Wal-Mart has changed its definition of "immediate family" to include same-sex partners.The fall 2004 survey of entering Berkeley students found that 51.2 percent of them identified as liberal, compared with 12 percent conservative and 36.8 percent "middle of the road."
That's a jump from the earlier President George Bush administration in 1990, when liberal freshmen outnumbered conservatives 42.9 percent to 17.7 percent, and especially from 1982, the Reagan administration heyday of conservatism, when liberal freshmen were 32.9 percent to the conservatives' 20. 8 percent.
The latest findings approach the results of 1972, when anti-war protests still flared on campus and when 56.5 percent identified as liberal and 10.5 percent said they were conservative.
Berkeley freshmen also diverge more sharply from the national average today than they did in 1990, 1982 or 1972. Nationally, liberal freshmen edged out conservatives 27 percent to 22.7 percent for the class entering in fall 2004, compared with 20.7 percent liberal and 19.4 percent conservative in 1982. In 1972, freshmen nationwide were 35.2 percent liberal and 16.6 percent conservative.
The nation's largest employer is expanding the definition of "immediate family" in its ethics policy to include an employee's same-sex partner.
The Wal-Mart Stores Inc. policy change -- disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday -- accounts for the laws in some states that recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions, officials said.
(Even if they were forced to, it's still good
news!)
Two of Zarqawi's lieutenants were captured in Iraq.
(Of course, we don't know when this happened or why they're announcing it now... think it has something to do with the elections? Nah...)Iraqi authorities trying to safeguard Sunday's election said on Friday two leaders of al Qaeda's network in Iraq, including its head of Baghdad operations, had been arrested.
Kassim Daoud, minister of state for national security, gave few details of the arrests, but said capturing the members of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group had made Iraq safer ahead of the polls.
Zarqawi's group has claimed many of the deadliest suicide attacks in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and has beheaded several foreign hostages. Washington says Zarqawi is its most dangerous foe in Iraq and has offered $25 million for information leading to his death or capture.
Schwarzegger's popularity is starting to erode (and that was before this A&E movie aired) because people don't like what he's doing.
Hey, every little bit helps...The poll found that voters care more about three issues -- education, the state budget and the economy. But they gave Schwarzenegger high marks only on the economy.
Fifty-five percent of voters said they are not satisfied with the governor's proposed spending plan, compared to 38 percent who are satisfied. Last year, 57 percent were happy with the governor's budget plan, while 30 percent were unhappy.
The latest poll found that 51 percent disapprove of Schwarzenegger's efforts for schools, while 56 percent said they like what the governor has done to improve the economy.
Thirty-five percent of voters said they would rather have the Legislature's Democratic majority making the tough funding choices with 29 percent saying Schwarzenegger should make the budget choices. A year ago, voters said they preferred Schwarzenegger to set the budget priorities over Democrats by 33 percent to 27 percent.
