Day: March 11, 2012

Pennsylvania Again Saves The World

Consider the thatched hut. The grass roof is primitive but practical. It doesn’t let in rain in but does let out heat — important considerations in sweltering tropical climes.

Tarantulas and scorpions like to live in them, however, and the development of the grasslands to farmland is making the material to build them less abundant.
Now, consider the 3-liter soda bottle. They take up eternal space in landfills and are expensive to recycle.
What to do? To the rescue comes Dr. David Saiia, a professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh who has developed a hand-cranked machine that shreds the bottles into roofing strips that are a big improvement over the thatch.
The strips are attached to bamboo slats and the panels are fixed to the rafters. They last 10 times as long as the organic thatch.
Life has gotten just bit easier for the people of the grasslands.


Pa. Re-examines Adoption Laws

State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) reports that  House Children and Youth Committee held an informational meeting in Harrisburg this week to examine Pennsylvania’s adoption laws and processes, specifically looking at House Bills 449, 451 and 594. 

House Bill 449 would amend the state’s Domestic Relations Code to enhance counseling opportunities for parents unable to pay who are considering relinquishing or terminating their parental rights. 

House Bill 451 would reduce the amount of time a parent can use to revoke his/her consent for an adoption from 30 days to 96 hours. 

House Bill 594 would make extensive changes to the state’s adoption laws, including provisions to clarify issues relating to parental rights, especially for unknown birth fathers; address counseling and legal representation; and outline reimbursement of expenses for birth mothers. 

The bills aim to remove obstacles to adoption, as hundreds of Pennsylvania children are currently waiting long periods of time before being placed in a caring and loving home environment.