "drunken Mexican," but I firmly believe this could have and has happened to every other racial ethnicity. The first set of plaintiffs and defendants were both females. One seemed to be quieter than the other and was either nervous or didn't speak English as well as her adversary. Judge Judy continuously picked on the girl an insulted her intelligence. One thing I found interesting was that Judge Judy did not attack the defendant as much as the plaintiff, but she awarded the plaintiff with $5,000 in settlement money. The defendant had a much lighter complexion than the plaintiff and I think this must be taken into account as well.
In the same episode and in the following case, the plaintiff was a Hispanic woman and the defendant was a Hispanic man. While the previous case showed a great deal of racial stereotypes, this showed some gender stereotypes. While the male defendant was being charged with beating up the female plaintiff, Judge Judy again sided with the defendant and tried to attack the plaintiff. Even when the male defendant spoke out of turn, she didn't scold him as she did the females involved in the case. Judge Judy seemed to favor the lighter-skinned female and the male. However, the entire appeal of Judge Judy's program is that she scolds people who do stupid things. Was it completely random that she scolded the individuals she did or is Judge Judy a closet xenophobe? I think it was the former. Anyone could say that this scenario only strengthens stereotypes of Hispanics, but the same scenario has occurred with any ethnicity.
The two hosts of Top Gear, a UK automotive show, have been pegged as xenophobes after making offensive comments directed at Mexicans and using stereotypes about the race as reasons not to by Mexican-made cars. The host, Richard Hammond, said Mexicans were "lazy, feckless, flatulent and fat." The Mexican ambassador to London Eduardo Medina-More Icaza demanded that Hammond issue an apology after his statement. This is a valid concern on the part of Icaza. The comments blatantly targeted a particular group and insulted them with outrageous remarks. Unlike the case with Judge Judy, in which the scenario could have had any type of ethnicity, Hammond directly targeted Hispanics.
I am fully aware that stereotypes are present in the media I am exposed to every day. However, I don't think these two cases could be considered related. In one instance, it was simply chance that Hispanics were the parties present in the case. They were portrayed as alcoholics and violent, but so is the white male in programs such as Jerry Springer. If the dominant majority perspective is supposed to share these same characteristics, then I don't believe it is a racial stereotype. However, in the case with Hammond, he made regrettable, racist remarks and should issue an apology for them.
In an episode of Judge Judy, both the plaintiffs and defendants are Hispanic. Both cases were related to one incident, in which the group was involved in a drunken fight. Some might argue that this perpetuates the stereotype of a "drunken Mexican," but I firmly believe this could have and has happened to every other racial ethnicity. The first set of plaintiffs and defendants were both females. One seemed to be quieter than the other and was either nervous or didn't speak English as well as her adversary. Judge Judy continuously picked on the girl an insulted her intelligence. One thing I found interesting was that Judge Judy did not attack the defendant as much as the plaintiff, but she awarded the plaintiff with $5,000 in settlement money. The defendant had a much lighter complexion than the plaintiff and I think this must be taken into account as well.
In the same episode and in the following case, the plaintiff was a Hispanic woman and the defendant was a Hispanic man. While the previous case showed a great deal of racial stereotypes, this showed some gender stereotypes. While the male defendant was being charged with beating up the female plaintiff, Judge Judy again sided with the defendant and tried to attack the plaintiff. Even when the male defendant spoke out of turn, she didn't scold him as she did the females involved in the case. Judge Judy seemed to favor the lighter-skinned female and the male. However, the entire appeal of Judge Judy's program is that she scolds people who do stupid things. Was it completely random that she scolded the individuals she did or is Judge Judy a closet xenophobe? I think it was the former. Anyone could say that this scenario only strengthens stereotypes of Hispanics, but the same scenario has occurred with any ethnicity.
The two hosts of Top Gear, a UK automotive show, have been pegged as xenophobes after making offensive comments directed at Mexicans and using stereotypes about the race as reasons not to by Mexican-made cars. The host, Richard Hammond, said Mexicans were "lazy, feckless, flatulent and fat." The Mexican ambassador to London Eduardo Medina-More Icaza demanded that Hammond issue an apology after his statement. This is a valid concern on the part of Icaza. The comments blatantly targeted a particular group and insulted them with outrageous remarks. Unlike the case with Judge Judy, in which the scenario could have had any type of ethnicity, Hammond directly targeted Hispanics.
I am fully aware that stereotypes are present in the media I am exposed to every day. However, I don't think these two cases could be considered related. In one instance, it was simply chance that Hispanics were the parties present in the case. They were portrayed as alcoholics and violent, but so is the white male in programs such as Jerry Springer. If the dominant majority perspective is supposed to share these same characteristics, then I don't believe it is a racial stereotype. However, in the case with Hammond, he made regrettable, racist remarks and should issue an apology for them.
The nation of a minority
BY KATIE QUINONEZ
Maria Shriver's A Woman's Nation Changes Everything is an accurate depiction of the world and its continuous push toward gender equality.
Shriver begins the book with the chapter titled "A Woman's Nation." She begins the chapter with a description of her mother, Eunice Kennedy. A woman who already had a bit of a social background, being a member of the prominent, political family of the Kennedy's, Eunice taught her daughter that she would always have the same opportunity as boys and to never give up. Eunice greatly influenced her daughter's views on women.
One astounding statistic was women are about to account for 50% of the country's payroll for the first time in history. This is a tremendous stride for women. 40% of women were recognized as being the breadwinners of their home in 2009! This is huge in a nation where the picture perfect, all-American family was depicted as a hardworking father and a stay at home mother who never held an occupation, with the exception of clerical work in attempts to meet a husband.
Women now earn 60% of all college degrees and 50% of the Ph D's. In regard to education, the amount of women exceeds the amount of men who earn degrees! This is critical considering women are still considered a minority. If women are becoming more and more equal to men, why do they still feel underrepresented in the media? If this is now a women's nation like the report, why are they not represented?
The report delves into a 1963 report titled American Women. Th report was a product of the Commission on the Status of Women, formed by former president John F. Kennedy, Shriver's uncle. Recommendations of the report consisted of equal pay for equal work for both gender and enhanced educational opportunities for women. While women have received the latter, women still only make 70% of what a man makes. These recommendations were given almost 50 years ago! If this is a woman's nation, why are we still being treated like second-class citizens in a workforce that we make up 50% of?
This book is inspiring to women, with a hopeful message that we are advancing in society. It does however beg many questions regarding our lack of representation and the unfair treatment amongst genders, despite the fact that women account 50% of the workforce population. Women are the largest minority group in the entire world and this is their nation.
Maria Shriver's A Woman's Nation Changes Everything is an accurate depiction of the world and its continuous push toward gender equality.
Shriver begins the book with the chapter titled "A Woman's Nation." She begins the chapter with a description of her mother, Eunice Kennedy. A woman who already had a bit of a social background, being a member of the prominent, political family of the Kennedy's, Eunice taught her daughter that she would always have the same opportunity as boys and to never give up. Eunice greatly influenced her daughter's views on women.
One astounding statistic was women are about to account for 50% of the country's payroll for the first time in history. This is a tremendous stride for women. 40% of women were recognized as being the breadwinners of their home in 2009! This is huge in a nation where the picture perfect, all-American family was depicted as a hardworking father and a stay at home mother who never held an occupation, with the exception of clerical work in attempts to meet a husband.
Women now earn 60% of all college degrees and 50% of the Ph D's. In regard to education, the amount of women exceeds the amount of men who earn degrees! This is critical considering women are still considered a minority. If women are becoming more and more equal to men, why do they still feel underrepresented in the media? If this is now a women's nation like the report, why are they not represented?
The report delves into a 1963 report titled American Women. Th report was a product of the Commission on the Status of Women, formed by former president John F. Kennedy, Shriver's uncle. Recommendations of the report consisted of equal pay for equal work for both gender and enhanced educational opportunities for women. While women have received the latter, women still only make 70% of what a man makes. These recommendations were given almost 50 years ago! If this is a woman's nation, why are we still being treated like second-class citizens in a workforce that we make up 50% of?
This book is inspiring to women, with a hopeful message that we are advancing in society. It does however beg many questions regarding our lack of representation and the unfair treatment amongst genders, despite the fact that women account 50% of the workforce population. Women are the largest minority group in the entire world and this is their nation.
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