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<p>PHILIPPINESThis DayThe Vatican has named a temporary administrator of a diocese in the Philippine capital whose well-loved bishop is being investigated for alleged sexual harassment, Church officials announced yesterday.Bishop Antonio Tobias will take the place of Teodoro Bacani Jr. in Novaliches district as the latter is on vacation in the U.S. to visit his family, while the charges are being looked into by the Pope, according to Antonio Franco, Papal Nuncio to Manila.``Bishop Tobias will run the diocese for the time being. We are dealing with this problem of the Church. We are all concerned. We hope that there will be a solution that will be good for the person and the community,'' he told reporters in a briefing.``The diocese will be run by the Apostolic Administrator even when Bishop Bacani returns. The presence of the Apostolic Administrator is meant to facilitate better consideration and fair evaluation of all aspects of the situation, without pressure of any kind from any sector, in an atmosphere of serenity and impartiality.''</p> | Sex Scandal: Vatican Replaces Bishop | false | https://poynter.org/news/sex-scandal-vatican-replaces-bishop | 2003-06-22 | 2least
| Sex Scandal: Vatican Replaces Bishop
<p>PHILIPPINESThis DayThe Vatican has named a temporary administrator of a diocese in the Philippine capital whose well-loved bishop is being investigated for alleged sexual harassment, Church officials announced yesterday.Bishop Antonio Tobias will take the place of Teodoro Bacani Jr. in Novaliches district as the latter is on vacation in the U.S. to visit his family, while the charges are being looked into by the Pope, according to Antonio Franco, Papal Nuncio to Manila.``Bishop Tobias will run the diocese for the time being. We are dealing with this problem of the Church. We are all concerned. We hope that there will be a solution that will be good for the person and the community,'' he told reporters in a briefing.``The diocese will be run by the Apostolic Administrator even when Bishop Bacani returns. The presence of the Apostolic Administrator is meant to facilitate better consideration and fair evaluation of all aspects of the situation, without pressure of any kind from any sector, in an atmosphere of serenity and impartiality.''</p> | 599,600 |
<p>Almost three weeks ago, Donald Trump rolled out his plan for the future of America’s health care. The Left reacted in the most predictable way possible, by making absurd claims like “Trump just made rape a pre-existing condition” and by calling for a universal health care system.</p>
<p>This led to a resurgence from Bernie Sanders supporters, who re-endorsed his “Medicare for all” slogan, his abysmal health care plan that would attempt to be funded through (you guessed it) increased taxes on the rich, an increase in capital gains taxes, and health care premiums paid by employers.</p>
<p>Of course, what this fails to take into account are the potential ramifications of raising the rates, as well as the fact that Sanders’ plan would inevitably end up like almost every other universal health care system: overburdened and struggling.</p>
<p>Imperial College professor Brian Jarman's 2013 study found that death rates in the National Health Service (NHS) in the U.K. were 45 percent higher than in American hospitals. A large number of those deaths could have been avoided, according to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which concluded that 750 patients a month or 1/28 die from lack of care or mistakes that could have been prevented within the NHS. This is without mentioning the shortages in workers, with the number of nurses declining by 50 percent between 2000 and 2014. The U.K. is not alone in this; Canada and the Scandinavian countries have experienced very similar problems even with extremely high taxes and an abundance of natural resources that fuel their economy.</p>
<p>So how does a country like America with a population where 28.4 million people were uninsured as of March 2017, rectify its shortcomings?</p>
<p>It should all start with a reality check; health care is a commodity provided by a third party, not a human right. The sooner governments and individuals realize this, the better.</p>
<p>Health care is like food: humans need it to survive, but even though it can be a necessity, you still can’t morally steal food. if everyone who needed food stole it, there would be no incentive for businesses to produce and provide food.</p>
<p>By the same token, when health care is treated as a right, individuals can demand a doctor treat them at any given price, which not only violates the doctor's right to charge for their services, which is immoral, but also de-incentivizes jobs in health care due to the inevitably low pay that accommodates this, reducing the incentive for someone to spend many years and huge funds training to practice medicine.</p>
<p>America should adopt a system of privatization, where competition within the health care’s free market is encouraged, not regulated as it is now.</p>
<p>One argument against privatized health care (and for Universal Health Care) is that insurance companies will continue to discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions. What the argument fails to take into account is that 90 percent of health care policies cover pre-existing conditions, as shown by health care expert Avik Roy. The free market has created a system by which those with employer-based coverage don't need screening because the insurance is purchased in bulk by the employer. For those with employment-based coverage (currently roughly 50 percent of those with insurance), pre-existing condition exclusions can only be triggered if the client has had health insurance for less than 12 months. This encourages and rewards those who buy long-term medical coverage (which promotes good life choices and planning) as opposed to those that only purchase insurance when they get ill.</p>
<p>If we want short-term, rubbish but available health care we could opt for a universal system. But if we want a long-term, affordable and high-quality health care system that is cheap and relies on individual responsibility, protects individual rights and incorporates basic supply and demand economics, then privatization is the way to go.</p> | Why The U.S. Should Privatize Health Care | true | https://dailywire.com/news/16895/why-us-should-privatize-health-care-michael-nolan | 2017-05-26 | 0right
| Why The U.S. Should Privatize Health Care
<p>Almost three weeks ago, Donald Trump rolled out his plan for the future of America’s health care. The Left reacted in the most predictable way possible, by making absurd claims like “Trump just made rape a pre-existing condition” and by calling for a universal health care system.</p>
<p>This led to a resurgence from Bernie Sanders supporters, who re-endorsed his “Medicare for all” slogan, his abysmal health care plan that would attempt to be funded through (you guessed it) increased taxes on the rich, an increase in capital gains taxes, and health care premiums paid by employers.</p>
<p>Of course, what this fails to take into account are the potential ramifications of raising the rates, as well as the fact that Sanders’ plan would inevitably end up like almost every other universal health care system: overburdened and struggling.</p>
<p>Imperial College professor Brian Jarman's 2013 study found that death rates in the National Health Service (NHS) in the U.K. were 45 percent higher than in American hospitals. A large number of those deaths could have been avoided, according to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which concluded that 750 patients a month or 1/28 die from lack of care or mistakes that could have been prevented within the NHS. This is without mentioning the shortages in workers, with the number of nurses declining by 50 percent between 2000 and 2014. The U.K. is not alone in this; Canada and the Scandinavian countries have experienced very similar problems even with extremely high taxes and an abundance of natural resources that fuel their economy.</p>
<p>So how does a country like America with a population where 28.4 million people were uninsured as of March 2017, rectify its shortcomings?</p>
<p>It should all start with a reality check; health care is a commodity provided by a third party, not a human right. The sooner governments and individuals realize this, the better.</p>
<p>Health care is like food: humans need it to survive, but even though it can be a necessity, you still can’t morally steal food. if everyone who needed food stole it, there would be no incentive for businesses to produce and provide food.</p>
<p>By the same token, when health care is treated as a right, individuals can demand a doctor treat them at any given price, which not only violates the doctor's right to charge for their services, which is immoral, but also de-incentivizes jobs in health care due to the inevitably low pay that accommodates this, reducing the incentive for someone to spend many years and huge funds training to practice medicine.</p>
<p>America should adopt a system of privatization, where competition within the health care’s free market is encouraged, not regulated as it is now.</p>
<p>One argument against privatized health care (and for Universal Health Care) is that insurance companies will continue to discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions. What the argument fails to take into account is that 90 percent of health care policies cover pre-existing conditions, as shown by health care expert Avik Roy. The free market has created a system by which those with employer-based coverage don't need screening because the insurance is purchased in bulk by the employer. For those with employment-based coverage (currently roughly 50 percent of those with insurance), pre-existing condition exclusions can only be triggered if the client has had health insurance for less than 12 months. This encourages and rewards those who buy long-term medical coverage (which promotes good life choices and planning) as opposed to those that only purchase insurance when they get ill.</p>
<p>If we want short-term, rubbish but available health care we could opt for a universal system. But if we want a long-term, affordable and high-quality health care system that is cheap and relies on individual responsibility, protects individual rights and incorporates basic supply and demand economics, then privatization is the way to go.</p> | 599,601 |
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<p>Here are featured recipes: Mushroom Bolognese with Whole Wheat Penne, which boosts fiber without sacrificing flavor; One Pot Beef Stew, which uses lean cuts of beef and portion control to hold down the calories; Roasted Vegetable Lasagna is a Heart Smart version of a great comfort food, and it’s one you can make for a crowd; Chicken With Cherry Balsamic Glaze; and Broiled Salmon with Yogurt Sauce, a flavor-packed and easy-to-make recipe.</p>
<p>All the recipes were created by Darlene Zimmerman, MS, RD, for Heart Smart and tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.</p>
<p>KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTThe Heart Smart one-pot beef stew uses lean cuts of beef.</p>
<p>ONE POT BEEF STEW</p>
<p>Serves 6</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total time: 2 hours, 30 minutes</p>
<p>1 pound flat iron steak or lean beef stew meat, cut into ½-inch cubes</p>
<p>3 tablespoons all-purpose flour</p>
<p>1 tablespoon canola oil</p>
<p>¼ cup sherry</p>
<p>1 cup fat-free, reduced-sodium beef broth</p>
<p>2 cups onion, cut into ½-inch chunks</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>2 cloves minced garlic</p>
<p>5 carrots, peeled and sliced</p>
<p>4 celery ribs, sliced</p>
<p>1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, quartered</p>
<p>1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained</p>
<p>2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce</p>
<p>½ teaspoon dried thyme</p>
<p>1 teaspoon paprika</p>
<p>2 bay leaves</p>
<p>½ teaspoon ground black pepper</p>
<p>1 tablespoon cornstarch</p>
<p>2 tablespoons cold water</p>
<p>½ teaspoon salt</p>
<p>Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.</p>
<p>Coat beef with flour, shaking off excess. In a large Dutch oven or other stovetop and oven-safe pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef and sauté until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove beef from pot.</p>
<p>Add the sherry and broth to the pot, loosening the bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, paprika, bay leaves and black pepper. Add browned beef.</p>
<p>Stir to combine, cover and place in the oven for about 2 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Remove from the oven and place on stovetop.</p>
<p>In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the cornstarch and water until dissolved. If you want to thicken the stew, mix the cornstarch mixture into the stew and allow to thicken, stirring constantly, over medium heat. Stir in the salt and remove bay leaves. Each serving yields about 1 cup.</p>
<p>serving note: You can serve this stew on its own or with a crusty multigrain baguette, yolk-free egg noodles or brown rice.</p>
<p>COOK’S NOTE: Place the flat iron steak in the freezer for 20 minutes to make it easier to cut into even cubes. Patting the meat dry with paper towel before browning helps develop a nice sear on the beef cubes, sealing in the juices.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 237 calories (29 percent from fat), 7 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 22 g carbohydrates, 19 g protein, 412 mg sodium, 37 mg cholesterol, 61 mg calcium, 4 g fiber.</p>
<p>SUSAN TUSA/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTChicken with cherry balsamic glaze is only 354 calories.</p>
<p>CHICKEN WITH CHERRY BALSAMIC GLAZE</p>
<p>Serves 4</p>
<p>Preparation time: 5 minutes / Total time: 30 minutes</p>
<p>1 tablespoon trans fat-free margarine</p>
<p>1 tablespoon olive oil</p>
<p>¼ cup all-purpose flour</p>
<p>½ teaspoon salt, divided</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided</p>
<p>4 (4 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to ¼-inch thickness</p>
<p>½ cup cherry preserves</p>
<p>2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar</p>
<p>2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted</p>
<p>In a large nonstick skillet, heat the margarine and oil over medium heat until margarine melts.</p>
<p>In a shallow dish or pie plate, combine the flour, ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Dredge the chicken breasts in flour and sauté until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side.</p>
<p>Remove the chicken to a serving platter and keep warm. In a small saucepan, heat the cherry preserves and balsamic vinegar until warm. Season chicken breasts with remaining salt and pepper, top with cherry sauce and sprinkle with toasted almonds.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 354 calories (25 percent from fat), 10 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 36 g carbohydrates, 28 g protein, 337 mg sodium, 72 mg cholesterol, 32 mg calcium, 1 g fiber.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>MARY SCHROEDER/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTMushroom bolognese with whole wheat penne pasta boosts fiber — and flavor.</p>
<p>MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE WITH WHOLE WHEAT PENNE</p>
<p>Serves 6</p>
<p>Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total time: 1 hour</p>
<p>2 tablespoons olive oil</p>
<p>1 medium red onion, finely chopped</p>
<p>3 carrots, finely chopped</p>
<p>2 celery ribs, finely chopped</p>
<p>3 garlic cloves, minced</p>
<p>1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, coarsely chopped</p>
<p>¾ cup dry red wine</p>
<p>1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste</p>
<p>1 (14.5-ounce) can fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth</p>
<p>½ cup fat-free half and half</p>
<p>½ teaspoon salt</p>
<p>½ cup plus 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese</p>
<p>6 cups cooked whole wheat penne pasta</p>
<p>In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion, carrots, celery and garlic, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms and red wine and cook until the wine has almost evaporated, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the tomato paste, stirring occasionally until the mixture is lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the chicken broth to loosen pan renderings. Add the half-and-half and salt and allow the sauce to simmer until it is thick and creamy, 10 to 15 minutes. While sauce is cooking, prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting the fat and salt. To serve, top 1 cup cooked pasta with ¾ cup Bolognese and sprinkle with 1½ tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 355 calories (20 percent from fat), 8 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 54 g carbohydrates, 16 g protein, 510 mg sodium, 7 mg cholesterol, 157 mg calcium, 7 g fiber.</p>
<p>PATRICIA BECK/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTDon’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients for roasted vegetable lasagna — a little prep and a quick assembly yield a Heart Smart version of the classic comfort food.</p>
<p>ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNA</p>
<p>Serves 10</p>
<p>Preparation time: 45 minutes / Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes</p>
<p>3 cups sliced zucchini</p>
<p>3 cups sliced mushrooms</p>
<p>3 cups eggplant, peeled and quartered</p>
<p>2 red peppers, seeded and sliced</p>
<p>5 tablespoons olive oil, divided</p>
<p>3 teaspoons dried oregano, divided</p>
<p>¾ teaspoon salt, divided</p>
<p>¾ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided</p>
<p>8 cups plum or Roma tomatoes, quartered</p>
<p>3 cloves garlic, peeled, sliced</p>
<p>½ teaspoon fennel seed</p>
<p>1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes</p>
<p>2 teaspoons sugar</p>
<p>1 container (15 ounces) low-fat ricotta cheese</p>
<p>2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese</p>
<p>½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided</p>
<p>2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped</p>
<p>Nonstick cooking spray</p>
<p>9 no-boil lasagna noodles</p>
<p>Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Have ready 2 large sided baking sheets, such as a jelly roll pan.</p>
<p>On one baking sheet place the zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant and red peppers. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons oregano, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper and toss to coat.</p>
<p>On the other baking sheet, toss the tomato wedges with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, remaining 1 teaspoon oregano, fennel seed, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and red pepper flakes.</p>
<p>Place both in the oven and roast uncovered for 15 minutes. Turn the vegetables over and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Remove roasted vegetables and roasted tomatoes from oven.</p>
<p>Carefully place the tomatoes and all pan juices in a bowl and add the sugar and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Mash the tomatoes to create a sauce.</p>
<p>In a medium-sized bowl combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, parsley and remaining ¼ teaspoon black pepper; set aside.</p>
<p>Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. To begin layering the lasagna, place about 1/3 cup of tomato sauce in the baking dish, spreading to cover the bottom of the dish. Top with 3 noodles, half the ricotta cheese mixture, half the roasted vegetable mixture and one-quarter of the tomato sauce. Begin again with 3 noodles, remaining cheese mixture, remaining roasted vegetables and remaining 3 noodles. Top noodles with remaining tomato sauce and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Bake lasagna uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are bubbly and the cheese topping is golden brown.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 277 calories (42 percent from fat), 13 g fat (5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 26 g carbohydrates, 14 g protein, 369 mg sodium, 25 mg cholesterol, 284 mg calcium, 4 g fiber.</p>
<p>REGINA H. BOONE/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTBroiled salmon with yogurt sauce is one of the many easy-to-make recipes in the “Heart Smart Cookbook.”</p>
<p>BROILED SALMON WITH YOGURT SAUCE</p>
<p>Serves 4</p>
<p>Preparation time: 10 minutes / Total time: 25 minutes</p>
<p>4 small salmon fillets, about ¾-inch thick, with skin (about 1 pound)</p>
<p>2 tablespoons trans fat-free margarine, melted</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon salt</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper</p>
<p>YOGURT SAUCE</p>
<p>6 ounces fat-free, plain yogurt</p>
<p>3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise</p>
<p>1 teaspoon dried dill weed</p>
<p>1 teaspoon lemon zest</p>
<p>1 minced garlic clove</p>
<p>½ cup peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped cucumber</p>
<p>Set oven to broil. Spray a broiler pan. Place the salmon fillets on the broiler pan. Brush the salmon with the melted margarine and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil fillets about 4 inches from the heat source for about 8 minutes or until cooked through.</p>
<p>To prepare the yogurt sauce: Mix the yogurt, mayonnaise, dill weed, lemon zest, garlic and cucumber together in a small bowl.</p>
<p>Remove salmon from broiler and top each salmon fillet with ¼ cup of yogurt sauce.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 242 calories (48 percent from fat), 13 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 6 g carbohydrates, 24 g protein, 302 mg sodium, 64 mg cholesterol, 105 mg calcium, 1 g fiber.</p>
<p /> | Start year with healthy recipes | false | https://abqjournal.com/329111/healthy-start.html | 2least
| Start year with healthy recipes
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<p />
<p>Here are featured recipes: Mushroom Bolognese with Whole Wheat Penne, which boosts fiber without sacrificing flavor; One Pot Beef Stew, which uses lean cuts of beef and portion control to hold down the calories; Roasted Vegetable Lasagna is a Heart Smart version of a great comfort food, and it’s one you can make for a crowd; Chicken With Cherry Balsamic Glaze; and Broiled Salmon with Yogurt Sauce, a flavor-packed and easy-to-make recipe.</p>
<p>All the recipes were created by Darlene Zimmerman, MS, RD, for Heart Smart and tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.</p>
<p>KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTThe Heart Smart one-pot beef stew uses lean cuts of beef.</p>
<p>ONE POT BEEF STEW</p>
<p>Serves 6</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total time: 2 hours, 30 minutes</p>
<p>1 pound flat iron steak or lean beef stew meat, cut into ½-inch cubes</p>
<p>3 tablespoons all-purpose flour</p>
<p>1 tablespoon canola oil</p>
<p>¼ cup sherry</p>
<p>1 cup fat-free, reduced-sodium beef broth</p>
<p>2 cups onion, cut into ½-inch chunks</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>2 cloves minced garlic</p>
<p>5 carrots, peeled and sliced</p>
<p>4 celery ribs, sliced</p>
<p>1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, quartered</p>
<p>1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained</p>
<p>2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce</p>
<p>½ teaspoon dried thyme</p>
<p>1 teaspoon paprika</p>
<p>2 bay leaves</p>
<p>½ teaspoon ground black pepper</p>
<p>1 tablespoon cornstarch</p>
<p>2 tablespoons cold water</p>
<p>½ teaspoon salt</p>
<p>Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.</p>
<p>Coat beef with flour, shaking off excess. In a large Dutch oven or other stovetop and oven-safe pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef and sauté until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove beef from pot.</p>
<p>Add the sherry and broth to the pot, loosening the bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, paprika, bay leaves and black pepper. Add browned beef.</p>
<p>Stir to combine, cover and place in the oven for about 2 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Remove from the oven and place on stovetop.</p>
<p>In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the cornstarch and water until dissolved. If you want to thicken the stew, mix the cornstarch mixture into the stew and allow to thicken, stirring constantly, over medium heat. Stir in the salt and remove bay leaves. Each serving yields about 1 cup.</p>
<p>serving note: You can serve this stew on its own or with a crusty multigrain baguette, yolk-free egg noodles or brown rice.</p>
<p>COOK’S NOTE: Place the flat iron steak in the freezer for 20 minutes to make it easier to cut into even cubes. Patting the meat dry with paper towel before browning helps develop a nice sear on the beef cubes, sealing in the juices.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 237 calories (29 percent from fat), 7 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 22 g carbohydrates, 19 g protein, 412 mg sodium, 37 mg cholesterol, 61 mg calcium, 4 g fiber.</p>
<p>SUSAN TUSA/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTChicken with cherry balsamic glaze is only 354 calories.</p>
<p>CHICKEN WITH CHERRY BALSAMIC GLAZE</p>
<p>Serves 4</p>
<p>Preparation time: 5 minutes / Total time: 30 minutes</p>
<p>1 tablespoon trans fat-free margarine</p>
<p>1 tablespoon olive oil</p>
<p>¼ cup all-purpose flour</p>
<p>½ teaspoon salt, divided</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided</p>
<p>4 (4 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to ¼-inch thickness</p>
<p>½ cup cherry preserves</p>
<p>2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar</p>
<p>2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted</p>
<p>In a large nonstick skillet, heat the margarine and oil over medium heat until margarine melts.</p>
<p>In a shallow dish or pie plate, combine the flour, ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Dredge the chicken breasts in flour and sauté until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side.</p>
<p>Remove the chicken to a serving platter and keep warm. In a small saucepan, heat the cherry preserves and balsamic vinegar until warm. Season chicken breasts with remaining salt and pepper, top with cherry sauce and sprinkle with toasted almonds.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 354 calories (25 percent from fat), 10 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 36 g carbohydrates, 28 g protein, 337 mg sodium, 72 mg cholesterol, 32 mg calcium, 1 g fiber.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>MARY SCHROEDER/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTMushroom bolognese with whole wheat penne pasta boosts fiber — and flavor.</p>
<p>MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE WITH WHOLE WHEAT PENNE</p>
<p>Serves 6</p>
<p>Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total time: 1 hour</p>
<p>2 tablespoons olive oil</p>
<p>1 medium red onion, finely chopped</p>
<p>3 carrots, finely chopped</p>
<p>2 celery ribs, finely chopped</p>
<p>3 garlic cloves, minced</p>
<p>1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, coarsely chopped</p>
<p>¾ cup dry red wine</p>
<p>1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste</p>
<p>1 (14.5-ounce) can fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth</p>
<p>½ cup fat-free half and half</p>
<p>½ teaspoon salt</p>
<p>½ cup plus 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese</p>
<p>6 cups cooked whole wheat penne pasta</p>
<p>In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion, carrots, celery and garlic, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms and red wine and cook until the wine has almost evaporated, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the tomato paste, stirring occasionally until the mixture is lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the chicken broth to loosen pan renderings. Add the half-and-half and salt and allow the sauce to simmer until it is thick and creamy, 10 to 15 minutes. While sauce is cooking, prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting the fat and salt. To serve, top 1 cup cooked pasta with ¾ cup Bolognese and sprinkle with 1½ tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 355 calories (20 percent from fat), 8 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 54 g carbohydrates, 16 g protein, 510 mg sodium, 7 mg cholesterol, 157 mg calcium, 7 g fiber.</p>
<p>PATRICIA BECK/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTDon’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients for roasted vegetable lasagna — a little prep and a quick assembly yield a Heart Smart version of the classic comfort food.</p>
<p>ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNA</p>
<p>Serves 10</p>
<p>Preparation time: 45 minutes / Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes</p>
<p>3 cups sliced zucchini</p>
<p>3 cups sliced mushrooms</p>
<p>3 cups eggplant, peeled and quartered</p>
<p>2 red peppers, seeded and sliced</p>
<p>5 tablespoons olive oil, divided</p>
<p>3 teaspoons dried oregano, divided</p>
<p>¾ teaspoon salt, divided</p>
<p>¾ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided</p>
<p>8 cups plum or Roma tomatoes, quartered</p>
<p>3 cloves garlic, peeled, sliced</p>
<p>½ teaspoon fennel seed</p>
<p>1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes</p>
<p>2 teaspoons sugar</p>
<p>1 container (15 ounces) low-fat ricotta cheese</p>
<p>2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese</p>
<p>½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided</p>
<p>2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped</p>
<p>Nonstick cooking spray</p>
<p>9 no-boil lasagna noodles</p>
<p>Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Have ready 2 large sided baking sheets, such as a jelly roll pan.</p>
<p>On one baking sheet place the zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant and red peppers. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons oregano, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper and toss to coat.</p>
<p>On the other baking sheet, toss the tomato wedges with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, remaining 1 teaspoon oregano, fennel seed, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and red pepper flakes.</p>
<p>Place both in the oven and roast uncovered for 15 minutes. Turn the vegetables over and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Remove roasted vegetables and roasted tomatoes from oven.</p>
<p>Carefully place the tomatoes and all pan juices in a bowl and add the sugar and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Mash the tomatoes to create a sauce.</p>
<p>In a medium-sized bowl combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, parsley and remaining ¼ teaspoon black pepper; set aside.</p>
<p>Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. To begin layering the lasagna, place about 1/3 cup of tomato sauce in the baking dish, spreading to cover the bottom of the dish. Top with 3 noodles, half the ricotta cheese mixture, half the roasted vegetable mixture and one-quarter of the tomato sauce. Begin again with 3 noodles, remaining cheese mixture, remaining roasted vegetables and remaining 3 noodles. Top noodles with remaining tomato sauce and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Bake lasagna uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are bubbly and the cheese topping is golden brown.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 277 calories (42 percent from fat), 13 g fat (5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 26 g carbohydrates, 14 g protein, 369 mg sodium, 25 mg cholesterol, 284 mg calcium, 4 g fiber.</p>
<p>REGINA H. BOONE/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCTBroiled salmon with yogurt sauce is one of the many easy-to-make recipes in the “Heart Smart Cookbook.”</p>
<p>BROILED SALMON WITH YOGURT SAUCE</p>
<p>Serves 4</p>
<p>Preparation time: 10 minutes / Total time: 25 minutes</p>
<p>4 small salmon fillets, about ¾-inch thick, with skin (about 1 pound)</p>
<p>2 tablespoons trans fat-free margarine, melted</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon salt</p>
<p>¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper</p>
<p>YOGURT SAUCE</p>
<p>6 ounces fat-free, plain yogurt</p>
<p>3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise</p>
<p>1 teaspoon dried dill weed</p>
<p>1 teaspoon lemon zest</p>
<p>1 minced garlic clove</p>
<p>½ cup peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped cucumber</p>
<p>Set oven to broil. Spray a broiler pan. Place the salmon fillets on the broiler pan. Brush the salmon with the melted margarine and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil fillets about 4 inches from the heat source for about 8 minutes or until cooked through.</p>
<p>To prepare the yogurt sauce: Mix the yogurt, mayonnaise, dill weed, lemon zest, garlic and cucumber together in a small bowl.</p>
<p>Remove salmon from broiler and top each salmon fillet with ¼ cup of yogurt sauce.</p>
<p>PER SERVING: 242 calories (48 percent from fat), 13 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 6 g carbohydrates, 24 g protein, 302 mg sodium, 64 mg cholesterol, 105 mg calcium, 1 g fiber.</p>
<p /> | 599,602 |
|
<p>Professional consensus, Islamic traditions, and the Constitution all indicate that the Pakistan Supreme Court will deliver a bold decision in The Chief Justice v. The President of Pakistan to end the military onslaught on the independence of the judiciary (just as the US Supreme Court ended racial apartheid in America with a bold stroke in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka). The Pakistan Supreme Court understands that any waffling, hair-splitting, or technical hedging in the opinion will only encourage this and future Presidents to sponsor a judicial culture of timidity and subservience. An unequivocal annulment of the President’s Reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is needed to restore the dignity of the judiciary. Splitting the baby between the President and the Chief Justice will resolve nothing but complicate the matters even further. Professional Consensus</p>
<p>Pakistan’s legal community demands that the Supreme Court pioneer a vigorous defense of the judiciary. The open and hostile suspension of the CJP shocked the lawyers of Pakistan. On March 9, 2007, the President dressed in a military uniform summoned the CJP to a small coterie of generals and others. Unproven charges based on questionable and unlawfully obtained evidence were read to the CJP. The CJP was both sweet-talked and threatened to resign. When the CJP refused, the men in the military camp shared the nods and the CJP was suspended on the spot. Armed with self-righteous power, the President and his men detained the CJP while the news of his suspension was released to the world. This show of force by a President who overthrew a democratically elected government, usurped power, and who refuses to shed his uniform even after eight years of unconstitutional dictatorship carried a mal fide purpose. The maltreatment of the CJP was purposefully staged to intimidate the entire Supreme Court. The move, however, backfired, earning the lawyers’ stern and severe opposition.</p>
<p>First time in the history of the country have the lawyers of Pakistan pooled their resources– from Karachi to Khyber– to overturn a Presidential order that they believe is blatantly unlawful. The lawyers’ street protests, periodic but orderly suspension of court appearances, and bar room resolutions cannot be ignored. Of course, the courts must do the right thing without fear of public protests. But the lawyers’ professional outcry is no mere protest. It involves both protest and professional judgment that an unacceptable wrong has been committed. The Supreme Court will take into account the lawyers’ overwhelming belief that the President is forging a subservient Supreme Court that must rule in the President’s favor. A bold annulment of the President’s Reference against the CJP would nip this forging evil in the bud, and assure judicial independence.</p>
<p>Islamic Traditions</p>
<p>Judicial independence is not religious fundamentalism. If anything, judicial independence is part of “enlightened moderation,” a phrase that the President has launched to fight religious extremism. Several Supreme Court Justices are devoutly religious. Some are scholars of Islamic law. They will judge the case in the light of Islamic traditions. The Constitution itself recognizes that Islam is the state religion of Pakistan. Article 31 of the Constitution protects the Islamic way of life and promotes Islamic moral standards. Article 227 mandates that all laws be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of the Quran and the Sunnah, and that no law be enacted which is repugnant to these injunctions. It is therefore natural for Supreme Court Justices to search for an Islamic perspective, as they have, on the President’s Reference against the CJP.</p>
<p>Rejecting the ruler’s intimidation is a core Islamic value found in the Quran and the Prophet’s Sunnah. “Fear them not, but fear me” is God’s injunction to all believers (Quran 3:175), including judges who must neither swerve to wrong nor depart from justice (Quran 5:8). The CJP’s refusal to resign despite pressure from General Musharraf and his men is a fine example of fearlessness. The lawyers of Pakistan have embraced the cause of the CJP, for they admire his personal courage to stand up to men in uniform. Throughout Muslim history, God-fearing jurists and judges have refused to bow down to rulers out of fear or otherwise. The Prophet is reported to have said: “The best striving in the path of God is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. ” (Abu Dawd 37:4330).</p>
<p>Holding these injunctions, it is unlikely that Supreme Court Justices will bend and buckle, out of fear, to whitewash the President’s humiliation of the Chief Justice. The Court’s summary rejection of the scandalous file that the government presented as evidence against the CJP indicates that the Justices are in no mood to sacrifice their Chief to please a President who clothes his authority with military paraphernalia. A bold decision– without ifs and buts– to annul the President’s Reference will advance the Islamic tradition of rejecting the ruler’s intimidation, particularly because the Constitution demands that the judiciary remain independent.</p>
<p>Constitutional Points</p>
<p>The Supreme Court will face no difficulty in finding that the President lacks the constitutional authority to suspend the Chief Justice. Even if the President has the authority to direct the Supreme Judicial Council to inquire into the CJP’s alleged misconduct, neither the Constitution nor any statutes empower the President to send a referred judge on forced leave, seal his office, fire his staff, take away his privileges, reduce his salary, or detain him. No such measures are available to the President. Hence, the President’s order to suspend the CJP has no basis in law.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the President prejudiced the neutrality of the Supreme Judicial Council. Until the inquiry is complete and the Supreme Judicial Council has conducted a full hearing, the dignity of the judiciary requires that no public disclosure of the inquiry be made. Public disclosure of an inquiry hurts the reputation of a referred judge-an injury that cannot be reversed if allegations of misconduct are found to be false. If a judge has committed a crime, a criminal complaint should be filed against him. The Supreme Judicial Council is not a criminal court. It is a tribunal of judicial ethics. Public disclosure of its proceedings is neither automatic nor mandatory. In openly and publically suspending the CJP before the hearing, the President unlawfully interfered with the proceedings of the Council. The President acted as if the CJP had committed serious crimes against the state and suspension was the only way to prevent him from further damaging the state.</p>
<p>It appears that the President received no expert advice in forming his opinion to send the Reference to the Supreme Judicial Council. The President was obligated to seek experts’ help to sift through the evidence that charges the CJP with judicial misconduct. Modern state practice, the complexity of government, and the rule of law, all require that the President receive expert advice in conducting the myriad affairs of the state. Suspending the Chief Justice of Pakistan is no small matter. Relying on a scandalous dossier that the Supreme Court refused to admit into record, the President formed the constitutionally required opinion in a manner that law cannot uphold. Hence, the very initiation of the President’s Reference is constitutionally unsustainable.</p>
<p>A bold decision must reinstate the Chief Justice of Pakistan with no delay or condition. Once the Chief Justice is restored to office, a properly constituted Supreme Judicial Council may inquire into the allegations against him. The public disclosure of this new inquiry will be made only after the inquiry is complete and the Council is of the opinion that the CJP has been guilty of misconduct and that he should be removed from office. Otherwise, the inquiry will remain a state secret. This is the procedure that many nations of the world use to hold judges accountable and simultaneously protect the dignity and independence of the judiciary.</p>
<p>Ali Khan is a professor of law at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | The Judicial Crisis in Pakistan | true | https://counterpunch.org/2007/07/16/the-judicial-crisis-in-pakistan/ | 2007-07-16 | 4left
| The Judicial Crisis in Pakistan
<p>Professional consensus, Islamic traditions, and the Constitution all indicate that the Pakistan Supreme Court will deliver a bold decision in The Chief Justice v. The President of Pakistan to end the military onslaught on the independence of the judiciary (just as the US Supreme Court ended racial apartheid in America with a bold stroke in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka). The Pakistan Supreme Court understands that any waffling, hair-splitting, or technical hedging in the opinion will only encourage this and future Presidents to sponsor a judicial culture of timidity and subservience. An unequivocal annulment of the President’s Reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is needed to restore the dignity of the judiciary. Splitting the baby between the President and the Chief Justice will resolve nothing but complicate the matters even further. Professional Consensus</p>
<p>Pakistan’s legal community demands that the Supreme Court pioneer a vigorous defense of the judiciary. The open and hostile suspension of the CJP shocked the lawyers of Pakistan. On March 9, 2007, the President dressed in a military uniform summoned the CJP to a small coterie of generals and others. Unproven charges based on questionable and unlawfully obtained evidence were read to the CJP. The CJP was both sweet-talked and threatened to resign. When the CJP refused, the men in the military camp shared the nods and the CJP was suspended on the spot. Armed with self-righteous power, the President and his men detained the CJP while the news of his suspension was released to the world. This show of force by a President who overthrew a democratically elected government, usurped power, and who refuses to shed his uniform even after eight years of unconstitutional dictatorship carried a mal fide purpose. The maltreatment of the CJP was purposefully staged to intimidate the entire Supreme Court. The move, however, backfired, earning the lawyers’ stern and severe opposition.</p>
<p>First time in the history of the country have the lawyers of Pakistan pooled their resources– from Karachi to Khyber– to overturn a Presidential order that they believe is blatantly unlawful. The lawyers’ street protests, periodic but orderly suspension of court appearances, and bar room resolutions cannot be ignored. Of course, the courts must do the right thing without fear of public protests. But the lawyers’ professional outcry is no mere protest. It involves both protest and professional judgment that an unacceptable wrong has been committed. The Supreme Court will take into account the lawyers’ overwhelming belief that the President is forging a subservient Supreme Court that must rule in the President’s favor. A bold annulment of the President’s Reference against the CJP would nip this forging evil in the bud, and assure judicial independence.</p>
<p>Islamic Traditions</p>
<p>Judicial independence is not religious fundamentalism. If anything, judicial independence is part of “enlightened moderation,” a phrase that the President has launched to fight religious extremism. Several Supreme Court Justices are devoutly religious. Some are scholars of Islamic law. They will judge the case in the light of Islamic traditions. The Constitution itself recognizes that Islam is the state religion of Pakistan. Article 31 of the Constitution protects the Islamic way of life and promotes Islamic moral standards. Article 227 mandates that all laws be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of the Quran and the Sunnah, and that no law be enacted which is repugnant to these injunctions. It is therefore natural for Supreme Court Justices to search for an Islamic perspective, as they have, on the President’s Reference against the CJP.</p>
<p>Rejecting the ruler’s intimidation is a core Islamic value found in the Quran and the Prophet’s Sunnah. “Fear them not, but fear me” is God’s injunction to all believers (Quran 3:175), including judges who must neither swerve to wrong nor depart from justice (Quran 5:8). The CJP’s refusal to resign despite pressure from General Musharraf and his men is a fine example of fearlessness. The lawyers of Pakistan have embraced the cause of the CJP, for they admire his personal courage to stand up to men in uniform. Throughout Muslim history, God-fearing jurists and judges have refused to bow down to rulers out of fear or otherwise. The Prophet is reported to have said: “The best striving in the path of God is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. ” (Abu Dawd 37:4330).</p>
<p>Holding these injunctions, it is unlikely that Supreme Court Justices will bend and buckle, out of fear, to whitewash the President’s humiliation of the Chief Justice. The Court’s summary rejection of the scandalous file that the government presented as evidence against the CJP indicates that the Justices are in no mood to sacrifice their Chief to please a President who clothes his authority with military paraphernalia. A bold decision– without ifs and buts– to annul the President’s Reference will advance the Islamic tradition of rejecting the ruler’s intimidation, particularly because the Constitution demands that the judiciary remain independent.</p>
<p>Constitutional Points</p>
<p>The Supreme Court will face no difficulty in finding that the President lacks the constitutional authority to suspend the Chief Justice. Even if the President has the authority to direct the Supreme Judicial Council to inquire into the CJP’s alleged misconduct, neither the Constitution nor any statutes empower the President to send a referred judge on forced leave, seal his office, fire his staff, take away his privileges, reduce his salary, or detain him. No such measures are available to the President. Hence, the President’s order to suspend the CJP has no basis in law.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the President prejudiced the neutrality of the Supreme Judicial Council. Until the inquiry is complete and the Supreme Judicial Council has conducted a full hearing, the dignity of the judiciary requires that no public disclosure of the inquiry be made. Public disclosure of an inquiry hurts the reputation of a referred judge-an injury that cannot be reversed if allegations of misconduct are found to be false. If a judge has committed a crime, a criminal complaint should be filed against him. The Supreme Judicial Council is not a criminal court. It is a tribunal of judicial ethics. Public disclosure of its proceedings is neither automatic nor mandatory. In openly and publically suspending the CJP before the hearing, the President unlawfully interfered with the proceedings of the Council. The President acted as if the CJP had committed serious crimes against the state and suspension was the only way to prevent him from further damaging the state.</p>
<p>It appears that the President received no expert advice in forming his opinion to send the Reference to the Supreme Judicial Council. The President was obligated to seek experts’ help to sift through the evidence that charges the CJP with judicial misconduct. Modern state practice, the complexity of government, and the rule of law, all require that the President receive expert advice in conducting the myriad affairs of the state. Suspending the Chief Justice of Pakistan is no small matter. Relying on a scandalous dossier that the Supreme Court refused to admit into record, the President formed the constitutionally required opinion in a manner that law cannot uphold. Hence, the very initiation of the President’s Reference is constitutionally unsustainable.</p>
<p>A bold decision must reinstate the Chief Justice of Pakistan with no delay or condition. Once the Chief Justice is restored to office, a properly constituted Supreme Judicial Council may inquire into the allegations against him. The public disclosure of this new inquiry will be made only after the inquiry is complete and the Council is of the opinion that the CJP has been guilty of misconduct and that he should be removed from office. Otherwise, the inquiry will remain a state secret. This is the procedure that many nations of the world use to hold judges accountable and simultaneously protect the dignity and independence of the judiciary.</p>
<p>Ali Khan is a professor of law at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 599,603 |
<p>This week much of the financial press united in a celebratory chorus of praise for the neoliberal victory and “vote for austerity” in Latvia’s recent election. We are told Greeks, Spaniards, French and Irish &#160;should all emulate the “cool-headed stoicism” that prevailed among the Nordic Latvian electorate. &#160;What earned Latvians this acclaim? &#160;They voted for the bankers and international financial institutions, of course!</p>
<p>This is all music in the ears of the Swedish bankers who flooded Latvia with credit to inflate real estate prices, along with the EU and IMF that finally bought into the internal devaluation strategy. However, unfortunately, for those trafficking in this characterization of the election, it is simply wrong. &#160;Remember, aside from those voices of sobriety such as Martin Wolf and Michael Hudson, the financial press are the people that told you in the 1990s that the Dow would reach 36,000, and in this decade that real estate prices could only go up.</p>
<p>The last two years (if not much of the past century) have been very hard on Latvia. With the &#160;hammer that fell in 2008, Latvia suffered the world’s worst economic contraction. The economic numbers approached the Great Depression in their severity. We are told that Latvians were supposed to vigorously protest under pressure of economic pain that no West European country would tolerate. Yet, “admirably,” they did not.</p>
<p>Indeed, what commentators only two years out from the crisis have forgotten, or have chosen to ignore, is that there were indeed major Latvian demonstrations &#160;against the neoliberal policy of austerity. &#160;On January 13, 2009 the first major protest erupted. &#160;I should know. I was there. &#160;Over 10,000 Latvians (ethic Latvians and ethnic Russians alike) assembled on that cold winter night in the old city of Riga to protest the miss-governance of Latvia. &#160;Moreover, while the protest was overwhelmingly civil, it was hardly stoic in character by night’s end. &#160;The protest ended with broken shop windows, overturned cars, and looting.</p>
<p>This protest was followed by an emergency European Commission and IMF loan for 7.5 million euros given to meet Latvia’s debt obligation to bankers and foreign debt holders. &#160;The loan came with explicit instructions from the European Commission head, Joaquin Almunia, warning Latvians against use of funds for developing export capacity (in other words, their economy). &#160;Latvia was now saddled not only with huge private debt service payments from its bank-led, credit-feeding frenzy in real estate, but now also massive public debt to boot.</p>
<p>Protests continued over the next few months with participants in the many thousands. Farmers blocked traffic with their demonstrations. &#160;Teacher protests erupted against savage cuts to education. &#160;In the Latvian city of Bauska the national police were called in to break up protests over a hospital closure, given that many of the local police supported the protestors!</p>
<p>What happened after? Simply put, one of history’s great emigrations, in terms of percentages of national populations departing. &#160;The numbers are hard to secure, given people rarely report emigrating within the EU Schengen zone. &#160;We do know, however, Latvians left in huge numbers. &#160;Highly-trained professionals and laborers alike departed for menial jobs in the United Kingdom and other destinations. &#160;Families have been traumatized and destroyed, with&#160; children&#160; effectively orphaned while their parents have sought any work possible abroad. Indeed, some reports place the exodus as high as 5 per cent of the entire population per year since the crisis began. &#160;In short, Latvia’s disillusioned simply left the country, with most of those remaining being too fearful, or overworked, if they still had a job, to mount much of a fight.</p>
<p>The Latvian government responded to the crisis by ignoring IMF counsel to devalue their currency. &#160;Their currency had been overvalued from the start, at independence, &#160;reflecting the prejudices of their neoliberal economic advisors from Georgetown University. Moreover, the quick currency adjustment that would have brought fast economic relief was rejected in favor of a policy in continued pursuit of fast-track euro zone entry. &#160;The IMF quickly gave up on devaluation when it recognized the Latvian central bank was intransigent on the issue, being as much psychologically as analytically anchored to it. &#160;Later, however, as other crises emerged in Greece and other locations in the euro zone, it quickly became apparent that the Latvian strategy was a “godsend.” &#160;Here was a way out of the crisis. &#160;Since nations in the euro zone can’t devalue, they can only opt out of the euro zone, thus risking the euro’s viability and nonpayment of the huge private and public loans extended to them from rich countries. &#160;&#160;Or, they can introduce an “internal devaluation,” pace the Latvians, which shrinks wages as a replacement for depreciating a currency.</p>
<p>The light-bulb moment must have struck the European Commission, IMF, and bankers that the Latvian internal devaluation and austerity strategy held the key to continued profits, loan repayment, and viability of the entire euro project. &#160;All that was required was a protracted period of great pain and significant declines in standard of living for the majority. &#160;What was previously seen as stubbornness on the part of Latvia’s central bank was now recast as a virtue. &#160;Here was salvation!</p>
<p>The Latvian Election</p>
<p>Returning to the financial press acclaim for the Latvian public’s “support” of austerity, anyone familiar with Latvian politics sees nothing of the sort. &#160;Latvia’s election came down to chauvinism, ethnicity, and nationalism, pure and simple. &#160;The election season had a promising start. &#160;The sometimes center-left Harmony Center party put forward a post-Keynesian plan to rebuild the economy and unite ethnic Latvians and ethnic Russians together in the face of parties run by criminal oligarchs (some have spent time in jail), and the disastrous neoliberal policies leading to the exodus of its people in search of work.</p>
<p>Harmony Center was seen as the predicted winner in advance of the election, but instead came in at a close second place. &#160;What happened? First, progressive elements within that party feared nationalism from ethnic Latvians that might prevent their electoral victory. Thus, instead of moving closer to progressive ethnic Latvians, they held on to every ethnic Russian voter they could, as there was a chauvinist Soviet apologist party waiting in the wings to take these voters. &#160;So, Harmony Center played a semantic game whereby they refused to concede that there had been a Soviet “occupation.” &#160;Thus, they retained ethnic Russian chauvinists, but lost any chance of getting significant ethnic Latvian support.</p>
<p>Moreover, as the election neared the Harmony Center strategy of “Finlandization” (cooperation with Russia on economic matters, while eschewing political conflict) was cast by the media hostile to ethnic Russians as a Kremlin- orchestrated attempt to bring Latvia to heel. &#160;Just days before the election accounts of Kremlin payments to launch Harmony Center appeared in the press. &#160;Nobody can confirm the veracity of this presently. It may, or may not, be true. &#160;Yet, announced just prior to the election there was no time to investigate. Fears were fueled and ethic Latvians left to wonder whether these charges were true.</p>
<p>In the end, what was to be a Harmony Center “coalition” of progressive ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians, proved illusory. &#160;Only 7 per cent of their voters were ethnic Latvians. &#160;They had hoped for several multiples of this figure. Thus, instead of victory the Harmony Center party that opposed neoliberal austerity came a close second in the election. &#160;In a nutshell, significant part of Latvians who left the country did not vote. &#160;Ethnic Latvians who remained to vote feared ethnic Russian and Kremlin influence. &#160;&#160;Yet, even with this, Harmony Center performed strongly at the polls. The big loser in the election, however, was the chief oligarch party (For a Good Latvia) that contained many of Latvia’s past corrupt political leaders. &#160;Latvians of all stripes rightly punished them at the polls.</p>
<p>Who then did the ethnic Latvians vote for? The big unexpected victor was the Green and Farmers Party, who came in a close third with far more votes than anticipated. A strange coalition, as many Latvian parties are, the Greens and Farmers are a curious mix of anti-Semitic conspiratorial “anti-Sorosistas,” nationalists, and a powerful outlier oligarch, Aivars Lembergs. &#160;Lembergs, for all his faults, is the only oligarch who has practiced anything like a noblesse oblige. &#160;While Latvia’s other politicians have been content to see their brethren sink into Dickensian poverty, Lembergs threw a few bones to his constituency, while busily seizing port infrastructure. &#160;In the end, though, Latvia’s neoliberals marginally got the largest plurality, with, some 30 per cent of the vote, but these numbers are hardly a mandate. &#160;Indeed, many expressed the view that &#160;they only voted for them to keep the ethnic Russians out of power. &#160;Ironically, now that they have achieved this the international community is pushing hard for a coalition between Latvia’s neoliberal coalition and the ethnic Russian Harmony Center party. &#160;The goal is to get a buy-in by the ethnic Russians for the neoliberal program.</p>
<p>Today, Latvia’s economy is barely hobbling along. &#160;The long decline has finally stopped. &#160;Yet, prospects are far from bright. &#160;Non-financial investment (the real economy) is down by 42 per cent from last year. &#160;Meanwhile, there are some growth areas, such as deforestation to feed Swedish appetite for Latvian timber, but this is hardly the kind of high-value added activity from which they could build a robust economy. &#160;There are prospects for growth in agriculture and industry, but the state does little to facilitate it. &#160;Wages have plummeted — 30 per cent in the public sector. Young people, the country’s future, are emigrating and not bearing children, while the country’s social infrastructure is collapsing. &#160;As austerity &#160;slashes its destructive path through the economy tax revenues are insufficient to meet budget obligations of the state in its current emaciated form. In short, this “success” that the financial press, foreign bankers, and international financial institutions are celebrating is for a country that remains one of the poorest in the European Union and if demographic trends continue will no longer be viable as a nation.</p>
<p>In the end the neoliberal economy has produced a victory and recovery that reminds one of Tacitus’ characterization, put in the mouth of the Celtic chieftain Calgacus before the battle of Mons Graupius, of Rome’s victories, where “they make a desert and they call it peace.” &#160;Whatever this election was about it certainly was not a mandate for neoliberal austerity and it certainly is not victory for Latvia.</p>
<p>JEFFREY SOMMERS is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Department of Africology and visiting professor at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p> | Latvia’s "Mandate" for Neoliberal Austerity | true | https://counterpunch.org/2010/10/06/latvia-s-quot-mandate-quot-for-neoliberal-austerity/ | 2010-10-06 | 4left
| Latvia’s "Mandate" for Neoliberal Austerity
<p>This week much of the financial press united in a celebratory chorus of praise for the neoliberal victory and “vote for austerity” in Latvia’s recent election. We are told Greeks, Spaniards, French and Irish &#160;should all emulate the “cool-headed stoicism” that prevailed among the Nordic Latvian electorate. &#160;What earned Latvians this acclaim? &#160;They voted for the bankers and international financial institutions, of course!</p>
<p>This is all music in the ears of the Swedish bankers who flooded Latvia with credit to inflate real estate prices, along with the EU and IMF that finally bought into the internal devaluation strategy. However, unfortunately, for those trafficking in this characterization of the election, it is simply wrong. &#160;Remember, aside from those voices of sobriety such as Martin Wolf and Michael Hudson, the financial press are the people that told you in the 1990s that the Dow would reach 36,000, and in this decade that real estate prices could only go up.</p>
<p>The last two years (if not much of the past century) have been very hard on Latvia. With the &#160;hammer that fell in 2008, Latvia suffered the world’s worst economic contraction. The economic numbers approached the Great Depression in their severity. We are told that Latvians were supposed to vigorously protest under pressure of economic pain that no West European country would tolerate. Yet, “admirably,” they did not.</p>
<p>Indeed, what commentators only two years out from the crisis have forgotten, or have chosen to ignore, is that there were indeed major Latvian demonstrations &#160;against the neoliberal policy of austerity. &#160;On January 13, 2009 the first major protest erupted. &#160;I should know. I was there. &#160;Over 10,000 Latvians (ethic Latvians and ethnic Russians alike) assembled on that cold winter night in the old city of Riga to protest the miss-governance of Latvia. &#160;Moreover, while the protest was overwhelmingly civil, it was hardly stoic in character by night’s end. &#160;The protest ended with broken shop windows, overturned cars, and looting.</p>
<p>This protest was followed by an emergency European Commission and IMF loan for 7.5 million euros given to meet Latvia’s debt obligation to bankers and foreign debt holders. &#160;The loan came with explicit instructions from the European Commission head, Joaquin Almunia, warning Latvians against use of funds for developing export capacity (in other words, their economy). &#160;Latvia was now saddled not only with huge private debt service payments from its bank-led, credit-feeding frenzy in real estate, but now also massive public debt to boot.</p>
<p>Protests continued over the next few months with participants in the many thousands. Farmers blocked traffic with their demonstrations. &#160;Teacher protests erupted against savage cuts to education. &#160;In the Latvian city of Bauska the national police were called in to break up protests over a hospital closure, given that many of the local police supported the protestors!</p>
<p>What happened after? Simply put, one of history’s great emigrations, in terms of percentages of national populations departing. &#160;The numbers are hard to secure, given people rarely report emigrating within the EU Schengen zone. &#160;We do know, however, Latvians left in huge numbers. &#160;Highly-trained professionals and laborers alike departed for menial jobs in the United Kingdom and other destinations. &#160;Families have been traumatized and destroyed, with&#160; children&#160; effectively orphaned while their parents have sought any work possible abroad. Indeed, some reports place the exodus as high as 5 per cent of the entire population per year since the crisis began. &#160;In short, Latvia’s disillusioned simply left the country, with most of those remaining being too fearful, or overworked, if they still had a job, to mount much of a fight.</p>
<p>The Latvian government responded to the crisis by ignoring IMF counsel to devalue their currency. &#160;Their currency had been overvalued from the start, at independence, &#160;reflecting the prejudices of their neoliberal economic advisors from Georgetown University. Moreover, the quick currency adjustment that would have brought fast economic relief was rejected in favor of a policy in continued pursuit of fast-track euro zone entry. &#160;The IMF quickly gave up on devaluation when it recognized the Latvian central bank was intransigent on the issue, being as much psychologically as analytically anchored to it. &#160;Later, however, as other crises emerged in Greece and other locations in the euro zone, it quickly became apparent that the Latvian strategy was a “godsend.” &#160;Here was a way out of the crisis. &#160;Since nations in the euro zone can’t devalue, they can only opt out of the euro zone, thus risking the euro’s viability and nonpayment of the huge private and public loans extended to them from rich countries. &#160;&#160;Or, they can introduce an “internal devaluation,” pace the Latvians, which shrinks wages as a replacement for depreciating a currency.</p>
<p>The light-bulb moment must have struck the European Commission, IMF, and bankers that the Latvian internal devaluation and austerity strategy held the key to continued profits, loan repayment, and viability of the entire euro project. &#160;All that was required was a protracted period of great pain and significant declines in standard of living for the majority. &#160;What was previously seen as stubbornness on the part of Latvia’s central bank was now recast as a virtue. &#160;Here was salvation!</p>
<p>The Latvian Election</p>
<p>Returning to the financial press acclaim for the Latvian public’s “support” of austerity, anyone familiar with Latvian politics sees nothing of the sort. &#160;Latvia’s election came down to chauvinism, ethnicity, and nationalism, pure and simple. &#160;The election season had a promising start. &#160;The sometimes center-left Harmony Center party put forward a post-Keynesian plan to rebuild the economy and unite ethnic Latvians and ethnic Russians together in the face of parties run by criminal oligarchs (some have spent time in jail), and the disastrous neoliberal policies leading to the exodus of its people in search of work.</p>
<p>Harmony Center was seen as the predicted winner in advance of the election, but instead came in at a close second place. &#160;What happened? First, progressive elements within that party feared nationalism from ethnic Latvians that might prevent their electoral victory. Thus, instead of moving closer to progressive ethnic Latvians, they held on to every ethnic Russian voter they could, as there was a chauvinist Soviet apologist party waiting in the wings to take these voters. &#160;So, Harmony Center played a semantic game whereby they refused to concede that there had been a Soviet “occupation.” &#160;Thus, they retained ethnic Russian chauvinists, but lost any chance of getting significant ethnic Latvian support.</p>
<p>Moreover, as the election neared the Harmony Center strategy of “Finlandization” (cooperation with Russia on economic matters, while eschewing political conflict) was cast by the media hostile to ethnic Russians as a Kremlin- orchestrated attempt to bring Latvia to heel. &#160;Just days before the election accounts of Kremlin payments to launch Harmony Center appeared in the press. &#160;Nobody can confirm the veracity of this presently. It may, or may not, be true. &#160;Yet, announced just prior to the election there was no time to investigate. Fears were fueled and ethic Latvians left to wonder whether these charges were true.</p>
<p>In the end, what was to be a Harmony Center “coalition” of progressive ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians, proved illusory. &#160;Only 7 per cent of their voters were ethnic Latvians. &#160;They had hoped for several multiples of this figure. Thus, instead of victory the Harmony Center party that opposed neoliberal austerity came a close second in the election. &#160;In a nutshell, significant part of Latvians who left the country did not vote. &#160;Ethnic Latvians who remained to vote feared ethnic Russian and Kremlin influence. &#160;&#160;Yet, even with this, Harmony Center performed strongly at the polls. The big loser in the election, however, was the chief oligarch party (For a Good Latvia) that contained many of Latvia’s past corrupt political leaders. &#160;Latvians of all stripes rightly punished them at the polls.</p>
<p>Who then did the ethnic Latvians vote for? The big unexpected victor was the Green and Farmers Party, who came in a close third with far more votes than anticipated. A strange coalition, as many Latvian parties are, the Greens and Farmers are a curious mix of anti-Semitic conspiratorial “anti-Sorosistas,” nationalists, and a powerful outlier oligarch, Aivars Lembergs. &#160;Lembergs, for all his faults, is the only oligarch who has practiced anything like a noblesse oblige. &#160;While Latvia’s other politicians have been content to see their brethren sink into Dickensian poverty, Lembergs threw a few bones to his constituency, while busily seizing port infrastructure. &#160;In the end, though, Latvia’s neoliberals marginally got the largest plurality, with, some 30 per cent of the vote, but these numbers are hardly a mandate. &#160;Indeed, many expressed the view that &#160;they only voted for them to keep the ethnic Russians out of power. &#160;Ironically, now that they have achieved this the international community is pushing hard for a coalition between Latvia’s neoliberal coalition and the ethnic Russian Harmony Center party. &#160;The goal is to get a buy-in by the ethnic Russians for the neoliberal program.</p>
<p>Today, Latvia’s economy is barely hobbling along. &#160;The long decline has finally stopped. &#160;Yet, prospects are far from bright. &#160;Non-financial investment (the real economy) is down by 42 per cent from last year. &#160;Meanwhile, there are some growth areas, such as deforestation to feed Swedish appetite for Latvian timber, but this is hardly the kind of high-value added activity from which they could build a robust economy. &#160;There are prospects for growth in agriculture and industry, but the state does little to facilitate it. &#160;Wages have plummeted — 30 per cent in the public sector. Young people, the country’s future, are emigrating and not bearing children, while the country’s social infrastructure is collapsing. &#160;As austerity &#160;slashes its destructive path through the economy tax revenues are insufficient to meet budget obligations of the state in its current emaciated form. In short, this “success” that the financial press, foreign bankers, and international financial institutions are celebrating is for a country that remains one of the poorest in the European Union and if demographic trends continue will no longer be viable as a nation.</p>
<p>In the end the neoliberal economy has produced a victory and recovery that reminds one of Tacitus’ characterization, put in the mouth of the Celtic chieftain Calgacus before the battle of Mons Graupius, of Rome’s victories, where “they make a desert and they call it peace.” &#160;Whatever this election was about it certainly was not a mandate for neoliberal austerity and it certainly is not victory for Latvia.</p>
<p>JEFFREY SOMMERS is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Department of Africology and visiting professor at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p> | 599,604 |
<p>Jan 25(Reuters) - Beijing Jiaxun Feihong Electrical Co Ltd</p>
<p>* Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 10 percent to 30 percent, or to be 113.5 million yuan to 134.2 million yuan</p>
<p>* Says FY 2016 net profit was 103.2 million yuan</p>
<p>Source text in Chinese: <a href="https://goo.gl/H9x5ST" type="external">goo.gl/H9x5ST</a></p>
<p>Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARKLAND, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. students spilled out of classrooms by the tens of thousands on Wednesday, chanting slogans like “No more silence” and “We want change” as part of a coast-to-coast protest over gun violence prompted by last month’s massacre at a Florida high school.</p>
<p>The #ENOUGH National School Walkout was intended to pressure federal and state lawmakers to tighten laws on gun ownership despite opposition by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful gun rights advocacy group.</p>
<p>With some students dressed in orange, the color adopted by the gun control movement, the walkouts began at 10 a.m. local time in each time zone and were scheduled to last 17 minutes. Many rallies went longer.</p>
<p>The duration was a tribute to 17 students and staff killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. It was the latest in a series of shootings that have plagued U.S. schools and colleges over the past two decades.</p>
<p>While many school districts gave their blessings to the walkouts, others said anyone who participated would face discipline. Many students defied the warnings and left school anyway. They included over two dozen at Lindenhurst High School on New York state’s Long Island, who were at first suspended, then had their punishment reduced to detentions, according to a senior and the school superintendent.</p>
<p>In Parkland, thousands of students slowly filed onto the Stoneman Douglas school football field to the applause of families and supporters beyond the fences as law enforcement officers looked on. News helicopters hovered overhead.</p>
<p>Ty Thompson, the principal, called for the “biggest group hug,” and the students obliged around the 50-yard line.</p>
<p>“We want change!” students chanted on the sidewalks outside the school. “Can you hear the children screaming?” read one of the signs.</p>
<p>But not all students in Florida were in favor of gun control. About 80 miles (129 km) north of Parkland at Vero Beach High School, chants of “No More Silence, end gun violence,” were countered by shouts of “Trump!” and “We want guns” from other students, according to video posted by local newspaper TCPalm.</p>
<p>At New York City’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, crowds of students poured into the streets of Manhattan, many dressed in orange, symbolic of the bright color worn by hunters to avoid being shot by accident.</p>
<p>“Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” read one sign at LaGuardia, a jab at a response often uttered by lawmakers after mass shootings.</p>
<p>In Akron, Ohio, hundreds of students wearing orange t-shirts with black targets on the front walked out of Firestone High School.</p>
<p>At Granada Hills Charter High School in Los Angeles, students laid prone on the field of a football stadium to form a giant #ENOUGH, symbolizing the thousands of youth who die of gun violence every year in the United States.</p>
<p>Students at Columbine High, Colorado remembered the 1999 massacre at their school that began an era in which mass shootings became common in U.S. schools.</p> Students from Washington, DC-area schools carry signs during a protest for stricter gun control during a walkout by students at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
<p>“I grew up in a community still haunted by the tragedy from 19 years ago,” said 16-year-old sophomore Abigail Orton.</p> LOBBYING LAWMAKERS
<p>The walkouts were part of a burgeoning, grassroots movement prompted by the Parkland attack and came 10 days before major protests planned in Washington and elsewhere. Survivors have lobbied lawmakers and President Donald Trump in a push for new restrictions on gun ownership, a right protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.</p>
<p>“We don’t feel safe in schools anymore,” said Sarah Chatfield, a high school student from Maryland, standing with hundreds of other protesters outside the White House.</p>
<p>Chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has got to go!” students, many of whom will be able to vote in 2020, marched to the U.S. Capitol, where Democratic lawmakers emerged from the white-domed landmark to praise them.</p> Slideshow (30 Images)
<p>The student-led initiative helped bring about a tightening of Florida’s gun laws last week, when the minimum age of 21 for buying any handguns was extended to all firearms. But lawmakers rejected a ban on the sort of semiautomatic rifle used in the Parkland attack.</p>
<p>In Washington, however, proposals to strengthen the background-check system for gun sales, among other measures, appear to be languishing.</p>
<p>After protests began on Wednesday, the NRA tweeted a picture of a semiautomatic rifle with the caption “I’ll control my own guns, thank you.”</p> SCHOOLS VARY IN RESPONSE
<p>Students from more than 3,000 schools and groups joined the walkouts, many with the backing of their school districts, according to the event’s organizers, who also coordinated the Women’s March protests staged nationwide over the past two years.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-guns-legislation-passage/house-passes-bill-to-prevent-gun-violence-in-schools-in-rare-bipartisan-vote-idUSKCN1GQ2W7" type="external">House passes bill to prevent gun violence in schools in rare bipartisan vote</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-guns-florida/suspected-florida-school-shooter-silent-in-court-judge-enters-not-guilty-plea-idUSKCN1GQ2OB" type="external">Suspected Florida school shooter silent in court, judge enters not-guilty plea</a>
<p>In Newtown, Pennsylvania, more than 100 students walked out of Council Rock High School despite warnings they would face discipline if they left the building.</p>
<p>But after the walkout, Superintendent Robert Fraser said “the level of maturity and sincerity was amazing” among protesters, and the school district waived any punishments.</p>
<p>At Norton High School in the rural-suburban district in northeastern Ohio, a small group of students, including a teenage boy with an American flag draped over his shoulder, stood apart from a larger gathering of nearly 300 students who walked out of class. One of the students also flew a large Trump flag at the end of his truck.</p>
<p>Ryan Shanor, the school’s principal, said the small group wanted to honor the victims but disagreed with sentiment they considered to be against the Second Amendment.</p>
<p>“They did not agree with everything they thought the protest was about,” he said.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus, Jonathan Allen and Alice Popovici in New York; Suzanne Barlyn in Newtown, Pennsylvania; Joe Skipper in Parkland, Florida; Scott Malone in Boston; Kim Palmer in Cleveland; Susan Heavey, Richard Cowan, Sarah N. Lynch and Ian Simpson in Washington; Lindsey Wasson in Seattle; Keith Coffman in Colorado; writing by Jonathan Allen and Andrew Hay; editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort on Wednesday filed a motion in federal court seeking to dismiss charges against him, saying that the special counsel had exceeded his authority by charging Manafort with crimes not related to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.</p> Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort departs from U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>In a 46-page filing with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing also said Manafort had been threatened with additional indictments and “faces a game of criminal-procedure whack-a-mole” by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who has massive government resources he cannot possibly match.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sarah Lynch; Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A Japanese Nobel-winning chemist was discovered wandering in rural Northern Illinois and his wife found dead nearby, some nine hours after they had been reported missing from their home 200 miles away, police said on Wednesday.</p> FILE PHOTO - Ei-ichi Negishi of Japan (R) and his wife Sumire Negishi (2nd R) are surrounded by his family members as he displays his diploma and medal after winning the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry during the award ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm December 10, 2010. Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency via REUTERS/File Photo
<p>Nobel Prize winner Ei-ichi Negishi, 82, was transported to a local hospital for treatment after he was spotted walking near Rockford, Illinois, at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department officials said in a written statement.</p>
<p>Deputies later found the couple’s car and the body of his wife, Sumire Negishi, at the nearby Ochard Hills Landfill, the sheriff’s department said. Rockford is about 100 miles west of Chicago.</p> FILE PHOTO - Mrs. Sumire Negishi, wife of Nobel Prize laureate for Chemistry Ei-ichi Negishi of Japan attends the Nobel banquet at Stockholm's City Hall, Sweden December 10, 2010. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski/File Photo
<p>An autopsy was pending on the body of Sumire Negishi but foul play was not suspected in her death, the sheriff’s department said. No information was released on the condition of Ei-Ichi Negishi.</p>
<p>The couple was reported missing to the Indiana State Police at about 8 p.m. central time on Monday. They were last seen at their home in West Lafayette, near the Purdue University campus where Ei-Ichi is a professor of chemistry.</p>
<p>The scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2010.</p>
<p>Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Bankrupt Toys ‘R’ Us Inc is preparing to sell or close all 885 stores in its U.S. chain, risking up to 33,000 jobs, after failing to reach a deal to restructure billions of dollars in debt, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>With shoppers flocking to online platforms like Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and children choosing electronic gadgets over toys, Toys ‘R’ Us has struggled to service debt from a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout by private equity firms KKR &amp; Co LP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=KKR.N" type="external">KKR.N</a>) and Bain Capital and real estate investor Vornado Realty Trust ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VNO.N" type="external">VNO.N</a>) in 2005.</p>
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us had been closing one-fifth of its U.S. stores as part of efforts to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a specialty retailer.</p>
<p>But creditors decided they can get more from liquidating assets of the toy seller, the largest in the United States and one of the best known in the world, rather than finding a way to keep the business alive, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiations.</p>
<p>A Toys ‘R’ Us spokeswoman declined to comment.</p>
<p>The company is expected to make a filing with the bankruptcy court late on Wednesday, the person said.</p>
<p>The planned closure in coming months is a blow to generations of consumers and hundreds of toy makers that sold products at the chain, including Barbie maker Mattel Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MAT.O" type="external">MAT.O</a>), board game company Hasbro Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HAS.O" type="external">HAS.O</a>) and other large vendors such as Lego.</p>
<p>In Britain, the remaining 75 Toys ‘R’ Us shops will close within six weeks, joint administrators for the retailer said earlier on Wednesday, after they were unable to find a buyer for all or part of the business, resulting in the loss of about 3,000 jobs.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal earlier on Wednesday reported that Toys ‘R’ Us Chief Executive David Brandon told U.S. staff about the likely closures on a conference call.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>Efforts to restructure collapsed this month after lenders decided, absent a clear reorganization plan, they could recover more by closing stores and raising money from merchandise sales, sources with knowledge of the matter said.</p>
<p>“It’s a relentlessly difficult retail environment for mall-based retailers. There just aren’t the same feet coming through the doors,” said Brian Davidoff, a financial restructuring lawyer.</p>
<p>More than 8,000 U.S. retail stores closed in 2017, roughly double the average annual store closures in the previous decade, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">Amazon.com Inc</a> 1591.0 AMZN.O Nasdaq +2.82 (+0.18%) AMZN.O KKR.N VNO.N MAT.O HAS.O
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us is also likely to liquidate in France, Spain, Poland and Australia, Brandon said, according to The Wall Street Journal. It quoted Brandon as adding that the retailer also planned to sell operations in Canada, Central Europe and Asia.</p>
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us was already working with liquidators Tiger Capital Group LLC, Great American Group LLC, Hilco Merchant Resources LLC and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC on previously announced store closures, and the four are expected to continue with the additional closings, sources said.</p>
<p>The future of the retailer’s big-box shops, many located in strip centers, was uncertain.</p>
<p>The disappearance of Toys ‘R’ Us in the United States and the UK leaves a void for hundreds of toy makers that relied on the chain as a top customer alongside WalMart Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WMT.N" type="external">WMT.N</a>) and Target Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TGT.N" type="external">TGT.N</a>).</p>
<p>Shares in Mattel, the world’s largest toymaker, and No. 2 U.S. toymaker Hasbro tumbled last week on liquidation reports. Both companies rely on Toys ‘R’ Us for roughly 10 percent of their revenues, according to their 2016 annual reports.</p>
<p>The liquidation will be more painful for small, independent toy makers that relied on the chain as a major showcase, said Lutz Muller, president of consultancy Klosters Trading Corp.</p>
<p>“A large number will go to the wall,” Muller said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil and Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Henderson, Richard Chang and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a> | BRIEF-Beijing Jiaxun Feihong Electrical sees FY 2017 net profit up 10 pct to 30 pct 'ENOUGH': U.S. student walkout sends message on gun violence Former Trump campaign manager Manafort files to dismiss charges Nobel prize winner hospitalized, wife found deceased in Illinois Toys 'R' Us plans to close all U.S. stores; 33,000 jobs at risk: source | false | https://reuters.com/article/brief-beijing-jiaxun-feihong-electrical/brief-beijing-jiaxun-feihong-electrical-sees-fy-2017-net-profit-up-10-pct-to-30-pct-idUSL4N1PK3DM | 2018-01-25 | 2least
| BRIEF-Beijing Jiaxun Feihong Electrical sees FY 2017 net profit up 10 pct to 30 pct 'ENOUGH': U.S. student walkout sends message on gun violence Former Trump campaign manager Manafort files to dismiss charges Nobel prize winner hospitalized, wife found deceased in Illinois Toys 'R' Us plans to close all U.S. stores; 33,000 jobs at risk: source
<p>Jan 25(Reuters) - Beijing Jiaxun Feihong Electrical Co Ltd</p>
<p>* Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 10 percent to 30 percent, or to be 113.5 million yuan to 134.2 million yuan</p>
<p>* Says FY 2016 net profit was 103.2 million yuan</p>
<p>Source text in Chinese: <a href="https://goo.gl/H9x5ST" type="external">goo.gl/H9x5ST</a></p>
<p>Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARKLAND, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. students spilled out of classrooms by the tens of thousands on Wednesday, chanting slogans like “No more silence” and “We want change” as part of a coast-to-coast protest over gun violence prompted by last month’s massacre at a Florida high school.</p>
<p>The #ENOUGH National School Walkout was intended to pressure federal and state lawmakers to tighten laws on gun ownership despite opposition by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful gun rights advocacy group.</p>
<p>With some students dressed in orange, the color adopted by the gun control movement, the walkouts began at 10 a.m. local time in each time zone and were scheduled to last 17 minutes. Many rallies went longer.</p>
<p>The duration was a tribute to 17 students and staff killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. It was the latest in a series of shootings that have plagued U.S. schools and colleges over the past two decades.</p>
<p>While many school districts gave their blessings to the walkouts, others said anyone who participated would face discipline. Many students defied the warnings and left school anyway. They included over two dozen at Lindenhurst High School on New York state’s Long Island, who were at first suspended, then had their punishment reduced to detentions, according to a senior and the school superintendent.</p>
<p>In Parkland, thousands of students slowly filed onto the Stoneman Douglas school football field to the applause of families and supporters beyond the fences as law enforcement officers looked on. News helicopters hovered overhead.</p>
<p>Ty Thompson, the principal, called for the “biggest group hug,” and the students obliged around the 50-yard line.</p>
<p>“We want change!” students chanted on the sidewalks outside the school. “Can you hear the children screaming?” read one of the signs.</p>
<p>But not all students in Florida were in favor of gun control. About 80 miles (129 km) north of Parkland at Vero Beach High School, chants of “No More Silence, end gun violence,” were countered by shouts of “Trump!” and “We want guns” from other students, according to video posted by local newspaper TCPalm.</p>
<p>At New York City’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, crowds of students poured into the streets of Manhattan, many dressed in orange, symbolic of the bright color worn by hunters to avoid being shot by accident.</p>
<p>“Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” read one sign at LaGuardia, a jab at a response often uttered by lawmakers after mass shootings.</p>
<p>In Akron, Ohio, hundreds of students wearing orange t-shirts with black targets on the front walked out of Firestone High School.</p>
<p>At Granada Hills Charter High School in Los Angeles, students laid prone on the field of a football stadium to form a giant #ENOUGH, symbolizing the thousands of youth who die of gun violence every year in the United States.</p>
<p>Students at Columbine High, Colorado remembered the 1999 massacre at their school that began an era in which mass shootings became common in U.S. schools.</p> Students from Washington, DC-area schools carry signs during a protest for stricter gun control during a walkout by students at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
<p>“I grew up in a community still haunted by the tragedy from 19 years ago,” said 16-year-old sophomore Abigail Orton.</p> LOBBYING LAWMAKERS
<p>The walkouts were part of a burgeoning, grassroots movement prompted by the Parkland attack and came 10 days before major protests planned in Washington and elsewhere. Survivors have lobbied lawmakers and President Donald Trump in a push for new restrictions on gun ownership, a right protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.</p>
<p>“We don’t feel safe in schools anymore,” said Sarah Chatfield, a high school student from Maryland, standing with hundreds of other protesters outside the White House.</p>
<p>Chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has got to go!” students, many of whom will be able to vote in 2020, marched to the U.S. Capitol, where Democratic lawmakers emerged from the white-domed landmark to praise them.</p> Slideshow (30 Images)
<p>The student-led initiative helped bring about a tightening of Florida’s gun laws last week, when the minimum age of 21 for buying any handguns was extended to all firearms. But lawmakers rejected a ban on the sort of semiautomatic rifle used in the Parkland attack.</p>
<p>In Washington, however, proposals to strengthen the background-check system for gun sales, among other measures, appear to be languishing.</p>
<p>After protests began on Wednesday, the NRA tweeted a picture of a semiautomatic rifle with the caption “I’ll control my own guns, thank you.”</p> SCHOOLS VARY IN RESPONSE
<p>Students from more than 3,000 schools and groups joined the walkouts, many with the backing of their school districts, according to the event’s organizers, who also coordinated the Women’s March protests staged nationwide over the past two years.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-guns-legislation-passage/house-passes-bill-to-prevent-gun-violence-in-schools-in-rare-bipartisan-vote-idUSKCN1GQ2W7" type="external">House passes bill to prevent gun violence in schools in rare bipartisan vote</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-guns-florida/suspected-florida-school-shooter-silent-in-court-judge-enters-not-guilty-plea-idUSKCN1GQ2OB" type="external">Suspected Florida school shooter silent in court, judge enters not-guilty plea</a>
<p>In Newtown, Pennsylvania, more than 100 students walked out of Council Rock High School despite warnings they would face discipline if they left the building.</p>
<p>But after the walkout, Superintendent Robert Fraser said “the level of maturity and sincerity was amazing” among protesters, and the school district waived any punishments.</p>
<p>At Norton High School in the rural-suburban district in northeastern Ohio, a small group of students, including a teenage boy with an American flag draped over his shoulder, stood apart from a larger gathering of nearly 300 students who walked out of class. One of the students also flew a large Trump flag at the end of his truck.</p>
<p>Ryan Shanor, the school’s principal, said the small group wanted to honor the victims but disagreed with sentiment they considered to be against the Second Amendment.</p>
<p>“They did not agree with everything they thought the protest was about,” he said.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus, Jonathan Allen and Alice Popovici in New York; Suzanne Barlyn in Newtown, Pennsylvania; Joe Skipper in Parkland, Florida; Scott Malone in Boston; Kim Palmer in Cleveland; Susan Heavey, Richard Cowan, Sarah N. Lynch and Ian Simpson in Washington; Lindsey Wasson in Seattle; Keith Coffman in Colorado; writing by Jonathan Allen and Andrew Hay; editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort on Wednesday filed a motion in federal court seeking to dismiss charges against him, saying that the special counsel had exceeded his authority by charging Manafort with crimes not related to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.</p> Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort departs from U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>In a 46-page filing with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing also said Manafort had been threatened with additional indictments and “faces a game of criminal-procedure whack-a-mole” by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who has massive government resources he cannot possibly match.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sarah Lynch; Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A Japanese Nobel-winning chemist was discovered wandering in rural Northern Illinois and his wife found dead nearby, some nine hours after they had been reported missing from their home 200 miles away, police said on Wednesday.</p> FILE PHOTO - Ei-ichi Negishi of Japan (R) and his wife Sumire Negishi (2nd R) are surrounded by his family members as he displays his diploma and medal after winning the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry during the award ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm December 10, 2010. Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency via REUTERS/File Photo
<p>Nobel Prize winner Ei-ichi Negishi, 82, was transported to a local hospital for treatment after he was spotted walking near Rockford, Illinois, at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department officials said in a written statement.</p>
<p>Deputies later found the couple’s car and the body of his wife, Sumire Negishi, at the nearby Ochard Hills Landfill, the sheriff’s department said. Rockford is about 100 miles west of Chicago.</p> FILE PHOTO - Mrs. Sumire Negishi, wife of Nobel Prize laureate for Chemistry Ei-ichi Negishi of Japan attends the Nobel banquet at Stockholm's City Hall, Sweden December 10, 2010. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski/File Photo
<p>An autopsy was pending on the body of Sumire Negishi but foul play was not suspected in her death, the sheriff’s department said. No information was released on the condition of Ei-Ichi Negishi.</p>
<p>The couple was reported missing to the Indiana State Police at about 8 p.m. central time on Monday. They were last seen at their home in West Lafayette, near the Purdue University campus where Ei-Ichi is a professor of chemistry.</p>
<p>The scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2010.</p>
<p>Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Bankrupt Toys ‘R’ Us Inc is preparing to sell or close all 885 stores in its U.S. chain, risking up to 33,000 jobs, after failing to reach a deal to restructure billions of dollars in debt, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>With shoppers flocking to online platforms like Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and children choosing electronic gadgets over toys, Toys ‘R’ Us has struggled to service debt from a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout by private equity firms KKR &amp; Co LP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=KKR.N" type="external">KKR.N</a>) and Bain Capital and real estate investor Vornado Realty Trust ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VNO.N" type="external">VNO.N</a>) in 2005.</p>
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us had been closing one-fifth of its U.S. stores as part of efforts to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a specialty retailer.</p>
<p>But creditors decided they can get more from liquidating assets of the toy seller, the largest in the United States and one of the best known in the world, rather than finding a way to keep the business alive, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiations.</p>
<p>A Toys ‘R’ Us spokeswoman declined to comment.</p>
<p>The company is expected to make a filing with the bankruptcy court late on Wednesday, the person said.</p>
<p>The planned closure in coming months is a blow to generations of consumers and hundreds of toy makers that sold products at the chain, including Barbie maker Mattel Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MAT.O" type="external">MAT.O</a>), board game company Hasbro Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HAS.O" type="external">HAS.O</a>) and other large vendors such as Lego.</p>
<p>In Britain, the remaining 75 Toys ‘R’ Us shops will close within six weeks, joint administrators for the retailer said earlier on Wednesday, after they were unable to find a buyer for all or part of the business, resulting in the loss of about 3,000 jobs.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal earlier on Wednesday reported that Toys ‘R’ Us Chief Executive David Brandon told U.S. staff about the likely closures on a conference call.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>Efforts to restructure collapsed this month after lenders decided, absent a clear reorganization plan, they could recover more by closing stores and raising money from merchandise sales, sources with knowledge of the matter said.</p>
<p>“It’s a relentlessly difficult retail environment for mall-based retailers. There just aren’t the same feet coming through the doors,” said Brian Davidoff, a financial restructuring lawyer.</p>
<p>More than 8,000 U.S. retail stores closed in 2017, roughly double the average annual store closures in the previous decade, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">Amazon.com Inc</a> 1591.0 AMZN.O Nasdaq +2.82 (+0.18%) AMZN.O KKR.N VNO.N MAT.O HAS.O
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us is also likely to liquidate in France, Spain, Poland and Australia, Brandon said, according to The Wall Street Journal. It quoted Brandon as adding that the retailer also planned to sell operations in Canada, Central Europe and Asia.</p>
<p>Toys ‘R’ Us was already working with liquidators Tiger Capital Group LLC, Great American Group LLC, Hilco Merchant Resources LLC and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC on previously announced store closures, and the four are expected to continue with the additional closings, sources said.</p>
<p>The future of the retailer’s big-box shops, many located in strip centers, was uncertain.</p>
<p>The disappearance of Toys ‘R’ Us in the United States and the UK leaves a void for hundreds of toy makers that relied on the chain as a top customer alongside WalMart Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WMT.N" type="external">WMT.N</a>) and Target Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TGT.N" type="external">TGT.N</a>).</p>
<p>Shares in Mattel, the world’s largest toymaker, and No. 2 U.S. toymaker Hasbro tumbled last week on liquidation reports. Both companies rely on Toys ‘R’ Us for roughly 10 percent of their revenues, according to their 2016 annual reports.</p>
<p>The liquidation will be more painful for small, independent toy makers that relied on the chain as a major showcase, said Lutz Muller, president of consultancy Klosters Trading Corp.</p>
<p>“A large number will go to the wall,” Muller said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil and Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Henderson, Richard Chang and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a> | 599,605 |
<p />
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>One of the most important decisions people face is what they'll spend the vast majority of their 9-to-5 time doing. Because adults spend about half their waking lives at work, there are countless pieces of advice for people considering different careers.</p>
<p>One adage for job seekers is especially popular: "Money doesn't buy happiness." It's a phrase with a clear message: Money isn't what makes you happy, so in pursuing a career, you should follow your dreams.</p>
<p>But that advice makes my skin crawl, because it's a half-truth at best and an outright lie at worst. Money and happiness are bound to each other. Struggling to pay your bills, save for emergencies, and invest in your future shouldn't be glorified as a sacrifice made by those living for a higher purpose. It's hazardous to buy into this mentality,especially if you're looking for a job.</p>
<p>Whoever invented the phrase has never gotten into a fight over the purchase of a green pepper.</p>
<p>I was 19 years old and had just returned from my freshman year of college to live with my mom and aunt for the summer. Being on a health kick, I asked my family if they could buy more vegetables, including a green pepper.What ensued was a heated conversation on the affordability of a vegetable.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>"We shouldn't have to stress out about buying a green pepper," I argued, stomach twisting.</p>
<p>"We have to see whether we can afford it," they replied.</p>
<p>The reality was that they did. Our low-income lifestyle revolved around financial constraints. Money couldn't be allocated for even small purchases without the most careful intentions.</p>
<p>When bills arrived that my family couldn't pay, money became a monster that tormented me. In fourth grade, my mom sat me down to explain mortgages and how we missed a payment. In sixth grade, while working on a science project, I heard whispers of foreclosure from downstairs. In ninth grade, I avoided movie plans with friends to save money. In 12th grade, I looked up during my shower to see a tarp covering the bathroom roof.</p>
<p>And once I was in college, purchasing a vegetable required thoughtful consideration.</p>
<p>However, only a few months later, the pain I associated with money started disappearing. Along with a large scholarship, I received a stipend capable of covering my basic needs. Buying produce, eating out, and paying my rent changed from dreams to mundane realities. Self-reliance and comfort replaced gripping panic, and money changed from a monster to a comforting friend.</p>
<p>Simply put, more money did buy me happiness.</p>
<p>Many studies affirm this idea. A <a href="http://faculty.weatherhead.case.edu/clingingsmith/NEIW.pdf" type="external">June 2016 economics paper</a> states that negative emotions decrease at a constant rate until income approaches $80,000; as income nears $200,000, negative emotions continue to decrease, implying a happier life. If that doesn't convince you, a <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2013/04/subjective%20well%20being%20income/subjective%20well%20being%20income.pdf" type="external">University of Michigan analysis from 2013</a> examined data from 155 countries -- including 95% of the world's population -- and determined that well-being and income consistently rise in tandem.</p>
<p>"If there is a satiation point, we are yet to reach it," the authors say.</p>
<p>Yet the myth that "money doesn't buy happiness" remains pervasive in people's hearts and minds. It implies that striving for money means striving for a life devoid of color and meaning. As a writer, I've been told that money should be considered only tangential to my dreams -- that dreams are the golden apple I should chase.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>But here's the truth: Dreams don't pay the bills. Dreams don't stop the monster from gutting your happiness.</p>
<p>Money does. It's the only way to guarantee your basic human needs are fully met. Treating money with disdain is seriously misguided. Worse, telling young people to throw financial stability to the wind can lead them down the road to ruin.</p>
<p>Just because I don't believe that "money doesn't buy happiness" doesn't mean that I believe the opposite: I recognize that money is not the sole determinant of happiness. Other factors in life -- health, friends, love, and an enjoyment of work -- play a part as well. However, you'll be in better health if you can afford medical care, a gym membership, and nutritious food. Friendships are easier to maintain when you can afford dinners, movies, and nights out. And as for love, a <a href="http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/jul13/predictingdivorce71113.html" type="external">study by Kansas State University</a> found that arguments over money were the greatest predictor of divorce.</p>
<p>Enjoying your work certainly increases your happiness, but that will be mitigated if your passions can't pay for food, water, shelter, and utilities -- if you can't put money in a savings account or let it compound in the stock market, if the occasional splurge is entirely outside your reach.</p>
<p>So follow your dreams as much as you can, but be realistic. Research your expected career earnings, compare them to your expenses, and decide whether you can make a livable income. If you can't, think about compromising with a job that strikes a balance between your passions and your basic income needs.</p>
<p>It may not seem as fulfilling as following your dreams, but here's the calculated truth: It will provide happiness.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/03/why-money-doesnt-buy-happiness-is-wrong.aspx" type="external">Why "Money Doesn't Buy Happiness" Is Wrong</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p>Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p> | Why "Money Doesn't Buy Happiness" Is Wrong | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/07/03/why-money-doesnt-buy-happiness-is-wrong.html | 2016-07-03 | 0right
| Why "Money Doesn't Buy Happiness" Is Wrong
<p />
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>One of the most important decisions people face is what they'll spend the vast majority of their 9-to-5 time doing. Because adults spend about half their waking lives at work, there are countless pieces of advice for people considering different careers.</p>
<p>One adage for job seekers is especially popular: "Money doesn't buy happiness." It's a phrase with a clear message: Money isn't what makes you happy, so in pursuing a career, you should follow your dreams.</p>
<p>But that advice makes my skin crawl, because it's a half-truth at best and an outright lie at worst. Money and happiness are bound to each other. Struggling to pay your bills, save for emergencies, and invest in your future shouldn't be glorified as a sacrifice made by those living for a higher purpose. It's hazardous to buy into this mentality,especially if you're looking for a job.</p>
<p>Whoever invented the phrase has never gotten into a fight over the purchase of a green pepper.</p>
<p>I was 19 years old and had just returned from my freshman year of college to live with my mom and aunt for the summer. Being on a health kick, I asked my family if they could buy more vegetables, including a green pepper.What ensued was a heated conversation on the affordability of a vegetable.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>"We shouldn't have to stress out about buying a green pepper," I argued, stomach twisting.</p>
<p>"We have to see whether we can afford it," they replied.</p>
<p>The reality was that they did. Our low-income lifestyle revolved around financial constraints. Money couldn't be allocated for even small purchases without the most careful intentions.</p>
<p>When bills arrived that my family couldn't pay, money became a monster that tormented me. In fourth grade, my mom sat me down to explain mortgages and how we missed a payment. In sixth grade, while working on a science project, I heard whispers of foreclosure from downstairs. In ninth grade, I avoided movie plans with friends to save money. In 12th grade, I looked up during my shower to see a tarp covering the bathroom roof.</p>
<p>And once I was in college, purchasing a vegetable required thoughtful consideration.</p>
<p>However, only a few months later, the pain I associated with money started disappearing. Along with a large scholarship, I received a stipend capable of covering my basic needs. Buying produce, eating out, and paying my rent changed from dreams to mundane realities. Self-reliance and comfort replaced gripping panic, and money changed from a monster to a comforting friend.</p>
<p>Simply put, more money did buy me happiness.</p>
<p>Many studies affirm this idea. A <a href="http://faculty.weatherhead.case.edu/clingingsmith/NEIW.pdf" type="external">June 2016 economics paper</a> states that negative emotions decrease at a constant rate until income approaches $80,000; as income nears $200,000, negative emotions continue to decrease, implying a happier life. If that doesn't convince you, a <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2013/04/subjective%20well%20being%20income/subjective%20well%20being%20income.pdf" type="external">University of Michigan analysis from 2013</a> examined data from 155 countries -- including 95% of the world's population -- and determined that well-being and income consistently rise in tandem.</p>
<p>"If there is a satiation point, we are yet to reach it," the authors say.</p>
<p>Yet the myth that "money doesn't buy happiness" remains pervasive in people's hearts and minds. It implies that striving for money means striving for a life devoid of color and meaning. As a writer, I've been told that money should be considered only tangential to my dreams -- that dreams are the golden apple I should chase.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>But here's the truth: Dreams don't pay the bills. Dreams don't stop the monster from gutting your happiness.</p>
<p>Money does. It's the only way to guarantee your basic human needs are fully met. Treating money with disdain is seriously misguided. Worse, telling young people to throw financial stability to the wind can lead them down the road to ruin.</p>
<p>Just because I don't believe that "money doesn't buy happiness" doesn't mean that I believe the opposite: I recognize that money is not the sole determinant of happiness. Other factors in life -- health, friends, love, and an enjoyment of work -- play a part as well. However, you'll be in better health if you can afford medical care, a gym membership, and nutritious food. Friendships are easier to maintain when you can afford dinners, movies, and nights out. And as for love, a <a href="http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/jul13/predictingdivorce71113.html" type="external">study by Kansas State University</a> found that arguments over money were the greatest predictor of divorce.</p>
<p>Enjoying your work certainly increases your happiness, but that will be mitigated if your passions can't pay for food, water, shelter, and utilities -- if you can't put money in a savings account or let it compound in the stock market, if the occasional splurge is entirely outside your reach.</p>
<p>So follow your dreams as much as you can, but be realistic. Research your expected career earnings, compare them to your expenses, and decide whether you can make a livable income. If you can't, think about compromising with a job that strikes a balance between your passions and your basic income needs.</p>
<p>It may not seem as fulfilling as following your dreams, but here's the calculated truth: It will provide happiness.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/03/why-money-doesnt-buy-happiness-is-wrong.aspx" type="external">Why "Money Doesn't Buy Happiness" Is Wrong</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p>Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p> | 599,606 |
<p>Aug. 31 (UPI) — Right back Serge Aurier has agreed to a deal with Tottenham. The club announced the five-year contract Thursday.</p>
<p>The pact is <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/story/3192142/tottenham-hotspur-poised-to-wrap-up-serge-aurier-move-from-psg" type="external">worth about $29 million</a>, according to ESPN FC.</p>
<p>“This is a huge and exciting opportunity at a massive <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Walker/" type="external">football</a> club and I am determined to prove myself as a professional both on and off the pitch,” <a href="http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/serge-aurier-move-secured-310817/" type="external">Aurier told the team website.</a></p>
<p>“This is a fresh start for me and I will do everything to make the Spurs fanbase, which is huge and diverse, proud of me. The fans are the most important people at any club and I am looking forward to showing them and everyone at Spurs the real Serge Aurier.”</p>
<p>Aurier, 24, began his career with the French club Lens before moving to Toulouse in 2012. He signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 on loan. He joined the team permanently in 2015. Aurier scored five goals in 81 appearances for the French club. He has also appeared in 40 international matches for the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ivory_Coast/" type="external">Ivory Coast</a>.</p>
<p>Tottenham originally agreed to a transfer fee with Paris Saint-Germain last week, but the official decision wasn’t finalized until Wednesday, according to ESPN FC.</p>
<p>Aurier has a goal and an assist this year in six appearances for the Ivory Coast. He will wear No. 24 for Spurs. Since the 2012-2013 season, Aurier has more assists (19) in Ligue 1 than any other defender, <a href="https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/903219631732776960" type="external">as noted by Squaka Football.</a></p> | Serge Aurier: Tottenham signs Paris Saint-Germain right back | false | https://newsline.com/serge-aurier-tottenham-signs-paris-saint-germain-right-back/ | 2017-08-31 | 1right-center
| Serge Aurier: Tottenham signs Paris Saint-Germain right back
<p>Aug. 31 (UPI) — Right back Serge Aurier has agreed to a deal with Tottenham. The club announced the five-year contract Thursday.</p>
<p>The pact is <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/story/3192142/tottenham-hotspur-poised-to-wrap-up-serge-aurier-move-from-psg" type="external">worth about $29 million</a>, according to ESPN FC.</p>
<p>“This is a huge and exciting opportunity at a massive <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Walker/" type="external">football</a> club and I am determined to prove myself as a professional both on and off the pitch,” <a href="http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/serge-aurier-move-secured-310817/" type="external">Aurier told the team website.</a></p>
<p>“This is a fresh start for me and I will do everything to make the Spurs fanbase, which is huge and diverse, proud of me. The fans are the most important people at any club and I am looking forward to showing them and everyone at Spurs the real Serge Aurier.”</p>
<p>Aurier, 24, began his career with the French club Lens before moving to Toulouse in 2012. He signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 on loan. He joined the team permanently in 2015. Aurier scored five goals in 81 appearances for the French club. He has also appeared in 40 international matches for the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ivory_Coast/" type="external">Ivory Coast</a>.</p>
<p>Tottenham originally agreed to a transfer fee with Paris Saint-Germain last week, but the official decision wasn’t finalized until Wednesday, according to ESPN FC.</p>
<p>Aurier has a goal and an assist this year in six appearances for the Ivory Coast. He will wear No. 24 for Spurs. Since the 2012-2013 season, Aurier has more assists (19) in Ligue 1 than any other defender, <a href="https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/903219631732776960" type="external">as noted by Squaka Football.</a></p> | 599,607 |
<p />
<p>Pfizer, which closed its $14 billion acquisition of Medivation Inc in September, reported a 3 percent fall in quarterly revenue, due to a strong dollar and fewer selling days compared to the year-ago quarter.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The largest U.S. drugmaker posted a net income $775 million, or 13 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $172 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier.</p>
<p>The company's revenue fell to $13.63 billion from $14.05 billion.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)</p> | Pfizer Quarterly Profit Misses Estimates | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/01/31/pfizer-quarterly-profit-misses-estimates.html | 2017-01-31 | 0right
| Pfizer Quarterly Profit Misses Estimates
<p />
<p>Pfizer, which closed its $14 billion acquisition of Medivation Inc in September, reported a 3 percent fall in quarterly revenue, due to a strong dollar and fewer selling days compared to the year-ago quarter.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The largest U.S. drugmaker posted a net income $775 million, or 13 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $172 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier.</p>
<p>The company's revenue fell to $13.63 billion from $14.05 billion.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)</p> | 599,608 |
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<p>As chairman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, which is located partially in the state, I have made numerous requests that our tribe be added to the list of tribes and invited to the summit.</p>
<p>In 2012, we were invited, then disinvited. In 2013, I met with the secretary of Indian Affairs, who agreed to present our request to the governor. For months, we received no response. The response finally came via telephone two days before the summit, when I was told that we were not welcome.</p>
<p>Our history in New Mexico is well known, back when we were called Chiricahua &amp; Warm Springs Apaches.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>We officially returned to the state in 2002, when the federal government placed into trust a parcel of land within our aboriginal homeland that we owned near Deming at a place called Akela.</p>
<p>In 2011, it took the additional step of declaring this parcel to be our reservation, our first reservation in New Mexico since our reservation at Warm Springs was closed in 1877. It published notice of this action in the Federal Register on Nov. 28, 2011.</p>
<p>Since then, we've been welcomed back by the Legislature, and numerous city and county governments. Long before that, both the Taxation and Revenue Department and the Alcohol and Gaming Division of the Regulation and Licensing Department accepted both our legal presence here and the revenues that we generate for them.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the governor has acted as if the State Tribal Collaboration Act does not apply to her in the manner that the Legislature intended, that she can decide which tribes can be counted as state tribes and that she can execute this law in a partial manner.</p>
<p>This is contrary to her oath of office in which she swore that she would faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of her office. In my opinion, by executing this law in a partial manner, she is assuming legislative authority and violating the separation of powers specified in the Constitution.</p>
<p>And for this reason, it is a matter for the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>For our tribe, this is more than a matter of pride. We are materially harmed by this exclusion. Each year, the state provides funding for tribes to develop infrastructure. We deserve to apply for these funds like every other tribe and pueblo in New Mexico.</p>
<p>But we can't because the process starts at the summit from which we have continually been excluded. As a result, we have no infrastructure on our reservation at Akela. Instead of owning up to its responsibility for this, the governor's office seems to have blamed us, stating in response to our lawsuit that we only have a smoke shop there.</p>
<p>Another response by the governor's office has been that this lawsuit is only about gaming. That's not true. This lawsuit is about fairness. It's about treating the state's smallest tribe in the same manner that it treats all of the other tribes. Gaming will be addressed in a separate process.</p>
<p>We have been open about our desire to develop gaming on our Akela reservation. Our proposed project would generate hundreds of jobs for southern New Mexico citizens. It has received support from these citizens, and from nearby county and city governments.</p>
<p>They support both the jobs that we will bring to them and the repatriation of our tribe to our homelands that this project will enable.</p>
<p>Perhaps someday we could discuss with the governor the many benefits that proposed project and our repatriation would bring to the state. But before that can happen, our legitimate presence here must be recognized.</p>
<p /> | Gov. should recognize Fort Sill Apaches | false | https://abqjournal.com/383254/gov-should-recognize-fort-sill-apaches.html | 2least
| Gov. should recognize Fort Sill Apaches
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<p />
<p>As chairman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, which is located partially in the state, I have made numerous requests that our tribe be added to the list of tribes and invited to the summit.</p>
<p>In 2012, we were invited, then disinvited. In 2013, I met with the secretary of Indian Affairs, who agreed to present our request to the governor. For months, we received no response. The response finally came via telephone two days before the summit, when I was told that we were not welcome.</p>
<p>Our history in New Mexico is well known, back when we were called Chiricahua &amp; Warm Springs Apaches.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>We officially returned to the state in 2002, when the federal government placed into trust a parcel of land within our aboriginal homeland that we owned near Deming at a place called Akela.</p>
<p>In 2011, it took the additional step of declaring this parcel to be our reservation, our first reservation in New Mexico since our reservation at Warm Springs was closed in 1877. It published notice of this action in the Federal Register on Nov. 28, 2011.</p>
<p>Since then, we've been welcomed back by the Legislature, and numerous city and county governments. Long before that, both the Taxation and Revenue Department and the Alcohol and Gaming Division of the Regulation and Licensing Department accepted both our legal presence here and the revenues that we generate for them.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the governor has acted as if the State Tribal Collaboration Act does not apply to her in the manner that the Legislature intended, that she can decide which tribes can be counted as state tribes and that she can execute this law in a partial manner.</p>
<p>This is contrary to her oath of office in which she swore that she would faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of her office. In my opinion, by executing this law in a partial manner, she is assuming legislative authority and violating the separation of powers specified in the Constitution.</p>
<p>And for this reason, it is a matter for the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>For our tribe, this is more than a matter of pride. We are materially harmed by this exclusion. Each year, the state provides funding for tribes to develop infrastructure. We deserve to apply for these funds like every other tribe and pueblo in New Mexico.</p>
<p>But we can't because the process starts at the summit from which we have continually been excluded. As a result, we have no infrastructure on our reservation at Akela. Instead of owning up to its responsibility for this, the governor's office seems to have blamed us, stating in response to our lawsuit that we only have a smoke shop there.</p>
<p>Another response by the governor's office has been that this lawsuit is only about gaming. That's not true. This lawsuit is about fairness. It's about treating the state's smallest tribe in the same manner that it treats all of the other tribes. Gaming will be addressed in a separate process.</p>
<p>We have been open about our desire to develop gaming on our Akela reservation. Our proposed project would generate hundreds of jobs for southern New Mexico citizens. It has received support from these citizens, and from nearby county and city governments.</p>
<p>They support both the jobs that we will bring to them and the repatriation of our tribe to our homelands that this project will enable.</p>
<p>Perhaps someday we could discuss with the governor the many benefits that proposed project and our repatriation would bring to the state. But before that can happen, our legitimate presence here must be recognized.</p>
<p /> | 599,609 |
|
<p>Backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, Elisabeth Moss talks Time's Up movement, "Coco" director discuss Lee Unkrich talks about his film's success, while Sam Rockwell celebrates female empowerment. (Jan. 8)</p>
<p>Backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, Elisabeth Moss talks Time's Up movement, "Coco" director discuss Lee Unkrich talks about his film's success, while Sam Rockwell celebrates female empowerment. (Jan. 8)</p> | Moss: Hollywood 'learning' women can make them money | false | https://apnews.com/amp/fde412a709594f5785978c60d9438ecd | 2018-01-08 | 2least
| Moss: Hollywood 'learning' women can make them money
<p>Backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, Elisabeth Moss talks Time's Up movement, "Coco" director discuss Lee Unkrich talks about his film's success, while Sam Rockwell celebrates female empowerment. (Jan. 8)</p>
<p>Backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, Elisabeth Moss talks Time's Up movement, "Coco" director discuss Lee Unkrich talks about his film's success, while Sam Rockwell celebrates female empowerment. (Jan. 8)</p> | 599,610 |
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<p>AUSTIN, Texas — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick insists he’ll run for re-election next year, trying to tamp down speculation he could mount a primary challenge against fellow Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.</p>
<p>Patrick told reporters at GOP of Texas headquarters Monday they could “put it in cement” that he won’t compete against Abbott in 2018 or ever.</p>
<p>An ex-conservative talk radio host and tea party firebrand, Patrick has said repeatedly he sees Abbott as an ally.</p>
<p>But he’s fueled reports of rivalry by consistently getting to the right of the more lawyerly Abbott, a former state Supreme Court justice, on many social issues — including trying to ban transgender Texans from using the public restroom of their choice.</p>
<p>Patrick also fully embraced Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy while Abbott was more cautious in his support.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Texas lieutenant governor vows not to ‘primary’ governor | false | https://abqjournal.com/923779/texas-lieutenant-governor-vows-not-to-primary-governor.html | 2017-01-09 | 2least
| Texas lieutenant governor vows not to ‘primary’ governor
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<p>AUSTIN, Texas — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick insists he’ll run for re-election next year, trying to tamp down speculation he could mount a primary challenge against fellow Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.</p>
<p>Patrick told reporters at GOP of Texas headquarters Monday they could “put it in cement” that he won’t compete against Abbott in 2018 or ever.</p>
<p>An ex-conservative talk radio host and tea party firebrand, Patrick has said repeatedly he sees Abbott as an ally.</p>
<p>But he’s fueled reports of rivalry by consistently getting to the right of the more lawyerly Abbott, a former state Supreme Court justice, on many social issues — including trying to ban transgender Texans from using the public restroom of their choice.</p>
<p>Patrick also fully embraced Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy while Abbott was more cautious in his support.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 599,611 |
<p>On Monday, while the nation focused on the indictment of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, another, far more damaging plea deal was released by the office of the special counsel: former Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos was released. The plea deal expired on October 5, which means that Papadopoulos is now cooperating with the special counsel.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/file/1007346/download" type="external">statement of offense</a>, describing what Papadopoulos admitted to, suggests attempted collusion between Papadopoulos and fronts for the Russian government. According to that statement, Papadopoulos was told he would become a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign in early March 2016 by a “campaign supervisor.” He was also told that a better relationship with Russia would be a “principal foreign policy focus of the Campaign.” While in Italy, Papadopoulos “met an individual who was a professor based in London.” When the professor found out that Papadopoulos was working for the Trump campaign, the professor became very interested in Papadopoulos; the feeling was mutual, because the professor “claimed to have substantial connections with Russian government officials, which defendant Papadopoulos thought could increase his importance as a policy advisor to the Campaign.” In late March, Papadopoulos met with the professor in London, and the professor brought a female Russian national — allegedly a “relative of Russian President Vladimir Putin with connections to senior Russian government officials.”</p>
<p>Papadopoulos then funneled that information to the campaign, and told the campaign supervisor and “several members of the Campaign’s foreign policy team” that he had met with the professor and the Russian national, attempting to set up a meeting between them. Here’s the most damning fact:</p>
<p>On or about March 31, 2016, defendant PAPADOPOULOS attended a “national security meeting” in Washington, D.C. with then-candidate Trump and other foreign policy advisors for the Campaign. When defendant PAPADOPOULOS introduced himself to the group, he stated, in sum and substance, that he had connections that could help arrange a meeting between then-candidate Trump and President Putin.</p>
<p>Papadopoulos worked with the professor and Russian national to obtain a meeting with the campaign. The female Russian national told Papadopoulos, “I have already alerted my personal links to our conversation and your request … As mentioned we are all very excited by the possibility of a good relationship with Mr. Trump. The Russian Federation would love to welcome him once his candidature would be officially announced.”</p>
<p>Papadopoulos became close with a member of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. On April 26, 2016, Papadopoulos learned from the professor that the professor had met with “high-level Russian government officials,” and that the professor had been told that the Russians had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, including “thousands of emails.”</p>
<p>Papadopoulos continued to pursue an off-the-record meeting between campaign representatives and “members of president putin’s office and the mfa.” The campaign continued to express warmth toward the idea of a meeting.</p>
<p>So, here are the open questions:</p>
<p>All of this is far more problematic for the Trump campaign than Manafort. But it’s also far less certain. What will Papadopoulos tell Mueller? We’ll find out soon enough.</p> | BREAKING: Former Trump Foreign Policy Advisor Cuts Plea Deal, Admits Russians Offered To Funnel 'Dirt' on Hillary | true | https://dailywire.com/news/22922/breaking-former-trump-foreign-policy-advisor-cuts-ben-shapiro | 2017-10-30 | 0right
| BREAKING: Former Trump Foreign Policy Advisor Cuts Plea Deal, Admits Russians Offered To Funnel 'Dirt' on Hillary
<p>On Monday, while the nation focused on the indictment of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, another, far more damaging plea deal was released by the office of the special counsel: former Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos was released. The plea deal expired on October 5, which means that Papadopoulos is now cooperating with the special counsel.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/file/1007346/download" type="external">statement of offense</a>, describing what Papadopoulos admitted to, suggests attempted collusion between Papadopoulos and fronts for the Russian government. According to that statement, Papadopoulos was told he would become a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign in early March 2016 by a “campaign supervisor.” He was also told that a better relationship with Russia would be a “principal foreign policy focus of the Campaign.” While in Italy, Papadopoulos “met an individual who was a professor based in London.” When the professor found out that Papadopoulos was working for the Trump campaign, the professor became very interested in Papadopoulos; the feeling was mutual, because the professor “claimed to have substantial connections with Russian government officials, which defendant Papadopoulos thought could increase his importance as a policy advisor to the Campaign.” In late March, Papadopoulos met with the professor in London, and the professor brought a female Russian national — allegedly a “relative of Russian President Vladimir Putin with connections to senior Russian government officials.”</p>
<p>Papadopoulos then funneled that information to the campaign, and told the campaign supervisor and “several members of the Campaign’s foreign policy team” that he had met with the professor and the Russian national, attempting to set up a meeting between them. Here’s the most damning fact:</p>
<p>On or about March 31, 2016, defendant PAPADOPOULOS attended a “national security meeting” in Washington, D.C. with then-candidate Trump and other foreign policy advisors for the Campaign. When defendant PAPADOPOULOS introduced himself to the group, he stated, in sum and substance, that he had connections that could help arrange a meeting between then-candidate Trump and President Putin.</p>
<p>Papadopoulos worked with the professor and Russian national to obtain a meeting with the campaign. The female Russian national told Papadopoulos, “I have already alerted my personal links to our conversation and your request … As mentioned we are all very excited by the possibility of a good relationship with Mr. Trump. The Russian Federation would love to welcome him once his candidature would be officially announced.”</p>
<p>Papadopoulos became close with a member of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. On April 26, 2016, Papadopoulos learned from the professor that the professor had met with “high-level Russian government officials,” and that the professor had been told that the Russians had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, including “thousands of emails.”</p>
<p>Papadopoulos continued to pursue an off-the-record meeting between campaign representatives and “members of president putin’s office and the mfa.” The campaign continued to express warmth toward the idea of a meeting.</p>
<p>So, here are the open questions:</p>
<p>All of this is far more problematic for the Trump campaign than Manafort. But it’s also far less certain. What will Papadopoulos tell Mueller? We’ll find out soon enough.</p> | 599,612 |
<p>Why would any Senate Republicans ever agree not to abolish the filibuster on the&#160;next&#160;Supreme Court nomination in order to get Democrats to agree not to&#160;filibuster the Gorsuch nomination? The very fact that Senate Democrats have the votes to filibuster Gorsuch&#160;shows that they will filibuster any plausible next nominee. So the “deal” that some are floating would simply confer on Chuck Schumer and his fellow Democrats a preemptive veto over the next nomination. What possible sense does that make?</p>
<p>As I’ve <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/446067/gorsuch-filibuster-washington-post-bias" type="external">explained</a>, claims that the Supreme Court filibuster is part of Senate tradition are utterly wrong. No Supreme Court nominee has ever been defeated by a partisan filibuster. The filibuster of Supreme Court nominees was theoretically possible under&#160;Senate&#160;rules from 1789 until 1949, but never happened.* And despite the fact that any single senator has since 1949 had the power to require a cloture vote on a Supreme Court nomination, there has been a grand total of four cloture votes on the more than 30 Supreme Court nominations since 1949. In short, on an accurate understanding of the Senate’s dominant traditional practice, abolition of the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees&#160;would ensure the continuation of that traditional practice.</p>
<p>Abolition of the Supreme Court filibuster would not threaten the legislative filibuster, which arose and exists for its own reasons. As I’ve <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/446294/filibuster-abolition-legislative" type="external">discussed</a>, the long-settled tradition of the Senate has been to treat debate over nominations and legislation very differently. Ironically, by wrongly insisting that the legislative filibuster and the nominations filibuster are linked, defenders of the legislative filibuster undermine their own cause.</p>
<p>Concerns that abolishing the filibuster would lead presidents to make extreme Supreme Court picks are also misplaced. That didn’t happen during the long period when the filibuster was regarded as completely off the table, much less during the 160 years when it wasn’t even a formal option. The simple fact is that ordinary politics — e.g., the interest in securing&#160;a solid Senate majority, the desire for public acclaim — amply constrains a president’s discretion in selecting Supreme Court nominees.</p>
<p>Bottom line: NO DEAL on avoiding a filibuster.</p>
<p>* I have corrected a mistaken version of the pre-1949 situation.</p>
<p>As I <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/446411/gorsuch-filibuster-no-deal" type="external">explained</a>, I think that concerns that the absence of the Supreme Court filibuster would lead presidents to make extreme Supreme Court picks are misplaced and belied by history. But let’s assume for the sake of argument that those concerns aren’t baseless. It still would make no sense for any Republican senator to strike a deal with Democrats in which he or she would commit not to abolish the filibuster for the next nominee.</p>
<p>Briefly put: The power that a few Republican senators have now to strike a (foolish) deal with Senate Democrats to avoid a filibuster fight on the Gorsuch nomination is the very same power that they would have to join with Senate Democrats to defeat a hypothetical “extreme” next nominee. So why confer on Senator Schumer and other Democrats a preemptive veto on any next nominee, even if that nominee turns out to be someone you strongly support? The intelligent move is instead to hold on to the free option and exercise it only if and when you face a nominee you can’t support—that is, by voting against that nominee.</p> | No Deal on Gorsuch Filibuster | false | https://eppc.org/publications/no-deal-on-gorsuch-filibuster/ | 1right-center
| No Deal on Gorsuch Filibuster
<p>Why would any Senate Republicans ever agree not to abolish the filibuster on the&#160;next&#160;Supreme Court nomination in order to get Democrats to agree not to&#160;filibuster the Gorsuch nomination? The very fact that Senate Democrats have the votes to filibuster Gorsuch&#160;shows that they will filibuster any plausible next nominee. So the “deal” that some are floating would simply confer on Chuck Schumer and his fellow Democrats a preemptive veto over the next nomination. What possible sense does that make?</p>
<p>As I’ve <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/446067/gorsuch-filibuster-washington-post-bias" type="external">explained</a>, claims that the Supreme Court filibuster is part of Senate tradition are utterly wrong. No Supreme Court nominee has ever been defeated by a partisan filibuster. The filibuster of Supreme Court nominees was theoretically possible under&#160;Senate&#160;rules from 1789 until 1949, but never happened.* And despite the fact that any single senator has since 1949 had the power to require a cloture vote on a Supreme Court nomination, there has been a grand total of four cloture votes on the more than 30 Supreme Court nominations since 1949. In short, on an accurate understanding of the Senate’s dominant traditional practice, abolition of the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees&#160;would ensure the continuation of that traditional practice.</p>
<p>Abolition of the Supreme Court filibuster would not threaten the legislative filibuster, which arose and exists for its own reasons. As I’ve <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/446294/filibuster-abolition-legislative" type="external">discussed</a>, the long-settled tradition of the Senate has been to treat debate over nominations and legislation very differently. Ironically, by wrongly insisting that the legislative filibuster and the nominations filibuster are linked, defenders of the legislative filibuster undermine their own cause.</p>
<p>Concerns that abolishing the filibuster would lead presidents to make extreme Supreme Court picks are also misplaced. That didn’t happen during the long period when the filibuster was regarded as completely off the table, much less during the 160 years when it wasn’t even a formal option. The simple fact is that ordinary politics — e.g., the interest in securing&#160;a solid Senate majority, the desire for public acclaim — amply constrains a president’s discretion in selecting Supreme Court nominees.</p>
<p>Bottom line: NO DEAL on avoiding a filibuster.</p>
<p>* I have corrected a mistaken version of the pre-1949 situation.</p>
<p>As I <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/446411/gorsuch-filibuster-no-deal" type="external">explained</a>, I think that concerns that the absence of the Supreme Court filibuster would lead presidents to make extreme Supreme Court picks are misplaced and belied by history. But let’s assume for the sake of argument that those concerns aren’t baseless. It still would make no sense for any Republican senator to strike a deal with Democrats in which he or she would commit not to abolish the filibuster for the next nominee.</p>
<p>Briefly put: The power that a few Republican senators have now to strike a (foolish) deal with Senate Democrats to avoid a filibuster fight on the Gorsuch nomination is the very same power that they would have to join with Senate Democrats to defeat a hypothetical “extreme” next nominee. So why confer on Senator Schumer and other Democrats a preemptive veto on any next nominee, even if that nominee turns out to be someone you strongly support? The intelligent move is instead to hold on to the free option and exercise it only if and when you face a nominee you can’t support—that is, by voting against that nominee.</p> | 599,613 |
|
<p />
<p>At issue</p>
<p>S.F. Bay Area-based In Defense of Animals is calling for Sea World, the marine park owned by Anheuser-Busch, to release Corky, a killer whale in captivity for 24 years. IDA is also urging consumers to boycott Budweiser beer and Eagle Snacks, both owned by Busch.</p>
<p>Impact</p>
<p>IDA says the popularity of last summer’s film “Free Willy” increased interest in the boycott. But Busch reports that beer sales and park attendance are both rising. According to a spokesperson, “[We have] a long-standing tradition of supporting efforts to preserve and appreciate wildlife.” Now, about those Clydesdales . . .</p>
<p><a href="/news/outfront/1994/03/pepsi.html" type="external">Next Company . . .</a></p>
<p /> | Anheuser-Busch | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/1994/03/anheuser-busch/ | 2018-03-01 | 4left
| Anheuser-Busch
<p />
<p>At issue</p>
<p>S.F. Bay Area-based In Defense of Animals is calling for Sea World, the marine park owned by Anheuser-Busch, to release Corky, a killer whale in captivity for 24 years. IDA is also urging consumers to boycott Budweiser beer and Eagle Snacks, both owned by Busch.</p>
<p>Impact</p>
<p>IDA says the popularity of last summer’s film “Free Willy” increased interest in the boycott. But Busch reports that beer sales and park attendance are both rising. According to a spokesperson, “[We have] a long-standing tradition of supporting efforts to preserve and appreciate wildlife.” Now, about those Clydesdales . . .</p>
<p><a href="/news/outfront/1994/03/pepsi.html" type="external">Next Company . . .</a></p>
<p /> | 599,614 |
<p />
<p>Name: Patricia Campbell</p>
<p>CLAIM TO FAME: As Miss Teen Pennsylvania, she criticized welfare reforms.</p>
<p>Broadcast between the Republican and the Democratic conventions, the Miss Teen USA beauty pageant should have been an amusing diversion from election-year politics. Yet, in what might be the ultimate condemnation of the state of democratic dialogue, 18-year-old Patricia Campbell, Miss Teen Pennsylvania, sashayed onstage in a white evening gown and critiqued President Clinton’s approval of welfare reforms with more uncensored spunk than anyone at either convention.</p>
<p>Most of Campbell’s peers at the pageant stuck with benign topics, such as animal rights and anything having to do with children. “There are really bright girls, but the majority are somewhat vapid and don’t have any concerns about what’s going on outside their little lives,” says a pageant organizer.</p>
<p>But as one of three finalists asked the question, “If you could talk with the president about the problems facing teenagers, what would you want to discuss?” Campbell eschewed tried-and-true responses, such as “teenage AIDS and the need for abstinence” (advocated by eventual winner Christie Lee Woods, Miss Teen Texas). Instead, she answered, “I’d want to discuss the welfare [reform] that President Clinton has created. I think he really should have looked into it more before he signed it. He’s signing off on women who [now have to] leave their children without a national daycare program.”</p>
<p>Sound tame? Campbell actually said more about the welfare bill than the woman charged with dealing with its human fallout: Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, who spoke at the Democratic convention.</p>
<p>“I/m not the type of person to stand by if I disapprove of something,” says Campbell, who is taking a semester off before she enters Clark Atlanta University in Georgia to study broadcast journalism. “I think I represented the real issues of my community and my state very well by answering as I did.” Even if all that truth-telling might have cost her the tiara and more than $150,000 in cash and prizes? “If I believe something, I’m going to say it, regardless of what I’m going to gain or lose in return.”</p>
<p>Know of any people who are raising a bit of hell? E-mail <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a></p>
<p /> | MoJo’s December Hellraiser! | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/1996/11/mojos-december-hellraiser-2/ | 2018-11-01 | 4left
| MoJo’s December Hellraiser!
<p />
<p>Name: Patricia Campbell</p>
<p>CLAIM TO FAME: As Miss Teen Pennsylvania, she criticized welfare reforms.</p>
<p>Broadcast between the Republican and the Democratic conventions, the Miss Teen USA beauty pageant should have been an amusing diversion from election-year politics. Yet, in what might be the ultimate condemnation of the state of democratic dialogue, 18-year-old Patricia Campbell, Miss Teen Pennsylvania, sashayed onstage in a white evening gown and critiqued President Clinton’s approval of welfare reforms with more uncensored spunk than anyone at either convention.</p>
<p>Most of Campbell’s peers at the pageant stuck with benign topics, such as animal rights and anything having to do with children. “There are really bright girls, but the majority are somewhat vapid and don’t have any concerns about what’s going on outside their little lives,” says a pageant organizer.</p>
<p>But as one of three finalists asked the question, “If you could talk with the president about the problems facing teenagers, what would you want to discuss?” Campbell eschewed tried-and-true responses, such as “teenage AIDS and the need for abstinence” (advocated by eventual winner Christie Lee Woods, Miss Teen Texas). Instead, she answered, “I’d want to discuss the welfare [reform] that President Clinton has created. I think he really should have looked into it more before he signed it. He’s signing off on women who [now have to] leave their children without a national daycare program.”</p>
<p>Sound tame? Campbell actually said more about the welfare bill than the woman charged with dealing with its human fallout: Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, who spoke at the Democratic convention.</p>
<p>“I/m not the type of person to stand by if I disapprove of something,” says Campbell, who is taking a semester off before she enters Clark Atlanta University in Georgia to study broadcast journalism. “I think I represented the real issues of my community and my state very well by answering as I did.” Even if all that truth-telling might have cost her the tiara and more than $150,000 in cash and prizes? “If I believe something, I’m going to say it, regardless of what I’m going to gain or lose in return.”</p>
<p>Know of any people who are raising a bit of hell? E-mail <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a></p>
<p /> | 599,615 |
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<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s economic plans are nothing if not ambitious: Annual growth of 4 percent — or more. A diminished trade gap. The creation of 25 million jobs over 10 years, including the return of good-paying factory positions.</p>
<p>It all adds up to an immense challenge, one that Trump aims to achieve mostly by cutting taxes, loosening regulations, boosting infrastructure spending and renegotiating or withdrawing from trade deals. At the top of his agenda: Pulling out of the 12-nation Pacific trade agreement, a move Trump initiated Monday, his first full weekday in office. He has also said he will rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement to better serve the United States.</p>
<p>Yet to come anywhere near his goals, economists say Trump would have to surmount at least a handful of major hurdles that have long defied solutions.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>He may yet succeed. But he faces deep-rooted obstacles that have bedeviled presidents from both parties for years.</p>
<p>Among the challenges are these:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>A SHIFT TOWARD AUTOMATION</p>
<p>Trump’s goal of vastly expanding manufacturing would require at least the partial reversal of a decades-long trend toward a service-oriented economy and away from factory work. Former President Barack Obama sought to add 1 million manufacturing jobs in his second term but came up two-thirds short.</p>
<p>Even if Trump could return factory production to its heyday by toughening trade deals and threatening to slap tariffs on America’s trading partners, a surge of new jobs wouldn’t necessarily follow. The increased use of robots and automation has allowed factories to make more goods with fewer workers. Research shows that automation has been a bigger factor than trade in the loss of U.S. factory jobs.</p>
<p>The trend is spreading outside factory gates. Uber is experimenting with self-driving cars. Restaurant chains like Eatsa can now serve meals through an automated order-and-payment system. No cashiers or servers are needed.</p>
<p>“You cannot just slap tariffs on and hope that will bring back middle class jobs,” says Daron Acemoglu, an economist at MIT. “The jobs that went to China would come back to robots rather than people.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS</p>
<p>Jobs that can’t be automated typically require education beyond high school. Yet not everyone can or wants to attend college. Many analysts say the economy needs better and more widely available post-high school education and training, whether through community colleges, vocational schools or boot camps offering technology training.</p>
<p>Such a boot camp is how Sharnie Ivery managed to move beyond the retail and sales jobs he’d held right after high school. In 2013, Ivery began a six-month computer coding boot camp at Flatiron School in New York through which he obtained internships. Last year, he began working as a software developer at Spotify, the music streaming service. “There weren’t many opportunities for a career in technology” without training and experience, Ivery, 24, said.</p>
<p>Last year, the Obama administration opened some financial aid programs to Flatiron and other boot camps. But such efforts remain in an experimental phase, and any widespread successes from those programs are likely years away.</p>
<p>A lack of technological skills isn’t an issue only for the tech industry itself. Modern manufacturing work increasingly requires high-tech know-how requiring some education or training beyond high school. Since the economic recovery began in 2009, only 12 percent of manufacturing jobs have gone to workers with no more than a high school degree, according to research by Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>SLUGGISH WORKER PRODUCTIVITY</p>
<p>In the past decade, the growth of American workers’ productivity — the amount they produce per hour worked — has slumped to roughly half its long-term average.</p>
<p>That slowdown has imposed a dead weight on the economy. When employees become less efficient, it slows economic growth, and companies can’t raise pay without boosting prices. A faster expansion needs a combination of more people working and more efficient workers.</p>
<p>Trump’s proposals might help somewhat. He favors expanded tax breaks for companies that invest in new machinery and equipment, which typically make workers more productive. And he’s vowed to build more roads, tunnels and other infrastructure, which can save on shipping and commuting costs.</p>
<p>Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the conservative American Action Forum, says Trump’s push to loosen regulations might also lead to more startup companies, which could prod established businesses to become more efficient.</p>
<p>Still, many economists, like Robert Gordon of Northwestern University, argue that today’s innovations — in mobile communications and biotechnology, for example — aren’t transformative enough to fuel the explosive productivity growth that resulted from inventions like the automobile, telephone and computer.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>INCOME INEQUALITY</p>
<p>Economic growth since the recession ended has been both slow and uneven: It’s benefited wealthier Americans far more than low- and middle-income households. Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, noted this concern at a confirmation hearing last week: “The average American worker has gotten nowhere,” he said.</p>
<p>The tepid gains for low- and middle-income families have slowed the economy because those groups typically spend more of their income than do affluent households, and consumer spending is the economy’s primary fuel. Against that backdrop, Trump’s goal of 4 percent annual economic growth — a formidable one under any circumstances — might be next to impossible.</p>
<p>Mnuchin said the administration’s proposals to cut taxes for individuals and businesses would shore up families’ finances and encourage companies to hire more. Yet America’s wealth gap has widened even as previous presidents have cut individual taxes.</p>
<p>And there’s no way to know how companies would use their tax cuts. Many large companies return profits to shareholders by boosting dividend payments and share buybacks, rather than by expanding investment and raising employee pay.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>A SLOW-GROWING WORKFORCE</p>
<p>Trump has pledged to add 25 million jobs over the next decade. But with fewer people looking for work now than just a few years ago, it’s unclear where all those extra workers would come from.</p>
<p>The president’s pledge will run up against a long-standing trend: A decline in the proportion of Americans either working or seeking work. That’s largely a reflection of an aging population. Roughly 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, and many retire. The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that the proportion of Americans working or looking for will keep dropping to 61.5 percent by the end of 2020.</p>
<p>Mark Lashinske of Tempe, Arizona-based Modern Industries, which makes machine tools, says he’s struggling to fill 14 machinists’ positions. He blames the steady loss of manufacturing jobs since 1980 for discouraging an entire generation from factory work. His company is expanding its efforts to find younger job applicants.</p>
<p>The company has established an internship program and is working with a nonprofit group to encourage disadvantaged high school students to consider manufacturing careers.</p>
<p>“We’ve been looking for quite a while,” he says. “We have such a shortage.”</p>
<p>Most economists argue that encouraging more legal immigration could help counter an otherwise slow-growing workforce and might help accelerate economic growth. Yet Trump campaigned on tightening immigration restrictions.</p>
<p>“In the absence of immigration, we shrink the size of our population and our economy and our global influence,” Holtz-Eakin says.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>STRONG DOLLAR</p>
<p>Through renegotiating treaties like NAFTA and pushing companies to keep more jobs at home, Trump hopes to reduce — or even eliminate — the trade deficit, a measure of how much more America imports than exports. The U.S. has run trade deficits since 1975.</p>
<p>Yet if Trump’s policies accelerate growth, the Federal Reserve would be more likely to raise the short-term interest rate it controls to keep inflation in check. Faster growth and higher rates, in turn, would attract more investors to the dollar, raising its value compared with other currencies.</p>
<p>The catch? A stronger dollar makes U.S. exports costlier and imports cheaper — a recipe for an even wider trade deficit and a headwind for growth.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Contact Chris Rugaber at <a href="http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber" type="external">http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber</a></p> | Why Trump will find it hard to make American economy greater | false | https://abqjournal.com/933732/why-trump-will-find-it-hard-to-make-american-economy-greater.html | 2017-01-23 | 2least
| Why Trump will find it hard to make American economy greater
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<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s economic plans are nothing if not ambitious: Annual growth of 4 percent — or more. A diminished trade gap. The creation of 25 million jobs over 10 years, including the return of good-paying factory positions.</p>
<p>It all adds up to an immense challenge, one that Trump aims to achieve mostly by cutting taxes, loosening regulations, boosting infrastructure spending and renegotiating or withdrawing from trade deals. At the top of his agenda: Pulling out of the 12-nation Pacific trade agreement, a move Trump initiated Monday, his first full weekday in office. He has also said he will rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement to better serve the United States.</p>
<p>Yet to come anywhere near his goals, economists say Trump would have to surmount at least a handful of major hurdles that have long defied solutions.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>He may yet succeed. But he faces deep-rooted obstacles that have bedeviled presidents from both parties for years.</p>
<p>Among the challenges are these:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>A SHIFT TOWARD AUTOMATION</p>
<p>Trump’s goal of vastly expanding manufacturing would require at least the partial reversal of a decades-long trend toward a service-oriented economy and away from factory work. Former President Barack Obama sought to add 1 million manufacturing jobs in his second term but came up two-thirds short.</p>
<p>Even if Trump could return factory production to its heyday by toughening trade deals and threatening to slap tariffs on America’s trading partners, a surge of new jobs wouldn’t necessarily follow. The increased use of robots and automation has allowed factories to make more goods with fewer workers. Research shows that automation has been a bigger factor than trade in the loss of U.S. factory jobs.</p>
<p>The trend is spreading outside factory gates. Uber is experimenting with self-driving cars. Restaurant chains like Eatsa can now serve meals through an automated order-and-payment system. No cashiers or servers are needed.</p>
<p>“You cannot just slap tariffs on and hope that will bring back middle class jobs,” says Daron Acemoglu, an economist at MIT. “The jobs that went to China would come back to robots rather than people.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS</p>
<p>Jobs that can’t be automated typically require education beyond high school. Yet not everyone can or wants to attend college. Many analysts say the economy needs better and more widely available post-high school education and training, whether through community colleges, vocational schools or boot camps offering technology training.</p>
<p>Such a boot camp is how Sharnie Ivery managed to move beyond the retail and sales jobs he’d held right after high school. In 2013, Ivery began a six-month computer coding boot camp at Flatiron School in New York through which he obtained internships. Last year, he began working as a software developer at Spotify, the music streaming service. “There weren’t many opportunities for a career in technology” without training and experience, Ivery, 24, said.</p>
<p>Last year, the Obama administration opened some financial aid programs to Flatiron and other boot camps. But such efforts remain in an experimental phase, and any widespread successes from those programs are likely years away.</p>
<p>A lack of technological skills isn’t an issue only for the tech industry itself. Modern manufacturing work increasingly requires high-tech know-how requiring some education or training beyond high school. Since the economic recovery began in 2009, only 12 percent of manufacturing jobs have gone to workers with no more than a high school degree, according to research by Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>SLUGGISH WORKER PRODUCTIVITY</p>
<p>In the past decade, the growth of American workers’ productivity — the amount they produce per hour worked — has slumped to roughly half its long-term average.</p>
<p>That slowdown has imposed a dead weight on the economy. When employees become less efficient, it slows economic growth, and companies can’t raise pay without boosting prices. A faster expansion needs a combination of more people working and more efficient workers.</p>
<p>Trump’s proposals might help somewhat. He favors expanded tax breaks for companies that invest in new machinery and equipment, which typically make workers more productive. And he’s vowed to build more roads, tunnels and other infrastructure, which can save on shipping and commuting costs.</p>
<p>Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the conservative American Action Forum, says Trump’s push to loosen regulations might also lead to more startup companies, which could prod established businesses to become more efficient.</p>
<p>Still, many economists, like Robert Gordon of Northwestern University, argue that today’s innovations — in mobile communications and biotechnology, for example — aren’t transformative enough to fuel the explosive productivity growth that resulted from inventions like the automobile, telephone and computer.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>INCOME INEQUALITY</p>
<p>Economic growth since the recession ended has been both slow and uneven: It’s benefited wealthier Americans far more than low- and middle-income households. Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, noted this concern at a confirmation hearing last week: “The average American worker has gotten nowhere,” he said.</p>
<p>The tepid gains for low- and middle-income families have slowed the economy because those groups typically spend more of their income than do affluent households, and consumer spending is the economy’s primary fuel. Against that backdrop, Trump’s goal of 4 percent annual economic growth — a formidable one under any circumstances — might be next to impossible.</p>
<p>Mnuchin said the administration’s proposals to cut taxes for individuals and businesses would shore up families’ finances and encourage companies to hire more. Yet America’s wealth gap has widened even as previous presidents have cut individual taxes.</p>
<p>And there’s no way to know how companies would use their tax cuts. Many large companies return profits to shareholders by boosting dividend payments and share buybacks, rather than by expanding investment and raising employee pay.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>A SLOW-GROWING WORKFORCE</p>
<p>Trump has pledged to add 25 million jobs over the next decade. But with fewer people looking for work now than just a few years ago, it’s unclear where all those extra workers would come from.</p>
<p>The president’s pledge will run up against a long-standing trend: A decline in the proportion of Americans either working or seeking work. That’s largely a reflection of an aging population. Roughly 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, and many retire. The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that the proportion of Americans working or looking for will keep dropping to 61.5 percent by the end of 2020.</p>
<p>Mark Lashinske of Tempe, Arizona-based Modern Industries, which makes machine tools, says he’s struggling to fill 14 machinists’ positions. He blames the steady loss of manufacturing jobs since 1980 for discouraging an entire generation from factory work. His company is expanding its efforts to find younger job applicants.</p>
<p>The company has established an internship program and is working with a nonprofit group to encourage disadvantaged high school students to consider manufacturing careers.</p>
<p>“We’ve been looking for quite a while,” he says. “We have such a shortage.”</p>
<p>Most economists argue that encouraging more legal immigration could help counter an otherwise slow-growing workforce and might help accelerate economic growth. Yet Trump campaigned on tightening immigration restrictions.</p>
<p>“In the absence of immigration, we shrink the size of our population and our economy and our global influence,” Holtz-Eakin says.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>STRONG DOLLAR</p>
<p>Through renegotiating treaties like NAFTA and pushing companies to keep more jobs at home, Trump hopes to reduce — or even eliminate — the trade deficit, a measure of how much more America imports than exports. The U.S. has run trade deficits since 1975.</p>
<p>Yet if Trump’s policies accelerate growth, the Federal Reserve would be more likely to raise the short-term interest rate it controls to keep inflation in check. Faster growth and higher rates, in turn, would attract more investors to the dollar, raising its value compared with other currencies.</p>
<p>The catch? A stronger dollar makes U.S. exports costlier and imports cheaper — a recipe for an even wider trade deficit and a headwind for growth.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Contact Chris Rugaber at <a href="http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber" type="external">http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber</a></p> | 599,616 |
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/numidas/" type="external">flickrnumi</a> / <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" type="external">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>The Dow Jones industrial average registered its first annual decline since 2008 as trading ended for 2015. But the stock market value of the two largest market-listed gun manufacturers — Smith &amp; Wesson and Sturm, Ruger &amp; Co. — doubled during the year.</p>
<p>The Guardian reports:</p>
<p>Over the year Smith &amp; Wesson rose from $9.47 to $21.98. Sturm, Ruger and Company rose from $34.63 to $59.61. It’s not just 2015 that has been good for gun stocks. Over the past five years, stocks of Smith &amp; Wesson increased in value sixfold while stocks of Sturm, Ruger and Company quadrupled in value.</p>
<p />
<p>By comparison, Apple stock remained almost unchanged over the past year and only doubled in value over the past five years, reaching about $105 a share this year compared with $46 in 2010. […]</p>
<p>While many would attribute the spike in demand for guns to a renewed push for gun control, analysts say there is more to the current market dynamic than that. The main reason why people are buying guns is fear and a desire to be able to defend themselves, they say.</p>
<p>“I think many people in the media are wrong about why there has been a surge in firearms purchases in recent weeks. The news articles are mostly attributing it to fears that new gun laws will be passed and that consumers are making purchases while it is legal. I believe that this occurred after Newtown, but that this time people are making purchases because they feel the need to defend themselves,” said [Chris Krueger, a senior research analyst with Lake Street Capital Markets]. “I have had multiple conversations with gun buyers and this has been the consistent message. None seem too concerned about new laws.”</p>
<p>Fear – especially of Muslims and of African Americans [sic] protesters – is contributing to the demand in the market, Brian Ruttenbur, an analyst with financial services firm BB&amp;T, told the Guardian earlier this month.</p>
<p>Read more <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/31/value-of-gun-manufacturers-stocks-almost-doubled-in-2015" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>— Posted by <a href="" type="internal">Alexander Reed Kelly</a>.</p> | Two Gun Manufacturers' Stock Prices Doubled in 2015 Amid Intensifying Climate of Fear | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/two-gun-manufacturers-stock-prices-doubled-in-2015-amid-intensifying-climate-of-fear/ | 2016-01-02 | 4left
| Two Gun Manufacturers' Stock Prices Doubled in 2015 Amid Intensifying Climate of Fear
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/numidas/" type="external">flickrnumi</a> / <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" type="external">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>The Dow Jones industrial average registered its first annual decline since 2008 as trading ended for 2015. But the stock market value of the two largest market-listed gun manufacturers — Smith &amp; Wesson and Sturm, Ruger &amp; Co. — doubled during the year.</p>
<p>The Guardian reports:</p>
<p>Over the year Smith &amp; Wesson rose from $9.47 to $21.98. Sturm, Ruger and Company rose from $34.63 to $59.61. It’s not just 2015 that has been good for gun stocks. Over the past five years, stocks of Smith &amp; Wesson increased in value sixfold while stocks of Sturm, Ruger and Company quadrupled in value.</p>
<p />
<p>By comparison, Apple stock remained almost unchanged over the past year and only doubled in value over the past five years, reaching about $105 a share this year compared with $46 in 2010. […]</p>
<p>While many would attribute the spike in demand for guns to a renewed push for gun control, analysts say there is more to the current market dynamic than that. The main reason why people are buying guns is fear and a desire to be able to defend themselves, they say.</p>
<p>“I think many people in the media are wrong about why there has been a surge in firearms purchases in recent weeks. The news articles are mostly attributing it to fears that new gun laws will be passed and that consumers are making purchases while it is legal. I believe that this occurred after Newtown, but that this time people are making purchases because they feel the need to defend themselves,” said [Chris Krueger, a senior research analyst with Lake Street Capital Markets]. “I have had multiple conversations with gun buyers and this has been the consistent message. None seem too concerned about new laws.”</p>
<p>Fear – especially of Muslims and of African Americans [sic] protesters – is contributing to the demand in the market, Brian Ruttenbur, an analyst with financial services firm BB&amp;T, told the Guardian earlier this month.</p>
<p>Read more <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/31/value-of-gun-manufacturers-stocks-almost-doubled-in-2015" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>— Posted by <a href="" type="internal">Alexander Reed Kelly</a>.</p> | 599,617 |
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<p />
<p>ATHLETICS</p>
<p>SO LONG, COACH!: Long-time Pojoaque Valley athletic director Matt Martinez has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the school year. Martinez has been a coach and athletic director at the school for more than three decades.</p>
<p>BASKETBALL</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>APPLY NOW: The girls basketball programs at Santa Fe and Capital high schools are both open as the contracts for emergency fill-in coach Lanse Carter with the Demonettes and Dale Lucero after three-plus seasons with the Jaguars were not renewed.</p>
<p>LONG JUMP</p>
<p>RECORD LEAP: Española Valley High School’s Antoin Curtis soared a school record 44 feet, 5 inches Saturday at the Bernalillo Track &amp; Field Invitational. Not only was the state-meet-qualifying mark a school record, but also it was the longest for any New Mexico athlete this season.</p>
<p>UPCOMING THINGS TO SEE OR DO</p>
<p>HIKE: Los Alamos National Lab meteorologist Jean Dewart, a Los Alamos Mountaineering Club member, will lead a rugged, 10-mile hike of White Rock Canyon on Sunday. The excursion will go down Ancho Canyon and up Blue Dot Trail, and will feature stunning views, petroglyphs, natural springs and a steep climb out. For more information or to register, see <a href="http://peecnature.org" type="external">peecnature.org</a>, email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or call 505-6620460.</p>
<p>RUGBY: Los Alamos Rugby Club is starting youth non-contact rugby for ages 6-13. Participants are taught ball-handling skills, field awareness, teamwork, safety and sportsmanship. This level is co-ed and non-contact, and players are placed on teams according to age, ability and what they can play safely. No previous experience in rugby is required. For more information, email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>BASEBALL: Ballplayers aged 6-13 will have the opportunity to get instruction from noted trainers of the Albuquerque Baseball Academy at a satellite camp at the White Rock Little League fields on March 28. There is a hitting and defense camp, as well as a pitching camp. For more information, email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>RUNNING: Raising money for cancer research and exercising while doing so is a win-win, which makes the seventh annual Run For Her Life 5K and 10K races in Los Alamos on April 9 so important. For more information, call 672-1639 or see <a href="http://atomicrunners.com/runforherlife_registration2017.pdf" type="external">atomicrunners.com/runforherlife_registration2017.pdf</a>.</p>
<p>BASKETBALL: The Northern New Mexico College women’s basketball team is looking to fill some roster spots for next season at an open tryout for high school seniors and junior college players on March 25. RSVP to associate head coach Mandy Montoya by March 20 at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> to better assist the staff with planning.</p>
<p>MORE RUNNING: Snow may still be on the ground, but registration has opened for the Red River High Mountain half marathon and 5K on May 20. The course follows the Red River into the area’s Upper Valley, with runners surrounded by high mountain peaks. For more information, see <a href="http://redriverhalfmarathon.net" type="external">redriverhalfmarathon.net</a>.</p>
<p>MORE HOOPS: Girls and boys teams in third through eighth grades can square off in the Spring Championship Challenge April 7-9 at the Northern New Mexico College Gymnasium in Española. Sponsored by Santa Fe Thunder Youth Basketball, the tournament costs $150 per team. For more information, call 660-3392 or email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p /> | Sports: Week in Review | false | https://abqjournal.com/970763/headline-608.html | 2017-03-17 | 2least
| Sports: Week in Review
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<p />
<p>ATHLETICS</p>
<p>SO LONG, COACH!: Long-time Pojoaque Valley athletic director Matt Martinez has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the school year. Martinez has been a coach and athletic director at the school for more than three decades.</p>
<p>BASKETBALL</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>APPLY NOW: The girls basketball programs at Santa Fe and Capital high schools are both open as the contracts for emergency fill-in coach Lanse Carter with the Demonettes and Dale Lucero after three-plus seasons with the Jaguars were not renewed.</p>
<p>LONG JUMP</p>
<p>RECORD LEAP: Española Valley High School’s Antoin Curtis soared a school record 44 feet, 5 inches Saturday at the Bernalillo Track &amp; Field Invitational. Not only was the state-meet-qualifying mark a school record, but also it was the longest for any New Mexico athlete this season.</p>
<p>UPCOMING THINGS TO SEE OR DO</p>
<p>HIKE: Los Alamos National Lab meteorologist Jean Dewart, a Los Alamos Mountaineering Club member, will lead a rugged, 10-mile hike of White Rock Canyon on Sunday. The excursion will go down Ancho Canyon and up Blue Dot Trail, and will feature stunning views, petroglyphs, natural springs and a steep climb out. For more information or to register, see <a href="http://peecnature.org" type="external">peecnature.org</a>, email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or call 505-6620460.</p>
<p>RUGBY: Los Alamos Rugby Club is starting youth non-contact rugby for ages 6-13. Participants are taught ball-handling skills, field awareness, teamwork, safety and sportsmanship. This level is co-ed and non-contact, and players are placed on teams according to age, ability and what they can play safely. No previous experience in rugby is required. For more information, email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>BASEBALL: Ballplayers aged 6-13 will have the opportunity to get instruction from noted trainers of the Albuquerque Baseball Academy at a satellite camp at the White Rock Little League fields on March 28. There is a hitting and defense camp, as well as a pitching camp. For more information, email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>RUNNING: Raising money for cancer research and exercising while doing so is a win-win, which makes the seventh annual Run For Her Life 5K and 10K races in Los Alamos on April 9 so important. For more information, call 672-1639 or see <a href="http://atomicrunners.com/runforherlife_registration2017.pdf" type="external">atomicrunners.com/runforherlife_registration2017.pdf</a>.</p>
<p>BASKETBALL: The Northern New Mexico College women’s basketball team is looking to fill some roster spots for next season at an open tryout for high school seniors and junior college players on March 25. RSVP to associate head coach Mandy Montoya by March 20 at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> to better assist the staff with planning.</p>
<p>MORE RUNNING: Snow may still be on the ground, but registration has opened for the Red River High Mountain half marathon and 5K on May 20. The course follows the Red River into the area’s Upper Valley, with runners surrounded by high mountain peaks. For more information, see <a href="http://redriverhalfmarathon.net" type="external">redriverhalfmarathon.net</a>.</p>
<p>MORE HOOPS: Girls and boys teams in third through eighth grades can square off in the Spring Championship Challenge April 7-9 at the Northern New Mexico College Gymnasium in Española. Sponsored by Santa Fe Thunder Youth Basketball, the tournament costs $150 per team. For more information, call 660-3392 or email <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p /> | 599,618 |
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<p />
<p>Ricky Gallegos</p>
<p>They watched as longtime drug dealer Ricky Gallegos, 41, with a history of convictions dating back decades, parked his red Chevy Colorado next to another car.</p>
<p>When agents approached Gallegos’ car and identified themselves, he sped away only to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a pile of dirt.</p>
<p>Gallegos, who is paralyzed from the waist down, crawled out of the truck and buried two packages containing a kilogram of methamphetamine in the dirt near the driver’s-side door.</p>
<p>Agents who were chasing Gallegos saw him try to hide the drugs as they approached the wreck.</p>
<p>Gallegos, who has 10 prior state convictions for various drug charges and property crimes – some dating back 20 years, said he was asked to deliver the packages containing the drugs, but didn’t know who was supposed to receive them.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>He pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.</p>
<p>More from ABQJournal.com</p>
<p>Sara Sydow's body was found last February inside a blue recycling bin that had been… continue reading »</p>
<p />
<p /> | BUSTED: Meth dealer crashes into pile of dirt | false | https://abqjournal.com/947739/busted-3.html | 2least
| BUSTED: Meth dealer crashes into pile of dirt
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<p />
<p>Ricky Gallegos</p>
<p>They watched as longtime drug dealer Ricky Gallegos, 41, with a history of convictions dating back decades, parked his red Chevy Colorado next to another car.</p>
<p>When agents approached Gallegos’ car and identified themselves, he sped away only to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a pile of dirt.</p>
<p>Gallegos, who is paralyzed from the waist down, crawled out of the truck and buried two packages containing a kilogram of methamphetamine in the dirt near the driver’s-side door.</p>
<p>Agents who were chasing Gallegos saw him try to hide the drugs as they approached the wreck.</p>
<p>Gallegos, who has 10 prior state convictions for various drug charges and property crimes – some dating back 20 years, said he was asked to deliver the packages containing the drugs, but didn’t know who was supposed to receive them.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>He pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.</p>
<p>More from ABQJournal.com</p>
<p>Sara Sydow's body was found last February inside a blue recycling bin that had been… continue reading »</p>
<p />
<p /> | 599,619 |
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<p />
<p>According to court records, Sedillo, armed with a revolver, and an unidentified co-conspirator, armed with a knife, entered the restaurant shortly before its 10 p.m. closing time, jumped over the counter and threatened employees and demanded money, a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release said.</p>
<p>The accomplice grabbed a container of money from employees and both robbers fled, court records said.</p>
<p>Employees interviewed by Moriarty police reported recognizing Sedillo because he had worked for the restaurant in the fall and winter of 2010, and Albuquerque Police Department officers arrested Sedillo on Sept. 13, 2011, on a Moriarty warrant, the news release said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Sedillo was in local custody until April 11, 2012, when he was transferred to federal custody on a federal indictment, according to the release.</p>
<p>He faces up to 20 years in prison and will remain in federal custody until his sentencing, which has not been scheduled yet.</p> | ABQ Man Pleads Guilty to Moriarty Stickup | false | https://abqjournal.com/139014/abq-man-guilty-of-robbing-moriarty-blakes.html | 2012-10-16 | 2least
| ABQ Man Pleads Guilty to Moriarty Stickup
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<p />
<p>According to court records, Sedillo, armed with a revolver, and an unidentified co-conspirator, armed with a knife, entered the restaurant shortly before its 10 p.m. closing time, jumped over the counter and threatened employees and demanded money, a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release said.</p>
<p>The accomplice grabbed a container of money from employees and both robbers fled, court records said.</p>
<p>Employees interviewed by Moriarty police reported recognizing Sedillo because he had worked for the restaurant in the fall and winter of 2010, and Albuquerque Police Department officers arrested Sedillo on Sept. 13, 2011, on a Moriarty warrant, the news release said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Sedillo was in local custody until April 11, 2012, when he was transferred to federal custody on a federal indictment, according to the release.</p>
<p>He faces up to 20 years in prison and will remain in federal custody until his sentencing, which has not been scheduled yet.</p> | 599,620 |
<p />
<p>From&#160; <a href="http://americannews.com/breaking-fbi-finally-makes-move-to-arrest-hillary-clinton/" type="external">American News</a></p>
<p>Well, this could be the end for Hillary Clinton. According to recent reports, the Clinton campaign is panicking now that the FBI is deeply investigating her.</p>
<p>This time, she's a suspect for espionage.</p>
<p>According to reports, the FBI is currently trying to determine whether the former Secretary of State violated federal laws by making false statements about the way she handled classified materials while in office.</p>
<p>"The agents involved are under a lot of pressure," one source told Fox News, who was quick to point out that this is a serious expansion in the investigation against Hillary.</p>
<p>"The problem for the defendant is when their statements cause the bureau to expand more time, energy, resources to de-conflict their statements with the evidence," FBI officer Timothy Gill told reporters.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>0 comments</p> | BREAKING: FBI moves to arrest Hillary | true | http://freedomsfinalstand.com/breaking-fbi-moves-to-arrest-hillary/ | 0right
| BREAKING: FBI moves to arrest Hillary
<p />
<p>From&#160; <a href="http://americannews.com/breaking-fbi-finally-makes-move-to-arrest-hillary-clinton/" type="external">American News</a></p>
<p>Well, this could be the end for Hillary Clinton. According to recent reports, the Clinton campaign is panicking now that the FBI is deeply investigating her.</p>
<p>This time, she's a suspect for espionage.</p>
<p>According to reports, the FBI is currently trying to determine whether the former Secretary of State violated federal laws by making false statements about the way she handled classified materials while in office.</p>
<p>"The agents involved are under a lot of pressure," one source told Fox News, who was quick to point out that this is a serious expansion in the investigation against Hillary.</p>
<p>"The problem for the defendant is when their statements cause the bureau to expand more time, energy, resources to de-conflict their statements with the evidence," FBI officer Timothy Gill told reporters.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>0 comments</p> | 599,621 |
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<p>That’s according to Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna, who also said John Torres Nez, 51, is entering a pre-prosecution agreement after admitting embezzling thousands of dollars from the fundraiser. Money from sale of items donated by Indian artists was supposed to go a Red Cross fund to aid victims of the 2011 tsunami that struck Japan.</p>
<p>John Torres Nez (Journal File)</p>
<p>Although Torres Nez is not legally pleading guilty to the charges, Serna said that as part of the arrangement he must give a full admission to a pre-prosecution diversion officer from the District Attorney’s Office, pay $36,918 in restitution within two months, write a public apology and serve two years of probation under supervision the District Attorney’s Office.</p>
<p>Serna said the charges can be refiled if Torres Nez doesn’t meet those terms and that his office will have a written admission on file if Torres Nez is charged again. An attorney for Torres Nez couldn’t be reached for comment.</p>
<p>Torres Nez was indicted on two counts of embezzlement for taking money from the fundraiser from April 2011 to January 2012. Some of the donating artists contacted State Police in October 2014 and voiced concerns over where the money went.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Torres Nez pleaded not guilty in June after a roughly 1½-year investigation by State Police. A police search warrant affidavit said there was no sign that money from the art sales was transferred from the PayPal account of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, which puts on Indian Market, to the intended Red Cross fund. Torres Nez was an administrator with SWAIA at the time of the fundraiser and later became CEO. He subsequently left and helped start the rival Indigenous Fine Art Market.</p>
<p>The police affidavit said SWAIA’s financial administrator determined that the money from the fundraiser went into a bank account Torres Nez used to collect his SWAIA paycheck.</p>
<p />
<p /> | Former Indian Market CEO admits to embezzling funds | false | https://abqjournal.com/989175/former-indian-market-leader-will-pay-restitution-serve-probation-da-says.html | 2017-04-17 | 2least
| Former Indian Market CEO admits to embezzling funds
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<p />
<p>That’s according to Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna, who also said John Torres Nez, 51, is entering a pre-prosecution agreement after admitting embezzling thousands of dollars from the fundraiser. Money from sale of items donated by Indian artists was supposed to go a Red Cross fund to aid victims of the 2011 tsunami that struck Japan.</p>
<p>John Torres Nez (Journal File)</p>
<p>Although Torres Nez is not legally pleading guilty to the charges, Serna said that as part of the arrangement he must give a full admission to a pre-prosecution diversion officer from the District Attorney’s Office, pay $36,918 in restitution within two months, write a public apology and serve two years of probation under supervision the District Attorney’s Office.</p>
<p>Serna said the charges can be refiled if Torres Nez doesn’t meet those terms and that his office will have a written admission on file if Torres Nez is charged again. An attorney for Torres Nez couldn’t be reached for comment.</p>
<p>Torres Nez was indicted on two counts of embezzlement for taking money from the fundraiser from April 2011 to January 2012. Some of the donating artists contacted State Police in October 2014 and voiced concerns over where the money went.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Torres Nez pleaded not guilty in June after a roughly 1½-year investigation by State Police. A police search warrant affidavit said there was no sign that money from the art sales was transferred from the PayPal account of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, which puts on Indian Market, to the intended Red Cross fund. Torres Nez was an administrator with SWAIA at the time of the fundraiser and later became CEO. He subsequently left and helped start the rival Indigenous Fine Art Market.</p>
<p>The police affidavit said SWAIA’s financial administrator determined that the money from the fundraiser went into a bank account Torres Nez used to collect his SWAIA paycheck.</p>
<p />
<p /> | 599,622 |
<p>By Stephen Kalin and Katie Paul</p>
<p>RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabian women rejoiced at their new freedom to drive on Wednesday, with some taking to the roads even though licenses will not be issued for nine months.</p>
<p>Hundreds of others chatted with hiring managers at a Riyadh job fair, factoring in the new element in their career plans: their ability to drive themselves to work.</p>
<p>“Saudi Arabia will never be the same again. The rain begins with a single drop,” Manal al-Sharif, who was arrested in 2011 after a driving protest, said in an online statement.</p>
<p>King Salman announced the historic change on Tuesday, ending a conservative tradition which limited women’s mobility and was seen by rights activists as an emblem of their suppression.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia was the only remaining country in the world to bar women from driving.</p>
<p>At the jobs fair, Sultana, 30, said she had received four job offers since graduating from law school two years ago but turned them down because of transport issues.</p>
<p>“My parents don’t allow me to use Uber or Careem, so one of my brothers or the driver would need to take me,” she said, referring to dial-a ride companies.</p>
<p>“I’m so excited to learn how to drive. This will be a big difference for me. I will be independent. I won’t need a driver. I can do everything myself.”</p>
<p>She plans to start taking driving lessons when her family travels abroad for vacation.</p>
<p>Other women weren’t waiting. Internet videos showed a handful of women driving cars overnight, even though the ban has not been officially lifted.</p>
<p>The move represents a big crack in the laws and social mores governing women in the conservative Muslim kingdom. The guardianship system requires women to have a male relative’s approval for most decisions on education, employment, marriage, travel plans and even medical treatment.</p>
<p>The new initiative recalls previous modernizing milestones that unnerved conservatives at first but were eventually accepted, such as the 1960s start of state education for girls and the introduction of television.</p>
<p>NEED FOR SPEED</p>
<p>The decree is expected to boost the fortunes of 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has ascended to the heights of power in the kingdom with an ambitious domestic reform program and assertive foreign policy.</p>
<p>A muted response from Saudi’s clergy, which has long backed the ban, suggested power shared between the Al Saud dynasty and the Wahhabi religious establishment could be shifting decisively in favor of the royals.</p>
<p>Many younger Saudis regard Prince Mohammed’s ascent as evidence their generation is taking a central place in running a country whose patriarchal traditions have for decades made power the province of the old and blocked women’s progress.</p>
<p>Sharif, the activist, described the driving ban’s removal as “just the start to end long-standing unjust laws (that) have always considered Saudi women minors who are not trusted to drive their own destiny.”</p>
<p>A driving instructor at a government-run center said women called all day to inquire about registering a license, but he had received no instructions yet from the government.</p>
<p>Um Faisal, a mother of six, said her daughters would get licenses as soon as possible.</p>
<p>“Years ago, there wasn’t work outside the house. But today women need to get out and go places. This generation needs to drive,” she said, clad in a long black abaya.</p>
<p>DISSENT MUFFLED</p>
<p>The Saudi ambassador to Washington said on Tuesday women would not need their guardians’ permission to get a license, nor to have a guardian in the car when driving.</p>
<p>In a country where gender segregation has been strictly enforced for decades in keeping with the austere Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam, the decree means women will have regular contact with unrelated men, such as fellow drivers and traffic police.</p>
<p>Other rules have loosened recently, with the government sponsoring concerts deemed un-Islamic by clerics, allowing women into a large sports stadium for the first time and permitting them to dance beside men in a central Riyadh street over the weekend.</p>
<p>Amnesty International welcomed the decree as “long overdue” but said there was still a range of discriminatory laws and practices that needed to be overturned.</p>
<p>That risks inflaming tensions with influential Wahhabi clerics with whom the ruling Al Saud has enjoyed a close strategic alliance since the kingdom’s founding.</p>
<p>The state-backed Council of Religious Scholars expressed support for the king’s decree. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, who has repeatedly opposed women working and driving and said letting them into politics may mean “opening the door to evil”, has yet to comment.</p>
<p>Some Islamist clerics are currently in detention in Saudi Arabia following an apparent crackdown on potential opponents of the kingdom’s rulers this month.</p>
<p>Bernard Haykel, professor of Near East studies at Princeton University, said the driving announcement may help explain that.</p>
<p>“They might have raised a storm against the government by mobilizing opposition in the name of religion. They have been stymied,” he said.</p>
<p>Still, some men expressed outrage at the about-face by prominent clerics, who in the past have sometimes justified the driving ban by saying women’s brains are too small or that driving endangered their ovaries.</p>
<p>“Whoever says this is permitted is a sinner. Women driving means great evils and this makes them especially sinful,” one Twitter user wrote.</p>
<p>Kawthar al-Arbash, a member of the Shura Council, a government advisory body, acknowledged that resistance, saying: “That’s how things go. Everything new is accompanied by fears.”</p> | 'Rain begins with a single drop:' Saudi women rejoice at end of driving ban | false | https://newsline.com/039rain-begins-with-a-single-drop039-saudi-women-rejoice-at-end-of-driving-ban/ | 2017-09-27 | 1right-center
| 'Rain begins with a single drop:' Saudi women rejoice at end of driving ban
<p>By Stephen Kalin and Katie Paul</p>
<p>RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabian women rejoiced at their new freedom to drive on Wednesday, with some taking to the roads even though licenses will not be issued for nine months.</p>
<p>Hundreds of others chatted with hiring managers at a Riyadh job fair, factoring in the new element in their career plans: their ability to drive themselves to work.</p>
<p>“Saudi Arabia will never be the same again. The rain begins with a single drop,” Manal al-Sharif, who was arrested in 2011 after a driving protest, said in an online statement.</p>
<p>King Salman announced the historic change on Tuesday, ending a conservative tradition which limited women’s mobility and was seen by rights activists as an emblem of their suppression.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia was the only remaining country in the world to bar women from driving.</p>
<p>At the jobs fair, Sultana, 30, said she had received four job offers since graduating from law school two years ago but turned them down because of transport issues.</p>
<p>“My parents don’t allow me to use Uber or Careem, so one of my brothers or the driver would need to take me,” she said, referring to dial-a ride companies.</p>
<p>“I’m so excited to learn how to drive. This will be a big difference for me. I will be independent. I won’t need a driver. I can do everything myself.”</p>
<p>She plans to start taking driving lessons when her family travels abroad for vacation.</p>
<p>Other women weren’t waiting. Internet videos showed a handful of women driving cars overnight, even though the ban has not been officially lifted.</p>
<p>The move represents a big crack in the laws and social mores governing women in the conservative Muslim kingdom. The guardianship system requires women to have a male relative’s approval for most decisions on education, employment, marriage, travel plans and even medical treatment.</p>
<p>The new initiative recalls previous modernizing milestones that unnerved conservatives at first but were eventually accepted, such as the 1960s start of state education for girls and the introduction of television.</p>
<p>NEED FOR SPEED</p>
<p>The decree is expected to boost the fortunes of 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has ascended to the heights of power in the kingdom with an ambitious domestic reform program and assertive foreign policy.</p>
<p>A muted response from Saudi’s clergy, which has long backed the ban, suggested power shared between the Al Saud dynasty and the Wahhabi religious establishment could be shifting decisively in favor of the royals.</p>
<p>Many younger Saudis regard Prince Mohammed’s ascent as evidence their generation is taking a central place in running a country whose patriarchal traditions have for decades made power the province of the old and blocked women’s progress.</p>
<p>Sharif, the activist, described the driving ban’s removal as “just the start to end long-standing unjust laws (that) have always considered Saudi women minors who are not trusted to drive their own destiny.”</p>
<p>A driving instructor at a government-run center said women called all day to inquire about registering a license, but he had received no instructions yet from the government.</p>
<p>Um Faisal, a mother of six, said her daughters would get licenses as soon as possible.</p>
<p>“Years ago, there wasn’t work outside the house. But today women need to get out and go places. This generation needs to drive,” she said, clad in a long black abaya.</p>
<p>DISSENT MUFFLED</p>
<p>The Saudi ambassador to Washington said on Tuesday women would not need their guardians’ permission to get a license, nor to have a guardian in the car when driving.</p>
<p>In a country where gender segregation has been strictly enforced for decades in keeping with the austere Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam, the decree means women will have regular contact with unrelated men, such as fellow drivers and traffic police.</p>
<p>Other rules have loosened recently, with the government sponsoring concerts deemed un-Islamic by clerics, allowing women into a large sports stadium for the first time and permitting them to dance beside men in a central Riyadh street over the weekend.</p>
<p>Amnesty International welcomed the decree as “long overdue” but said there was still a range of discriminatory laws and practices that needed to be overturned.</p>
<p>That risks inflaming tensions with influential Wahhabi clerics with whom the ruling Al Saud has enjoyed a close strategic alliance since the kingdom’s founding.</p>
<p>The state-backed Council of Religious Scholars expressed support for the king’s decree. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, who has repeatedly opposed women working and driving and said letting them into politics may mean “opening the door to evil”, has yet to comment.</p>
<p>Some Islamist clerics are currently in detention in Saudi Arabia following an apparent crackdown on potential opponents of the kingdom’s rulers this month.</p>
<p>Bernard Haykel, professor of Near East studies at Princeton University, said the driving announcement may help explain that.</p>
<p>“They might have raised a storm against the government by mobilizing opposition in the name of religion. They have been stymied,” he said.</p>
<p>Still, some men expressed outrage at the about-face by prominent clerics, who in the past have sometimes justified the driving ban by saying women’s brains are too small or that driving endangered their ovaries.</p>
<p>“Whoever says this is permitted is a sinner. Women driving means great evils and this makes them especially sinful,” one Twitter user wrote.</p>
<p>Kawthar al-Arbash, a member of the Shura Council, a government advisory body, acknowledged that resistance, saying: “That’s how things go. Everything new is accompanied by fears.”</p> | 599,623 |
<p>The poster for this year’s official celebrations of the Portuguese Revolution features a large question mark against a red background. It’s a fitting symbol for an event open to many interpretations. Does Portugal again stand at a crossroads? Or has the revolutionary legacy been co-opted once and for all? Does the poster highlight the revolution’s unfinished business, or put into question the wider gains it made?</p>
<p>The Portuguese Revolution of 1974–5, also known as the Carnation Revolution, was the hottest topic of the post-1968 left. At the time, thousands of international revolutionaries travelled to Portugal to get a glimpse of what popular power and real democracy could look like. In their eyes, the revolutionary process in Portugal posed an alternative to both Western capitalism and the Soviet model. Like much of the Left associated with 1968 and after, the memory of these tumultuous years has largely faded into oblivion abroad.</p>
<p>Yet in Portugal, the revolution remains a reference point by actors on both sides of the battle over austerity. While former Maoist student leader and current President of the European Commission Manuel Barrosso is a prominent supporter of the “refoundation of the Portuguese state,” which seeks to tear up the last vestiges of the revolution, a new generation of activists associated with groups such as Que Se Lixe a Troika (Screw the Troika), or, a precarious workers’ organization, continue to sing Zeca Afonso’s song Grandola Vila Morena on picket lines and at rallies.</p>
<p>The song signaled the beginning of the coup d’état led by leftist military officers of the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) who initially seized the public radio station on 25&#160;April 1974, was sung unison at this year’s official celebrations. Beneath the cloak of unity, bitter wars have been raging over the nature of 1974–5, the government’s eager submission to the Troika’s austerity agenda, and whether the new Portuguese left is up for the task of providing a people ravaged by capitalism with a viable alternative to it.</p> | The Next Portuguese Revolution | true | https://jacobinmag.com/2014/05/the-next-portuguese-revolution/ | 2018-10-05 | 4left
| The Next Portuguese Revolution
<p>The poster for this year’s official celebrations of the Portuguese Revolution features a large question mark against a red background. It’s a fitting symbol for an event open to many interpretations. Does Portugal again stand at a crossroads? Or has the revolutionary legacy been co-opted once and for all? Does the poster highlight the revolution’s unfinished business, or put into question the wider gains it made?</p>
<p>The Portuguese Revolution of 1974–5, also known as the Carnation Revolution, was the hottest topic of the post-1968 left. At the time, thousands of international revolutionaries travelled to Portugal to get a glimpse of what popular power and real democracy could look like. In their eyes, the revolutionary process in Portugal posed an alternative to both Western capitalism and the Soviet model. Like much of the Left associated with 1968 and after, the memory of these tumultuous years has largely faded into oblivion abroad.</p>
<p>Yet in Portugal, the revolution remains a reference point by actors on both sides of the battle over austerity. While former Maoist student leader and current President of the European Commission Manuel Barrosso is a prominent supporter of the “refoundation of the Portuguese state,” which seeks to tear up the last vestiges of the revolution, a new generation of activists associated with groups such as Que Se Lixe a Troika (Screw the Troika), or, a precarious workers’ organization, continue to sing Zeca Afonso’s song Grandola Vila Morena on picket lines and at rallies.</p>
<p>The song signaled the beginning of the coup d’état led by leftist military officers of the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) who initially seized the public radio station on 25&#160;April 1974, was sung unison at this year’s official celebrations. Beneath the cloak of unity, bitter wars have been raging over the nature of 1974–5, the government’s eager submission to the Troika’s austerity agenda, and whether the new Portuguese left is up for the task of providing a people ravaged by capitalism with a viable alternative to it.</p> | 599,624 |
<p />
<p>“I think it’s good to have periodic examples of bicyclists and pedestrians taking over the streets. Hopefully in the near future we will be permanently taking over the streets for cyclists and pedestrians.” —City of Berkeley Councilmember Kriss Worthington</p>
<p>“There was a little bit of unfortunate fire. The fire wasn’t planned.” —Reclaim The Streets Berkeley organizer “P.B.”</p>
<p>In the grand tradition of royal-watching, the Teletubbies, Mr. Bean, and the Spice Girls, the latest English trend to hit American shores has left many on this side of the Atlantic scratching their heads and wondering what the hell happened.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/RTS/index.htm" type="external">Reclaim The Streets</a> (RTS) movement, which began in England in 1991 as a reaction to road-building, erupted into a Global Street Party on Saturday, May 16, as revelers shut down roads in <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/RTS/global3.htm" type="external">Berkeley, Calif., Berlin, Birmingham, Brisbane, Geneva, Lyon, Prague, Stockholm, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Toronto, Turku, Utrecht, Valencia, and York</a> in order to raise awareness of “an inhuman consumer society which is smashing community, constricting human spontaneity and freedom and destroying the Earth’s life support system”—and to party like it’s 1999.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="/news/feature/1998/06/rtw_flyer.gif" type="external" />In an attempt to fight—or at least raise hell about—the growing influence of large corporations on society in general, RTS temporarily “reclaims” streets from that symbol of industrial evil, the automobile, and turns the pavement into a playground. RTS activists have been reclaiming streets from cars throughout the U.K. and much of Europe for several years now. In order to publicize and protest the G8 summit, an economic conference where leaders of the eight most industrialized nations in the world discuss trade issues, RTS went global on May 16—and came to the United States for the first time.</p>
<p>Our Man in Berkeley According to “P.B.”—one of a half-dozen <a href="http://xinet.com/bike/rts/" type="external">Berkeley area RTS</a> organizers—the Berkeley group distributed approximately 2,000 flyers during May Day and Earth Day activities, posted signs and banners around the community, posted notices on the Internet, and spread word through the cycling community in the weeks leading up to the May 16 rally.</p>
<p>“We based it on the British movement,” said P.B. “We wanted to do some sort of spring action around this time period, and decided to coordinate it with the Reclaim The Streets movement that has been going on in England for a few years now.</p>
<p>“We hope the movement will catch on here. If England needs an anti-roads movement, the U.S. needs one far more.”</p>
<p>However, RTS is as much a party as a movement. Despite a wealth of flyers handed out by RTS organizers during the event, most of those attending the Berkeley rally didn’t seem to know what G8 was, or even what, exactly, they were protesting. As the evening wore on, education was clearly second in importance to general hellraising.</p>
<p>The rally began innocently enough. At 7 p.m., at a pre-arranged meeting place, some 300 cyclists, environmental activists, Generation X hippies, and Berkeley punks milled about awaiting direction. At 7:25, P.B. grabbed a loudspeaker and began shouting instructions to the assemblage of 300-plus to “follow the black banners,” and with that, the crowd set off down Shattuck Avenue to a cacophony of whistles, drums, and bells.</p>
<p>The mass of people split into two groups, cyclists heading off in one direction and pedestrians in another. Along the way, the group on foot stopped at a Berkeley dorm to gather mattresses, carpet, couches, and other “props.” Once these were gathered up, the two groups met again and proceeded to the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street, where the party began in earnest.</p>
<p>RTSers overturned dumpsters and pushed a junker car, brought especially for the occasion, sideways into the street to form barricades. Those carrying the carpets, mattresses, couches, and televisions arranged them in the intersection to create an outdoor living room. A van parked on Haste Street opened its doors to reveal a sound system, and strains of Pink Floyd, followed by ’70s funk, began to fill the air. Food Not Bombs set up a kitchen area and began distributing free food.</p>
<p>The televisions were the first target. Someone had brought several antiquated sets, emblazoned with the ubiquitous slogan “Kill Your Television,” which were immediately attacked by several RTSers wielding skateboards and Doc Martens as weapons.</p>
<p>Once the TVs were thoroughly tossed, kicked, and beaten into submission, one RTS organizer slyly informed the crowd, “If you want to fuck up the car, it was brought here for that purpose.”</p>
<p>With that, several protesters rushed to the car and began smashing out windows and jumping up and down on its body. In a matter of minutes the protesters had rolled the car over so that it lay belly up in silent surrender—that is, until the horn started and refused to stop.</p>
<p>“From Tragedy to Farce” Meanwhile, some of the participants started a fire from the pile of mattresses and carpet in the intersection. Free weekly newspapers and waste from garbage bins augmented the pyre. Several banners hanging from adjacent street signs were also torched. A few in the crowd began to throw bottles at the Berkeley police who looked on clad in riot gear.</p>
<p>By now, the air was thick with feathers, toxic smoke from the mattresses, and the odor of marijuana. The rally was escalating into a small riot, with several RTS organizers scrambling to put out the fires, yelling “Whose streets? Our streets! We don’t need to throw bottles at cops!”</p>
<p>The uproar quickly played itself out, and within an hour, the protest had taken on the look and feel of a Grateful Dead concert parking lot—complete with a drum circle, fire jugglers, dancing girls, and vendors hawking falafels and yin-yang tchotchkes. When the police forced the sound van to move along, drummers kept the beat alive.</p>
<p>“I think this is the kind of vibe we wanted to have,” said P.B. as things settled down. “There was a little bit of unfortunate fire. The fire wasn’t planned.”</p>
<p>Another organizer, “Birdman” from pirate station Free Radio Berkeley, summarized the goings-on, stating “We just want to have fun and disturb business as usual. No justice, no peace. We want to create a community out of a soul-crushing system where it’s all about money.”</p>
<p>The Birdman’s remarks say it all—the RTS protest in Berkeley was little more than tired slogans and a general revolt against a vaguely defined “system.” Although things managed to get ugly for a few minutes, the event as a whole seemed to be just a good excuse to get stoned in the streets and disrupt traffic patterns without going to jail for doing so.</p>
<p>Yet it was also one of the biggest protest events in Berkeley in several years, and P.B. promises the May 16th rally is just a beginning. RTS would seem to have the potential to blossom into something greater—if it doesn’t self-destruct first.</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the rally, three juveniles were arrested for resisting and disobeying the lawful orders of a police officer, the Berkeley police department had to shell out $6,236.35 in overtime and various other expenses, and a bookstore sustained $500 worth of damage from a broken window and subsequent looting. The real damage, however, may have been to public opinion.</p>
<p>Berkeley city councilmember Kriss Worthington went from being very supportive of the event in its preliminary stages to condemning the actions of some of the protesters. Reports in the local newspapers tended to be negative, and shop owners along Telegraph, mostly local merchants, wondered why their area was singled out rather than a neighborhood infested with large, corporate shops.</p>
<p>“I’ve always believed in action for change,” said Stanley Spenger, manager of Shakespeare and Co., the bookstore damaged in the rally. “Without a lot of these actions, social change might not take place. But I wonder if we aren’t going from first act tragedy to second act farce.”</p>
<p>Across the Pond Despite the smashed window and overturned vehicle, the California version of RTS is a kinder, gentler variation on its older and more rebellious British archetype. While we Yanks may be content with barricading some streets and raising a little hell, the Brits stop short of nothing but sheer mayhem.</p>
<p>In England and elsewhere in Europe, Reclaim The Streets is a full-fledged protest movement, characterized by massive demonstrations involving thousands of participants clogging major thoroughfares. Once the streets have been blockaded—frequently accomplished by smashing cars together—the real fun begins.</p>
<p>Some RTSers parade about atop giant stilts, dressed as women with <a href="http://www.urban75.com/Action/Img/marie.jpg" type="external">huge hoop skirts</a>—but these skirts are functional as well as ornamental. Hidden from the view of police, cohorts concealed beneath the draping of the dresses go to work with jackhammers or pneumatic drills, tearing out chunks of the road; the RTSers then proceed to plant trees in the holes. After one particularly rowdy RTS in 1996 along the M41 motorway in London, repair bills for the damaged street were more than $16,000.</p>
<p>In addition, many participants paint guerrilla bicycle lanes on roadways, lie about in the streets blocking traffic, throw cream pies at policemen, and “carwalk” over trapped vehicles, all to the driving beat of rave music. Many end up dragged off to jail by the local constabulary—which tends to disrupt the celebration.</p>
<p>Last month’s Global Street Party upheld this rowdy tradition. In Birmingham, site of the G8 summit, the street party became a violent confrontation with police, resulting in 35 arrests, injuries to two protesters and one police officer, and the sealing off of the city center.</p>
<p>In Prague, some 2,500 protesters turned out for a Czech Global Street Party that developed into a full-scale riot, as protesters assailed riot police with rocks and bottles, then proceeded to sack two McDonalds restaurants and a Kentucky Fried Chicken before police, armed with billy clubs and tear gas, clashed with the rioters.</p>
<p>Eradicating the Public Realm Political movement or mere anarchy loosed upon the roads, Reclaim The Streets makes a valid point—even if it is clouded in the fumes of burning trash. In recent times the pedestrian and the public space both have fallen prey to the primacy of the automobile.</p>
<p>It’s a point increasingly made by observers outside the traditional circles of cyclists and environmentalists, including <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">Jane Holtz Kay</a>, architecture critic for The Nation and author of Asphalt Nation.</p>
<p>“The car, as a means of transportation, has eradicated the public realm,” Kay said. “If you look at the old railroad stations, they were public spaces with beautiful architechture shared by all people and enhanced the public realm. Today, children can’t go anywhere without cars because we don’t build sidewalks. Likewise, the elderly can’t get anywhere unless they can drive. Those in between spend their time shopping and dropping. Instead of spending social time together, people are putting the pedal to the metal. The automobile has gone from being our servant to encasing us.”</p>
<p>In addition to their effects on communities, cars aren’t exactly good for the environment. Motor vehicle emissions account for some 77 percent of carbon monoxide in our nation’s air, more than 35.6 percent of the volatile organic compounds, and 45 percent of the nitrogen oxides. These pollutants can lead to many respiratory and heart problems, including asthma, which has reached epidemic proportions in recent decades, particularly in children.</p>
<p>RTS is a weird movement. With their <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/RTS/sortit.htm" type="external">do-it-yourself</a> rallies, complete lack of hierarchy, and inclination for the ridiculous, it seems impossible even to define their demands, let alone satisfy them. Their end goal seems to be giving notice to the governments of the world that lots of people are getting fed up with the intrusiveness of transnational corporations and car culture. It’s too soon to guess whether RTS will accomplish anything concrete or merely degenerate into an excuse for a few hours of limited anarchy, but the movement is growing, and promises to be an interesting phenomenon to track. RTS has spread like wildfire throughout Europe and has the potential to do the same here in the United States. The events of May 16 in Berkeley could be a mere starting point. If RTS attains the popularity of other grassroots movements—such as <a href="http://www.preservenet.com/CMass.html" type="external">Critical Mass</a>—we could be seeing trees planted in major intersections all across the country.</p>
<p>By midnight, May 17, the streets of Berkeley were cleared. All but a few of the RTS protesters had moved on, and cars had once again claimed Telegraph Avenue for their own. Viewing the scene, a passing pedestrian exclaimed, “Damn, what the hell happened here?” Good question.</p>
<p>Photograph by Mat Honan</p>
<p /> | Coming Soon to a Street Near You | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/1998/06/coming-soon-street-near-you/ | 1998-06-02 | 4left
| Coming Soon to a Street Near You
<p />
<p>“I think it’s good to have periodic examples of bicyclists and pedestrians taking over the streets. Hopefully in the near future we will be permanently taking over the streets for cyclists and pedestrians.” —City of Berkeley Councilmember Kriss Worthington</p>
<p>“There was a little bit of unfortunate fire. The fire wasn’t planned.” —Reclaim The Streets Berkeley organizer “P.B.”</p>
<p>In the grand tradition of royal-watching, the Teletubbies, Mr. Bean, and the Spice Girls, the latest English trend to hit American shores has left many on this side of the Atlantic scratching their heads and wondering what the hell happened.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/RTS/index.htm" type="external">Reclaim The Streets</a> (RTS) movement, which began in England in 1991 as a reaction to road-building, erupted into a Global Street Party on Saturday, May 16, as revelers shut down roads in <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/RTS/global3.htm" type="external">Berkeley, Calif., Berlin, Birmingham, Brisbane, Geneva, Lyon, Prague, Stockholm, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Toronto, Turku, Utrecht, Valencia, and York</a> in order to raise awareness of “an inhuman consumer society which is smashing community, constricting human spontaneity and freedom and destroying the Earth’s life support system”—and to party like it’s 1999.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="/news/feature/1998/06/rtw_flyer.gif" type="external" />In an attempt to fight—or at least raise hell about—the growing influence of large corporations on society in general, RTS temporarily “reclaims” streets from that symbol of industrial evil, the automobile, and turns the pavement into a playground. RTS activists have been reclaiming streets from cars throughout the U.K. and much of Europe for several years now. In order to publicize and protest the G8 summit, an economic conference where leaders of the eight most industrialized nations in the world discuss trade issues, RTS went global on May 16—and came to the United States for the first time.</p>
<p>Our Man in Berkeley According to “P.B.”—one of a half-dozen <a href="http://xinet.com/bike/rts/" type="external">Berkeley area RTS</a> organizers—the Berkeley group distributed approximately 2,000 flyers during May Day and Earth Day activities, posted signs and banners around the community, posted notices on the Internet, and spread word through the cycling community in the weeks leading up to the May 16 rally.</p>
<p>“We based it on the British movement,” said P.B. “We wanted to do some sort of spring action around this time period, and decided to coordinate it with the Reclaim The Streets movement that has been going on in England for a few years now.</p>
<p>“We hope the movement will catch on here. If England needs an anti-roads movement, the U.S. needs one far more.”</p>
<p>However, RTS is as much a party as a movement. Despite a wealth of flyers handed out by RTS organizers during the event, most of those attending the Berkeley rally didn’t seem to know what G8 was, or even what, exactly, they were protesting. As the evening wore on, education was clearly second in importance to general hellraising.</p>
<p>The rally began innocently enough. At 7 p.m., at a pre-arranged meeting place, some 300 cyclists, environmental activists, Generation X hippies, and Berkeley punks milled about awaiting direction. At 7:25, P.B. grabbed a loudspeaker and began shouting instructions to the assemblage of 300-plus to “follow the black banners,” and with that, the crowd set off down Shattuck Avenue to a cacophony of whistles, drums, and bells.</p>
<p>The mass of people split into two groups, cyclists heading off in one direction and pedestrians in another. Along the way, the group on foot stopped at a Berkeley dorm to gather mattresses, carpet, couches, and other “props.” Once these were gathered up, the two groups met again and proceeded to the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street, where the party began in earnest.</p>
<p>RTSers overturned dumpsters and pushed a junker car, brought especially for the occasion, sideways into the street to form barricades. Those carrying the carpets, mattresses, couches, and televisions arranged them in the intersection to create an outdoor living room. A van parked on Haste Street opened its doors to reveal a sound system, and strains of Pink Floyd, followed by ’70s funk, began to fill the air. Food Not Bombs set up a kitchen area and began distributing free food.</p>
<p>The televisions were the first target. Someone had brought several antiquated sets, emblazoned with the ubiquitous slogan “Kill Your Television,” which were immediately attacked by several RTSers wielding skateboards and Doc Martens as weapons.</p>
<p>Once the TVs were thoroughly tossed, kicked, and beaten into submission, one RTS organizer slyly informed the crowd, “If you want to fuck up the car, it was brought here for that purpose.”</p>
<p>With that, several protesters rushed to the car and began smashing out windows and jumping up and down on its body. In a matter of minutes the protesters had rolled the car over so that it lay belly up in silent surrender—that is, until the horn started and refused to stop.</p>
<p>“From Tragedy to Farce” Meanwhile, some of the participants started a fire from the pile of mattresses and carpet in the intersection. Free weekly newspapers and waste from garbage bins augmented the pyre. Several banners hanging from adjacent street signs were also torched. A few in the crowd began to throw bottles at the Berkeley police who looked on clad in riot gear.</p>
<p>By now, the air was thick with feathers, toxic smoke from the mattresses, and the odor of marijuana. The rally was escalating into a small riot, with several RTS organizers scrambling to put out the fires, yelling “Whose streets? Our streets! We don’t need to throw bottles at cops!”</p>
<p>The uproar quickly played itself out, and within an hour, the protest had taken on the look and feel of a Grateful Dead concert parking lot—complete with a drum circle, fire jugglers, dancing girls, and vendors hawking falafels and yin-yang tchotchkes. When the police forced the sound van to move along, drummers kept the beat alive.</p>
<p>“I think this is the kind of vibe we wanted to have,” said P.B. as things settled down. “There was a little bit of unfortunate fire. The fire wasn’t planned.”</p>
<p>Another organizer, “Birdman” from pirate station Free Radio Berkeley, summarized the goings-on, stating “We just want to have fun and disturb business as usual. No justice, no peace. We want to create a community out of a soul-crushing system where it’s all about money.”</p>
<p>The Birdman’s remarks say it all—the RTS protest in Berkeley was little more than tired slogans and a general revolt against a vaguely defined “system.” Although things managed to get ugly for a few minutes, the event as a whole seemed to be just a good excuse to get stoned in the streets and disrupt traffic patterns without going to jail for doing so.</p>
<p>Yet it was also one of the biggest protest events in Berkeley in several years, and P.B. promises the May 16th rally is just a beginning. RTS would seem to have the potential to blossom into something greater—if it doesn’t self-destruct first.</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the rally, three juveniles were arrested for resisting and disobeying the lawful orders of a police officer, the Berkeley police department had to shell out $6,236.35 in overtime and various other expenses, and a bookstore sustained $500 worth of damage from a broken window and subsequent looting. The real damage, however, may have been to public opinion.</p>
<p>Berkeley city councilmember Kriss Worthington went from being very supportive of the event in its preliminary stages to condemning the actions of some of the protesters. Reports in the local newspapers tended to be negative, and shop owners along Telegraph, mostly local merchants, wondered why their area was singled out rather than a neighborhood infested with large, corporate shops.</p>
<p>“I’ve always believed in action for change,” said Stanley Spenger, manager of Shakespeare and Co., the bookstore damaged in the rally. “Without a lot of these actions, social change might not take place. But I wonder if we aren’t going from first act tragedy to second act farce.”</p>
<p>Across the Pond Despite the smashed window and overturned vehicle, the California version of RTS is a kinder, gentler variation on its older and more rebellious British archetype. While we Yanks may be content with barricading some streets and raising a little hell, the Brits stop short of nothing but sheer mayhem.</p>
<p>In England and elsewhere in Europe, Reclaim The Streets is a full-fledged protest movement, characterized by massive demonstrations involving thousands of participants clogging major thoroughfares. Once the streets have been blockaded—frequently accomplished by smashing cars together—the real fun begins.</p>
<p>Some RTSers parade about atop giant stilts, dressed as women with <a href="http://www.urban75.com/Action/Img/marie.jpg" type="external">huge hoop skirts</a>—but these skirts are functional as well as ornamental. Hidden from the view of police, cohorts concealed beneath the draping of the dresses go to work with jackhammers or pneumatic drills, tearing out chunks of the road; the RTSers then proceed to plant trees in the holes. After one particularly rowdy RTS in 1996 along the M41 motorway in London, repair bills for the damaged street were more than $16,000.</p>
<p>In addition, many participants paint guerrilla bicycle lanes on roadways, lie about in the streets blocking traffic, throw cream pies at policemen, and “carwalk” over trapped vehicles, all to the driving beat of rave music. Many end up dragged off to jail by the local constabulary—which tends to disrupt the celebration.</p>
<p>Last month’s Global Street Party upheld this rowdy tradition. In Birmingham, site of the G8 summit, the street party became a violent confrontation with police, resulting in 35 arrests, injuries to two protesters and one police officer, and the sealing off of the city center.</p>
<p>In Prague, some 2,500 protesters turned out for a Czech Global Street Party that developed into a full-scale riot, as protesters assailed riot police with rocks and bottles, then proceeded to sack two McDonalds restaurants and a Kentucky Fried Chicken before police, armed with billy clubs and tear gas, clashed with the rioters.</p>
<p>Eradicating the Public Realm Political movement or mere anarchy loosed upon the roads, Reclaim The Streets makes a valid point—even if it is clouded in the fumes of burning trash. In recent times the pedestrian and the public space both have fallen prey to the primacy of the automobile.</p>
<p>It’s a point increasingly made by observers outside the traditional circles of cyclists and environmentalists, including <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">Jane Holtz Kay</a>, architecture critic for The Nation and author of Asphalt Nation.</p>
<p>“The car, as a means of transportation, has eradicated the public realm,” Kay said. “If you look at the old railroad stations, they were public spaces with beautiful architechture shared by all people and enhanced the public realm. Today, children can’t go anywhere without cars because we don’t build sidewalks. Likewise, the elderly can’t get anywhere unless they can drive. Those in between spend their time shopping and dropping. Instead of spending social time together, people are putting the pedal to the metal. The automobile has gone from being our servant to encasing us.”</p>
<p>In addition to their effects on communities, cars aren’t exactly good for the environment. Motor vehicle emissions account for some 77 percent of carbon monoxide in our nation’s air, more than 35.6 percent of the volatile organic compounds, and 45 percent of the nitrogen oxides. These pollutants can lead to many respiratory and heart problems, including asthma, which has reached epidemic proportions in recent decades, particularly in children.</p>
<p>RTS is a weird movement. With their <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/RTS/sortit.htm" type="external">do-it-yourself</a> rallies, complete lack of hierarchy, and inclination for the ridiculous, it seems impossible even to define their demands, let alone satisfy them. Their end goal seems to be giving notice to the governments of the world that lots of people are getting fed up with the intrusiveness of transnational corporations and car culture. It’s too soon to guess whether RTS will accomplish anything concrete or merely degenerate into an excuse for a few hours of limited anarchy, but the movement is growing, and promises to be an interesting phenomenon to track. RTS has spread like wildfire throughout Europe and has the potential to do the same here in the United States. The events of May 16 in Berkeley could be a mere starting point. If RTS attains the popularity of other grassroots movements—such as <a href="http://www.preservenet.com/CMass.html" type="external">Critical Mass</a>—we could be seeing trees planted in major intersections all across the country.</p>
<p>By midnight, May 17, the streets of Berkeley were cleared. All but a few of the RTS protesters had moved on, and cars had once again claimed Telegraph Avenue for their own. Viewing the scene, a passing pedestrian exclaimed, “Damn, what the hell happened here?” Good question.</p>
<p>Photograph by Mat Honan</p>
<p /> | 599,625 |
<p>WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush signed into law Nov. 5 the first federal restriction on abortion in 30 years, but barely an hour later a federal judge partially blocked its enforcement.</p>
<p>Bush signed a bill banning a kind of abortion procedure labeled by abortion opponents as “partial-birth abortion.” In the procedure, a fetus is partially delivered from the mother's uterus, then its skull is pierced and its brain matter is removed.</p>
<p>Abortion-rights supporters say the bill is both unnecessary and unconstitutional. On Oct. 31, pro-choice groups filed three lawsuits in federal courts across the country to halt the bill's implementation.</p>
<p>Shortly after the ceremony, U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf in Lincoln, Neb., issued an injunction to prevent the ban from being enforced on four abortion providers who sued in his court. Kopf, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, cited a 2000 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Nebraska abortion law that was substantially similar to the law signed by Bush.</p>
<p>In that decision, a narrow majority of the Supreme Court justices ruled that the bill's language was unconstitutionally vague. They also faulted it for failing to include an exception to the ban in cases where the mother's health would be endangered if the “partial-birth” procedure were not used.</p>
<p>The current bill's supporters say it addresses both of those concerns by tightening the legal language in the bill and including a set of congressional “findings” that the procedure is never medically necessary to preserve a woman's health.</p>
<p>The findings are based on testimony by some obstetricians and other medical experts. But most mainstream medical groups dispute those claims and say the procedure may be a physician's only option in rare cases.</p>
<p>The White House marked the importance of the occasion by departing from usual bill-signing ceremony. In a nod to his view of the ban's importance, Bush added his signature in the auditorium of a federal office building, before a crowd of about 400 cheering abortion-rights opponents. During his speech prior to the signing, he was regularly interrupted by standing ovations and loud shouts of “Amen!” and “Thank you, Mr. President!”</p>
<p>On hand for the ceremony were many of the congressional supporters of the legislation — including its chief Senate and House sponsors, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio). The crowd also included a virtual “Who's Who” of the Religious Right — including Southern Baptist leaders Jerry Falwell, Richard Land and Jack Graham.</p>
<p>“For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law looked the other way,” Bush said before signing the bill. “Today, at last, the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child.”</p>
<p>Bush also alluded to the legal challenges to the law, which will almost certainly result in another Supreme Court case. “[T]he executive branch will vigorously defend this law against any who would try to overturn it in the courts,” he said, to a loud standing ovation from the crowd.</p>
<p>A handful of abortion-rights supporters protested as Bush's motorcade made its way from the White House to the nearby Ronald Reagan Building for the ceremony. “The so-called Partial-Birth Abortion Ban is a dangerous piece of legislation that ultimately seeks to outlaw even the safest abortion procedures,” said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, in a release.</p>
<p>Although many of the bill's congressional supporters said the bill was not meant as a vehicle for ultimately overturning other abortion rights, many activists on both sides of the issue agreed it may be just that.</p>
<p>“The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban is the first significant restriction of the almost unlimited assault on life in the womb since the [Supreme Court's] infamous Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973,” Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said in a press release.</p>
<p>Likewise, NOW's Gandy said the bill's passage and signing “confirms that [Bush's] administration and Congress have both the power and the will to overturn Roe vs. Wade, one step at a time. This is the first ban on an abortion procedure since abortion became legal in 1973, but it will not be the last if George W. Bush remains in office.”</p>
<p>-30-</p> | Bush signs ‘partial-birth’ ban as opponents win injunction | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/bush-signs-partial-birth-ban-as-opponents-win-injunction/ | 3left-center
| Bush signs ‘partial-birth’ ban as opponents win injunction
<p>WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush signed into law Nov. 5 the first federal restriction on abortion in 30 years, but barely an hour later a federal judge partially blocked its enforcement.</p>
<p>Bush signed a bill banning a kind of abortion procedure labeled by abortion opponents as “partial-birth abortion.” In the procedure, a fetus is partially delivered from the mother's uterus, then its skull is pierced and its brain matter is removed.</p>
<p>Abortion-rights supporters say the bill is both unnecessary and unconstitutional. On Oct. 31, pro-choice groups filed three lawsuits in federal courts across the country to halt the bill's implementation.</p>
<p>Shortly after the ceremony, U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf in Lincoln, Neb., issued an injunction to prevent the ban from being enforced on four abortion providers who sued in his court. Kopf, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, cited a 2000 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Nebraska abortion law that was substantially similar to the law signed by Bush.</p>
<p>In that decision, a narrow majority of the Supreme Court justices ruled that the bill's language was unconstitutionally vague. They also faulted it for failing to include an exception to the ban in cases where the mother's health would be endangered if the “partial-birth” procedure were not used.</p>
<p>The current bill's supporters say it addresses both of those concerns by tightening the legal language in the bill and including a set of congressional “findings” that the procedure is never medically necessary to preserve a woman's health.</p>
<p>The findings are based on testimony by some obstetricians and other medical experts. But most mainstream medical groups dispute those claims and say the procedure may be a physician's only option in rare cases.</p>
<p>The White House marked the importance of the occasion by departing from usual bill-signing ceremony. In a nod to his view of the ban's importance, Bush added his signature in the auditorium of a federal office building, before a crowd of about 400 cheering abortion-rights opponents. During his speech prior to the signing, he was regularly interrupted by standing ovations and loud shouts of “Amen!” and “Thank you, Mr. President!”</p>
<p>On hand for the ceremony were many of the congressional supporters of the legislation — including its chief Senate and House sponsors, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio). The crowd also included a virtual “Who's Who” of the Religious Right — including Southern Baptist leaders Jerry Falwell, Richard Land and Jack Graham.</p>
<p>“For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law looked the other way,” Bush said before signing the bill. “Today, at last, the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child.”</p>
<p>Bush also alluded to the legal challenges to the law, which will almost certainly result in another Supreme Court case. “[T]he executive branch will vigorously defend this law against any who would try to overturn it in the courts,” he said, to a loud standing ovation from the crowd.</p>
<p>A handful of abortion-rights supporters protested as Bush's motorcade made its way from the White House to the nearby Ronald Reagan Building for the ceremony. “The so-called Partial-Birth Abortion Ban is a dangerous piece of legislation that ultimately seeks to outlaw even the safest abortion procedures,” said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, in a release.</p>
<p>Although many of the bill's congressional supporters said the bill was not meant as a vehicle for ultimately overturning other abortion rights, many activists on both sides of the issue agreed it may be just that.</p>
<p>“The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban is the first significant restriction of the almost unlimited assault on life in the womb since the [Supreme Court's] infamous Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973,” Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said in a press release.</p>
<p>Likewise, NOW's Gandy said the bill's passage and signing “confirms that [Bush's] administration and Congress have both the power and the will to overturn Roe vs. Wade, one step at a time. This is the first ban on an abortion procedure since abortion became legal in 1973, but it will not be the last if George W. Bush remains in office.”</p>
<p>-30-</p> | 599,626 |
|
<p>Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer and the other “Left, Right &amp; Center” panelists discuss the movement of Russian artillery into Ukrainian territory, President Obama’s golfing amid news of journalist James Foley’s beheading, the National Guard leaving Missouri, Rick Perry’s indictment and the ice bucket challenge.</p>
<p>Joining Scheer this week are&#160;moderator Matt Miller, Rich Lowry of the National Review on the right and Canadian Member of Parliament Chrystia Freeland in the center.</p>
<p>Listen <a href="http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/left-right-center/the-hot-and-cold-edition" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>— Posted by <a href="" type="internal">Alexander Reed Kelly</a></p>
<p /> | 'Left, Right & Center': The Hot and Cold Edition | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/left-right-center-the-hot-and-cold-edition/ | 2014-08-23 | 4left
| 'Left, Right & Center': The Hot and Cold Edition
<p>Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer and the other “Left, Right &amp; Center” panelists discuss the movement of Russian artillery into Ukrainian territory, President Obama’s golfing amid news of journalist James Foley’s beheading, the National Guard leaving Missouri, Rick Perry’s indictment and the ice bucket challenge.</p>
<p>Joining Scheer this week are&#160;moderator Matt Miller, Rich Lowry of the National Review on the right and Canadian Member of Parliament Chrystia Freeland in the center.</p>
<p>Listen <a href="http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/left-right-center/the-hot-and-cold-edition" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>— Posted by <a href="" type="internal">Alexander Reed Kelly</a></p>
<p /> | 599,627 |
<p>I am glad to know that you are safely back to home and at your place of work.</p>
<p>I do not want to say just a thank you. It is more than that. Your presence, message in the mission week celebrations, graduation, dedication of the village, marriage is a lot of encouragement to all of us — the Indian Baptist. The pastors are encouraged and they will share it with their church members. I am getting letters telling how the conference has mobilized and inspired them. Thank you for your thoughtful action helping the India Baptist Convention. The Precious Children are very happy.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>We are grateful to Virginia Baptists for all you have done to us. We will continue to pray for you. I will be writing separately to all of you.</p>
<p>Let me take this opportunity to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the Lord with you. You have done much and much more is to be accomplished through our partnership. We trust you will keep us in your prayer.</p>
<p>Kunjumon Chackow, India Baptist Convention</p> | Thanks for partnership | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/thanksforpartnership/ | 3left-center
| Thanks for partnership
<p>I am glad to know that you are safely back to home and at your place of work.</p>
<p>I do not want to say just a thank you. It is more than that. Your presence, message in the mission week celebrations, graduation, dedication of the village, marriage is a lot of encouragement to all of us — the Indian Baptist. The pastors are encouraged and they will share it with their church members. I am getting letters telling how the conference has mobilized and inspired them. Thank you for your thoughtful action helping the India Baptist Convention. The Precious Children are very happy.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>We are grateful to Virginia Baptists for all you have done to us. We will continue to pray for you. I will be writing separately to all of you.</p>
<p>Let me take this opportunity to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the Lord with you. You have done much and much more is to be accomplished through our partnership. We trust you will keep us in your prayer.</p>
<p>Kunjumon Chackow, India Baptist Convention</p> | 599,628 |
|
<p><a href="" type="internal" />I learned at a fairly young age that when it comes to somewhat controversial debates, people often get so emotionally wrapped up in whatever it is that they fail to see the forest for the trees. &#160;I’ve written articles that were more than 1,000 words and 8 of those words were something with which someone disagreed – and they solely focused their “rage” based on that one small part. &#160;Never mind the 99% of the article that they were in full agreement with. &#160;Oh, no. &#160;They focused on that&#160;one&#160;part and that’s how they formed their entire opinion over what it is that I wrote and they read.</p>
<p>I’ve written numerous articles defending women’s rights, gay rights, immigrant rights, minority rights and equality, and I’ve fiercely opposed racists, bigots and intolerance in general.</p>
<p>Yet I’ve been called a racist, bigot, sexist, homophobic&#160;woman-hater – all by liberals.</p>
<p>Why? &#160;Because while I’ve defended women, homosexuals, immigrants, minorities and the fight for true equality for all, once in a while I actually dare to call out the hypocrisy I’ve seen from the radical activists who seem unable to be even the slightest bit objective toward the causes about which they’re passionate.</p>
<p>Take for instance Michael Sam. &#160;After he came out publicly he held a press conference stating that from then on he only wanted to be known as a football player, not a&#160;gay&#160;football player. &#160;So, going by his own words, that’s exactly what I looked at him as. &#160;In fact, in my opinion, that’s real equality. &#160;Except once I heard he had agreed to do a documentary with Oprah (an agreement he hid from the NFL until after he was drafted) to document his quest to make it in the NFL as an openly gay man – <a href="" type="internal">I called him a hypocrite</a>.</p>
<p>He was trying to profit off of the fact that he’s the NFL’s first gay football player after he told the world that going forward he didn’t want to be known as anything but “a football player.” He can’t say to people that he wants to be treated “just like everyone else,” while doing something that&#160;no other NFL player had ever done&#160;because he happens to be gay.</p>
<p>For simply expressing that opinion I got called a homophobe. &#160;Never mind that written inside that very same article I mention how I wish him well and stated that he represents a huge step for LGBT rights. &#160;Nope, ignore all of that. &#160;These radical activists, unable to see anything objectively, only seemed to process that I dared to call Michael Sam a hypocrite for contradicting&#160;his own words.&#160;</p>
<p>They want equality, I criticized Michael Sam as I would have done to any other player, and apparently because I treated him equally that makes me homophobic.</p>
<p>Then there’s the radical women’s rights people. &#160;Wow, I really ticked them off recently when I dared to criticize their over the top <a href="" type="internal">reactions</a> to high school girls being sent home <a href="" type="internal">for violating school dress codes</a>.</p>
<p>They claim that school dress codes unfairly target women by making them cover their bodies because males can’t control their urges – and somehow this all ties into the rape culture.</p>
<p>Are you freaking kidding me?</p>
<p>Asking girls to not wear shorts shorter than where their finger tips touch their thighs with their arms hanging at their sides isn’t “shaming women.” &#160;Because guess what, males have to follow that same dress code. &#160;Only problem is, most males don’t wear shorts that short. &#160;If they did, they’d be sent home as well. &#160;If these activists are looking to blame someone, blame women’s fashion.</p>
<p>Here’s a fun fact: If girls didn’t wear shorts that were inappropriately short for school, there wouldn’t be a need for a rule that seeks to limit just how short these shorts can be. &#160;Some “length limit” has to be set. &#160;Otherwise some females would come to school with their butt cheeks hanging out.</p>
<p>And let’s not pretend that rules requiring shorts to be at a length around mid-thigh are “unreasonable requests.” &#160;It’s&#160;school,&#160;not a club, the beach, the pool, a friend’s house or the mall. &#160;School is meant to foster a positive learning environment, and the fact of the matter is skimpy clothing isn’t conducive to a positive learning environment for adults, much less teenagers.</p>
<p>Then there was the issue of girls being sent home for wearing sleeveless shirts that happened to show their bra strap. &#160;This is the one <a href="" type="internal">where I criticized&#160;Think Progress</a> for drastically over sensationalizing a story.</p>
<p>At that particular school&#160;no students&#160;were allowed to wear sleeveless shirts. &#160;Even in the story,&#160;Think Progress mentions how males had been sent home as well for wearing sleeveless shirts. &#160;Though they mentioned that in only once brief sentence. &#160;The rest of the article went on some overboard rant about how this rule unfairly targeted females because more females had been sent home than males.</p>
<p>Here’s another fun fact: Females wear sleeveless shirts much more often than males.</p>
<p>How is it an unfair rule if males aren’t allowed to wear tank tops either? &#160;It seems Think Progress only felt it was unfair because females tend to wear sleeveless shirts more often than males.</p>
<p>Again, that’s not “shaming women” – that’s just called style.</p>
<p>Now if the rules were as such where males could wear sleeveless shirts but females couldn’t, or males could wear super short shorts but females couldn’t, then&#160;that&#160;is unfair and sexist. &#160;But that’s not the case with these rules. &#160;They’re enforced equally, bottom line.</p>
<p>And can we stop pretending that women never wear skimpy clothes to attract the attention of males? &#160;Come on. &#160;Have we gotten that politically correct?</p>
<p>But I don’t believe it’s unfair at all to say to students that your shorts need to be at least around mid-thigh and you’re not allowed to wear sleeveless shirts. &#160;Again,&#160;they’re at school. &#160;</p>
<p>School is a place where students are supposed to conduct themselves in a slightly professional manner. &#160;It’s also meant to prepare them for the real world and in the real word there are dress codes. &#160;And most important of all, as I said before, it’s meant to foster a positive learning environment.</p>
<p>But because I supported these very uncontroversial and extremely common dress codes I got called a sexist, a woman-hater and someone who’s helping to perpetuate the rape culture.</p>
<p>Forget the numerous times I’ve written articles defending women’s rights, condemning those who’ve tried to downplay the horrific act of rape or that I’ve strongly voiced my belief that women should have control over their own bodies. &#160;None of that matters.</p>
<p>All because I believe that students shouldn’t be allowed to wear extremely short shorts or sleeveless shirts to school –&#160;that&#160;makes me a supporter of the “rape culture” and a “woman-hater.”</p>
<p>Here’s a word of advice for these radical women’s rights activists: You do your cause a disservice by trying to take something as horrifying as rape and lump it in with something as ridiculous as student dress codes that for all intents and purposes are extremely reasonable. &#160;It’s like the boy who cried wolf.</p>
<p>You can’t yell, “It’s part of the rape culture!” every single time some issue involving men and women is brought up.</p>
<p>Then there’s the “PC police” types. These are the people who essentially find almost everything offensive. &#160;Basically they want a society where everyone better watch what they say or do because you never know who you just might offend.</p>
<p>This kind of attitude is derived from those who probably support giving trophies to everyone, ribbons for participation and not keeping score during sports games. &#160;Because heaven forbid we ask that people overcome adversity once in a while or learn to fail and pick themselves back up.</p>
<p>They seem to think it’s probably better to just pad the world so nobody scrapes a knee, remove any words that might even remotely offend someone from the dictionary and label anything on the planet that might possibly result in a feeling of anxiety or depression in someone.</p>
<p>Have you seen the movie Demolition Man? &#160;If you haven’t it’s a futuristic movie where people no longer have sex (procreation is done in a lab), cussing is illegal, bad food is banned and pretty much anything that might be remotely offensive is prohibited. &#160;That’s exactly the type of society I think some of these people want.</p>
<p>Now I’m not saying I’m insensitive. &#160;I’m really not. &#160;But there’s a line we face in this country between being progressively sensitive toward the feelings of others and essentially sensitizing our society to such an extent that someone dropping a pan in the kitchen can trigger a panic attack.</p>
<p>Learning how to overcome adversity is&#160;good&#160;for a society. &#160;If you don’t learn to do that, life is going to destroy you. &#160;I didn’t have an easy life at all. &#160;I overcame a lot in life to be where I am now. &#160;Now I’m not saying everyone can overcome what I did, but I at least think we owe it to our society to give people the chance to try – not shield and protect them from every little thing they might face in this world.</p>
<p>Now I’m sure this article offended some. &#160;I’m sure some read it, acted emotionally to it, and pretty much proved my point. &#160;A few might have read it and agreed with some points but disagreed with others, and that’s fine too. &#160;Heck some might even have agreed with everything I said.</p>
<p>My point is that just because we are passionate about some things doesn’t mean we can’t be objective about those things. &#160;I’m a liberal, and even the liberals who sometimes drive me crazy I’ll stand up for, but some liberals really need to learn to pick their battles.</p>
<p>It’s getting to a point where some are going from passionate activists fighting for a good cause to over sensationalized complainers who just want to go around judging anyone and everyone for everything that they do.</p>
<p>Those who made it this far, be sure to check out the comments section either on the article itself, or whatever Facebook page or Twitter account you might have gotten it from, to see how many people seem eager to prove my point.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Many Liberals Defend Islam the Way Conservatives Defend Guns</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Bill Maher Slams Liberals for Often Looking Away When it Comes to Islamic Oppression (Video)</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Samantha Bee Obliterates the Hypocrisy &amp; Racist Roots of the "Christian Right" (Video)</a></p>
<p>2 Facebook comments</p> | Are Liberals Becoming Too Sensitive and Politically Correct? | true | http://forwardprogressives.com/liberals-becoming-sensitive-politically-correct/ | 2014-06-15 | 4left
| Are Liberals Becoming Too Sensitive and Politically Correct?
<p><a href="" type="internal" />I learned at a fairly young age that when it comes to somewhat controversial debates, people often get so emotionally wrapped up in whatever it is that they fail to see the forest for the trees. &#160;I’ve written articles that were more than 1,000 words and 8 of those words were something with which someone disagreed – and they solely focused their “rage” based on that one small part. &#160;Never mind the 99% of the article that they were in full agreement with. &#160;Oh, no. &#160;They focused on that&#160;one&#160;part and that’s how they formed their entire opinion over what it is that I wrote and they read.</p>
<p>I’ve written numerous articles defending women’s rights, gay rights, immigrant rights, minority rights and equality, and I’ve fiercely opposed racists, bigots and intolerance in general.</p>
<p>Yet I’ve been called a racist, bigot, sexist, homophobic&#160;woman-hater – all by liberals.</p>
<p>Why? &#160;Because while I’ve defended women, homosexuals, immigrants, minorities and the fight for true equality for all, once in a while I actually dare to call out the hypocrisy I’ve seen from the radical activists who seem unable to be even the slightest bit objective toward the causes about which they’re passionate.</p>
<p>Take for instance Michael Sam. &#160;After he came out publicly he held a press conference stating that from then on he only wanted to be known as a football player, not a&#160;gay&#160;football player. &#160;So, going by his own words, that’s exactly what I looked at him as. &#160;In fact, in my opinion, that’s real equality. &#160;Except once I heard he had agreed to do a documentary with Oprah (an agreement he hid from the NFL until after he was drafted) to document his quest to make it in the NFL as an openly gay man – <a href="" type="internal">I called him a hypocrite</a>.</p>
<p>He was trying to profit off of the fact that he’s the NFL’s first gay football player after he told the world that going forward he didn’t want to be known as anything but “a football player.” He can’t say to people that he wants to be treated “just like everyone else,” while doing something that&#160;no other NFL player had ever done&#160;because he happens to be gay.</p>
<p>For simply expressing that opinion I got called a homophobe. &#160;Never mind that written inside that very same article I mention how I wish him well and stated that he represents a huge step for LGBT rights. &#160;Nope, ignore all of that. &#160;These radical activists, unable to see anything objectively, only seemed to process that I dared to call Michael Sam a hypocrite for contradicting&#160;his own words.&#160;</p>
<p>They want equality, I criticized Michael Sam as I would have done to any other player, and apparently because I treated him equally that makes me homophobic.</p>
<p>Then there’s the radical women’s rights people. &#160;Wow, I really ticked them off recently when I dared to criticize their over the top <a href="" type="internal">reactions</a> to high school girls being sent home <a href="" type="internal">for violating school dress codes</a>.</p>
<p>They claim that school dress codes unfairly target women by making them cover their bodies because males can’t control their urges – and somehow this all ties into the rape culture.</p>
<p>Are you freaking kidding me?</p>
<p>Asking girls to not wear shorts shorter than where their finger tips touch their thighs with their arms hanging at their sides isn’t “shaming women.” &#160;Because guess what, males have to follow that same dress code. &#160;Only problem is, most males don’t wear shorts that short. &#160;If they did, they’d be sent home as well. &#160;If these activists are looking to blame someone, blame women’s fashion.</p>
<p>Here’s a fun fact: If girls didn’t wear shorts that were inappropriately short for school, there wouldn’t be a need for a rule that seeks to limit just how short these shorts can be. &#160;Some “length limit” has to be set. &#160;Otherwise some females would come to school with their butt cheeks hanging out.</p>
<p>And let’s not pretend that rules requiring shorts to be at a length around mid-thigh are “unreasonable requests.” &#160;It’s&#160;school,&#160;not a club, the beach, the pool, a friend’s house or the mall. &#160;School is meant to foster a positive learning environment, and the fact of the matter is skimpy clothing isn’t conducive to a positive learning environment for adults, much less teenagers.</p>
<p>Then there was the issue of girls being sent home for wearing sleeveless shirts that happened to show their bra strap. &#160;This is the one <a href="" type="internal">where I criticized&#160;Think Progress</a> for drastically over sensationalizing a story.</p>
<p>At that particular school&#160;no students&#160;were allowed to wear sleeveless shirts. &#160;Even in the story,&#160;Think Progress mentions how males had been sent home as well for wearing sleeveless shirts. &#160;Though they mentioned that in only once brief sentence. &#160;The rest of the article went on some overboard rant about how this rule unfairly targeted females because more females had been sent home than males.</p>
<p>Here’s another fun fact: Females wear sleeveless shirts much more often than males.</p>
<p>How is it an unfair rule if males aren’t allowed to wear tank tops either? &#160;It seems Think Progress only felt it was unfair because females tend to wear sleeveless shirts more often than males.</p>
<p>Again, that’s not “shaming women” – that’s just called style.</p>
<p>Now if the rules were as such where males could wear sleeveless shirts but females couldn’t, or males could wear super short shorts but females couldn’t, then&#160;that&#160;is unfair and sexist. &#160;But that’s not the case with these rules. &#160;They’re enforced equally, bottom line.</p>
<p>And can we stop pretending that women never wear skimpy clothes to attract the attention of males? &#160;Come on. &#160;Have we gotten that politically correct?</p>
<p>But I don’t believe it’s unfair at all to say to students that your shorts need to be at least around mid-thigh and you’re not allowed to wear sleeveless shirts. &#160;Again,&#160;they’re at school. &#160;</p>
<p>School is a place where students are supposed to conduct themselves in a slightly professional manner. &#160;It’s also meant to prepare them for the real world and in the real word there are dress codes. &#160;And most important of all, as I said before, it’s meant to foster a positive learning environment.</p>
<p>But because I supported these very uncontroversial and extremely common dress codes I got called a sexist, a woman-hater and someone who’s helping to perpetuate the rape culture.</p>
<p>Forget the numerous times I’ve written articles defending women’s rights, condemning those who’ve tried to downplay the horrific act of rape or that I’ve strongly voiced my belief that women should have control over their own bodies. &#160;None of that matters.</p>
<p>All because I believe that students shouldn’t be allowed to wear extremely short shorts or sleeveless shirts to school –&#160;that&#160;makes me a supporter of the “rape culture” and a “woman-hater.”</p>
<p>Here’s a word of advice for these radical women’s rights activists: You do your cause a disservice by trying to take something as horrifying as rape and lump it in with something as ridiculous as student dress codes that for all intents and purposes are extremely reasonable. &#160;It’s like the boy who cried wolf.</p>
<p>You can’t yell, “It’s part of the rape culture!” every single time some issue involving men and women is brought up.</p>
<p>Then there’s the “PC police” types. These are the people who essentially find almost everything offensive. &#160;Basically they want a society where everyone better watch what they say or do because you never know who you just might offend.</p>
<p>This kind of attitude is derived from those who probably support giving trophies to everyone, ribbons for participation and not keeping score during sports games. &#160;Because heaven forbid we ask that people overcome adversity once in a while or learn to fail and pick themselves back up.</p>
<p>They seem to think it’s probably better to just pad the world so nobody scrapes a knee, remove any words that might even remotely offend someone from the dictionary and label anything on the planet that might possibly result in a feeling of anxiety or depression in someone.</p>
<p>Have you seen the movie Demolition Man? &#160;If you haven’t it’s a futuristic movie where people no longer have sex (procreation is done in a lab), cussing is illegal, bad food is banned and pretty much anything that might be remotely offensive is prohibited. &#160;That’s exactly the type of society I think some of these people want.</p>
<p>Now I’m not saying I’m insensitive. &#160;I’m really not. &#160;But there’s a line we face in this country between being progressively sensitive toward the feelings of others and essentially sensitizing our society to such an extent that someone dropping a pan in the kitchen can trigger a panic attack.</p>
<p>Learning how to overcome adversity is&#160;good&#160;for a society. &#160;If you don’t learn to do that, life is going to destroy you. &#160;I didn’t have an easy life at all. &#160;I overcame a lot in life to be where I am now. &#160;Now I’m not saying everyone can overcome what I did, but I at least think we owe it to our society to give people the chance to try – not shield and protect them from every little thing they might face in this world.</p>
<p>Now I’m sure this article offended some. &#160;I’m sure some read it, acted emotionally to it, and pretty much proved my point. &#160;A few might have read it and agreed with some points but disagreed with others, and that’s fine too. &#160;Heck some might even have agreed with everything I said.</p>
<p>My point is that just because we are passionate about some things doesn’t mean we can’t be objective about those things. &#160;I’m a liberal, and even the liberals who sometimes drive me crazy I’ll stand up for, but some liberals really need to learn to pick their battles.</p>
<p>It’s getting to a point where some are going from passionate activists fighting for a good cause to over sensationalized complainers who just want to go around judging anyone and everyone for everything that they do.</p>
<p>Those who made it this far, be sure to check out the comments section either on the article itself, or whatever Facebook page or Twitter account you might have gotten it from, to see how many people seem eager to prove my point.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Many Liberals Defend Islam the Way Conservatives Defend Guns</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Bill Maher Slams Liberals for Often Looking Away When it Comes to Islamic Oppression (Video)</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Samantha Bee Obliterates the Hypocrisy &amp; Racist Roots of the "Christian Right" (Video)</a></p>
<p>2 Facebook comments</p> | 599,629 |
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<p />
<p>Rodella apparently still hadn’t resigned as of Monday.</p>
<p>“Rio Arriba County needs to have a duly qualified sheriff to ensure the protection of the public,” said Pacheco. “So I will have to file a petition in court Tuesday to clarify that the office of sheriff has been vacated and that the County Commission needs to appoint a replacement.”</p>
<p>Rodella was found guilty after a five-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque of violating the civil rights of Española motorist Michael Tafoya, 26, by making an illegal arrest, and on a weapons charge. He was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody, and remains incarcerated.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Rio Arriba County officials are considering an emergency meeting of the commission to determine how to deal with the situation. One option would be to name former deputy James Lujan, who defeated Rodella in the June Democratic primary, the new sheriff. Rodella’s term expires Dec. 31.</p>
<p>“Our attorneys and leadership are discussing options moving forward,” said county government spokesman Carlos Trujillo. The objective is “to keep the people of Rio Arriba County safe,” he said.</p>
<p>County Manager Tomas Campos met with deputies Monday morning “to discuss morale and let them know the county is behind them,” said Trujillo.</p>
<p>Also Monday, Rodella’s defense attorney Robert Gorence said he was surprised by Friday’s guilty verdict and confirmed he will file an appeal after Rodella is sentenced on Dec. 26. Gorence did not go into details on the basis for an appeal in his email statement. Rodella, 52, faces up to 17 years in prison.</p>
<p>In 2010, the New Mexico Supreme Court in a case involving former Public Regulation Commission Commissioner Carol Sloan ruled that an elected official automatically forfeits his or her office upon conviction for a felony. Sloan was convicted of aggravated battery and burglary. Sloan’s lawyer had argued that only the Legislature could remove her from office. The Supreme Court held that it and the Legislature have “overlapping powers” in such cases.</p>
<p>Asked if Rodella would resign, sheriff’s office spokesman Capt. Quintin McShan said, “I have not talked to the sheriff.” Undersheriff Vince Crespin is now in charge, with Maj. Matt Vigil second in command. Rodella’s conviction has been “a shock to the system but we are coping,” McShan said.</p>
<p>“It’s been tough on our department,” Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Atencio said at an unrelated court hearing Monday. “The veteran officers are telling the younger officers to keep doing your job and keep your head up. There are officers who make bad decisions and it affects us all.”</p>
<p>Rodella and his supporters maintain he was the subject of a vendetta by U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez because the sheriff refused to deputize U.S. Forest Service officers to enforce state law.</p>
<p />
<p /> | Convicted sheriff’s status in question | false | https://abqjournal.com/470658/convicted-sheriffs-status-in-question.html | 2least
| Convicted sheriff’s status in question
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<p />
<p>Rodella apparently still hadn’t resigned as of Monday.</p>
<p>“Rio Arriba County needs to have a duly qualified sheriff to ensure the protection of the public,” said Pacheco. “So I will have to file a petition in court Tuesday to clarify that the office of sheriff has been vacated and that the County Commission needs to appoint a replacement.”</p>
<p>Rodella was found guilty after a five-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque of violating the civil rights of Española motorist Michael Tafoya, 26, by making an illegal arrest, and on a weapons charge. He was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody, and remains incarcerated.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Rio Arriba County officials are considering an emergency meeting of the commission to determine how to deal with the situation. One option would be to name former deputy James Lujan, who defeated Rodella in the June Democratic primary, the new sheriff. Rodella’s term expires Dec. 31.</p>
<p>“Our attorneys and leadership are discussing options moving forward,” said county government spokesman Carlos Trujillo. The objective is “to keep the people of Rio Arriba County safe,” he said.</p>
<p>County Manager Tomas Campos met with deputies Monday morning “to discuss morale and let them know the county is behind them,” said Trujillo.</p>
<p>Also Monday, Rodella’s defense attorney Robert Gorence said he was surprised by Friday’s guilty verdict and confirmed he will file an appeal after Rodella is sentenced on Dec. 26. Gorence did not go into details on the basis for an appeal in his email statement. Rodella, 52, faces up to 17 years in prison.</p>
<p>In 2010, the New Mexico Supreme Court in a case involving former Public Regulation Commission Commissioner Carol Sloan ruled that an elected official automatically forfeits his or her office upon conviction for a felony. Sloan was convicted of aggravated battery and burglary. Sloan’s lawyer had argued that only the Legislature could remove her from office. The Supreme Court held that it and the Legislature have “overlapping powers” in such cases.</p>
<p>Asked if Rodella would resign, sheriff’s office spokesman Capt. Quintin McShan said, “I have not talked to the sheriff.” Undersheriff Vince Crespin is now in charge, with Maj. Matt Vigil second in command. Rodella’s conviction has been “a shock to the system but we are coping,” McShan said.</p>
<p>“It’s been tough on our department,” Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Atencio said at an unrelated court hearing Monday. “The veteran officers are telling the younger officers to keep doing your job and keep your head up. There are officers who make bad decisions and it affects us all.”</p>
<p>Rodella and his supporters maintain he was the subject of a vendetta by U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez because the sheriff refused to deputize U.S. Forest Service officers to enforce state law.</p>
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<p>Usually, that’s never a positive sign, but it was this time as Volcano Vista had a pair of defensive scores — and also a special teams touchdown — in a 34-13 homecoming victory over West Mesa at Nusenda Community Stadium.</p>
<p>“Our offense has been struggling, to say the least, but when it comes down to it, our defense is stepping up,” said senior linebacker Joren Dickey, who had a sack and a pick-six in this game, plus a long touchdown reception.</p>
<p>The Mustangs (2-1) scored the first seven points and the last six, Volcano Vista (2-1) the 34 in the middle.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Hawk offense was not terribly efficient, with just 272 total yards — and 73 of them were on that short pass to Dickey that he turned into a long score.</p>
<p>But Volcano Vista coach Chad Wallin was just happy to see his team rebound after the Hawks were thrashed six days earlier on the same field by Eldorado.</p>
<p>“It was a short week, and I was real nervous on how we’d come out,” Wallin said.</p>
<p>The short answer was: not well. Volcano Vista squandered an early red zone chance, and was stuck largely in neutral.</p>
<p>Ironically, it was a 20-yard TD pass from Gabriel Ramirez to Brandon Bouldin that put West Mesa up 7-0 early in the second quarter that seemed to ignite the Hawks more than the Mustangs.</p>
<p>Dickey’s long TD came just 51 seconds later, and Jacob Werner’s 53-yard punt return for a score midway through the quarter doubled the lead to 14-7.</p>
<p>Near the end of the half, defensive end Paul Haywood of Volcano Vista blasted Ramirez on a throw. The ball floated harmlessly into the air and landed in Dickey’s hands, and it was an easy 36-yard touchdown return and 21-7 lead.</p>
<p>Even Volcano Vista’s place-kicker, Ethan Sanchez-Maxwell, got in on the fun before it was over, returning a fumble 31 yards for a TD late in the game. The PAT failed, but it wasn’t his fault. By then, the Hawks were using second-teamers across the board.</p>
<p>The Hawks visit Mayfield next week. West Mesa takes on La Cueva.</p> | Defense, special teams are key for Volcano Vista in victory | false | https://abqjournal.com/1060260/defense-special-teams-are-key-for-volcano-vista-in-victory.html | 2least
| Defense, special teams are key for Volcano Vista in victory
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<p />
<p>Usually, that’s never a positive sign, but it was this time as Volcano Vista had a pair of defensive scores — and also a special teams touchdown — in a 34-13 homecoming victory over West Mesa at Nusenda Community Stadium.</p>
<p>“Our offense has been struggling, to say the least, but when it comes down to it, our defense is stepping up,” said senior linebacker Joren Dickey, who had a sack and a pick-six in this game, plus a long touchdown reception.</p>
<p>The Mustangs (2-1) scored the first seven points and the last six, Volcano Vista (2-1) the 34 in the middle.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Hawk offense was not terribly efficient, with just 272 total yards — and 73 of them were on that short pass to Dickey that he turned into a long score.</p>
<p>But Volcano Vista coach Chad Wallin was just happy to see his team rebound after the Hawks were thrashed six days earlier on the same field by Eldorado.</p>
<p>“It was a short week, and I was real nervous on how we’d come out,” Wallin said.</p>
<p>The short answer was: not well. Volcano Vista squandered an early red zone chance, and was stuck largely in neutral.</p>
<p>Ironically, it was a 20-yard TD pass from Gabriel Ramirez to Brandon Bouldin that put West Mesa up 7-0 early in the second quarter that seemed to ignite the Hawks more than the Mustangs.</p>
<p>Dickey’s long TD came just 51 seconds later, and Jacob Werner’s 53-yard punt return for a score midway through the quarter doubled the lead to 14-7.</p>
<p>Near the end of the half, defensive end Paul Haywood of Volcano Vista blasted Ramirez on a throw. The ball floated harmlessly into the air and landed in Dickey’s hands, and it was an easy 36-yard touchdown return and 21-7 lead.</p>
<p>Even Volcano Vista’s place-kicker, Ethan Sanchez-Maxwell, got in on the fun before it was over, returning a fumble 31 yards for a TD late in the game. The PAT failed, but it wasn’t his fault. By then, the Hawks were using second-teamers across the board.</p>
<p>The Hawks visit Mayfield next week. West Mesa takes on La Cueva.</p> | 599,631 |
|
<p>Published time: 1 Dec, 2017 13:13</p>
<p>Strong manufacturing performance has helped India’s economy expand 6.3 percent in the three months to September, reversing more than a year of declining growth.</p>
<p>Manufacturing was up seven percent compared to the same period in 2016, a sharp jump from the 1.2 percent growth the sector registered in the second quarter.</p>
<p>The stronger economic growth&#160;“indicates that perhaps the impact of two very significant structural reforms… is now behind us, and hopefully, in the coming quarters, we can look for an upwards trajectory,”&#160;India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said after the data was released.</p>
<p>“I think the most significant aspect is the fact that this quarter’s positive result has been impacted significantly by the growth in manufacturing,”&#160;he added.</p>
<p>Three months ago the government revealed that economic expansion slid to just 5.7 percent from a high of 9.1 percent in the first three months of 2016.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/business/375936-india-income-tax-relief-budget/" type="external">READ MORE:&#160;Millions of Indians will have their taxes cut in half</a></p>
<p>The economic slowdown was blamed on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sudden decision to ban the country’s two most valuable rupee notes accounting at the time for 86 percent of India’s cash.</p>
<p>India was the world’s fastest-growing major economy at the end of 2016, with GDP expanding by seven percent. Some economists express doubts the government will be able to hit its target of seven percent growth this year or next.</p>
<p>Others claim that while India’s national tax overhaul continues to drag on growth, the economy appears to have shrugged off the effects of the cash ban.</p>
<p>“Growth will continue to accelerate over the coming quarters,”&#160;Shilan Shah, India economist at Capital Economics told CNNMoney.</p>
<p>“Recovery is underway,” said Priyanka Kishore, lead Asia economist at Oxford Economics. “Next year we should be looking at these headwinds turning into tailwinds for the economy.”</p>
<p>The International Monetary Fund said it expects India’s economy to recover to 7.2 percent growth this year and accelerate to 7.7 percent in 2018.</p> | India’s economy back on track after year-long slowdown | false | https://newsline.com/indias-economy-back-on-track-after-year-long-slowdown/ | 2017-12-01 | 1right-center
| India’s economy back on track after year-long slowdown
<p>Published time: 1 Dec, 2017 13:13</p>
<p>Strong manufacturing performance has helped India’s economy expand 6.3 percent in the three months to September, reversing more than a year of declining growth.</p>
<p>Manufacturing was up seven percent compared to the same period in 2016, a sharp jump from the 1.2 percent growth the sector registered in the second quarter.</p>
<p>The stronger economic growth&#160;“indicates that perhaps the impact of two very significant structural reforms… is now behind us, and hopefully, in the coming quarters, we can look for an upwards trajectory,”&#160;India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said after the data was released.</p>
<p>“I think the most significant aspect is the fact that this quarter’s positive result has been impacted significantly by the growth in manufacturing,”&#160;he added.</p>
<p>Three months ago the government revealed that economic expansion slid to just 5.7 percent from a high of 9.1 percent in the first three months of 2016.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/business/375936-india-income-tax-relief-budget/" type="external">READ MORE:&#160;Millions of Indians will have their taxes cut in half</a></p>
<p>The economic slowdown was blamed on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sudden decision to ban the country’s two most valuable rupee notes accounting at the time for 86 percent of India’s cash.</p>
<p>India was the world’s fastest-growing major economy at the end of 2016, with GDP expanding by seven percent. Some economists express doubts the government will be able to hit its target of seven percent growth this year or next.</p>
<p>Others claim that while India’s national tax overhaul continues to drag on growth, the economy appears to have shrugged off the effects of the cash ban.</p>
<p>“Growth will continue to accelerate over the coming quarters,”&#160;Shilan Shah, India economist at Capital Economics told CNNMoney.</p>
<p>“Recovery is underway,” said Priyanka Kishore, lead Asia economist at Oxford Economics. “Next year we should be looking at these headwinds turning into tailwinds for the economy.”</p>
<p>The International Monetary Fund said it expects India’s economy to recover to 7.2 percent growth this year and accelerate to 7.7 percent in 2018.</p> | 599,632 |
<p>Spain remains at the center of Europe’s economic storm.</p>
<p>Unemployment is rising. So are the interest rates the country pays on its debt. And another round of austerity measures has unions warning of social unrest.</p>
<p>Spain’s debt problem isn’t just national though. There are thousands of small Spanish towns that have borrowed too much as well.</p>
<p>Take the village of Rasquera, near the Mediterranean coast. Rasquera is near bankruptcy, but the mayor has an idea on to save the town — growing marijuana</p>
<p>Rasquera is tiny, about 3,000 residents. But its debt is huge: nearly $1.5 million. To pay it off Mayor Bernat Pallisa wants to rent some municipal land to farmers. Pot farmers.</p>
<p>“Marijuana is like any of the crops you see around here,” he said, referring to local cherry and olive orchards. “Pot’s something you can plant that brings you a profit.”</p>
<p>A relatively big profit, compared to other crops, Pallisa points out. In this case, the money would be used to pay back funds borrowed for infrastructure projects dating back a decade. Nothing fancy, Pallisa said. Just things like better roads and street lights.</p>
<p>“Those projects have allowed people here live with a little bit of dignity,” he said. “We didn’t even have internet until two years ago.”</p>
<p>But using pot to counter the economic crisis is controversial, even in Catalonia, where growing marijuana for personal use is legal. For starters, there’s Rasquera’s prospective pot growers. They work out of a small, store-front office in Barcelona, actually, about two hours away.</p>
<p>There, they have an association of cannabis consumers, with some 5,000 members who pay monthly dues. The association grows and dispenses marijuana to them. Again, this is all perfectly legal in Catalonia. The association’s Mojslov Georgevic said the group needed more land for planting. So it approached several towns. He said Rasqueras was ideal.</p>
<p>“First, because it is the countryside,” he said. “And second thing because the climate is good for growing.”</p>
<p>The association should know. It’s been growing marijuana for its users for more than two years – in locations it won’t reveal.</p>
<p>What is new in Rasquera is that the association’s partner in pot growing would be the local government. Elected officials, that is. This has attracted some negative attention from Spain’s national authorities.</p>
<p>While Catalonia’s regional law permits personal pot growing, it conflicts with a national law against producing illegal drugs. It’s like the stand-off between California and its medicinal marijuana law and federal authorities who keep raiding state-sanctioned facilities.</p>
<p>In fact, police in Barcelona recently raided Barcelona’s Cannabis Association, arresting key members and accusing them of drug trafficking. A judge has dismissed the charges, but Georgevic said the message was clear.</p>
<p>“A lot of people are saying it wasn’t a coincidence, that the police wanted to make us look bad, accusing us of drug dealing. Just to dirty our image," Georgevic said.</p>
<p>It’s in order, he said, to sabotage a planned referendum in Rasquera.</p>
<p>The idea of pot as a road to prosperity has already split the town in two. On one end stands a bar where the bartender proudly wears a T-shirt with a big green pot leaf on it. Folks parked on bar stools on a recent day said they couldn’t wait for operation cannabis to begin.</p>
<p>“I am in favor of it,” said a young man named Gayetano Pallisa, who identified himself as a pot smoker. “There are a lot of drugs that are a lot worse than pot, but no one wants to talk about that.”</p>
<p>On the other end of town stands another bar — and another attitude. The crowd there was decidedly older, more conservative. A bunch of retired guys sat around playing dominoes.</p>
<p>“I think there are other ways to get out of this crisis,” said bar owner Joan Marti. “Pot is still an illegal substance. Let them plant something else. Sunflowers, to harvest sunflower seeds.”</p>
<p>People in the opposing bars barely talk to each other these days, laments Pallisa. He said the tension in town has gotten so bad he’s decided to hold a referendum.</p>
<p>“There is a lot of fear,” he said, “and pressure. You can feel it. When you walk past a neighbor on the street, you can just feel it.”</p>
<p>Pallisa said if residents reject his home-grown rescue plan on April 10, he’ll resign. The risk is worth it, he said. Because he’s seen what more drastic budget cuts have led to in Barcelona.</p>
<p>Last month, during a general strike against austerity measures, protesters set fires and broke store windows all over the city, as police fired tear gas to disperse crowds.</p>
<p>But Pallisa said he needs at last 75 percent of the people to say yes to marijuana.</p>
<p>“It would be absurd to move forward with the plan if half the town is against it,” he said.</p>
<p>If the pot initiative does get the votes, this could be just the beginning. Georgevic of the Barcelona Cannabis Association said at least four other towns near Rasquera, in similar economic situations, are interested as well.</p>
<p>He said they’re waiting to see how things play out here before sticking their own necks out.</p> | Spanish community looks to marijuana growing as road to economic recovery | false | https://pri.org/stories/2012-04-10/spanish-community-looks-marijuana-growing-road-economic-recovery | 2012-04-10 | 3left-center
| Spanish community looks to marijuana growing as road to economic recovery
<p>Spain remains at the center of Europe’s economic storm.</p>
<p>Unemployment is rising. So are the interest rates the country pays on its debt. And another round of austerity measures has unions warning of social unrest.</p>
<p>Spain’s debt problem isn’t just national though. There are thousands of small Spanish towns that have borrowed too much as well.</p>
<p>Take the village of Rasquera, near the Mediterranean coast. Rasquera is near bankruptcy, but the mayor has an idea on to save the town — growing marijuana</p>
<p>Rasquera is tiny, about 3,000 residents. But its debt is huge: nearly $1.5 million. To pay it off Mayor Bernat Pallisa wants to rent some municipal land to farmers. Pot farmers.</p>
<p>“Marijuana is like any of the crops you see around here,” he said, referring to local cherry and olive orchards. “Pot’s something you can plant that brings you a profit.”</p>
<p>A relatively big profit, compared to other crops, Pallisa points out. In this case, the money would be used to pay back funds borrowed for infrastructure projects dating back a decade. Nothing fancy, Pallisa said. Just things like better roads and street lights.</p>
<p>“Those projects have allowed people here live with a little bit of dignity,” he said. “We didn’t even have internet until two years ago.”</p>
<p>But using pot to counter the economic crisis is controversial, even in Catalonia, where growing marijuana for personal use is legal. For starters, there’s Rasquera’s prospective pot growers. They work out of a small, store-front office in Barcelona, actually, about two hours away.</p>
<p>There, they have an association of cannabis consumers, with some 5,000 members who pay monthly dues. The association grows and dispenses marijuana to them. Again, this is all perfectly legal in Catalonia. The association’s Mojslov Georgevic said the group needed more land for planting. So it approached several towns. He said Rasqueras was ideal.</p>
<p>“First, because it is the countryside,” he said. “And second thing because the climate is good for growing.”</p>
<p>The association should know. It’s been growing marijuana for its users for more than two years – in locations it won’t reveal.</p>
<p>What is new in Rasquera is that the association’s partner in pot growing would be the local government. Elected officials, that is. This has attracted some negative attention from Spain’s national authorities.</p>
<p>While Catalonia’s regional law permits personal pot growing, it conflicts with a national law against producing illegal drugs. It’s like the stand-off between California and its medicinal marijuana law and federal authorities who keep raiding state-sanctioned facilities.</p>
<p>In fact, police in Barcelona recently raided Barcelona’s Cannabis Association, arresting key members and accusing them of drug trafficking. A judge has dismissed the charges, but Georgevic said the message was clear.</p>
<p>“A lot of people are saying it wasn’t a coincidence, that the police wanted to make us look bad, accusing us of drug dealing. Just to dirty our image," Georgevic said.</p>
<p>It’s in order, he said, to sabotage a planned referendum in Rasquera.</p>
<p>The idea of pot as a road to prosperity has already split the town in two. On one end stands a bar where the bartender proudly wears a T-shirt with a big green pot leaf on it. Folks parked on bar stools on a recent day said they couldn’t wait for operation cannabis to begin.</p>
<p>“I am in favor of it,” said a young man named Gayetano Pallisa, who identified himself as a pot smoker. “There are a lot of drugs that are a lot worse than pot, but no one wants to talk about that.”</p>
<p>On the other end of town stands another bar — and another attitude. The crowd there was decidedly older, more conservative. A bunch of retired guys sat around playing dominoes.</p>
<p>“I think there are other ways to get out of this crisis,” said bar owner Joan Marti. “Pot is still an illegal substance. Let them plant something else. Sunflowers, to harvest sunflower seeds.”</p>
<p>People in the opposing bars barely talk to each other these days, laments Pallisa. He said the tension in town has gotten so bad he’s decided to hold a referendum.</p>
<p>“There is a lot of fear,” he said, “and pressure. You can feel it. When you walk past a neighbor on the street, you can just feel it.”</p>
<p>Pallisa said if residents reject his home-grown rescue plan on April 10, he’ll resign. The risk is worth it, he said. Because he’s seen what more drastic budget cuts have led to in Barcelona.</p>
<p>Last month, during a general strike against austerity measures, protesters set fires and broke store windows all over the city, as police fired tear gas to disperse crowds.</p>
<p>But Pallisa said he needs at last 75 percent of the people to say yes to marijuana.</p>
<p>“It would be absurd to move forward with the plan if half the town is against it,” he said.</p>
<p>If the pot initiative does get the votes, this could be just the beginning. Georgevic of the Barcelona Cannabis Association said at least four other towns near Rasquera, in similar economic situations, are interested as well.</p>
<p>He said they’re waiting to see how things play out here before sticking their own necks out.</p> | 599,633 |
<p>Investing.com – Morocco stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the , and sectors led shares lower.</p>
<p>At the close in Casablanca, the fell 0.03%.</p>
<p>The best performers of the session on the were Wafa Assurance (CS:), which rose 3.17% or 149 points to trade at 4850 at the close. Meanwhile, Auto Hall (CS:) added 3.00% or 3.00 points to end at 103.00 and Stokvis Nord Afrique (CS:) was up 1.94% or 0.42 points to 22.07 in late trade.</p>
<p>The worst performers of the session were Micro Data SA (CS:), which fell 5.74% or 12.90 points to trade at 212.00 at the close. Alliances (CS:) declined 5.45% or 15 points to end at 260 and Sonasid (CS:) was down 5.30% or 42 points to 748.</p>
<p>Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Casablanca Stock Exchange by 24 to 11 and 8 ended unchanged.</p>
<p>Crude oil for November delivery was up 2.19% or 1.11 to $51.77 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in December rose 2.66% or 1.50 to hit $57.92 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 1.15% or 14.94 to trade at $1312.44 a troy ounce.</p>
<p>EUR/MAD was down 0.23% to 11.1320, while USD/MAD rose 0.50% to 9.3897.</p>
<p>The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.57% at 92.47.</p>
<p />
<p>Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.</p> | Morocco stocks lower at close of trade; Moroccan All Shares down 0.03% | false | https://newsline.com/morocco-stocks-lower-at-close-of-trade-moroccan-all-shares-down-0-03/ | 2017-09-25 | 1right-center
| Morocco stocks lower at close of trade; Moroccan All Shares down 0.03%
<p>Investing.com – Morocco stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the , and sectors led shares lower.</p>
<p>At the close in Casablanca, the fell 0.03%.</p>
<p>The best performers of the session on the were Wafa Assurance (CS:), which rose 3.17% or 149 points to trade at 4850 at the close. Meanwhile, Auto Hall (CS:) added 3.00% or 3.00 points to end at 103.00 and Stokvis Nord Afrique (CS:) was up 1.94% or 0.42 points to 22.07 in late trade.</p>
<p>The worst performers of the session were Micro Data SA (CS:), which fell 5.74% or 12.90 points to trade at 212.00 at the close. Alliances (CS:) declined 5.45% or 15 points to end at 260 and Sonasid (CS:) was down 5.30% or 42 points to 748.</p>
<p>Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Casablanca Stock Exchange by 24 to 11 and 8 ended unchanged.</p>
<p>Crude oil for November delivery was up 2.19% or 1.11 to $51.77 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in December rose 2.66% or 1.50 to hit $57.92 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 1.15% or 14.94 to trade at $1312.44 a troy ounce.</p>
<p>EUR/MAD was down 0.23% to 11.1320, while USD/MAD rose 0.50% to 9.3897.</p>
<p>The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.57% at 92.47.</p>
<p />
<p>Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.</p> | 599,634 |
<p>Hillary Clinton authorized the operation to liquidate Osama Bin Laden, according to Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), who also chairs the Democratic Caucus.</p>
<p>“Somehow [Donald Trump] has to show that we want someone in the White House who praises Vladimir Putin. I think we would prefer to have someone who green lights going after Osama Bin Laden,” said Becerra, joining left-wing CNN’s Sunday flagship political news show State of the Union. No laughter was forthcoming from any of his co-panelists or the show's guest anchor Dana Bash in response to his assertion.</p>
<p>Invoking the nonsensical leftist term "assault weapon," Becerra then called for a ban on weapons belonging to the nebulous category while deriding the NRA.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">regularly</a> <a href="" type="internal">presents</a> <a href="" type="internal">herself</a> - with <a href="" type="internal">parroting</a> from her campaign’s surrogates - as having been an indispensable guide to President Barack Obama, advising him over the operation to take out Bin Laden. Becerra took this further, stating that Clinton approved the mission.</p>
<p>Americans are to infer that Clinton possesses military expertise, and by extension national security and foreign policy credentials sufficient for assuming the presidency.</p>
<p>Left-wing pundit and “Republican strategist” <a href="" type="internal">Ana Navarro</a> accepted Becerra’s statement, implying that Clinton was the “lesser of two evils” relative to Donald Trump.</p>
<p>Jeffrey Lord, who supports Trump, speculated that Becerra is angling to be Clinton’s vice-presidential running mate.</p>
<p>Follow Robert Kraychik on <a href="https://twitter.com/kr3ch3k" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p> | Democratic Caucus Chair: Clinton Authorized Killing Of Osama Bin Laden | true | https://dailywire.com/news/6719/democratic-caucus-chair-clinton-authorized-killing-robert-kraychik | 2016-06-19 | 0right
| Democratic Caucus Chair: Clinton Authorized Killing Of Osama Bin Laden
<p>Hillary Clinton authorized the operation to liquidate Osama Bin Laden, according to Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), who also chairs the Democratic Caucus.</p>
<p>“Somehow [Donald Trump] has to show that we want someone in the White House who praises Vladimir Putin. I think we would prefer to have someone who green lights going after Osama Bin Laden,” said Becerra, joining left-wing CNN’s Sunday flagship political news show State of the Union. No laughter was forthcoming from any of his co-panelists or the show's guest anchor Dana Bash in response to his assertion.</p>
<p>Invoking the nonsensical leftist term "assault weapon," Becerra then called for a ban on weapons belonging to the nebulous category while deriding the NRA.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">regularly</a> <a href="" type="internal">presents</a> <a href="" type="internal">herself</a> - with <a href="" type="internal">parroting</a> from her campaign’s surrogates - as having been an indispensable guide to President Barack Obama, advising him over the operation to take out Bin Laden. Becerra took this further, stating that Clinton approved the mission.</p>
<p>Americans are to infer that Clinton possesses military expertise, and by extension national security and foreign policy credentials sufficient for assuming the presidency.</p>
<p>Left-wing pundit and “Republican strategist” <a href="" type="internal">Ana Navarro</a> accepted Becerra’s statement, implying that Clinton was the “lesser of two evils” relative to Donald Trump.</p>
<p>Jeffrey Lord, who supports Trump, speculated that Becerra is angling to be Clinton’s vice-presidential running mate.</p>
<p>Follow Robert Kraychik on <a href="https://twitter.com/kr3ch3k" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p> | 599,635 |
<p><a href="//videos/37/69572" type="external" /></p>
<p>RUSH: We have the State of the Union show tonight. And this is itself, ladies and gentlemen, yet another opportunity. I mean, look at what Obama’s gonna do. His official guest is going to be a Syrian refugee. Not some hero that the seat has traditionally been occupied by since Reagan started this tradition after the airline crash, Palm 90, Air Florida, into the Potomac. One of the rescuers was highlighted by Reagan — invited to watch a State of the Union show — and he was pointed out. Ever since then, every State of the Union address has featured a hero of some kind, depending on the president and his attitude toward heroism.</p>
<p>I guess Syrian refugees (representing illegal immigrants) are now the heroes of the hour because they will be represented tonight. In addition to that, there’s gonna be an empty seat. Will be an empty seat in the first lady’s seating area — the first lady’s box, whatever they call it up there in the viewing gallery of the House chamber. And the empty seat is to represent the 4,000 victims of “gun violence” in this country. And the president’s gonna point all of this out. And once again we have a State of the Union address tonight where the president, his last one, is gonna give it his best shot in pointing out what all the problems are.</p>
<p>You know what you’re gonna see on display tonight? You’re gonna see the Limbaugh Theorem on display like you’ve never seen it. You’re gonna see the president, in his eighth year, describe problems in this country that have only worsened during his tenure, the seven years that he’s been in office. You’re gonna hear those problems detailed as though they trace back to George W. Bush. Those problems are going to be things that currently exist that he will have had nothing to do with. He’s going to give a speech tonight that will be reminiscent of a campaign speech he would give before the election in 2008.</p>
<p>You mark my words.</p>
<p>The Limbaugh Theorem will be on total display tonight, where President Obama will list and detail all of these problems, all the problems we’ve got, as though he has yet to take any action on fixing them — ignoring the fact that most of them have his fingerprints on them. Legacy building within the minds and bodies of the low-information voters. The Politico is all over the place today. I can’t wait to get the two stories they have on Trump. You talk about contradictory? But before we get to those, The Politico has an article today with the headline: “ <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/state-of-the-union-obama-preview-217595" type="external">Obama Struggling to Get Attention for the State of the Union</a>.”</p>
<p>Struggling to get attention? I don’t know. When I turn on cable news — I’ve got it on on two monitors here — I see one network practically wall-to-wall on it and doing a countdown for the last two days on how many hours remain before the thing starts. I have read a bunch in the Drive-By Media that practically have their tongues on the floor in eager anticipation (panting) waiting for the State of the Union address, the big and final one. What do you mean, Politico, “Obama Struggling to Get Attention”? In the real world, Obama would not want much attention to an honest State of the Union speech tonight.</p>
<p>Does Obama really want Americans to think about the state of the union? If they did, they might ride him out of town on a rail. But instead, he’s going to do a State of the Union speech. I mean, it’ll feature all of his great achievements, and he will have details on how the country’s never been better and never better positioned. But, he can’t help himself. He will also start ripping and criticizing and pointing fingers. That’s where the Limbaugh Theorem will be on display, where Obama will start talking about things that he’s had seven years to deal with. He has tried to fix certain things; they’ve only gotten worse.</p>
<p>The presidency is an abject failure, in one sense. It’s an abject failure in the sense that liberalism has failed. There is no utopia. There is no growing economy. There is no expanding private sector job base. There is no expanding pool of wealth. People are not doing better economically. There are not great careers and jobs to be found out there. Obamacare is an absolute mess and disaster. American foreign policy is an embarrassment. He’s a total failure in representing the United States and growing it and securing it. But that’s not his perspective.</p>
<p>His perspective is that he’s a total success in his ongoing efforts to transform America, and in the process of transforming it, i.e., changing it, it has to get worse, by definition. What Obama wants to do is turn this country more leftward. By definition, that’s gonna make it worse. There’s nothing good in liberalism. You can go around the world and look at it. You can look at every derivative of liberalism you want. You can look at socialism, look at communism. You can look at totalitarianism. Whatever derivative. There isn’t one successful example anywhere, aside from the leaders of these various countries, and they’re all dictators or tyrants.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t work for the people. Liberalism does not improve the lives of the majority. It improves the lives of the elites. It improves the lives of the chosen, the selected few who are acknowledged to be at the upper strata of society. It is they who are taken care of; everybody else experiences worsened and declining existences.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: I just want to remind you, ladies and gentlemen, of a couple of things from Obama’s State of the Union last year. Among other things, Obama bragged, quote, “In Iraq and Syria, American leadership, including our military power, is stopping ISIL’s advance.” One year ago the president said that in the State of the Union show. Now, in the State of the Union show tonight, he’s going to promise the moon. He’s going to promise all kinds of things he knows are never gonna happen. But he’s gonna promise. This is legacy building.</p>
<p>It’s establishing his intentions — which, of course, Democrats score big on intentions. This will end up in the history books as what Obama wanted to do but was thwarted at every turn by mean-spirited, uncooperative Republicans. It’s how Obama’s banking on it being. He’s gonna close Gitmo. He’s finally gonna do it! In his last year, he’s going to close Gitmo. Which means he’s going to free more of the terrorists from Gitmo. He is also gonna release more prisoners from our jails. He’s going to try to succeed in additional gun control laws, either actually taking some guns away or making it even harder to get them.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: Okay. Here is what I’m talking about. This is Obama on the Today show today with Matt Lauer, who interviewed Obama in the White House. They’re walking along a dingy hall. It looks like a dungeon there in the White House. I’ve been there. It’s right off the diplomatic entrance. I’ll tell what… If you watch this, it’s obviously a lower level of the White House. It’s right off the diplomatic reception room, and it’s where the doctor’s office, the official White House physician. There’s a lot there, but the elevator that runs you up to the residence quarters on the upper floors of the White House. That’s there, too, low ceiling, archways.</p>
<p>Anyway, this is where Matt Lauer is walking along — which is, of course, a TV requirement. If you interview somebody, you’ve gotta get B-roll of live walking, strolling along, deep in conversation. This is done to raise the stature of the TV journalist that the president (or any other guest) would willingly take a stroll with a journalist. I know this stuff. It was one of my first interviews was with Barbara Walters for something. I forget why she did it. It was at the Pierre Hotel, across the street from The Plaza, essentially.</p>
<p>And when the interview was over she said, “Okay, okay! We’ve gotta go outside Central Park and walk to get a little B-roll. I said, “What?” “Yeah, we gotta go over there and just walk. We’re not talking. We’ll talk, but there’s no microphone, just B-roll. We’re walking to the park.” “So why do we have to do that?” “Well, that’s just the way it’s done.” “Well, what’s the point? Why do you want to spend time showing that with no audio? What’s the point?” “Well, that’s just… It’s the formula,” and it is. So that’s the mental picture I want you to see: Obama strolling along with Matt Lauer in lower levels of the White House, and Matt Lauer says, “You were gonna change the tone in Washington. You wanted to unite people. But they aren’t united. Has it been a failure?”</p>
<p>OBAMA: Sometimes we look at the past through rose-colored glasses. It’s been pretty divided in the past. There have been times where people beat each other with canes (snickers), and we have things like the Civil War. So there have been times where it’s been pretty rough. But there’s no doubt that politics in Washington with so much more divided than the American people are. Part of what I want to do in this last address is to remind people, “You know what? We got a lot of good things goin’ for us, and if we can get our politics right, it turns out that we’re not as divided on the ideological spectrum as people make us out to be.”</p>
<p>RUSH: Well, that’s a gold mine. I mean, it depends on who you’re talking about here. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen the country as divided as it is. I may… Now, let me think about that. The media hated Reagan. The media hated Nixon, Watergate. But the country wasn’t so much divided. Once they figured out that they’d agreed or discovered that they thought Nixon was guilty. The country was not divided during Reagan. The media was, the establishments were, but the country was all-in, totally united behind Reagan.</p>
<p>The other interesting aspect is “Washington.” He says, “There’s no doubt politics in Washington is so much more divided than the American people are.” Well, I’m not so sure about that. You know, the day-to-day image is of a Washington divided. But if you ask me, the Republican and Democrat establishments are on a lot of the same pages, which I think is what is leading to all the divisiveness among the American people. Half the American people feel like they’ve got no representation in Washington whatsoever. But the divisions are real, and they are marked.</p>
<p>And the big reason is Barack Hussein Obama and his undisguised, now, efforts at transforming and changing this country into something it was not founded to be. And all of this disunity, this division? It’s justified, it’s warranted, just like the anger associated with it is totally justified and warranted, and understandable. And it is unique to Obama. He has brought it about. And he’s gonna sit there and try to tell the American people tonight, “If we get our politics right, it turns out we’re not as divided on the spectrum as people make us out to be here in Washington, and that there’s a lot of good things happening out there you just don’t know about.</p>
<p>“You just gotta hang in there, be tough, and let me finish my work.” Like Loretta Lynch. Did you see what she said? She’s attorney general. Loretta Lynch actually said that she is in the process of putting things in place that will make it impossible to dismantle the <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/11/lynch-well-position-doj-to-do-obamas-work-long-after-were-gone/" type="external">Obama influence in the Department of Justice for years</a>. “No matter who the next president is and no matter who the next attorney general is,” she says, “we are putting in place various things to make it veritably impossible…” These are my words, not hers, but her intent is clear: “veritably impossible to unravel what we’re done here.”</p>
<p>Well, now, one of the things she’s talking about is putting career people into positions of great authority — not appointed people, but career people — who are leftist and liberals, who will not be leaving the DOJ with the outgoing administration. They’re there for life or as long as they want to stay or until somebody fires them. And I guarantee you what they’re counting on being the case is let’s say new president (pick your name, whoever it is) the Republican president comes in and starts firing people. You know left and right, the media and Obama — in this case Loretta Lynch — are gonna start squealing like stuck pigs and throwing allegations and accusations around.</p>
<p>This is gonna happen no matter what the Republicans do. Whoever becomes the next president, if it’s a Republican, had better get used to what’s gonna happen, because it’s also gonna be unprecedented, the involvement of not just Obama, by the way. But a lot of people in his administration are gonna do everything they can to continue to be involved in the governing of the country, compared to say someone like George W. Bush who vanished, who disappeared, who didn’t have a single comment for years about what Obama was doing, because that’s the gentleman’s agreement.</p>
<p>The election’s over.</p>
<p>The new president won.</p>
<p>He gets to do what he wants to do.</p>
<p>There’s an implied trust that every president elected is going to revere and honor the Constitution, and so you get out of the way. You had your time as president, you’re gone, and you stay gone. And most prior presidents did that. Reagan was that way. Clinton was for a while, but that was mostly ’cause of Lewinsky. But it didn’t take long for Clinton to get back in gear. He and Algore both got back into gear going overseas and making speeches against the United States and against the Bush administration, to both American allies and American enemies. So here’s the next bite from Obama, and this is the big dose of the Limbaugh Theorem I think you can expect tonight.</p>
<p />
<p>OBAMA: No. I think… (sigh) Y’know, we went through a lot over the last 10 years. Uhh…</p>
<p>RUSH: Stop that just a second. Stop that. I forgot to tell you what Matt Lauer’s question is, and it’s kind of relevant. It was not a continuation of the previous comment. Matt Lauer said, “I know in your speeches it’s traditional to say, ‘The state of the union is strong.’ When it comes to the emotional state of our union — and when I go out and talk to people — the words I hear most often in terms of how they are feeling right now, they talk about fear. They talk about frustration. They talk about fatigue. Any of those words surprise you?”</p>
<p>OBAMA: No. I think… (sigh) Y’know, we went through a lot over the last 10 years. Uhh, we went through Katrina.</p>
<p>RUSH: What?</p>
<p>OBAMA: We went through the Iraq War.</p>
<p>RUSH: What?</p>
<p>OBAMA: We went through, uh, the worst financial crisis in our lifetimes.</p>
<p>RUSH: What?</p>
<p>OBAMA: We are still battling terrorism. Uhhh, people are still recovering from some of the economic blows that hit. And it is sometimes important for us to step back and take measure of how far we’ve come.</p>
<p>RUSH: There you have it! That’s it! That’s the Limbaugh Theorem on display! Matt Lauer says, “The words I hear when I talk to people out there are fear, frustration, fatigue.” Obama answers, “Well, it’s understandable,” and he lists things that happened before he took office. Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War. In other words, “George W. Bush! George W. Bush! “Worst financial crisis in our lifetime.” George W. Bush!” These things all happened before Obama took office. “Still battling terrorism,” as though that all predates him, too.</p>
<p>“Still battling terrorism” as though, “Yeah, it’s just another part of the day like so many other things going on.” None of what the president wants to acknowledge the American people are afraid of have to do with him. None of what’s happened the last seven years are a factor in people being afraid, fearful, frustrated. This is what I mean by the Limbaugh Theorem on full display. He’s going to clearly try to blame, continue to blame as much as he can on Bush and what he inherited — and then claim that if people are upset and unhappy and dissatisfied, it’s ’cause of that stuff. Not because of things he has done.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: So in effect Matt Lauer with a softball question. (imitating Lauer) “Hey, Mr. President, when I go out there, the things I hear from people, they’re fearful, they’re afraid, they’re frustrated,” and what does Obama have in his reservoir to come back with? Bush and Bush.</p>
<p>(imitating Obama) “Yeah, Hurricane Katrina, people are still livid over, Matt, still very afraid. Yeah, and the Iraq war, you understand, Matt, people are so ticked off about the Iraq war. Oh, yeah, still afraid, still humiliated, still embarrassed. And then a financial meltdown, Matt. All that stuff that happened with Bush, yeah, it’s understandable people are mad.” He could not list or point to a single accomplishment.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />I like to put myself in these positions and imagine how I would answer the question. So if I’m president and I’m walking down the hallway with Matt Lauer, and he tells me that when he talks to people he hears frustration and fear, I would point to things that have happened that I think are good, that I’ve been responsible for and the American people should be proud of. I would come up with positives, and I would say, “Yeah, I can understand some of it, but we’re on the turnaround now, things are looking up. This is what we have planned,” blah, blah. “This is what we’re looking at doing in our final year.”</p>
<p>But no, Obama has nothing positive. Obama has nothing he can point to in his own seven-year resume to dispel anything. No, what Obama wants to do is affirm it. Well, yeah, Matt, they ought to be mad. Hurricane Katrina. Yeah, Matt, they ought to be scared, financial crisis. Yeah, Matt, they ought to be ticked off, Iraq war. Yeah, Matt, they ought to be mad, George W. Bush is still alive. I find it puzzling, curious, even marginally incredible that Obama’s instincts are not even to go positive. I don’t think he knows how. You know, as a dyed-in-the-wool liberal, all you are is an apocalyptic critic. That’s how you get where you’re going. You’re an agent of crisis. You’re an agent of fear. You sponsor it. You promote it, fear and crisis. That’s how you get what you want. That’s how you get people supporting it, you scare the hell out of ’em every day.</p>
<p>Undeniable Truth of Life. There isn’t any positive in liberalism. There isn’t any optimism. Optimism is the enemy of liberalism, by definition. If there’s optimism there can’t be any liberalism going on. I think Obama demos that, proves that.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: So Obama’s out there, he’s being interviewed by Matt Lauer, and Matt Lauer is talking about the country being divided, and Obama doesn’t understand this, got things to work on. I’m gonna give you an example that he knows exactly why this country’s divided and how he promotes it, sponsors if, agrees with it, and is behind it all. I think if you have an honest perception and understanding of liberalism, you understand that all of this rot that’s happening to the country, the cultural rot, the political rot, wherever you look, it is part and parcel of liberalism.</p>
<p>Liberalism is not in any way, shape, manner, or form associated with positive. Have you ever seen a liberal optimist? Do you ever see liberals writing books on happiness and feeling good, being better than you can be and generally that theme? You don’t. Liberalism write books about how things are rotten and should be worse, they’re gonna get worse and this is what you need to do to prepare for it. Liberals write books and do television shows on the misery and suffering in life and how to cope with it.</p>
<p>Liberalism is not teaching people to rise above anything. Liberalism is not teaching people that they may be better than they even realize. Liberalism is not about positive thinking or anything of the sort. Liberalism can’t survive in that place, in that arena. Liberalism cannot in an argument in the arena of ideas in this country or anywhere else. It’s why liberalism has tyrants as leaders. It’s why liberalism does not like Constitutions. Liberalism does not like freedom of this or freedom of that. Liberalism believes that people must be controlled because basically people are incompetent and incapable of doing what liberals want them to do. And so they must be controlled and ordered to do things and punished if they don’t.</p>
<p>Look at Obamacare, for crying out loud. You will have health care. You will love the fact that you have health care, and if you don’t, we’re gonna fine you, and we might even throw you in jail, depending how bad you behave. They use fear and crisis and panic in order to keep people in line. They do not trust individuals. They hold people in contempt.</p>
<p>So when Obama is asked a question about claiming that he wanted to unite the country and unite the world, but now it’s really divided. And everybody knows that, by the way. Even these Drive-By acolytes of Obama can’t help but notice the division. It’s another reason why liberals are constantly unhappy, ’cause they’re reminded every moment how what they believe in doesn’t work.</p>
<p>Now, here’s the State of the Union tonight. From TheHill.com, “ <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/265452-cair-officials-invited-to-sotu" type="external">Muslim Group’s Officials Invited to State of the Union</a>.” We got the San Bernardino massacre. We have 9/11. We have repeated attempts at terrorism in this country that are — how should I say — committed by largely militant Islamists. I’m talking about acts of terror; not your average, run-of-the-mill street crime like in a Steelers-Bengals game. I’m talking about — yeah, I just had to throw that in there. So, of all people to invite and to herald and single out at the State of the Union of the United States, we’re gonna bring in CAIR, the Council on Arab-Islamic Relations.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Why? Don’t tell me this is not purposefully provocative. This is not being done to unify anybody. Obama may as well have an illegal immigrant sitting next him. Well, I take it back. He is gonna have an illegal immigrant sitting next to his wife tonight in the form of a Syrian refugee. You think that’s to unify the country? These moves are in-your-face. This is to remind you that you lost. This is to remind you that it isn’t your country anymore. This is to remind you and put an exclamation point behind your country’s changing no matter what the hell you think about it, and take a load of this.</p>
<p>“Two officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations will be attending the State of the Union address Tuesday as guests of Democratic lawmakers. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.) and Alcee Hastings (Fla.) will both be hosting representatives from CAIR chapters in their respective states, the group announced Monday. Lofgren will be bringing Sameena Usman, a government relations coordinator in the San Francisco office, while Hastings will host Nezar Hamze, the chief operating officer of the nonprofit’s Florida branch.”</p>
<p>Will security pat them down? Will they have to go through metal detectors, or will that be considered too offensive? I just wonder. “Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to Congress, challenged Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to bring a Muslim American as one of his guests to the speech. ‘This is an opportunity to really drive the point home that there are no Americans who are suspect just based on their religious identity, that all Americans are welcome in the peopleÂ’s house,’ Ellison said.”</p>
<p>So it’s not enough that Zoe Lofgren and Alcee Hastings are bringing in some CAIR people. No, now the demand went out to Paul Ryan that he bring in some, too. Actually Mr. Ryan’s proving the point that Keith Ellison wants proven. Paul Ryan has invited a group of nuns from the Little Sisters of the Poor who have been targeted by Obama and the Obamacare contraception mandate. He’s bringing in actual targeted Americans, Paul Ryan is. But Zoe Lofgren and Alcee Hastings think they’re bringing in people been targeted unfairly, biased against, prejudicial against, and so forth. But these are all provocative things, and everybody involved knows it. That’s why they’re doing it. There’s not a pretense at unity here.</p>
<p>Folks, look, the left does not want to unify, just like the Democrats in Congress do not want to work with the Republicans. They want to cream them. They want to eliminate them. They want to wipe ’em out. They don’t want to cooperate and work with ’em. Ditto liberalism in general. These guys don’t want to work with anybody.</p>
<p>This is in-your-face. This is screw you. This is too bad if you don’t like it. There’s no question it’s provocative. It’s certainly not aimed at unity. There are ways to do this if unity is really your objective. But these people are constantly at war with us, they’re constantly in battle. That’s the definition of their lives. Every day is a battle for dominance, supremacy, and power with the objective being the elimination of any opposition, pure and simple.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: The Official Program Observer just asked me a question. Mr. Bo Snerdley was unable to hear portions of the program ’cause he’s screening calls. He asked me, “Who is the empty seat? What’s it supposed to represent?” The empty seat up there next to Michelle Obama tonight is supposed to symbolize all the people killed by guns in America, in some recent time frame. The number being bandied about is 4,000 plus. So look at the people being honored. People being killed by guns, an empty seat, and there will be a Syrian refugee in honor of illegal immigrants and refugees.</p>
<p>As I said earlier, I mean, these are in-your-face. These are not unifying moves, folks. The people doing this know full well this is not about unification. This is in-your-face. This is, “Take this!” That’s exactly what it is. It’s provocative. They’re purposefully provoking people with this. I mean, if all of us were a bunch of Vontaze Burficts, nobody would be safe in that place tonight. That’s my point. But we’re not all Vontaze Burficts, and we’re not all Pacman Joneses.</p> | The State of the Union Show Preview | true | http://rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2016/01/12/the_state_of_the_union_show_preview | 2016-01-12 | 0right
| The State of the Union Show Preview
<p><a href="//videos/37/69572" type="external" /></p>
<p>RUSH: We have the State of the Union show tonight. And this is itself, ladies and gentlemen, yet another opportunity. I mean, look at what Obama’s gonna do. His official guest is going to be a Syrian refugee. Not some hero that the seat has traditionally been occupied by since Reagan started this tradition after the airline crash, Palm 90, Air Florida, into the Potomac. One of the rescuers was highlighted by Reagan — invited to watch a State of the Union show — and he was pointed out. Ever since then, every State of the Union address has featured a hero of some kind, depending on the president and his attitude toward heroism.</p>
<p>I guess Syrian refugees (representing illegal immigrants) are now the heroes of the hour because they will be represented tonight. In addition to that, there’s gonna be an empty seat. Will be an empty seat in the first lady’s seating area — the first lady’s box, whatever they call it up there in the viewing gallery of the House chamber. And the empty seat is to represent the 4,000 victims of “gun violence” in this country. And the president’s gonna point all of this out. And once again we have a State of the Union address tonight where the president, his last one, is gonna give it his best shot in pointing out what all the problems are.</p>
<p>You know what you’re gonna see on display tonight? You’re gonna see the Limbaugh Theorem on display like you’ve never seen it. You’re gonna see the president, in his eighth year, describe problems in this country that have only worsened during his tenure, the seven years that he’s been in office. You’re gonna hear those problems detailed as though they trace back to George W. Bush. Those problems are going to be things that currently exist that he will have had nothing to do with. He’s going to give a speech tonight that will be reminiscent of a campaign speech he would give before the election in 2008.</p>
<p>You mark my words.</p>
<p>The Limbaugh Theorem will be on total display tonight, where President Obama will list and detail all of these problems, all the problems we’ve got, as though he has yet to take any action on fixing them — ignoring the fact that most of them have his fingerprints on them. Legacy building within the minds and bodies of the low-information voters. The Politico is all over the place today. I can’t wait to get the two stories they have on Trump. You talk about contradictory? But before we get to those, The Politico has an article today with the headline: “ <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/state-of-the-union-obama-preview-217595" type="external">Obama Struggling to Get Attention for the State of the Union</a>.”</p>
<p>Struggling to get attention? I don’t know. When I turn on cable news — I’ve got it on on two monitors here — I see one network practically wall-to-wall on it and doing a countdown for the last two days on how many hours remain before the thing starts. I have read a bunch in the Drive-By Media that practically have their tongues on the floor in eager anticipation (panting) waiting for the State of the Union address, the big and final one. What do you mean, Politico, “Obama Struggling to Get Attention”? In the real world, Obama would not want much attention to an honest State of the Union speech tonight.</p>
<p>Does Obama really want Americans to think about the state of the union? If they did, they might ride him out of town on a rail. But instead, he’s going to do a State of the Union speech. I mean, it’ll feature all of his great achievements, and he will have details on how the country’s never been better and never better positioned. But, he can’t help himself. He will also start ripping and criticizing and pointing fingers. That’s where the Limbaugh Theorem will be on display, where Obama will start talking about things that he’s had seven years to deal with. He has tried to fix certain things; they’ve only gotten worse.</p>
<p>The presidency is an abject failure, in one sense. It’s an abject failure in the sense that liberalism has failed. There is no utopia. There is no growing economy. There is no expanding private sector job base. There is no expanding pool of wealth. People are not doing better economically. There are not great careers and jobs to be found out there. Obamacare is an absolute mess and disaster. American foreign policy is an embarrassment. He’s a total failure in representing the United States and growing it and securing it. But that’s not his perspective.</p>
<p>His perspective is that he’s a total success in his ongoing efforts to transform America, and in the process of transforming it, i.e., changing it, it has to get worse, by definition. What Obama wants to do is turn this country more leftward. By definition, that’s gonna make it worse. There’s nothing good in liberalism. You can go around the world and look at it. You can look at every derivative of liberalism you want. You can look at socialism, look at communism. You can look at totalitarianism. Whatever derivative. There isn’t one successful example anywhere, aside from the leaders of these various countries, and they’re all dictators or tyrants.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t work for the people. Liberalism does not improve the lives of the majority. It improves the lives of the elites. It improves the lives of the chosen, the selected few who are acknowledged to be at the upper strata of society. It is they who are taken care of; everybody else experiences worsened and declining existences.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: I just want to remind you, ladies and gentlemen, of a couple of things from Obama’s State of the Union last year. Among other things, Obama bragged, quote, “In Iraq and Syria, American leadership, including our military power, is stopping ISIL’s advance.” One year ago the president said that in the State of the Union show. Now, in the State of the Union show tonight, he’s going to promise the moon. He’s going to promise all kinds of things he knows are never gonna happen. But he’s gonna promise. This is legacy building.</p>
<p>It’s establishing his intentions — which, of course, Democrats score big on intentions. This will end up in the history books as what Obama wanted to do but was thwarted at every turn by mean-spirited, uncooperative Republicans. It’s how Obama’s banking on it being. He’s gonna close Gitmo. He’s finally gonna do it! In his last year, he’s going to close Gitmo. Which means he’s going to free more of the terrorists from Gitmo. He is also gonna release more prisoners from our jails. He’s going to try to succeed in additional gun control laws, either actually taking some guns away or making it even harder to get them.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: Okay. Here is what I’m talking about. This is Obama on the Today show today with Matt Lauer, who interviewed Obama in the White House. They’re walking along a dingy hall. It looks like a dungeon there in the White House. I’ve been there. It’s right off the diplomatic entrance. I’ll tell what… If you watch this, it’s obviously a lower level of the White House. It’s right off the diplomatic reception room, and it’s where the doctor’s office, the official White House physician. There’s a lot there, but the elevator that runs you up to the residence quarters on the upper floors of the White House. That’s there, too, low ceiling, archways.</p>
<p>Anyway, this is where Matt Lauer is walking along — which is, of course, a TV requirement. If you interview somebody, you’ve gotta get B-roll of live walking, strolling along, deep in conversation. This is done to raise the stature of the TV journalist that the president (or any other guest) would willingly take a stroll with a journalist. I know this stuff. It was one of my first interviews was with Barbara Walters for something. I forget why she did it. It was at the Pierre Hotel, across the street from The Plaza, essentially.</p>
<p>And when the interview was over she said, “Okay, okay! We’ve gotta go outside Central Park and walk to get a little B-roll. I said, “What?” “Yeah, we gotta go over there and just walk. We’re not talking. We’ll talk, but there’s no microphone, just B-roll. We’re walking to the park.” “So why do we have to do that?” “Well, that’s just the way it’s done.” “Well, what’s the point? Why do you want to spend time showing that with no audio? What’s the point?” “Well, that’s just… It’s the formula,” and it is. So that’s the mental picture I want you to see: Obama strolling along with Matt Lauer in lower levels of the White House, and Matt Lauer says, “You were gonna change the tone in Washington. You wanted to unite people. But they aren’t united. Has it been a failure?”</p>
<p>OBAMA: Sometimes we look at the past through rose-colored glasses. It’s been pretty divided in the past. There have been times where people beat each other with canes (snickers), and we have things like the Civil War. So there have been times where it’s been pretty rough. But there’s no doubt that politics in Washington with so much more divided than the American people are. Part of what I want to do in this last address is to remind people, “You know what? We got a lot of good things goin’ for us, and if we can get our politics right, it turns out that we’re not as divided on the ideological spectrum as people make us out to be.”</p>
<p>RUSH: Well, that’s a gold mine. I mean, it depends on who you’re talking about here. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen the country as divided as it is. I may… Now, let me think about that. The media hated Reagan. The media hated Nixon, Watergate. But the country wasn’t so much divided. Once they figured out that they’d agreed or discovered that they thought Nixon was guilty. The country was not divided during Reagan. The media was, the establishments were, but the country was all-in, totally united behind Reagan.</p>
<p>The other interesting aspect is “Washington.” He says, “There’s no doubt politics in Washington is so much more divided than the American people are.” Well, I’m not so sure about that. You know, the day-to-day image is of a Washington divided. But if you ask me, the Republican and Democrat establishments are on a lot of the same pages, which I think is what is leading to all the divisiveness among the American people. Half the American people feel like they’ve got no representation in Washington whatsoever. But the divisions are real, and they are marked.</p>
<p>And the big reason is Barack Hussein Obama and his undisguised, now, efforts at transforming and changing this country into something it was not founded to be. And all of this disunity, this division? It’s justified, it’s warranted, just like the anger associated with it is totally justified and warranted, and understandable. And it is unique to Obama. He has brought it about. And he’s gonna sit there and try to tell the American people tonight, “If we get our politics right, it turns out we’re not as divided on the spectrum as people make us out to be here in Washington, and that there’s a lot of good things happening out there you just don’t know about.</p>
<p>“You just gotta hang in there, be tough, and let me finish my work.” Like Loretta Lynch. Did you see what she said? She’s attorney general. Loretta Lynch actually said that she is in the process of putting things in place that will make it impossible to dismantle the <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/11/lynch-well-position-doj-to-do-obamas-work-long-after-were-gone/" type="external">Obama influence in the Department of Justice for years</a>. “No matter who the next president is and no matter who the next attorney general is,” she says, “we are putting in place various things to make it veritably impossible…” These are my words, not hers, but her intent is clear: “veritably impossible to unravel what we’re done here.”</p>
<p>Well, now, one of the things she’s talking about is putting career people into positions of great authority — not appointed people, but career people — who are leftist and liberals, who will not be leaving the DOJ with the outgoing administration. They’re there for life or as long as they want to stay or until somebody fires them. And I guarantee you what they’re counting on being the case is let’s say new president (pick your name, whoever it is) the Republican president comes in and starts firing people. You know left and right, the media and Obama — in this case Loretta Lynch — are gonna start squealing like stuck pigs and throwing allegations and accusations around.</p>
<p>This is gonna happen no matter what the Republicans do. Whoever becomes the next president, if it’s a Republican, had better get used to what’s gonna happen, because it’s also gonna be unprecedented, the involvement of not just Obama, by the way. But a lot of people in his administration are gonna do everything they can to continue to be involved in the governing of the country, compared to say someone like George W. Bush who vanished, who disappeared, who didn’t have a single comment for years about what Obama was doing, because that’s the gentleman’s agreement.</p>
<p>The election’s over.</p>
<p>The new president won.</p>
<p>He gets to do what he wants to do.</p>
<p>There’s an implied trust that every president elected is going to revere and honor the Constitution, and so you get out of the way. You had your time as president, you’re gone, and you stay gone. And most prior presidents did that. Reagan was that way. Clinton was for a while, but that was mostly ’cause of Lewinsky. But it didn’t take long for Clinton to get back in gear. He and Algore both got back into gear going overseas and making speeches against the United States and against the Bush administration, to both American allies and American enemies. So here’s the next bite from Obama, and this is the big dose of the Limbaugh Theorem I think you can expect tonight.</p>
<p />
<p>OBAMA: No. I think… (sigh) Y’know, we went through a lot over the last 10 years. Uhh…</p>
<p>RUSH: Stop that just a second. Stop that. I forgot to tell you what Matt Lauer’s question is, and it’s kind of relevant. It was not a continuation of the previous comment. Matt Lauer said, “I know in your speeches it’s traditional to say, ‘The state of the union is strong.’ When it comes to the emotional state of our union — and when I go out and talk to people — the words I hear most often in terms of how they are feeling right now, they talk about fear. They talk about frustration. They talk about fatigue. Any of those words surprise you?”</p>
<p>OBAMA: No. I think… (sigh) Y’know, we went through a lot over the last 10 years. Uhh, we went through Katrina.</p>
<p>RUSH: What?</p>
<p>OBAMA: We went through the Iraq War.</p>
<p>RUSH: What?</p>
<p>OBAMA: We went through, uh, the worst financial crisis in our lifetimes.</p>
<p>RUSH: What?</p>
<p>OBAMA: We are still battling terrorism. Uhhh, people are still recovering from some of the economic blows that hit. And it is sometimes important for us to step back and take measure of how far we’ve come.</p>
<p>RUSH: There you have it! That’s it! That’s the Limbaugh Theorem on display! Matt Lauer says, “The words I hear when I talk to people out there are fear, frustration, fatigue.” Obama answers, “Well, it’s understandable,” and he lists things that happened before he took office. Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War. In other words, “George W. Bush! George W. Bush! “Worst financial crisis in our lifetime.” George W. Bush!” These things all happened before Obama took office. “Still battling terrorism,” as though that all predates him, too.</p>
<p>“Still battling terrorism” as though, “Yeah, it’s just another part of the day like so many other things going on.” None of what the president wants to acknowledge the American people are afraid of have to do with him. None of what’s happened the last seven years are a factor in people being afraid, fearful, frustrated. This is what I mean by the Limbaugh Theorem on full display. He’s going to clearly try to blame, continue to blame as much as he can on Bush and what he inherited — and then claim that if people are upset and unhappy and dissatisfied, it’s ’cause of that stuff. Not because of things he has done.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: So in effect Matt Lauer with a softball question. (imitating Lauer) “Hey, Mr. President, when I go out there, the things I hear from people, they’re fearful, they’re afraid, they’re frustrated,” and what does Obama have in his reservoir to come back with? Bush and Bush.</p>
<p>(imitating Obama) “Yeah, Hurricane Katrina, people are still livid over, Matt, still very afraid. Yeah, and the Iraq war, you understand, Matt, people are so ticked off about the Iraq war. Oh, yeah, still afraid, still humiliated, still embarrassed. And then a financial meltdown, Matt. All that stuff that happened with Bush, yeah, it’s understandable people are mad.” He could not list or point to a single accomplishment.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />I like to put myself in these positions and imagine how I would answer the question. So if I’m president and I’m walking down the hallway with Matt Lauer, and he tells me that when he talks to people he hears frustration and fear, I would point to things that have happened that I think are good, that I’ve been responsible for and the American people should be proud of. I would come up with positives, and I would say, “Yeah, I can understand some of it, but we’re on the turnaround now, things are looking up. This is what we have planned,” blah, blah. “This is what we’re looking at doing in our final year.”</p>
<p>But no, Obama has nothing positive. Obama has nothing he can point to in his own seven-year resume to dispel anything. No, what Obama wants to do is affirm it. Well, yeah, Matt, they ought to be mad. Hurricane Katrina. Yeah, Matt, they ought to be scared, financial crisis. Yeah, Matt, they ought to be ticked off, Iraq war. Yeah, Matt, they ought to be mad, George W. Bush is still alive. I find it puzzling, curious, even marginally incredible that Obama’s instincts are not even to go positive. I don’t think he knows how. You know, as a dyed-in-the-wool liberal, all you are is an apocalyptic critic. That’s how you get where you’re going. You’re an agent of crisis. You’re an agent of fear. You sponsor it. You promote it, fear and crisis. That’s how you get what you want. That’s how you get people supporting it, you scare the hell out of ’em every day.</p>
<p>Undeniable Truth of Life. There isn’t any positive in liberalism. There isn’t any optimism. Optimism is the enemy of liberalism, by definition. If there’s optimism there can’t be any liberalism going on. I think Obama demos that, proves that.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: So Obama’s out there, he’s being interviewed by Matt Lauer, and Matt Lauer is talking about the country being divided, and Obama doesn’t understand this, got things to work on. I’m gonna give you an example that he knows exactly why this country’s divided and how he promotes it, sponsors if, agrees with it, and is behind it all. I think if you have an honest perception and understanding of liberalism, you understand that all of this rot that’s happening to the country, the cultural rot, the political rot, wherever you look, it is part and parcel of liberalism.</p>
<p>Liberalism is not in any way, shape, manner, or form associated with positive. Have you ever seen a liberal optimist? Do you ever see liberals writing books on happiness and feeling good, being better than you can be and generally that theme? You don’t. Liberalism write books about how things are rotten and should be worse, they’re gonna get worse and this is what you need to do to prepare for it. Liberals write books and do television shows on the misery and suffering in life and how to cope with it.</p>
<p>Liberalism is not teaching people to rise above anything. Liberalism is not teaching people that they may be better than they even realize. Liberalism is not about positive thinking or anything of the sort. Liberalism can’t survive in that place, in that arena. Liberalism cannot in an argument in the arena of ideas in this country or anywhere else. It’s why liberalism has tyrants as leaders. It’s why liberalism does not like Constitutions. Liberalism does not like freedom of this or freedom of that. Liberalism believes that people must be controlled because basically people are incompetent and incapable of doing what liberals want them to do. And so they must be controlled and ordered to do things and punished if they don’t.</p>
<p>Look at Obamacare, for crying out loud. You will have health care. You will love the fact that you have health care, and if you don’t, we’re gonna fine you, and we might even throw you in jail, depending how bad you behave. They use fear and crisis and panic in order to keep people in line. They do not trust individuals. They hold people in contempt.</p>
<p>So when Obama is asked a question about claiming that he wanted to unite the country and unite the world, but now it’s really divided. And everybody knows that, by the way. Even these Drive-By acolytes of Obama can’t help but notice the division. It’s another reason why liberals are constantly unhappy, ’cause they’re reminded every moment how what they believe in doesn’t work.</p>
<p>Now, here’s the State of the Union tonight. From TheHill.com, “ <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/265452-cair-officials-invited-to-sotu" type="external">Muslim Group’s Officials Invited to State of the Union</a>.” We got the San Bernardino massacre. We have 9/11. We have repeated attempts at terrorism in this country that are — how should I say — committed by largely militant Islamists. I’m talking about acts of terror; not your average, run-of-the-mill street crime like in a Steelers-Bengals game. I’m talking about — yeah, I just had to throw that in there. So, of all people to invite and to herald and single out at the State of the Union of the United States, we’re gonna bring in CAIR, the Council on Arab-Islamic Relations.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Why? Don’t tell me this is not purposefully provocative. This is not being done to unify anybody. Obama may as well have an illegal immigrant sitting next him. Well, I take it back. He is gonna have an illegal immigrant sitting next to his wife tonight in the form of a Syrian refugee. You think that’s to unify the country? These moves are in-your-face. This is to remind you that you lost. This is to remind you that it isn’t your country anymore. This is to remind you and put an exclamation point behind your country’s changing no matter what the hell you think about it, and take a load of this.</p>
<p>“Two officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations will be attending the State of the Union address Tuesday as guests of Democratic lawmakers. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.) and Alcee Hastings (Fla.) will both be hosting representatives from CAIR chapters in their respective states, the group announced Monday. Lofgren will be bringing Sameena Usman, a government relations coordinator in the San Francisco office, while Hastings will host Nezar Hamze, the chief operating officer of the nonprofit’s Florida branch.”</p>
<p>Will security pat them down? Will they have to go through metal detectors, or will that be considered too offensive? I just wonder. “Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to Congress, challenged Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to bring a Muslim American as one of his guests to the speech. ‘This is an opportunity to really drive the point home that there are no Americans who are suspect just based on their religious identity, that all Americans are welcome in the peopleÂ’s house,’ Ellison said.”</p>
<p>So it’s not enough that Zoe Lofgren and Alcee Hastings are bringing in some CAIR people. No, now the demand went out to Paul Ryan that he bring in some, too. Actually Mr. Ryan’s proving the point that Keith Ellison wants proven. Paul Ryan has invited a group of nuns from the Little Sisters of the Poor who have been targeted by Obama and the Obamacare contraception mandate. He’s bringing in actual targeted Americans, Paul Ryan is. But Zoe Lofgren and Alcee Hastings think they’re bringing in people been targeted unfairly, biased against, prejudicial against, and so forth. But these are all provocative things, and everybody involved knows it. That’s why they’re doing it. There’s not a pretense at unity here.</p>
<p>Folks, look, the left does not want to unify, just like the Democrats in Congress do not want to work with the Republicans. They want to cream them. They want to eliminate them. They want to wipe ’em out. They don’t want to cooperate and work with ’em. Ditto liberalism in general. These guys don’t want to work with anybody.</p>
<p>This is in-your-face. This is screw you. This is too bad if you don’t like it. There’s no question it’s provocative. It’s certainly not aimed at unity. There are ways to do this if unity is really your objective. But these people are constantly at war with us, they’re constantly in battle. That’s the definition of their lives. Every day is a battle for dominance, supremacy, and power with the objective being the elimination of any opposition, pure and simple.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: The Official Program Observer just asked me a question. Mr. Bo Snerdley was unable to hear portions of the program ’cause he’s screening calls. He asked me, “Who is the empty seat? What’s it supposed to represent?” The empty seat up there next to Michelle Obama tonight is supposed to symbolize all the people killed by guns in America, in some recent time frame. The number being bandied about is 4,000 plus. So look at the people being honored. People being killed by guns, an empty seat, and there will be a Syrian refugee in honor of illegal immigrants and refugees.</p>
<p>As I said earlier, I mean, these are in-your-face. These are not unifying moves, folks. The people doing this know full well this is not about unification. This is in-your-face. This is, “Take this!” That’s exactly what it is. It’s provocative. They’re purposefully provoking people with this. I mean, if all of us were a bunch of Vontaze Burficts, nobody would be safe in that place tonight. That’s my point. But we’re not all Vontaze Burficts, and we’re not all Pacman Joneses.</p> | 599,636 |
<p />
<p>Frequent contributor Jim Sweeney spotted&#160; <a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&amp;sid=705088" type="external">a little item</a> that really makes you wonder how big this story might be. Just in the state of Maryland, police wrote nearly 20,000 citations to people who were driving a vehicle with no license. The story says unlicensed drivers are five times more likely to be in a wreck than licensed drivers.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>What happens to unlicensed drivers in your state? Does anything happen to their cars? <a href="http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid:78267" type="external">Arizona lawmakers just passed legislation</a> requiring cops to impound a car driven by an unlicensed driver.&#160;Even if police seize the car, do they jail the driver right away? In Maryland, an unlicensed driver does not even have to show up for court.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tollroadsnews.com/cgi-bin/a.cgi/Apccgj9IEdqcEIJ61nsxIA" type="external">Some</a> states <a href="http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060128tina.shtml" type="external">are working on tougher laws</a> right now. What good does it do to suspend or revoke a license if nothing much happens after police pull&#160;someone over?</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/dsm/dsm20021001ud.html" type="external">Some research about 10 years ago</a> showed that up to 70 percent&#160;of people who lost their licenses due to suspension or revocation still drove anyway.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&amp;sid=705088" type="external">WTOP Radio</a> reported that this is a "sprawling crisis in public policy."</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.aaafoundation.org/projects/index.cfm?button=U2K&amp;U2Kcolheight=575" type="external">AAA Foundation reported:</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/profile/rd/resnotes/unlicensed.htm" type="external">A California study showed</a> that more than one&#160;in 10 people behind the wheel were driving on a suspended license or never had a license to begin with. In that state alone, the report says, a million Californians currently have suspended or revoked licenses. If the statistics hold true, up to 700,000 people in that state could be driving illegally. Last year, <a href="http://www.sacunion.com/pages/california/articles/5369/" type="external">The (Stockton, Calif.) Record</a> found that car dealerships routinely sold vehicles to people who had no license.&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Overtime Lawsuits Bearing Fruit</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Since the rules about who did and did not qualify for <a href="http://jobsearch.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&amp;sdn=jobsearch&amp;zu=http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/main.htm" type="external">overtime pay changed in 2004</a>&#160;employees have been suing their companies and some of the suits are paying off. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/20/AR2006022001518.html?referrer=email&amp;referrer=email" type="external">The Washington Post</a> said:</p>
<p>Although there are no comprehensive statistics, actions filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act -- most of which are overtime cases -- shot up 86 percent between 2000 and 2004, to 3,617, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In contrast, labor cases in general rose 30 percent over the same period, the most recent for which figures are available.</p>
<p>There also has been an upsurge in multi-plaintiff overtime lawsuits in New York, California, Illinois and other states that have tough overtime laws and class-action rules that are favorable to plaintiffs, lawyers said.</p>
<p>Wage and hour violations are the "most frequent workplace violations today," said Joseph M. Sellers, a Washington-based civil rights and employment lawyer.</p>
<p>The suits stem from state and federal laws that require employers to pay time-and-a-half to workers who put in more than 40 hours a week. Salaried managers and independent contractors are exempt -- unless their salaries fall below a certain threshold. Exempt categories are carefully defined to prevent employers from simply using the titles for workers to avoid paying overtime.</p>
<p>The Post said:</p>
<p>Another common overtime complaint occurs when employers pay the hourly rate for extra hours rather than time-and-a-half.</p>
<p>But most of the biggest collective-action cases stem from the process of classifying who gets overtime and who is exempt. For big employers, an incorrect classification may involve hundreds of workers.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Climate Change (Getting Local)</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>My old friend&#160;Rick Kupchella (a reporter at KARE-11 in Minneapolis) took on the topic of climate change and turned it into a local story. <a href="http://www.kare11.com/news/specials/climate/" type="external">You will be impressed, I think, at how KARE also turned this into an impressive online effort.</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>KARE-11 streamed the stories online. However, it went way beyond that.&#160;The station offers stand-alone interviews with experts that the story relies on and offers a good bit of &#160;background and absolutely tons of links to resources on the subject. This is a great example of what local media can do with a story way beyond what you air on TV or print in a paper. This is a good example of a story that you should show at your morning meeting or at a brown-bag lunch to talk about how to tell flesh out Web-exclusive stories.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Coming Out Younger</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/family/stories/MYSA021906.2P.gayteen.1cbb6cb3.html" type="external">The San Antonio Express-News</a> says young people are identifying themselves as gay or lesbian at an increasingly younger age these days:</p>
<p>Where in decades past the age of coming out was typically in adulthood, studies show gay and lesbian youth are coming out to themselves and to others at younger ages.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The trend is reflected in the growth of support groups&#160;-- gay-straight alliances, or GSAs&#160;-- for gay and gay-friendly students that are popping up on American high school and even middle-school campuses. According to the&#160; <a href="http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home.html" type="external">Gay, Lesbian &amp; Straight Education Network</a>, today there are at least 3,000 alliances in schools&#160;-- almost one in 10 high schools has one. In 1987, there were only 100 nationwide.</p>
<p>Here is <a href="http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/chapter/chapter/index.html" type="external">a state-by-state listing</a> of Gay, Lesbian &amp; Straight Education Network chapters.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Shark Attacks Decline</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The number of people attacked by sharks last year dropped again, marking a five-year decline. <a href="http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/2005attacksummary.htm" type="external">However, experts say</a> that they expect the number of attacks to rise in the future because more people spend time swimming where the sharks are.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Ride a Mardi Gras Float</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Here's something to do with your tax return money. <a href="http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/zulufloat.html" type="external">Ride on a Mardi Gras float</a>. New Orleans needs you and your money.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Wednesday Edition: Unlicensed Drivers | false | https://poynter.org/news/wednesday-edition-unlicensed-drivers | 2006-02-21 | 2least
| Wednesday Edition: Unlicensed Drivers
<p />
<p>Frequent contributor Jim Sweeney spotted&#160; <a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&amp;sid=705088" type="external">a little item</a> that really makes you wonder how big this story might be. Just in the state of Maryland, police wrote nearly 20,000 citations to people who were driving a vehicle with no license. The story says unlicensed drivers are five times more likely to be in a wreck than licensed drivers.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>What happens to unlicensed drivers in your state? Does anything happen to their cars? <a href="http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid:78267" type="external">Arizona lawmakers just passed legislation</a> requiring cops to impound a car driven by an unlicensed driver.&#160;Even if police seize the car, do they jail the driver right away? In Maryland, an unlicensed driver does not even have to show up for court.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tollroadsnews.com/cgi-bin/a.cgi/Apccgj9IEdqcEIJ61nsxIA" type="external">Some</a> states <a href="http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060128tina.shtml" type="external">are working on tougher laws</a> right now. What good does it do to suspend or revoke a license if nothing much happens after police pull&#160;someone over?</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/dsm/dsm20021001ud.html" type="external">Some research about 10 years ago</a> showed that up to 70 percent&#160;of people who lost their licenses due to suspension or revocation still drove anyway.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&amp;sid=705088" type="external">WTOP Radio</a> reported that this is a "sprawling crisis in public policy."</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.aaafoundation.org/projects/index.cfm?button=U2K&amp;U2Kcolheight=575" type="external">AAA Foundation reported:</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/profile/rd/resnotes/unlicensed.htm" type="external">A California study showed</a> that more than one&#160;in 10 people behind the wheel were driving on a suspended license or never had a license to begin with. In that state alone, the report says, a million Californians currently have suspended or revoked licenses. If the statistics hold true, up to 700,000 people in that state could be driving illegally. Last year, <a href="http://www.sacunion.com/pages/california/articles/5369/" type="external">The (Stockton, Calif.) Record</a> found that car dealerships routinely sold vehicles to people who had no license.&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Overtime Lawsuits Bearing Fruit</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Since the rules about who did and did not qualify for <a href="http://jobsearch.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&amp;sdn=jobsearch&amp;zu=http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/main.htm" type="external">overtime pay changed in 2004</a>&#160;employees have been suing their companies and some of the suits are paying off. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/20/AR2006022001518.html?referrer=email&amp;referrer=email" type="external">The Washington Post</a> said:</p>
<p>Although there are no comprehensive statistics, actions filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act -- most of which are overtime cases -- shot up 86 percent between 2000 and 2004, to 3,617, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In contrast, labor cases in general rose 30 percent over the same period, the most recent for which figures are available.</p>
<p>There also has been an upsurge in multi-plaintiff overtime lawsuits in New York, California, Illinois and other states that have tough overtime laws and class-action rules that are favorable to plaintiffs, lawyers said.</p>
<p>Wage and hour violations are the "most frequent workplace violations today," said Joseph M. Sellers, a Washington-based civil rights and employment lawyer.</p>
<p>The suits stem from state and federal laws that require employers to pay time-and-a-half to workers who put in more than 40 hours a week. Salaried managers and independent contractors are exempt -- unless their salaries fall below a certain threshold. Exempt categories are carefully defined to prevent employers from simply using the titles for workers to avoid paying overtime.</p>
<p>The Post said:</p>
<p>Another common overtime complaint occurs when employers pay the hourly rate for extra hours rather than time-and-a-half.</p>
<p>But most of the biggest collective-action cases stem from the process of classifying who gets overtime and who is exempt. For big employers, an incorrect classification may involve hundreds of workers.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Climate Change (Getting Local)</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>My old friend&#160;Rick Kupchella (a reporter at KARE-11 in Minneapolis) took on the topic of climate change and turned it into a local story. <a href="http://www.kare11.com/news/specials/climate/" type="external">You will be impressed, I think, at how KARE also turned this into an impressive online effort.</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>KARE-11 streamed the stories online. However, it went way beyond that.&#160;The station offers stand-alone interviews with experts that the story relies on and offers a good bit of &#160;background and absolutely tons of links to resources on the subject. This is a great example of what local media can do with a story way beyond what you air on TV or print in a paper. This is a good example of a story that you should show at your morning meeting or at a brown-bag lunch to talk about how to tell flesh out Web-exclusive stories.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Coming Out Younger</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/family/stories/MYSA021906.2P.gayteen.1cbb6cb3.html" type="external">The San Antonio Express-News</a> says young people are identifying themselves as gay or lesbian at an increasingly younger age these days:</p>
<p>Where in decades past the age of coming out was typically in adulthood, studies show gay and lesbian youth are coming out to themselves and to others at younger ages.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The trend is reflected in the growth of support groups&#160;-- gay-straight alliances, or GSAs&#160;-- for gay and gay-friendly students that are popping up on American high school and even middle-school campuses. According to the&#160; <a href="http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home.html" type="external">Gay, Lesbian &amp; Straight Education Network</a>, today there are at least 3,000 alliances in schools&#160;-- almost one in 10 high schools has one. In 1987, there were only 100 nationwide.</p>
<p>Here is <a href="http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/chapter/chapter/index.html" type="external">a state-by-state listing</a> of Gay, Lesbian &amp; Straight Education Network chapters.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Shark Attacks Decline</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The number of people attacked by sharks last year dropped again, marking a five-year decline. <a href="http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/2005attacksummary.htm" type="external">However, experts say</a> that they expect the number of attacks to rise in the future because more people spend time swimming where the sharks are.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Ride a Mardi Gras Float</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Here's something to do with your tax return money. <a href="http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/zulufloat.html" type="external">Ride on a Mardi Gras float</a>. New Orleans needs you and your money.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 599,637 |
<p>Phorm wants to revolutionize online advertising. The company says it has developed a program that can track every website a user visits and in return the lucky web surfer gets to see relevant advertising. The CEO says in the process superfluous advertising will go by the wayside. That's good for advertisers which is in turn good for Phorm. It also sounds good for internet service providers. And this analyst says this isn't exactly a supped up version ad spyware: normally these programs install code on your computer but this program doesn't do that. But this programs tracks your every move on the internet and then analyzes it, and this computer scientist thinks that's more than a little intrusive. At the heart of his concerns is privacy and the creator of the world wide web recently expressed concern over Phorm's new program. So the big questions are: what personal info is Phorm sweeping up and how long is that info kept? Phorm CEO claims your personal info is safe and the company doesn't store data. He says Phorm anonymizes the data, creates targeted ads and then moves on without keeping records. The company has invited privacy advocates to test the system. This privacy advocate says the program is better than most but that doesn't make it safe from interception. In UK law, you can't take info between two fields�a company and a user�and make it public for third parties. One analyst says Phorm is turning people into products. This analyst says the whole debate is healthy for the issue. For its part, Phorm has had to rethink how it's going to role out its product.</p> | Targeted advertising | false | https://pri.org/stories/2008-04-24/targeted-advertising | 2008-04-24 | 3left-center
| Targeted advertising
<p>Phorm wants to revolutionize online advertising. The company says it has developed a program that can track every website a user visits and in return the lucky web surfer gets to see relevant advertising. The CEO says in the process superfluous advertising will go by the wayside. That's good for advertisers which is in turn good for Phorm. It also sounds good for internet service providers. And this analyst says this isn't exactly a supped up version ad spyware: normally these programs install code on your computer but this program doesn't do that. But this programs tracks your every move on the internet and then analyzes it, and this computer scientist thinks that's more than a little intrusive. At the heart of his concerns is privacy and the creator of the world wide web recently expressed concern over Phorm's new program. So the big questions are: what personal info is Phorm sweeping up and how long is that info kept? Phorm CEO claims your personal info is safe and the company doesn't store data. He says Phorm anonymizes the data, creates targeted ads and then moves on without keeping records. The company has invited privacy advocates to test the system. This privacy advocate says the program is better than most but that doesn't make it safe from interception. In UK law, you can't take info between two fields�a company and a user�and make it public for third parties. One analyst says Phorm is turning people into products. This analyst says the whole debate is healthy for the issue. For its part, Phorm has had to rethink how it's going to role out its product.</p> | 599,638 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>John Nieto-Phillips</p>
<p>Professor John Nieto-Phillips of Indiana University gives a free talk at The New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Ave., at 6:30 p.m. Thursday titled Hispano Homeland or Fantasy Heritage? Spanish-American Identity and Ideology, 1890s-1940s.</p>
<p>Nieto-Phillips, with deep family roots in New Mexico and a long list of impressive scholarly credentials, takes up an academic controversy over whether there is a discrete Hispano cultural region spanning northern New Mexico and southern Colorado or, as some critics maintain, a Spanish-American identity here that is rooted in self-deception and oppression of Native Americans.</p>
<p>“The controversy lays bare important ideological currents and scholarly ideas about race, language, and land,” says an announcement from the School of Advanced Research, which is hosting the lecture.</p>
<p>Seating in the museum auditorium is first come, first served.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>BALKAN SOUNDS Rumelia Collective has been bringing the music of the Balkans and points east to Santa Fe for several years now, and they’re back for a show 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Duel Brewing, 1228 Parkway Dr.</p>
<p>Rumelia</p>
<p>The group’s current lineup includes Nicolle Jensen, vocals, doumbek, accordion, frame drum and spoons; Sitara Schauer on violin, backup vocals, guitar, saz and mandolin; and Alysha Shaw, vocals, cajon, doumbek, frame drum and riq. A doumbek is a goblet-shaped drum; a saz is a stringed instrument popular in countries such as Turkey and Azerbaijan; a cajon is a box-shaped percussion instrument; and a riq is a kind of tambourine used in Arabic music. Get educated on all this at the Duel. There’s no cover charge.</p>
<p>Nathan Ukens</p>
<p>SYMPHONY Or there’s the classics. The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra performs at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco St. The program includes Emmanuel Chabrier’s “Suite Pastorale”; Haydn’s “Horn Concerto No. 1,” featuring the soloing efforts of orchestra principal horn Nathan Ukens, and Schumann’s “Symphony No. 2.”</p>
<p>The guest conductor is Robert Tweten, head of music staff at the Santa Fe Opera. Tickets are $22-$80 at <a href="http://santafesymphony.org" type="external">santafesymphony.org</a>, <a href="http://ticketssantafe.org" type="external">ticketssantafe.org</a> or 988-1234. There’s a free preview lecture an hour before the concert.</p>
<p /> | Arts and Entertainment: Top Picks for the Week | false | https://abqjournal.com/990998/top-picks-for-the-week-41.html | 2least
| Arts and Entertainment: Top Picks for the Week
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>John Nieto-Phillips</p>
<p>Professor John Nieto-Phillips of Indiana University gives a free talk at The New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Ave., at 6:30 p.m. Thursday titled Hispano Homeland or Fantasy Heritage? Spanish-American Identity and Ideology, 1890s-1940s.</p>
<p>Nieto-Phillips, with deep family roots in New Mexico and a long list of impressive scholarly credentials, takes up an academic controversy over whether there is a discrete Hispano cultural region spanning northern New Mexico and southern Colorado or, as some critics maintain, a Spanish-American identity here that is rooted in self-deception and oppression of Native Americans.</p>
<p>“The controversy lays bare important ideological currents and scholarly ideas about race, language, and land,” says an announcement from the School of Advanced Research, which is hosting the lecture.</p>
<p>Seating in the museum auditorium is first come, first served.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>BALKAN SOUNDS Rumelia Collective has been bringing the music of the Balkans and points east to Santa Fe for several years now, and they’re back for a show 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Duel Brewing, 1228 Parkway Dr.</p>
<p>Rumelia</p>
<p>The group’s current lineup includes Nicolle Jensen, vocals, doumbek, accordion, frame drum and spoons; Sitara Schauer on violin, backup vocals, guitar, saz and mandolin; and Alysha Shaw, vocals, cajon, doumbek, frame drum and riq. A doumbek is a goblet-shaped drum; a saz is a stringed instrument popular in countries such as Turkey and Azerbaijan; a cajon is a box-shaped percussion instrument; and a riq is a kind of tambourine used in Arabic music. Get educated on all this at the Duel. There’s no cover charge.</p>
<p>Nathan Ukens</p>
<p>SYMPHONY Or there’s the classics. The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra performs at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco St. The program includes Emmanuel Chabrier’s “Suite Pastorale”; Haydn’s “Horn Concerto No. 1,” featuring the soloing efforts of orchestra principal horn Nathan Ukens, and Schumann’s “Symphony No. 2.”</p>
<p>The guest conductor is Robert Tweten, head of music staff at the Santa Fe Opera. Tickets are $22-$80 at <a href="http://santafesymphony.org" type="external">santafesymphony.org</a>, <a href="http://ticketssantafe.org" type="external">ticketssantafe.org</a> or 988-1234. There’s a free preview lecture an hour before the concert.</p>
<p /> | 599,639 |
|
<p>U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Fehr, right, from the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agri-Business Development Team (ADT), speaks with Afghan children and their grandfather Oct. 24, 2010, during a veterinary outreach sustainment program in Marawara District, Kunar province, Afghanistan. Local veterinarians treated nearly 200 goats, sheep and cattle. The Iowa ADT provided financial support, quality control and security during the event. DoD <a href="http://www.flickr.com/phhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/5145867610/otos/soldiersmediacenter/5145867610/" type="external">photo</a> by Capt. Peter Shinn, U.S. Air Force</p> | We’re Still at War: Photo of the Day for November 10, 2010 | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2010/11/were-still-war-photo-day-november-10-2010/ | 2010-11-10 | 4left
| We’re Still at War: Photo of the Day for November 10, 2010
<p>U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Fehr, right, from the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agri-Business Development Team (ADT), speaks with Afghan children and their grandfather Oct. 24, 2010, during a veterinary outreach sustainment program in Marawara District, Kunar province, Afghanistan. Local veterinarians treated nearly 200 goats, sheep and cattle. The Iowa ADT provided financial support, quality control and security during the event. DoD <a href="http://www.flickr.com/phhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/5145867610/otos/soldiersmediacenter/5145867610/" type="external">photo</a> by Capt. Peter Shinn, U.S. Air Force</p> | 599,640 |
<p>WASHINGTON (RNS) — When President Obama was elected, some black pastors — fresh from a campaign that featured extensive outreach to their churches — expected meetings with the president, or at least to be enlisted as informal advisers.</p>
<p>For better or worse, those expectations have largely fallen flat.</p>
<p>“I think he doesn’t avail himself as fully as he could of the input of black religious thinkers, and this is not a judgment upon his regard for us,” said Obery Hendricks, a professor at <a href="http://www.nyts.edu/" type="external">New York Theological Seminary</a>. “I’m not sure why that is.”</p>
<p>J</p>
<p />
<p>ames Forbes, the former senior pastor of New York’s Riverside Church, said the White House is doing a delicate dance in the aftermath of Obama’s ties — and public breakup — with Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor, whose fiery sermons nearly derailed his campaign.</p>
<p>“It has to be a consideration: How does the first black president position himself in the public eye in regards to blacks?” said Forbes, who has neither been invited nor sought access to the Obama White House. “I think his handlers would assume that they want to make him as color-blind as he can possibly be.”</p>
<p>lack religious leaders say they’re not asking the president to help them; they want to help Obama. Some get calls and e-mails updating them on policy issues, including messages from Joshua DuBois, a black former Pentecostal pastor who directs the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Office_of_Faith-Based_and_Neighborhood_Partnerships" type="external">White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships</a>.</p>
<p>Still, some want more.</p>
<p>“That’s not the president,” said Amos Brown of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church, of DuBois, describing the phone calls as “for-your-information sessions.”</p>
<p>The White House declined to comment.</p>
<p>Hendricks noted “glimmers” of a change when the president unexpectedly “got on the line to thank us,” during a conference call with DuBois on March 21, after Obama’s health care reform package cleared the House.</p>
<p>Gerald Durley, senior pastor of <a href="http://pmbcatlanta.org/" type="external">Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta</a>, said he and other clergy would like to sit down with the president—not staffers like DuBois—to discuss topics like unemployment, foreclosures and green jobs.</p>
<p>“I just want to certainly have that opportunity to give the kind of input to him personally rather than the advisers,” said Durley, chair of the Regional Council of Churches in Atlanta.</p>
<p>Timothy McDonald, pastor of Atlanta’s First Iconium Baptist Church, attended a White House meeting with dozens of black clergy last September, but left disappointed that it was “more informational than interactive.” The real loser in all this, he said, is Obama.</p>
<p>“Why haven’t we been engaged to counter the activities of the Tea Party and the birthers? Why haven’t we been engaged even now to prepare for immigration reform legislation?” asked McDonald, founder of African American Ministers in Action, a subsidiary of People for the American Way.</p>
<p>“One thing that you cannot do is ignore the clergy, whether you’re the first black president or not.”</p>
<p>The complaints, however, may be rooted in unrealistic expectations, generational differences or levels of political maturity, observers say.</p>
<p>Some black clergy, including those who served on an advisory panel for DuBois’ faith-based office, say they’ve had no problem getting their voices heard at the White House.</p>
<p>Otis Moss Jr., who just ended his one-year term on the council, said he has talked to Obama directly, but also knows from experience in previous administrations that connections to senior staff can be just as, if not more, significant.</p>
<p>“It is at that level that you get things accomplished that you may not get accomplished in a 15-minute audience with the president because … he is dealing with national and global issues that impact all of us,” said Moss, a retired Cleveland pastor whose son now is pastor of Obama’s former Chicago church, <a href="http://www.tucc.org/" type="external">Trinity United Church of Christ</a>.</p>
<p>ashti McKenzie, bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who also just finished her term as an adviser, said the council was a “major step forward” for blacks being included in communication with the White House.</p>
<p>What’s more, she said, it’s simply not “humanly possible” for Obama to meet with everyone.</p>
<p>“Is the president apprised of our concerns? I believe so,” she said. “Is he moving decidedly on a course to respond to the issues that are near and dear to us? I believe he is. Is he ignoring us? No. Is he keeping us out of the loop? No.”</p> | Some black church leaders feel jilted by President Obama | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/someblackchurchleadersfeeljiltedbypresidentobama/ | 3left-center
| Some black church leaders feel jilted by President Obama
<p>WASHINGTON (RNS) — When President Obama was elected, some black pastors — fresh from a campaign that featured extensive outreach to their churches — expected meetings with the president, or at least to be enlisted as informal advisers.</p>
<p>For better or worse, those expectations have largely fallen flat.</p>
<p>“I think he doesn’t avail himself as fully as he could of the input of black religious thinkers, and this is not a judgment upon his regard for us,” said Obery Hendricks, a professor at <a href="http://www.nyts.edu/" type="external">New York Theological Seminary</a>. “I’m not sure why that is.”</p>
<p>J</p>
<p />
<p>ames Forbes, the former senior pastor of New York’s Riverside Church, said the White House is doing a delicate dance in the aftermath of Obama’s ties — and public breakup — with Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor, whose fiery sermons nearly derailed his campaign.</p>
<p>“It has to be a consideration: How does the first black president position himself in the public eye in regards to blacks?” said Forbes, who has neither been invited nor sought access to the Obama White House. “I think his handlers would assume that they want to make him as color-blind as he can possibly be.”</p>
<p>lack religious leaders say they’re not asking the president to help them; they want to help Obama. Some get calls and e-mails updating them on policy issues, including messages from Joshua DuBois, a black former Pentecostal pastor who directs the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Office_of_Faith-Based_and_Neighborhood_Partnerships" type="external">White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships</a>.</p>
<p>Still, some want more.</p>
<p>“That’s not the president,” said Amos Brown of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church, of DuBois, describing the phone calls as “for-your-information sessions.”</p>
<p>The White House declined to comment.</p>
<p>Hendricks noted “glimmers” of a change when the president unexpectedly “got on the line to thank us,” during a conference call with DuBois on March 21, after Obama’s health care reform package cleared the House.</p>
<p>Gerald Durley, senior pastor of <a href="http://pmbcatlanta.org/" type="external">Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta</a>, said he and other clergy would like to sit down with the president—not staffers like DuBois—to discuss topics like unemployment, foreclosures and green jobs.</p>
<p>“I just want to certainly have that opportunity to give the kind of input to him personally rather than the advisers,” said Durley, chair of the Regional Council of Churches in Atlanta.</p>
<p>Timothy McDonald, pastor of Atlanta’s First Iconium Baptist Church, attended a White House meeting with dozens of black clergy last September, but left disappointed that it was “more informational than interactive.” The real loser in all this, he said, is Obama.</p>
<p>“Why haven’t we been engaged to counter the activities of the Tea Party and the birthers? Why haven’t we been engaged even now to prepare for immigration reform legislation?” asked McDonald, founder of African American Ministers in Action, a subsidiary of People for the American Way.</p>
<p>“One thing that you cannot do is ignore the clergy, whether you’re the first black president or not.”</p>
<p>The complaints, however, may be rooted in unrealistic expectations, generational differences or levels of political maturity, observers say.</p>
<p>Some black clergy, including those who served on an advisory panel for DuBois’ faith-based office, say they’ve had no problem getting their voices heard at the White House.</p>
<p>Otis Moss Jr., who just ended his one-year term on the council, said he has talked to Obama directly, but also knows from experience in previous administrations that connections to senior staff can be just as, if not more, significant.</p>
<p>“It is at that level that you get things accomplished that you may not get accomplished in a 15-minute audience with the president because … he is dealing with national and global issues that impact all of us,” said Moss, a retired Cleveland pastor whose son now is pastor of Obama’s former Chicago church, <a href="http://www.tucc.org/" type="external">Trinity United Church of Christ</a>.</p>
<p>ashti McKenzie, bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who also just finished her term as an adviser, said the council was a “major step forward” for blacks being included in communication with the White House.</p>
<p>What’s more, she said, it’s simply not “humanly possible” for Obama to meet with everyone.</p>
<p>“Is the president apprised of our concerns? I believe so,” she said. “Is he moving decidedly on a course to respond to the issues that are near and dear to us? I believe he is. Is he ignoring us? No. Is he keeping us out of the loop? No.”</p> | 599,641 |
|
<p />
<p>The U.S.&#160;Federal Reserve on Thursday made it easier for bigger lenders to merge, by quadrupling its threshold of combined size that would require an extensive regulatory review of a proposed deal.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>A merger that creates a bank with total assets of less than $100 billion is not a threat to the financial system, the central bank said in a statement on Thursday. Since 2012, that threshold had been $25 billion.</p>
<p>Mergers that create banks "with less than $100 billion in total assets, are generally not likely to create institutions that pose systemic risks," theFederal Reserve said.</p>
<p>Industry officials applauded the change, saying it should speed up the approval process for bank deals.</p>
<p>The regulator announced the change in approving People's United Financial Inc's acquisition of Suffolk Bancorp . Together, the two lenders will have consolidated assets of around $43 billion.</p>
<p>Bank regulatory lawyers and financial dealmakers have argued that overly tight regulation since the 2008 financial crisis was hindering industry mergers and acquisitions. Under the sweeping Dodd-Frank financial reforms adopted to prevent another crisis, the&#160;Fed&#160;must consider the extent to which a bank merger would result in risks to the financial system.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Bank mergers on average take six months to a year to get approved by theFed, depending on size and complexity.</p>
<p>But some reviews can take even longer, such the one for M&amp;T Bank Corp's acquisition of Hudson City Bancorp Inc, which took more than three years. It was the longest delay ever for a U.S. bank deal valued at more than $1 billion.</p>
<p>The People's United-Suffolk tie-up, which was initially announced in June 2016, is the second U.S. bank merger to receive regulatory clearance in 2017. Raleigh, North Carolina-based Yadkin Financial Corp and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based based F.N.B Corp gained regulatory approval for another merger in February.</p>
<p>But there have been relatively few bank mergers since the crisis, with several deals called off because of a failure to obtain regulatory approval. Among them were New York Community Bancorp Inc's bid for Astoria Financial and Investors Bancorp Inc's bid for The Bank of Princeton. (Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; Additional reporting by Patrick Rucker in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Lisa Shumaker)</p> | Fed Eases Bank Merger Rules by Lifting Size Threshold for Review | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/03/17/fed-eases-bank-merger-rules-by-lifting-size-threshold-for-review.html | 2017-03-17 | 0right
| Fed Eases Bank Merger Rules by Lifting Size Threshold for Review
<p />
<p>The U.S.&#160;Federal Reserve on Thursday made it easier for bigger lenders to merge, by quadrupling its threshold of combined size that would require an extensive regulatory review of a proposed deal.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>A merger that creates a bank with total assets of less than $100 billion is not a threat to the financial system, the central bank said in a statement on Thursday. Since 2012, that threshold had been $25 billion.</p>
<p>Mergers that create banks "with less than $100 billion in total assets, are generally not likely to create institutions that pose systemic risks," theFederal Reserve said.</p>
<p>Industry officials applauded the change, saying it should speed up the approval process for bank deals.</p>
<p>The regulator announced the change in approving People's United Financial Inc's acquisition of Suffolk Bancorp . Together, the two lenders will have consolidated assets of around $43 billion.</p>
<p>Bank regulatory lawyers and financial dealmakers have argued that overly tight regulation since the 2008 financial crisis was hindering industry mergers and acquisitions. Under the sweeping Dodd-Frank financial reforms adopted to prevent another crisis, the&#160;Fed&#160;must consider the extent to which a bank merger would result in risks to the financial system.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Bank mergers on average take six months to a year to get approved by theFed, depending on size and complexity.</p>
<p>But some reviews can take even longer, such the one for M&amp;T Bank Corp's acquisition of Hudson City Bancorp Inc, which took more than three years. It was the longest delay ever for a U.S. bank deal valued at more than $1 billion.</p>
<p>The People's United-Suffolk tie-up, which was initially announced in June 2016, is the second U.S. bank merger to receive regulatory clearance in 2017. Raleigh, North Carolina-based Yadkin Financial Corp and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based based F.N.B Corp gained regulatory approval for another merger in February.</p>
<p>But there have been relatively few bank mergers since the crisis, with several deals called off because of a failure to obtain regulatory approval. Among them were New York Community Bancorp Inc's bid for Astoria Financial and Investors Bancorp Inc's bid for The Bank of Princeton. (Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; Additional reporting by Patrick Rucker in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Lisa Shumaker)</p> | 599,642 |
<p>Anyone proposing the death penalty is either a complete fool, an incorrigible cynic or mentally disturbed – or all of these.</p>
<p>There is no effective therapy for any of these defects. I wouldn’t even try.</p>
<p>A fool would not understand the overwhelming evidence for the conclusion. For a cynic, advocacy of the death penalty is a proven votecatcher. A mentally disturbed person derives pleasure from the very thought of an execution. I am not addressing any of these, but ordinary citizens of Israel.</p>
<p>Let me start by repeating the story of my own personal experience.</p>
<p>In 1936, the Arab population of Palestine launched a violent uprising. The Nazi persecution in Germany drove many Jews to Palestine (including my own family), and the local Arabs saw their country slipping away from under their feet. They started to react violently. They called it the Great Rebellion, the British talked of “disturbances” and we called it “the events”.</p>
<p>Groups of young Arabs attacked Jewish and British vehicles on the roads. When caught, some of them were sent by the British courts to the gallows. When the Arab attacks did not stop, some right-wing Zionists started a campaign of “retaliation” and shot at Arab vehicles.</p>
<p>One of these was caught by the British. His name was Shlomo Ben-Yosef, a 25 year old illegal immigrant from Poland, a member of the right-wing youth organization Betar. He threw a grenade at an Arab bus, which failed to explode, and fired some shots that hit nobody. But the British saw an opportunity to prove their impartiality.</p>
<p>Ben-Yosef was sentenced to death. The Jewish population was shocked. Even those who were totally opposed to “retaliation” pleaded for clemency, rabbis prayed. Slowly the day of the execution drew near. Many expected a reprieve at the last moment. It did not come.</p>
<p>The hanging of Ben-Yosef on June 29, 1938 sent a powerful shockwave through the Jewish public. It caused a profound change in my own life. I decided to fill his place. I joined the Irgun, the most extreme armed underground organization. I was just 15 years old.</p>
<p>I repeat this story because the lesson is so important. An oppressive regime, especially a foreign one, always thinks that executing “terrorists” will frighten others away from joining the rebels.</p>
<p>This idea stems from the arrogance of the rulers, who think of their subjects as inferior human beings. The real result is always the opposite: the executed rebel becomes a national hero, for every rebel executed, dozens of others join the fight. The execution breeds hatred, the hatred leads to more violence. If the family is also punished, the flames of hatred rise even higher.</p>
<p>Simple logic. But logic is beyond the reach of the rulers.</p>
<p>Just a thought: some 2000 years ago, a simple carpenter was executed in Palestine by crucifixion. Look at the results.</p>
<p>In every army, there are a number of sadists posing as patriots.</p>
<p>In my army days, I once wrote that in every squad there is at least one sadist and one moral soldier. The others are neither. They are influenced by either of them, depends on which of the two has the stronger character.</p>
<p>Last week something horrible happened. Since the announcement of the American Clown-In-Chief about Jerusalem, there have been daily demonstrations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip approach the separation fence and throw stones at the soldiers on the Israeli side. The soldiers are instructed to shoot. Every day Palestinians are wounded, every few days Palestinians are killed.</p>
<p>One of the demonstrators was Ibrahim Abu-Thuraya, a 29 year old legless Arab fisherman. Both of his legs were amputated nine years ago, after he was injured in an Israeli air-strike on Gaza.</p>
<p>He was pushed in his wheelchair over the rough terrain towards the fence when an army sharpshooter took aim and killed him. He was unarmed, just “inciting”.</p>
<p>The killer was not an ordinary soldier, who may have shot without aiming in the melee. He was a professional, a sharpshooter, used to identify his victim, take careful aim and hit the exact spot.</p>
<p>I try to think about what went on in the shooter’s brain before shooting. The victim was close. There was absolutely no way not to see the wheelchair. Ibrahim posed absolutely no threat to the shooter or to anyone else.</p>
<p>(A cruel Israeli joke was born immediately: the sharpshooters were ordered to hit the lower parts of the bodies of the demonstrators. Since Ibrahim had no lower parts, the soldier had no choice but shoot him in the head.)</p>
<p>This was a criminal act, pure and simple. An abhorrent war crime. So, did the army – yes, my army! – arrest him? Not at all. Every day, a new excuse was found, each more ridiculous than the other. The shooter’s name was kept secret.</p>
<p>My God, what is happening to this country? What is the occupation doing to us?</p>
<p>Ibrahim, of course, became overnight a Palestinian national hero. His death will spur other Palestinians to join the fight.</p>
<p>Are there no rays of light? Yes there are. Though not many.</p>
<p>A few days after the murder of Ibrahim Abu-Thuraya, an almost comic scene was immortalized.</p>
<p>In the Palestinian village Nabi Saleh in the occupied West Bank, two fully armed Israeli soldiers are standing. One is an officer, the other a sergeant. A group of three or four Arab girls, about 15 or 16 years old, approach them. They shout at the soldiers and make abusive gestures. The soldiers pretend not to notice them.</p>
<p>One girl, Ahd Tamimi, approaches a soldier and hits him. The soldier, much taller than her, does not react.</p>
<p>The girl comes even closer and hits the face of the soldier. He defends his face with his arms. Another girl records the scene with her smartphone.</p>
<p>And then the incredible happens: both soldiers walk backwards and leave the scene. (Later it appears that the cousin of one of the girls was shot in the head a few days earlier.)</p>
<p>The army was shocked by the fact that the two soldiers did not shoot the girl. It promised an investigation. The girl and her mother were detained that night. The soldiers are in for a rebuke.</p>
<p>For me, the two soldiers are real heroes. Sadly, they are the exceptions.</p>
<p>Every human being has the right to be proud of his or her country. To my mind, it’s a basic human right as well as a basic human need.</p>
<p>But how can one be proud of a country that is trading in human bodies?</p>
<p>In Islam, it is very important to bury the dead as soon as possible. Knowing this, the Israeli government is withholding the bodies of dozens of “terrorists”, to be used as trading chips for the return of Jewish bodies held by the other side.</p>
<p>Logical? Sure. Abhorrent? Yes.</p>
<p>This is not the Israel I helped to found and fought for. My Israel would return the bodies to the fathers and mothers. Even if it means giving up some trading chips. Isn’t losing a son punishment enough?</p>
<p>What has become of our common human decency?</p> | Cry, Beloved Country | true | https://counterpunch.org/2017/12/25/cry-beloved-country/ | 2017-12-25 | 4left
| Cry, Beloved Country
<p>Anyone proposing the death penalty is either a complete fool, an incorrigible cynic or mentally disturbed – or all of these.</p>
<p>There is no effective therapy for any of these defects. I wouldn’t even try.</p>
<p>A fool would not understand the overwhelming evidence for the conclusion. For a cynic, advocacy of the death penalty is a proven votecatcher. A mentally disturbed person derives pleasure from the very thought of an execution. I am not addressing any of these, but ordinary citizens of Israel.</p>
<p>Let me start by repeating the story of my own personal experience.</p>
<p>In 1936, the Arab population of Palestine launched a violent uprising. The Nazi persecution in Germany drove many Jews to Palestine (including my own family), and the local Arabs saw their country slipping away from under their feet. They started to react violently. They called it the Great Rebellion, the British talked of “disturbances” and we called it “the events”.</p>
<p>Groups of young Arabs attacked Jewish and British vehicles on the roads. When caught, some of them were sent by the British courts to the gallows. When the Arab attacks did not stop, some right-wing Zionists started a campaign of “retaliation” and shot at Arab vehicles.</p>
<p>One of these was caught by the British. His name was Shlomo Ben-Yosef, a 25 year old illegal immigrant from Poland, a member of the right-wing youth organization Betar. He threw a grenade at an Arab bus, which failed to explode, and fired some shots that hit nobody. But the British saw an opportunity to prove their impartiality.</p>
<p>Ben-Yosef was sentenced to death. The Jewish population was shocked. Even those who were totally opposed to “retaliation” pleaded for clemency, rabbis prayed. Slowly the day of the execution drew near. Many expected a reprieve at the last moment. It did not come.</p>
<p>The hanging of Ben-Yosef on June 29, 1938 sent a powerful shockwave through the Jewish public. It caused a profound change in my own life. I decided to fill his place. I joined the Irgun, the most extreme armed underground organization. I was just 15 years old.</p>
<p>I repeat this story because the lesson is so important. An oppressive regime, especially a foreign one, always thinks that executing “terrorists” will frighten others away from joining the rebels.</p>
<p>This idea stems from the arrogance of the rulers, who think of their subjects as inferior human beings. The real result is always the opposite: the executed rebel becomes a national hero, for every rebel executed, dozens of others join the fight. The execution breeds hatred, the hatred leads to more violence. If the family is also punished, the flames of hatred rise even higher.</p>
<p>Simple logic. But logic is beyond the reach of the rulers.</p>
<p>Just a thought: some 2000 years ago, a simple carpenter was executed in Palestine by crucifixion. Look at the results.</p>
<p>In every army, there are a number of sadists posing as patriots.</p>
<p>In my army days, I once wrote that in every squad there is at least one sadist and one moral soldier. The others are neither. They are influenced by either of them, depends on which of the two has the stronger character.</p>
<p>Last week something horrible happened. Since the announcement of the American Clown-In-Chief about Jerusalem, there have been daily demonstrations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip approach the separation fence and throw stones at the soldiers on the Israeli side. The soldiers are instructed to shoot. Every day Palestinians are wounded, every few days Palestinians are killed.</p>
<p>One of the demonstrators was Ibrahim Abu-Thuraya, a 29 year old legless Arab fisherman. Both of his legs were amputated nine years ago, after he was injured in an Israeli air-strike on Gaza.</p>
<p>He was pushed in his wheelchair over the rough terrain towards the fence when an army sharpshooter took aim and killed him. He was unarmed, just “inciting”.</p>
<p>The killer was not an ordinary soldier, who may have shot without aiming in the melee. He was a professional, a sharpshooter, used to identify his victim, take careful aim and hit the exact spot.</p>
<p>I try to think about what went on in the shooter’s brain before shooting. The victim was close. There was absolutely no way not to see the wheelchair. Ibrahim posed absolutely no threat to the shooter or to anyone else.</p>
<p>(A cruel Israeli joke was born immediately: the sharpshooters were ordered to hit the lower parts of the bodies of the demonstrators. Since Ibrahim had no lower parts, the soldier had no choice but shoot him in the head.)</p>
<p>This was a criminal act, pure and simple. An abhorrent war crime. So, did the army – yes, my army! – arrest him? Not at all. Every day, a new excuse was found, each more ridiculous than the other. The shooter’s name was kept secret.</p>
<p>My God, what is happening to this country? What is the occupation doing to us?</p>
<p>Ibrahim, of course, became overnight a Palestinian national hero. His death will spur other Palestinians to join the fight.</p>
<p>Are there no rays of light? Yes there are. Though not many.</p>
<p>A few days after the murder of Ibrahim Abu-Thuraya, an almost comic scene was immortalized.</p>
<p>In the Palestinian village Nabi Saleh in the occupied West Bank, two fully armed Israeli soldiers are standing. One is an officer, the other a sergeant. A group of three or four Arab girls, about 15 or 16 years old, approach them. They shout at the soldiers and make abusive gestures. The soldiers pretend not to notice them.</p>
<p>One girl, Ahd Tamimi, approaches a soldier and hits him. The soldier, much taller than her, does not react.</p>
<p>The girl comes even closer and hits the face of the soldier. He defends his face with his arms. Another girl records the scene with her smartphone.</p>
<p>And then the incredible happens: both soldiers walk backwards and leave the scene. (Later it appears that the cousin of one of the girls was shot in the head a few days earlier.)</p>
<p>The army was shocked by the fact that the two soldiers did not shoot the girl. It promised an investigation. The girl and her mother were detained that night. The soldiers are in for a rebuke.</p>
<p>For me, the two soldiers are real heroes. Sadly, they are the exceptions.</p>
<p>Every human being has the right to be proud of his or her country. To my mind, it’s a basic human right as well as a basic human need.</p>
<p>But how can one be proud of a country that is trading in human bodies?</p>
<p>In Islam, it is very important to bury the dead as soon as possible. Knowing this, the Israeli government is withholding the bodies of dozens of “terrorists”, to be used as trading chips for the return of Jewish bodies held by the other side.</p>
<p>Logical? Sure. Abhorrent? Yes.</p>
<p>This is not the Israel I helped to found and fought for. My Israel would return the bodies to the fathers and mothers. Even if it means giving up some trading chips. Isn’t losing a son punishment enough?</p>
<p>What has become of our common human decency?</p> | 599,643 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>Demonstrators are lined up outside the White House in Washington on Thursday as they are being arrested during a protest on immigration reform. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)</p>
<p>WASHINGTON — With a self-imposed deadline looming, President Barack Obama said Thursday he still intends to act on his own to change immigration policies but stopped short of reiterating his past vows to act by end of summer.</p>
<p>Obama raised the slim hope that Congress could take action on a broad immigration overhaul after the midterm elections in November. He said that if lawmakers did not pass an overhaul, “I’m going to do what I can to make sure the system works better.”</p>
<p>But for the first time since pledging to act by summer’s end, he signaled that such a target date could slip. He said that the administration had been working to reduce the flow of unaccompanied minors attempting to cross the border and noted that the number of apprehensions at the border had fallen in August.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“Some of these things do affect time lines and we’re just going to be working through as systematically as possible in order to get this done,” he said in a news conference where he also addressed Russian aggression in Ukraine and action against Islamic State militants.</p>
<p>Two months ago, Obama angrily conceded that the House did not intend to take up immigration legislation this year and ordered Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder to come up with actions the president could take on his own.</p>
<p>“I expect their recommendations before the end of summer and I intend to adopt those recommendations without further delay,” he said at the time.</p>
<p>Since then, the administration was forced to deal with the sharp rise of young migrants from Central America who were crossing the southwest border. Obama asked Congress for $3.7 billion to deal with the flow, a request that Republican lawmakers rejected.</p>
<p>Demonstrators are arrested outside the White House in Washington on Thursday during an immigration reform demonstration. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)</p>
<p>At the same time, some Democrats worried that if Obama took action on his own to reduce deportations it would mobilize Republican voters in hotly contested Senate races.</p>
<p>Frank Sharry of the pro-immigrant group America’s Voice said there were no indications the White House planned to delay the announcement, and lots of evidence Obama is preparing for an announcement in September.</p>
<p>“If for whatever reasons they decide to delay, it’s going to be a huge problem for an immigration reform movement that has worked tirelessly for years and been promised action for years,” Sharry said. “I don’t think people are going to take a delay without a big response.”</p>
<p>Obama said Thursday that addressing the inflow of unaccompanied minors has not stopped the process of looking into “how do we get a smart immigration system in place while we’re waiting for Congress to act.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“And it continues to be my belief that, if I can’t see the congressional action, that I need to do at least what I can in order to make the system work better.”</p>
<p>The most sweeping, controversial step under consideration involves halting deportation for millions, a major expansion of a 2012 Obama program that deferred prosecutions for those brought here illegally as children.</p>
<p>Roughly half a million people have benefited from that program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.</p>
<p>In a sign of how heated the demands on Obama to act have become, 145 protesters were arrested midday Thursday in front of the White House in an act of civil disobedience.</p>
<p>Demanding a halt to deportations, protesters draped themselves in American flags and held signs saying “I am a witness for justice” as onlookers cheered them on. The U.S. Park Police said the protesters were charged with blocking the sidewalk.</p>
<p>Republicans are already hinting they’ll consider legal action to thwart what they’ve denounced as a violation of the separation of powers. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, in a conference call this month with GOP House members, accused Obama of “threatening to rewrite our immigration laws unilaterally.”</p>
<p>“If the president fails to faithfully execute the laws of our country, we will hold him accountable,” Boehner said, according to an individual who participated in the call.</p>
<p>Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., predicted Thursday that Congress would not tackle an immigration overhaul before the fall elections.</p>
<p>“There are too many members of the House that are scared of the tea party, and they are afraid to death that they won’t get the extremist support in the election,” Nelson told reporters in Orlando, Florida. “There is nothing being done on immigration until after the election, and probably not until we get a better sense of where we’re going into next year.”</p>
<p>The House has passed legislation to block Obama from expanding DACA and, through its power of the purse, could attempt to cut off the funds that would be needed to implement the expansion. House Republicans could also consider widening or amending their existing lawsuit against Obama over his health care law, a case both parties have suggested could be a prelude to impeachment proceedings.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Josh Lederman in Washington and Michael Schneider in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this report.</p> | Obama sets no timeline for action on immigration | false | https://abqjournal.com/453429/obama-sets-no-timeline-for-action-on-immigration.html | 2least
| Obama sets no timeline for action on immigration
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>Demonstrators are lined up outside the White House in Washington on Thursday as they are being arrested during a protest on immigration reform. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)</p>
<p>WASHINGTON — With a self-imposed deadline looming, President Barack Obama said Thursday he still intends to act on his own to change immigration policies but stopped short of reiterating his past vows to act by end of summer.</p>
<p>Obama raised the slim hope that Congress could take action on a broad immigration overhaul after the midterm elections in November. He said that if lawmakers did not pass an overhaul, “I’m going to do what I can to make sure the system works better.”</p>
<p>But for the first time since pledging to act by summer’s end, he signaled that such a target date could slip. He said that the administration had been working to reduce the flow of unaccompanied minors attempting to cross the border and noted that the number of apprehensions at the border had fallen in August.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“Some of these things do affect time lines and we’re just going to be working through as systematically as possible in order to get this done,” he said in a news conference where he also addressed Russian aggression in Ukraine and action against Islamic State militants.</p>
<p>Two months ago, Obama angrily conceded that the House did not intend to take up immigration legislation this year and ordered Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder to come up with actions the president could take on his own.</p>
<p>“I expect their recommendations before the end of summer and I intend to adopt those recommendations without further delay,” he said at the time.</p>
<p>Since then, the administration was forced to deal with the sharp rise of young migrants from Central America who were crossing the southwest border. Obama asked Congress for $3.7 billion to deal with the flow, a request that Republican lawmakers rejected.</p>
<p>Demonstrators are arrested outside the White House in Washington on Thursday during an immigration reform demonstration. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)</p>
<p>At the same time, some Democrats worried that if Obama took action on his own to reduce deportations it would mobilize Republican voters in hotly contested Senate races.</p>
<p>Frank Sharry of the pro-immigrant group America’s Voice said there were no indications the White House planned to delay the announcement, and lots of evidence Obama is preparing for an announcement in September.</p>
<p>“If for whatever reasons they decide to delay, it’s going to be a huge problem for an immigration reform movement that has worked tirelessly for years and been promised action for years,” Sharry said. “I don’t think people are going to take a delay without a big response.”</p>
<p>Obama said Thursday that addressing the inflow of unaccompanied minors has not stopped the process of looking into “how do we get a smart immigration system in place while we’re waiting for Congress to act.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“And it continues to be my belief that, if I can’t see the congressional action, that I need to do at least what I can in order to make the system work better.”</p>
<p>The most sweeping, controversial step under consideration involves halting deportation for millions, a major expansion of a 2012 Obama program that deferred prosecutions for those brought here illegally as children.</p>
<p>Roughly half a million people have benefited from that program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.</p>
<p>In a sign of how heated the demands on Obama to act have become, 145 protesters were arrested midday Thursday in front of the White House in an act of civil disobedience.</p>
<p>Demanding a halt to deportations, protesters draped themselves in American flags and held signs saying “I am a witness for justice” as onlookers cheered them on. The U.S. Park Police said the protesters were charged with blocking the sidewalk.</p>
<p>Republicans are already hinting they’ll consider legal action to thwart what they’ve denounced as a violation of the separation of powers. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, in a conference call this month with GOP House members, accused Obama of “threatening to rewrite our immigration laws unilaterally.”</p>
<p>“If the president fails to faithfully execute the laws of our country, we will hold him accountable,” Boehner said, according to an individual who participated in the call.</p>
<p>Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., predicted Thursday that Congress would not tackle an immigration overhaul before the fall elections.</p>
<p>“There are too many members of the House that are scared of the tea party, and they are afraid to death that they won’t get the extremist support in the election,” Nelson told reporters in Orlando, Florida. “There is nothing being done on immigration until after the election, and probably not until we get a better sense of where we’re going into next year.”</p>
<p>The House has passed legislation to block Obama from expanding DACA and, through its power of the purse, could attempt to cut off the funds that would be needed to implement the expansion. House Republicans could also consider widening or amending their existing lawsuit against Obama over his health care law, a case both parties have suggested could be a prelude to impeachment proceedings.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Josh Lederman in Washington and Michael Schneider in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this report.</p> | 599,644 |
|
<p>Kim Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, is a wanted man by the FBI, the Justice Department, and especially Hollywood. For the last decade or so, Dotcom has spent millions fighting extradition to the United States for copyright infringement laws involving Mega Upload, the file-sharing site he founded.</p>
<p>Accused of creating a medium where independent users of his site could upload, share and distribute files such as Hollywood movies, Dotcom cannot leave the country where he currently lives, New Zealand. That is, unless he wants to spend the rest of his life behind bars.</p>
<p>So why would a wanted man, larger than life as the notorious B.I.G, want to wade into the world of geopolitics? Maybe the answer can be found in the person of <a href="" type="internal">Seth Rich</a>.</p>
<p>Rich, who was working for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was killed assassination style just feet from his Washington, DC home. Despite authorities calling it a robbery, none of his valuables were taken, leaving many to question whether his death, which is still unsolved, was politically motivated.</p>
<p>Within days of his murder, Wikileaks <a href="https://www.wikileaks.com/dnc-emails/" type="external">released a treasure trove</a> of emails belonging to the DNC. Those emails created a firestorm of controversy for the mainstream media, the DNC, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders’ supporters.</p>
<p>The database revealed Sanders to be the fall-guy for the eventual nomination of Clinton, with DNC staffers collaborating with members of the mainstream media to make Sanders look bad in the news. Those emails also showed CNN’s political analyst Donna Brazile had <a href="http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/donna-brazile-may-have-sent-clinton-camp-a-cnn-debate-question/309631" type="external">passed debate questions</a> on to Hillary Clinton’s campaign ahead of one of her debates with Donald Trump, clearly giving Clinton the advantage.</p>
<p>Immediately after being exposed, the Russian narrative was hatched, blaming America’s enemy number one for the DNC database hacking. But when Rich turned up dead on his proverbial front door step, whispers circulated the DNC staffer was the source for the Wikileaks dump, not the Russians. Seth was murdered on July 10, in the 2100 block of Flagler Place NW, in D.C., but his killer(s) is still at-large and the investigation into his death has stalled.</p>
<p>On Friday, Kim Dotcom has weighed in on the scandal and unsolved murder all in <a href="https://twitter.com/kimdotcom/status/865699156278484992" type="external">one tweet</a>. He tweeted, “If Congress includes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SethRich?src=hash" type="external">#SethRich</a> case into their Russia probe I’ll give written testimony with evidence that Seth Rich was <a href="https://twitter.com/wikileaks" type="external">@Wikileaks</a> source.”</p>
<p />
<p>After this tweet went viral, Saturday afternoon, Dotcom de facto admitted to being involved in the information exchange between Rich and WikiLeaks.</p>
<p />
<p>After this bombshell admission, Dotcom promised to clarify just how involved he was by releasing a statement on Tuesday.</p>
<p />
<p>If this information is legitimate, it is nothing short of damning to the establishment who’ve been labelling everyone who questions the <a href="" type="internal">Seth Rich</a> murder conspiracy nuts. If this evidence exists, it will blow the lid off the mainstream media’s false narrative.</p>
<p>While it’s unclear if Dotcom really has the evidence, he actually was a hacker, even bragging on many occasions that he’d hacked into the Pentagon. Adding in his history of hacking and illegal file sharing, it may come as no surprise to Dotcom fans that he’s made such a claim.</p>
<p>One doesn’t have to look far to connect the dots to come to the conclusion that Rich was Julian Assange’s source. Assange was visibly upset in the days that followed Rich’s murder, demonstrating his frustration by <a href="" type="internal">offering a reward</a> for any information leading to his killer.</p>
<p>In early August, Assange offered a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/wikileaks-offers-reward-in-killing-of-dnc-staffer-in-washington/2016/08/09/f84fcbf4-5e5b-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html?utm_term=.d38bdace3413" type="external">$20,000 reward</a>for information leading to the murderer(s). So, why would the founder of the world’s most powerful government accountability watchdog be so concerned with the death of one lowly DNC staffer?</p>
<p>Answer: He was most likely Assange’s mole, the very person who turned over the database of DNC emails to Wikileaks. And now, the pressure is on to find those responsible for his death. And, there’s evidence a relationship did exist between Assange and Rich.</p>
<p>Just this week, <a href="" type="internal">Rod Wheeler</a>, a former D.C. homicide detective, told Fox News, “My investigation up to this point shows there was some degree of email exchange between Seth Rich and WikiLeaks.” <a href="http://thefreethoughtproject.com/name-seth-rich-twitter-rages-media-tries-silence-public-dnc-murder/" type="external">Speaking on FoxNews’ Hannity,</a> Wheeler said he spoke with a federal investigator close to the case.</p>
<p>He told Sean Hannity the investigator “came across [as] very credible. When you look at that, with the totality of everything else that I found in this case, it’s very consistent for a person with my experience to begin to think, ‘Well, perhaps there were some email communication between Seth and Wikileaks.’”</p>
<p>He concluded, “I do believe that the answers to who murdered Seth Rich sits on his computer on a shelf at the D.C police or FBI headquarters. … [S]omeone within the D.C. government, DNC or Clinton team is blocking the murder investigation from going forward.”</p>
<p>H. A. Goodman, author, columnist and journalist, took to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y6ODpZc_s8" type="external">Youtube</a>to explain the significance of Dotcom’s tweet, Wikileaks’ relationship with Rich, Wheeler, and the DNC’s spin machine. Goodman said, “this exonerates Rod Wheeler, and you have Darcy at CNN who is still silent and you have no one talking about the DNC lawsuit that Jerry and Elizabeth Beck are championing.”</p>
<p>He said, “you have the resistance doing their best to say exactly what the mainstream is telling them. ‘Don’t talk about the Seth Rich murder, because then you will be a conspiracy theorist. Focus on the real facts like Trump actually paid <a href="http://time.com/4705515/donna-brazile-russia-emails-clinton/?xid=homepage" type="external">Russian hackers</a>to hack the DNC.”</p>
<p>It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what’s going on but it does take someone who can think for themselves. Rich’s death investigation is only heating up. The Free Thought Project will bring you any and all updates concerning Dotcom’s claim to have proof he was the DNC database leaker.</p>
<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://thefreethoughtproject.com/kim-dotcom-evidence-seth-rich/" type="external">The Free Thought Project</a></p>
<p>Jack Burns is an educator, journalist, investigative reporter, and advocate of natural medicine.</p>
<p />
<p /> | Kim Dotcom Just Admitted He Worked With Seth Rich to Get Info to WikiLeaks | true | http://dcclothesline.com/2017/05/21/kim-dotcom-just-admitted-he-worked-with-seth-rich-to-get-info-to-wikileaks/ | 2017-05-21 | 0right
| Kim Dotcom Just Admitted He Worked With Seth Rich to Get Info to WikiLeaks
<p>Kim Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, is a wanted man by the FBI, the Justice Department, and especially Hollywood. For the last decade or so, Dotcom has spent millions fighting extradition to the United States for copyright infringement laws involving Mega Upload, the file-sharing site he founded.</p>
<p>Accused of creating a medium where independent users of his site could upload, share and distribute files such as Hollywood movies, Dotcom cannot leave the country where he currently lives, New Zealand. That is, unless he wants to spend the rest of his life behind bars.</p>
<p>So why would a wanted man, larger than life as the notorious B.I.G, want to wade into the world of geopolitics? Maybe the answer can be found in the person of <a href="" type="internal">Seth Rich</a>.</p>
<p>Rich, who was working for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was killed assassination style just feet from his Washington, DC home. Despite authorities calling it a robbery, none of his valuables were taken, leaving many to question whether his death, which is still unsolved, was politically motivated.</p>
<p>Within days of his murder, Wikileaks <a href="https://www.wikileaks.com/dnc-emails/" type="external">released a treasure trove</a> of emails belonging to the DNC. Those emails created a firestorm of controversy for the mainstream media, the DNC, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders’ supporters.</p>
<p>The database revealed Sanders to be the fall-guy for the eventual nomination of Clinton, with DNC staffers collaborating with members of the mainstream media to make Sanders look bad in the news. Those emails also showed CNN’s political analyst Donna Brazile had <a href="http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/donna-brazile-may-have-sent-clinton-camp-a-cnn-debate-question/309631" type="external">passed debate questions</a> on to Hillary Clinton’s campaign ahead of one of her debates with Donald Trump, clearly giving Clinton the advantage.</p>
<p>Immediately after being exposed, the Russian narrative was hatched, blaming America’s enemy number one for the DNC database hacking. But when Rich turned up dead on his proverbial front door step, whispers circulated the DNC staffer was the source for the Wikileaks dump, not the Russians. Seth was murdered on July 10, in the 2100 block of Flagler Place NW, in D.C., but his killer(s) is still at-large and the investigation into his death has stalled.</p>
<p>On Friday, Kim Dotcom has weighed in on the scandal and unsolved murder all in <a href="https://twitter.com/kimdotcom/status/865699156278484992" type="external">one tweet</a>. He tweeted, “If Congress includes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SethRich?src=hash" type="external">#SethRich</a> case into their Russia probe I’ll give written testimony with evidence that Seth Rich was <a href="https://twitter.com/wikileaks" type="external">@Wikileaks</a> source.”</p>
<p />
<p>After this tweet went viral, Saturday afternoon, Dotcom de facto admitted to being involved in the information exchange between Rich and WikiLeaks.</p>
<p />
<p>After this bombshell admission, Dotcom promised to clarify just how involved he was by releasing a statement on Tuesday.</p>
<p />
<p>If this information is legitimate, it is nothing short of damning to the establishment who’ve been labelling everyone who questions the <a href="" type="internal">Seth Rich</a> murder conspiracy nuts. If this evidence exists, it will blow the lid off the mainstream media’s false narrative.</p>
<p>While it’s unclear if Dotcom really has the evidence, he actually was a hacker, even bragging on many occasions that he’d hacked into the Pentagon. Adding in his history of hacking and illegal file sharing, it may come as no surprise to Dotcom fans that he’s made such a claim.</p>
<p>One doesn’t have to look far to connect the dots to come to the conclusion that Rich was Julian Assange’s source. Assange was visibly upset in the days that followed Rich’s murder, demonstrating his frustration by <a href="" type="internal">offering a reward</a> for any information leading to his killer.</p>
<p>In early August, Assange offered a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/wikileaks-offers-reward-in-killing-of-dnc-staffer-in-washington/2016/08/09/f84fcbf4-5e5b-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html?utm_term=.d38bdace3413" type="external">$20,000 reward</a>for information leading to the murderer(s). So, why would the founder of the world’s most powerful government accountability watchdog be so concerned with the death of one lowly DNC staffer?</p>
<p>Answer: He was most likely Assange’s mole, the very person who turned over the database of DNC emails to Wikileaks. And now, the pressure is on to find those responsible for his death. And, there’s evidence a relationship did exist between Assange and Rich.</p>
<p>Just this week, <a href="" type="internal">Rod Wheeler</a>, a former D.C. homicide detective, told Fox News, “My investigation up to this point shows there was some degree of email exchange between Seth Rich and WikiLeaks.” <a href="http://thefreethoughtproject.com/name-seth-rich-twitter-rages-media-tries-silence-public-dnc-murder/" type="external">Speaking on FoxNews’ Hannity,</a> Wheeler said he spoke with a federal investigator close to the case.</p>
<p>He told Sean Hannity the investigator “came across [as] very credible. When you look at that, with the totality of everything else that I found in this case, it’s very consistent for a person with my experience to begin to think, ‘Well, perhaps there were some email communication between Seth and Wikileaks.’”</p>
<p>He concluded, “I do believe that the answers to who murdered Seth Rich sits on his computer on a shelf at the D.C police or FBI headquarters. … [S]omeone within the D.C. government, DNC or Clinton team is blocking the murder investigation from going forward.”</p>
<p>H. A. Goodman, author, columnist and journalist, took to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y6ODpZc_s8" type="external">Youtube</a>to explain the significance of Dotcom’s tweet, Wikileaks’ relationship with Rich, Wheeler, and the DNC’s spin machine. Goodman said, “this exonerates Rod Wheeler, and you have Darcy at CNN who is still silent and you have no one talking about the DNC lawsuit that Jerry and Elizabeth Beck are championing.”</p>
<p>He said, “you have the resistance doing their best to say exactly what the mainstream is telling them. ‘Don’t talk about the Seth Rich murder, because then you will be a conspiracy theorist. Focus on the real facts like Trump actually paid <a href="http://time.com/4705515/donna-brazile-russia-emails-clinton/?xid=homepage" type="external">Russian hackers</a>to hack the DNC.”</p>
<p>It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what’s going on but it does take someone who can think for themselves. Rich’s death investigation is only heating up. The Free Thought Project will bring you any and all updates concerning Dotcom’s claim to have proof he was the DNC database leaker.</p>
<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://thefreethoughtproject.com/kim-dotcom-evidence-seth-rich/" type="external">The Free Thought Project</a></p>
<p>Jack Burns is an educator, journalist, investigative reporter, and advocate of natural medicine.</p>
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<p>WASHINGTON — U.S. builders cut their spending on construction projects in September, the second straight monthly decline. Much of the decrease came as government spending for schools, sewers and transportation projects tumbled — part of a broader year-long decline as infrastructure funding has become a key policy issue in the presidential election.</p>
<p>The Commerce Department said Tuesday that total construction spending fell 0.7 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.15 trillion. Publicly-funded construction dropped 0.9 percent to an annual rate of $270.3 billion. Over the past 12 months, government construction has slumped 7.8 percent — a decline equal to nearly $23 billion.</p>
<p>Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have pledged to revive infrastructure funding if elected president. By reforming the business tax code, Clinton would provide an additional $250 billion in direct funding over five years and found a new infrastructure bank with $25 billion. Trump would rely on new tax credits for infrastructure, with the campaign projecting an additional $1 trillion being spent over 10 years.</p>
<p>The outlook for infrastructure spending has deteriorated this year despite interest rates near historic lows, making it cheaper for the government to borrow and investment in facilities that can help long-term economic growth.</p>
<p>Between August and September, spending on school buildings fell 1.1 percent. Sewage and water project plunged 5.4 percent. Transportation spending fell 0.9 percent, while park-related building decreased 3.2 percent. Spending specifically on highways and roads did improve in September, although that figure has dropped over the past year.</p>
<p>Private construction spending, which makes up the bulk of expenditures, has been less of a drag. It slipped 0.2 percent in September as construction spending on factories, commercial spaces and utilities declined.</p>
<p>Gains in homebuilding offset some of this decrease. Residential construction spending has climbed 0.9 percent over the past 12 months to $453.7 billion as low mortgage rates and a solid job market has increased demand for housing.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | US construction spending slumped in September | false | https://abqjournal.com/879556/us-construction-spending-slumped-in-september.html | 2016-11-01 | 2least
| US construction spending slumped in September
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<p>WASHINGTON — U.S. builders cut their spending on construction projects in September, the second straight monthly decline. Much of the decrease came as government spending for schools, sewers and transportation projects tumbled — part of a broader year-long decline as infrastructure funding has become a key policy issue in the presidential election.</p>
<p>The Commerce Department said Tuesday that total construction spending fell 0.7 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.15 trillion. Publicly-funded construction dropped 0.9 percent to an annual rate of $270.3 billion. Over the past 12 months, government construction has slumped 7.8 percent — a decline equal to nearly $23 billion.</p>
<p>Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have pledged to revive infrastructure funding if elected president. By reforming the business tax code, Clinton would provide an additional $250 billion in direct funding over five years and found a new infrastructure bank with $25 billion. Trump would rely on new tax credits for infrastructure, with the campaign projecting an additional $1 trillion being spent over 10 years.</p>
<p>The outlook for infrastructure spending has deteriorated this year despite interest rates near historic lows, making it cheaper for the government to borrow and investment in facilities that can help long-term economic growth.</p>
<p>Between August and September, spending on school buildings fell 1.1 percent. Sewage and water project plunged 5.4 percent. Transportation spending fell 0.9 percent, while park-related building decreased 3.2 percent. Spending specifically on highways and roads did improve in September, although that figure has dropped over the past year.</p>
<p>Private construction spending, which makes up the bulk of expenditures, has been less of a drag. It slipped 0.2 percent in September as construction spending on factories, commercial spaces and utilities declined.</p>
<p>Gains in homebuilding offset some of this decrease. Residential construction spending has climbed 0.9 percent over the past 12 months to $453.7 billion as low mortgage rates and a solid job market has increased demand for housing.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 599,646 |
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<p>Accion Texas, as the lead organization, receives 60 percent of this grant and Accion New Mexico-?rizona-Colorado will receive 40 percent to support New Mexico and Arizona entrepreneurs, the two groups said in a news release.</p>
<p>Through the collaborative project, Accion New Mexico-Arizona-Colorado will focus on serving entrepreneurs in 38 targeted colonias, typically defined as residential communities along the U.S. border with Mexico with marginal conditions related to housing and infrastructure.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The grant is provided through HUD's Border Community Capital Initiative. The Border Initiative is a partnership among three federal agencies-HUD, the Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) and the Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD).</p>
<p>The Border Initiative focuses on improving colonias communities and creating asset-building opportunities for residents by helping local financial institutions raise capital to lend and invest in their communities.</p> | Accion lands grant to boost border jobs | false | https://abqjournal.com/366927/accion-lands-grant-to-boost-border-jobs.html | 2least
| Accion lands grant to boost border jobs
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<p>Accion Texas, as the lead organization, receives 60 percent of this grant and Accion New Mexico-?rizona-Colorado will receive 40 percent to support New Mexico and Arizona entrepreneurs, the two groups said in a news release.</p>
<p>Through the collaborative project, Accion New Mexico-Arizona-Colorado will focus on serving entrepreneurs in 38 targeted colonias, typically defined as residential communities along the U.S. border with Mexico with marginal conditions related to housing and infrastructure.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The grant is provided through HUD's Border Community Capital Initiative. The Border Initiative is a partnership among three federal agencies-HUD, the Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) and the Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD).</p>
<p>The Border Initiative focuses on improving colonias communities and creating asset-building opportunities for residents by helping local financial institutions raise capital to lend and invest in their communities.</p> | 599,647 |
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<p>Chesapeake Energy Corp said on Tuesday that two directors, including a representative of activist investor Carl Icahn, resigned on Monday, a week after Icahn more than halved his stake in the natural gas producer.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Chesapeake said the resignations of Icahn representative Vincent Intrieri and John Lipinski, board members since June 2012 and June 2014 respectively, were not due to any disagreements. (http://bit.ly/2cSkDJK)</p>
<p>However, the No. 2 U.S. natural gas producer did not specify why the two directors had stepped down. Chesapeake, Icahn and Lipinski were not immediately available for comment.</p>
<p>Chesapeake shares were down 9 percent to $6.02 on Tuesday, amid a broader decline in stocks of energy companies due to a sharp drop in crude oil prices.</p>
<p>Icahn said last week that Chesapeake's management had done "an admirable job" over the last few years and that he reduced his stake in the company ��� by 51.6 percent to 4.55 percent ��� for tax-planning purposes. (http://bit.ly/2cSkpT7)</p>
<p>Chesapeake said in August it had reduced debt by more than $1 billion this year and had undertaken a couple of debt-for-equity swaps, or bond swaps, to reduce interest payments and a crippling debt burden debt taken to fund shale development.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The natgas producer last month raised its 2016 asset sales target and production forecast as it looks to cope with weak oil and gas prices.</p>
<p>Intrieri, who has served as senior managing director of Icahn Capital LP, had been on Chesapeake's board since June 2012, when Icahn asked to replace at least four directors and revealed a stake in the company.</p>
<p>That year Chesapeake named four new independent directors ��� three proposed by Southeastern Asset Management, its largest shareholder at the time, and one proposed by Icahn, its No. 2 shareholder.</p>
<p>Icahn had said then that the board had failed "in a dramatic fashion" in its oversight of management and its earlier promises to act in a more financially responsible way had proven hollow.</p>
<p>Chesapeake at the time was under intense pressure from investors to improve its corporate governance after Reuters reported in 2012 that then Chief Executive Aubrey McClendon had taken out more than $1 billion in loans using his personal stakes in thousands of company wells as collateral.</p>
<p>McClendon, a brash risk-taker who helped transform the U.S. energy industry with shale gas, died when his car slammed into an overpass in March, a day after being charged with breaking federal antitrust laws.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)</p> | Two Chesapeake directors, including Icahn representative, resign | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2016/09/27/two-chesapeake-directors-including-icahn-representative-resign.html | 2016-09-27 | 0right
| Two Chesapeake directors, including Icahn representative, resign
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<p>Chesapeake Energy Corp said on Tuesday that two directors, including a representative of activist investor Carl Icahn, resigned on Monday, a week after Icahn more than halved his stake in the natural gas producer.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Chesapeake said the resignations of Icahn representative Vincent Intrieri and John Lipinski, board members since June 2012 and June 2014 respectively, were not due to any disagreements. (http://bit.ly/2cSkDJK)</p>
<p>However, the No. 2 U.S. natural gas producer did not specify why the two directors had stepped down. Chesapeake, Icahn and Lipinski were not immediately available for comment.</p>
<p>Chesapeake shares were down 9 percent to $6.02 on Tuesday, amid a broader decline in stocks of energy companies due to a sharp drop in crude oil prices.</p>
<p>Icahn said last week that Chesapeake's management had done "an admirable job" over the last few years and that he reduced his stake in the company ��� by 51.6 percent to 4.55 percent ��� for tax-planning purposes. (http://bit.ly/2cSkpT7)</p>
<p>Chesapeake said in August it had reduced debt by more than $1 billion this year and had undertaken a couple of debt-for-equity swaps, or bond swaps, to reduce interest payments and a crippling debt burden debt taken to fund shale development.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The natgas producer last month raised its 2016 asset sales target and production forecast as it looks to cope with weak oil and gas prices.</p>
<p>Intrieri, who has served as senior managing director of Icahn Capital LP, had been on Chesapeake's board since June 2012, when Icahn asked to replace at least four directors and revealed a stake in the company.</p>
<p>That year Chesapeake named four new independent directors ��� three proposed by Southeastern Asset Management, its largest shareholder at the time, and one proposed by Icahn, its No. 2 shareholder.</p>
<p>Icahn had said then that the board had failed "in a dramatic fashion" in its oversight of management and its earlier promises to act in a more financially responsible way had proven hollow.</p>
<p>Chesapeake at the time was under intense pressure from investors to improve its corporate governance after Reuters reported in 2012 that then Chief Executive Aubrey McClendon had taken out more than $1 billion in loans using his personal stakes in thousands of company wells as collateral.</p>
<p>McClendon, a brash risk-taker who helped transform the U.S. energy industry with shale gas, died when his car slammed into an overpass in March, a day after being charged with breaking federal antitrust laws.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)</p> | 599,648 |
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<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A local young professionals group is hosting a fundraiser to generate money — and ideas — for the future of Downtown.</p>
<p>The group, <a href="http://www.bofnm.com/" type="external">Board of the Future</a>, and the City of Albuquerque are sponsoring “The Moment,” a Saturday night event benefiting the <a href="http://www.abqmainstreet.org/" type="external">Downtown ABQ MainStreet</a>nonprofit.</p>
<p>Attendees are asked to make a donation of at least $25 per person, and admission to the 21-and-over event includes drinks, live music and the opportunity to share ideas for Downtown via interactive art pieces and a video booth.</p>
<p>The group describes “The Moment” as a way to “tell us what you hope Downtown ABQ will become, enjoy an amazing atmosphere with friends, and put some dollars into a great, local organization.”</p>
<p>The event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Las Puertas Event Center, 1512 1st NW.</p>
<p>For more information and to buy tickets online go to <a href="http://www.themomentabq.eventbrite.com" type="external">www.themomentabq.eventbrite.com</a>.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | ‘The Moment’ event to benefit Downtown ABQ MainStreet | false | https://abqjournal.com/932416/the-moment-seeks-ideas-for-downtown.html | 2least
| ‘The Moment’ event to benefit Downtown ABQ MainStreet
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<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A local young professionals group is hosting a fundraiser to generate money — and ideas — for the future of Downtown.</p>
<p>The group, <a href="http://www.bofnm.com/" type="external">Board of the Future</a>, and the City of Albuquerque are sponsoring “The Moment,” a Saturday night event benefiting the <a href="http://www.abqmainstreet.org/" type="external">Downtown ABQ MainStreet</a>nonprofit.</p>
<p>Attendees are asked to make a donation of at least $25 per person, and admission to the 21-and-over event includes drinks, live music and the opportunity to share ideas for Downtown via interactive art pieces and a video booth.</p>
<p>The group describes “The Moment” as a way to “tell us what you hope Downtown ABQ will become, enjoy an amazing atmosphere with friends, and put some dollars into a great, local organization.”</p>
<p>The event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Las Puertas Event Center, 1512 1st NW.</p>
<p>For more information and to buy tickets online go to <a href="http://www.themomentabq.eventbrite.com" type="external">www.themomentabq.eventbrite.com</a>.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 599,649 |
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<p>Three years after the Department of Education announced a contest called Race-to-the-Top for $4.35 billion in stimulus funds, some parents, teachers, governors, and citizen and public policy groups are coming to an awful realization about the likely outcomes:</p>
<p>Working behind the scenes, implementing these policies and writing the standards are associates from President Obama’s community organizing days. In de facto control of the education component is Linda Darling-Hammond, a radical left-wing educator and close colleague of William “Bill” Ayers, the former leader of the communist terrorist Weather Underground who became a professor of education and friend of Obama’s.</p>
<p>When these dangerous initiatives are implemented, there will be no escaping bad schools and a radical curriculum by moving to a good suburb, or by home schooling, or by enrolling your children in private schools.</p>
<p>How was it that 48 governors entered Race-to-the-Top without knowing outcomes?</p>
<p>It was one of the many “crises” exploited by the Obama administration. While the public was focused on a series of radical moves coming in rapid-fire succession, like the health care bill and proposed trials and imprisonment of 9/11 terrorists on domestic soil, governors, worried about keeping school doors open, signed on. Many politicians and pundits praised Obama on this singular issue, repeating the official rhetoric about raising standards.</p>
<p>It stands to reason, though, that education policies would be consistent with Obama’s agenda. After all, one of his most controversial associations, highlighted during the 2008 presidential campaign, was with an education professor, Bill Ayers. As a terrorist, he and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn, had dedicated their Prairie Fire Manifesto to Sirhan Sirhan, the convicted assassin of Robert F. Kennedy. It was for this reason that Kennedy’s son, Christopher Kennedy, chairman of the University of Illinois board of trustees, voted against bestowing “professor emeritus” status on Ayers after he retired. “I intend to vote against conferring the honorific title of our university whose body of work includes a book dedicated in part to the man who murdered my father, Robert F. Kennedy,” he said.</p>
<p>THE OBAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: WHERE DID BILL AYERS GO?</p>
<p>Back then, the former bomber and co-founder of the communist terrorist Weather Underground organization was Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The two had worked together closely from the year Ayers hosted a political launch party for Obama, in 1995, to 2002. At the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, “the brainchild of Bill Ayers,” they funneled more that $100 million to radical groups like ACORN and Gamaliel, which used the funds to promote radical education. <a href="#_edn1" type="external">[i]</a> This initiative was also <a href="http://www.frcblog.com/2009/01/change-watch-backgrounder-arne-duncan/" type="external">promoted by Arne Duncan</a>, now Secretary of Education. Also as board members of the Woods Fund, Ayers and Obama channeled money to ACORN and the Midwest Academy. <a href="#_edn2" type="external">[ii]</a></p>
<p>When initial White House visitor logs were released in 2009, the administration quickly dismissed speculations about visits by “William Ayers.” That was a different <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-10-31/news/29436639_1_visitor-logs-white-house-names" type="external">William Ayers</a> Americans were told. The Obama administration is appealing an August 17 order to release the other visitor logs in response to a lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch and others. <a href="#_edn3" type="external">[iii]</a></p>
<p>It appears, however, that “the” Obama-friendly Bill Ayers has been visiting Washington, D.C. for education-related matters.</p>
<p>In October 2009, the year before he retired, Ayers had an encounter with the “Backyard Conservative” blogger at Reagan National Airport. At that time, there was speculation about Ayers being the real author of Obama’s autobiography, Dreams from My Father. Ayers teased that <a href="http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2009/10/bill-ayers-no-dream.html" type="external">he was indeed the real author</a>.</p>
<p>Blogger and law professor, Stephen Diamond, <a href="http://stephen-diamond.com/?p=1581" type="external">noted</a> that no one asked why Ayers would even be in Washington, D.C. It turns out that Ayers was one of three keynote speakers at a conference sponsored by the Renaissance Group, which, <a href="http://stephen-diamond.com/?p=1581" type="external">according to Diamond</a>, was dedicated to problems of poverty, diversity, and multiculturalism—and the inability of white teachers to deal with them. The other two speakers were Secretary of Education Duncan and U.S. Under Secretary of Education, Martha Kanter.</p>
<p>It is not clear what Ayers spoke about at this particular conference. But my analysis of his courses and methods at the University of Illinois determined that his purpose is to radicalize future teachers—and by extension their students—for the purpose of sparking a revolution and overthrowing capitalism.</p>
<p>It is shocking that Obama Education Department officials would appear at a conference that also featured someone like Ayers. On the other hand, their boss, President Obama, worked with Ayers in Chicago, and this kind of collaboration is not entirely surprising. We are left, however, wondering about the precise nature of the role that Ayers is playing in the development of this federal education plan. But his participation in this conference clearly suggests he is playing a role of some kind.</p>
<p>At this three-day conference, Mr. Nevin Brown of Achieve, Inc., made a presentation on the “Common Core State Standards” Initiative. A recipient of the largesse of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Achieve would become a key player in revamping education under Common Core. Hence, Ayers was a major speaker at a conference that was involved in developing a new national curriculum. If Achieve has ever disavowed Ayers or his teaching methods, we could find no evidence of this on the public record.</p>
<p>The notion of a “Common Core” seems to recall E.D. Hirsch’s traditionalist Common Knowledge curriculum, which emphasizes the need for students to understand America’s cultural and national heritage. But Common Core is not that at all. Many have been fooled, and an estimated <a href="http://www.academia.org/whose-common-core/" type="external">80% of the public</a> does not even know about Common Core.</p>
<p>Common Core is part of an effort to implement regionalism, the replacement of local governments by regional boards of federally appointed bureaucrats, who in turn are beholden to international bodies. Regionalism will eliminate the freedom parents now have in choosing neighborhoods with good schools because tax funds will be distributed equally. There will be no escape in home schooling or private schools either, because the curriculum will follow national tests. Students will be tracked through mandatory state records that will then be accessible to Washington bureaucrats. Ultimately, all students will be subject to education mandates implemented by Obama’s radical cronies.</p>
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<p>NOT LETTING A CRISIS GO TO WASTE</p>
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<p>“Race to the Top” required that states commit to yet-to-be-written Common Core standards in math and English/Language Arts (ELA). Today, Common Core has the support of Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and was <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2012/09/dem_platform_praises_common_co.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2" type="external">included in the platform</a> of the Democratic National Convention. It was embraced by former Republican Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, much to the consternation of Tea Party groups, who see this as an unconstitutional federal takeover of education. The Republican Party is divided.</p>
<p>Emmett McGroarty and Jane Robbins, in <a href="http://pioneerinstitute.org/pdf/120510_ControllingEducation.pdf" type="external">their white paper</a> “Controlling Education from the Top: Why Common Core Is Bad for America,” describe the pressure and sleight-of-hand that led governors to sign onto a commitment that was then changed before the ink had fully dried. They reveal that rather than being a state-led reform initiative, as touted, the new standards were written by a few well-connected, but non-qualified, education entrepreneurs. The history goes back decades, but in the most recent phase, the vision for Common Core was set in 2007, by the Washington-based contractor, Achieve, Inc., in a document entitled Benchmarking for Success.</p>
<p>The question is: Why was Bill Ayers keynoting a conference attended by the two highest officials in the Education Department and by Achieve, essentially the project manager of the nationalized education curriculum? It may be years before we know how often Ayers visited the White House, but the Ayers educational brand or philosophy is all over Common Core.</p>
<p>Some states are waking up. Virginia pulled out when Governor Bob McDonnell was elected. Georgia, Indiana, Utah, South Carolina, and others have begun the effort to extricate themselves.</p>
<p>When South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said she would support a state legislative effort to block Common Core, which her predecessor had instituted, Education Secretary Arne Duncan <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-04-28/common-core-education/54583192/1-" type="external">dismissed her concerns</a> about nationally imposed standards as “a conspiracy theory in search of a conspiracy.”</p>
<p>But it doesn’t take a conspiracy theorist to realize that Common Core will ultimately dictate the curriculum. Two consortia of states (SBAC and PARCC) <a href="#_edn4" type="external">[iv]</a> have been given $360 million in federal funds to create national Common Core-aligned tests and “curriculum models.” Well-connected companies, such as Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the multinational textbook company Pearson, are in competition to design the test. David Coleman, a chief architect of the Common Core standards for English/Language Arts, recently was named <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/education/david-coleman-to-lead-college-board.html?adxnnl=1&amp;adxnnlx=1345213625-AW/u3O2dS1hkMClYLJHOaw" type="external">President of the College Board</a>, which administers tests, including those designed by ETS, like the SAT.</p>
<p>The Education Department on August 12, 2012, <a href="http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-invites-districts-apply-400-million-race-top-competition-su" type="external">announced another competition</a> for $400 million in Race-to-the-Top funds for local districts to “personalize learning, close achievement gaps and take full advantage of 21st century tools.” Such a competition cleverly bypasses recalcitrant states and lures individual districts into the federal web.</p>
<p>The feds’ announcement echoes Common Core’s emphasis on personalized learning and leveling of achievement through technology and collaboration (the “21st century skills”). Common Core emphasizes “in-depth” reading of short passages, rather than long fictional or historical narratives. The Publisher’s Criteria reveal that a focus on short texts will equalize outcomes. Text selection guide B mandates that “all students (including those who are behind) have extensive opportunities to encounter grade-level complex text” through “supplementary opportunities.” The strategy of gathering students into groups to collaborate on short passages ensures that no one advances beyond others. <a href="#_edn5" type="external">[v]</a></p>
<p>In the tradition of John Dewey, multiple “perspectives” and “critical thinking” are emphasized over the accumulation of “facts.” Common Core advertises itself as promoting “skills,” rather than content. The skills, though, do not promise to make students more knowledgeable about literature or history, but to make them “critical thinkers” in the tradition of the radical curriculum writers who are selectively critical of the U.S. and the West.</p>
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<p>BILL AYERS IN THE CLASSROOM</p>
<p>In 2008, attention was focused on Bill Ayers’ past as a terrorist; this, Stephen Diamond maintains, missed the real damage, which was political. Diamond, a social democrat, calls Ayers a “neo-Stalinist,” in line with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, whose country Ayers visited to make speeches about education being the “motor force of revolution.” According to Diamond, Neo-Stalinism is an “authoritarian form of politics which attempts to control and build social institutions to impose state control of the economy, politics and culture on the general population.” Ayers and his allies used the “critical policy area” of education, and through four aims: “local school councils,” small schools, social justice teaching, and payment of reparations <a href="http://02ce1ab.netsolhost.com/KingHarvest/?p=379" type="external">through education spending</a>.</p>
<p>Local school councils and “small schools” are efforts to escape modern schools that, in Ayers’ estimation, “are all about sorting and punishing, grading and ranking and certifying” and demanding “obedience and conformity.” <a href="#_edn6" type="external">[vi]</a> Ayers’ numerous, supposedly scholarly, books and articles are filled with such hyperbole that depicts demands of the regular school day, like objective tests and class periods, as evidence of a police state.</p>
<p>Former Senior Policy Advisor to the Department of Education and member of the California Mathematics Framework Committee, Ze’ev Wurman, testified that the Common Core overlooks basic skills, lowers college readiness standards, and offers “verbose and imprecise guidance,” <a href="#_edn7" type="external">[vii]</a> while dictating that geometry be taught by an experimental method that was tested on Soviet math prodigies in the 1950s—and failed.</p>
<p>In English classes, teachers will reduce the amount of time spent teaching their subject of literature to only 50 percent, and then to 30 percent in high school, a move criticized by education reform professor Sandra Stotsky. Replacing literature will be “informational texts” like &#160;nonfiction books, computer manuals, IRS forms, and original documents, like court decisions and the Declaration of Independence. Documents, like the Declaration, however, are taught in a manner that downplays their significance. Overall, students will be losing a sense of a national and cultural heritage that is acquired through a systematic reading of classical literature and study of history.</p>
<p>Although the official rhetoric promoting these standards is more muted, the approach <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/Mary_Grabar_rprtl_Ayers_Updated.pdf" type="external">parallels Bill Ayers’ pedagogy</a>. The replacement of traditional mathematics with “conceptual categories” lends itself to advancing a social justice agenda, as Ayers colleague Eric Gutstein <a href="http://education.uic.edu/faculty/50-eric-rico-gutstein" type="external">does</a> through his math education classes. The Common Core emphasis on having students simply explore original texts parallels the John Dewey-inspired approach that Ayers favors, of having students “discover” and “construct” knowledge. Not wanting to be beholden to outside, objective measurements of students’ knowledge, such teachers promote other more subjective measures, like displays of “deep” understanding, “higher-order” thinking, and ability to collaborate. By all indications, the testing being developed now will use such criteria.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>THE ROLE OF BILL AYERS “PAL” LINDA DARLING-HAMMOND</p>
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<p>Stanley Kurtz, in his latest book, Spreading the Wealth, maintains that a nationalized curriculum is part of an effort to replace local governments with regional boards, who would disburse local tax dollars equally among school districts. Once all schools are the same—with the same curriculum and the same funding—people will no longer have the incentive to move to good suburbs. While Obama’s community organizing mentor, Mike Kruglik, implements the regionalism advocated by the Gamaliel Foundation through Building One America, Ayers’ close associate, Linda Darling-Hammond, exercises “de facto control” <a href="#_edn8" type="external">[viii]</a> through education.</p>
<p>Both Ayers and Darling-Hammond were leaders in the small schools movement. She has published in a collection edited by Ayers. Both have been advocates of ending funding disparities between urban and suburban schools, ending standardized testing, and attacking “white privilege.” She has been a board member of CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), a group housed at the University of Illinois at Chicago, that provides studies of, and services for, Emotional Intelligence in schools—but really emotional manipulation <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/grabar_reprt.pdf" type="external">aimed at making students global citizens</a>.</p>
<p>Both also failed to improve schools or test scores. Ayers’ Annenberg Challenge failed miserably. The school created by Darling-Hammond, Stanford New Schools, which targeted low-income Hispanic and black students, had the distinction of making California’s list of the <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/grabar_reprt.pdf" type="external">lowest-achieving five percent</a>. Much of the reason may be her “five-dimensional grading rubric” of personal responsibility, social responsibility, communication skills, application of knowledge, and critical and creative thinking. Yet, Darling-Hammond served as education director on Obama’s transition team. In a January 2, 2009, Huffington Post column, Ayers <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-ayers/obama-and-education-refor_b_154857.html?view=screen" type="external">argued for her nomination</a> as Education Secretary. That summer, Darling-Hammond pushed Common Core in the Harvard Educational Review.</p>
<p>Darling-Hammond is in charge of content specifications at the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), which received $176 million of federal Race-to-the-Top money to develop Common Core testing. She appears frequently as a speaker and board member of other affiliated organizations. For example, she sits on the Governing Board of the Alliance for Excellent Education, Inc., recipient of a $500,000 Gates grant “to advocate for high school reform at the federal level in order to educate federal policy members about Common Core standards. . .”</p>
<p>In the August 2009 Harvard Educational Review, Darling-Hammond gave a preview of new standards as she argued for “deep understanding” and advancing beyond “the narrow views of the last eight years” by “developing creativity, critical thinking skills, and the capacity to innovate.” New assessments would use “multiple measures of learning and performance.” These would presumably emulate “high-achieving nations” that emphasize “essay questions and open-ended responses as well as research and scientific investigations, complex real-world problems, and extensive use of technology.”</p>
<p>In an April 28, 2010, Education Week article, “Developing an Internationally Comparable Balanced Assessment System,” Darling-Hammond claimed that the new assessment system is “designed to go beyond recall of facts and show students’ abilities to evaluate evidence, problem solve and understand context.” Bill Ayers, throughout his writings, likens the testing for “facts” to a factory or prison system, and agrees with Darling-Hammond’s emphasis on criteria like “student growth along multiple dimensions.” Such buzzwords thinly disguise an agenda of replacing the objective measurement of knowledge and skills with teachers’ subjective appraisals of students’ attitudes and behavior.</p>
<p>Former testing foes, like Columbia Teachers College professor Lucy Calkins, now advance Common Core standards. Although long an incubator of anti-testing advocates, Columbia has produced the authors of the popular Pathways to the Common Core (2012), one of them Calkins.</p>
<p>Pathways is maddening in its lack of specificity. Repeatedly, the authors inveigh against “skill-and-drill” and favor “deep reading” and “higher-level thinking;” but they fail to say how this will be done or even what it means. They discuss “read[ing] within the four corners of the text” and having readers get “their mental arms around a text,” <a href="#_edn9" type="external">[ix]</a> but offer no specific, much less tested, strategies for improving reading comprehension. They contradict themselves when they cite studies that show that students who read fiction improve reading levels and then promote nonfiction. When examples of informational texts are given, they are most often from left-leaning publications, often on trivial subjects.</p>
<p>Common Core thus promises to eliminate the idea of a common core of knowledge—through the privileging of leftist “informational texts” and material presented in a scattershot manner. The national and cultural identity that is conveyed through a wide and interconnected exposure to literary works from Mother Goose to Shakespeare will be undermined.</p>
<p>While proponents tout a close, critical reading of short texts, or excerpts, the truth is that the approach lends itself to infinite interpretations wildly off the mark. The approach—where uninformed groups of students speculate about “original documents”—is intended to make them radically skeptical of any historical legacy.</p>
<p>Original documents are presented in such a manner as to actually diminish them. For example, a sample exercise about Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address threw teachers into confusion when they were instructed to refrain from providing background and to read the speech without feeling. In this way, this pivotal document is stripped of its historical significance and eloquence. Nor are the religious references, so important to Lincoln’s speeches, to be mentioned. The strategy puts the Gettysburg Address on the same plane as other “informational texts,” say about frogs or snakes.</p>
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<p>TRASHING THE UNITED STATES AND THE FBI</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Other materials have the same effect.&#160; Stanford University’s “Reading Like a Historian”&#160;&#160; Project, promoted in a July 30 Education Week article, offers teachers a ready-made lesson on the Cold War with four documents: excerpts from Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech, the Truman Doctrine Speech, a telegram sent by Soviet Ambassador Nikolai Novikov to the Soviet leadership in 1946, and a modified letter by Henry Wallace, shortly before he was asked to resign by President Truman. The “Guiding Questions” focus on “close reading” and “context.” But with the scant information offered, students will likely see the final question, “Who was primarily responsible for the Cold War, the United States or the Soviet Union?” as one of moral equivalence.</p>
<p>Another lesson on the Cold War is sold by Rutgers professor Marc Aronson, who <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/53002-what-common-core-means-for-publishers.html" type="external">advertises himself</a> as a “Common Core consultant,” speaker, and author. He calls Common Core “a magnificent opportunity.” <a href="#_edn10" type="external">[x]</a> His most recent book, Master of Deceit: J. Edgar Hoover and America in the Age of Lies, is tailored for English teachers who need to teach “informational texts” to middle and high school students. Aronson makes it easy for them, <a href="http://www.marcaronson.com/teachers_guides/" type="external">offering</a> them free teachers guides.</p>
<p>Master of Deceit mocks Hoover’s own bestselling Masters of Deceit that described and warned about communist subversion. Aronson’s book is extremely manipulative and salacious, and engages in wild speculation. While a conservative point of view is thrown in here and there, the points come off as gratuitous and obviously contradictory to the main (correct) message.&#160; Aronson presents FBI Director Hoover as a repressed homosexual, who exploited Americans’ irrational fears about communism. Among the “original documents” that Aronson provides are photographs—of Hoover with his friend Clyde Tolson. He points out, for the benefit of eleven-year-olds, that photos of Tolson reclining on a lawn chair, and fully clothed, “might be seen as lovers’ portraits. . . but we cannot say for sure.”</p>
<p>In fact, we can. As Bernie Reeves, founder of the Raleigh Spy Conference, has noted, the story of Hoover’s alleged homosexuality was contrived by the KGB in the 1960s. <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/11/j_edgar_the_film_falls_for_kgb_disinformation.html" type="external">He notes</a> evidence that “…the Hoover rumor, fabricated by the KGB, found its way into the lexicon of our culture where it has evolved from vicious disinformation to accepted fact—a veritable success for the KGB and another example of the role of the failure of established media to serve as an honest broker in the affairs of the nation and the world.”</p>
<p>“Hoover provided the security Americans wanted,” writes Aronson. “Our beliefs about what was acceptable—what could be shown in public and what had to be guarded in private—shaped the secrets he could gather.”</p>
<p>Aronson’s parting words to the student are, “I hope Master of Deceit shows that we must always question both the heroes we favor and the enemies we hate. We must remain open-minded, even when the shadow of fear freezes our hearts.” In fact, our fear was real. Hoover led the FBI’s efforts to expose the Communist Party members and fronts that were part of the international communist movement that the editors of the Black Book of Communism had estimated were responsible for about 100 million dead.</p>
<p>Others advertise their services as Common Core speakers and workshop leaders, many through Edutopia, funded by movie producer George Lucas that has been promoting <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/grabar_reprt.pdf" type="external">disturbing anti-bullying and emotional intelligence videos and workshops</a>.</p>
<p>The publisher of Pathways to the Common Core, Heinemann, also publishes ready-to-go <a href="http://www.heinemann.com/classroom-materials.aspx" type="external">curricular material</a> and offers workshops on Common Core by Calkins and her colleagues.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>SELLING OBAMA CORE MATERIALS</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Publishers are promoting new Core-aligned materials. The American Library Association directs educators to their Booklist, which offers “classics” <a href="http://www.booklistonline.com/Unpacking-a-Standard-Connecting-with-Classics/pid=5577081" type="external">suggestions</a> from contemporary authors. More typical are <a href="http://www.booklistonline.com/commoncore" type="external">categories like</a> “Exploring Diversity.”</p>
<p>TeachingBooks.net offers lesson plans and discussion questions, reportedly, to more than a quarter of all U.S. schools. The site also features interviews and blog posts by authors about the research process on favorite topics like the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. <a href="#_edn11" type="external">[xi]</a> Publishers Random House, Scholastic, and Holiday House are re-launching their teacher and librarian sites with information about the Core. <a href="#_edn12" type="external">[xii]</a></p>
<p>PBS <a href="http://education.kqed.org/edspace/2012/08/31/four-creative-ways-to-teach-the-common-core-with-public-media/" type="external">promotes the use</a> of “public media” in the Common Core, thus <a href="" type="internal">updating</a> their educational activities.</p>
<p>A July 18 Publishers Weekly article notes that publishers are eagerly putting out Common Core books by adapting adult nonfiction books, like Fast Food Nation, for classroom use in a new title, Chew on This. Indeed, they are following the lead of officials: One of the sample Common Core guides is for teaching The Omnivore’s Dilemma.</p>
<p>Lerner Publishing Group is publishing biographies on stars, “such as Justin Bieber,” while carefully adhering to “Core criteria such as reading level, narrative arc, and sentence structure.” Books are sold in clusters, by topic, because “Typically, Core authors want students to think more critically about what they’re reading . . . to compare multiple sources in different formats; and to give more sourced evidence, and less personal opinion in their writing.”</p>
<p>Presumably, preteens would not be writing opinion essays about how “cute” Bieber is, but would rigorously be providing “sourced evidence” in their “deep” analyses.</p>
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<p>CLASSROOM LESSONS</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>How is Common Core now being used in classrooms? On March 14, Education Week reported that tenth-graders in a suburb of Des Moines would be reading Nickel and Dimed by far-left activist Barbara Ehrenreich. This book, along with others on “computer geeks, fast food, teenage marketing, chocolate-making, and diamond-mining,” is about the “real-world topics” (like Bieber) promoted by Common Core.</p>
<p>The Pearson Foundation, with a grant from the Gates Foundation, <a href="http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/pr/20110427-pf-partners-with-gates-foundation-to-create-digital-learning-programs.html" type="external">will offer</a> a “coherent and systemic approach to teaching the Common Core State Standards.” Another big, well-connected publisher, Scholastic, is developing “Everyday Literacy,” which according to Education Week, is a “K-6 program that incorporates brochures, catalogs, menus, and other text types.”</p>
<p>New York City’s new “Core-Aligned Task” for eleventh- and twelfth-graders centers on “doing work ‘On Behalf of Others.’” This idea of speaking out on behalf of the oppressed is canonized as “a long and dignified tradition of documentary work” that produces records “meant to raise questions and to function as calls to action.”</p>
<p>Students are asked to “read” a New York Times photo essay and audio clip titled, “Joshua Febres: The Uncertain Gang Member.” This exercise in “literacy” consists of “listen[ing] carefully” and “look[ing] closely at the images that accompany the audio.”</p>
<p>The exercise, “Building reading comprehension,” involves “extracting and analyzing relevant information from [Dorothea Lange’s Depression-era] ‘Migrant Mother’ photos.” The teacher is to:</p>
<p>Place students in pairs or trios. Using all the photographs, have the students spend at least ten minutes looking closely at the sequence of images that led up to the final image, as well as that final image. Ask them to infer what was selected and what was deflected from earlier photos, when making the final photo.</p>
<p>After reading an informational paragraph about James Agee and writing a one-sentence summary of it, students “return to [the] images.” As a class they then read a web page “which describes the complicated history of that image.”</p>
<p>The class next watches a short video about the artist “JR,” who works “on behalf of others,” by doing “massive public art installations all over the world in which he posts photographs of regular people on places such as the walls of buildings, rooftops, and the sides of bridges and trains.”</p>
<p>The essay-writing task is a “micro-report” of 500 words “about an event you witnessed [sic] place or person you know that needs to be brought to light or told about.”</p>
<p>Obviously, with only a “micro-report,” evaluation cannot be based on written “literacy” alone. So the teacher is offered a handy “Speaking and Listening Standards: Observation and Comment Form.” These upper-classmen are judged on “participat[ing] in collaborative discussion” that includes “work[ing] with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and fair decision-making.”</p>
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<p>HIGHER STANDARDS?</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Are these higher standards or dumbing down? Will Common Core produce well-educated Americans or indoctrinated pacifist global citizens?</p>
<p>Huffington Post blogger and “Award-Winning Historian and Inner City Teacher” John Thompson <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-thompson/one-cheer-for-common-core_b_1738930.html" type="external">cheers this curriculum</a>. So does PBS, as it promotes its educational materials as <a href="http://www.cblohm.com/news/pbs-teacherline-aligns-courses-to-common-core-state-standards/" type="external">Common Core compliant</a>, while receiving federal funds and the largesse of Bill Gates.</p>
<p>In her Harvard Educational Review article, “President Obama and Education: The Possibility for Dramatic Improvements in Teaching and Learning,” published in the summer after Bill Ayers had urged her nomination as Secretary of Education, Linda Darling-Hammond waxed on about the Obama administration’s “opportunity to transform our nation’s schools.”&#160; Some may remember Obama’s promise to “fundamentally transform America.” Darling-Hammond noted (or warned), “Barack Obama has outlined a set of ambitious plans to transform American education on a scale not seen since the days of the Great Society.”</p>
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<p>APPENDIX:&#160; THE GATES FOUNDATION</p>
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<p>McGroarty and Robbins note that the Gates Foundation “has poured tens of millions of dollars into organizations that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in the implementation of Common Core.” <a href="#_edn13" type="external">[xiii]</a> While the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gives to worthy causes like fighting malaria and HIV infection, the foundation’s <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Documents/2010-bmgft-990-pf.pdf" type="external">2010 IRS documents</a> reveal funding of other, mostly leftist, causes. Gifts went to the Tides Fund, and Planned Parenthood and other “reproductive health” efforts. In education, Gates has given money to teachers unions, La Raza schools, and a school named after Caesar Chavez.</p>
<p>They have given a lot to school districts. After Bill Gates met with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reporter Jaime Sarrio gushed about Gates’ generosity: a $20 million investment in “game-based learning,” technical support in Georgia’s Race to the Top application, a gift of $500,000 for teachers to meet the standards of Common Core, and $10 million for Atlanta public schools’ “Effective Teacher in Every Classroom” <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/news/opinion/game-based-learning/nQXGw/#.UAgUO2ZQer4.email" type="external">program</a>.</p>
<p>Florida schools received a substantial portion of education funding.</p>
<p>In 2010, the Gates Foundation gave millions to a number of developers of “game-based learning” and “digital learning.” Gates is also helping companies that will evaluate teacher effectiveness, like Teachscape. Among Teachscape’s business partners are the testing company ETS and the National Education Association. Teachscape’s founder is on the board of Oracle, a company that advertises itself as teaching “21st century skills.” Oracle donated money to Teachscape. Another business partner of Teachscape, Leaning Forward, will hold a conference in December, sponsored by the Gates Foundation. Presenters will offer their companies’ and their schools’ advice on using technology to implement Common Core. Session topics fall into categories like “Brain-Based Learning” and “Race, Class, Culture, and Learning Differences.”</p>
<p>Gates also gave millions to projects on “data collection” programs that track teacher and student progress.</p>
<p>The Gates Foundation supported efforts to market Common Core through media “education.” The Corporation for Public Broadcasting received half a million dollars to “identify and amplify ‘teacher voice’ to help ensure teachers are in the center of the dialogue on teacher accountability” (nothing for parent or citizen voice, though). NPR received $250,000 “to support coverage of education issues.” The Education Writers Association received $603,900 “to enhance media coverage of high school and post-secondary education by offering seminars and online training for reporters building bridges between mainstream and ethnic community media,”&#160; and $23,634 to “support media coverage of the education components of American Recovery and Reconstruction Act.”</p>
<p>The Gates Foundation provided a $489,453 grant to the George Soros/Obama mouthpiece, the Center for American Progress, “to help communicate the importance of education reforms and support progressive states seeking to implement them.” The same year CAP was also awarded $302,680 to “enhance degree completion for low-income young adults through the publishing of new policy papers, stakeholder engagement and media outreach.” Over $1 million was given to the Editorial Projects in Education, which publishes Education Week, which is supported by other foundations favoring Common Core. Education Week published the Darling-Hammond article promoting new assessments. Stephen Diamond in an October 9, 2008, blog post complained that Education Week was “whitewashing” Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers in the Annenberg Challenge.</p>
<p>Universities across the country received grants to promote Common Core, as did Boards of Regents. Columbia Teachers College, Ayers’ alma mater, and place of employment for Lucy Calkins, was a major beneficiary.</p>
<p>Gates’ efforts are aligned with the federal government’s, of making reparations, as it were, by allocating money to low-income and minority students and making them “college-ready.”&#160; Such allocations are quite frequent in the tax return.</p>
<p>But critics worry that equalization will be achieved by lowering standards. None of the education non-profits funded by Gates are dedicated to raising standards through a rigorous, traditional curriculum, or by promoting Western or American principles. As Heather Crossin and Jane Robbins point out, realistically, the idea of universal college-readiness can be met only by lowering standards. Some <a href="http://inpolicy.org/2012/07/common-core-is-heavy-on-the-common-2/" type="external">Common Core advocates have admitted</a> that this is the case.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[i]</a> Stanley Kurtz, quoted in The Corruption Chronicles: Obama’s Big Secrecy, Big Corruption, and Big Government by Tom Fitton (New York; Simon and Schuster, 2012) page 124.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[ii]</a> Kurtz, Stanley. &#160;Spreading the Wealth: How Obama Is Robbing the Suburbs to Pay for the Cities.&#160; New York; Sentinel, 2012.&#160; 138.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[iii]</a> The Judicial Watch Verdict, August 2012, Volume 18, Issue 8.&#160; 10, 12.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[iv]</a> SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium and Partnership for Assessment Readiness of College and Careers</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[v]</a> David Coleman and Susan Pimentel, “Revised Publishers’ Criteria for the Common Core Standards.”&#160; Revised 4/12/12.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[vi]</a> Ayers, William.&#160; “A Simple Justice: Thinking about Teaching and Learning, Equity, and the Fight for Small Schools,” in A Simple Justice: The Challenge of Small Schools, Ed. William Ayers, Michael Klonsky, and Gabrielle Lyon.&#160; New York: Teachers College Press, 2000.&#160; 1-8.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[vii]</a> Page 25.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[viii]</a> Kurtz.&#160; 184.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[ix]</a> Page 39.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[x]</a> Publishers Weekly, July 18, 2012.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[xi]</a> Springen, Karen.&#160; “What Common Core Means for Publishers.”&#160; Publishers Weekly, July 18, 2012.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[xii]</a> Ibid.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[xiii]</a> Page 15.</p> | Terrorist Professor Bill Ayers and Obama’s Federal School Curriculum | true | http://aim.org/special-report/terrorist-professor-bill-ayers-and-obamas-federal-school-curriculum/ | 2012-09-21 | 0right
| Terrorist Professor Bill Ayers and Obama’s Federal School Curriculum
<p>Three years after the Department of Education announced a contest called Race-to-the-Top for $4.35 billion in stimulus funds, some parents, teachers, governors, and citizen and public policy groups are coming to an awful realization about the likely outcomes:</p>
<p>Working behind the scenes, implementing these policies and writing the standards are associates from President Obama’s community organizing days. In de facto control of the education component is Linda Darling-Hammond, a radical left-wing educator and close colleague of William “Bill” Ayers, the former leader of the communist terrorist Weather Underground who became a professor of education and friend of Obama’s.</p>
<p>When these dangerous initiatives are implemented, there will be no escaping bad schools and a radical curriculum by moving to a good suburb, or by home schooling, or by enrolling your children in private schools.</p>
<p>How was it that 48 governors entered Race-to-the-Top without knowing outcomes?</p>
<p>It was one of the many “crises” exploited by the Obama administration. While the public was focused on a series of radical moves coming in rapid-fire succession, like the health care bill and proposed trials and imprisonment of 9/11 terrorists on domestic soil, governors, worried about keeping school doors open, signed on. Many politicians and pundits praised Obama on this singular issue, repeating the official rhetoric about raising standards.</p>
<p>It stands to reason, though, that education policies would be consistent with Obama’s agenda. After all, one of his most controversial associations, highlighted during the 2008 presidential campaign, was with an education professor, Bill Ayers. As a terrorist, he and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn, had dedicated their Prairie Fire Manifesto to Sirhan Sirhan, the convicted assassin of Robert F. Kennedy. It was for this reason that Kennedy’s son, Christopher Kennedy, chairman of the University of Illinois board of trustees, voted against bestowing “professor emeritus” status on Ayers after he retired. “I intend to vote against conferring the honorific title of our university whose body of work includes a book dedicated in part to the man who murdered my father, Robert F. Kennedy,” he said.</p>
<p>THE OBAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: WHERE DID BILL AYERS GO?</p>
<p>Back then, the former bomber and co-founder of the communist terrorist Weather Underground organization was Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The two had worked together closely from the year Ayers hosted a political launch party for Obama, in 1995, to 2002. At the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, “the brainchild of Bill Ayers,” they funneled more that $100 million to radical groups like ACORN and Gamaliel, which used the funds to promote radical education. <a href="#_edn1" type="external">[i]</a> This initiative was also <a href="http://www.frcblog.com/2009/01/change-watch-backgrounder-arne-duncan/" type="external">promoted by Arne Duncan</a>, now Secretary of Education. Also as board members of the Woods Fund, Ayers and Obama channeled money to ACORN and the Midwest Academy. <a href="#_edn2" type="external">[ii]</a></p>
<p>When initial White House visitor logs were released in 2009, the administration quickly dismissed speculations about visits by “William Ayers.” That was a different <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-10-31/news/29436639_1_visitor-logs-white-house-names" type="external">William Ayers</a> Americans were told. The Obama administration is appealing an August 17 order to release the other visitor logs in response to a lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch and others. <a href="#_edn3" type="external">[iii]</a></p>
<p>It appears, however, that “the” Obama-friendly Bill Ayers has been visiting Washington, D.C. for education-related matters.</p>
<p>In October 2009, the year before he retired, Ayers had an encounter with the “Backyard Conservative” blogger at Reagan National Airport. At that time, there was speculation about Ayers being the real author of Obama’s autobiography, Dreams from My Father. Ayers teased that <a href="http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2009/10/bill-ayers-no-dream.html" type="external">he was indeed the real author</a>.</p>
<p>Blogger and law professor, Stephen Diamond, <a href="http://stephen-diamond.com/?p=1581" type="external">noted</a> that no one asked why Ayers would even be in Washington, D.C. It turns out that Ayers was one of three keynote speakers at a conference sponsored by the Renaissance Group, which, <a href="http://stephen-diamond.com/?p=1581" type="external">according to Diamond</a>, was dedicated to problems of poverty, diversity, and multiculturalism—and the inability of white teachers to deal with them. The other two speakers were Secretary of Education Duncan and U.S. Under Secretary of Education, Martha Kanter.</p>
<p>It is not clear what Ayers spoke about at this particular conference. But my analysis of his courses and methods at the University of Illinois determined that his purpose is to radicalize future teachers—and by extension their students—for the purpose of sparking a revolution and overthrowing capitalism.</p>
<p>It is shocking that Obama Education Department officials would appear at a conference that also featured someone like Ayers. On the other hand, their boss, President Obama, worked with Ayers in Chicago, and this kind of collaboration is not entirely surprising. We are left, however, wondering about the precise nature of the role that Ayers is playing in the development of this federal education plan. But his participation in this conference clearly suggests he is playing a role of some kind.</p>
<p>At this three-day conference, Mr. Nevin Brown of Achieve, Inc., made a presentation on the “Common Core State Standards” Initiative. A recipient of the largesse of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Achieve would become a key player in revamping education under Common Core. Hence, Ayers was a major speaker at a conference that was involved in developing a new national curriculum. If Achieve has ever disavowed Ayers or his teaching methods, we could find no evidence of this on the public record.</p>
<p>The notion of a “Common Core” seems to recall E.D. Hirsch’s traditionalist Common Knowledge curriculum, which emphasizes the need for students to understand America’s cultural and national heritage. But Common Core is not that at all. Many have been fooled, and an estimated <a href="http://www.academia.org/whose-common-core/" type="external">80% of the public</a> does not even know about Common Core.</p>
<p>Common Core is part of an effort to implement regionalism, the replacement of local governments by regional boards of federally appointed bureaucrats, who in turn are beholden to international bodies. Regionalism will eliminate the freedom parents now have in choosing neighborhoods with good schools because tax funds will be distributed equally. There will be no escape in home schooling or private schools either, because the curriculum will follow national tests. Students will be tracked through mandatory state records that will then be accessible to Washington bureaucrats. Ultimately, all students will be subject to education mandates implemented by Obama’s radical cronies.</p>
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<p>NOT LETTING A CRISIS GO TO WASTE</p>
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<p>“Race to the Top” required that states commit to yet-to-be-written Common Core standards in math and English/Language Arts (ELA). Today, Common Core has the support of Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and was <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2012/09/dem_platform_praises_common_co.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2" type="external">included in the platform</a> of the Democratic National Convention. It was embraced by former Republican Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, much to the consternation of Tea Party groups, who see this as an unconstitutional federal takeover of education. The Republican Party is divided.</p>
<p>Emmett McGroarty and Jane Robbins, in <a href="http://pioneerinstitute.org/pdf/120510_ControllingEducation.pdf" type="external">their white paper</a> “Controlling Education from the Top: Why Common Core Is Bad for America,” describe the pressure and sleight-of-hand that led governors to sign onto a commitment that was then changed before the ink had fully dried. They reveal that rather than being a state-led reform initiative, as touted, the new standards were written by a few well-connected, but non-qualified, education entrepreneurs. The history goes back decades, but in the most recent phase, the vision for Common Core was set in 2007, by the Washington-based contractor, Achieve, Inc., in a document entitled Benchmarking for Success.</p>
<p>The question is: Why was Bill Ayers keynoting a conference attended by the two highest officials in the Education Department and by Achieve, essentially the project manager of the nationalized education curriculum? It may be years before we know how often Ayers visited the White House, but the Ayers educational brand or philosophy is all over Common Core.</p>
<p>Some states are waking up. Virginia pulled out when Governor Bob McDonnell was elected. Georgia, Indiana, Utah, South Carolina, and others have begun the effort to extricate themselves.</p>
<p>When South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said she would support a state legislative effort to block Common Core, which her predecessor had instituted, Education Secretary Arne Duncan <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-04-28/common-core-education/54583192/1-" type="external">dismissed her concerns</a> about nationally imposed standards as “a conspiracy theory in search of a conspiracy.”</p>
<p>But it doesn’t take a conspiracy theorist to realize that Common Core will ultimately dictate the curriculum. Two consortia of states (SBAC and PARCC) <a href="#_edn4" type="external">[iv]</a> have been given $360 million in federal funds to create national Common Core-aligned tests and “curriculum models.” Well-connected companies, such as Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the multinational textbook company Pearson, are in competition to design the test. David Coleman, a chief architect of the Common Core standards for English/Language Arts, recently was named <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/education/david-coleman-to-lead-college-board.html?adxnnl=1&amp;adxnnlx=1345213625-AW/u3O2dS1hkMClYLJHOaw" type="external">President of the College Board</a>, which administers tests, including those designed by ETS, like the SAT.</p>
<p>The Education Department on August 12, 2012, <a href="http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-invites-districts-apply-400-million-race-top-competition-su" type="external">announced another competition</a> for $400 million in Race-to-the-Top funds for local districts to “personalize learning, close achievement gaps and take full advantage of 21st century tools.” Such a competition cleverly bypasses recalcitrant states and lures individual districts into the federal web.</p>
<p>The feds’ announcement echoes Common Core’s emphasis on personalized learning and leveling of achievement through technology and collaboration (the “21st century skills”). Common Core emphasizes “in-depth” reading of short passages, rather than long fictional or historical narratives. The Publisher’s Criteria reveal that a focus on short texts will equalize outcomes. Text selection guide B mandates that “all students (including those who are behind) have extensive opportunities to encounter grade-level complex text” through “supplementary opportunities.” The strategy of gathering students into groups to collaborate on short passages ensures that no one advances beyond others. <a href="#_edn5" type="external">[v]</a></p>
<p>In the tradition of John Dewey, multiple “perspectives” and “critical thinking” are emphasized over the accumulation of “facts.” Common Core advertises itself as promoting “skills,” rather than content. The skills, though, do not promise to make students more knowledgeable about literature or history, but to make them “critical thinkers” in the tradition of the radical curriculum writers who are selectively critical of the U.S. and the West.</p>
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<p>BILL AYERS IN THE CLASSROOM</p>
<p>In 2008, attention was focused on Bill Ayers’ past as a terrorist; this, Stephen Diamond maintains, missed the real damage, which was political. Diamond, a social democrat, calls Ayers a “neo-Stalinist,” in line with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, whose country Ayers visited to make speeches about education being the “motor force of revolution.” According to Diamond, Neo-Stalinism is an “authoritarian form of politics which attempts to control and build social institutions to impose state control of the economy, politics and culture on the general population.” Ayers and his allies used the “critical policy area” of education, and through four aims: “local school councils,” small schools, social justice teaching, and payment of reparations <a href="http://02ce1ab.netsolhost.com/KingHarvest/?p=379" type="external">through education spending</a>.</p>
<p>Local school councils and “small schools” are efforts to escape modern schools that, in Ayers’ estimation, “are all about sorting and punishing, grading and ranking and certifying” and demanding “obedience and conformity.” <a href="#_edn6" type="external">[vi]</a> Ayers’ numerous, supposedly scholarly, books and articles are filled with such hyperbole that depicts demands of the regular school day, like objective tests and class periods, as evidence of a police state.</p>
<p>Former Senior Policy Advisor to the Department of Education and member of the California Mathematics Framework Committee, Ze’ev Wurman, testified that the Common Core overlooks basic skills, lowers college readiness standards, and offers “verbose and imprecise guidance,” <a href="#_edn7" type="external">[vii]</a> while dictating that geometry be taught by an experimental method that was tested on Soviet math prodigies in the 1950s—and failed.</p>
<p>In English classes, teachers will reduce the amount of time spent teaching their subject of literature to only 50 percent, and then to 30 percent in high school, a move criticized by education reform professor Sandra Stotsky. Replacing literature will be “informational texts” like &#160;nonfiction books, computer manuals, IRS forms, and original documents, like court decisions and the Declaration of Independence. Documents, like the Declaration, however, are taught in a manner that downplays their significance. Overall, students will be losing a sense of a national and cultural heritage that is acquired through a systematic reading of classical literature and study of history.</p>
<p>Although the official rhetoric promoting these standards is more muted, the approach <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/Mary_Grabar_rprtl_Ayers_Updated.pdf" type="external">parallels Bill Ayers’ pedagogy</a>. The replacement of traditional mathematics with “conceptual categories” lends itself to advancing a social justice agenda, as Ayers colleague Eric Gutstein <a href="http://education.uic.edu/faculty/50-eric-rico-gutstein" type="external">does</a> through his math education classes. The Common Core emphasis on having students simply explore original texts parallels the John Dewey-inspired approach that Ayers favors, of having students “discover” and “construct” knowledge. Not wanting to be beholden to outside, objective measurements of students’ knowledge, such teachers promote other more subjective measures, like displays of “deep” understanding, “higher-order” thinking, and ability to collaborate. By all indications, the testing being developed now will use such criteria.</p>
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<p>THE ROLE OF BILL AYERS “PAL” LINDA DARLING-HAMMOND</p>
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<p>Stanley Kurtz, in his latest book, Spreading the Wealth, maintains that a nationalized curriculum is part of an effort to replace local governments with regional boards, who would disburse local tax dollars equally among school districts. Once all schools are the same—with the same curriculum and the same funding—people will no longer have the incentive to move to good suburbs. While Obama’s community organizing mentor, Mike Kruglik, implements the regionalism advocated by the Gamaliel Foundation through Building One America, Ayers’ close associate, Linda Darling-Hammond, exercises “de facto control” <a href="#_edn8" type="external">[viii]</a> through education.</p>
<p>Both Ayers and Darling-Hammond were leaders in the small schools movement. She has published in a collection edited by Ayers. Both have been advocates of ending funding disparities between urban and suburban schools, ending standardized testing, and attacking “white privilege.” She has been a board member of CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), a group housed at the University of Illinois at Chicago, that provides studies of, and services for, Emotional Intelligence in schools—but really emotional manipulation <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/grabar_reprt.pdf" type="external">aimed at making students global citizens</a>.</p>
<p>Both also failed to improve schools or test scores. Ayers’ Annenberg Challenge failed miserably. The school created by Darling-Hammond, Stanford New Schools, which targeted low-income Hispanic and black students, had the distinction of making California’s list of the <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/grabar_reprt.pdf" type="external">lowest-achieving five percent</a>. Much of the reason may be her “five-dimensional grading rubric” of personal responsibility, social responsibility, communication skills, application of knowledge, and critical and creative thinking. Yet, Darling-Hammond served as education director on Obama’s transition team. In a January 2, 2009, Huffington Post column, Ayers <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-ayers/obama-and-education-refor_b_154857.html?view=screen" type="external">argued for her nomination</a> as Education Secretary. That summer, Darling-Hammond pushed Common Core in the Harvard Educational Review.</p>
<p>Darling-Hammond is in charge of content specifications at the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), which received $176 million of federal Race-to-the-Top money to develop Common Core testing. She appears frequently as a speaker and board member of other affiliated organizations. For example, she sits on the Governing Board of the Alliance for Excellent Education, Inc., recipient of a $500,000 Gates grant “to advocate for high school reform at the federal level in order to educate federal policy members about Common Core standards. . .”</p>
<p>In the August 2009 Harvard Educational Review, Darling-Hammond gave a preview of new standards as she argued for “deep understanding” and advancing beyond “the narrow views of the last eight years” by “developing creativity, critical thinking skills, and the capacity to innovate.” New assessments would use “multiple measures of learning and performance.” These would presumably emulate “high-achieving nations” that emphasize “essay questions and open-ended responses as well as research and scientific investigations, complex real-world problems, and extensive use of technology.”</p>
<p>In an April 28, 2010, Education Week article, “Developing an Internationally Comparable Balanced Assessment System,” Darling-Hammond claimed that the new assessment system is “designed to go beyond recall of facts and show students’ abilities to evaluate evidence, problem solve and understand context.” Bill Ayers, throughout his writings, likens the testing for “facts” to a factory or prison system, and agrees with Darling-Hammond’s emphasis on criteria like “student growth along multiple dimensions.” Such buzzwords thinly disguise an agenda of replacing the objective measurement of knowledge and skills with teachers’ subjective appraisals of students’ attitudes and behavior.</p>
<p>Former testing foes, like Columbia Teachers College professor Lucy Calkins, now advance Common Core standards. Although long an incubator of anti-testing advocates, Columbia has produced the authors of the popular Pathways to the Common Core (2012), one of them Calkins.</p>
<p>Pathways is maddening in its lack of specificity. Repeatedly, the authors inveigh against “skill-and-drill” and favor “deep reading” and “higher-level thinking;” but they fail to say how this will be done or even what it means. They discuss “read[ing] within the four corners of the text” and having readers get “their mental arms around a text,” <a href="#_edn9" type="external">[ix]</a> but offer no specific, much less tested, strategies for improving reading comprehension. They contradict themselves when they cite studies that show that students who read fiction improve reading levels and then promote nonfiction. When examples of informational texts are given, they are most often from left-leaning publications, often on trivial subjects.</p>
<p>Common Core thus promises to eliminate the idea of a common core of knowledge—through the privileging of leftist “informational texts” and material presented in a scattershot manner. The national and cultural identity that is conveyed through a wide and interconnected exposure to literary works from Mother Goose to Shakespeare will be undermined.</p>
<p>While proponents tout a close, critical reading of short texts, or excerpts, the truth is that the approach lends itself to infinite interpretations wildly off the mark. The approach—where uninformed groups of students speculate about “original documents”—is intended to make them radically skeptical of any historical legacy.</p>
<p>Original documents are presented in such a manner as to actually diminish them. For example, a sample exercise about Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address threw teachers into confusion when they were instructed to refrain from providing background and to read the speech without feeling. In this way, this pivotal document is stripped of its historical significance and eloquence. Nor are the religious references, so important to Lincoln’s speeches, to be mentioned. The strategy puts the Gettysburg Address on the same plane as other “informational texts,” say about frogs or snakes.</p>
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<p>TRASHING THE UNITED STATES AND THE FBI</p>
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<p>Other materials have the same effect.&#160; Stanford University’s “Reading Like a Historian”&#160;&#160; Project, promoted in a July 30 Education Week article, offers teachers a ready-made lesson on the Cold War with four documents: excerpts from Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech, the Truman Doctrine Speech, a telegram sent by Soviet Ambassador Nikolai Novikov to the Soviet leadership in 1946, and a modified letter by Henry Wallace, shortly before he was asked to resign by President Truman. The “Guiding Questions” focus on “close reading” and “context.” But with the scant information offered, students will likely see the final question, “Who was primarily responsible for the Cold War, the United States or the Soviet Union?” as one of moral equivalence.</p>
<p>Another lesson on the Cold War is sold by Rutgers professor Marc Aronson, who <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/53002-what-common-core-means-for-publishers.html" type="external">advertises himself</a> as a “Common Core consultant,” speaker, and author. He calls Common Core “a magnificent opportunity.” <a href="#_edn10" type="external">[x]</a> His most recent book, Master of Deceit: J. Edgar Hoover and America in the Age of Lies, is tailored for English teachers who need to teach “informational texts” to middle and high school students. Aronson makes it easy for them, <a href="http://www.marcaronson.com/teachers_guides/" type="external">offering</a> them free teachers guides.</p>
<p>Master of Deceit mocks Hoover’s own bestselling Masters of Deceit that described and warned about communist subversion. Aronson’s book is extremely manipulative and salacious, and engages in wild speculation. While a conservative point of view is thrown in here and there, the points come off as gratuitous and obviously contradictory to the main (correct) message.&#160; Aronson presents FBI Director Hoover as a repressed homosexual, who exploited Americans’ irrational fears about communism. Among the “original documents” that Aronson provides are photographs—of Hoover with his friend Clyde Tolson. He points out, for the benefit of eleven-year-olds, that photos of Tolson reclining on a lawn chair, and fully clothed, “might be seen as lovers’ portraits. . . but we cannot say for sure.”</p>
<p>In fact, we can. As Bernie Reeves, founder of the Raleigh Spy Conference, has noted, the story of Hoover’s alleged homosexuality was contrived by the KGB in the 1960s. <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/11/j_edgar_the_film_falls_for_kgb_disinformation.html" type="external">He notes</a> evidence that “…the Hoover rumor, fabricated by the KGB, found its way into the lexicon of our culture where it has evolved from vicious disinformation to accepted fact—a veritable success for the KGB and another example of the role of the failure of established media to serve as an honest broker in the affairs of the nation and the world.”</p>
<p>“Hoover provided the security Americans wanted,” writes Aronson. “Our beliefs about what was acceptable—what could be shown in public and what had to be guarded in private—shaped the secrets he could gather.”</p>
<p>Aronson’s parting words to the student are, “I hope Master of Deceit shows that we must always question both the heroes we favor and the enemies we hate. We must remain open-minded, even when the shadow of fear freezes our hearts.” In fact, our fear was real. Hoover led the FBI’s efforts to expose the Communist Party members and fronts that were part of the international communist movement that the editors of the Black Book of Communism had estimated were responsible for about 100 million dead.</p>
<p>Others advertise their services as Common Core speakers and workshop leaders, many through Edutopia, funded by movie producer George Lucas that has been promoting <a href="http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/grabar_reprt.pdf" type="external">disturbing anti-bullying and emotional intelligence videos and workshops</a>.</p>
<p>The publisher of Pathways to the Common Core, Heinemann, also publishes ready-to-go <a href="http://www.heinemann.com/classroom-materials.aspx" type="external">curricular material</a> and offers workshops on Common Core by Calkins and her colleagues.</p>
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<p>SELLING OBAMA CORE MATERIALS</p>
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<p>Publishers are promoting new Core-aligned materials. The American Library Association directs educators to their Booklist, which offers “classics” <a href="http://www.booklistonline.com/Unpacking-a-Standard-Connecting-with-Classics/pid=5577081" type="external">suggestions</a> from contemporary authors. More typical are <a href="http://www.booklistonline.com/commoncore" type="external">categories like</a> “Exploring Diversity.”</p>
<p>TeachingBooks.net offers lesson plans and discussion questions, reportedly, to more than a quarter of all U.S. schools. The site also features interviews and blog posts by authors about the research process on favorite topics like the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. <a href="#_edn11" type="external">[xi]</a> Publishers Random House, Scholastic, and Holiday House are re-launching their teacher and librarian sites with information about the Core. <a href="#_edn12" type="external">[xii]</a></p>
<p>PBS <a href="http://education.kqed.org/edspace/2012/08/31/four-creative-ways-to-teach-the-common-core-with-public-media/" type="external">promotes the use</a> of “public media” in the Common Core, thus <a href="" type="internal">updating</a> their educational activities.</p>
<p>A July 18 Publishers Weekly article notes that publishers are eagerly putting out Common Core books by adapting adult nonfiction books, like Fast Food Nation, for classroom use in a new title, Chew on This. Indeed, they are following the lead of officials: One of the sample Common Core guides is for teaching The Omnivore’s Dilemma.</p>
<p>Lerner Publishing Group is publishing biographies on stars, “such as Justin Bieber,” while carefully adhering to “Core criteria such as reading level, narrative arc, and sentence structure.” Books are sold in clusters, by topic, because “Typically, Core authors want students to think more critically about what they’re reading . . . to compare multiple sources in different formats; and to give more sourced evidence, and less personal opinion in their writing.”</p>
<p>Presumably, preteens would not be writing opinion essays about how “cute” Bieber is, but would rigorously be providing “sourced evidence” in their “deep” analyses.</p>
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<p>CLASSROOM LESSONS</p>
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<p>How is Common Core now being used in classrooms? On March 14, Education Week reported that tenth-graders in a suburb of Des Moines would be reading Nickel and Dimed by far-left activist Barbara Ehrenreich. This book, along with others on “computer geeks, fast food, teenage marketing, chocolate-making, and diamond-mining,” is about the “real-world topics” (like Bieber) promoted by Common Core.</p>
<p>The Pearson Foundation, with a grant from the Gates Foundation, <a href="http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/pr/20110427-pf-partners-with-gates-foundation-to-create-digital-learning-programs.html" type="external">will offer</a> a “coherent and systemic approach to teaching the Common Core State Standards.” Another big, well-connected publisher, Scholastic, is developing “Everyday Literacy,” which according to Education Week, is a “K-6 program that incorporates brochures, catalogs, menus, and other text types.”</p>
<p>New York City’s new “Core-Aligned Task” for eleventh- and twelfth-graders centers on “doing work ‘On Behalf of Others.’” This idea of speaking out on behalf of the oppressed is canonized as “a long and dignified tradition of documentary work” that produces records “meant to raise questions and to function as calls to action.”</p>
<p>Students are asked to “read” a New York Times photo essay and audio clip titled, “Joshua Febres: The Uncertain Gang Member.” This exercise in “literacy” consists of “listen[ing] carefully” and “look[ing] closely at the images that accompany the audio.”</p>
<p>The exercise, “Building reading comprehension,” involves “extracting and analyzing relevant information from [Dorothea Lange’s Depression-era] ‘Migrant Mother’ photos.” The teacher is to:</p>
<p>Place students in pairs or trios. Using all the photographs, have the students spend at least ten minutes looking closely at the sequence of images that led up to the final image, as well as that final image. Ask them to infer what was selected and what was deflected from earlier photos, when making the final photo.</p>
<p>After reading an informational paragraph about James Agee and writing a one-sentence summary of it, students “return to [the] images.” As a class they then read a web page “which describes the complicated history of that image.”</p>
<p>The class next watches a short video about the artist “JR,” who works “on behalf of others,” by doing “massive public art installations all over the world in which he posts photographs of regular people on places such as the walls of buildings, rooftops, and the sides of bridges and trains.”</p>
<p>The essay-writing task is a “micro-report” of 500 words “about an event you witnessed [sic] place or person you know that needs to be brought to light or told about.”</p>
<p>Obviously, with only a “micro-report,” evaluation cannot be based on written “literacy” alone. So the teacher is offered a handy “Speaking and Listening Standards: Observation and Comment Form.” These upper-classmen are judged on “participat[ing] in collaborative discussion” that includes “work[ing] with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and fair decision-making.”</p>
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<p>HIGHER STANDARDS?</p>
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<p>Are these higher standards or dumbing down? Will Common Core produce well-educated Americans or indoctrinated pacifist global citizens?</p>
<p>Huffington Post blogger and “Award-Winning Historian and Inner City Teacher” John Thompson <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-thompson/one-cheer-for-common-core_b_1738930.html" type="external">cheers this curriculum</a>. So does PBS, as it promotes its educational materials as <a href="http://www.cblohm.com/news/pbs-teacherline-aligns-courses-to-common-core-state-standards/" type="external">Common Core compliant</a>, while receiving federal funds and the largesse of Bill Gates.</p>
<p>In her Harvard Educational Review article, “President Obama and Education: The Possibility for Dramatic Improvements in Teaching and Learning,” published in the summer after Bill Ayers had urged her nomination as Secretary of Education, Linda Darling-Hammond waxed on about the Obama administration’s “opportunity to transform our nation’s schools.”&#160; Some may remember Obama’s promise to “fundamentally transform America.” Darling-Hammond noted (or warned), “Barack Obama has outlined a set of ambitious plans to transform American education on a scale not seen since the days of the Great Society.”</p>
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<p>APPENDIX:&#160; THE GATES FOUNDATION</p>
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<p>McGroarty and Robbins note that the Gates Foundation “has poured tens of millions of dollars into organizations that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in the implementation of Common Core.” <a href="#_edn13" type="external">[xiii]</a> While the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gives to worthy causes like fighting malaria and HIV infection, the foundation’s <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Documents/2010-bmgft-990-pf.pdf" type="external">2010 IRS documents</a> reveal funding of other, mostly leftist, causes. Gifts went to the Tides Fund, and Planned Parenthood and other “reproductive health” efforts. In education, Gates has given money to teachers unions, La Raza schools, and a school named after Caesar Chavez.</p>
<p>They have given a lot to school districts. After Bill Gates met with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reporter Jaime Sarrio gushed about Gates’ generosity: a $20 million investment in “game-based learning,” technical support in Georgia’s Race to the Top application, a gift of $500,000 for teachers to meet the standards of Common Core, and $10 million for Atlanta public schools’ “Effective Teacher in Every Classroom” <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/news/opinion/game-based-learning/nQXGw/#.UAgUO2ZQer4.email" type="external">program</a>.</p>
<p>Florida schools received a substantial portion of education funding.</p>
<p>In 2010, the Gates Foundation gave millions to a number of developers of “game-based learning” and “digital learning.” Gates is also helping companies that will evaluate teacher effectiveness, like Teachscape. Among Teachscape’s business partners are the testing company ETS and the National Education Association. Teachscape’s founder is on the board of Oracle, a company that advertises itself as teaching “21st century skills.” Oracle donated money to Teachscape. Another business partner of Teachscape, Leaning Forward, will hold a conference in December, sponsored by the Gates Foundation. Presenters will offer their companies’ and their schools’ advice on using technology to implement Common Core. Session topics fall into categories like “Brain-Based Learning” and “Race, Class, Culture, and Learning Differences.”</p>
<p>Gates also gave millions to projects on “data collection” programs that track teacher and student progress.</p>
<p>The Gates Foundation supported efforts to market Common Core through media “education.” The Corporation for Public Broadcasting received half a million dollars to “identify and amplify ‘teacher voice’ to help ensure teachers are in the center of the dialogue on teacher accountability” (nothing for parent or citizen voice, though). NPR received $250,000 “to support coverage of education issues.” The Education Writers Association received $603,900 “to enhance media coverage of high school and post-secondary education by offering seminars and online training for reporters building bridges between mainstream and ethnic community media,”&#160; and $23,634 to “support media coverage of the education components of American Recovery and Reconstruction Act.”</p>
<p>The Gates Foundation provided a $489,453 grant to the George Soros/Obama mouthpiece, the Center for American Progress, “to help communicate the importance of education reforms and support progressive states seeking to implement them.” The same year CAP was also awarded $302,680 to “enhance degree completion for low-income young adults through the publishing of new policy papers, stakeholder engagement and media outreach.” Over $1 million was given to the Editorial Projects in Education, which publishes Education Week, which is supported by other foundations favoring Common Core. Education Week published the Darling-Hammond article promoting new assessments. Stephen Diamond in an October 9, 2008, blog post complained that Education Week was “whitewashing” Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers in the Annenberg Challenge.</p>
<p>Universities across the country received grants to promote Common Core, as did Boards of Regents. Columbia Teachers College, Ayers’ alma mater, and place of employment for Lucy Calkins, was a major beneficiary.</p>
<p>Gates’ efforts are aligned with the federal government’s, of making reparations, as it were, by allocating money to low-income and minority students and making them “college-ready.”&#160; Such allocations are quite frequent in the tax return.</p>
<p>But critics worry that equalization will be achieved by lowering standards. None of the education non-profits funded by Gates are dedicated to raising standards through a rigorous, traditional curriculum, or by promoting Western or American principles. As Heather Crossin and Jane Robbins point out, realistically, the idea of universal college-readiness can be met only by lowering standards. Some <a href="http://inpolicy.org/2012/07/common-core-is-heavy-on-the-common-2/" type="external">Common Core advocates have admitted</a> that this is the case.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[i]</a> Stanley Kurtz, quoted in The Corruption Chronicles: Obama’s Big Secrecy, Big Corruption, and Big Government by Tom Fitton (New York; Simon and Schuster, 2012) page 124.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[ii]</a> Kurtz, Stanley. &#160;Spreading the Wealth: How Obama Is Robbing the Suburbs to Pay for the Cities.&#160; New York; Sentinel, 2012.&#160; 138.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[iii]</a> The Judicial Watch Verdict, August 2012, Volume 18, Issue 8.&#160; 10, 12.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[iv]</a> SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium and Partnership for Assessment Readiness of College and Careers</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[v]</a> David Coleman and Susan Pimentel, “Revised Publishers’ Criteria for the Common Core Standards.”&#160; Revised 4/12/12.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[vi]</a> Ayers, William.&#160; “A Simple Justice: Thinking about Teaching and Learning, Equity, and the Fight for Small Schools,” in A Simple Justice: The Challenge of Small Schools, Ed. William Ayers, Michael Klonsky, and Gabrielle Lyon.&#160; New York: Teachers College Press, 2000.&#160; 1-8.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[vii]</a> Page 25.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[viii]</a> Kurtz.&#160; 184.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[ix]</a> Page 39.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[x]</a> Publishers Weekly, July 18, 2012.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[xi]</a> Springen, Karen.&#160; “What Common Core Means for Publishers.”&#160; Publishers Weekly, July 18, 2012.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[xii]</a> Ibid.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="">[xiii]</a> Page 15.</p> | 599,650 |
<p>Tear gas filled the streets of downtown Tehran on Saturday as protests spilled into a third day, with the government warning against further "illegal gatherings."</p>
<p>There was chaos around the University of Tehran as several hundred people scuffled with police and shouted slogans against the regime for several hours, bringing traffic to a standstill.</p>
<p>But the regime also put on a show of strength, with hundreds of counterdemonstrators seizing control of the university entrance in Tehran, chanting "Death to the seditionists."</p>
<p>Videos shared by social media users outside Iran claimed to show thousands marching peacefully in several cities including Khorramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz, with chants of "Death to the dictator."</p>
<p>But a swirl of wild rumors online, combined with travel restrictions and a near-total media blackout from official agencies, made it difficult to verify footage.</p>
<p>Telecoms minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one popular Telegram channel of encouraging the "use of Molotov cocktails, armed uprising, and social unrest."</p>
<p>The authorities were fortunate that annual rallies marking the defeat of the last major protest movement in 2009 were already scheduled for Saturday morning and brought thousands of regime enthusiasts to the streets across the country.</p>
<p>"We urge all those who receive these calls to protest not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens," warned Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli.&#160;</p>
<p>The protests began in the second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole.</p>
<p>There were even chants in favor of the monarchy toppled by the Islamic revolution of 1979, while others criticized the regime for supporting the Palestinians and other regional movements rather than focusing on problems at home.</p>
<p>State news channel IRINN said it had been banned from covering the protests that spread to towns and cities including Qom and Kermanshah.</p>
<p>"The enemy wants once again to create a new plot and use social media and economic issues to foment a new sedition," Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a prominent cleric, told a crowd in Tehran, according to the conservative Fars news agency.</p>
<p>Other officials also pointed the blame outside Iran.</p>
<p>"Although people have a right to protest, protesters must know how they are being directed," Massoumeh Ebtekar, vice president in charge of women's affairs, wrote on Twitter.</p>
<p>She posted images from Twitter accounts based in the United States and Saudi Arabia, voicing support for the Mashhad protests.&#160;</p>
<p>Nonetheless, officials warned against dismissing the public anger seen in recent days.</p>
<p>"The country is facing serious challenges with unemployment, high prices, corruption, lack of water, social gap, unbalanced distribution of budget," wrote Hesamoddin Ashena, cultural adviser to President Hassan Rouhani, on Twitter.</p>
<p>"People have the right for their voice to be heard."</p>
<p>There has been particular anger at welfare cuts and fuel price increases in the latest budget announced earlier this month.</p>
<p>Since the 2009 protests were ruthlessly put down by the Revolutionary Guards, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of pressing for change from the streets.</p>
<p>But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, often on a sector-by-sector basis as bus drivers or teachers or workers from specific factories protest against unpaid wages or poor conditions.</p>
<p>Some of this week's protests were directed against financial scandals linked to unauthorized lending institutions which collapsed with the loss of hundreds of thousands of accounts.</p>
<p>Payam Parhiz, editor-in-chief of reformist media network Nazar that broke the news of the Mashhad protests, said they were more focused on the economy than those in 2009, which were sparked by allegations of election-rigging.</p>
<p>"Then, they were middle-class and their slogans went beyond economic matters to things like cultural liberties," he told AFP.</p>
<p>"Today, the concerns are economic. There are people who have lost their life savings. They will protest until their problems are resolved."</p>
<p>Since taking power in 2013, President Hassan Rouhani has sought to clean up the banking sector and kickstart the economy, but many say progress has been too slow.</p>
<p>Aware that economic problems can quickly spiral into political chaos, officials from across the political spectrum have called for greater efforts to tackle poverty and the 12 percent unemployment rate.</p>
<p>"Solving people's economic problems is the chief priority in the country," tweeted Ebrahim Raisi, the hard-line cleric defeated by Rouhani in May's presidential election.&#160;</p> | Protesters in several Iranian cities rally against the regime and the high cost of living | false | https://pri.org/stories/2017-12-30/protesters-several-iranian-cities-rally-against-regime-and-high-cost-living | 2017-12-30 | 3left-center
| Protesters in several Iranian cities rally against the regime and the high cost of living
<p>Tear gas filled the streets of downtown Tehran on Saturday as protests spilled into a third day, with the government warning against further "illegal gatherings."</p>
<p>There was chaos around the University of Tehran as several hundred people scuffled with police and shouted slogans against the regime for several hours, bringing traffic to a standstill.</p>
<p>But the regime also put on a show of strength, with hundreds of counterdemonstrators seizing control of the university entrance in Tehran, chanting "Death to the seditionists."</p>
<p>Videos shared by social media users outside Iran claimed to show thousands marching peacefully in several cities including Khorramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz, with chants of "Death to the dictator."</p>
<p>But a swirl of wild rumors online, combined with travel restrictions and a near-total media blackout from official agencies, made it difficult to verify footage.</p>
<p>Telecoms minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one popular Telegram channel of encouraging the "use of Molotov cocktails, armed uprising, and social unrest."</p>
<p>The authorities were fortunate that annual rallies marking the defeat of the last major protest movement in 2009 were already scheduled for Saturday morning and brought thousands of regime enthusiasts to the streets across the country.</p>
<p>"We urge all those who receive these calls to protest not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens," warned Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli.&#160;</p>
<p>The protests began in the second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole.</p>
<p>There were even chants in favor of the monarchy toppled by the Islamic revolution of 1979, while others criticized the regime for supporting the Palestinians and other regional movements rather than focusing on problems at home.</p>
<p>State news channel IRINN said it had been banned from covering the protests that spread to towns and cities including Qom and Kermanshah.</p>
<p>"The enemy wants once again to create a new plot and use social media and economic issues to foment a new sedition," Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a prominent cleric, told a crowd in Tehran, according to the conservative Fars news agency.</p>
<p>Other officials also pointed the blame outside Iran.</p>
<p>"Although people have a right to protest, protesters must know how they are being directed," Massoumeh Ebtekar, vice president in charge of women's affairs, wrote on Twitter.</p>
<p>She posted images from Twitter accounts based in the United States and Saudi Arabia, voicing support for the Mashhad protests.&#160;</p>
<p>Nonetheless, officials warned against dismissing the public anger seen in recent days.</p>
<p>"The country is facing serious challenges with unemployment, high prices, corruption, lack of water, social gap, unbalanced distribution of budget," wrote Hesamoddin Ashena, cultural adviser to President Hassan Rouhani, on Twitter.</p>
<p>"People have the right for their voice to be heard."</p>
<p>There has been particular anger at welfare cuts and fuel price increases in the latest budget announced earlier this month.</p>
<p>Since the 2009 protests were ruthlessly put down by the Revolutionary Guards, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of pressing for change from the streets.</p>
<p>But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, often on a sector-by-sector basis as bus drivers or teachers or workers from specific factories protest against unpaid wages or poor conditions.</p>
<p>Some of this week's protests were directed against financial scandals linked to unauthorized lending institutions which collapsed with the loss of hundreds of thousands of accounts.</p>
<p>Payam Parhiz, editor-in-chief of reformist media network Nazar that broke the news of the Mashhad protests, said they were more focused on the economy than those in 2009, which were sparked by allegations of election-rigging.</p>
<p>"Then, they were middle-class and their slogans went beyond economic matters to things like cultural liberties," he told AFP.</p>
<p>"Today, the concerns are economic. There are people who have lost their life savings. They will protest until their problems are resolved."</p>
<p>Since taking power in 2013, President Hassan Rouhani has sought to clean up the banking sector and kickstart the economy, but many say progress has been too slow.</p>
<p>Aware that economic problems can quickly spiral into political chaos, officials from across the political spectrum have called for greater efforts to tackle poverty and the 12 percent unemployment rate.</p>
<p>"Solving people's economic problems is the chief priority in the country," tweeted Ebrahim Raisi, the hard-line cleric defeated by Rouhani in May's presidential election.&#160;</p> | 599,651 |
<p />
<p>Behold, the power of Lady Gaga. The pop superstar's new album, "Born This Way," managed to crash <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2011/profile/amazon.php" type="external">Amazon.com Opens a New Window.</a>'s servers soon after the retailer offered it on sale for only 99 cents. Consumers, initially wowed by the discount, quickly became peeved by the dragging download speeds, and took to the album review section to complain not of Gaga's music but of their ridiculous experience using Amazon--one fan I know said it took upwards of six hours to download the CD.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>For outsiders, it might be easy to chalk up complaints to spoiled Gaga fans (aka her "Little Monsters"), who arguably should be happy that they're even getting "Born This Way" for under a buck. But for Amazon, the deep discount wasn't a random bout of charity--it represented a huge opportunity to present consumers with an alternative to iTunes, and to introduce its cloud-based music service, which was recently overshadowed by Google's entry to the digital locker space. Yet with such an opportunity on the line--Lady Gaga's last release, "The Fame Monster," was the best-selling album of 2010--Amazon crumbled under the pressure of its own marketing.</p>
<p>Indeed, several hours after the servers went down, Amazon refused to elaborate beyond a brief and unapologetic statement. "We have been experiencing high volume on today's Deal of the Day and downloaded have been delayed," Amazon said. "All customers who order today will get the full [album] for $0.99."</p>
<p>But many questions remain. Were high volumes not expected for today's best-selling artist? Is Amazon not designed to handle high volumes? Does this say anything about the strength of Amazon's cloud service, if servers crashed from one release alone?</p>
<p>Requests to Amazon for answers were not returned. An Amazon spokesperson had earlier declined to give the number of downloads for Gaga's album, and did not return subsequent requests for comment. In other words, Amazon's strategy appears to be: Stay quiet and this will all go away.</p>
<p>But that strategy seems at odds with the high bar of customer experience expected by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Only several weeks ago, Bezos appeared at a <a href="http://news.consumerreports.org/money/2011/05/catch-amazons-jeff-bezos-live-at-11am-et-today.html" type="external">Consumer Reports event Opens a New Window.</a>, where a moderator described how a recent CR study revealed that "people are livid over their inability to connect with a live person" at Amazon for customer service. In response, Bezos talked at length about the importance of customer experience and support at Amazon. According to Bezos, Amazon prides itself on eliminating the causes of most calls to customer service. "The best customer service is when the customer doesn't need to call you," he said. "The number one [reason for] contact has been, 'Where's my stuff?' We have driven that contact down so far, and the way we've done that is by delivering everybody's stuff."</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Here, Bezos is referring to physical delivery, but the same holds true in the current context--Amazon has failed to deliver Gaga's album digitally, and has left numbers and numbers of fans wondering, "Where's my stuff?"</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1755103/amazon-lady-gaga-jeff-bezos-customer-service" type="external">This content was originally published on FastCompany.com Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.bgr.com/" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>More news from Fast Company:- <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1755037/ups-testing-plastic-delivery-trucks" type="external">The Unbearable Lightness Of UPS's Plastic Trucks&#160; Opens a New Window.</a>- <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663911/friskies-unveils-worlds-cutest-apps-for-kitteh" type="external">ORLY?! Friskies Unveils iPad Apps Designed Just For Kitties Opens a New Window.</a>- <a href="http://www.30secondmba.com/question/teaching-leadership?video_id=e1a8f8927c534" type="external">Leaders born or made? Opens a New Window.</a></p> | Amazon's Poor Response to Lady Gaga Fiasco | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2011/05/25/amazons-poor-response-lady-gaga-fiasco.html | 2016-03-04 | 0right
| Amazon's Poor Response to Lady Gaga Fiasco
<p />
<p>Behold, the power of Lady Gaga. The pop superstar's new album, "Born This Way," managed to crash <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2011/profile/amazon.php" type="external">Amazon.com Opens a New Window.</a>'s servers soon after the retailer offered it on sale for only 99 cents. Consumers, initially wowed by the discount, quickly became peeved by the dragging download speeds, and took to the album review section to complain not of Gaga's music but of their ridiculous experience using Amazon--one fan I know said it took upwards of six hours to download the CD.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>For outsiders, it might be easy to chalk up complaints to spoiled Gaga fans (aka her "Little Monsters"), who arguably should be happy that they're even getting "Born This Way" for under a buck. But for Amazon, the deep discount wasn't a random bout of charity--it represented a huge opportunity to present consumers with an alternative to iTunes, and to introduce its cloud-based music service, which was recently overshadowed by Google's entry to the digital locker space. Yet with such an opportunity on the line--Lady Gaga's last release, "The Fame Monster," was the best-selling album of 2010--Amazon crumbled under the pressure of its own marketing.</p>
<p>Indeed, several hours after the servers went down, Amazon refused to elaborate beyond a brief and unapologetic statement. "We have been experiencing high volume on today's Deal of the Day and downloaded have been delayed," Amazon said. "All customers who order today will get the full [album] for $0.99."</p>
<p>But many questions remain. Were high volumes not expected for today's best-selling artist? Is Amazon not designed to handle high volumes? Does this say anything about the strength of Amazon's cloud service, if servers crashed from one release alone?</p>
<p>Requests to Amazon for answers were not returned. An Amazon spokesperson had earlier declined to give the number of downloads for Gaga's album, and did not return subsequent requests for comment. In other words, Amazon's strategy appears to be: Stay quiet and this will all go away.</p>
<p>But that strategy seems at odds with the high bar of customer experience expected by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Only several weeks ago, Bezos appeared at a <a href="http://news.consumerreports.org/money/2011/05/catch-amazons-jeff-bezos-live-at-11am-et-today.html" type="external">Consumer Reports event Opens a New Window.</a>, where a moderator described how a recent CR study revealed that "people are livid over their inability to connect with a live person" at Amazon for customer service. In response, Bezos talked at length about the importance of customer experience and support at Amazon. According to Bezos, Amazon prides itself on eliminating the causes of most calls to customer service. "The best customer service is when the customer doesn't need to call you," he said. "The number one [reason for] contact has been, 'Where's my stuff?' We have driven that contact down so far, and the way we've done that is by delivering everybody's stuff."</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Here, Bezos is referring to physical delivery, but the same holds true in the current context--Amazon has failed to deliver Gaga's album digitally, and has left numbers and numbers of fans wondering, "Where's my stuff?"</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1755103/amazon-lady-gaga-jeff-bezos-customer-service" type="external">This content was originally published on FastCompany.com Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.bgr.com/" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>More news from Fast Company:- <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1755037/ups-testing-plastic-delivery-trucks" type="external">The Unbearable Lightness Of UPS's Plastic Trucks&#160; Opens a New Window.</a>- <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663911/friskies-unveils-worlds-cutest-apps-for-kitteh" type="external">ORLY?! Friskies Unveils iPad Apps Designed Just For Kitties Opens a New Window.</a>- <a href="http://www.30secondmba.com/question/teaching-leadership?video_id=e1a8f8927c534" type="external">Leaders born or made? Opens a New Window.</a></p> | 599,652 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bountiful tweets and self-praise, President Donald Trump plays up "tremendous progress" in improving care for veterans in his first year. His claims fall short of reality.</p>
<p>Trump's initiatives have yet to show meaningful impact, and his campaign promises of expanding access to doctors and adding mental health specialists are unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Several of the 2017 accomplishments highlighted in a Trump tweet this week are largely symbolic — proclamations routinely signed by presidents or initiatives that haven't taken full effect or were later acknowledged by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be largely unneeded. In the meantime, wait times for veterans seeking treatment at VA medical centers haven't improved much, as Congress remains deadlocked over a long-term fix aimed at expanding access to doctors, in part due to rising costs.</p>
<p>The VA also admits it fell short of adding 1,000 new mental health professionals last year, even after Trump singled out mental health as especially in need of attention during the campaign and pledged a hiring surge.</p>
<p>Trump speaks often about his commitment to veterans, a group that backed him by nearly 2-to-1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.</p>
<p>A look at his rhetoric on veterans and White House statements marking his first year in office:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We will not rest until all of America's GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time." — tweet Tuesday, with an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is "fighting for our veterans."</p>
<p />
<p>THE FACTS: The video with catchy music overstates the impact of these steps.</p>
<p>Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.</p>
<p>Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the VA system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The department's poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard.</p>
<p>A fifth claim involves "telehealth," a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasn't been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House.</p>
<p>A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited impact so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims.</p>
<p>The other two initiatives mentioned make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trump's watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the impact on veterans' care is not fully known.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "The VA was a mess." Before, "you couldn't fire anybody at the VA, if they were sadists, if they were horrible people. ... Now we look at them, they're no good — we say, 'You're fired. Get out of here.'" — Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It's wrong to say VA employees were never fired before Trump took office. In fact, more were fired in President Barack Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>In fiscal 2017, covering Obama's last three months and Trump's first nine months, 2,061 VA employees were removed for discipline or performance. About 1,419 firings took place since January 2017, when Trump took office, to present. That's down from 2,662 in the previous fiscal year, according to Office of Personnel Management information on the agency's data archive FedScope.</p>
<p>However, it's true that it often took longer for terminations to become final under an appeals process that has been shortened under Trump. Because a new accountability law making it easier to fire VA employees did not take effect until late June 2017, about 500 of the firings last year occurred under the former appeals system, which remains in place at other federal agencies. The new law shortens the length of time to challenge a disciplinary action and lowers the burden of proof needed to fire VA employees.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Why would smart voters want to put Democrats in Congress in 2018 Election ... People are much better off now not to mention ISIS, VA ..." — Dec. 31 tweet.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: He's entitled to his politics, but the tweet masks the fact that each veterans' bill signed into law by Trump won approval with strong support from Democrats as well as Republicans.</p>
<p>House Democrats did block one VA Choice emergency funding bill after major veterans groups complained it focused too much on private care without also investing in core VA programs. The bill was revised to add the money, was overwhelmingly approved and was signed by Trump on Aug. 12.</p>
<p>The bipartisan display began with David Shulkin, a holdover from the Obama administration confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as VA secretary in February. Trump calls Shulkin the "100-to-nothing man" because of that vote, since he is the only Trump Cabinet member to achieve that.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "Secretary Shulkin has expanded access to urgent mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges." — Nov. 9 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This claim glosses over VA's difficulty in hiring mental health professionals and providing counseling support to higher-risk veterans, due in part to a tightening VA budget. Trump cited mental health care as a top priority for fixing VA during the presidential campaign and pledged a hiring surge. But the VA only netted about 258 new personnel as of late November, far below the 1,000 additional mental-health specialists it had targeted for 2017.</p>
<p>In March, Shulkin announced an initiative to expand urgent mental health care to those with other-than-honorable discharges with much fanfare, but soon after, he revealed he wouldn't be asking Congress for additional money to pay for it. The program provides mostly emergency care, something that had been offered already to any veteran, not preventive services.</p>
<p>To reduce suicide rates, VA is seeking to establish "telehealth" hubs in rural areas to provide veterans with mental health assistance. It has launched a new predictive model to analyze veterans' health records to identify those at risk. Roughly 20 veterans take their lives each day.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program." — Dec. 22 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The money was quickly used up. Weeks after Congress approved the $2.1 billion in emergency funding to keep the VA Choice private-care program running, the VA acknowledged in September the program would again run out of money earlier than expected. The VA asked Congress to approve a long-term fix to its VA Choice program that could cost as much as $54 billion over five years, but divided lawmakers in December decided instead to approve another stopgap measure of $2.1 billion, punting the bigger issues until later.</p>
<p>The delay means that a larger overhaul of VA Choice — which Shulkin says will help significantly reduce wait times at VA medical centers — isn't likely to be fully implemented until 2019 or later.</p>
<p>The VA Choice program was put in place after a 2014 wait-time scandal that was discovered at the Phoenix VA hospital and elsewhere throughout the country. Veterans waited weeks or months for appointments while phony records covered up the lengthy waits. The program allows veterans to go to private doctors if they endure long waits for VA appointments, but it has suffered extended wait times of its own.</p>
<p>Last year, Shulkin said veterans were waiting more than 60 days for new appointments in about 30 VA locations nationwide.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Calvin Woodward contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hopeyen1</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bountiful tweets and self-praise, President Donald Trump plays up "tremendous progress" in improving care for veterans in his first year. His claims fall short of reality.</p>
<p>Trump's initiatives have yet to show meaningful impact, and his campaign promises of expanding access to doctors and adding mental health specialists are unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Several of the 2017 accomplishments highlighted in a Trump tweet this week are largely symbolic — proclamations routinely signed by presidents or initiatives that haven't taken full effect or were later acknowledged by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be largely unneeded. In the meantime, wait times for veterans seeking treatment at VA medical centers haven't improved much, as Congress remains deadlocked over a long-term fix aimed at expanding access to doctors, in part due to rising costs.</p>
<p>The VA also admits it fell short of adding 1,000 new mental health professionals last year, even after Trump singled out mental health as especially in need of attention during the campaign and pledged a hiring surge.</p>
<p>Trump speaks often about his commitment to veterans, a group that backed him by nearly 2-to-1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.</p>
<p>A look at his rhetoric on veterans and White House statements marking his first year in office:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We will not rest until all of America's GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time." — tweet Tuesday, with an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is "fighting for our veterans."</p>
<p />
<p>THE FACTS: The video with catchy music overstates the impact of these steps.</p>
<p>Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.</p>
<p>Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the VA system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The department's poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard.</p>
<p>A fifth claim involves "telehealth," a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasn't been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House.</p>
<p>A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited impact so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims.</p>
<p>The other two initiatives mentioned make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trump's watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the impact on veterans' care is not fully known.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "The VA was a mess." Before, "you couldn't fire anybody at the VA, if they were sadists, if they were horrible people. ... Now we look at them, they're no good — we say, 'You're fired. Get out of here.'" — Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It's wrong to say VA employees were never fired before Trump took office. In fact, more were fired in President Barack Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>In fiscal 2017, covering Obama's last three months and Trump's first nine months, 2,061 VA employees were removed for discipline or performance. About 1,419 firings took place since January 2017, when Trump took office, to present. That's down from 2,662 in the previous fiscal year, according to Office of Personnel Management information on the agency's data archive FedScope.</p>
<p>However, it's true that it often took longer for terminations to become final under an appeals process that has been shortened under Trump. Because a new accountability law making it easier to fire VA employees did not take effect until late June 2017, about 500 of the firings last year occurred under the former appeals system, which remains in place at other federal agencies. The new law shortens the length of time to challenge a disciplinary action and lowers the burden of proof needed to fire VA employees.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Why would smart voters want to put Democrats in Congress in 2018 Election ... People are much better off now not to mention ISIS, VA ..." — Dec. 31 tweet.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: He's entitled to his politics, but the tweet masks the fact that each veterans' bill signed into law by Trump won approval with strong support from Democrats as well as Republicans.</p>
<p>House Democrats did block one VA Choice emergency funding bill after major veterans groups complained it focused too much on private care without also investing in core VA programs. The bill was revised to add the money, was overwhelmingly approved and was signed by Trump on Aug. 12.</p>
<p>The bipartisan display began with David Shulkin, a holdover from the Obama administration confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as VA secretary in February. Trump calls Shulkin the "100-to-nothing man" because of that vote, since he is the only Trump Cabinet member to achieve that.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "Secretary Shulkin has expanded access to urgent mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges." — Nov. 9 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This claim glosses over VA's difficulty in hiring mental health professionals and providing counseling support to higher-risk veterans, due in part to a tightening VA budget. Trump cited mental health care as a top priority for fixing VA during the presidential campaign and pledged a hiring surge. But the VA only netted about 258 new personnel as of late November, far below the 1,000 additional mental-health specialists it had targeted for 2017.</p>
<p>In March, Shulkin announced an initiative to expand urgent mental health care to those with other-than-honorable discharges with much fanfare, but soon after, he revealed he wouldn't be asking Congress for additional money to pay for it. The program provides mostly emergency care, something that had been offered already to any veteran, not preventive services.</p>
<p>To reduce suicide rates, VA is seeking to establish "telehealth" hubs in rural areas to provide veterans with mental health assistance. It has launched a new predictive model to analyze veterans' health records to identify those at risk. Roughly 20 veterans take their lives each day.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program." — Dec. 22 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The money was quickly used up. Weeks after Congress approved the $2.1 billion in emergency funding to keep the VA Choice private-care program running, the VA acknowledged in September the program would again run out of money earlier than expected. The VA asked Congress to approve a long-term fix to its VA Choice program that could cost as much as $54 billion over five years, but divided lawmakers in December decided instead to approve another stopgap measure of $2.1 billion, punting the bigger issues until later.</p>
<p>The delay means that a larger overhaul of VA Choice — which Shulkin says will help significantly reduce wait times at VA medical centers — isn't likely to be fully implemented until 2019 or later.</p>
<p>The VA Choice program was put in place after a 2014 wait-time scandal that was discovered at the Phoenix VA hospital and elsewhere throughout the country. Veterans waited weeks or months for appointments while phony records covered up the lengthy waits. The program allows veterans to go to private doctors if they endure long waits for VA appointments, but it has suffered extended wait times of its own.</p>
<p>Last year, Shulkin said veterans were waiting more than 60 days for new appointments in about 30 VA locations nationwide.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Calvin Woodward contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hopeyen1</p> | AP FACT CHECK: Trump's claimed VA success somewhat illusory | false | https://apnews.com/amp/57d30516d02c40e19607b52670a05a9e | 2018-01-05 | 2least
| AP FACT CHECK: Trump's claimed VA success somewhat illusory
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bountiful tweets and self-praise, President Donald Trump plays up "tremendous progress" in improving care for veterans in his first year. His claims fall short of reality.</p>
<p>Trump's initiatives have yet to show meaningful impact, and his campaign promises of expanding access to doctors and adding mental health specialists are unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Several of the 2017 accomplishments highlighted in a Trump tweet this week are largely symbolic — proclamations routinely signed by presidents or initiatives that haven't taken full effect or were later acknowledged by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be largely unneeded. In the meantime, wait times for veterans seeking treatment at VA medical centers haven't improved much, as Congress remains deadlocked over a long-term fix aimed at expanding access to doctors, in part due to rising costs.</p>
<p>The VA also admits it fell short of adding 1,000 new mental health professionals last year, even after Trump singled out mental health as especially in need of attention during the campaign and pledged a hiring surge.</p>
<p>Trump speaks often about his commitment to veterans, a group that backed him by nearly 2-to-1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.</p>
<p>A look at his rhetoric on veterans and White House statements marking his first year in office:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We will not rest until all of America's GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time." — tweet Tuesday, with an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is "fighting for our veterans."</p>
<p />
<p>THE FACTS: The video with catchy music overstates the impact of these steps.</p>
<p>Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.</p>
<p>Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the VA system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The department's poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard.</p>
<p>A fifth claim involves "telehealth," a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasn't been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House.</p>
<p>A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited impact so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims.</p>
<p>The other two initiatives mentioned make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trump's watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the impact on veterans' care is not fully known.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "The VA was a mess." Before, "you couldn't fire anybody at the VA, if they were sadists, if they were horrible people. ... Now we look at them, they're no good — we say, 'You're fired. Get out of here.'" — Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It's wrong to say VA employees were never fired before Trump took office. In fact, more were fired in President Barack Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>In fiscal 2017, covering Obama's last three months and Trump's first nine months, 2,061 VA employees were removed for discipline or performance. About 1,419 firings took place since January 2017, when Trump took office, to present. That's down from 2,662 in the previous fiscal year, according to Office of Personnel Management information on the agency's data archive FedScope.</p>
<p>However, it's true that it often took longer for terminations to become final under an appeals process that has been shortened under Trump. Because a new accountability law making it easier to fire VA employees did not take effect until late June 2017, about 500 of the firings last year occurred under the former appeals system, which remains in place at other federal agencies. The new law shortens the length of time to challenge a disciplinary action and lowers the burden of proof needed to fire VA employees.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Why would smart voters want to put Democrats in Congress in 2018 Election ... People are much better off now not to mention ISIS, VA ..." — Dec. 31 tweet.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: He's entitled to his politics, but the tweet masks the fact that each veterans' bill signed into law by Trump won approval with strong support from Democrats as well as Republicans.</p>
<p>House Democrats did block one VA Choice emergency funding bill after major veterans groups complained it focused too much on private care without also investing in core VA programs. The bill was revised to add the money, was overwhelmingly approved and was signed by Trump on Aug. 12.</p>
<p>The bipartisan display began with David Shulkin, a holdover from the Obama administration confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as VA secretary in February. Trump calls Shulkin the "100-to-nothing man" because of that vote, since he is the only Trump Cabinet member to achieve that.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "Secretary Shulkin has expanded access to urgent mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges." — Nov. 9 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This claim glosses over VA's difficulty in hiring mental health professionals and providing counseling support to higher-risk veterans, due in part to a tightening VA budget. Trump cited mental health care as a top priority for fixing VA during the presidential campaign and pledged a hiring surge. But the VA only netted about 258 new personnel as of late November, far below the 1,000 additional mental-health specialists it had targeted for 2017.</p>
<p>In March, Shulkin announced an initiative to expand urgent mental health care to those with other-than-honorable discharges with much fanfare, but soon after, he revealed he wouldn't be asking Congress for additional money to pay for it. The program provides mostly emergency care, something that had been offered already to any veteran, not preventive services.</p>
<p>To reduce suicide rates, VA is seeking to establish "telehealth" hubs in rural areas to provide veterans with mental health assistance. It has launched a new predictive model to analyze veterans' health records to identify those at risk. Roughly 20 veterans take their lives each day.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program." — Dec. 22 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The money was quickly used up. Weeks after Congress approved the $2.1 billion in emergency funding to keep the VA Choice private-care program running, the VA acknowledged in September the program would again run out of money earlier than expected. The VA asked Congress to approve a long-term fix to its VA Choice program that could cost as much as $54 billion over five years, but divided lawmakers in December decided instead to approve another stopgap measure of $2.1 billion, punting the bigger issues until later.</p>
<p>The delay means that a larger overhaul of VA Choice — which Shulkin says will help significantly reduce wait times at VA medical centers — isn't likely to be fully implemented until 2019 or later.</p>
<p>The VA Choice program was put in place after a 2014 wait-time scandal that was discovered at the Phoenix VA hospital and elsewhere throughout the country. Veterans waited weeks or months for appointments while phony records covered up the lengthy waits. The program allows veterans to go to private doctors if they endure long waits for VA appointments, but it has suffered extended wait times of its own.</p>
<p>Last year, Shulkin said veterans were waiting more than 60 days for new appointments in about 30 VA locations nationwide.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Calvin Woodward contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hopeyen1</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bountiful tweets and self-praise, President Donald Trump plays up "tremendous progress" in improving care for veterans in his first year. His claims fall short of reality.</p>
<p>Trump's initiatives have yet to show meaningful impact, and his campaign promises of expanding access to doctors and adding mental health specialists are unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Several of the 2017 accomplishments highlighted in a Trump tweet this week are largely symbolic — proclamations routinely signed by presidents or initiatives that haven't taken full effect or were later acknowledged by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be largely unneeded. In the meantime, wait times for veterans seeking treatment at VA medical centers haven't improved much, as Congress remains deadlocked over a long-term fix aimed at expanding access to doctors, in part due to rising costs.</p>
<p>The VA also admits it fell short of adding 1,000 new mental health professionals last year, even after Trump singled out mental health as especially in need of attention during the campaign and pledged a hiring surge.</p>
<p>Trump speaks often about his commitment to veterans, a group that backed him by nearly 2-to-1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.</p>
<p>A look at his rhetoric on veterans and White House statements marking his first year in office:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We will not rest until all of America's GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time." — tweet Tuesday, with an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is "fighting for our veterans."</p>
<p />
<p>THE FACTS: The video with catchy music overstates the impact of these steps.</p>
<p>Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.</p>
<p>Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the VA system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The department's poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard.</p>
<p>A fifth claim involves "telehealth," a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasn't been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House.</p>
<p>A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited impact so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims.</p>
<p>The other two initiatives mentioned make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trump's watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the impact on veterans' care is not fully known.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "The VA was a mess." Before, "you couldn't fire anybody at the VA, if they were sadists, if they were horrible people. ... Now we look at them, they're no good — we say, 'You're fired. Get out of here.'" — Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It's wrong to say VA employees were never fired before Trump took office. In fact, more were fired in President Barack Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>In fiscal 2017, covering Obama's last three months and Trump's first nine months, 2,061 VA employees were removed for discipline or performance. About 1,419 firings took place since January 2017, when Trump took office, to present. That's down from 2,662 in the previous fiscal year, according to Office of Personnel Management information on the agency's data archive FedScope.</p>
<p>However, it's true that it often took longer for terminations to become final under an appeals process that has been shortened under Trump. Because a new accountability law making it easier to fire VA employees did not take effect until late June 2017, about 500 of the firings last year occurred under the former appeals system, which remains in place at other federal agencies. The new law shortens the length of time to challenge a disciplinary action and lowers the burden of proof needed to fire VA employees.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Why would smart voters want to put Democrats in Congress in 2018 Election ... People are much better off now not to mention ISIS, VA ..." — Dec. 31 tweet.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: He's entitled to his politics, but the tweet masks the fact that each veterans' bill signed into law by Trump won approval with strong support from Democrats as well as Republicans.</p>
<p>House Democrats did block one VA Choice emergency funding bill after major veterans groups complained it focused too much on private care without also investing in core VA programs. The bill was revised to add the money, was overwhelmingly approved and was signed by Trump on Aug. 12.</p>
<p>The bipartisan display began with David Shulkin, a holdover from the Obama administration confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as VA secretary in February. Trump calls Shulkin the "100-to-nothing man" because of that vote, since he is the only Trump Cabinet member to achieve that.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "Secretary Shulkin has expanded access to urgent mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges." — Nov. 9 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This claim glosses over VA's difficulty in hiring mental health professionals and providing counseling support to higher-risk veterans, due in part to a tightening VA budget. Trump cited mental health care as a top priority for fixing VA during the presidential campaign and pledged a hiring surge. But the VA only netted about 258 new personnel as of late November, far below the 1,000 additional mental-health specialists it had targeted for 2017.</p>
<p>In March, Shulkin announced an initiative to expand urgent mental health care to those with other-than-honorable discharges with much fanfare, but soon after, he revealed he wouldn't be asking Congress for additional money to pay for it. The program provides mostly emergency care, something that had been offered already to any veteran, not preventive services.</p>
<p>To reduce suicide rates, VA is seeking to establish "telehealth" hubs in rural areas to provide veterans with mental health assistance. It has launched a new predictive model to analyze veterans' health records to identify those at risk. Roughly 20 veterans take their lives each day.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program." — Dec. 22 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The money was quickly used up. Weeks after Congress approved the $2.1 billion in emergency funding to keep the VA Choice private-care program running, the VA acknowledged in September the program would again run out of money earlier than expected. The VA asked Congress to approve a long-term fix to its VA Choice program that could cost as much as $54 billion over five years, but divided lawmakers in December decided instead to approve another stopgap measure of $2.1 billion, punting the bigger issues until later.</p>
<p>The delay means that a larger overhaul of VA Choice — which Shulkin says will help significantly reduce wait times at VA medical centers — isn't likely to be fully implemented until 2019 or later.</p>
<p>The VA Choice program was put in place after a 2014 wait-time scandal that was discovered at the Phoenix VA hospital and elsewhere throughout the country. Veterans waited weeks or months for appointments while phony records covered up the lengthy waits. The program allows veterans to go to private doctors if they endure long waits for VA appointments, but it has suffered extended wait times of its own.</p>
<p>Last year, Shulkin said veterans were waiting more than 60 days for new appointments in about 30 VA locations nationwide.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Calvin Woodward contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hopeyen1</p> | 599,653 |
<p>Judging by his recent history, it doesn’t really matter what President Obama says in Tuesday’s State of the Union address — <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> is going to ignore him anyway.</p>
<p>Mr. Obama has the second-worst record of getting his State of the Union policy requests enacted into law of any president in the last five decades, according to an analysis by two scholars that puts him only above the unelected two-year presidency of <a href="/topics/gerald-ford/" type="external">Gerald Ford</a>.</p>
<p>From 2009 through 2014, Mr. Obama issued 209 different calls for action from <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> in his speeches, but only saw lawmakers follow through on 64 of them — good for just 30 percent. That’s only slightly better than <a href="/topics/gerald-ford/" type="external">Mr. Ford</a>’s 28 percent success rate, and is well below the likes of President Clinton, the previous Democratic president, who won 44 percent of his policies even though he faced a <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> more Republican than Mr. Obama has.</p>
<p><a href="/multimedia/audio/01-20-15-12a-stephen-dinan-andy-parks/" type="external">AUDIO: Stephen Dinan with Andy Parks</a></p>
<p>Indeed, Mr. Obama set a single-year record for futility in 2013, just after his re-election, getting <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> to pass just two of the 41 policies he asked them to consider. That’s the worst in the last 50 years, according to the data from Professors Donna R. Hoffman and Alison D. Howard, two political scientists who have tracked State of the Unions going back to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1965 speech. President Reagan had a year that was nearly as bad, in 1987, when he only got one of his 19 proposals passed, for a fractionally better rate than Mr. Obama’s 2013.</p>
<p>In 1997, the year after his re-election, Mr. Clinton got <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> to pass 33 of his 57 proposals.</p>
<p>The two scholars cautioned that they don’t believe presidents’ records can be compared cumulatively, but must be taken year-by-year because proposals mentioned one year could be repeated again in a future year, which could result in double-counting.</p>
<p>They said they preferred using a median value of scores across a president’s term in office. By that measure, Mr. Obama was also second-worst, with <a href="/topics/gerald-ford/" type="external">Ford</a> again coming in last.</p>
<p>According to the two scholars, Mr. Obama’s best year came in 2010, when he had huge Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, made 45 proposals, and won full or partial passage of 25 of them.</p>
<p>His rate began to steadily decline to 2013’s disastrous year of just two successful proposals, before rebounding last year, when <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> — still divided between Democrats controlling the Senate and the GOP controlling the House — passed five of his 29 proposals.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2015/jan/20/obama-has-worst-state-union-record-ford-study-show/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Obama has worst State of the Union record since Ford | true | http://washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/20/obama-has-worst-state-union-record-ford-study-show/ | 2015-01-20 | 0right
| Obama has worst State of the Union record since Ford
<p>Judging by his recent history, it doesn’t really matter what President Obama says in Tuesday’s State of the Union address — <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> is going to ignore him anyway.</p>
<p>Mr. Obama has the second-worst record of getting his State of the Union policy requests enacted into law of any president in the last five decades, according to an analysis by two scholars that puts him only above the unelected two-year presidency of <a href="/topics/gerald-ford/" type="external">Gerald Ford</a>.</p>
<p>From 2009 through 2014, Mr. Obama issued 209 different calls for action from <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> in his speeches, but only saw lawmakers follow through on 64 of them — good for just 30 percent. That’s only slightly better than <a href="/topics/gerald-ford/" type="external">Mr. Ford</a>’s 28 percent success rate, and is well below the likes of President Clinton, the previous Democratic president, who won 44 percent of his policies even though he faced a <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> more Republican than Mr. Obama has.</p>
<p><a href="/multimedia/audio/01-20-15-12a-stephen-dinan-andy-parks/" type="external">AUDIO: Stephen Dinan with Andy Parks</a></p>
<p>Indeed, Mr. Obama set a single-year record for futility in 2013, just after his re-election, getting <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> to pass just two of the 41 policies he asked them to consider. That’s the worst in the last 50 years, according to the data from Professors Donna R. Hoffman and Alison D. Howard, two political scientists who have tracked State of the Unions going back to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1965 speech. President Reagan had a year that was nearly as bad, in 1987, when he only got one of his 19 proposals passed, for a fractionally better rate than Mr. Obama’s 2013.</p>
<p>In 1997, the year after his re-election, Mr. Clinton got <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> to pass 33 of his 57 proposals.</p>
<p>The two scholars cautioned that they don’t believe presidents’ records can be compared cumulatively, but must be taken year-by-year because proposals mentioned one year could be repeated again in a future year, which could result in double-counting.</p>
<p>They said they preferred using a median value of scores across a president’s term in office. By that measure, Mr. Obama was also second-worst, with <a href="/topics/gerald-ford/" type="external">Ford</a> again coming in last.</p>
<p>According to the two scholars, Mr. Obama’s best year came in 2010, when he had huge Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, made 45 proposals, and won full or partial passage of 25 of them.</p>
<p>His rate began to steadily decline to 2013’s disastrous year of just two successful proposals, before rebounding last year, when <a href="/topics/congress/" type="external">Congress</a> — still divided between Democrats controlling the Senate and the GOP controlling the House — passed five of his 29 proposals.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2015/jan/20/obama-has-worst-state-union-record-ford-study-show/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 599,654 |
<p>Why were copper-masked mummies buried in shallow graves in the wastes of Siberia, just shy of the Arctic Circle? Why were they laid to rest alongside 11th-century bronze bowls from Persia, about 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) to the southwest? And why were their skulls smashed in?</p>
<p>Russian archaeologists are just beginning to unravel the mysteries surrounding the remains discovered more than 15 years ago at Zeleniy Yar. Last week, <a href="http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/features/mummified-by-accident-in-copper-masks-almost-1000-years-ago-but-who-were-they/" type="external">The Siberian Times published a status report on the investigation</a>.</p>
<p>Scientists suspect that the mummies were well-preserved due to cold temperatures as well as all that copper, which prevented oxidation.</p>
<p>Thirty-four graves were found in the region's sandy soil, starting in 1997, but the archaeological excavation was suspended in 2002 after the locals objected. Now the work has resumed.</p>
<p>"Nowhere in the world are there so many mummified remains found outside the permafrost or the marshes," Natalia Fyodorova of the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences told The Siberian Times.</p>
<p>Fyodorova and her colleagues believe that Zeleniy Yar was a crossroads for trade in medieval times. In addition to the Persian bowls and the copper masks, the scientists found an iron combat knife, an iron hatchet, a silver medallion, a bronze bird figurine and a bronze bear buckle. Some of the mummies were covered in reindeer, beaver, wolverine or bear fur.</p>
<p>All of the deceased, adults as well as children, were buried with their feet pointing toward the Gorny Poluy River. That hints at a set of burial rituals that are unknown to experts.</p>
<p>Fyodorova also suspects that the skull-smashing was done soon after death, "to render protection from mysterious spells believed to emanate from the deceased." Similar beliefs are thought to have been behind the <a href="" type="internal">"vampire graves" of Bulgaria</a>.</p>
<p>Tip o' the Log to <a href="http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/features/mummified-by-accident-in-copper-masks-almost-1000-years-ago-but-who-were-they/" type="external">The Siberian Times</a> and <a href="http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/siberian-mummies-in-copper-masks-post-mystery-140416.htm" type="external">Discovery News' Rossella Lorenzi</a>.</p> | Mummies With Copper Masks Pose a Mystery in Siberia | false | http://nbcnews.com/science/weird-science/mummies-copper-masks-pose-mystery-siberia-n82176 | 2014-04-16 | 3left-center
| Mummies With Copper Masks Pose a Mystery in Siberia
<p>Why were copper-masked mummies buried in shallow graves in the wastes of Siberia, just shy of the Arctic Circle? Why were they laid to rest alongside 11th-century bronze bowls from Persia, about 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) to the southwest? And why were their skulls smashed in?</p>
<p>Russian archaeologists are just beginning to unravel the mysteries surrounding the remains discovered more than 15 years ago at Zeleniy Yar. Last week, <a href="http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/features/mummified-by-accident-in-copper-masks-almost-1000-years-ago-but-who-were-they/" type="external">The Siberian Times published a status report on the investigation</a>.</p>
<p>Scientists suspect that the mummies were well-preserved due to cold temperatures as well as all that copper, which prevented oxidation.</p>
<p>Thirty-four graves were found in the region's sandy soil, starting in 1997, but the archaeological excavation was suspended in 2002 after the locals objected. Now the work has resumed.</p>
<p>"Nowhere in the world are there so many mummified remains found outside the permafrost or the marshes," Natalia Fyodorova of the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences told The Siberian Times.</p>
<p>Fyodorova and her colleagues believe that Zeleniy Yar was a crossroads for trade in medieval times. In addition to the Persian bowls and the copper masks, the scientists found an iron combat knife, an iron hatchet, a silver medallion, a bronze bird figurine and a bronze bear buckle. Some of the mummies were covered in reindeer, beaver, wolverine or bear fur.</p>
<p>All of the deceased, adults as well as children, were buried with their feet pointing toward the Gorny Poluy River. That hints at a set of burial rituals that are unknown to experts.</p>
<p>Fyodorova also suspects that the skull-smashing was done soon after death, "to render protection from mysterious spells believed to emanate from the deceased." Similar beliefs are thought to have been behind the <a href="" type="internal">"vampire graves" of Bulgaria</a>.</p>
<p>Tip o' the Log to <a href="http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/features/mummified-by-accident-in-copper-masks-almost-1000-years-ago-but-who-were-they/" type="external">The Siberian Times</a> and <a href="http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/siberian-mummies-in-copper-masks-post-mystery-140416.htm" type="external">Discovery News' Rossella Lorenzi</a>.</p> | 599,655 |
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<p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Beavers" type="external">Portland Beavers</a> baseball team — <a href="../quirky/isotopes05-26-02.htm" type="external">the franchise that used to be the Albuquerque Dukes</a> — has been sold to a group of investors in San Diego, apparently putting an end to a move by El Paso investors to bring the Triple-A franchise to the border city, the <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_16380230" type="external">El Paso Times</a> reported.</p>
<p>Merritt Paulson, owner of the Beavers, announced that he had an agreement to sell his club to a group led by Jeff Moorad, owner of the San Diego Padres, and the deal could close in December, according to a statement sent to the Times on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The Beavers lost the use of their stadium, Portland General Electric Park, and needed a new place to play next year, but efforts to build a new baseball stadium in Portland fell through, forcing Paulson to look elsewhere, the Times said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Beavers became the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A farm team following the 2000 season, when the Albuquerque Dukes moved to Portland, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, which had been the Dukes’ parent club, swapped Triple-A affilates with the Padres.</p>
<p>The <a href="" type="internal">Arizona Daily Star</a> reported last week that a Tucson city councilman said Triple-A baseball would return to Tucson for a year while a new stadium would be built for the relocated Beavers in Escondido, Calif.</p>
<p>“To the best of my knowledge, it’s happening,” City Councilman Steve Kozchik told the Daily Star. “I hope they do well here, and hope the fans embrace them with open arms.”</p>
<p>Tucson hasn’t had a major-league farm team since 2008, when the Tucson Sidewinders, who were the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, left to play in Reno, Nev., the Daily Star reported.</p>
<p>Moorad’s group will likely bring the team to Escondido, 27 miles north of San Diego, but the city of Escondido must approve by Nov. 30 construction of a $45 million to $50 million ballpark to be completed in 2012, according to the Daily Star.</p>
<p>El Paso has been without an affiliated minor-league team since 2004, when the Diablos, a Double-A franchise, were sold for $10 million, and the new owners moved the franchise to Springfield, Mo., and made it an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, according to the Times.</p>
<p>The names of the El Paso investors who tried to bring the Beavers to El Paso haven’t been revealed, the Times said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 8:00am — Portland Beavers On the Move | false | https://abqjournal.com/9860/800am-portland-beavers-on-the-move.html | 2least
| 8:00am — Portland Beavers On the Move
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Beavers" type="external">Portland Beavers</a> baseball team — <a href="../quirky/isotopes05-26-02.htm" type="external">the franchise that used to be the Albuquerque Dukes</a> — has been sold to a group of investors in San Diego, apparently putting an end to a move by El Paso investors to bring the Triple-A franchise to the border city, the <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_16380230" type="external">El Paso Times</a> reported.</p>
<p>Merritt Paulson, owner of the Beavers, announced that he had an agreement to sell his club to a group led by Jeff Moorad, owner of the San Diego Padres, and the deal could close in December, according to a statement sent to the Times on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The Beavers lost the use of their stadium, Portland General Electric Park, and needed a new place to play next year, but efforts to build a new baseball stadium in Portland fell through, forcing Paulson to look elsewhere, the Times said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Beavers became the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A farm team following the 2000 season, when the Albuquerque Dukes moved to Portland, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, which had been the Dukes’ parent club, swapped Triple-A affilates with the Padres.</p>
<p>The <a href="" type="internal">Arizona Daily Star</a> reported last week that a Tucson city councilman said Triple-A baseball would return to Tucson for a year while a new stadium would be built for the relocated Beavers in Escondido, Calif.</p>
<p>“To the best of my knowledge, it’s happening,” City Councilman Steve Kozchik told the Daily Star. “I hope they do well here, and hope the fans embrace them with open arms.”</p>
<p>Tucson hasn’t had a major-league farm team since 2008, when the Tucson Sidewinders, who were the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, left to play in Reno, Nev., the Daily Star reported.</p>
<p>Moorad’s group will likely bring the team to Escondido, 27 miles north of San Diego, but the city of Escondido must approve by Nov. 30 construction of a $45 million to $50 million ballpark to be completed in 2012, according to the Daily Star.</p>
<p>El Paso has been without an affiliated minor-league team since 2004, when the Diablos, a Double-A franchise, were sold for $10 million, and the new owners moved the franchise to Springfield, Mo., and made it an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, according to the Times.</p>
<p>The names of the El Paso investors who tried to bring the Beavers to El Paso haven’t been revealed, the Times said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 599,656 |
|
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening’s drawing of the Dist. of Columbia Lottery’s “DC 5 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>3-1-6-5-3</p>
<p>(three, one, six, five, three)</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening’s drawing of the Dist. of Columbia Lottery’s “DC 5 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>3-1-6-5-3</p>
<p>(three, one, six, five, three)</p> | Winning numbers drawn in ‘DC 5 Evening’ game | false | https://apnews.com/f609b403fc4947e1bf571a75b00945de | 2017-12-29 | 2least
| Winning numbers drawn in ‘DC 5 Evening’ game
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening’s drawing of the Dist. of Columbia Lottery’s “DC 5 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>3-1-6-5-3</p>
<p>(three, one, six, five, three)</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening’s drawing of the Dist. of Columbia Lottery’s “DC 5 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>3-1-6-5-3</p>
<p>(three, one, six, five, three)</p> | 599,657 |
<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention will vote in June on a proposal to change the way churches in the District of Columbia Baptist Convention&#160;are represented&#160;on SBC governing boards.</p>
<p>A&#160;proposal set for a vote at the SBC Executive Committee’s pre-convention meeting in June would&#160;combine representatives of&#160;D.C. convention churches with those of&#160;the adjoining Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware.</p>
<p />
<p>The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee gathers in the opening plenary session of its Feb. 18-19 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. (BP photo by Morris Abernathy)</p>
<p />
<p>Staff of the Executive Committee said Feb. 19 the proposed change is in response to complaints that current trustees are chosen from only a small number of D.C. churches actively involved in Southern Baptist life, creating impressions of favoritism. A single congregation, Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, has provided 40 of 65 D.C. Baptist representatives during the past 10 years, according to background materials provided to committee members.</p>
<p>While leaders said there have been no complaints about the service of the trustees from Capitol Hill Baptist Church, the trend goes against an unspoken tradition of trying to choose representation from as broad a number of congregations as possible.</p>
<p>The new arrangement — given a first reading during the Executive Committee’s Feb. 18-19 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. — would alter connections that make the District of Columbia convention uniquely aligned not only with Southern Baptists but also with other Baptist groups, including American Baptist Churches USA. Historically the arrangement was presented as a unified witness that unlike other cities, the nation’s capital transcends geography and belongs to all U.S. citizens.</p>
<p>The SBC once funded the DC convention to the tune of $475,000 a year. That ended in 2003, when D.C. Baptists turned down a cooperative agreement giving the SBC North American Mission Board greater control over how those funds would be expended.</p>
<p>Bob Allen is managing editor of Associated Baptist Press.</p>
<p>Related story: <a href="http://www.religiousherald.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=6655&amp;Itemid=156" type="external">Proposed change could diminish D.C. Baptist representation on SBC boards, say leaders</a></p> | Proposal to change D.C. Baptist Convention’s representation on SBC boards moves forward | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/proposaltochangedcbaptistconventionsrepresentationonsbcboardsmovesforward/ | 3left-center
| Proposal to change D.C. Baptist Convention’s representation on SBC boards moves forward
<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention will vote in June on a proposal to change the way churches in the District of Columbia Baptist Convention&#160;are represented&#160;on SBC governing boards.</p>
<p>A&#160;proposal set for a vote at the SBC Executive Committee’s pre-convention meeting in June would&#160;combine representatives of&#160;D.C. convention churches with those of&#160;the adjoining Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware.</p>
<p />
<p>The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee gathers in the opening plenary session of its Feb. 18-19 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. (BP photo by Morris Abernathy)</p>
<p />
<p>Staff of the Executive Committee said Feb. 19 the proposed change is in response to complaints that current trustees are chosen from only a small number of D.C. churches actively involved in Southern Baptist life, creating impressions of favoritism. A single congregation, Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, has provided 40 of 65 D.C. Baptist representatives during the past 10 years, according to background materials provided to committee members.</p>
<p>While leaders said there have been no complaints about the service of the trustees from Capitol Hill Baptist Church, the trend goes against an unspoken tradition of trying to choose representation from as broad a number of congregations as possible.</p>
<p>The new arrangement — given a first reading during the Executive Committee’s Feb. 18-19 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. — would alter connections that make the District of Columbia convention uniquely aligned not only with Southern Baptists but also with other Baptist groups, including American Baptist Churches USA. Historically the arrangement was presented as a unified witness that unlike other cities, the nation’s capital transcends geography and belongs to all U.S. citizens.</p>
<p>The SBC once funded the DC convention to the tune of $475,000 a year. That ended in 2003, when D.C. Baptists turned down a cooperative agreement giving the SBC North American Mission Board greater control over how those funds would be expended.</p>
<p>Bob Allen is managing editor of Associated Baptist Press.</p>
<p>Related story: <a href="http://www.religiousherald.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=6655&amp;Itemid=156" type="external">Proposed change could diminish D.C. Baptist representation on SBC boards, say leaders</a></p> | 599,658 |
|
<p>Burma began releasing thousands of prisoners today - you'd think it would be good news.</p>
<p>And it is, for the 14,600 mostly common criminals that President Thein Sein took pity upon, according to the <a href="http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/17/myanmar-frees-14600-few-political-prisoners.html" type="external">Jakarta Post&#160;</a></p>
<p>Thein Sein granted clemency to 348 death-row prisoners, lifting the death penalty and commuting their terms to life in prison. He reduced other prisoners' sentences by one year, according to media reports.</p>
<p>Prisoners with less than a year to go in their sentences presumably will be released, according to Human Rights Watch.</p>
<p>But this mass prisoner release pertains to almost none of the political prisoners held under vague laws for double-digit jail terms.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jpNni50Z1d9kv-J1oYMaAMrx6U3w?docId=CNG.b0f43da7c5e925fe261ed12d7a23011f.4b1" type="external">Human Rights Watch</a> said it was a "pathetic response" to international calls for widespread amnesty.</p>
<p>"The government's gesture will be welcomed by a great many prisoners in Burma, but for the 2,100 political prisoners unjustly serving sentences of up to 65 years, the one-year reduction is a sick joke," said Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director.</p>
<p>The global human rights watchdog said the move was a "slap in the face" for senior U.N. envoy Vijay Nambiar, who just last week visited Burma and said recent signals from the new government were "very encouraging."</p>
<p>The Burmese government generally grants amnesties to mark important national days, and previous mass releases have included a handful of political detainees.</p>
<p>Burma is thought to have more than 60,000 prisoners in 42 prisons and 109 labor camps.</p> | Burma's prisoner release plan a "sick joke" | false | https://pri.org/stories/2011-05-17/burmas-prisoner-release-plan-sick-joke | 2011-05-17 | 3left-center
| Burma's prisoner release plan a "sick joke"
<p>Burma began releasing thousands of prisoners today - you'd think it would be good news.</p>
<p>And it is, for the 14,600 mostly common criminals that President Thein Sein took pity upon, according to the <a href="http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/17/myanmar-frees-14600-few-political-prisoners.html" type="external">Jakarta Post&#160;</a></p>
<p>Thein Sein granted clemency to 348 death-row prisoners, lifting the death penalty and commuting their terms to life in prison. He reduced other prisoners' sentences by one year, according to media reports.</p>
<p>Prisoners with less than a year to go in their sentences presumably will be released, according to Human Rights Watch.</p>
<p>But this mass prisoner release pertains to almost none of the political prisoners held under vague laws for double-digit jail terms.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jpNni50Z1d9kv-J1oYMaAMrx6U3w?docId=CNG.b0f43da7c5e925fe261ed12d7a23011f.4b1" type="external">Human Rights Watch</a> said it was a "pathetic response" to international calls for widespread amnesty.</p>
<p>"The government's gesture will be welcomed by a great many prisoners in Burma, but for the 2,100 political prisoners unjustly serving sentences of up to 65 years, the one-year reduction is a sick joke," said Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director.</p>
<p>The global human rights watchdog said the move was a "slap in the face" for senior U.N. envoy Vijay Nambiar, who just last week visited Burma and said recent signals from the new government were "very encouraging."</p>
<p>The Burmese government generally grants amnesties to mark important national days, and previous mass releases have included a handful of political detainees.</p>
<p>Burma is thought to have more than 60,000 prisoners in 42 prisons and 109 labor camps.</p> | 599,659 |
<p>As Trump’s inauguration nears, the reality that this man may become the next president is really starting to set in.</p>
<p>In fact, after Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) sat for an intelligence briefing on Friday to review the classified information regarding claims of the Golden Shower Gate scandal, a declassified report was released to the public earlier this week.</p>
<p>With good reason, the congressmen were clearly shaken after the briefing. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) refused to hold back about his feelings immediately after reading the classified info and even shared them on Twitter.</p>
<p />
<p>However, none of the congressmen can publicly speak on what they read there, Lieu certainly felt that what he learned there proved that Trump has something serious to hide.</p>
<p>Trump was recently caught in multiple lies regarding his own top secret briefing on Russian hacking and the 2016 election influence they asserted.</p>
<p>Trump’s response:</p>
<p />
<p>Then, Kellyanne Conway went on Late Night with Seth Meyers just a few hours later to insist that Trump had not been briefed on that information. Meyers responded by saying that the leaked info specifically said that Trump had been briefed. Conway snapped back at him.</p>
<p>‘Well, he has said he is not aware of that.’</p>
<p>On Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden confirmed that he and President Obama had certainly been briefed, and a CNN source who was present at the time said that FBI Director James Comey personally briefed Trump in a one-on-one conversation.</p>
<p>So the million-dollar question remains: which lie is Lieu calling on Trump to come clean about?</p> | Rogue Congressman Speaks Out Against Trump To Make This Epic Plea To Americans | true | http://liberalplug.com/2017/01/14/rogue-congressman-speaks-trump-make-epic-plea-americans/ | 4left
| Rogue Congressman Speaks Out Against Trump To Make This Epic Plea To Americans
<p>As Trump’s inauguration nears, the reality that this man may become the next president is really starting to set in.</p>
<p>In fact, after Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) sat for an intelligence briefing on Friday to review the classified information regarding claims of the Golden Shower Gate scandal, a declassified report was released to the public earlier this week.</p>
<p>With good reason, the congressmen were clearly shaken after the briefing. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) refused to hold back about his feelings immediately after reading the classified info and even shared them on Twitter.</p>
<p />
<p>However, none of the congressmen can publicly speak on what they read there, Lieu certainly felt that what he learned there proved that Trump has something serious to hide.</p>
<p>Trump was recently caught in multiple lies regarding his own top secret briefing on Russian hacking and the 2016 election influence they asserted.</p>
<p>Trump’s response:</p>
<p />
<p>Then, Kellyanne Conway went on Late Night with Seth Meyers just a few hours later to insist that Trump had not been briefed on that information. Meyers responded by saying that the leaked info specifically said that Trump had been briefed. Conway snapped back at him.</p>
<p>‘Well, he has said he is not aware of that.’</p>
<p>On Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden confirmed that he and President Obama had certainly been briefed, and a CNN source who was present at the time said that FBI Director James Comey personally briefed Trump in a one-on-one conversation.</p>
<p>So the million-dollar question remains: which lie is Lieu calling on Trump to come clean about?</p> | 599,660 |
|
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Women’s March co-founders Tamika Mallory (left), Linda Sarsour (center), Carmen Perez (second from right) and Bob Bland (holding sign at right) at Friday’s #NRA2DOJ march. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p>Last Friday, near the end of an exhausting 18-mile march, approximately 350 people who had hoofed it from the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Va., to the Department of Justice (DOJ) building in Washington, D.C., through 96-degree heat and a ferocious storm, stopped in front of the Donald Trump White House and turned their backs in protest. Most began chanting “Shame. Shame. Shame.”</p>
<p>Within this defiant group were Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez and Bob Bland. They were the co-founders of January’s Women’s March on Washington — in which an estimated 5 million people on seven continents participated — and also the organizers of Friday’s march, hashtagged as #NRA2DOJ.</p>
<p />
<p>These four women, along with their supporting team of activists, have taken the momentum of the historic Women’s March on Washington and parlayed it from what was perceived by some as a one-off, one-day action into a transformative and powerful group.</p>
<p>Much in the way Standing Rock came to symbolize so much more than a fight against a pipeline, the Women’s March is poised to become the nexus of various social justice struggles, to manifest into the nerve center that reveals the interconnectedness of women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQIA rights, health care rights, immigrant rights, religious rights and concerns about income inequality, too-big-to-fail finance, the militarization of police and the criminalizing of dissent, to name a few issues.</p>
<p>The Women’s March, in essence, is primed to become an actual movement.</p>
<p>The alt-right and those who align themselves with the Trump administration have continued to attack the movement and its co-founders personally. But these women are not backing down.</p>
<p>The group’s #NRA2DOJ action came about after the NRA ran a controversial ad that many viewed as an outright call to violence against the left and against citizens — particularly people of color — who are protesting or engaging in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience. (For a comprehensive background on the NRA2DOJ March, read Truthdig columnist Sonali Kolhatkar’s piece “ <a href="" type="internal">The NRA Is Playing a Deadly Game in Labeling the Left as Violent</a>.”)</p>
<p>During Friday’s 18-mile march, <a href="" type="internal">live streamed by Truthdig,</a> the co-founders spoke about what the Women’s March movement is aiming to achieve. Here are excerpts:</p>
<p>Bob Bland:</p>
<p>What I would like [the Women’s March] to be is us, reweaving our culture together, to be women-led, more inclusive, more peaceful, more free, something that needs to be done intergenerationally. We are demonstrating that it’s possible and that it is also successful.</p>
<p>Carmen Perez:</p>
<p>We understand that there are so many issues that are important. So a lot of the work that we do is to gather justice around police accountability, system accountability, mass incarceration. … But we also care about immigrant rights. We also care about Muslim rights. We also care about LGBTQIA rights. And those folks are here. And it’s important to show up for one another.</p>
<p>Tamika Mallory:</p>
<p>With all the different issues that people are dealing with — the health care bill, the education front, reproductive rights — so many issues. And we know that people are going to be hitting the streets all summer. … To have people afraid to come out because they believe that they will be met with an armed militia is a problem. We wanted to make sure that we exposed it.</p>
<p>Approximately 20 pro-NRA advocates, all middle-age white males carrying side arms, paraded their counter-protest into the Women’s March before the speakers began.</p>
<p>Linda Sarsour (Re: the counter-protesters)</p>
<p>The reason why they are out here in opposition to us is that we are everything they don’t want. We are a multicultural, a pluralistic community. … It’s beautiful to see the diversity of the people we are able to draw. Because we are America. This [the women’s march] is actually what America looks like. We’re out here because we’re not going to let them silence us.</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; A typical sign at Friday’s 18-mile Women’s March. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; About mile eight, marchers go from dealing with 96-degree heat to a torrential downpour with wind gusts up to 50 mph. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; With three miles to go, the rain subsides and the group of about 350 takes a final break before entering Washington, D.C. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; An homage to the “pussy hat,” a resistance fashion statement that had been omnipresent during the January Woman’s March. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; In solidarity with Friday’s march, this contingent from Mothers Demand Action is among other advocacy groups joining in. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Marchers gather at the base of the Key Bridge, which connects Virginia and Washington, D.C. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; After nine hours of marching, the group crosses the Key Bridge. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Upon entering D.C., the group takes M Street, the main thoroughfare of the Georgetown section of the district. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Marchers chant “Hands up, don’t shoot” in front of the White House. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; The end of Friday’s 18-mile #NRA2DOJ Women’s March. The next morning, the group returned to the DOJ for another rally and vigil. (Michael Nigro)</p> | The Women's March Is Poised to Become a Movement (Photo Essay) | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/the-womens-march-is-poised-to-become-a-movement-photo-essay/ | 2017-07-18 | 4left
| The Women's March Is Poised to Become a Movement (Photo Essay)
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Women’s March co-founders Tamika Mallory (left), Linda Sarsour (center), Carmen Perez (second from right) and Bob Bland (holding sign at right) at Friday’s #NRA2DOJ march. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p>Last Friday, near the end of an exhausting 18-mile march, approximately 350 people who had hoofed it from the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Va., to the Department of Justice (DOJ) building in Washington, D.C., through 96-degree heat and a ferocious storm, stopped in front of the Donald Trump White House and turned their backs in protest. Most began chanting “Shame. Shame. Shame.”</p>
<p>Within this defiant group were Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez and Bob Bland. They were the co-founders of January’s Women’s March on Washington — in which an estimated 5 million people on seven continents participated — and also the organizers of Friday’s march, hashtagged as #NRA2DOJ.</p>
<p />
<p>These four women, along with their supporting team of activists, have taken the momentum of the historic Women’s March on Washington and parlayed it from what was perceived by some as a one-off, one-day action into a transformative and powerful group.</p>
<p>Much in the way Standing Rock came to symbolize so much more than a fight against a pipeline, the Women’s March is poised to become the nexus of various social justice struggles, to manifest into the nerve center that reveals the interconnectedness of women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQIA rights, health care rights, immigrant rights, religious rights and concerns about income inequality, too-big-to-fail finance, the militarization of police and the criminalizing of dissent, to name a few issues.</p>
<p>The Women’s March, in essence, is primed to become an actual movement.</p>
<p>The alt-right and those who align themselves with the Trump administration have continued to attack the movement and its co-founders personally. But these women are not backing down.</p>
<p>The group’s #NRA2DOJ action came about after the NRA ran a controversial ad that many viewed as an outright call to violence against the left and against citizens — particularly people of color — who are protesting or engaging in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience. (For a comprehensive background on the NRA2DOJ March, read Truthdig columnist Sonali Kolhatkar’s piece “ <a href="" type="internal">The NRA Is Playing a Deadly Game in Labeling the Left as Violent</a>.”)</p>
<p>During Friday’s 18-mile march, <a href="" type="internal">live streamed by Truthdig,</a> the co-founders spoke about what the Women’s March movement is aiming to achieve. Here are excerpts:</p>
<p>Bob Bland:</p>
<p>What I would like [the Women’s March] to be is us, reweaving our culture together, to be women-led, more inclusive, more peaceful, more free, something that needs to be done intergenerationally. We are demonstrating that it’s possible and that it is also successful.</p>
<p>Carmen Perez:</p>
<p>We understand that there are so many issues that are important. So a lot of the work that we do is to gather justice around police accountability, system accountability, mass incarceration. … But we also care about immigrant rights. We also care about Muslim rights. We also care about LGBTQIA rights. And those folks are here. And it’s important to show up for one another.</p>
<p>Tamika Mallory:</p>
<p>With all the different issues that people are dealing with — the health care bill, the education front, reproductive rights — so many issues. And we know that people are going to be hitting the streets all summer. … To have people afraid to come out because they believe that they will be met with an armed militia is a problem. We wanted to make sure that we exposed it.</p>
<p>Approximately 20 pro-NRA advocates, all middle-age white males carrying side arms, paraded their counter-protest into the Women’s March before the speakers began.</p>
<p>Linda Sarsour (Re: the counter-protesters)</p>
<p>The reason why they are out here in opposition to us is that we are everything they don’t want. We are a multicultural, a pluralistic community. … It’s beautiful to see the diversity of the people we are able to draw. Because we are America. This [the women’s march] is actually what America looks like. We’re out here because we’re not going to let them silence us.</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; A typical sign at Friday’s 18-mile Women’s March. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; About mile eight, marchers go from dealing with 96-degree heat to a torrential downpour with wind gusts up to 50 mph. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; With three miles to go, the rain subsides and the group of about 350 takes a final break before entering Washington, D.C. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; An homage to the “pussy hat,” a resistance fashion statement that had been omnipresent during the January Woman’s March. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; In solidarity with Friday’s march, this contingent from Mothers Demand Action is among other advocacy groups joining in. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Marchers gather at the base of the Key Bridge, which connects Virginia and Washington, D.C. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; After nine hours of marching, the group crosses the Key Bridge. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Upon entering D.C., the group takes M Street, the main thoroughfare of the Georgetown section of the district. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Marchers chant “Hands up, don’t shoot” in front of the White House. (Michael Nigro)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; The end of Friday’s 18-mile #NRA2DOJ Women’s March. The next morning, the group returned to the DOJ for another rally and vigil. (Michael Nigro)</p> | 599,661 |
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<p />
<p>The CEO of Rosneft said late Wednesday that it had agreed to sell a 19.5 percent stake to Swiss commodities giant Glencore and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.</p>
<p>The move was billed as part of the Russian government’s efforts to unload some state assets to help balance its budget amid a two-year recession caused by a drop in global oil prices and by Western sanctions against Russia.</p>
<p>The presence of Glencore in the deal, however, has raised eyebrows since the Russian oil industry is supposed to be off limits for Western investors because of European and American sanctions imposed on Russia. And the terms of the deal are not clear, with an unnamed bank taking a prominent role.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Here’s a look at the deal.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHY IS IT A SURPRISE?</p>
<p>As part of Russia’s privatization drive, Rosneft was scheduled to sell a chunk of its shares by the end of the year. Rosneft is run by Igor Sechin, Putin’s long-standing ally, who is believed to wield almost unrivalled influence in the Russian energy sector and beyond. Earlier, Rosneft was reported to be inclined toward buying back its own shares instead of raising money through a sale to investors. And before the deal was announced, it was unclear where Rosneft could find a potential investor amid the current unstable market and with the backdrop of Western sanctions.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT IS GLENCORE’S ROLE IN THE DEAL?</p>
<p>Glencore’s participation in the deal came as a surprise since the company is going through difficult financial times and only last year faced doubts about its ability to handle its own debts.</p>
<p>Although Rosneft did not disclose Glencore’s role in the deal, the company said in a statement that it would put just 300 million euros ($322 million) of its own money into Rosneft shares. The remainder will be provided by an unspecified bank that neither company would name. Rosneft CEO Sechin said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the deal will be financed by “one of the largest European banks.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT ARE GLENCORE’S TIES IN RUSSIA?</p>
<p>Glencore CEO Ivan Glasenberg has become a fixture at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, an economic gathering that became known as Russia’s Davos. Major Western companies and CEOs shunned the 2014 forum following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and warnings from the U.S. State Department. Glasenberg was one of the few top-level Western executives who attended the forum that year.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT ABOUT WESTERN SANCTIONS?</p>
<p>A few months after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, both the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on several Russian oil companies including Rosneft, banning Western firms from supporting their activities in exploration and production from Arctic offshore and shale projects. That put in jeopardy a landmark Arctic drilling project by Rosneft and ExxonMobil as well as dozens of other projects by Russian companies with foreign participation.</p>
<p>Several rounds of U.S. and European sanctions in 2014 blocked lending for Russian banks, energy and defense companies and prevented them from accessing equity or debt markets for new long-term lending.</p>
<p>The sanctions, however, do not cover owning shares in Russian companies. Rosneft already has a major foreign shareholder — BP, which owns 19.75 percent of the shares.</p>
<p>Glencore does not seem to be violating sanctions with the share purchase. The company, however, said in its statement that the deal will offer “additional opportunities, through a strategic partnership for further cooperation, including infrastructure, logistics and global trading.” Helping Rosneft with infrastructure would be a breach of the sanctions, and it is not clear right now how the deal could be implemented in this respect.</p> | Looking behind the deal: Russia sells part of its oil giant | false | https://abqjournal.com/904878/looking-behind-the-deal-russia-sells-part-of-its-oil-giant.html | 2least
| Looking behind the deal: Russia sells part of its oil giant
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The CEO of Rosneft said late Wednesday that it had agreed to sell a 19.5 percent stake to Swiss commodities giant Glencore and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.</p>
<p>The move was billed as part of the Russian government’s efforts to unload some state assets to help balance its budget amid a two-year recession caused by a drop in global oil prices and by Western sanctions against Russia.</p>
<p>The presence of Glencore in the deal, however, has raised eyebrows since the Russian oil industry is supposed to be off limits for Western investors because of European and American sanctions imposed on Russia. And the terms of the deal are not clear, with an unnamed bank taking a prominent role.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Here’s a look at the deal.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHY IS IT A SURPRISE?</p>
<p>As part of Russia’s privatization drive, Rosneft was scheduled to sell a chunk of its shares by the end of the year. Rosneft is run by Igor Sechin, Putin’s long-standing ally, who is believed to wield almost unrivalled influence in the Russian energy sector and beyond. Earlier, Rosneft was reported to be inclined toward buying back its own shares instead of raising money through a sale to investors. And before the deal was announced, it was unclear where Rosneft could find a potential investor amid the current unstable market and with the backdrop of Western sanctions.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT IS GLENCORE’S ROLE IN THE DEAL?</p>
<p>Glencore’s participation in the deal came as a surprise since the company is going through difficult financial times and only last year faced doubts about its ability to handle its own debts.</p>
<p>Although Rosneft did not disclose Glencore’s role in the deal, the company said in a statement that it would put just 300 million euros ($322 million) of its own money into Rosneft shares. The remainder will be provided by an unspecified bank that neither company would name. Rosneft CEO Sechin said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the deal will be financed by “one of the largest European banks.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT ARE GLENCORE’S TIES IN RUSSIA?</p>
<p>Glencore CEO Ivan Glasenberg has become a fixture at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, an economic gathering that became known as Russia’s Davos. Major Western companies and CEOs shunned the 2014 forum following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and warnings from the U.S. State Department. Glasenberg was one of the few top-level Western executives who attended the forum that year.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHAT ABOUT WESTERN SANCTIONS?</p>
<p>A few months after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, both the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on several Russian oil companies including Rosneft, banning Western firms from supporting their activities in exploration and production from Arctic offshore and shale projects. That put in jeopardy a landmark Arctic drilling project by Rosneft and ExxonMobil as well as dozens of other projects by Russian companies with foreign participation.</p>
<p>Several rounds of U.S. and European sanctions in 2014 blocked lending for Russian banks, energy and defense companies and prevented them from accessing equity or debt markets for new long-term lending.</p>
<p>The sanctions, however, do not cover owning shares in Russian companies. Rosneft already has a major foreign shareholder — BP, which owns 19.75 percent of the shares.</p>
<p>Glencore does not seem to be violating sanctions with the share purchase. The company, however, said in its statement that the deal will offer “additional opportunities, through a strategic partnership for further cooperation, including infrastructure, logistics and global trading.” Helping Rosneft with infrastructure would be a breach of the sanctions, and it is not clear right now how the deal could be implemented in this respect.</p> | 599,662 |
|
<p>Story by <a href="http://www.theworld.org/?s=John+Otis" type="external">John Otis</a> from PRI's The World. Listen to audio above for full report.</p>
<p>Venezuela has a shortage of affordable homes so acute that squatters have moved into half-built high rises in Caracas. And there are also countless families left homeless by flash floods and landslides that swept the country six months ago. And there’s pressure for the government to solve the problem.</p>
<p>"I know it’s going to be difficult," said Maria Mendoza, who lives with her family in a homeless shelter in Caracas. "But I hope the government will give us a new home. And we’re not the only ones in this situation."</p>
<p>Experts say there’s a deficit of more than 2 million housing units in Venezuela. In the 1950s and 60s, Caracas was one of Latin America’s most modern cities. Amid an oil boom, gleaming high rises were built downtown. Government housing projects rose from the slums.</p>
<p>But more recently, high inflation has made banks wary of signing mortgages for private home building. Under Chavez, the public and private sectors have put up just 28,000 houses per year, less than half the number built during previous governments.</p>
<p>"The construction was not a priority, even though Chavez talked about that," said political analyst Luis Vicente Leon. He added that Chavez preferred to spend billions of petro-dollars on schools, clinics and food programs for the poor. These projects touch millions of Venezuelans and their widespread popularity has helped Chavez get re-elected, twice.</p>
<p>By contrast, Leon said, each government-built house benefits just one family. "The quantity of money you need to build a house is so high and the quantity of votes that you get from it is low."</p>
<p>But now, with a new presidential election approaching, the Chavez government seems to be focusing on housing at last. At an outdoor plaza in Caracas, people can register for what’s called "The Great Housing Mission." The government program aims to provide low-cost housing and easy home loans. Plans call for building 350,000 homes ahead of next year’s vote.</p>
<p>"The flood refugees, the homeless and the squatters are top priorities," said the program’s Dilumar Rodriguez.</p>
<p>Venezuelans have heard such promises before. Five years ago, Chavez pledged to construct 75,000 new houses for Caracas. Fewer than 3,000 have been built. Those numbers feed the suspicion that the new housing program is nothing but campaign trickery.</p>
<p>Though Chavez is being treated for cancer, he intends to run for re-election next year. Even if the housing program proves to be a bust, Leon said that people expecting a house from Chavez are unlikely to vote for the opposition.</p>
<p>"He’s blackmailing people with that," said Leon. "He’s trying to say, if you vote for me, somebody is going to build a house and this house is going to be yours. But if I am not going to be the president, the other guy is not going to do anything for you."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theworld.org/2011/09/chavezs-housing-crunch/" type="external">Read the rest of this story</a> on The World website.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>PRI's "The World" is a one-hour, weekday radio news magazine offering a mix of news, features, interviews, and music from around the globe. "The World" is a co-production of the BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston. <a href="the-world.html" type="external">More about The World.</a></p> | Venezuela's housing shortage puts pressure on Chavez | false | https://pri.org/stories/2011-09-05/venezuelas-housing-shortage-puts-pressure-chavez | 2011-09-05 | 3left-center
| Venezuela's housing shortage puts pressure on Chavez
<p>Story by <a href="http://www.theworld.org/?s=John+Otis" type="external">John Otis</a> from PRI's The World. Listen to audio above for full report.</p>
<p>Venezuela has a shortage of affordable homes so acute that squatters have moved into half-built high rises in Caracas. And there are also countless families left homeless by flash floods and landslides that swept the country six months ago. And there’s pressure for the government to solve the problem.</p>
<p>"I know it’s going to be difficult," said Maria Mendoza, who lives with her family in a homeless shelter in Caracas. "But I hope the government will give us a new home. And we’re not the only ones in this situation."</p>
<p>Experts say there’s a deficit of more than 2 million housing units in Venezuela. In the 1950s and 60s, Caracas was one of Latin America’s most modern cities. Amid an oil boom, gleaming high rises were built downtown. Government housing projects rose from the slums.</p>
<p>But more recently, high inflation has made banks wary of signing mortgages for private home building. Under Chavez, the public and private sectors have put up just 28,000 houses per year, less than half the number built during previous governments.</p>
<p>"The construction was not a priority, even though Chavez talked about that," said political analyst Luis Vicente Leon. He added that Chavez preferred to spend billions of petro-dollars on schools, clinics and food programs for the poor. These projects touch millions of Venezuelans and their widespread popularity has helped Chavez get re-elected, twice.</p>
<p>By contrast, Leon said, each government-built house benefits just one family. "The quantity of money you need to build a house is so high and the quantity of votes that you get from it is low."</p>
<p>But now, with a new presidential election approaching, the Chavez government seems to be focusing on housing at last. At an outdoor plaza in Caracas, people can register for what’s called "The Great Housing Mission." The government program aims to provide low-cost housing and easy home loans. Plans call for building 350,000 homes ahead of next year’s vote.</p>
<p>"The flood refugees, the homeless and the squatters are top priorities," said the program’s Dilumar Rodriguez.</p>
<p>Venezuelans have heard such promises before. Five years ago, Chavez pledged to construct 75,000 new houses for Caracas. Fewer than 3,000 have been built. Those numbers feed the suspicion that the new housing program is nothing but campaign trickery.</p>
<p>Though Chavez is being treated for cancer, he intends to run for re-election next year. Even if the housing program proves to be a bust, Leon said that people expecting a house from Chavez are unlikely to vote for the opposition.</p>
<p>"He’s blackmailing people with that," said Leon. "He’s trying to say, if you vote for me, somebody is going to build a house and this house is going to be yours. But if I am not going to be the president, the other guy is not going to do anything for you."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theworld.org/2011/09/chavezs-housing-crunch/" type="external">Read the rest of this story</a> on The World website.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>PRI's "The World" is a one-hour, weekday radio news magazine offering a mix of news, features, interviews, and music from around the globe. "The World" is a co-production of the BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston. <a href="the-world.html" type="external">More about The World.</a></p> | 599,663 |
<p>If you relied on major media outlets for coverage of last November’s elections, you could be forgiven for thinking women were poised to rule the country in 2013.</p>
<p>“From Congress to Halls of State… Women Rule,” the New York Times ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/from-congress-to-halls-of-state-in-new-hampshire-women-rule.html" type="external">1/1/13</a>) trumpeted. “Big Gains for Women in 2012,” shouted CNN ( <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/07/big-gains-for-women-in-2012/" type="external">11/7/12</a>). “113th Congress Welcomes Benches Full of Women,” PBS ( <a href="" type="external">11/16/12</a>) declared. Salon ( <a href="" type="external">11/6/12</a>) was confidently matter-of-fact—“Another Year of the Woman”—as was Mother Jones ( <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/11/2012-year-woman-senator" type="external">11/6/12</a>): “2012: The Year of the Woman Senator.”</p>
<p>MSNBC (“Is 2012 the Year of the Woman?,” <a href="http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-daily-rundown/46746579#46746579" type="external">3/15/12</a>) and the Washington Post (“With Senate Wins for Elizabeth Warren and Others, a New Year of the Woman?,” <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/with-senate-wins-for-elizabeth-warren-and-others-a-new-year-of-the-woman/2012/11/07/88b3d5c2-290f-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_story.html" type="external">11/7/12</a>) were more tentative but still optimistic.</p>
<p>According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, 98 women are currently serving in the United States Congress, occupying only 18 percent of congressional seats: 78 in the House and a record 20 in the Senate.</p>
<p>Yet according to CNN’s Halimah Abdullah ( <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/07/big-gains-for-women-in-2012/" type="external">11/7/12</a>), “In some quarters, Election Day 2012 turned into ladies night.” Of New Hampshire’s status as the first state to send an all-female delegation to Washington, the New York Times’ Katharine Q. Seelye ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/from-congress-to-halls-of-state-in-new-hampshire-women-rule.html" type="external">1/1/13</a>) wryly noted, “And the matriarchy does not end there.”</p>
<p>Just over 20 years ago, 1992 was dubbed the “Year of the Woman” (Extra!, <a href="" type="internal">9/92</a>) when congressional elections tripled the number of women then serving in the Senate—to six. (Forty-eight women served in the House.)</p>
<p>The number of women in Congress has less than doubled since those “watershed” elections. At the rate of progress we’ve maintained over the last 20 years, it will take American women until 2090 to achieve equal representation in Congress.</p>
<p>In other words, men may not need to seek refuge from the coming “matriarchy” just yet.</p>
<p>Women of 113th Congress–Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons</p>
<p>Perhaps the media are overawed by such paltry gains because women are comparably poorly represented in the upper echelons of most media outlets. In 2012, women represented 19.1 percent of local radio news directors and 30.2 percent of local TV news directors (RTNDA, <a href="http://www.rtdna.org/uploads/files/div12.pdf" type="external">10/22/12</a>). In newspaper newsrooms, women are only 34.2 percent of supervisors (ASNE, <a href="http://asne.org/content.asp?pl=140&amp;sl=144&amp;contentid=144" type="external">2012</a>). And only twelve women solo hosts and three women co-hosts appeared on 2012’s “Heavy Hundred” ( <a href="http://www.talkers.com/heavy-hundred/" type="external">4/12</a>), Talkers magazine’s list of the 100 most important radio talk show hosts in America. Even small gains for women likely feel like a rising tide to reporters ensconced in a boys’ club of their own.</p>
<p>“These women did not rise to the top together overnight…. Each toiled in the political vineyards…and campaigned hard for her job,” observed the Times’ Seelye ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/from-congress-to-halls-of-state-in-new-hampshire-women-rule.html" type="external">1/1/13</a>). Salon’s Irin Carmon ( <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/11/06/another_year_of_the_woman/" type="external">11/6/12</a>) quoted Jess McIntosh of the feminist PAC EMILY’s List: “We had done the decades of work to find these women.” Added Carmon, “No easy feat, since women generally need to be asked to run several times.”</p>
<p>The implication is that the women who ran for office prior to 2012 didn’t campaign hard or toil long enough. If it’s true that women must often be cajoled into running, why not ask “why”? Is it because they are generally less ambitious than men? Or do they quite reasonably consider politics a hostile environment?</p>
<p>Global context is also notably scarce in the rosy coverage of this second “Year of the Woman.” The U.S. is currently ranked number 55 in the category of “political empowerment” on the <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf" type="external">World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2012</a>. Women are better represented in the national legislatures of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Honduras than they are in the U.S. Congress (InterParliamentary Union, <a href="http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm" type="external">12/31/12</a>). But aside from notable exceptions like Nina Burleigh at the New York Observer ( <a href="http://observer.com/2012/11/war-on-women-or-year-of-the-woman-across-us-a-record-number-of-female-candidates/" type="external">11/3/12</a>) and Kate Sheppard at Mother Jones ( <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/11/19-percent-congress-women-why-not-half" type="external">11/20/12</a>), few mentioned such inconvenient facts.</p>
<p>Did most in the media decline to raise this point for fear of being labeled unpatriotic? Or did they simply assume that women’s political prospects were even dimmer in other parts of the world?</p>
<p>For every woman who has won her race, there have been many more like Jean Lloyd-Jones, a state senator from Iowa who earned the Democratic nomination for a Senate seat in 1992 but lost the general election. “I really felt that we were paving the way for a huge number of women, but the promise of 1992 was never realized,” Lloyd-Jones told the Washington Post ( <a href="" type="external">3/24/12</a>).</p>
<p>Until the media learn to do more than recycle headlines about how far women have come, we risk squandering the promise of 2012 as well.</p>
<p>Raina Lipsitz writes and edits short stories about herself and others at <a href="" type="external">Imaginary</a> <a href="" type="external">Money</a> and has published in the Atlantic online, the Brooklyn Rail, McSweeney’s, Nerve and Ploughshares.</p>
<p>Subscribe: <a href="" type="internal">Android</a> | <a href="" type="internal">RSS</a></p> | Year of the Woman, Take Two | true | http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/year-of-the-woman-take-two/ | 2013-04-01 | 4left
| Year of the Woman, Take Two
<p>If you relied on major media outlets for coverage of last November’s elections, you could be forgiven for thinking women were poised to rule the country in 2013.</p>
<p>“From Congress to Halls of State… Women Rule,” the New York Times ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/from-congress-to-halls-of-state-in-new-hampshire-women-rule.html" type="external">1/1/13</a>) trumpeted. “Big Gains for Women in 2012,” shouted CNN ( <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/07/big-gains-for-women-in-2012/" type="external">11/7/12</a>). “113th Congress Welcomes Benches Full of Women,” PBS ( <a href="" type="external">11/16/12</a>) declared. Salon ( <a href="" type="external">11/6/12</a>) was confidently matter-of-fact—“Another Year of the Woman”—as was Mother Jones ( <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/11/2012-year-woman-senator" type="external">11/6/12</a>): “2012: The Year of the Woman Senator.”</p>
<p>MSNBC (“Is 2012 the Year of the Woman?,” <a href="http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-daily-rundown/46746579#46746579" type="external">3/15/12</a>) and the Washington Post (“With Senate Wins for Elizabeth Warren and Others, a New Year of the Woman?,” <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/with-senate-wins-for-elizabeth-warren-and-others-a-new-year-of-the-woman/2012/11/07/88b3d5c2-290f-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_story.html" type="external">11/7/12</a>) were more tentative but still optimistic.</p>
<p>According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, 98 women are currently serving in the United States Congress, occupying only 18 percent of congressional seats: 78 in the House and a record 20 in the Senate.</p>
<p>Yet according to CNN’s Halimah Abdullah ( <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/07/big-gains-for-women-in-2012/" type="external">11/7/12</a>), “In some quarters, Election Day 2012 turned into ladies night.” Of New Hampshire’s status as the first state to send an all-female delegation to Washington, the New York Times’ Katharine Q. Seelye ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/from-congress-to-halls-of-state-in-new-hampshire-women-rule.html" type="external">1/1/13</a>) wryly noted, “And the matriarchy does not end there.”</p>
<p>Just over 20 years ago, 1992 was dubbed the “Year of the Woman” (Extra!, <a href="" type="internal">9/92</a>) when congressional elections tripled the number of women then serving in the Senate—to six. (Forty-eight women served in the House.)</p>
<p>The number of women in Congress has less than doubled since those “watershed” elections. At the rate of progress we’ve maintained over the last 20 years, it will take American women until 2090 to achieve equal representation in Congress.</p>
<p>In other words, men may not need to seek refuge from the coming “matriarchy” just yet.</p>
<p>Women of 113th Congress–Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons</p>
<p>Perhaps the media are overawed by such paltry gains because women are comparably poorly represented in the upper echelons of most media outlets. In 2012, women represented 19.1 percent of local radio news directors and 30.2 percent of local TV news directors (RTNDA, <a href="http://www.rtdna.org/uploads/files/div12.pdf" type="external">10/22/12</a>). In newspaper newsrooms, women are only 34.2 percent of supervisors (ASNE, <a href="http://asne.org/content.asp?pl=140&amp;sl=144&amp;contentid=144" type="external">2012</a>). And only twelve women solo hosts and three women co-hosts appeared on 2012’s “Heavy Hundred” ( <a href="http://www.talkers.com/heavy-hundred/" type="external">4/12</a>), Talkers magazine’s list of the 100 most important radio talk show hosts in America. Even small gains for women likely feel like a rising tide to reporters ensconced in a boys’ club of their own.</p>
<p>“These women did not rise to the top together overnight…. Each toiled in the political vineyards…and campaigned hard for her job,” observed the Times’ Seelye ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/from-congress-to-halls-of-state-in-new-hampshire-women-rule.html" type="external">1/1/13</a>). Salon’s Irin Carmon ( <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/11/06/another_year_of_the_woman/" type="external">11/6/12</a>) quoted Jess McIntosh of the feminist PAC EMILY’s List: “We had done the decades of work to find these women.” Added Carmon, “No easy feat, since women generally need to be asked to run several times.”</p>
<p>The implication is that the women who ran for office prior to 2012 didn’t campaign hard or toil long enough. If it’s true that women must often be cajoled into running, why not ask “why”? Is it because they are generally less ambitious than men? Or do they quite reasonably consider politics a hostile environment?</p>
<p>Global context is also notably scarce in the rosy coverage of this second “Year of the Woman.” The U.S. is currently ranked number 55 in the category of “political empowerment” on the <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf" type="external">World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2012</a>. Women are better represented in the national legislatures of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Honduras than they are in the U.S. Congress (InterParliamentary Union, <a href="http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm" type="external">12/31/12</a>). But aside from notable exceptions like Nina Burleigh at the New York Observer ( <a href="http://observer.com/2012/11/war-on-women-or-year-of-the-woman-across-us-a-record-number-of-female-candidates/" type="external">11/3/12</a>) and Kate Sheppard at Mother Jones ( <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/11/19-percent-congress-women-why-not-half" type="external">11/20/12</a>), few mentioned such inconvenient facts.</p>
<p>Did most in the media decline to raise this point for fear of being labeled unpatriotic? Or did they simply assume that women’s political prospects were even dimmer in other parts of the world?</p>
<p>For every woman who has won her race, there have been many more like Jean Lloyd-Jones, a state senator from Iowa who earned the Democratic nomination for a Senate seat in 1992 but lost the general election. “I really felt that we were paving the way for a huge number of women, but the promise of 1992 was never realized,” Lloyd-Jones told the Washington Post ( <a href="" type="external">3/24/12</a>).</p>
<p>Until the media learn to do more than recycle headlines about how far women have come, we risk squandering the promise of 2012 as well.</p>
<p>Raina Lipsitz writes and edits short stories about herself and others at <a href="" type="external">Imaginary</a> <a href="" type="external">Money</a> and has published in the Atlantic online, the Brooklyn Rail, McSweeney’s, Nerve and Ploughshares.</p>
<p>Subscribe: <a href="" type="internal">Android</a> | <a href="" type="internal">RSS</a></p> | 599,664 |
<p>Book - Routledge</p>
<p />
<p>This book offers a comprehensive examination of the important security issue of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.</p>
<p>Nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament have returned to the top of the international political agenda. The issue assumes particular importance in regard to NATO, given that some 150–200 US tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs) are still present in five countries belonging to the Alliance (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey). The past few years have seen animated debate in the United States and Europe on the role of such weapons in the current scenario of international security, and whether they can be further reduced or completely removed from Europe.</p>
<p>Bringing together leading scholars and analysts of TNW with country-specific competences, this volume improves our understanding of this debate by providing in-depth analysis of the presence, role, perceived value and destiny of TNWs in Europe. The book addresses the issue in a systematic manner, taking into account the perspectives of all main actors directly or indirectly involved in the debate. This approach provides new and important insights that can inform both theoretical and policy work on a very critical and timely international issue, especially during the ongoing review of NATO's deterrence and defence posture.</p>
<p /> | Tactical Nuclear Weapons and Euro-Atlantic Security: The Future of NATO | false | http://belfercenter.org/publication/tactical-nuclear-weapons-and-euro-atlantic-security-future-nato | 2013-07-05 | 2least
| Tactical Nuclear Weapons and Euro-Atlantic Security: The Future of NATO
<p>Book - Routledge</p>
<p />
<p>This book offers a comprehensive examination of the important security issue of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.</p>
<p>Nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament have returned to the top of the international political agenda. The issue assumes particular importance in regard to NATO, given that some 150–200 US tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs) are still present in five countries belonging to the Alliance (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey). The past few years have seen animated debate in the United States and Europe on the role of such weapons in the current scenario of international security, and whether they can be further reduced or completely removed from Europe.</p>
<p>Bringing together leading scholars and analysts of TNW with country-specific competences, this volume improves our understanding of this debate by providing in-depth analysis of the presence, role, perceived value and destiny of TNWs in Europe. The book addresses the issue in a systematic manner, taking into account the perspectives of all main actors directly or indirectly involved in the debate. This approach provides new and important insights that can inform both theoretical and policy work on a very critical and timely international issue, especially during the ongoing review of NATO's deterrence and defence posture.</p>
<p /> | 599,665 |
<p>By Tim Clift&#160;via Iris.xyz Those in the investment community’s inner circle acknowledge that David Swensen, who runs the Yale Endowment, has an enviable investment record—who wouldn’t want the kudos that accompany running a $25 Billion fund and outperforming by close to 30% more than its nearest competitor in 2015? Most individual investors’ portfolios won’t grow… <a href="http://www.etftrends.com/2016/12/what-we-can-learn-from-the-yale-endowment/" type="external">Click to read more at ETFtrends.com. Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | What We Can Learn From the Yale Endowment | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/12/10/what-can-learn-from-yale-endowment.html | 2016-12-10 | 0right
| What We Can Learn From the Yale Endowment
<p>By Tim Clift&#160;via Iris.xyz Those in the investment community’s inner circle acknowledge that David Swensen, who runs the Yale Endowment, has an enviable investment record—who wouldn’t want the kudos that accompany running a $25 Billion fund and outperforming by close to 30% more than its nearest competitor in 2015? Most individual investors’ portfolios won’t grow… <a href="http://www.etftrends.com/2016/12/what-we-can-learn-from-the-yale-endowment/" type="external">Click to read more at ETFtrends.com. Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | 599,666 |
<p>Since 1972, The Chicago Reporter has reported on the social, economic and political issues of metropolitan Chicago with a distinct focus on race and poverty.</p>
<p>In 2012, the Reporter started a photojournalism fellowship program. The first two fellows, Jonathan Gibby and Lucio Villa, used photography and multimedia to visualize the Reporter’s tenacious documentation of the region’s ongoing struggle with racial and economic inequality.</p>
<p>In June 2013, they exhibited some of their best work. If you missed the event,&#160;you can still view and purchase their work online.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Click to view and purchase pieces from the exhibit</a></p> | Issues visualized | false | http://chicagoreporter.com/issues-visualized/ | 2013-07-01 | 3left-center
| Issues visualized
<p>Since 1972, The Chicago Reporter has reported on the social, economic and political issues of metropolitan Chicago with a distinct focus on race and poverty.</p>
<p>In 2012, the Reporter started a photojournalism fellowship program. The first two fellows, Jonathan Gibby and Lucio Villa, used photography and multimedia to visualize the Reporter’s tenacious documentation of the region’s ongoing struggle with racial and economic inequality.</p>
<p>In June 2013, they exhibited some of their best work. If you missed the event,&#160;you can still view and purchase their work online.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Click to view and purchase pieces from the exhibit</a></p> | 599,667 |
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<p />
<p>Mission Achievement and Success Charter School filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in Santa Fe's 1st Judicial District Court on Dec. 16 saying that it lost $147,427 after the PED "manipulated" its data on gifted students in violation of procedure.</p>
<p>The state provides schools with additional funding to assist children with special educational needs, including the gifted.</p>
<p>In a May 29 memo to the school, the PED argued that an audit found that the school had categorized too many students as gifted without proper documentation.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The school had reported 41 students as gifted; the PED said none of these students should have been placed in that class.</p>
<p>Another "area of concern" - MAS Charter School was using teachers without a gifted endorsement to instruct gifted kids, according to the PED.</p>
<p>But the school's court filing says that none of the PED's findings were tied to specific policy violations and that the memo does not cite any authority for reducing revenue.</p>
<p>In response to the "arbitrary" budget cut, administrators will be forced to lower spending on needed supplies and materials to continue serving gifted students, the petition says.</p>
<p>The school's total operating budget for 2015-16 was roughly $4.5 million after the reduction.</p>
<p>MAS Charter School board President Bruce Langston told the Journal that he feels the situation comes down to a lack of clarity in PED regulations.</p>
<p>"We have had a great working relationship with the Cabinet secretary and the department of education," he said. "It is a matter of clarification that we need and that the department needs to provide so that we don't have these kinds of misunderstandings in the future."</p>
<p>PED policy states that designating a child as gifted requires "data from multiple sources," including standardized test scores, work samples, interviews and observations.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>PED spokesman Robert McEntyre said in an emailed statement that MAS Charter School "misstated and misclassified a substantial portion of their student enrollment," leading to the budget change.</p>
<p>"The department will ensure that taxpayer dollars for schools are distributed fairly, and it's simply unacceptable for any school to make a cash grab by inflating or mischaracterizing their enrollment," he said.</p>
<p>Located in Southeast Albuquerque, MAS Charter School serves pupils in kindergarten through first grade and sixth through 10th grades.</p>
<p>In October, the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools named it Charter School of the Year.</p>
<p>MAS Charter School also received an A in the most recent round of school grades, placing it among the top 14 percent in the state.</p>
<p />
<p /> | Top charter school sues over $147K budget cut | false | https://abqjournal.com/700788/top-charter-school-sues-over-147k-budget-cut.html | 2least
| Top charter school sues over $147K budget cut
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Mission Achievement and Success Charter School filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in Santa Fe's 1st Judicial District Court on Dec. 16 saying that it lost $147,427 after the PED "manipulated" its data on gifted students in violation of procedure.</p>
<p>The state provides schools with additional funding to assist children with special educational needs, including the gifted.</p>
<p>In a May 29 memo to the school, the PED argued that an audit found that the school had categorized too many students as gifted without proper documentation.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The school had reported 41 students as gifted; the PED said none of these students should have been placed in that class.</p>
<p>Another "area of concern" - MAS Charter School was using teachers without a gifted endorsement to instruct gifted kids, according to the PED.</p>
<p>But the school's court filing says that none of the PED's findings were tied to specific policy violations and that the memo does not cite any authority for reducing revenue.</p>
<p>In response to the "arbitrary" budget cut, administrators will be forced to lower spending on needed supplies and materials to continue serving gifted students, the petition says.</p>
<p>The school's total operating budget for 2015-16 was roughly $4.5 million after the reduction.</p>
<p>MAS Charter School board President Bruce Langston told the Journal that he feels the situation comes down to a lack of clarity in PED regulations.</p>
<p>"We have had a great working relationship with the Cabinet secretary and the department of education," he said. "It is a matter of clarification that we need and that the department needs to provide so that we don't have these kinds of misunderstandings in the future."</p>
<p>PED policy states that designating a child as gifted requires "data from multiple sources," including standardized test scores, work samples, interviews and observations.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>PED spokesman Robert McEntyre said in an emailed statement that MAS Charter School "misstated and misclassified a substantial portion of their student enrollment," leading to the budget change.</p>
<p>"The department will ensure that taxpayer dollars for schools are distributed fairly, and it's simply unacceptable for any school to make a cash grab by inflating or mischaracterizing their enrollment," he said.</p>
<p>Located in Southeast Albuquerque, MAS Charter School serves pupils in kindergarten through first grade and sixth through 10th grades.</p>
<p>In October, the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools named it Charter School of the Year.</p>
<p>MAS Charter School also received an A in the most recent round of school grades, placing it among the top 14 percent in the state.</p>
<p />
<p /> | 599,668 |
|
<p>Freeport-McMoRan Inc. shares rose nearly 1% in premarket trade Tuesday after the company swung to a profit, though it missed earnings and revenue expectations. Earnings for the latest quarter were $306 million, or 16 cents per share, compared with a loss of $4.1 billion, or a loss of $3.35 per share in the year-earlier period. Adjusted earnings-per-share were 15 cents, compared with the FactSet consensus of 16 cents. Revenue rose to $3.3 million from $2.3 million, compared with the FactSet consensus of $3.5 million. Freeport-McMoRan shares have dropped 25.9% over the last three months, compared with a 3.3% rise in the S&amp;P 500 .</p>
<p>Copyright © 2017 MarketWatch, Inc.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | Freeport-McMoRan Reports First-quarter Earnings, Revenue Misses | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/04/25/freeport-mcmoran-reports-first-quarter-earnings-revenue-misses.html | 2017-04-25 | 0right
| Freeport-McMoRan Reports First-quarter Earnings, Revenue Misses
<p>Freeport-McMoRan Inc. shares rose nearly 1% in premarket trade Tuesday after the company swung to a profit, though it missed earnings and revenue expectations. Earnings for the latest quarter were $306 million, or 16 cents per share, compared with a loss of $4.1 billion, or a loss of $3.35 per share in the year-earlier period. Adjusted earnings-per-share were 15 cents, compared with the FactSet consensus of 16 cents. Revenue rose to $3.3 million from $2.3 million, compared with the FactSet consensus of $3.5 million. Freeport-McMoRan shares have dropped 25.9% over the last three months, compared with a 3.3% rise in the S&amp;P 500 .</p>
<p>Copyright © 2017 MarketWatch, Inc.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | 599,669 |
<p>A Columbia University student who carried a mattress around the campus all year to raise awareness of sexual assault graduated Tuesday — with her mattress in tow.</p>
<p>Emma Sulkowicz, <a href="http://www.today.com/news/columbia-student-carries-mattress-until-alleged-rapist-expelled-1D80126914" type="external">who says she was raped on her first day of her sophomore year</a>, brought the mattress with her as she walked across the stage during the ceremony. The audience applauded.</p>
<p>Sulkowicz says the case against her alleged abuser was dismissed and he was allowed to remain enrolled at the school. As part of her senior thesis, a performance art project called "Carry That Weight," the visual arts major said she would carry the mattress everywhere she went on campus for as long as she attended the same school as her alleged rapist.</p>
<p>Columbia’s student newspaper, the <a href="http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2015/05/18/sulkowicz-may-not-be-allowed-bring-mattress-cc-class-day" type="external">Columbia Daily Spectator</a>, reported Monday that school officials emailed a provision to graduating students that specified: “Graduates should not bring into the ceremonial area large objects which could interfere with the proceedings or create discomfort to others in close, crowded spaces shared by thousands of people.”</p>
<p>The regulation had not been implemented in previous years, according to the newspaper.</p>
<p>Some wondered if the rule would bar Sulkowicz from bringing the mattress to her school’s class day:</p>
<p>A commencement ceremony for the whole university is planned for Wednesday.</p>
<p>Teo Armus, a student reporter for the Columbia Spectator, reported before the ceremony Tuesday that a school official had asked Sulkowicz to leave her mattress in a room and pick it up after the event, but Armus told NBC News that Sulkowicz was ultimately allowed to bring the mattress into the tent.</p>
<p>The commencement speaker, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, even alluded to Sulkowicz in his speech, Armus said. "You've held contrary opinions, held die-ins and sit-ins, carried mattresses," Garcetti told the students. "Never stop being academics, and never stop being activists."</p>
<p>After Sulkowicz’s art performance <a href="" type="internal">garnered national</a>and international media attention, the student she accused, Paul Nungesser, filed a gender-based harassment and defamation suit against the school, according to <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Columbia-Student-Sues-Harassment-Rape-Claim-Tossed-301152471.html" type="external">NBC New York</a>. The suit said Columbia sponsored Sulkowicz’s senior thesis, which he said “resulted in an intimidating, hostile, demeaning ... learning and living environment.”</p>
<p>The suit also said that Nungesser’s job prospects were “severely jeopardized,” and he feared he and his parents, who live in Germany, would not be able to attend graduation because of Sulkowicz’s vow to bring the mattress.</p>
<p>Nungesser attended Tuesday’s ceremony, Armus said.</p> | Columbia Student Emma Sulkowicz Brings Rape Protest Mattress to Graduation | false | http://nbcnews.com/news/us-news/columbia-student-emma-sulkowicz-brings-rape-response-protest-mattress-graduation-n361321 | 2015-05-20 | 3left-center
| Columbia Student Emma Sulkowicz Brings Rape Protest Mattress to Graduation
<p>A Columbia University student who carried a mattress around the campus all year to raise awareness of sexual assault graduated Tuesday — with her mattress in tow.</p>
<p>Emma Sulkowicz, <a href="http://www.today.com/news/columbia-student-carries-mattress-until-alleged-rapist-expelled-1D80126914" type="external">who says she was raped on her first day of her sophomore year</a>, brought the mattress with her as she walked across the stage during the ceremony. The audience applauded.</p>
<p>Sulkowicz says the case against her alleged abuser was dismissed and he was allowed to remain enrolled at the school. As part of her senior thesis, a performance art project called "Carry That Weight," the visual arts major said she would carry the mattress everywhere she went on campus for as long as she attended the same school as her alleged rapist.</p>
<p>Columbia’s student newspaper, the <a href="http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2015/05/18/sulkowicz-may-not-be-allowed-bring-mattress-cc-class-day" type="external">Columbia Daily Spectator</a>, reported Monday that school officials emailed a provision to graduating students that specified: “Graduates should not bring into the ceremonial area large objects which could interfere with the proceedings or create discomfort to others in close, crowded spaces shared by thousands of people.”</p>
<p>The regulation had not been implemented in previous years, according to the newspaper.</p>
<p>Some wondered if the rule would bar Sulkowicz from bringing the mattress to her school’s class day:</p>
<p>A commencement ceremony for the whole university is planned for Wednesday.</p>
<p>Teo Armus, a student reporter for the Columbia Spectator, reported before the ceremony Tuesday that a school official had asked Sulkowicz to leave her mattress in a room and pick it up after the event, but Armus told NBC News that Sulkowicz was ultimately allowed to bring the mattress into the tent.</p>
<p>The commencement speaker, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, even alluded to Sulkowicz in his speech, Armus said. "You've held contrary opinions, held die-ins and sit-ins, carried mattresses," Garcetti told the students. "Never stop being academics, and never stop being activists."</p>
<p>After Sulkowicz’s art performance <a href="" type="internal">garnered national</a>and international media attention, the student she accused, Paul Nungesser, filed a gender-based harassment and defamation suit against the school, according to <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Columbia-Student-Sues-Harassment-Rape-Claim-Tossed-301152471.html" type="external">NBC New York</a>. The suit said Columbia sponsored Sulkowicz’s senior thesis, which he said “resulted in an intimidating, hostile, demeaning ... learning and living environment.”</p>
<p>The suit also said that Nungesser’s job prospects were “severely jeopardized,” and he feared he and his parents, who live in Germany, would not be able to attend graduation because of Sulkowicz’s vow to bring the mattress.</p>
<p>Nungesser attended Tuesday’s ceremony, Armus said.</p> | 599,670 |
<p>The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/17/gay-or-paedophile-philippines-duterte-attacks-rights-chief-over-drug-war-criticism" type="external">reports</a>:</p>
<p>Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday asked the head of the country’s Commission on Human Rights (CHR) if he was a paedophile for focusing on the killing of teenagers in the government’s bloody war on drugs.</p>
<p>Duterte also suggested to lawmakers using CHR’s proposed 678 million pesos budget to buy the police body cameras if they do not want to restore funding for the agency, which he has clashed with repeatedly over his anti-drugs campaign.</p>
<p>“Why is this guy so … suffocated with the issue of young people, especially boys? Are you a paedophile?” Duterte asked, referring to CHR head Chito Gascon. “Why are you smitten with teenagers? Are you? I’m having my doubts. Are you gay or a paedophile?,” he said.</p>
<p>RELATED: Last month Duterte order police to shoot any “idiots” who resist arrest. In May 2017, Duterte imposed martial law and “joked” that soldiers are now allowed to rape up to three women. Duterte has bragged of “personally” murdering suspected criminals and has compared himself favorably to Adolf Hitler, saying that he would happily execute millions of drug users. Trump has praised Duterte’s “unbelievable job” in giving police and vigilante squads free rein to murder suspected drug users and dealers and invited him to visit the White House. An estimated 6000 Filipinos have been slain in the streets on Duterte’s orders.</p> | PHILIPPINES: President Calls Human Rights Head A “Gay Pedophile” For Objecting After Police Kill Teenagers | true | http://joemygod.com/2017/09/17/philippines-president-calls-human-rights-head-gay-pedophile-objecting-police-kill-teenagers/ | 2017-09-17 | 4left
| PHILIPPINES: President Calls Human Rights Head A “Gay Pedophile” For Objecting After Police Kill Teenagers
<p>The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/17/gay-or-paedophile-philippines-duterte-attacks-rights-chief-over-drug-war-criticism" type="external">reports</a>:</p>
<p>Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday asked the head of the country’s Commission on Human Rights (CHR) if he was a paedophile for focusing on the killing of teenagers in the government’s bloody war on drugs.</p>
<p>Duterte also suggested to lawmakers using CHR’s proposed 678 million pesos budget to buy the police body cameras if they do not want to restore funding for the agency, which he has clashed with repeatedly over his anti-drugs campaign.</p>
<p>“Why is this guy so … suffocated with the issue of young people, especially boys? Are you a paedophile?” Duterte asked, referring to CHR head Chito Gascon. “Why are you smitten with teenagers? Are you? I’m having my doubts. Are you gay or a paedophile?,” he said.</p>
<p>RELATED: Last month Duterte order police to shoot any “idiots” who resist arrest. In May 2017, Duterte imposed martial law and “joked” that soldiers are now allowed to rape up to three women. Duterte has bragged of “personally” murdering suspected criminals and has compared himself favorably to Adolf Hitler, saying that he would happily execute millions of drug users. Trump has praised Duterte’s “unbelievable job” in giving police and vigilante squads free rein to murder suspected drug users and dealers and invited him to visit the White House. An estimated 6000 Filipinos have been slain in the streets on Duterte’s orders.</p> | 599,671 |
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the "Lotto America" game were:</p>
<p>03-18-22-33-43, Star Ball: 5, ASB: 5</p>
<p>(three, eighteen, twenty-two, thirty-three, forty-three; Star Ball: five; ASB: five)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $17.51 million</p>
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the "Lotto America" game were:</p>
<p>03-18-22-33-43, Star Ball: 5, ASB: 5</p>
<p>(three, eighteen, twenty-two, thirty-three, forty-three; Star Ball: five; ASB: five)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $17.51 million</p> | Winning numbers drawn in 'Lotto America' game | false | https://apnews.com/amp/c9b825dc81fe442e989de248908e63ae | 2018-01-04 | 2least
| Winning numbers drawn in 'Lotto America' game
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the "Lotto America" game were:</p>
<p>03-18-22-33-43, Star Ball: 5, ASB: 5</p>
<p>(three, eighteen, twenty-two, thirty-three, forty-three; Star Ball: five; ASB: five)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $17.51 million</p>
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the "Lotto America" game were:</p>
<p>03-18-22-33-43, Star Ball: 5, ASB: 5</p>
<p>(three, eighteen, twenty-two, thirty-three, forty-three; Star Ball: five; ASB: five)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $17.51 million</p> | 599,672 |
<p>Much of the media, and the analysts on which it relies, have provided a misleading narrative on the current political problems in Italy, following Sunday’s “no” vote on a referendum on constitutional changes. It has been lumped together with Trump, Brexit, the upsurge of extreme right-wing, anti-European or racist political parties and “populism,” ― which in much of the media seems to be code for demagogic politicians persuading ignorant masses to vote for stupid things. “Stupid things” here is defined as whatever the establishment media doesn’t like.</p>
<p>Of course we do not have a detailed map of why various Italian voters rejected the proposed constitutional changes. The most obvious explanation is that Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has been in power since February 2014, had promised to resign if the people voted no. This mobilized all of his political opponents, including those within his own party.</p>
<p>Those who wanted to defend Renzi had a hard sell. He was not offering a future for the country, and especially for the young people who most overwhelmingly voted “no.” &#160;Unemployment is at 11.6 percent, and youth unemployment is more than 36 percent. Of the unemployed, most are long-term unemployed, having been out of work for more than a year. And there are big regional disparities, with parts of the generally less-well-off South having been harder hit since the world recession.</p>
<p>The IMF projects that the Italian economy will not return to its 2007 level of GDP ― what the country produced nine years ago ― until the mid-2020s. In other words, nearly two “lost decades,” as the Fund itself <a href="" type="internal">noted</a>. This is really bad, by any modern historical comparison.</p>
<p>In these circumstances, it is not surprising that voters across the political spectrum rejected sweeping constitutional changes that would have given much more power to the executive. The split in the electorate did not fit the standard media narrative, distilled from Brexit, Trump, etc., of the young, educated, and pro-European on one side (“yes”) versus xenophobic, populist, uneducated and anti-European on the other (“no”). &#160;Young people in particular had a reason to vote overwhelmingly “no”: they face a dismal future under the current regime.</p>
<p>In one important sense there are similarities between the rise of Trump and the fall of Renzi. Both are the result of the long-term <a href="" type="internal">failure</a> of neoliberal policies implemented by the major political actors. In both cases, the center-left lost a big part of its working and middle-class base because it was jointly responsible for this failure.</p>
<p>In the US, the neoliberal era was launched “big league” by Ronald Reagan, but Bill Clinton became a co-owner by bringing us NAFTA, the WTO, financial deregulation, and other neoliberal structural reforms that have done permanent damage.</p>
<p>In Italy there have also been neoliberal reforms since the 1980s, but the most devastating was adopting the euro in 1999. Now you might think that nothing could be worse than having to say the words “President Trump,” but adopting the euro put Italians in an even worse jam. They lost <a href="http://bostonreview.net/world/mark-weisbrot-austerity-greece-spain-eurozone" type="external">control</a> over their most important macroeconomic policies (monetary, fiscal, and exchange rate), and gave it to some really wrong people in the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), the Eurogroup of Finance Ministers, and the IMF.</p>
<p>There have been some positive changes in the eurozone since 2012, when the European Central Bank finally decided to act like a normal central bank and effectively guarantee the bonds of the largest member countries (unlike for Greece, where it insisted, together with the rest of the European authorities, on <a href="" type="internal">inflicting</a> further brutal punishment). And the ECB’s quantitative easing, begun in March of 2015, was a major step forward. It has played a significant role in the recovery ― however weak ― of the eurozone, including Italy, which finally emerged from a three-year recession in 2015.</p>
<p>But the European authorities are still committed to a program that promises another lost decade of mass unemployment, possibly undermining the eurozone and European Union, as inevitably angry voters look for solutions or scapegoats. The elite consensus is that the keys to recovery are in “structural reforms” ― deregulation of various markets, especially labor; reduced real wages; and “internal devaluation.” The theory is that such reforms increase efficiency and competitiveness and will allow for economic recovery even as the government cuts pensions, health care, and other social spending in order to pay down debt and please the “confidence fairies.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Renzi is part of this consensus, voluntarily or otherwise. &#160;His Jobs Act, which took effect nearly two years ago, is typical of these structural reforms. It has gutted employee protections and made it easier to fire and lay off workers, while promising to increase long-term employment relative to temporary contracts. But the opposite has <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-renzi-reform-analysis-idUSKCN11Y14U" type="external">happened</a> so far.</p>
<p>To recreate an economy that would give young Italians a future without having to leave the country, the country would have to leave the euro. Or, alternatively, elect a government that had a credible threat of leaving and was tough enough ― presumably with allied governments in other eurozone countries ―to force the eurozone authorities to change course. &#160;But the options currently on the table for whatever government emerges from the current crisis are looking pretty grim.</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on <a href="http://www.thehill.com" type="external">The Hill.</a></p> | The Deep Economic Roots of Italy’s Political Troubles | true | https://counterpunch.org/2016/12/13/the-deep-economic-roots-of-italys-political-troubles/ | 2016-12-13 | 4left
| The Deep Economic Roots of Italy’s Political Troubles
<p>Much of the media, and the analysts on which it relies, have provided a misleading narrative on the current political problems in Italy, following Sunday’s “no” vote on a referendum on constitutional changes. It has been lumped together with Trump, Brexit, the upsurge of extreme right-wing, anti-European or racist political parties and “populism,” ― which in much of the media seems to be code for demagogic politicians persuading ignorant masses to vote for stupid things. “Stupid things” here is defined as whatever the establishment media doesn’t like.</p>
<p>Of course we do not have a detailed map of why various Italian voters rejected the proposed constitutional changes. The most obvious explanation is that Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has been in power since February 2014, had promised to resign if the people voted no. This mobilized all of his political opponents, including those within his own party.</p>
<p>Those who wanted to defend Renzi had a hard sell. He was not offering a future for the country, and especially for the young people who most overwhelmingly voted “no.” &#160;Unemployment is at 11.6 percent, and youth unemployment is more than 36 percent. Of the unemployed, most are long-term unemployed, having been out of work for more than a year. And there are big regional disparities, with parts of the generally less-well-off South having been harder hit since the world recession.</p>
<p>The IMF projects that the Italian economy will not return to its 2007 level of GDP ― what the country produced nine years ago ― until the mid-2020s. In other words, nearly two “lost decades,” as the Fund itself <a href="" type="internal">noted</a>. This is really bad, by any modern historical comparison.</p>
<p>In these circumstances, it is not surprising that voters across the political spectrum rejected sweeping constitutional changes that would have given much more power to the executive. The split in the electorate did not fit the standard media narrative, distilled from Brexit, Trump, etc., of the young, educated, and pro-European on one side (“yes”) versus xenophobic, populist, uneducated and anti-European on the other (“no”). &#160;Young people in particular had a reason to vote overwhelmingly “no”: they face a dismal future under the current regime.</p>
<p>In one important sense there are similarities between the rise of Trump and the fall of Renzi. Both are the result of the long-term <a href="" type="internal">failure</a> of neoliberal policies implemented by the major political actors. In both cases, the center-left lost a big part of its working and middle-class base because it was jointly responsible for this failure.</p>
<p>In the US, the neoliberal era was launched “big league” by Ronald Reagan, but Bill Clinton became a co-owner by bringing us NAFTA, the WTO, financial deregulation, and other neoliberal structural reforms that have done permanent damage.</p>
<p>In Italy there have also been neoliberal reforms since the 1980s, but the most devastating was adopting the euro in 1999. Now you might think that nothing could be worse than having to say the words “President Trump,” but adopting the euro put Italians in an even worse jam. They lost <a href="http://bostonreview.net/world/mark-weisbrot-austerity-greece-spain-eurozone" type="external">control</a> over their most important macroeconomic policies (monetary, fiscal, and exchange rate), and gave it to some really wrong people in the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), the Eurogroup of Finance Ministers, and the IMF.</p>
<p>There have been some positive changes in the eurozone since 2012, when the European Central Bank finally decided to act like a normal central bank and effectively guarantee the bonds of the largest member countries (unlike for Greece, where it insisted, together with the rest of the European authorities, on <a href="" type="internal">inflicting</a> further brutal punishment). And the ECB’s quantitative easing, begun in March of 2015, was a major step forward. It has played a significant role in the recovery ― however weak ― of the eurozone, including Italy, which finally emerged from a three-year recession in 2015.</p>
<p>But the European authorities are still committed to a program that promises another lost decade of mass unemployment, possibly undermining the eurozone and European Union, as inevitably angry voters look for solutions or scapegoats. The elite consensus is that the keys to recovery are in “structural reforms” ― deregulation of various markets, especially labor; reduced real wages; and “internal devaluation.” The theory is that such reforms increase efficiency and competitiveness and will allow for economic recovery even as the government cuts pensions, health care, and other social spending in order to pay down debt and please the “confidence fairies.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Renzi is part of this consensus, voluntarily or otherwise. &#160;His Jobs Act, which took effect nearly two years ago, is typical of these structural reforms. It has gutted employee protections and made it easier to fire and lay off workers, while promising to increase long-term employment relative to temporary contracts. But the opposite has <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-renzi-reform-analysis-idUSKCN11Y14U" type="external">happened</a> so far.</p>
<p>To recreate an economy that would give young Italians a future without having to leave the country, the country would have to leave the euro. Or, alternatively, elect a government that had a credible threat of leaving and was tough enough ― presumably with allied governments in other eurozone countries ―to force the eurozone authorities to change course. &#160;But the options currently on the table for whatever government emerges from the current crisis are looking pretty grim.</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on <a href="http://www.thehill.com" type="external">The Hill.</a></p> | 599,673 |
<p>Federal immigration reform is no longer a top priority for Congress, as lawmakers focus attention on next year’s elections, partisanship and budget matters.&#160; <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>In communities across the country, though, the issue remains front and center given that an estimated 11 million people lack immigration documents but consider the United States to be home. They continue to “live in the shadows,” as advocates say, and their families face much uncertainty.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, about 40 immigration reform advocates in Texas announced they have 300 letters of support from businesses in the Rio Grande Valley. They hope this business support will help keep President Barack Obama’s <a href="" type="internal">executive actions on immigration</a> in the spotlight, despite being <a href="" type="internal">tied up at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals</a> in New Orleans.</p>
<p>“What we want to do is show the nation that despite our governor’s stance against these programs, there is ample support in Texas for these programs,” John-Michael Torres, a spokesman for the Rio Grande Valley reform advocates and La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) said.</p>
<p>The advocates are part of the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network, which is comprised of grassroots organizations who work on social justice issues.</p>
<p>At a Tuesday press conference announcing the letters, Cynthia Vargas, who owns Pac Insurance in McAllen, Texas, expressed her support for the executive actions on immigration reform. About 80 percent of the customers at her small business, she said, are immigrants and reform would help them and benefit the Rio Grande Valley economy.</p>
<p>“I live it in person with my husband. I hear people on a daily basis, who say, ‘I want to be legal. I wish I have identification,'” she said. “If they have the opportunity to get identification, I could contribute more to the economy.”</p>
<p>Her company sells automobile insurance, which is required by Texas state law. “Because they don’t have documentation, I’m forced to turn them around,” she said, referring to her customers who are immigrants.</p>
<p>Other regional businesses that signed letters of support include Supermercados Morelos, a supermarket chain, and Cantu Construction, grassroots advocates said.</p>
<p>Texas has an estimated 746,000 undocumented immigrants who would benefit from one of the president’s immigration reform proposals. If the proposals, which would shield an individual from removal and let the person apply for a temporary work permit, go into effect, the state economy could see a boost.</p>
<p>For example, revenues to Texas could increase by $338 million over five years, advocates said, citing <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/248189539/Topline-Fiscal-Impact-of-Executive-Action-Numbers-for-31-States" type="external">information from the Center for American Progress</a>.</p>
<p>“Undocumented Texans are customers, workers and business owners and contribute both to the vitality of our economy and to our state’s tax revenues,” the network of grassroots organizations said in a statement. “Our businesses don’t discriminate against customers based on immigration status. Our laws shouldn’t either.”</p>
<p>On Nov. 21, one day after the president announced his executive actions last year, advocates plan on delivering the business letters of support to the governor’s office in Austin, Torres said.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Contact author</a></p>
<p>&#160;&#160; <a href="" type="internal">5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals</a>, <a href="" type="internal">businesses support immigration</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Cynthia Vargas</a>, <a href="" type="internal">executive actions immigration</a>, <a href="" type="internal">immigrant families</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Immigration Reform</a>, <a href="" type="internal">La Union del Pueblo Entero</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Pac Insurance</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Rio Grande Valley</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Texas</a></p> | Texas Businesses Stand Up for Immigration Reform | true | http://equalvoiceforfamilies.org/texas-businesses-stand-up-for-immigration-reform/ | 4left
| Texas Businesses Stand Up for Immigration Reform
<p>Federal immigration reform is no longer a top priority for Congress, as lawmakers focus attention on next year’s elections, partisanship and budget matters.&#160; <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>In communities across the country, though, the issue remains front and center given that an estimated 11 million people lack immigration documents but consider the United States to be home. They continue to “live in the shadows,” as advocates say, and their families face much uncertainty.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, about 40 immigration reform advocates in Texas announced they have 300 letters of support from businesses in the Rio Grande Valley. They hope this business support will help keep President Barack Obama’s <a href="" type="internal">executive actions on immigration</a> in the spotlight, despite being <a href="" type="internal">tied up at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals</a> in New Orleans.</p>
<p>“What we want to do is show the nation that despite our governor’s stance against these programs, there is ample support in Texas for these programs,” John-Michael Torres, a spokesman for the Rio Grande Valley reform advocates and La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) said.</p>
<p>The advocates are part of the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network, which is comprised of grassroots organizations who work on social justice issues.</p>
<p>At a Tuesday press conference announcing the letters, Cynthia Vargas, who owns Pac Insurance in McAllen, Texas, expressed her support for the executive actions on immigration reform. About 80 percent of the customers at her small business, she said, are immigrants and reform would help them and benefit the Rio Grande Valley economy.</p>
<p>“I live it in person with my husband. I hear people on a daily basis, who say, ‘I want to be legal. I wish I have identification,'” she said. “If they have the opportunity to get identification, I could contribute more to the economy.”</p>
<p>Her company sells automobile insurance, which is required by Texas state law. “Because they don’t have documentation, I’m forced to turn them around,” she said, referring to her customers who are immigrants.</p>
<p>Other regional businesses that signed letters of support include Supermercados Morelos, a supermarket chain, and Cantu Construction, grassroots advocates said.</p>
<p>Texas has an estimated 746,000 undocumented immigrants who would benefit from one of the president’s immigration reform proposals. If the proposals, which would shield an individual from removal and let the person apply for a temporary work permit, go into effect, the state economy could see a boost.</p>
<p>For example, revenues to Texas could increase by $338 million over five years, advocates said, citing <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/248189539/Topline-Fiscal-Impact-of-Executive-Action-Numbers-for-31-States" type="external">information from the Center for American Progress</a>.</p>
<p>“Undocumented Texans are customers, workers and business owners and contribute both to the vitality of our economy and to our state’s tax revenues,” the network of grassroots organizations said in a statement. “Our businesses don’t discriminate against customers based on immigration status. Our laws shouldn’t either.”</p>
<p>On Nov. 21, one day after the president announced his executive actions last year, advocates plan on delivering the business letters of support to the governor’s office in Austin, Torres said.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Contact author</a></p>
<p>&#160;&#160; <a href="" type="internal">5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals</a>, <a href="" type="internal">businesses support immigration</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Cynthia Vargas</a>, <a href="" type="internal">executive actions immigration</a>, <a href="" type="internal">immigrant families</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Immigration Reform</a>, <a href="" type="internal">La Union del Pueblo Entero</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Pac Insurance</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Rio Grande Valley</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Texas</a></p> | 599,674 |
|
<p>The Church and Israel are seperate but equal What did that "First Fruits" typify? Read 1 Corinthians 15:20--"Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the 'FIRST-FRUITS' of them that slept." When did Christ rise from the dead and become the "FIRST-FRUITS?" Not on the "Sabbath," for He lay dead in the tomb on that day, but on the "FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK," on the "MORROW AFTER THE SABBATH." The fact that the "Birthday" of the Church was at Pentecost, and that fell on the "First Day of the Week," is further proof that the Church should keep the "First Day of the Week" and not the "Seventh" day or "SABBATH." The Jewish Sabbath links man with the "Old Dispensation," the "First Day of the Week" links man with the "New." It is claimed that the Roman Catholic Church changed the day of rest from the "Seventh Day" to the "First Day of the Week," but the claim is false, for the Papacy did not exist until a long time after the "First Day of the Week" had become a fixed day for Christian worship. It is a noteworthy fact that the whole of the "Ten Commandments" (Exodus 20:1-17) are reaffirmed in the New Testament, except the "Fourth Commandment" regarding the Sabbath (Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:1-2; James 5:12; 1 John 5:21). Why this omission if the Law of the "Sabbath" is still in force? It is called the "LORD'S DAY." It belongs to Him. It is not called a "rest day" in the Bible. It is a day that should be filled with worship and service and holy activity. It is not a day to be spent in laziness or pleasure, or the giving of sacred concerts and the discussion of worldly betterment schemes, but a day for the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. - Clarence Larkin 1918</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> The Jewish Sabbath The Christian Church does not replace the Jews or Israel The Church and Israel are seperate but equal | Are Christians Required To Keep The Sabbath? The question of whether or not a Christian is required to keep the Sabbath has popped up again and again, so I thought that it would be prudent to address it. For the purpose of today's lesson, I am going to quote a selection from Clarence Larkin's masterwork, Dispensational Truth. Chart by Clarence Larkin on the "Times of the Gentiles' from his book "Dispensational Truth". | true | http://nowtheendbegins.com/pages/israel/are-christians-required-to-keep-the-sabbath.htm | 0right
| Are Christians Required To Keep The Sabbath? The question of whether or not a Christian is required to keep the Sabbath has popped up again and again, so I thought that it would be prudent to address it. For the purpose of today's lesson, I am going to quote a selection from Clarence Larkin's masterwork, Dispensational Truth. Chart by Clarence Larkin on the "Times of the Gentiles' from his book "Dispensational Truth".
<p>The Church and Israel are seperate but equal What did that "First Fruits" typify? Read 1 Corinthians 15:20--"Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the 'FIRST-FRUITS' of them that slept." When did Christ rise from the dead and become the "FIRST-FRUITS?" Not on the "Sabbath," for He lay dead in the tomb on that day, but on the "FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK," on the "MORROW AFTER THE SABBATH." The fact that the "Birthday" of the Church was at Pentecost, and that fell on the "First Day of the Week," is further proof that the Church should keep the "First Day of the Week" and not the "Seventh" day or "SABBATH." The Jewish Sabbath links man with the "Old Dispensation," the "First Day of the Week" links man with the "New." It is claimed that the Roman Catholic Church changed the day of rest from the "Seventh Day" to the "First Day of the Week," but the claim is false, for the Papacy did not exist until a long time after the "First Day of the Week" had become a fixed day for Christian worship. It is a noteworthy fact that the whole of the "Ten Commandments" (Exodus 20:1-17) are reaffirmed in the New Testament, except the "Fourth Commandment" regarding the Sabbath (Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:1-2; James 5:12; 1 John 5:21). Why this omission if the Law of the "Sabbath" is still in force? It is called the "LORD'S DAY." It belongs to Him. It is not called a "rest day" in the Bible. It is a day that should be filled with worship and service and holy activity. It is not a day to be spent in laziness or pleasure, or the giving of sacred concerts and the discussion of worldly betterment schemes, but a day for the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. - Clarence Larkin 1918</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> The Jewish Sabbath The Christian Church does not replace the Jews or Israel The Church and Israel are seperate but equal | 599,675 |
|
<p>Four mutual fund companies have marked down their investments in Uber Technologies Inc. by as much as 15 percent following a scandal-ridden year for the ride-hailing company.</p>
<p>Uber has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months, including a federal probe into its use of technology to evade regulators in certain cities and a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Alphabet Inc’s self-driving unit, Waymo.</p>
<p>Chief Executive Travis Kalanick also resigned in June, pressured by accounts of a corporate culture of sexism and bullying.</p>
<p>Vanguard Group, Principal Funds and Hartford Funds marked down their shares in Uber, which is not listed, by 15 percent to $41.46 a share in June, filings from the companies showed.</p>
<p>T. Rowe Price Group Inc cut the estimated price of Uber shares by more than 12 percent to $42.73 during the second quarter ended June 30.</p>
<p>Another investor, Fidelity Investments, appeared to have maintained its estimate of $48.77 as of June 30.</p>
<p>Vanguard spokeswoman Arianna Stefanoni Sherlock declined to comment on the reasons for the reduced valuation. Representatives for the other mutual fund companies and Uber could not be reached immediately for comment.</p>
<p>Uber was most recently valued last year at $68 billion. Amid non-stop controversy, it has upended the tightly regulated taxi industry in many countries and changed the transportation landscape.</p>
<p>The new estimates for Uber shares were first reported by <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/mutual-funds-mark-down-uber-investments-by-up-to-15-1503443267" type="external">the Wall Street Journal.</a></p> | Mutual Funds Mark Down Investments in Uber by as Much as 15 Percent | false | https://newsline.com/mutual-funds-mark-down-investments-in-uber-by-as-much-as-15-percent/ | 2017-08-23 | 1right-center
| Mutual Funds Mark Down Investments in Uber by as Much as 15 Percent
<p>Four mutual fund companies have marked down their investments in Uber Technologies Inc. by as much as 15 percent following a scandal-ridden year for the ride-hailing company.</p>
<p>Uber has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months, including a federal probe into its use of technology to evade regulators in certain cities and a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Alphabet Inc’s self-driving unit, Waymo.</p>
<p>Chief Executive Travis Kalanick also resigned in June, pressured by accounts of a corporate culture of sexism and bullying.</p>
<p>Vanguard Group, Principal Funds and Hartford Funds marked down their shares in Uber, which is not listed, by 15 percent to $41.46 a share in June, filings from the companies showed.</p>
<p>T. Rowe Price Group Inc cut the estimated price of Uber shares by more than 12 percent to $42.73 during the second quarter ended June 30.</p>
<p>Another investor, Fidelity Investments, appeared to have maintained its estimate of $48.77 as of June 30.</p>
<p>Vanguard spokeswoman Arianna Stefanoni Sherlock declined to comment on the reasons for the reduced valuation. Representatives for the other mutual fund companies and Uber could not be reached immediately for comment.</p>
<p>Uber was most recently valued last year at $68 billion. Amid non-stop controversy, it has upended the tightly regulated taxi industry in many countries and changed the transportation landscape.</p>
<p>The new estimates for Uber shares were first reported by <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/mutual-funds-mark-down-uber-investments-by-up-to-15-1503443267" type="external">the Wall Street Journal.</a></p> | 599,676 |
<p />
<p>GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: GWPH) is one of the top marijuana stocks on the market right now. Its share price more than tripled over the last 12 months. Wall Street thinks shares of GW Pharmaceuticals could surge another 25% or more over the next 12 months.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>But all of the biotech's past success and future hopes could evaporate if one specific thing happens, even if GW wins regulatory approval for cannabinoid drug Epidiolex -- as many expect it to. Here's what that one thing is, and how likely it might be.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Before we end the suspense, let's first examine why GW Pharmaceuticals currently claims a market cap of over $3 billion. It's certainly not because of the company's one drug on the market, Sativex. The cannabinoid drug approved in several countries outside the U.S. for spasticitydue to multiple sclerosis generated revenue of less than $7 million.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The intense interest in GW and the corresponding increase in its stock price stems instead from Epiodiolex. Three late-stage studies showed tremendous promise for the cannabinoid drug in treating two forms of epilepsy -- Dravet syndrome andLennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).</p>
<p>Both of these indications have relatively low patient populations. Somewhere between14,000 and 18,500 children in the U.S. have LGS. Another 5,000 or so suffer from Dravet syndrome. These numbers reflect a U.S. market of up to 23,500 patients.</p>
<p>Analysts think that GW Pharmaceuticals will price Epidiolex (assuming it wins regulatory approval) between $30,000 and $60,000 per year. At the low end of that range, the biotech would be looking at annual revenue of more than $700 million in the U.S. If Epidiolex gains approval in Europe, the figure would be significantly higher.</p>
<p>So, GW Pharmaceuticals' current valuation depends on two things: winning regulatory approval for Epidiolex and convincing payers to cover the drug. The first objective seems very likely in my view. I suspect the second one will be achieved also. But maybe not.</p>
<p>Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) have been fighting back against high-cost drugs. Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX) threw down the gauntlet in late 2014 by refusing to include Gilead Sciences' hepatitis C virus (HCV) drugs in its formulary and instead negotiating a lower cost with AbbVie for its HCV drug Viekira.</p>
<p>Now, imagine you're the head of Express Scripts and along comes a new epilepsy drug that's going to potentially cost you and other payers $700 million each year. At the same time, multiple companies sell cannabidiol (the active ingredient in Epidiolex) for a significantly lower cost than GW Pharmaceuticals plans to charge. What would you do if you wanted to generate more savings for your customers?</p>
<p>One option would be to refuse to cover Epidiolex at the sky-high prices and instead reimburse members who use "generic" cannabidiol from approved suppliers. Medical Marijuana, Inc. (NASDAQOTH: MJNA), for example, markets Real Scientific Hemp Oil through its HempMeds PX subsidiary. The product isn't cheap, but it's not too difficult to envision a scenario where a PBM like Express Scripts used a competing product like Medical Marijuana's to either exclude Epidiolex or force GW Pharmaceuticals to drastically lower its price.</p>
<p>Such a move would shatter GW Pharmaceuticals' market cap, which hinges on a premium price tag for Epidiolex. And this kind of decision could potentially come from a PBM or from any major payer.</p>
<p>How likely is this scenario? If history serves as a guide, the odds are very low.</p>
<p>Express Scripts doesn't cover cannabis products available from Medical Marijuana or its competitors. However, the PBM does include two cannabinoid-based drugs on its formulary: dronabinol and nabilone. The key is that both drugs received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>In the past, Express Scripts' stance on medical marijuana has been against reimbursement based on the lack of large, controlled clinical studies and absence of FDA approval. The company also frowned on paying for botanical or crude versions of marijuana products because their manufacture was not standardized. Other payers have adopted similar policies.</p>
<p>However, GW Pharmaceuticals should be able to address these objections with Epidiolex. The biotech has conducted large, well-controlled clinical studies that statistically demonstrate the drug's efficacy and safety in treating Dravet syndrome and LGS. It appears to be on track to win FDA approval. Part of that approval process will include addressing GW's manufacturing processes.</p>
<p>Epidiolex also won orphan drug designation from the FDA. That means the FDA can't approve another application for the same drug for the same indication for seven years. In addition, GW Pharmaceuticals has been granted two U.S. patents for Epidiolex and is pursuing additional patents.</p>
<p>For those unfamiliar with the arcane regulatory and reimbursement processes for drugs, this might all seem crazy. It probably doesn't make sense that PBMs and health insurers would pay exorbitant amounts for a drug with an active ingredient that is available for far less. Is this merely a symptom of a broken healthcare system?</p>
<p>Maybe, but I suggest thinking about it in a different way. Payers can't afford to cover every treatment. They have to draw the line somewhere -- and using the FDA approval process makes sense in deciding what to cover and what not to cover.There also must be some protection for companies that invest the capital to prove that a drug is effective and win regulatory approval.</p>
<p>In theory, Express Scripts and others could decide to pit "off the shelf" cannabidiol products such as those from Medical Marijuana against Epidiolex. But if you think the U.S. healthcare system is broken now, this move might not just obliterate GW Pharmaceuticals' stock -- it could seriously damage the prospects for continued innovation by drugmakers. That's why I don't think it will happen and expect continued success for GW.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than GW PharmaceuticalsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=44dbe3c5-8e93-4c93-8757-21d1ac799a94&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and GW Pharmaceuticals wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=44dbe3c5-8e93-4c93-8757-21d1ac799a94&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFishBiz/info.aspx" type="external">Keith Speights Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of AbbVie, Express Scripts, and GILD. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends GILD. The Motley Fool owns shares of Express Scripts. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | The 1 Move That Could Obliterate This Leading Marijuana Stock | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/03/19/1-move-that-could-obliterate-this-leading-marijuana-stock.html | 2017-03-19 | 0right
| The 1 Move That Could Obliterate This Leading Marijuana Stock
<p />
<p>GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: GWPH) is one of the top marijuana stocks on the market right now. Its share price more than tripled over the last 12 months. Wall Street thinks shares of GW Pharmaceuticals could surge another 25% or more over the next 12 months.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>But all of the biotech's past success and future hopes could evaporate if one specific thing happens, even if GW wins regulatory approval for cannabinoid drug Epidiolex -- as many expect it to. Here's what that one thing is, and how likely it might be.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Before we end the suspense, let's first examine why GW Pharmaceuticals currently claims a market cap of over $3 billion. It's certainly not because of the company's one drug on the market, Sativex. The cannabinoid drug approved in several countries outside the U.S. for spasticitydue to multiple sclerosis generated revenue of less than $7 million.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The intense interest in GW and the corresponding increase in its stock price stems instead from Epiodiolex. Three late-stage studies showed tremendous promise for the cannabinoid drug in treating two forms of epilepsy -- Dravet syndrome andLennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).</p>
<p>Both of these indications have relatively low patient populations. Somewhere between14,000 and 18,500 children in the U.S. have LGS. Another 5,000 or so suffer from Dravet syndrome. These numbers reflect a U.S. market of up to 23,500 patients.</p>
<p>Analysts think that GW Pharmaceuticals will price Epidiolex (assuming it wins regulatory approval) between $30,000 and $60,000 per year. At the low end of that range, the biotech would be looking at annual revenue of more than $700 million in the U.S. If Epidiolex gains approval in Europe, the figure would be significantly higher.</p>
<p>So, GW Pharmaceuticals' current valuation depends on two things: winning regulatory approval for Epidiolex and convincing payers to cover the drug. The first objective seems very likely in my view. I suspect the second one will be achieved also. But maybe not.</p>
<p>Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) have been fighting back against high-cost drugs. Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX) threw down the gauntlet in late 2014 by refusing to include Gilead Sciences' hepatitis C virus (HCV) drugs in its formulary and instead negotiating a lower cost with AbbVie for its HCV drug Viekira.</p>
<p>Now, imagine you're the head of Express Scripts and along comes a new epilepsy drug that's going to potentially cost you and other payers $700 million each year. At the same time, multiple companies sell cannabidiol (the active ingredient in Epidiolex) for a significantly lower cost than GW Pharmaceuticals plans to charge. What would you do if you wanted to generate more savings for your customers?</p>
<p>One option would be to refuse to cover Epidiolex at the sky-high prices and instead reimburse members who use "generic" cannabidiol from approved suppliers. Medical Marijuana, Inc. (NASDAQOTH: MJNA), for example, markets Real Scientific Hemp Oil through its HempMeds PX subsidiary. The product isn't cheap, but it's not too difficult to envision a scenario where a PBM like Express Scripts used a competing product like Medical Marijuana's to either exclude Epidiolex or force GW Pharmaceuticals to drastically lower its price.</p>
<p>Such a move would shatter GW Pharmaceuticals' market cap, which hinges on a premium price tag for Epidiolex. And this kind of decision could potentially come from a PBM or from any major payer.</p>
<p>How likely is this scenario? If history serves as a guide, the odds are very low.</p>
<p>Express Scripts doesn't cover cannabis products available from Medical Marijuana or its competitors. However, the PBM does include two cannabinoid-based drugs on its formulary: dronabinol and nabilone. The key is that both drugs received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>In the past, Express Scripts' stance on medical marijuana has been against reimbursement based on the lack of large, controlled clinical studies and absence of FDA approval. The company also frowned on paying for botanical or crude versions of marijuana products because their manufacture was not standardized. Other payers have adopted similar policies.</p>
<p>However, GW Pharmaceuticals should be able to address these objections with Epidiolex. The biotech has conducted large, well-controlled clinical studies that statistically demonstrate the drug's efficacy and safety in treating Dravet syndrome and LGS. It appears to be on track to win FDA approval. Part of that approval process will include addressing GW's manufacturing processes.</p>
<p>Epidiolex also won orphan drug designation from the FDA. That means the FDA can't approve another application for the same drug for the same indication for seven years. In addition, GW Pharmaceuticals has been granted two U.S. patents for Epidiolex and is pursuing additional patents.</p>
<p>For those unfamiliar with the arcane regulatory and reimbursement processes for drugs, this might all seem crazy. It probably doesn't make sense that PBMs and health insurers would pay exorbitant amounts for a drug with an active ingredient that is available for far less. Is this merely a symptom of a broken healthcare system?</p>
<p>Maybe, but I suggest thinking about it in a different way. Payers can't afford to cover every treatment. They have to draw the line somewhere -- and using the FDA approval process makes sense in deciding what to cover and what not to cover.There also must be some protection for companies that invest the capital to prove that a drug is effective and win regulatory approval.</p>
<p>In theory, Express Scripts and others could decide to pit "off the shelf" cannabidiol products such as those from Medical Marijuana against Epidiolex. But if you think the U.S. healthcare system is broken now, this move might not just obliterate GW Pharmaceuticals' stock -- it could seriously damage the prospects for continued innovation by drugmakers. That's why I don't think it will happen and expect continued success for GW.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than GW PharmaceuticalsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=44dbe3c5-8e93-4c93-8757-21d1ac799a94&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and GW Pharmaceuticals wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=44dbe3c5-8e93-4c93-8757-21d1ac799a94&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFishBiz/info.aspx" type="external">Keith Speights Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of AbbVie, Express Scripts, and GILD. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends GILD. The Motley Fool owns shares of Express Scripts. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | 599,677 |
<p>Being HIV positive for almost ten years now, I have had my fair share of serious and not so serious infections which have at times seen my immune system succumb and often come close to collapse. I would believe that I had full-blown Aids only to revert back to being HIV positive after some interventions.</p>
<p>In December 1999, on the eve of the new millennium, I was raped by two young men. I don’t know if that was when I contract HIV. &#160;But I distinctly remember in December 2003, a sexual liaisons with someone who knew his status, and apparently, was on a mission to infect as many women as possible by luring them to his house, never intending to use a condom. As intelligent – and HIV aware – as I was, especially because I was at the time a volunteer at an HIV &amp; Aids24 hour trauma centre (IKhaya Lobomi), just outside Botha’s Hill in that magnificently well sculptured landscape known as The Valley of a Thousand &#160;Hills, I fell prey to his scheme. He won his quest.</p>
<p>And now he’s dead. I met him just before he died several years ago on the street. He looked like he was suffering ; losing his balance as he wobbled by. I never said a word to him, nor him to me. His physical condition told all and I dared not mocked him.</p>
<p>But immediately after I had slept with him I had a truly horrible vaginal thrush, which became uncontrollable, covered with red blisters. Oh! The pain from itching! I knew, immediately, that it was him. I called Patience, who did an HIV blood test which came back HIV negative. However she said to me “Sis Faith – we will only be certain after another test in three months.”</p>
<p>So together with a woman doctor who was also a volunteer at Ikhaya Lobomi, a gynecologist, Patience tried to manage this infection. Not every prescribed medication would work immediately, which meant that, at night, while people were preparing to sleep, the itch would come back in an unforgiving manner.</p>
<p>I would yank and pull my hair, sit in a cold bath and scratch, while crying</p>
<p>I would yank and pull my hair, sit in a cold bath and scratch, while crying. I had someone in hand always willing to help and I would phone him. I remember that late one night, I had, all alone oblivious to the danger I was putting myself in as a woman, &#160;walked to the police station to call him. When he got to me we drove to the doctor’s house. Without a hint of being upset or offended, the doctor welcomed us into her home.</p>
<p>That night she gave me beeswax based medication. It became a breakthrough salve when I applied it. So that infection was overcome. While this was all happening, I had just been employed on contract by SABC Radio to specially report on events taking place prior, during and after, the 2004 local elections.</p>
<p>This was the highlight of my media career. During this contractual employment, another infection hit me, and this one, right on my face. It was dermatitis: like thousands of black ants crawling furiously all over my face. And I was scared to scratch my face – you know how egotistical we women are when it comes to our faces.</p>
<p>I endured this bad itch without scratching my face. I was scared of scaring it so I would just pat it all over with the palms of my hands. Patience said another HIV test was due. And it came back positive. Right then I had no time to emotionally deal with the news I was concerned about my face. I remember thinking that at least my SABC contract was for radio and not television, so the people who heard my voice did not know my predicament. I also remember saying to God, how can He allow this infection to be in my face because as much as I was HIV positive, I was still a woman and that my face meant a lot to me.</p>
<p>The way I had excelled in my job at the SABC, everyone was gunning for me to become fully employed but the gun has stopped with a certain male official.</p>
<p>Again, as much as it was a man who did not want to help me advance in my career, and as &#160;it was a man who had deliberately infected me with HIV, it was also a man who provided constant emotional, physical, mental and financial support: my ex. To him I was still intelligent, mentally challenging, funny and sexy – as well as a lot of headache at times. I gave him flak.</p>
<p>So what is the issue? Incidences of daily infections for youth in their twenties is about 8 per cent. In South Africa, experts say over 17 000 people die every single day from Aids. Currently, there are 6 million people living with HIV. The infection rate amongst pregnant women has risen from 29.4 per cent last year to 30 per cent this year.</p>
<p>In South Africa women have no ownership, or rights, over their vaginas</p>
<p>I can bet that most of the 6 million living with HIV are women, from the working class, from poor communities, or unemployed. The reason why I say that I can bet the gender primarily infected and impacted with HIV in South Africa are females women is because poor and unemployed women – and even some from the working class – have no ownership, or rights, over their vaginas (and I can be polite and say reproductive organs – but I won’t). This is so because of their financial dependency on men.</p>
<p>The excellent research results from a handful of African organisations and universities integrated as the EU-Africa project: CoBaSys (Community Health Systems for HIV Treatment) says much of the same: the highest rates of infection come from women stuck in financially dependent relationships where the only right is the right of the man. Women without income, fighting for daily bread, turn to risky sex work. Women caught in poverty traps with little opportunity for water and waste sanitation, living in close quarters with too many people, are easily re-infected. Women afraid of violence and abuse, stigmatization, being labeled adulterous and other similar vicious outcomes, like abandonment, may be too frightened or intimidated to pursue testing and treatment. The extra costs – $2 or more, to travel to clinics that are based so far away, make it impossible. If they try it becomes dangerous for their lives, and costly for the businesses they leave behind, which feed their children. Women women women, the report says, are always hit hardest, and they explain the reasons why.</p>
<p>I can go on and say &#160;every six minutes a woman dies in South Africa at the hands of a man she has been intimate with – whether &#160;a husband, the &#160;father of her child or a lover. &#160;I can say according to the statistics, every few minutes &#160;a woman is beaten up and raped &#160;in South Africa – but then we know that the statistics include reported cases, not those that were kept quiet. Which means that if we had to report all the rape cases and the cases of violence against women, we will no longer be repeating that after every few minutes a woman is either raped or beaten in South Africa. We would be saying, rather, that there is no time at all where a woman is not raped, beaten, violated emotionally and psychologically. We will not need 16 days of Activism to raise awareness against this scourge – we will speak about it every day because it happens every hour, every minute and every second even as I speak.</p>
<p>Poor and unemployed women, women from the working class and to some extent women from the middle class, have been forced by men to forfeit their reproductive rights in issues pertaining to sex and protection from HIV. Women who are dependent on men for their livelihood are forced not to use protection from STDs and HIV infection. Married women have to sleep with cheating husbands without condoms, knowing that they have been unfaithful with other women, knowing they did not use protection during sexual encounters with those women.</p>
<p>Friends of mine who are sex workers say that married men especially from the middle class and the upper classes up their prices when they want to have sex with them without a condom. Most of my sex work friends are drug addicts and are only in the street to get money for another fix and sometimes would accept such proposals knowing that more money means going to the street less to sell one’s body to get high.</p>
<p>Unemployed women depending on their partners can hardly negotiate the using of protection because they get told, I pay the rent, I buy the food and your clothes, and I take care not just only of you but also of your children. That is why it is not so hard to understand that these women who depend on their lovers for their livelihoods sometimes sacrifice their daughters’ reproductive rights at the altar of sexual abuse by their lovers and these cases go unreported, again because of financial dependency.</p>
<p>Some women make a mistake of patting men on their backs by saying, he’s such a good man because he does not abuse – but there shouldn’t be patting on their backs at all because there shouldn’t be a scenario of some abuse.</p>
<p>As one man on a radio station stated a few weeks ago, to people who were being abused, ‘Silence increases Violence’. I would like that to be every individual’s thought for the day.</p>
<p>Faith ka-Manzi is a South African writer and poet who has been living in Cato Manor for more than a decade. Born almost 44 years ago in Durban, she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at the then University of Natal (now UKZN) in 1999 majoring in English and History. She is a former mainstream media journalist for Daily News (with a column – Keeping the Faith), Mail&amp;Guardian, SAPA, Business Day, SundayWorld, SABC among others. Faith is now based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she writes and translates works mainly advocating socio-economic, political and environmental issues pertaining to civil society, especially the poor.</p>
<p>This essay originally appeared in <a href="http://www.theafricareport.com/" type="external">The Africa Report</a>.</p> | When Silence Brings You HIV | true | https://counterpunch.org/2012/02/01/when-silence-brings-you-hiv/ | 2012-02-01 | 4left
| When Silence Brings You HIV
<p>Being HIV positive for almost ten years now, I have had my fair share of serious and not so serious infections which have at times seen my immune system succumb and often come close to collapse. I would believe that I had full-blown Aids only to revert back to being HIV positive after some interventions.</p>
<p>In December 1999, on the eve of the new millennium, I was raped by two young men. I don’t know if that was when I contract HIV. &#160;But I distinctly remember in December 2003, a sexual liaisons with someone who knew his status, and apparently, was on a mission to infect as many women as possible by luring them to his house, never intending to use a condom. As intelligent – and HIV aware – as I was, especially because I was at the time a volunteer at an HIV &amp; Aids24 hour trauma centre (IKhaya Lobomi), just outside Botha’s Hill in that magnificently well sculptured landscape known as The Valley of a Thousand &#160;Hills, I fell prey to his scheme. He won his quest.</p>
<p>And now he’s dead. I met him just before he died several years ago on the street. He looked like he was suffering ; losing his balance as he wobbled by. I never said a word to him, nor him to me. His physical condition told all and I dared not mocked him.</p>
<p>But immediately after I had slept with him I had a truly horrible vaginal thrush, which became uncontrollable, covered with red blisters. Oh! The pain from itching! I knew, immediately, that it was him. I called Patience, who did an HIV blood test which came back HIV negative. However she said to me “Sis Faith – we will only be certain after another test in three months.”</p>
<p>So together with a woman doctor who was also a volunteer at Ikhaya Lobomi, a gynecologist, Patience tried to manage this infection. Not every prescribed medication would work immediately, which meant that, at night, while people were preparing to sleep, the itch would come back in an unforgiving manner.</p>
<p>I would yank and pull my hair, sit in a cold bath and scratch, while crying</p>
<p>I would yank and pull my hair, sit in a cold bath and scratch, while crying. I had someone in hand always willing to help and I would phone him. I remember that late one night, I had, all alone oblivious to the danger I was putting myself in as a woman, &#160;walked to the police station to call him. When he got to me we drove to the doctor’s house. Without a hint of being upset or offended, the doctor welcomed us into her home.</p>
<p>That night she gave me beeswax based medication. It became a breakthrough salve when I applied it. So that infection was overcome. While this was all happening, I had just been employed on contract by SABC Radio to specially report on events taking place prior, during and after, the 2004 local elections.</p>
<p>This was the highlight of my media career. During this contractual employment, another infection hit me, and this one, right on my face. It was dermatitis: like thousands of black ants crawling furiously all over my face. And I was scared to scratch my face – you know how egotistical we women are when it comes to our faces.</p>
<p>I endured this bad itch without scratching my face. I was scared of scaring it so I would just pat it all over with the palms of my hands. Patience said another HIV test was due. And it came back positive. Right then I had no time to emotionally deal with the news I was concerned about my face. I remember thinking that at least my SABC contract was for radio and not television, so the people who heard my voice did not know my predicament. I also remember saying to God, how can He allow this infection to be in my face because as much as I was HIV positive, I was still a woman and that my face meant a lot to me.</p>
<p>The way I had excelled in my job at the SABC, everyone was gunning for me to become fully employed but the gun has stopped with a certain male official.</p>
<p>Again, as much as it was a man who did not want to help me advance in my career, and as &#160;it was a man who had deliberately infected me with HIV, it was also a man who provided constant emotional, physical, mental and financial support: my ex. To him I was still intelligent, mentally challenging, funny and sexy – as well as a lot of headache at times. I gave him flak.</p>
<p>So what is the issue? Incidences of daily infections for youth in their twenties is about 8 per cent. In South Africa, experts say over 17 000 people die every single day from Aids. Currently, there are 6 million people living with HIV. The infection rate amongst pregnant women has risen from 29.4 per cent last year to 30 per cent this year.</p>
<p>In South Africa women have no ownership, or rights, over their vaginas</p>
<p>I can bet that most of the 6 million living with HIV are women, from the working class, from poor communities, or unemployed. The reason why I say that I can bet the gender primarily infected and impacted with HIV in South Africa are females women is because poor and unemployed women – and even some from the working class – have no ownership, or rights, over their vaginas (and I can be polite and say reproductive organs – but I won’t). This is so because of their financial dependency on men.</p>
<p>The excellent research results from a handful of African organisations and universities integrated as the EU-Africa project: CoBaSys (Community Health Systems for HIV Treatment) says much of the same: the highest rates of infection come from women stuck in financially dependent relationships where the only right is the right of the man. Women without income, fighting for daily bread, turn to risky sex work. Women caught in poverty traps with little opportunity for water and waste sanitation, living in close quarters with too many people, are easily re-infected. Women afraid of violence and abuse, stigmatization, being labeled adulterous and other similar vicious outcomes, like abandonment, may be too frightened or intimidated to pursue testing and treatment. The extra costs – $2 or more, to travel to clinics that are based so far away, make it impossible. If they try it becomes dangerous for their lives, and costly for the businesses they leave behind, which feed their children. Women women women, the report says, are always hit hardest, and they explain the reasons why.</p>
<p>I can go on and say &#160;every six minutes a woman dies in South Africa at the hands of a man she has been intimate with – whether &#160;a husband, the &#160;father of her child or a lover. &#160;I can say according to the statistics, every few minutes &#160;a woman is beaten up and raped &#160;in South Africa – but then we know that the statistics include reported cases, not those that were kept quiet. Which means that if we had to report all the rape cases and the cases of violence against women, we will no longer be repeating that after every few minutes a woman is either raped or beaten in South Africa. We would be saying, rather, that there is no time at all where a woman is not raped, beaten, violated emotionally and psychologically. We will not need 16 days of Activism to raise awareness against this scourge – we will speak about it every day because it happens every hour, every minute and every second even as I speak.</p>
<p>Poor and unemployed women, women from the working class and to some extent women from the middle class, have been forced by men to forfeit their reproductive rights in issues pertaining to sex and protection from HIV. Women who are dependent on men for their livelihood are forced not to use protection from STDs and HIV infection. Married women have to sleep with cheating husbands without condoms, knowing that they have been unfaithful with other women, knowing they did not use protection during sexual encounters with those women.</p>
<p>Friends of mine who are sex workers say that married men especially from the middle class and the upper classes up their prices when they want to have sex with them without a condom. Most of my sex work friends are drug addicts and are only in the street to get money for another fix and sometimes would accept such proposals knowing that more money means going to the street less to sell one’s body to get high.</p>
<p>Unemployed women depending on their partners can hardly negotiate the using of protection because they get told, I pay the rent, I buy the food and your clothes, and I take care not just only of you but also of your children. That is why it is not so hard to understand that these women who depend on their lovers for their livelihoods sometimes sacrifice their daughters’ reproductive rights at the altar of sexual abuse by their lovers and these cases go unreported, again because of financial dependency.</p>
<p>Some women make a mistake of patting men on their backs by saying, he’s such a good man because he does not abuse – but there shouldn’t be patting on their backs at all because there shouldn’t be a scenario of some abuse.</p>
<p>As one man on a radio station stated a few weeks ago, to people who were being abused, ‘Silence increases Violence’. I would like that to be every individual’s thought for the day.</p>
<p>Faith ka-Manzi is a South African writer and poet who has been living in Cato Manor for more than a decade. Born almost 44 years ago in Durban, she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at the then University of Natal (now UKZN) in 1999 majoring in English and History. She is a former mainstream media journalist for Daily News (with a column – Keeping the Faith), Mail&amp;Guardian, SAPA, Business Day, SundayWorld, SABC among others. Faith is now based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she writes and translates works mainly advocating socio-economic, political and environmental issues pertaining to civil society, especially the poor.</p>
<p>This essay originally appeared in <a href="http://www.theafricareport.com/" type="external">The Africa Report</a>.</p> | 599,678 |
<p>Jared Holt reports at <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/todd-starnes-tells-the-values-voter-summit-that-liberals-want-to-criminalize-masculinity/" type="external">Right Wing Watch</a>:</p>
<p>Fox News radio host Todd Starnes told listeners at the Values Voter Summit (VVS) that mainstream media discussions about “toxic masculinity” are parts of a “war on men” that aims to “criminalize masculinity.”</p>
<p>In his address to VVS, which is hosted by the anti-LGBT Religious Right group Family Research Council, Starnes complained about the Boy Scouts of America’s recent decision to allow young women to participate in the organization.</p>
<p>“It’s not just a war on boys. It’s a war on men. And there are those in this country that want to feminize men. They want to criminalize masculinity,” Starnes said.</p>
<p />
<p /> | Todd Starnes: Liberals Want To Criminalize Masculinity | true | http://joemygod.com/2017/10/14/starnes-liberals-want-criminalize-masculinity-video/ | 2017-10-14 | 4left
| Todd Starnes: Liberals Want To Criminalize Masculinity
<p>Jared Holt reports at <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/todd-starnes-tells-the-values-voter-summit-that-liberals-want-to-criminalize-masculinity/" type="external">Right Wing Watch</a>:</p>
<p>Fox News radio host Todd Starnes told listeners at the Values Voter Summit (VVS) that mainstream media discussions about “toxic masculinity” are parts of a “war on men” that aims to “criminalize masculinity.”</p>
<p>In his address to VVS, which is hosted by the anti-LGBT Religious Right group Family Research Council, Starnes complained about the Boy Scouts of America’s recent decision to allow young women to participate in the organization.</p>
<p>“It’s not just a war on boys. It’s a war on men. And there are those in this country that want to feminize men. They want to criminalize masculinity,” Starnes said.</p>
<p />
<p /> | 599,679 |
<p>Multiple eyewitness testimony and video confirms the existence of a second shooter in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>The official narrative that gunman Stephen Paddock acted alone with dozens of guns has been unraveling by the day.</p>
<p>Rene Downs, guest of Bellagio on the night of Oct. 1:</p>
<p />
<p>Gun expert Rocky Palermo gives his account of a second gunman on the ground among the crowd:</p>
<p />
<p>Taxi driver Cori Langdon captures video of the shooting from her perspective at the Mandalay Bay hotel:</p>
<p />
<p>Witnesses recall “multiple shooters” just after the attack:</p>
<p />
<p>Infowars’ Darrin McBreen interviews an eyewitness who describes a second shooter at the scene:</p>
<p />
<p>Laura Loomer interviews two eyewitnesses who suggest multiple shooters:</p>
<p />
<p /> | Watch: Compilation Of Eye Witnesses Confirming Second Las Vegas Shooter | true | https://infowars.com/watch-compilation-of-eye-witnesses-confirming-second-las-vegas-shooter/ | 2017-10-15 | 0right
| Watch: Compilation Of Eye Witnesses Confirming Second Las Vegas Shooter
<p>Multiple eyewitness testimony and video confirms the existence of a second shooter in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>The official narrative that gunman Stephen Paddock acted alone with dozens of guns has been unraveling by the day.</p>
<p>Rene Downs, guest of Bellagio on the night of Oct. 1:</p>
<p />
<p>Gun expert Rocky Palermo gives his account of a second gunman on the ground among the crowd:</p>
<p />
<p>Taxi driver Cori Langdon captures video of the shooting from her perspective at the Mandalay Bay hotel:</p>
<p />
<p>Witnesses recall “multiple shooters” just after the attack:</p>
<p />
<p>Infowars’ Darrin McBreen interviews an eyewitness who describes a second shooter at the scene:</p>
<p />
<p>Laura Loomer interviews two eyewitnesses who suggest multiple shooters:</p>
<p />
<p /> | 599,680 |
<p>Gwoeii/Shutterstock</p>
<p />
<p>Say what you want about the Obama administration’s relative ignoring of climate issues: Many of his top scientists are paying rapt attention, and they think we’re about to get our butts kicked—although dumping the news at 4 p.m. on a Friday gives some indication of where it sits in federal priorities.</p>
<p>The National Climate Assessment is produced by the US Global Change Research Program, which is tasked with collating climate research from a wide variety of federal agencies and, every few years, distilling it into <a href="http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/" type="external">one major report</a>. The latest, a first draft, is the third such report (the last was in 2009), product of a 1990 law that requires the White House to produce semi-regular updates on climate science to Congress. Today’s report echoes the themes of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/06/17/17climatewire-us-study-projects-how-unequivocal-warming-wi-29186.html" type="external">earlier editions</a>, and paints a picture that is all the more grim for being an unsurprising confirmation of the dangers we’ve come to know all too well. Here’s the top six things for you to worry about this weekend, according to the report:</p>
<p>The report is sure to get thoroughly dissected by reporters in the coming week; keep an eye out for more details to come.</p>
<p /> | New Federal Report: Climate Change Is Really, Really Scary | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/new-federal-climate-report-gear-walloping/ | 2013-01-11 | 4left
| New Federal Report: Climate Change Is Really, Really Scary
<p>Gwoeii/Shutterstock</p>
<p />
<p>Say what you want about the Obama administration’s relative ignoring of climate issues: Many of his top scientists are paying rapt attention, and they think we’re about to get our butts kicked—although dumping the news at 4 p.m. on a Friday gives some indication of where it sits in federal priorities.</p>
<p>The National Climate Assessment is produced by the US Global Change Research Program, which is tasked with collating climate research from a wide variety of federal agencies and, every few years, distilling it into <a href="http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/" type="external">one major report</a>. The latest, a first draft, is the third such report (the last was in 2009), product of a 1990 law that requires the White House to produce semi-regular updates on climate science to Congress. Today’s report echoes the themes of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/06/17/17climatewire-us-study-projects-how-unequivocal-warming-wi-29186.html" type="external">earlier editions</a>, and paints a picture that is all the more grim for being an unsurprising confirmation of the dangers we’ve come to know all too well. Here’s the top six things for you to worry about this weekend, according to the report:</p>
<p>The report is sure to get thoroughly dissected by reporters in the coming week; keep an eye out for more details to come.</p>
<p /> | 599,681 |
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<p />
<p>The 96-page suit claims Marksville city officials failed to properly train the deputies on the use of deadly force before the shooting that killed Jeremy Mardis and critically wounded his father, Christopher Few, last year.</p>
<p>The suit also says the officers involved in the shooting did nothing to stop the boy’s bleeding or alleviate his suffering, even after one of them found a pulse on the child.</p>
<p>“Sadly, Jeremy was left to suffer – and die – while the officers casually searched for gloves,” the suit adds.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The deputies, Derrick Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr., await separate trials on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.</p>
<p>The Nov. 3, 2015, shooting was captured on video by a police officer’s body camera. Defense attorneys claim Stafford and Greenhouse acted in self-defense, but prosecutors say the video shows the deputies firing on Few’s car from a safe distance while his hands were raised inside the vehicle.</p>
<p>Stafford, a Marksville police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former Marksville police officer, were moonlighting as deputy marshals on the night of the shooting.</p>
<p>The deputies’ lawyers claim Few drove recklessly while leading officers on a 2-mile chase and then rammed into Greenhouse’s vehicle as he was getting out of it, before he and Stafford opened fire.</p>
<p>However, state District Court Judge William Bennett said the video from Marksville Police Sgt. Kenneth Parnell’s body camera doesn’t show Few’s car posing a threat to the officers as they fired.</p>
<p>The family’s lawsuit calls the shooting a “barbaric and excessive use of deadly force” that fit a pattern of behavior unpunished by town officials who supervised the two deputies.</p>
<p>“Proper use of deadly force training would have enabled Stafford and Greenhouse to recognize that neither Christopher nor Jeremy presented an imminent risk of death or great bodily harm to anyone at or near the scene,” the suit says.</p>
<p>During a news conference last year, Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said the video was the most disturbing thing he has ever seen. It shows the bloody but eerily calm aftermath of the shooting, with Few collapsed and bleeding on the pavement while his son’s lifeless body is strapped into the front seat.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Marksville’s deputy city marshals — part-timers who normally serve court papers — had been stopping cars and writing traffic tickets for months before the shooting. City Marshal Floyd Voinche Sr. began dispatching his deputies on patrols after the City Council slashed the city court’s budget at the recommendation of Mayor John Lemoine.</p>
<p>The court, which presides over traffic citations, sued the city over the deep cuts in July 2015, saying Marksville had stopped paying the salaries of Voinche, Judge Angelo Piazza III and the court’s clerks.</p>
<p>The mayor asked the attorney general to review the authority of the marshal’s office to issue tickets. During an interview last year, Judge Piazza said his court only keeps a modest cut of ticket revenues and called it a “misguided notion” that his court had a financial incentive for deputy marshals to begin writing tickets.</p>
<p>Voinche, Marksville’s city court, Avoyelles Parish and the officers involved in the shooting also are named as defendants in the suit, which seeks unspecified damages.</p>
<p>Before the shooting, Stafford and Greenhouse both had been sued over claims that they had used excessive force or neglected their duties as police officers. In addition, Stafford was suspended from the Marksville Police Department after he was indicted on rape charges in 2011, but reinstated after prosecutors dismissed the charges in May 2012.</p>
<p>Stafford’s murder trial is scheduled to start Nov. 28; Greenhouse has a March 13, 2017, trial date.</p>
<p>Prosecutors showed the video of the shooting during a hearing last month to support their claim that it was part of Stafford’s pattern of hurting people he’s arresting. Audio is lacking for the first 27 seconds of the video, then begins after deputies start shooting. Stafford’s attorneys argue that the segment without audio makes it impossible to determine if he started shooting before or after Few raised his hands.</p>
<p>Defense attorneys also have suggested that investigators rushed to judgment. George Higgins, one of Greenhouse’s attorneys, said investigators have no evidence that any of the bullets fired by Greenhouse struck Few or his son.</p>
<p>Investigators traced 14 shell casings to Stafford’s semi-automatic handgun and determined four other shell casings recovered at the scene came from Greenhouse’s gun. Of the four bullet fragments recovered from the boy’s body, three matched Stafford’s weapon and another couldn’t be matched to either deputy.</p> | Boy’s family sues town over his fatal shooting by deputies | false | https://abqjournal.com/876330/boys-family-sues-town-over-his-fatal-shooting-by-deputies.html | 2016-10-27 | 2least
| Boy’s family sues town over his fatal shooting by deputies
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<p />
<p>The 96-page suit claims Marksville city officials failed to properly train the deputies on the use of deadly force before the shooting that killed Jeremy Mardis and critically wounded his father, Christopher Few, last year.</p>
<p>The suit also says the officers involved in the shooting did nothing to stop the boy’s bleeding or alleviate his suffering, even after one of them found a pulse on the child.</p>
<p>“Sadly, Jeremy was left to suffer – and die – while the officers casually searched for gloves,” the suit adds.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The deputies, Derrick Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr., await separate trials on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.</p>
<p>The Nov. 3, 2015, shooting was captured on video by a police officer’s body camera. Defense attorneys claim Stafford and Greenhouse acted in self-defense, but prosecutors say the video shows the deputies firing on Few’s car from a safe distance while his hands were raised inside the vehicle.</p>
<p>Stafford, a Marksville police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former Marksville police officer, were moonlighting as deputy marshals on the night of the shooting.</p>
<p>The deputies’ lawyers claim Few drove recklessly while leading officers on a 2-mile chase and then rammed into Greenhouse’s vehicle as he was getting out of it, before he and Stafford opened fire.</p>
<p>However, state District Court Judge William Bennett said the video from Marksville Police Sgt. Kenneth Parnell’s body camera doesn’t show Few’s car posing a threat to the officers as they fired.</p>
<p>The family’s lawsuit calls the shooting a “barbaric and excessive use of deadly force” that fit a pattern of behavior unpunished by town officials who supervised the two deputies.</p>
<p>“Proper use of deadly force training would have enabled Stafford and Greenhouse to recognize that neither Christopher nor Jeremy presented an imminent risk of death or great bodily harm to anyone at or near the scene,” the suit says.</p>
<p>During a news conference last year, Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said the video was the most disturbing thing he has ever seen. It shows the bloody but eerily calm aftermath of the shooting, with Few collapsed and bleeding on the pavement while his son’s lifeless body is strapped into the front seat.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Marksville’s deputy city marshals — part-timers who normally serve court papers — had been stopping cars and writing traffic tickets for months before the shooting. City Marshal Floyd Voinche Sr. began dispatching his deputies on patrols after the City Council slashed the city court’s budget at the recommendation of Mayor John Lemoine.</p>
<p>The court, which presides over traffic citations, sued the city over the deep cuts in July 2015, saying Marksville had stopped paying the salaries of Voinche, Judge Angelo Piazza III and the court’s clerks.</p>
<p>The mayor asked the attorney general to review the authority of the marshal’s office to issue tickets. During an interview last year, Judge Piazza said his court only keeps a modest cut of ticket revenues and called it a “misguided notion” that his court had a financial incentive for deputy marshals to begin writing tickets.</p>
<p>Voinche, Marksville’s city court, Avoyelles Parish and the officers involved in the shooting also are named as defendants in the suit, which seeks unspecified damages.</p>
<p>Before the shooting, Stafford and Greenhouse both had been sued over claims that they had used excessive force or neglected their duties as police officers. In addition, Stafford was suspended from the Marksville Police Department after he was indicted on rape charges in 2011, but reinstated after prosecutors dismissed the charges in May 2012.</p>
<p>Stafford’s murder trial is scheduled to start Nov. 28; Greenhouse has a March 13, 2017, trial date.</p>
<p>Prosecutors showed the video of the shooting during a hearing last month to support their claim that it was part of Stafford’s pattern of hurting people he’s arresting. Audio is lacking for the first 27 seconds of the video, then begins after deputies start shooting. Stafford’s attorneys argue that the segment without audio makes it impossible to determine if he started shooting before or after Few raised his hands.</p>
<p>Defense attorneys also have suggested that investigators rushed to judgment. George Higgins, one of Greenhouse’s attorneys, said investigators have no evidence that any of the bullets fired by Greenhouse struck Few or his son.</p>
<p>Investigators traced 14 shell casings to Stafford’s semi-automatic handgun and determined four other shell casings recovered at the scene came from Greenhouse’s gun. Of the four bullet fragments recovered from the boy’s body, three matched Stafford’s weapon and another couldn’t be matched to either deputy.</p> | 599,682 |
<p>LONDON (AP) — Britain's army chief warned Monday that the country's ability to withstand attack and respond to threats is being eroded by a lack of investment in the military, increasing pressure on the government to boost defense spending.</p>
<p>Gen. Nick Carter said Britain has been left exposed to adversaries such as Russia, which already boast capabilities Britain would struggle to match.</p>
<p>"The threats we face are not thousands of miles away but are now on Europe's doorstep," Carter told the Royal United Services Institute. "We have seen how cyber warfare can be both waged on the battlefield and to disrupt normal people's lives."</p>
<p>Carter joins the head of the air force, Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, in warning that Russia is an increasing threat. Prime Minister Theresa May said last year that Russia had "mounted a sustained campaign of cyber espionage and disruption" against other countries.</p>
<p>Carter's comments seem intended to pressure Treasury chief Philip Hammond to refrain from further cuts to defense spending, which has been hit hard by government-ordered austerity following the 2008 financial crisis.</p>
<p>Some reports have suggested the government is considering combining elite units of paratroopers and the Royal Marines as part of plan to reduce the number of military personnel by 14,000. That would represent a 10 percent reduction from the current staffing level of 137,000.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, some lawmakers have called for the government to increase defense spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product, from the current 2 percent.</p>
<p>Carter said that without action now, Britain will be constrained in its ability to respond to respond to hostile powers.</p>
<p>"The time to address these threats is now," he said. "We cannot afford to sit back."</p>
<p>He called for Britain to greatly increase its ability to project power over land routes to eastern Europe and said Britain needs contingency plans to deal with a number of potential Russian threats that can be put into place quickly in a crisis.</p>
<p>LONDON (AP) — Britain's army chief warned Monday that the country's ability to withstand attack and respond to threats is being eroded by a lack of investment in the military, increasing pressure on the government to boost defense spending.</p>
<p>Gen. Nick Carter said Britain has been left exposed to adversaries such as Russia, which already boast capabilities Britain would struggle to match.</p>
<p>"The threats we face are not thousands of miles away but are now on Europe's doorstep," Carter told the Royal United Services Institute. "We have seen how cyber warfare can be both waged on the battlefield and to disrupt normal people's lives."</p>
<p>Carter joins the head of the air force, Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, in warning that Russia is an increasing threat. Prime Minister Theresa May said last year that Russia had "mounted a sustained campaign of cyber espionage and disruption" against other countries.</p>
<p>Carter's comments seem intended to pressure Treasury chief Philip Hammond to refrain from further cuts to defense spending, which has been hit hard by government-ordered austerity following the 2008 financial crisis.</p>
<p>Some reports have suggested the government is considering combining elite units of paratroopers and the Royal Marines as part of plan to reduce the number of military personnel by 14,000. That would represent a 10 percent reduction from the current staffing level of 137,000.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, some lawmakers have called for the government to increase defense spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product, from the current 2 percent.</p>
<p>Carter said that without action now, Britain will be constrained in its ability to respond to respond to hostile powers.</p>
<p>"The time to address these threats is now," he said. "We cannot afford to sit back."</p>
<p>He called for Britain to greatly increase its ability to project power over land routes to eastern Europe and said Britain needs contingency plans to deal with a number of potential Russian threats that can be put into place quickly in a crisis.</p> | Head of Britain's army warns of eroding capability | false | https://apnews.com/amp/0f5d84030dc748fb83ee86b34340f9bd | 2018-01-22 | 2least
| Head of Britain's army warns of eroding capability
<p>LONDON (AP) — Britain's army chief warned Monday that the country's ability to withstand attack and respond to threats is being eroded by a lack of investment in the military, increasing pressure on the government to boost defense spending.</p>
<p>Gen. Nick Carter said Britain has been left exposed to adversaries such as Russia, which already boast capabilities Britain would struggle to match.</p>
<p>"The threats we face are not thousands of miles away but are now on Europe's doorstep," Carter told the Royal United Services Institute. "We have seen how cyber warfare can be both waged on the battlefield and to disrupt normal people's lives."</p>
<p>Carter joins the head of the air force, Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, in warning that Russia is an increasing threat. Prime Minister Theresa May said last year that Russia had "mounted a sustained campaign of cyber espionage and disruption" against other countries.</p>
<p>Carter's comments seem intended to pressure Treasury chief Philip Hammond to refrain from further cuts to defense spending, which has been hit hard by government-ordered austerity following the 2008 financial crisis.</p>
<p>Some reports have suggested the government is considering combining elite units of paratroopers and the Royal Marines as part of plan to reduce the number of military personnel by 14,000. That would represent a 10 percent reduction from the current staffing level of 137,000.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, some lawmakers have called for the government to increase defense spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product, from the current 2 percent.</p>
<p>Carter said that without action now, Britain will be constrained in its ability to respond to respond to hostile powers.</p>
<p>"The time to address these threats is now," he said. "We cannot afford to sit back."</p>
<p>He called for Britain to greatly increase its ability to project power over land routes to eastern Europe and said Britain needs contingency plans to deal with a number of potential Russian threats that can be put into place quickly in a crisis.</p>
<p>LONDON (AP) — Britain's army chief warned Monday that the country's ability to withstand attack and respond to threats is being eroded by a lack of investment in the military, increasing pressure on the government to boost defense spending.</p>
<p>Gen. Nick Carter said Britain has been left exposed to adversaries such as Russia, which already boast capabilities Britain would struggle to match.</p>
<p>"The threats we face are not thousands of miles away but are now on Europe's doorstep," Carter told the Royal United Services Institute. "We have seen how cyber warfare can be both waged on the battlefield and to disrupt normal people's lives."</p>
<p>Carter joins the head of the air force, Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, in warning that Russia is an increasing threat. Prime Minister Theresa May said last year that Russia had "mounted a sustained campaign of cyber espionage and disruption" against other countries.</p>
<p>Carter's comments seem intended to pressure Treasury chief Philip Hammond to refrain from further cuts to defense spending, which has been hit hard by government-ordered austerity following the 2008 financial crisis.</p>
<p>Some reports have suggested the government is considering combining elite units of paratroopers and the Royal Marines as part of plan to reduce the number of military personnel by 14,000. That would represent a 10 percent reduction from the current staffing level of 137,000.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, some lawmakers have called for the government to increase defense spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product, from the current 2 percent.</p>
<p>Carter said that without action now, Britain will be constrained in its ability to respond to respond to hostile powers.</p>
<p>"The time to address these threats is now," he said. "We cannot afford to sit back."</p>
<p>He called for Britain to greatly increase its ability to project power over land routes to eastern Europe and said Britain needs contingency plans to deal with a number of potential Russian threats that can be put into place quickly in a crisis.</p> | 599,683 |
<p>Since the night he was elected, Gov. Bruce Rauner has repeatedly said he wants Illinois to be the most competitive yet compassionate state in the nation.</p>
<p>He's also quick to add one caveat: "We don't have the money to be able to be compassionate."</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>As the Republican prepares to propose his first budget Wednesday for a state that's billions of dollars in the red, many lawmakers and advocates for low-income, elderly and disabled people are bracing for major cuts to areas such as Medicaid and mental health care.</p>
<p>A Rauner administration official said Tuesday the governor will call for hiring more prison guards and spending more money on mental health care for inmates. He's also expected to propose reducing funding for higher education.</p>
<p>It's all likely to set up a big battle with the Democrats who control the Legislature, many of whom prefer to raise Illinois income tax rates that rolled back on Jan. 1 to avoid massive cuts. But Rauner has said keeping tax rates low is key to improving the state's economy - and generating the money needed to be more compassionate.</p>
<p>Following a meeting with Rauner and other legislative leaders Tuesday afternoon, House Speaker Michael Madigan said the governor indicated he was prepared to deliver some "tough medicine."</p>
<p>"I think it's fair to say he doesn't plan to propose any tax increases," said Madigan, a Chicago Democrat.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Here's a look at some things to watch as Rauner lays out his plan:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MORE PRISON GUARDS</p>
<p>Rauner is expected to call for adding 473 new correctional officer positions - a move that would save about $10 million in overtime costs and make Illinois prisons safer, an administration official said Tuesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly before the noon speech.</p>
<p>The governor also will propose spending an additional $58.5 million on mental health care and $8.3 million on assessments that can help identify inmates' needs and the risk they pose to public safety. The mental health funds are aimed at meeting a federal court mandate that requires Illinois to improve its services.</p>
<p>It was unclear how those line items might affect the overall Department of Corrections budget, or where the administration plans to make up for the increased spending.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NO LAUGHING MATTERS</p>
<p>During Rauner's State of the State address, Democratic legislators laughed at his proposal to raise the minimum wage slower than they wanted. But they aren't likely to find anything funny in his budget speech.</p>
<p>The state already is running out of money for several programs, including one that subsidizes day care for low-income workers. Judith Gethner, executive director of Illinois Partners for Human Service, says it's a good example of the critical role social service programs play in achieving Rauner's goal of turning around the state's economy. Without help paying for day care, many workers may choose to stay home.</p>
<p>Gethner said human services has been cut more than any other area of the budget over the past few years, and additional cuts will be particularly difficult to manage.</p>
<p>"You can't keep going back to our well," she said. "We're pretty dry."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MEDICAID</p>
<p>Rauner has said Medicaid spending is unsustainable. And it's an obvious target with the health insurance for low-income and disabled people making up roughly a quarter of the state's spending.</p>
<p>Among the options Rauner could consider is requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to pay a premium for their care or charging more for prescription drugs. He also could recommend cutting the amount physicians and other Medicaid providers are paid.</p>
<p>Felicia Norwood, Rauner's pick to head the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, was asked repeatedly during a recent hearing whether the governor planned to cut Medicaid. She declined to answer, saying she'd leave it to him to address Wednesday.</p>
<p>Rep. Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat, warns that "draconian" cuts could backfire because people could wind up in emergency rooms or seeking charity care for medical conditions that are far more serious - and costly - than if they'd gone to a Medicaid provider.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>EDUCATION 'BUREAUCRACY'</p>
<p>During a recent stop near the University of Illinois campus in Champaign, Rauner said he was going to "demand" that there be less bureaucracy in education, though he didn't offer details.</p>
<p>University of Illinois spokesman Tom Hardy said university officials had been asked to prepare for cuts in state funding ranging from 20 percent to an essentially flat appropriation. If the final cut is 20 percent, Hardy said, "By all expectations it will involve some pain."</p>
<p>Rauner, who has said he wants to increase spending on K-12 education, also could try to close or consolidate some of Illinois' regional offices of education.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer David Mercer contributed from Champaign.</p> | Gov. Rauner's budget expected to slash spending, set up battle with Illinois Democrats | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/02/17/gov-rauner-budget-expected-to-slash-spending-set-up-battle-with-illinois.html | 2016-03-09 | 0right
| Gov. Rauner's budget expected to slash spending, set up battle with Illinois Democrats
<p>Since the night he was elected, Gov. Bruce Rauner has repeatedly said he wants Illinois to be the most competitive yet compassionate state in the nation.</p>
<p>He's also quick to add one caveat: "We don't have the money to be able to be compassionate."</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>As the Republican prepares to propose his first budget Wednesday for a state that's billions of dollars in the red, many lawmakers and advocates for low-income, elderly and disabled people are bracing for major cuts to areas such as Medicaid and mental health care.</p>
<p>A Rauner administration official said Tuesday the governor will call for hiring more prison guards and spending more money on mental health care for inmates. He's also expected to propose reducing funding for higher education.</p>
<p>It's all likely to set up a big battle with the Democrats who control the Legislature, many of whom prefer to raise Illinois income tax rates that rolled back on Jan. 1 to avoid massive cuts. But Rauner has said keeping tax rates low is key to improving the state's economy - and generating the money needed to be more compassionate.</p>
<p>Following a meeting with Rauner and other legislative leaders Tuesday afternoon, House Speaker Michael Madigan said the governor indicated he was prepared to deliver some "tough medicine."</p>
<p>"I think it's fair to say he doesn't plan to propose any tax increases," said Madigan, a Chicago Democrat.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Here's a look at some things to watch as Rauner lays out his plan:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MORE PRISON GUARDS</p>
<p>Rauner is expected to call for adding 473 new correctional officer positions - a move that would save about $10 million in overtime costs and make Illinois prisons safer, an administration official said Tuesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly before the noon speech.</p>
<p>The governor also will propose spending an additional $58.5 million on mental health care and $8.3 million on assessments that can help identify inmates' needs and the risk they pose to public safety. The mental health funds are aimed at meeting a federal court mandate that requires Illinois to improve its services.</p>
<p>It was unclear how those line items might affect the overall Department of Corrections budget, or where the administration plans to make up for the increased spending.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>NO LAUGHING MATTERS</p>
<p>During Rauner's State of the State address, Democratic legislators laughed at his proposal to raise the minimum wage slower than they wanted. But they aren't likely to find anything funny in his budget speech.</p>
<p>The state already is running out of money for several programs, including one that subsidizes day care for low-income workers. Judith Gethner, executive director of Illinois Partners for Human Service, says it's a good example of the critical role social service programs play in achieving Rauner's goal of turning around the state's economy. Without help paying for day care, many workers may choose to stay home.</p>
<p>Gethner said human services has been cut more than any other area of the budget over the past few years, and additional cuts will be particularly difficult to manage.</p>
<p>"You can't keep going back to our well," she said. "We're pretty dry."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MEDICAID</p>
<p>Rauner has said Medicaid spending is unsustainable. And it's an obvious target with the health insurance for low-income and disabled people making up roughly a quarter of the state's spending.</p>
<p>Among the options Rauner could consider is requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to pay a premium for their care or charging more for prescription drugs. He also could recommend cutting the amount physicians and other Medicaid providers are paid.</p>
<p>Felicia Norwood, Rauner's pick to head the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, was asked repeatedly during a recent hearing whether the governor planned to cut Medicaid. She declined to answer, saying she'd leave it to him to address Wednesday.</p>
<p>Rep. Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat, warns that "draconian" cuts could backfire because people could wind up in emergency rooms or seeking charity care for medical conditions that are far more serious - and costly - than if they'd gone to a Medicaid provider.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>EDUCATION 'BUREAUCRACY'</p>
<p>During a recent stop near the University of Illinois campus in Champaign, Rauner said he was going to "demand" that there be less bureaucracy in education, though he didn't offer details.</p>
<p>University of Illinois spokesman Tom Hardy said university officials had been asked to prepare for cuts in state funding ranging from 20 percent to an essentially flat appropriation. If the final cut is 20 percent, Hardy said, "By all expectations it will involve some pain."</p>
<p>Rauner, who has said he wants to increase spending on K-12 education, also could try to close or consolidate some of Illinois' regional offices of education.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer David Mercer contributed from Champaign.</p> | 599,684 |
<p>Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Barbara Francis</a>. This page will be updated weekly.</p>
<p>Tony Brooks, to Vinton (Va.) Baptist Church, as interim pastor, effective in September.</p>
<p>George Bullard, to Columbia Metro Baptist Association, Columbia, S.C., as director of missions.</p>
<p>Dan Chadwick, to American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, as regional minister, effective. Aug 7. He comes from the pastorate of West Union (W. Va.) Baptist Church.</p>
<p>Leah Grundset Davis, to Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annandale, Va., as pastor, effective Sept. 1. She will serve with current pastor Steve Hyde. She comes from the Alliance of Baptists where she was communications director.</p>
<p>David Evans, to United Baptist Church, Annandale, Va., as minister of music.</p>
<p>Grant Frederick, to Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as minister of music. He comes from Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, Waco, Texas, where he was music associate and organist.</p>
<p>Tim Giannosa, to Leesburg (Va.) Community Church, as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Big Valley Grace Church, Modesto, Calif.</p>
<p>Jonathan Greenhill, concluding his tenure as associate pastor for youth and college-age ministries at Huguenot Road Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., effective July 14.</p>
<p>Sam Grozdanov, to Branch’s Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, Henrico, Va.</p>
<p>Jennifer Heiserman, concluding her tenure as children’s director at Parkwood Baptist Church, Annandale, Va.</p>
<p>Jessica Henks, to First Baptist Church, Ottawa, Kan., as pastor, effective July 18.</p>
<p>Carrie Schoenert Houston, to First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, as minister to students and their families.</p>
<p>Sarah E. Hurt, to Vinton (Va.) Baptist Church, as director for children and family life.</p>
<p>Bobby Ivey, concluding his tenure as minister of music at First Baptist Church, Cornelia, Ga., effective Aug. 27.</p>
<p>Kyle Knighton, now serving as minister for adult spiritual formation at Day Spring Baptist Church, Waco, Texas. He has been youth minister there since 2014.</p>
<p>Amber Miller, resigning as children’s minister at First Baptist Church, Cornelia, Ga., effective Aug. 6.</p>
<p>Jennifer Mullins, to New Highland Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., as associate pastor/youth pastor.</p>
<p>Ryan Musser, resigning as co-pastor of students at Sugar Land (Texas) Baptist Church, to pursue a law degree.</p>
<p>Kenneth Pruitt, to Kings Grant Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Va., as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Fairfield, Texas.</p>
<p>Mariah Richardson, to First Baptist Church, Forest City, N.C., as minister of youth.</p>
<p>Michael Rowland, to College Hill Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va., as pastor.</p>
<p>Lori Shaw, to Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church, Columbia, Mo., as minister of music.</p>
<p>Jim Skotthy, to First Baptist Church, Lexington, N.C., as business administrator.</p>
<p>Caroline Smith, to Wilton (Conn.) Baptist Church, as pastor, effective in August.</p>
<p>Case Smith, to First Baptist Church, Woodway, Texas, as director of recreation ministry.</p>
<p>Nathan Smith, resigning as pastor of Clifton Forge (Va.) Baptist Church, effective July 31, to assume a teaching position.</p>
<p>Casey Stark, to First Baptist Church, Slidell, La., as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Vansant (Va.) Baptist Church.&#160;</p>
<p>Chris Caldwell, retiring after 15 years as senior pastor of Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., effective Aug. 6. He will teach full-time at Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville.</p>
<p>Mick Feauto, retiring as executive vice president and CEO of LifeSpire of Virginia, effective Dec. 31. LifeSpire, affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, operates four continuing care retirement communities in Virginia.</p>
<p>Melanie Williams, retiring as minister of worship arts at The Baptist Church of Beaufort, S.C.&#160;</p>
<p>Abby Nicholls, ordained to ministry by First Baptist Church, Tucker, Ga., on July 1.&#160;</p>
<p>R. Kirby Godsey, chancellor of Mercer University in Macon, Ga., since 2006, received the Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler Leadership Alumni Award from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He was president of Mercer for 27 years. The award is given yearly to a past coordinating council or governing board member who exemplifies outstanding service to CBF.</p>
<p>Doug Keenan, 20 years as minister for pastoral care at First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas.</p>
<p>Tony Kohout, 35 years as pastor of Buford Road Baptist Church, Richmond Va.</p>
<p>Glenn Maddox, 5 years as mission mobilizer on the mission development staff of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.</p>
<p>Keith McLeod, 5 years as minister of music and worship at Brookwood Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala.</p>
<p>Mike Wilkins, 15 years as pastor of Manly Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington, Va.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ministry_jobs_cropped.jpg" type="external" /></p>
<p>Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. <a href="" type="internal">Click here</a> to learn more.</p>
<p>East End Baptist Church, Suffolk, Va. After 92 years in its downtown location, East End Baptist Church of Suffolk, Va., is relocating to a 17.5-acre site at 1056 South Boulevard in Suffolk. The historic African American church has been at its present location since 1924. Until the 32,000-square-foot, $5.8 million worship and multipurpose center is completed, services are being held at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Suffolk. The old building is for sale. Wayne Faison is pastor.</p>
<p>Shalom Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va. After 45 years in its current facility, Shalom Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., is moving. The church was raising funds to expand its current facilities on Mechanicsville Turnpike when approached by a German grocery store chain about purchasing its property. The congregation voted to sell and construct a larger facility on Walnut Grove Road, approximately 1.5 miles from the current site. During the transition, Sunday services will be held at Pole Green Elementary School. Mark Miller is pastor.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.30.17</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.23.17</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.16.17</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.09.17</a></p> | Transitions for the week of 07.07.17 | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/transitions-week-07-07-17/ | 3left-center
| Transitions for the week of 07.07.17
<p>Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Barbara Francis</a>. This page will be updated weekly.</p>
<p>Tony Brooks, to Vinton (Va.) Baptist Church, as interim pastor, effective in September.</p>
<p>George Bullard, to Columbia Metro Baptist Association, Columbia, S.C., as director of missions.</p>
<p>Dan Chadwick, to American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, as regional minister, effective. Aug 7. He comes from the pastorate of West Union (W. Va.) Baptist Church.</p>
<p>Leah Grundset Davis, to Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annandale, Va., as pastor, effective Sept. 1. She will serve with current pastor Steve Hyde. She comes from the Alliance of Baptists where she was communications director.</p>
<p>David Evans, to United Baptist Church, Annandale, Va., as minister of music.</p>
<p>Grant Frederick, to Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as minister of music. He comes from Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, Waco, Texas, where he was music associate and organist.</p>
<p>Tim Giannosa, to Leesburg (Va.) Community Church, as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Big Valley Grace Church, Modesto, Calif.</p>
<p>Jonathan Greenhill, concluding his tenure as associate pastor for youth and college-age ministries at Huguenot Road Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., effective July 14.</p>
<p>Sam Grozdanov, to Branch’s Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, Henrico, Va.</p>
<p>Jennifer Heiserman, concluding her tenure as children’s director at Parkwood Baptist Church, Annandale, Va.</p>
<p>Jessica Henks, to First Baptist Church, Ottawa, Kan., as pastor, effective July 18.</p>
<p>Carrie Schoenert Houston, to First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, as minister to students and their families.</p>
<p>Sarah E. Hurt, to Vinton (Va.) Baptist Church, as director for children and family life.</p>
<p>Bobby Ivey, concluding his tenure as minister of music at First Baptist Church, Cornelia, Ga., effective Aug. 27.</p>
<p>Kyle Knighton, now serving as minister for adult spiritual formation at Day Spring Baptist Church, Waco, Texas. He has been youth minister there since 2014.</p>
<p>Amber Miller, resigning as children’s minister at First Baptist Church, Cornelia, Ga., effective Aug. 6.</p>
<p>Jennifer Mullins, to New Highland Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., as associate pastor/youth pastor.</p>
<p>Ryan Musser, resigning as co-pastor of students at Sugar Land (Texas) Baptist Church, to pursue a law degree.</p>
<p>Kenneth Pruitt, to Kings Grant Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Va., as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Fairfield, Texas.</p>
<p>Mariah Richardson, to First Baptist Church, Forest City, N.C., as minister of youth.</p>
<p>Michael Rowland, to College Hill Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va., as pastor.</p>
<p>Lori Shaw, to Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church, Columbia, Mo., as minister of music.</p>
<p>Jim Skotthy, to First Baptist Church, Lexington, N.C., as business administrator.</p>
<p>Caroline Smith, to Wilton (Conn.) Baptist Church, as pastor, effective in August.</p>
<p>Case Smith, to First Baptist Church, Woodway, Texas, as director of recreation ministry.</p>
<p>Nathan Smith, resigning as pastor of Clifton Forge (Va.) Baptist Church, effective July 31, to assume a teaching position.</p>
<p>Casey Stark, to First Baptist Church, Slidell, La., as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Vansant (Va.) Baptist Church.&#160;</p>
<p>Chris Caldwell, retiring after 15 years as senior pastor of Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., effective Aug. 6. He will teach full-time at Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville.</p>
<p>Mick Feauto, retiring as executive vice president and CEO of LifeSpire of Virginia, effective Dec. 31. LifeSpire, affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, operates four continuing care retirement communities in Virginia.</p>
<p>Melanie Williams, retiring as minister of worship arts at The Baptist Church of Beaufort, S.C.&#160;</p>
<p>Abby Nicholls, ordained to ministry by First Baptist Church, Tucker, Ga., on July 1.&#160;</p>
<p>R. Kirby Godsey, chancellor of Mercer University in Macon, Ga., since 2006, received the Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler Leadership Alumni Award from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He was president of Mercer for 27 years. The award is given yearly to a past coordinating council or governing board member who exemplifies outstanding service to CBF.</p>
<p>Doug Keenan, 20 years as minister for pastoral care at First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas.</p>
<p>Tony Kohout, 35 years as pastor of Buford Road Baptist Church, Richmond Va.</p>
<p>Glenn Maddox, 5 years as mission mobilizer on the mission development staff of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.</p>
<p>Keith McLeod, 5 years as minister of music and worship at Brookwood Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala.</p>
<p>Mike Wilkins, 15 years as pastor of Manly Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington, Va.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ministry_jobs_cropped.jpg" type="external" /></p>
<p>Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. <a href="" type="internal">Click here</a> to learn more.</p>
<p>East End Baptist Church, Suffolk, Va. After 92 years in its downtown location, East End Baptist Church of Suffolk, Va., is relocating to a 17.5-acre site at 1056 South Boulevard in Suffolk. The historic African American church has been at its present location since 1924. Until the 32,000-square-foot, $5.8 million worship and multipurpose center is completed, services are being held at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Suffolk. The old building is for sale. Wayne Faison is pastor.</p>
<p>Shalom Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va. After 45 years in its current facility, Shalom Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., is moving. The church was raising funds to expand its current facilities on Mechanicsville Turnpike when approached by a German grocery store chain about purchasing its property. The congregation voted to sell and construct a larger facility on Walnut Grove Road, approximately 1.5 miles from the current site. During the transition, Sunday services will be held at Pole Green Elementary School. Mark Miller is pastor.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.30.17</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.23.17</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.16.17</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Transitions for the week of 06.09.17</a></p> | 599,685 |
|
<p>"Reliable Sources" transcriptWalter Cronkite says he didn't realize how much research he'd have to do for his syndicated newspaper column. "I'm beginning to think it's pure madness," he says of the column. "It's lot more work than I thought it was going to be. I write pretty quickly. Write pretty fast. I was an old press service man. That was part of the necessity of that occupation. But I had not realized how much personal research I was going to have to do in writing this column." The former news anchor is thinking about hiring a researcher. ALSO: "No, I'm not a big fan of President Bush, that's correct." &gt; <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37254-2003Dec28.html" type="external">Foot surgery won't stop Cronkite from hosting Vienna concert (WP)</a></p> | Writing a column is more work than I thought, says Cronkite | false | https://poynter.org/news/writing-column-more-work-i-thought-says-cronkite | 2003-12-29 | 2least
| Writing a column is more work than I thought, says Cronkite
<p>"Reliable Sources" transcriptWalter Cronkite says he didn't realize how much research he'd have to do for his syndicated newspaper column. "I'm beginning to think it's pure madness," he says of the column. "It's lot more work than I thought it was going to be. I write pretty quickly. Write pretty fast. I was an old press service man. That was part of the necessity of that occupation. But I had not realized how much personal research I was going to have to do in writing this column." The former news anchor is thinking about hiring a researcher. ALSO: "No, I'm not a big fan of President Bush, that's correct." &gt; <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37254-2003Dec28.html" type="external">Foot surgery won't stop Cronkite from hosting Vienna concert (WP)</a></p> | 599,686 |
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ These Florida lotteries were drawn Thursday:</p>
<p>Cash4Life</p>
<p>12-22-42-43-53, Cash Ball: 3</p>
<p>(twelve, twenty-two, forty-two, forty-three, fifty-three; Cash Ball: three)</p>
<p>Fantasy 5</p>
<p>02-07-08-22-31</p>
<p>(two, seven, eight, twenty-two, thirty-one)</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $418 million</p>
<p>Pick 2 Evening</p>
<p>8-4</p>
<p>(eight, four)</p>
<p>Pick 2 Midday</p>
<p>0-0</p>
<p>(zero, zero)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>0-0-7</p>
<p>(zero, zero, seven)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>4-2-1</p>
<p>(four, two, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>8-8-4-1</p>
<p>(eight, eight, four, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-5-8-6</p>
<p>(seven, five, eight, six)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Evening</p>
<p>8-1-7-8-5</p>
<p>(eight, one, seven, eight, five)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Midday</p>
<p>4-1-1-3-2</p>
<p>(four, one, one, three, two)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $550 million</p>
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ These Florida lotteries were drawn Thursday:</p>
<p>Cash4Life</p>
<p>12-22-42-43-53, Cash Ball: 3</p>
<p>(twelve, twenty-two, forty-two, forty-three, fifty-three; Cash Ball: three)</p>
<p>Fantasy 5</p>
<p>02-07-08-22-31</p>
<p>(two, seven, eight, twenty-two, thirty-one)</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $418 million</p>
<p>Pick 2 Evening</p>
<p>8-4</p>
<p>(eight, four)</p>
<p>Pick 2 Midday</p>
<p>0-0</p>
<p>(zero, zero)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>0-0-7</p>
<p>(zero, zero, seven)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>4-2-1</p>
<p>(four, two, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>8-8-4-1</p>
<p>(eight, eight, four, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-5-8-6</p>
<p>(seven, five, eight, six)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Evening</p>
<p>8-1-7-8-5</p>
<p>(eight, one, seven, eight, five)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Midday</p>
<p>4-1-1-3-2</p>
<p>(four, one, one, three, two)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $550 million</p> | FL Lottery | false | https://apnews.com/amp/36261a95cf294a8f9202977c140af62d | 2018-01-05 | 2least
| FL Lottery
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ These Florida lotteries were drawn Thursday:</p>
<p>Cash4Life</p>
<p>12-22-42-43-53, Cash Ball: 3</p>
<p>(twelve, twenty-two, forty-two, forty-three, fifty-three; Cash Ball: three)</p>
<p>Fantasy 5</p>
<p>02-07-08-22-31</p>
<p>(two, seven, eight, twenty-two, thirty-one)</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $418 million</p>
<p>Pick 2 Evening</p>
<p>8-4</p>
<p>(eight, four)</p>
<p>Pick 2 Midday</p>
<p>0-0</p>
<p>(zero, zero)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>0-0-7</p>
<p>(zero, zero, seven)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>4-2-1</p>
<p>(four, two, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>8-8-4-1</p>
<p>(eight, eight, four, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-5-8-6</p>
<p>(seven, five, eight, six)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Evening</p>
<p>8-1-7-8-5</p>
<p>(eight, one, seven, eight, five)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Midday</p>
<p>4-1-1-3-2</p>
<p>(four, one, one, three, two)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $550 million</p>
<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ These Florida lotteries were drawn Thursday:</p>
<p>Cash4Life</p>
<p>12-22-42-43-53, Cash Ball: 3</p>
<p>(twelve, twenty-two, forty-two, forty-three, fifty-three; Cash Ball: three)</p>
<p>Fantasy 5</p>
<p>02-07-08-22-31</p>
<p>(two, seven, eight, twenty-two, thirty-one)</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $418 million</p>
<p>Pick 2 Evening</p>
<p>8-4</p>
<p>(eight, four)</p>
<p>Pick 2 Midday</p>
<p>0-0</p>
<p>(zero, zero)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>0-0-7</p>
<p>(zero, zero, seven)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>4-2-1</p>
<p>(four, two, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>8-8-4-1</p>
<p>(eight, eight, four, one)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-5-8-6</p>
<p>(seven, five, eight, six)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Evening</p>
<p>8-1-7-8-5</p>
<p>(eight, one, seven, eight, five)</p>
<p>Pick 5 Midday</p>
<p>4-1-1-3-2</p>
<p>(four, one, one, three, two)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $550 million</p> | 599,687 |
<p><a href="http://pienews.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Partime.jpg" type="external" />In two weeks, the political and financial worlds will pause for the May Jobs Report from the Labor Department. While pundits will debate the change in payrolls and the unemployment rate, focusing on just the monthly numbers obscures more troubling underlying trends in the labor force. Since Obama took [?]</p>
<p />
<p><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/05/22/Under-Obama-Temp-Jobs-Grew-45-Manufacturing-Shrank-3" type="external">Click here to view original web page at www.breitbart.com</a></p>
<p /> | Obama's Economy: Temp Jobs Grew 45%, Manufacturing Shrank 3.2% | true | http://politicalillusionsexposed.com/under-obama-temp-jobs-grew-45-manufacturing-shrank-3-2/ | 0right
| Obama's Economy: Temp Jobs Grew 45%, Manufacturing Shrank 3.2%
<p><a href="http://pienews.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Partime.jpg" type="external" />In two weeks, the political and financial worlds will pause for the May Jobs Report from the Labor Department. While pundits will debate the change in payrolls and the unemployment rate, focusing on just the monthly numbers obscures more troubling underlying trends in the labor force. Since Obama took [?]</p>
<p />
<p><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/05/22/Under-Obama-Temp-Jobs-Grew-45-Manufacturing-Shrank-3" type="external">Click here to view original web page at www.breitbart.com</a></p>
<p /> | 599,688 |
|
<p />
<p>President <a href="" type="internal">Barack Obama</a> on Wednesday called on Congress to approve a $5 billion to $10 billion effort to help U.S. homeowners refinance as part of a wider package of proposals to shore up the depressed housing market.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Obama had sketched out the proposals in his State of the Union address last week, including a tax on banks to pay for the plan that Republicans quickly rejected.</p>
<p>The <a href="" type="internal">White House</a> offered more details on Wednesday ahead of a speech by Obama to expand on his initiative, which some Republicans have derided as an election-year ploy.</p>
<p>Nearly 11 million Americans are underwater on their mortgages, meaning they owe more than their homes are worth. Millions more have lost homes to repossession in states that will be up for grabs in 2012.</p>
<p>"Now, the truth is, it will take more time than any of us would like for the housing market to recover from this crisis," Obama said in a speech in Falls Church, Virginia. "We need to do everything in our power to repair the damage and make responsible families whole."</p>
<p>The White House is seeking to contrast Obama's stance with that of Republican presidential front-runner <a href="" type="internal">Mitt Romney</a>, who has said U.S. foreclosures should be allowed to run their course.</p>
<p>The next contest in the state-by-state battle for the Republican nomination is in Nevada, the state with the highest rate of foreclosure filings for the past five years.</p>
<p>The White House said the refinance program would be run by the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA has already been hard hit by rising defaults on mortgages it had insured, and its cash reserves reached a record low last year.</p>
<p>Many Republicans are likely to resist a larger role for the agency out of concerns taxpayers could be left on the hook for losses.</p>
<p>Obama's proposal, which needs congressional approval, would be open to borrowers who have been current on their payments for the last six months and have no more than one missed payment in the prior six months.</p>
<p>The administration also wants to broaden its Home Affordable Refinance Program, which seeks to provide refinancing options to underwater borrowers who have no equity in their homes.</p>
<p>The White House said the housing regulator which oversees <a href="" type="internal">Fannie Mae</a> and <a href="" type="internal">Freddie Mac</a> has exhausted its efforts to make HARP more widely accessible to lenders and borrowers, and now it will ask Congress to make changes. Among those requested changes, it will seek to eliminate the costs of appraisals.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | Obama Makes Push for Home Refinancing Aid | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2012/02/01/obama-pushes-for-home-refinancing-aid.html | 2016-01-26 | 0right
| Obama Makes Push for Home Refinancing Aid
<p />
<p>President <a href="" type="internal">Barack Obama</a> on Wednesday called on Congress to approve a $5 billion to $10 billion effort to help U.S. homeowners refinance as part of a wider package of proposals to shore up the depressed housing market.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Obama had sketched out the proposals in his State of the Union address last week, including a tax on banks to pay for the plan that Republicans quickly rejected.</p>
<p>The <a href="" type="internal">White House</a> offered more details on Wednesday ahead of a speech by Obama to expand on his initiative, which some Republicans have derided as an election-year ploy.</p>
<p>Nearly 11 million Americans are underwater on their mortgages, meaning they owe more than their homes are worth. Millions more have lost homes to repossession in states that will be up for grabs in 2012.</p>
<p>"Now, the truth is, it will take more time than any of us would like for the housing market to recover from this crisis," Obama said in a speech in Falls Church, Virginia. "We need to do everything in our power to repair the damage and make responsible families whole."</p>
<p>The White House is seeking to contrast Obama's stance with that of Republican presidential front-runner <a href="" type="internal">Mitt Romney</a>, who has said U.S. foreclosures should be allowed to run their course.</p>
<p>The next contest in the state-by-state battle for the Republican nomination is in Nevada, the state with the highest rate of foreclosure filings for the past five years.</p>
<p>The White House said the refinance program would be run by the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA has already been hard hit by rising defaults on mortgages it had insured, and its cash reserves reached a record low last year.</p>
<p>Many Republicans are likely to resist a larger role for the agency out of concerns taxpayers could be left on the hook for losses.</p>
<p>Obama's proposal, which needs congressional approval, would be open to borrowers who have been current on their payments for the last six months and have no more than one missed payment in the prior six months.</p>
<p>The administration also wants to broaden its Home Affordable Refinance Program, which seeks to provide refinancing options to underwater borrowers who have no equity in their homes.</p>
<p>The White House said the housing regulator which oversees <a href="" type="internal">Fannie Mae</a> and <a href="" type="internal">Freddie Mac</a> has exhausted its efforts to make HARP more widely accessible to lenders and borrowers, and now it will ask Congress to make changes. Among those requested changes, it will seek to eliminate the costs of appraisals.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | 599,689 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Musical Theatre Southwest was seeking what director Robb Sisneros said was a “strong triple threat” for the lead in its production of “Sweet Charity.” It opens tonight at the African American Performing Arts Center.</p>
<p>“I was amazed at the talent of the actresses who came out for the role,” Sisneros said.</p>
<p>One of those auditioning for the part of Charity was Stephanie Burch.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The triple artistic challenges attracted rather than deterred Burch to try out. An additional incentive was her adoration of Bob Fosse, who directed and choreographed the 1966 stage production of “Sweet Charity” and the 1969 film version.</p>
<p>Burch got her wish. She landed the part.</p>
<p>“We narrowed it down to Stephanie pretty early in the second day (of auditions),” Sisneros said, “and we started building the ensemble around her.”</p>
<p>But Burch has had quite a workout preparing for the role. Sure, she and the other cast members have been rehearsing three hours a night for five, six days a week for more than six weeks.</p>
<p>“I never leave the stage,” Burch said.”And Charity never stops talking. She’s the kind of character who says whatever comes to her mind.”</p>
<p>Her character is singing 10 numbers, five of them solos.</p>
<p>Burch said the acting requires comedic timing.</p>
<p>Her preparations for the role of Charity goes far beyond time spent at rehearsals or at home memorizing lines. She’s been working out at a gym under the guidance of a personal trainer.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“Mostly what I had to do was more cardio to be able to sing and dance, building up my physical endurance,” Burch said. “I’ve worked out seven days a week for at least an hour a day.”</p>
<p>She multitasks while working out on a treadmill or stair-stepper, reading her lines off the printed page at the same time that she’s listening to a recording of them.</p>
<p>“It’s a huge commitment. I knew it would be, but the part, being the triple threat that she is, I absolutely love doing it,” Burch said.</p>
<p>The musical is about Charity’s search for one true love. Charity – her full name is Charity Hope Valentine – is the eternal optimist despite her bad luck with men.</p>
<p>She’s a dancer for hire in a dance hall and is struggling to get out of that line of work. Charity dreams of marrying and having a family.</p>
<p>Sisneros said Fosse conceived the show as a vehicle for his wife, Gwen Verdon, and for his choreography. Verdon starred in the Broadway production but Shirley MacLaine portrayed Charity in the film.</p>
<p>Larry Aguilar, the choreographer for the MTS production, said the production has “a Fosse style to it” but it has his own imprint, which he said is more of a modern feel.</p>
<p>“It’s pretty much my choreography. For her first number Stephanie did the choreography with me. I let her do what she felt she needed to do with that number,” Aguilar said.</p>
<p>“That number determines her character. So we did it together. The rest is my original.”</p>
<p>The Broadway production received 12 Tony nominations. Cy Coleman wrote the music and Dorothy Fields the lyrics. Playwright Neil Simon wrote the book.</p> | Eternal optimist | false | https://abqjournal.com/187679/eternal-optimist.html | 2013-04-12 | 2least
| Eternal optimist
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Musical Theatre Southwest was seeking what director Robb Sisneros said was a “strong triple threat” for the lead in its production of “Sweet Charity.” It opens tonight at the African American Performing Arts Center.</p>
<p>“I was amazed at the talent of the actresses who came out for the role,” Sisneros said.</p>
<p>One of those auditioning for the part of Charity was Stephanie Burch.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The triple artistic challenges attracted rather than deterred Burch to try out. An additional incentive was her adoration of Bob Fosse, who directed and choreographed the 1966 stage production of “Sweet Charity” and the 1969 film version.</p>
<p>Burch got her wish. She landed the part.</p>
<p>“We narrowed it down to Stephanie pretty early in the second day (of auditions),” Sisneros said, “and we started building the ensemble around her.”</p>
<p>But Burch has had quite a workout preparing for the role. Sure, she and the other cast members have been rehearsing three hours a night for five, six days a week for more than six weeks.</p>
<p>“I never leave the stage,” Burch said.”And Charity never stops talking. She’s the kind of character who says whatever comes to her mind.”</p>
<p>Her character is singing 10 numbers, five of them solos.</p>
<p>Burch said the acting requires comedic timing.</p>
<p>Her preparations for the role of Charity goes far beyond time spent at rehearsals or at home memorizing lines. She’s been working out at a gym under the guidance of a personal trainer.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“Mostly what I had to do was more cardio to be able to sing and dance, building up my physical endurance,” Burch said. “I’ve worked out seven days a week for at least an hour a day.”</p>
<p>She multitasks while working out on a treadmill or stair-stepper, reading her lines off the printed page at the same time that she’s listening to a recording of them.</p>
<p>“It’s a huge commitment. I knew it would be, but the part, being the triple threat that she is, I absolutely love doing it,” Burch said.</p>
<p>The musical is about Charity’s search for one true love. Charity – her full name is Charity Hope Valentine – is the eternal optimist despite her bad luck with men.</p>
<p>She’s a dancer for hire in a dance hall and is struggling to get out of that line of work. Charity dreams of marrying and having a family.</p>
<p>Sisneros said Fosse conceived the show as a vehicle for his wife, Gwen Verdon, and for his choreography. Verdon starred in the Broadway production but Shirley MacLaine portrayed Charity in the film.</p>
<p>Larry Aguilar, the choreographer for the MTS production, said the production has “a Fosse style to it” but it has his own imprint, which he said is more of a modern feel.</p>
<p>“It’s pretty much my choreography. For her first number Stephanie did the choreography with me. I let her do what she felt she needed to do with that number,” Aguilar said.</p>
<p>“That number determines her character. So we did it together. The rest is my original.”</p>
<p>The Broadway production received 12 Tony nominations. Cy Coleman wrote the music and Dorothy Fields the lyrics. Playwright Neil Simon wrote the book.</p> | 599,690 |
<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Friday it has proposed a meeting with North Korea next week to discuss details of its participation in next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South.</p>
<p>The South’s Unification Ministry said it suggested holding the meeting on Monday at the border village of Panmunjom with a delegation of three South Korean officials.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, the two Koreas held their first talks in about two years at the border village. They agreed to hold military talks and restore a military hotline. The North also agreed to send a large delegation of officials, athletes, cheerleaders, journalists and others to the Olympics in Pyeongchang.</p>
<p>The accords were widely viewed as a positive step following a year of escalating tension over North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs.</p>
<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Friday it has proposed a meeting with North Korea next week to discuss details of its participation in next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South.</p>
<p>The South’s Unification Ministry said it suggested holding the meeting on Monday at the border village of Panmunjom with a delegation of three South Korean officials.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, the two Koreas held their first talks in about two years at the border village. They agreed to hold military talks and restore a military hotline. The North also agreed to send a large delegation of officials, athletes, cheerleaders, journalists and others to the Olympics in Pyeongchang.</p>
<p>The accords were widely viewed as a positive step following a year of escalating tension over North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs.</p> | S. Korea proposes meeting with N. Korea to discuss Olympics | false | https://apnews.com/056033d262ea40fda8599eb09939c589 | 2018-01-12 | 2least
| S. Korea proposes meeting with N. Korea to discuss Olympics
<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Friday it has proposed a meeting with North Korea next week to discuss details of its participation in next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South.</p>
<p>The South’s Unification Ministry said it suggested holding the meeting on Monday at the border village of Panmunjom with a delegation of three South Korean officials.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, the two Koreas held their first talks in about two years at the border village. They agreed to hold military talks and restore a military hotline. The North also agreed to send a large delegation of officials, athletes, cheerleaders, journalists and others to the Olympics in Pyeongchang.</p>
<p>The accords were widely viewed as a positive step following a year of escalating tension over North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs.</p>
<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Friday it has proposed a meeting with North Korea next week to discuss details of its participation in next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South.</p>
<p>The South’s Unification Ministry said it suggested holding the meeting on Monday at the border village of Panmunjom with a delegation of three South Korean officials.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, the two Koreas held their first talks in about two years at the border village. They agreed to hold military talks and restore a military hotline. The North also agreed to send a large delegation of officials, athletes, cheerleaders, journalists and others to the Olympics in Pyeongchang.</p>
<p>The accords were widely viewed as a positive step following a year of escalating tension over North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs.</p> | 599,691 |
<p>Police responded to a call of a “family dispute” at the address of <a href="http://variety.com/t/harvey-weinstein/" type="external">Harvey Weinstein</a>’s daughter Remy, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed to&#160;Variety.</p>
<p>Law enforcement said that police responded to call at about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in regards to a family argument. Officers left the scene shortly after it was determined that there was no evidence of a crime.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tmz.com/2017/10/11/harvey-weinstein-suicide-threat-police/" type="external">TMZ</a> reported on Wednesday that Remy Weinstein called 911, saying her dad was “suicidal and depressed.” Video obtained by TMZ shows <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/harvey-weinstein-wife-divorcing-devastated-1202587733/" type="external">Harvey Weinstein</a> leaving the property, along with an associate.</p>
<p>Remy is one of three daughters from his first marriage to Eve Chilton. On Tuesday, <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/harvey-weinstein-wife-georgina-chapman-divorcing-divorce-1202586378/" type="external">his current wife, Georgina Chapman</a>, announced that she would be divorcing Weinstein following days of reports of sexual harassment and assault allegations against the former Hollywood mogul.</p>
<p>The New York Times was first to break the story last Thursday, detailing <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-leave-of-absence-new-york-times-1202581677/" type="external">“dozens” of sexual harassment allegations</a> against Weinstein in a bombshell exposé. Weinstein was forced out of his own company <a href="http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/harvey-weinstein-out-weinstein-company-1202583568/" type="external">just a few days later</a>, on Sunday.</p>
<p>The situation escalated on Tuesday, when the New Yorker dropped a shocking investigative report that alleged Weinstein sexually assaulted multiple women. Several A-listers who have worked with Weinstein in the past, including Meryl Streep and George Clooney, have publicly denounced Weinstein in the ensuing fall-out.</p>
<p /> | Police Respond to ‘Family Dispute’ at Harvey Weinstein’s Daughter’s House | false | https://newsline.com/police-respond-to-family-dispute-at-harvey-weinsteins-daughters-house/ | 2017-10-11 | 1right-center
| Police Respond to ‘Family Dispute’ at Harvey Weinstein’s Daughter’s House
<p>Police responded to a call of a “family dispute” at the address of <a href="http://variety.com/t/harvey-weinstein/" type="external">Harvey Weinstein</a>’s daughter Remy, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed to&#160;Variety.</p>
<p>Law enforcement said that police responded to call at about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in regards to a family argument. Officers left the scene shortly after it was determined that there was no evidence of a crime.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tmz.com/2017/10/11/harvey-weinstein-suicide-threat-police/" type="external">TMZ</a> reported on Wednesday that Remy Weinstein called 911, saying her dad was “suicidal and depressed.” Video obtained by TMZ shows <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/harvey-weinstein-wife-divorcing-devastated-1202587733/" type="external">Harvey Weinstein</a> leaving the property, along with an associate.</p>
<p>Remy is one of three daughters from his first marriage to Eve Chilton. On Tuesday, <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/harvey-weinstein-wife-georgina-chapman-divorcing-divorce-1202586378/" type="external">his current wife, Georgina Chapman</a>, announced that she would be divorcing Weinstein following days of reports of sexual harassment and assault allegations against the former Hollywood mogul.</p>
<p>The New York Times was first to break the story last Thursday, detailing <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-leave-of-absence-new-york-times-1202581677/" type="external">“dozens” of sexual harassment allegations</a> against Weinstein in a bombshell exposé. Weinstein was forced out of his own company <a href="http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/harvey-weinstein-out-weinstein-company-1202583568/" type="external">just a few days later</a>, on Sunday.</p>
<p>The situation escalated on Tuesday, when the New Yorker dropped a shocking investigative report that alleged Weinstein sexually assaulted multiple women. Several A-listers who have worked with Weinstein in the past, including Meryl Streep and George Clooney, have publicly denounced Weinstein in the ensuing fall-out.</p>
<p /> | 599,692 |
<p />
<p>Source: Flickr via user stockmonkeys.com.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>What's happening: Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals finally saw a green day yesterday, gaining 10% on extraordinary volume for the stock. The company's shares have been getting blasted during the last few weeks as a result of accounting errors stemming from the drugmaker's fuzzy relationship with themail-order pharmacy Philidor Rx Services LLC.</p>
<p>In brief, Valeant stated that an internal probe discovered that the company had accidentally booked sales of some drugs twice during the last year or so, forcing the company to restate past earnings reports and delay the release of its annual report for 2015. They key issue is that this delay could result in the drugmaker receiving a notice of default on some of its outstanding debt instruments.</p>
<p>Valeant's internal accounting issues unfortunately have weighed heavily on fellow specialty pharma companies like Horizon Pharma -- a drugmaker that has been accused of using a similar business model to Valeant, centering around the use of mail-order pharmacies and patient-assistance programsthat lower the threshold for reimbursement for drugs with sky-high price tags:</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/HZNP" type="external">HZNP</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Why it's happening: Although it's not entirely clear why Valeant's stock rallied yesterday, my quick take is that investors are cheering the addition of Pershing Square's Bill Ackman to the board earlier in the week. As Ackman's fund reportedly owns approximately 9% of Valeant, he certainly has every reason in the world to try to right this sinking ship.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Looking ahead, Ackman should play a pivotal role in helping to select a replacement for embattledCEOMichael Pearson, along with expediting the restatement of the drugmaker's financial reports. However, shareholders need to understand that there are no quick fixes to Valeant's serious problems. After all, the use of patient-assistance programsfor drugs with questionable price tags by both <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/17/the-5-minute-guide-to-horizon-pharma-plc-stock.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Horizon Pharma Opens a New Window.</a> and Valeant have caught the attention of U.S. federal agencies in recent months.</p>
<p>As a result, Valeant's core business model of raising the prices of older drugs by eye-popping amounts may not even be viable going forward -- especially in the current politically charged environment. That's why I think investors may want to let the dust settle before trying to catch this plummeting pharma stock.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/23/why-valeant-pharmaceuticals-stock-rose-10-on-tuesd.aspx" type="external">Why Valeant Pharmaceuticals' Stock Rose 10% on Tuesday Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/gbudwell/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">George Budwell Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | Why Valeant Pharmaceuticals' Stock Rose 10% on Tuesday | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/03/23/why-valeant-pharmaceuticals-stock-rose-10-on-tuesday.html | 2016-03-23 | 0right
| Why Valeant Pharmaceuticals' Stock Rose 10% on Tuesday
<p />
<p>Source: Flickr via user stockmonkeys.com.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>What's happening: Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals finally saw a green day yesterday, gaining 10% on extraordinary volume for the stock. The company's shares have been getting blasted during the last few weeks as a result of accounting errors stemming from the drugmaker's fuzzy relationship with themail-order pharmacy Philidor Rx Services LLC.</p>
<p>In brief, Valeant stated that an internal probe discovered that the company had accidentally booked sales of some drugs twice during the last year or so, forcing the company to restate past earnings reports and delay the release of its annual report for 2015. They key issue is that this delay could result in the drugmaker receiving a notice of default on some of its outstanding debt instruments.</p>
<p>Valeant's internal accounting issues unfortunately have weighed heavily on fellow specialty pharma companies like Horizon Pharma -- a drugmaker that has been accused of using a similar business model to Valeant, centering around the use of mail-order pharmacies and patient-assistance programsthat lower the threshold for reimbursement for drugs with sky-high price tags:</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/HZNP" type="external">HZNP</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Why it's happening: Although it's not entirely clear why Valeant's stock rallied yesterday, my quick take is that investors are cheering the addition of Pershing Square's Bill Ackman to the board earlier in the week. As Ackman's fund reportedly owns approximately 9% of Valeant, he certainly has every reason in the world to try to right this sinking ship.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Looking ahead, Ackman should play a pivotal role in helping to select a replacement for embattledCEOMichael Pearson, along with expediting the restatement of the drugmaker's financial reports. However, shareholders need to understand that there are no quick fixes to Valeant's serious problems. After all, the use of patient-assistance programsfor drugs with questionable price tags by both <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/17/the-5-minute-guide-to-horizon-pharma-plc-stock.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Horizon Pharma Opens a New Window.</a> and Valeant have caught the attention of U.S. federal agencies in recent months.</p>
<p>As a result, Valeant's core business model of raising the prices of older drugs by eye-popping amounts may not even be viable going forward -- especially in the current politically charged environment. That's why I think investors may want to let the dust settle before trying to catch this plummeting pharma stock.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/23/why-valeant-pharmaceuticals-stock-rose-10-on-tuesd.aspx" type="external">Why Valeant Pharmaceuticals' Stock Rose 10% on Tuesday Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/gbudwell/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">George Budwell Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | 599,693 |
<p>The Other Bostonians: Poverty and Progress in the American Metropolis, 1880- 1970, by Stephan Thernstrom. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 345 pp.</p>
<p>For more than a decade Stephan Thernstrom has been studying patterns of social mobility among American workers in the 19th and 20th centuries, in order to understand "Why the American working class did not form a mass radical party or develop a revolutionary ideology." Thernstrom's work, particularly Poverty and Progress (1964), along with that of his former collaborator Peter, Knights, has shown that we can learn much about the American working class by using computers to process data from the manuscript censuses, city directories, and tax records.</p>
<p /> | Mobility in America | true | https://dissentmagazine.org/article/mobility-in-america | 2018-10-04 | 4left
| Mobility in America
<p>The Other Bostonians: Poverty and Progress in the American Metropolis, 1880- 1970, by Stephan Thernstrom. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 345 pp.</p>
<p>For more than a decade Stephan Thernstrom has been studying patterns of social mobility among American workers in the 19th and 20th centuries, in order to understand "Why the American working class did not form a mass radical party or develop a revolutionary ideology." Thernstrom's work, particularly Poverty and Progress (1964), along with that of his former collaborator Peter, Knights, has shown that we can learn much about the American working class by using computers to process data from the manuscript censuses, city directories, and tax records.</p>
<p /> | 599,694 |
<p>Sometime this month,&#160;the Supreme Court is expected to make a critical decision on the Obama administration’s pair of executive actions on immigration.</p>
<p>The Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs would <a href="" type="internal">give as many as 5.2 million people</a> in the US — many of whom have been here for years — temporary relief from deportation.</p>
<p>Several questions are at play in the case, United States v. Texas: Is it lawful for the president of the US to intervene in immigration law with executive action? Can immigrants who are given this relief also be given permission to work?&#160;(The American Immigration Council notes that&#160; <a href="http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/executive-grants-temporary-immigration-relief-1956-present" type="external">every US president since 1956</a>&#160;has used his discretion to give relief to immigrants.)</p>
<p>More: <a href="" type="internal">The Supreme Court presents lawyers with tough legal questions on DAPA and DACA</a></p>
<p>With legal questions about executive discretion to stall deportations up for grabs, few are questioning the authority of the federal government to deport immigrants in the first place.</p>
<p>Some 123 years ago, before deportation was recognized as a standard procedure in American immigration enforcement, three Chinese laundry workers living in New York City questioned that authority in the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>In 1893, Fong Yue Ting, Wong Quan and Lee Joe were part of a movement in the Chinese American community that sought to challenge the Geary Act, an 1892 law that extended the <a href="" type="internal">Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882</a> and made Chinese residents vulnerable to deportation if they did not carry residency certificates — even if they were long-term residents of the country.</p>
<p />
<p>The Geary Act of 1892 required that all Chinese laborers secure and carry certificates of residence to prove their lawful residency in the United States</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160;the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/chs_commons/9394871150/in/album-72157634848789658/" type="external">California Historical Society, MS 3642.002</a></p>
<p>Fong and Wong, who lived in the US for 14 and 16 years, were arrested for deportation when they protested the Geary Act by refusing to apply for certificates of residency. Lee did apply for a certificate, but his application was denied and his deportation ordered because the witnesses he used in his application were Chinese. The law required that all witnesses supporting an applicant’s request for a residency certificate be white.</p>
<p>Their lawyers argued that deporting long-term residents of the US was not just morally deplorable and would stain the country’s reputation as a humane and just nation — they also claimed it was unconstitutional. In <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/jamerethnhist.30.1.0011?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents" type="external">an article in the Journal of American Ethnic History</a>, historian Torrie Hester says&#160;the three men’s legal team argued that the US Constitution did not grant the federal government authority to deport individuals residing on American soil. They said that prospective deportees have the right to a trial by jury. Provisions in immigration law that specifically targeted Chinese for exclusion and deportation, they said, also violated the 14th Amendment’s promise of equal protection under the law.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court disagreed. In a 6 to 3 decision, the justices ruled against Fong, Wong and Lee. The majority’s ruling upheld that deportation was not a punishment at all. They described it as an administrative procedure that was not just necessary to safeguard the nation, but the sovereign right of every national government.</p>
<p>In other words, they framed the federal government’s right to deport immigrants as a given, as a tool of the nation’s governing power. Now, 123 years later, the question before the Court is to what extent the president can choose how he or she uses that power.</p>
<p>All three justices in the minority opinion,&#160;including Melville Fuller, the court’s chief justice,&#160;wrote dissenting opinions. Justice David J. Brewer led the charge with a lengthy statement that criticized the majority for issuing a ruling that, he claimed, granted the US federal government unchecked legal authority to deport immigrants from the country.</p>
<p>The issues he raised parallel the questions at the heart of the Supreme Court’s pending decision on DAPA and DACA today. While the majority decision enumerated the government’s sovereign right to deport, Brewer reminded his colleagues that long-term, non-native residents of the country “are entitled to a more distinct and larger measure of protection than those who are simply passing through, or temporarily in it” — a protection, he claimed,&#160;recognized by national governments around the world.</p>
<p>The Obama administration is waiting now to find out if the court will allow executive action to temporarily halt the deportations of undocumented parents of American citizens and people brought to the US in their youth without documents. At the turn of the century, Justice Brewer warned about the limits of the government’s deportation authority. If deportation was held as a national government’s sovereign right, he asked, “Where are the limits to such powers to be found, and by whom are they to be pronounced?”</p>
<p>Brewer and his fellow dissenting justices warned that <a href="https://casetext.com/case/fong-yue-ting-v-united-states" type="external">Fong Yue Ting V. United States</a> would enshrine the federal government’s authority to deport without limits —&#160;an authority that the Obama Administration has <a href="" type="internal">been known to utilize</a>. If DACA and DAPA are upheld, the administration will use that authority again, but to place some restrictions&#160;deportations.</p>
<p>The potential consequences of the government’s nearly unlimited authority to deport immigrants was clear to Brewer. “Every one knows,” he&#160;wrote, “that to be forcibly taken away from home, and family, and friends, and business, and property, and sent across the ocean to a distant land, is punishment; and that oftentimes most severe and cruel.”</p>
<p>In 2016, the Supreme Court will be asked whether the government has the power to rein in that punishment.</p> | While the Supreme Court considers deportation policy, the roots of deportation itself come from a much earlier case | false | https://pri.org/stories/2016-06-15/while-supreme-court-considers-deportation-policy-deportation-policy-has-its-roots | 2016-06-15 | 3left-center
| While the Supreme Court considers deportation policy, the roots of deportation itself come from a much earlier case
<p>Sometime this month,&#160;the Supreme Court is expected to make a critical decision on the Obama administration’s pair of executive actions on immigration.</p>
<p>The Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs would <a href="" type="internal">give as many as 5.2 million people</a> in the US — many of whom have been here for years — temporary relief from deportation.</p>
<p>Several questions are at play in the case, United States v. Texas: Is it lawful for the president of the US to intervene in immigration law with executive action? Can immigrants who are given this relief also be given permission to work?&#160;(The American Immigration Council notes that&#160; <a href="http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/executive-grants-temporary-immigration-relief-1956-present" type="external">every US president since 1956</a>&#160;has used his discretion to give relief to immigrants.)</p>
<p>More: <a href="" type="internal">The Supreme Court presents lawyers with tough legal questions on DAPA and DACA</a></p>
<p>With legal questions about executive discretion to stall deportations up for grabs, few are questioning the authority of the federal government to deport immigrants in the first place.</p>
<p>Some 123 years ago, before deportation was recognized as a standard procedure in American immigration enforcement, three Chinese laundry workers living in New York City questioned that authority in the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>In 1893, Fong Yue Ting, Wong Quan and Lee Joe were part of a movement in the Chinese American community that sought to challenge the Geary Act, an 1892 law that extended the <a href="" type="internal">Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882</a> and made Chinese residents vulnerable to deportation if they did not carry residency certificates — even if they were long-term residents of the country.</p>
<p />
<p>The Geary Act of 1892 required that all Chinese laborers secure and carry certificates of residence to prove their lawful residency in the United States</p>
<p>Courtesy of&#160;the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/chs_commons/9394871150/in/album-72157634848789658/" type="external">California Historical Society, MS 3642.002</a></p>
<p>Fong and Wong, who lived in the US for 14 and 16 years, were arrested for deportation when they protested the Geary Act by refusing to apply for certificates of residency. Lee did apply for a certificate, but his application was denied and his deportation ordered because the witnesses he used in his application were Chinese. The law required that all witnesses supporting an applicant’s request for a residency certificate be white.</p>
<p>Their lawyers argued that deporting long-term residents of the US was not just morally deplorable and would stain the country’s reputation as a humane and just nation — they also claimed it was unconstitutional. In <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/jamerethnhist.30.1.0011?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents" type="external">an article in the Journal of American Ethnic History</a>, historian Torrie Hester says&#160;the three men’s legal team argued that the US Constitution did not grant the federal government authority to deport individuals residing on American soil. They said that prospective deportees have the right to a trial by jury. Provisions in immigration law that specifically targeted Chinese for exclusion and deportation, they said, also violated the 14th Amendment’s promise of equal protection under the law.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court disagreed. In a 6 to 3 decision, the justices ruled against Fong, Wong and Lee. The majority’s ruling upheld that deportation was not a punishment at all. They described it as an administrative procedure that was not just necessary to safeguard the nation, but the sovereign right of every national government.</p>
<p>In other words, they framed the federal government’s right to deport immigrants as a given, as a tool of the nation’s governing power. Now, 123 years later, the question before the Court is to what extent the president can choose how he or she uses that power.</p>
<p>All three justices in the minority opinion,&#160;including Melville Fuller, the court’s chief justice,&#160;wrote dissenting opinions. Justice David J. Brewer led the charge with a lengthy statement that criticized the majority for issuing a ruling that, he claimed, granted the US federal government unchecked legal authority to deport immigrants from the country.</p>
<p>The issues he raised parallel the questions at the heart of the Supreme Court’s pending decision on DAPA and DACA today. While the majority decision enumerated the government’s sovereign right to deport, Brewer reminded his colleagues that long-term, non-native residents of the country “are entitled to a more distinct and larger measure of protection than those who are simply passing through, or temporarily in it” — a protection, he claimed,&#160;recognized by national governments around the world.</p>
<p>The Obama administration is waiting now to find out if the court will allow executive action to temporarily halt the deportations of undocumented parents of American citizens and people brought to the US in their youth without documents. At the turn of the century, Justice Brewer warned about the limits of the government’s deportation authority. If deportation was held as a national government’s sovereign right, he asked, “Where are the limits to such powers to be found, and by whom are they to be pronounced?”</p>
<p>Brewer and his fellow dissenting justices warned that <a href="https://casetext.com/case/fong-yue-ting-v-united-states" type="external">Fong Yue Ting V. United States</a> would enshrine the federal government’s authority to deport without limits —&#160;an authority that the Obama Administration has <a href="" type="internal">been known to utilize</a>. If DACA and DAPA are upheld, the administration will use that authority again, but to place some restrictions&#160;deportations.</p>
<p>The potential consequences of the government’s nearly unlimited authority to deport immigrants was clear to Brewer. “Every one knows,” he&#160;wrote, “that to be forcibly taken away from home, and family, and friends, and business, and property, and sent across the ocean to a distant land, is punishment; and that oftentimes most severe and cruel.”</p>
<p>In 2016, the Supreme Court will be asked whether the government has the power to rein in that punishment.</p> | 599,695 |
<p>The Stuxnet computer virus struck Iran again on Tuesday, but was rebuffed and prevented from spreading.&#160;</p>
<p>The cyber attack, which disrupts computer networks, targeted manufacturing industries in the southern province of Hormozgan, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/25/iran-cyber-idUSL5E8NP15G20121225" type="external">Reuters reported</a>.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107130343" type="external">Iran's FARS news agency reported</a> that the worm attacked the Culture Ministry's Headquarters for Supporting and Protecting Works of Art and Culture and was reportedly sent from Dallas via switches in Malaysia and Vietnam.&#160;</p>
<p>Civil defense chief Ali Akbar Akhavan told reporters that this is just the latest of several cyber attacks in the region in recent months, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iranian-news-agency-reports-another-cyberattack-by-stuxnet-worm-targeting-industries-in-south/2012/12/25/c38904b8-4e91-11e2-835b-02f92c0daa43_story.html" type="external">according to the Associated Press</a>. The government also claims that it has defused many cyber worms and malware, including Stuxnet and Flame viruses aimed at Iran's oil and nuclear sectors.&#160;</p>
<p>"Enemies are constantly attacking Iran's industrial units through Internet networks in order to create disruptions," Akhavan said, according to Reuters.&#160;</p>
<p>The US and other Western nations have accused Iran of building up its nuclear weapons program, a charge that Tehran repeatedly denies.&#160;Israel has threatened to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if ongoing sanctions by the West do not keep the country from developing its nuclear capacities, Reuters reported.&#160;</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-grid/stuxnet-flame-computer-virus-cyber-warfare-iran-israel-obama" type="external">Stuxnet: Computer virus developed by US, Israel to destroy Iran centrifuges</a></p> | Stuxnet computer worm cyberattack defeated in Iran | false | https://pri.org/stories/2012-12-25/stuxnet-computer-worm-cyberattack-defeated-iran | 2012-12-25 | 3left-center
| Stuxnet computer worm cyberattack defeated in Iran
<p>The Stuxnet computer virus struck Iran again on Tuesday, but was rebuffed and prevented from spreading.&#160;</p>
<p>The cyber attack, which disrupts computer networks, targeted manufacturing industries in the southern province of Hormozgan, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/25/iran-cyber-idUSL5E8NP15G20121225" type="external">Reuters reported</a>.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107130343" type="external">Iran's FARS news agency reported</a> that the worm attacked the Culture Ministry's Headquarters for Supporting and Protecting Works of Art and Culture and was reportedly sent from Dallas via switches in Malaysia and Vietnam.&#160;</p>
<p>Civil defense chief Ali Akbar Akhavan told reporters that this is just the latest of several cyber attacks in the region in recent months, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iranian-news-agency-reports-another-cyberattack-by-stuxnet-worm-targeting-industries-in-south/2012/12/25/c38904b8-4e91-11e2-835b-02f92c0daa43_story.html" type="external">according to the Associated Press</a>. The government also claims that it has defused many cyber worms and malware, including Stuxnet and Flame viruses aimed at Iran's oil and nuclear sectors.&#160;</p>
<p>"Enemies are constantly attacking Iran's industrial units through Internet networks in order to create disruptions," Akhavan said, according to Reuters.&#160;</p>
<p>The US and other Western nations have accused Iran of building up its nuclear weapons program, a charge that Tehran repeatedly denies.&#160;Israel has threatened to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if ongoing sanctions by the West do not keep the country from developing its nuclear capacities, Reuters reported.&#160;</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-grid/stuxnet-flame-computer-virus-cyber-warfare-iran-israel-obama" type="external">Stuxnet: Computer virus developed by US, Israel to destroy Iran centrifuges</a></p> | 599,696 |
<p>For an exercise in futility, log onto the <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/" type="external">Amtrak Web site</a> and reserve a seat on the Coast Starlight train, which will take you from Emeryville, California straight into Los Angeles’ Union Station. To the tune of about fifty bucks one-way, you can chug your way down the coast to sunny southern California in only 12 hours and 40 minutes.</p>
<p>Excuse me, did you say it would take me nearly 13 hours to get to LA? If I live in San Francisco, I not only have to make the trip to Emeryville, but I also have to spend another wad of cash on three meals on the way down. The direct flight to Beijing takes about the same amount of time.</p>
<p>On Nov. 4, voters will have the opportunity to put California at the forefront of rail travel in the United States. In comparison to high-speed rail service in the rest of the industrialized world, our country is years behind in this regard and the time for action is at our doorstep.</p>
<p>Besides traversing the state in less than three hours, there are numerous benefits to passing this bill. The first obvious plus is job creation. The <a href="http://www.bayeconfor.org/" type="external">Bay Area Economic Institute</a> estimates that over the next 25 years, the passage of this bill could create as many as 100,000 jobs for railroad workers, including a permanent 48,000 jobs in the Bay Area alone. Likewise, the <a href="http://www.sandiegoinstitute.com/" type="external">San Diego Institute for Policy Research</a> contends it could <a href="http://www.sdbj.com/article.asp?aID=129677&amp;link=perm" type="external">create up to 45,000 jobs</a> in San Diego alone.</p>
<p>Opponents to the bill have said that the economy is too fragile right now to pass such an ambitious proposition, but the truth is, this is a remedy for the sagging economy. Job creation is a key to economic growth, and a train project will make for a great kick start.</p>
<p>Approval of Prop 1a, which will require 2/3 majority to pass, will also contribute to the fight for cleaner air and lower carbon emissions. With gasoline currently hovering at about $4 per gallon, and scientists nearly unanimously in agreement that something must be done about global warming, rail investment makes perfect sense for 2008 and the future.</p>
<p>It has been predicted that the bullet train could attract around 117 million riders per year by 2030, compared with three million currently on the Amtrak route you wasted your time Googling only moments ago. Imagine 100 million cars off the road, making the trip to and from Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Conservative estimates put the price tag on this project at $33 billion with 75 percent of that coming from private and federal funding. Until that money comes in, the state will not issue most of the bonds. In the slim chance of failure where the rail link is never built, the state will lose less than $2 billion—a worthy risk for a necessary cause.</p> | Prop 1A: A Transportation and Economic Stimulus for California | false | https://ivn.us/2008/10/03/prop-1a-transportation-and-economic-stimulus-california/ | 2008-10-03 | 2least
| Prop 1A: A Transportation and Economic Stimulus for California
<p>For an exercise in futility, log onto the <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/" type="external">Amtrak Web site</a> and reserve a seat on the Coast Starlight train, which will take you from Emeryville, California straight into Los Angeles’ Union Station. To the tune of about fifty bucks one-way, you can chug your way down the coast to sunny southern California in only 12 hours and 40 minutes.</p>
<p>Excuse me, did you say it would take me nearly 13 hours to get to LA? If I live in San Francisco, I not only have to make the trip to Emeryville, but I also have to spend another wad of cash on three meals on the way down. The direct flight to Beijing takes about the same amount of time.</p>
<p>On Nov. 4, voters will have the opportunity to put California at the forefront of rail travel in the United States. In comparison to high-speed rail service in the rest of the industrialized world, our country is years behind in this regard and the time for action is at our doorstep.</p>
<p>Besides traversing the state in less than three hours, there are numerous benefits to passing this bill. The first obvious plus is job creation. The <a href="http://www.bayeconfor.org/" type="external">Bay Area Economic Institute</a> estimates that over the next 25 years, the passage of this bill could create as many as 100,000 jobs for railroad workers, including a permanent 48,000 jobs in the Bay Area alone. Likewise, the <a href="http://www.sandiegoinstitute.com/" type="external">San Diego Institute for Policy Research</a> contends it could <a href="http://www.sdbj.com/article.asp?aID=129677&amp;link=perm" type="external">create up to 45,000 jobs</a> in San Diego alone.</p>
<p>Opponents to the bill have said that the economy is too fragile right now to pass such an ambitious proposition, but the truth is, this is a remedy for the sagging economy. Job creation is a key to economic growth, and a train project will make for a great kick start.</p>
<p>Approval of Prop 1a, which will require 2/3 majority to pass, will also contribute to the fight for cleaner air and lower carbon emissions. With gasoline currently hovering at about $4 per gallon, and scientists nearly unanimously in agreement that something must be done about global warming, rail investment makes perfect sense for 2008 and the future.</p>
<p>It has been predicted that the bullet train could attract around 117 million riders per year by 2030, compared with three million currently on the Amtrak route you wasted your time Googling only moments ago. Imagine 100 million cars off the road, making the trip to and from Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Conservative estimates put the price tag on this project at $33 billion with 75 percent of that coming from private and federal funding. Until that money comes in, the state will not issue most of the bonds. In the slim chance of failure where the rail link is never built, the state will lose less than $2 billion—a worthy risk for a necessary cause.</p> | 599,697 |
<p>LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Vic Fangio is returning to the Chicago Bears as defensive coordinator after being passed up for their head coaching job.</p>
<p>Fangio re-signed Friday and will continue to lead a defense he helped transform the past three seasons. He was the first candidate to interview for the Bears' coaching job after John Fox was fired, but general manager Ryan Pace ultimately decided to go with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.</p>
<p>Fangio was free to go elsewhere after his contract expired. Before he arrived in Chicago, the Bears' defense ranked among the worst in franchise history. They were more than respectable in 2017 under Fangio despite losing several players to injuries, including linebacker Leonard Floyd.</p>
<p>Chicago's defense ranked 10th overall, seventh against the pass, ninth in scoring and 11th against the run.</p>
<p>With Fangio back, the Bears have filled all three coordinator spots.</p>
<p>The team announced Friday that it has hired former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator and Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. The Bears also brought in Charles London to coach running backs and Mike Furrey as wide receivers coach.</p>
<p>Helfrich led Oregon to a 37-16 record in four seasons. That included a run to the first College Football Playoff championship game during the 2014 season with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota at quarterback. He was fired after a 4-8 finish in 2016.</p>
<p>Before becoming the Ducks' coach, Helfrich was their quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2009-12 under Chip Kelly. With their fast-paced and prolific spread-option offense, the Ducks went 46-7 during that span.</p>
<p>Helfrich didn't call plays as Oregon's offensive coordinator and he won't in Chicago. Nagy plans to do that.</p>
<p>The Bears are looking to get the most out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and emerge from one of the worst runs in franchise history.</p>
<p>They fired Fox after three seasons with a 14-34 record that gave him the second-worst winning percentage for a Chicago coach. Nagy spent the past decade working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City and served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator this past season.</p>
<p>He is trying to help turn around a team that missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season and hasn't finished above .500 since Lovie Smith was fired after going 10-6 in 2012. The Bears were 5-11 in 2017.</p>
<p>The development of Trubisky, the No. 2 overall draft pick last spring, could go a long way toward lifting an offense that ranked 30th overall and last in passing. But the Bears will need to acquire some playmaking receivers.</p>
<p>Tabor spent the past seven seasons as Cleveland's special teams coordinator. The Browns ranked sixth in kickoff return average against (21.8), seventh in the NFL in punt return average (9.9), ninth in total kick return yards (8,974) and 10th in total return yards allowed (7,627) during that time. Tabor was Chicago's assistant special teams coach from 2008-2010.</p>
<p>London has spent nine seasons in the NFL — the past four as Houston's running backs coach. He was an offensive assistant with the Bears from 2007-09.</p>
<p>Furrey played eight seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. With Detroit in 2006, he ranked second in the league with 98 receptions while recording 1,086 yards and six touchdowns.</p>
<p>Furrey spent the past two years coaching at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org" type="external">https://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Vic Fangio is returning to the Chicago Bears as defensive coordinator after being passed up for their head coaching job.</p>
<p>Fangio re-signed Friday and will continue to lead a defense he helped transform the past three seasons. He was the first candidate to interview for the Bears' coaching job after John Fox was fired, but general manager Ryan Pace ultimately decided to go with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.</p>
<p>Fangio was free to go elsewhere after his contract expired. Before he arrived in Chicago, the Bears' defense ranked among the worst in franchise history. They were more than respectable in 2017 under Fangio despite losing several players to injuries, including linebacker Leonard Floyd.</p>
<p>Chicago's defense ranked 10th overall, seventh against the pass, ninth in scoring and 11th against the run.</p>
<p>With Fangio back, the Bears have filled all three coordinator spots.</p>
<p>The team announced Friday that it has hired former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator and Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. The Bears also brought in Charles London to coach running backs and Mike Furrey as wide receivers coach.</p>
<p>Helfrich led Oregon to a 37-16 record in four seasons. That included a run to the first College Football Playoff championship game during the 2014 season with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota at quarterback. He was fired after a 4-8 finish in 2016.</p>
<p>Before becoming the Ducks' coach, Helfrich was their quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2009-12 under Chip Kelly. With their fast-paced and prolific spread-option offense, the Ducks went 46-7 during that span.</p>
<p>Helfrich didn't call plays as Oregon's offensive coordinator and he won't in Chicago. Nagy plans to do that.</p>
<p>The Bears are looking to get the most out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and emerge from one of the worst runs in franchise history.</p>
<p>They fired Fox after three seasons with a 14-34 record that gave him the second-worst winning percentage for a Chicago coach. Nagy spent the past decade working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City and served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator this past season.</p>
<p>He is trying to help turn around a team that missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season and hasn't finished above .500 since Lovie Smith was fired after going 10-6 in 2012. The Bears were 5-11 in 2017.</p>
<p>The development of Trubisky, the No. 2 overall draft pick last spring, could go a long way toward lifting an offense that ranked 30th overall and last in passing. But the Bears will need to acquire some playmaking receivers.</p>
<p>Tabor spent the past seven seasons as Cleveland's special teams coordinator. The Browns ranked sixth in kickoff return average against (21.8), seventh in the NFL in punt return average (9.9), ninth in total kick return yards (8,974) and 10th in total return yards allowed (7,627) during that time. Tabor was Chicago's assistant special teams coach from 2008-2010.</p>
<p>London has spent nine seasons in the NFL — the past four as Houston's running backs coach. He was an offensive assistant with the Bears from 2007-09.</p>
<p>Furrey played eight seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. With Detroit in 2006, he ranked second in the league with 98 receptions while recording 1,086 yards and six touchdowns.</p>
<p>Furrey spent the past two years coaching at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org" type="external">https://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p> | Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio returning to Bears | false | https://apnews.com/amp/ecb9ffdf8a2345099a61f5381601e849 | 2018-01-12 | 2least
| Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio returning to Bears
<p>LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Vic Fangio is returning to the Chicago Bears as defensive coordinator after being passed up for their head coaching job.</p>
<p>Fangio re-signed Friday and will continue to lead a defense he helped transform the past three seasons. He was the first candidate to interview for the Bears' coaching job after John Fox was fired, but general manager Ryan Pace ultimately decided to go with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.</p>
<p>Fangio was free to go elsewhere after his contract expired. Before he arrived in Chicago, the Bears' defense ranked among the worst in franchise history. They were more than respectable in 2017 under Fangio despite losing several players to injuries, including linebacker Leonard Floyd.</p>
<p>Chicago's defense ranked 10th overall, seventh against the pass, ninth in scoring and 11th against the run.</p>
<p>With Fangio back, the Bears have filled all three coordinator spots.</p>
<p>The team announced Friday that it has hired former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator and Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. The Bears also brought in Charles London to coach running backs and Mike Furrey as wide receivers coach.</p>
<p>Helfrich led Oregon to a 37-16 record in four seasons. That included a run to the first College Football Playoff championship game during the 2014 season with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota at quarterback. He was fired after a 4-8 finish in 2016.</p>
<p>Before becoming the Ducks' coach, Helfrich was their quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2009-12 under Chip Kelly. With their fast-paced and prolific spread-option offense, the Ducks went 46-7 during that span.</p>
<p>Helfrich didn't call plays as Oregon's offensive coordinator and he won't in Chicago. Nagy plans to do that.</p>
<p>The Bears are looking to get the most out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and emerge from one of the worst runs in franchise history.</p>
<p>They fired Fox after three seasons with a 14-34 record that gave him the second-worst winning percentage for a Chicago coach. Nagy spent the past decade working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City and served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator this past season.</p>
<p>He is trying to help turn around a team that missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season and hasn't finished above .500 since Lovie Smith was fired after going 10-6 in 2012. The Bears were 5-11 in 2017.</p>
<p>The development of Trubisky, the No. 2 overall draft pick last spring, could go a long way toward lifting an offense that ranked 30th overall and last in passing. But the Bears will need to acquire some playmaking receivers.</p>
<p>Tabor spent the past seven seasons as Cleveland's special teams coordinator. The Browns ranked sixth in kickoff return average against (21.8), seventh in the NFL in punt return average (9.9), ninth in total kick return yards (8,974) and 10th in total return yards allowed (7,627) during that time. Tabor was Chicago's assistant special teams coach from 2008-2010.</p>
<p>London has spent nine seasons in the NFL — the past four as Houston's running backs coach. He was an offensive assistant with the Bears from 2007-09.</p>
<p>Furrey played eight seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. With Detroit in 2006, he ranked second in the league with 98 receptions while recording 1,086 yards and six touchdowns.</p>
<p>Furrey spent the past two years coaching at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org" type="external">https://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Vic Fangio is returning to the Chicago Bears as defensive coordinator after being passed up for their head coaching job.</p>
<p>Fangio re-signed Friday and will continue to lead a defense he helped transform the past three seasons. He was the first candidate to interview for the Bears' coaching job after John Fox was fired, but general manager Ryan Pace ultimately decided to go with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.</p>
<p>Fangio was free to go elsewhere after his contract expired. Before he arrived in Chicago, the Bears' defense ranked among the worst in franchise history. They were more than respectable in 2017 under Fangio despite losing several players to injuries, including linebacker Leonard Floyd.</p>
<p>Chicago's defense ranked 10th overall, seventh against the pass, ninth in scoring and 11th against the run.</p>
<p>With Fangio back, the Bears have filled all three coordinator spots.</p>
<p>The team announced Friday that it has hired former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator and Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. The Bears also brought in Charles London to coach running backs and Mike Furrey as wide receivers coach.</p>
<p>Helfrich led Oregon to a 37-16 record in four seasons. That included a run to the first College Football Playoff championship game during the 2014 season with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota at quarterback. He was fired after a 4-8 finish in 2016.</p>
<p>Before becoming the Ducks' coach, Helfrich was their quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2009-12 under Chip Kelly. With their fast-paced and prolific spread-option offense, the Ducks went 46-7 during that span.</p>
<p>Helfrich didn't call plays as Oregon's offensive coordinator and he won't in Chicago. Nagy plans to do that.</p>
<p>The Bears are looking to get the most out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and emerge from one of the worst runs in franchise history.</p>
<p>They fired Fox after three seasons with a 14-34 record that gave him the second-worst winning percentage for a Chicago coach. Nagy spent the past decade working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City and served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator this past season.</p>
<p>He is trying to help turn around a team that missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season and hasn't finished above .500 since Lovie Smith was fired after going 10-6 in 2012. The Bears were 5-11 in 2017.</p>
<p>The development of Trubisky, the No. 2 overall draft pick last spring, could go a long way toward lifting an offense that ranked 30th overall and last in passing. But the Bears will need to acquire some playmaking receivers.</p>
<p>Tabor spent the past seven seasons as Cleveland's special teams coordinator. The Browns ranked sixth in kickoff return average against (21.8), seventh in the NFL in punt return average (9.9), ninth in total kick return yards (8,974) and 10th in total return yards allowed (7,627) during that time. Tabor was Chicago's assistant special teams coach from 2008-2010.</p>
<p>London has spent nine seasons in the NFL — the past four as Houston's running backs coach. He was an offensive assistant with the Bears from 2007-09.</p>
<p>Furrey played eight seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. With Detroit in 2006, he ranked second in the league with 98 receptions while recording 1,086 yards and six touchdowns.</p>
<p>Furrey spent the past two years coaching at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NFL: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org" type="external">https://pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p> | 599,698 |
<p>The evacuation order that forced out nearly 80 residents remains in effect for homes below a Jackson, Wyo., hillside, as the earth continues to creep down the slope.</p>
<p>Officials said Saturday it remains difficult to say when residents and business owners along the Budge Drive neighborhood will be able to return home <a href="" type="internal">following the evacuation Wednesday</a>.</p>
<p>“There’s a home that is at the crest of the hill that has been deemed unsafe,” Assistant Town Manager Roxanne Robinson told NBC News. “Those people will not be able to return to their home.”</p>
<p>Other homes in “mid-safe” zones on other parts of the hill are still not open to residents either.</p>
<p>Jackson’s Municipal Services has put emergency personnel in place to escort residents who need access to property and possessions over the weekend. The town continues to take as many precautionary measures as possible, Robinson said.</p>
<p>“One of our major concerns at this time is access. There is only one road to the neighborhood and only one lane at this time,” said Robinson.</p>
<p>The Budge Drive landslide continues to slowly move after snowfall and saturation this year helped to loosen the soil, officials said. New earthen cracks in the hillside began appearing this month, and current ground cracks continue to become more visible, they added.</p>
<p>Robinson said that inclinometers, an instrument for measuring angles of slope, have been installed to monitor both the surface and underground movement.</p>
<p>"We have not had any kind of catastrophic movement, but it is definitely a cause for concern," Robinson said. "It's creeping now but it could slide all at once, and the disaster in Washington state shows us we have to be ready."</p> | Wyoming Residents Still Can’t Return to Landslide-Prone Neighborhood | false | http://nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wyoming-residents-still-cant-return-landslide-prone-neighborhood-n78851 | 2014-04-13 | 3left-center
| Wyoming Residents Still Can’t Return to Landslide-Prone Neighborhood
<p>The evacuation order that forced out nearly 80 residents remains in effect for homes below a Jackson, Wyo., hillside, as the earth continues to creep down the slope.</p>
<p>Officials said Saturday it remains difficult to say when residents and business owners along the Budge Drive neighborhood will be able to return home <a href="" type="internal">following the evacuation Wednesday</a>.</p>
<p>“There’s a home that is at the crest of the hill that has been deemed unsafe,” Assistant Town Manager Roxanne Robinson told NBC News. “Those people will not be able to return to their home.”</p>
<p>Other homes in “mid-safe” zones on other parts of the hill are still not open to residents either.</p>
<p>Jackson’s Municipal Services has put emergency personnel in place to escort residents who need access to property and possessions over the weekend. The town continues to take as many precautionary measures as possible, Robinson said.</p>
<p>“One of our major concerns at this time is access. There is only one road to the neighborhood and only one lane at this time,” said Robinson.</p>
<p>The Budge Drive landslide continues to slowly move after snowfall and saturation this year helped to loosen the soil, officials said. New earthen cracks in the hillside began appearing this month, and current ground cracks continue to become more visible, they added.</p>
<p>Robinson said that inclinometers, an instrument for measuring angles of slope, have been installed to monitor both the surface and underground movement.</p>
<p>"We have not had any kind of catastrophic movement, but it is definitely a cause for concern," Robinson said. "It's creeping now but it could slide all at once, and the disaster in Washington state shows us we have to be ready."</p> | 599,699 |
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