Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This research looks at the impact of the various alternatives to the now-outlawed blanket primary. I examine the ongoing debate in three Western states: Washington, California, and Alaska, as well as the various theoretical arguments in favor of the three main alternatives to the blanket primary: the “Top Two” primary, the semi-closed primary, and the open primary. The main areas of inquiry are the likely impact on candidate selection, voter turnout, party registration, and the viability of third party or independent candidates.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Supporters of the Federal "Tort Reform" legislation enacted in 2005 marketed it as a panacea for runaway "frivolous lawsuits" clogging the courts and threatening to bankrupt the corporate community. Critical analysis suggests data do not support these allegations. Moreover the measure provides corporate enrichment while denying workers, and consumers access to couts to litigate wrongs and wrongful action. in such critical areas as product liability, workplace safety, andf working conditions. Provisions shifting them to state jurisdictions effectively eliminate traditional Class Actions, and chill overall efforts to secure justice for the middle and lower classes through the courts in a recent time a main stay in obtaining civil, constituinal and legal rights in the market, the workplace, and society. This "Tort Reform" may best be seen as an initiative designed to return America to the early 20th century where owners and corporations enjoyd virtual immunity
from social and legal responsibility for defective products, workers endangerment and exploitation, and freedom from governmental interference from the corporate operation. and profits.Impact of legislation on
consumers, workers, and marginalized groups in society is examined. Implications for regressive sea changes in American government, the courts, rights, and societal equality are discussed.

Publication Type: Oral Presentation
Abstract: Soil erosion from land disturbing activities has been recognized as a major source of water quality problems. New Federal and State regulations are requiring improved erosion and sediment control technologies. Results of previous researches proven that using compost blankets is effective in reducing splash and interrill erosion under rainfall conditions and this technique had been accepted as an erosion and stormwater control BMP. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness and limitation of using compost blankets to control erosion under concentrated flow conditions, which are found frequently at slope areas. Objective of this project was to determine the effectiveness of compost blankets under concentrated flow conditions, by investigating the erosion model, critical shear stress and erodibility parameters of compost blankets. Two generally used compost materials (Yard Waste Compost (YWC) and Commercial Erosion Control Compost (CECC)) were tested and a Cecil Soil (CS) was used as control. Compost materials and soil were laid on a 4 m long, 1 m wide and 0.7 m high flume as 5 cm blankets. Four sequent flow rates (12 - 36 L/min) and five slopes (1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 10%) were used. The results indicated that the YWC and CS shared a similar erosion pattern, under which a rill was easily formed and erosion continued to the bottom as inflow rate or duration of time increased. Concentrated flows were usually transformed into sheet flow on CECC; the large mulch materials dammed and ponded water, which encouraged infiltration, reduced shear stress, delayed the formation of a rill and thus resulted in undetectable erosion rate under our experimental conditions. While the erosion process on CS or YWC could be represented by shear stress model reasonably, the erosion mechanism on CECC was highly related to its physical properties and a specific model is necessary to develop to represent its erosion. CECC is more effective than YWC in reducing rill erosion under concentrated flow conditions.