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<p>Smokinggun.com</p>
<p>BY: <a href="" type="internal">Washington Free Beacon Staff</a>February 8, 2013 12:23 pm</p>
<p>The illegal hack of Bush family email accounts had an unanticipated consequence, <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bush-family-hacked-589132" type="external">the Smoking Gun reports</a>:</p>
<p>The hacker also intercepted photos that George W. Bush e-mailed two months ago to his sister showing paintings that he was working on, including self-portraits of him <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=5" type="external">showering</a> and <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=6" type="external">in a bathtub</a>. Another image shows the former president <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=7" type="external">painting</a> at the family’s Maine retreat (his subject is St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, a historic seaside chapel down the road from the sprawling Kennebunkport compound).</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=5" type="external">paintings</a> demonstrate a command of line and color that is rarely seen in the modern-day "art" world. Former President George W. Bush appears to be influenced by such painters as <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/degas/ballet/" type="external">Edgar Degas</a> and <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mane/hd_mane.htm" type="external">Édouard Manet</a>. The portraits also clearly capture the personality of their subject.</p>
<p>Bush painting / smokinggun.com</p>
<p>Winston Churchill also&#160; <a href="http://www.museumsyndicate.com/artist.php?artist=667" type="external">painted</a>.</p> | Greatest Living President is Also Fantastic Painter | true | http://freebeacon.com/greatest-living-president-is-also-fantastic-painter/ | 2013-02-08 | 0right
| Greatest Living President is Also Fantastic Painter
<p>Smokinggun.com</p>
<p>BY: <a href="" type="internal">Washington Free Beacon Staff</a>February 8, 2013 12:23 pm</p>
<p>The illegal hack of Bush family email accounts had an unanticipated consequence, <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bush-family-hacked-589132" type="external">the Smoking Gun reports</a>:</p>
<p>The hacker also intercepted photos that George W. Bush e-mailed two months ago to his sister showing paintings that he was working on, including self-portraits of him <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=5" type="external">showering</a> and <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=6" type="external">in a bathtub</a>. Another image shows the former president <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=7" type="external">painting</a> at the family’s Maine retreat (his subject is St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, a historic seaside chapel down the road from the sprawling Kennebunkport compound).</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/bush-family-photos?page=5" type="external">paintings</a> demonstrate a command of line and color that is rarely seen in the modern-day "art" world. Former President George W. Bush appears to be influenced by such painters as <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/degas/ballet/" type="external">Edgar Degas</a> and <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mane/hd_mane.htm" type="external">Édouard Manet</a>. The portraits also clearly capture the personality of their subject.</p>
<p>Bush painting / smokinggun.com</p>
<p>Winston Churchill also&#160; <a href="http://www.museumsyndicate.com/artist.php?artist=667" type="external">painted</a>.</p> | 598,900 |
<p />
<p>Ford Motor said on Wednesday it will collaborate with Lyft to deploy Ford self-driving vehicles on the ride services company's network in large numbers by 2021.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Ford and Lyft teams will begin working together to design software to allow Ford vehicles to communicate with Lyft's smartphone apps.</p>
<p>Ford self-driving test vehicles will be connected to Lyft's network, but at first, customers will not be able to use them, Sherif Marakby, Ford's vice president for autonomous vehicles and electrification, told Reuters. Ford will put human-driven vehicles on Lyft's network.</p>
<p>He did not say when Ford and Lyft expect to offer the first rides in self-driving cars.</p>
<p>"We're not building prototypes for the sake of building prototypes," Marakby said, adding Ford intends to ultimately put thousands of self-driving vehicles in use.</p>
<p>Ford's new Chief Executive Jim Hackett is scheduled to meet with investors on Tuesday to outline the Dearborn, Mich. automaker's strategy for boosting profitability. Ford shares are down 1.65 percent so far this year, while Detroit rival General Motors' shares have risen 15.6 percent, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles shares are up 71 percent.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Hackett's plans to compete for revenue from mobility services, which include car sharing and ride-hailing, will be one area of focus for investors. The Lyft partnership fills in a piece of the puzzle.</p>
<p>Ford also is testing delivery services using self-driving vehicles and a van shuttle service. The self-driving vehicles Ford will deploy through Lyft will use software developed by Argo AI, a company in which Ford is investing $1 billion over the next five years.</p>
<p>The company has said it will invest $700 million in a factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, to make it capable of building electric and self driving vehicles.</p>
<p>Lyft has said it will offer an open platform for companies to deploy self-driving vehicles on its network, and has partnerships with self driving vehicle technology startup Drive.ai and Alphabet's Waymo self driving car unit.</p>
<p>GM has a 9 percent stake in Lyft, acquired for $500 million in January 2016. "Our relationship with GM has always been a non-exclusive relationship," Raj Kapoor, Lyft's chief strategy officer, told Reuters.</p>
<p>GM is also assembling the assets necessary to launch its own ride services using self-driving cars, building its Maven car-sharing unit and preparing to launch mass production of autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric cars at a factory in suburban Detroit.</p>
<p>(Reporting By Joseph White; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)</p> | Ford, Lyft will partner to deploy self-driving cars | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/09/27/ford-lyft-will-partner-to-deploy-self-driving-cars.html | 2017-09-27 | 0right
| Ford, Lyft will partner to deploy self-driving cars
<p />
<p>Ford Motor said on Wednesday it will collaborate with Lyft to deploy Ford self-driving vehicles on the ride services company's network in large numbers by 2021.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Ford and Lyft teams will begin working together to design software to allow Ford vehicles to communicate with Lyft's smartphone apps.</p>
<p>Ford self-driving test vehicles will be connected to Lyft's network, but at first, customers will not be able to use them, Sherif Marakby, Ford's vice president for autonomous vehicles and electrification, told Reuters. Ford will put human-driven vehicles on Lyft's network.</p>
<p>He did not say when Ford and Lyft expect to offer the first rides in self-driving cars.</p>
<p>"We're not building prototypes for the sake of building prototypes," Marakby said, adding Ford intends to ultimately put thousands of self-driving vehicles in use.</p>
<p>Ford's new Chief Executive Jim Hackett is scheduled to meet with investors on Tuesday to outline the Dearborn, Mich. automaker's strategy for boosting profitability. Ford shares are down 1.65 percent so far this year, while Detroit rival General Motors' shares have risen 15.6 percent, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles shares are up 71 percent.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Hackett's plans to compete for revenue from mobility services, which include car sharing and ride-hailing, will be one area of focus for investors. The Lyft partnership fills in a piece of the puzzle.</p>
<p>Ford also is testing delivery services using self-driving vehicles and a van shuttle service. The self-driving vehicles Ford will deploy through Lyft will use software developed by Argo AI, a company in which Ford is investing $1 billion over the next five years.</p>
<p>The company has said it will invest $700 million in a factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, to make it capable of building electric and self driving vehicles.</p>
<p>Lyft has said it will offer an open platform for companies to deploy self-driving vehicles on its network, and has partnerships with self driving vehicle technology startup Drive.ai and Alphabet's Waymo self driving car unit.</p>
<p>GM has a 9 percent stake in Lyft, acquired for $500 million in January 2016. "Our relationship with GM has always been a non-exclusive relationship," Raj Kapoor, Lyft's chief strategy officer, told Reuters.</p>
<p>GM is also assembling the assets necessary to launch its own ride services using self-driving cars, building its Maven car-sharing unit and preparing to launch mass production of autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric cars at a factory in suburban Detroit.</p>
<p>(Reporting By Joseph White; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)</p> | 598,901 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence was set to travel to the Mideast on Friday night despite a looming federal government shutdown.</p>
<p>Alyssa Farah, a Pence spokeswoman, said the vice president's trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel was "integral to America's national security and diplomatic objectives."</p>
<p>Congress must act by midnight Friday or the shutdown will take effect, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump scrapped plans to leave Friday for a weekend at his Florida estate, but Pence's planned trip was set to move forward.</p>
<p>During past government shutdowns, federal employees were exempt from furloughs if their jobs were national security-related or they performed essential activities deemed to "protect life and property."</p>
<p>The vice president was initially scheduled to visit Egypt and Israel in December but postponed the trip so he could preside over a tax overhaul vote in the narrowly divided Senate.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence was set to travel to the Mideast on Friday night despite a looming federal government shutdown.</p>
<p>Alyssa Farah, a Pence spokeswoman, said the vice president's trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel was "integral to America's national security and diplomatic objectives."</p>
<p>Congress must act by midnight Friday or the shutdown will take effect, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump scrapped plans to leave Friday for a weekend at his Florida estate, but Pence's planned trip was set to move forward.</p>
<p>During past government shutdowns, federal employees were exempt from furloughs if their jobs were national security-related or they performed essential activities deemed to "protect life and property."</p>
<p>The vice president was initially scheduled to visit Egypt and Israel in December but postponed the trip so he could preside over a tax overhaul vote in the narrowly divided Senate.</p> | Pence to travel to Middle East despite potential shutdown | false | https://apnews.com/amp/e035246e56714b31a88b19bcb213de78 | 2018-01-19 | 2least
| Pence to travel to Middle East despite potential shutdown
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence was set to travel to the Mideast on Friday night despite a looming federal government shutdown.</p>
<p>Alyssa Farah, a Pence spokeswoman, said the vice president's trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel was "integral to America's national security and diplomatic objectives."</p>
<p>Congress must act by midnight Friday or the shutdown will take effect, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump scrapped plans to leave Friday for a weekend at his Florida estate, but Pence's planned trip was set to move forward.</p>
<p>During past government shutdowns, federal employees were exempt from furloughs if their jobs were national security-related or they performed essential activities deemed to "protect life and property."</p>
<p>The vice president was initially scheduled to visit Egypt and Israel in December but postponed the trip so he could preside over a tax overhaul vote in the narrowly divided Senate.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence was set to travel to the Mideast on Friday night despite a looming federal government shutdown.</p>
<p>Alyssa Farah, a Pence spokeswoman, said the vice president's trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel was "integral to America's national security and diplomatic objectives."</p>
<p>Congress must act by midnight Friday or the shutdown will take effect, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump scrapped plans to leave Friday for a weekend at his Florida estate, but Pence's planned trip was set to move forward.</p>
<p>During past government shutdowns, federal employees were exempt from furloughs if their jobs were national security-related or they performed essential activities deemed to "protect life and property."</p>
<p>The vice president was initially scheduled to visit Egypt and Israel in December but postponed the trip so he could preside over a tax overhaul vote in the narrowly divided Senate.</p> | 598,902 |
<p />
<p>From Daniel Benjamin (Brookings Institution) and Steve Simon (Council on Foreign Relations) in their <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/opinion/24benjamin.html" type="external">op-ed in today’s New York Times</a>, which suggests that we use the CIA to root out Al Qaida in Pakistan:</p>
<p>While the C.I.A. doesn’t have an unblemished record…</p>
<p>Posted without further comment.</p>
<p>— Nick Baumann</p>
<p /> | Understatement of the Day | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2007/07/understatement-day/ | 2007-07-24 | 4left
| Understatement of the Day
<p />
<p>From Daniel Benjamin (Brookings Institution) and Steve Simon (Council on Foreign Relations) in their <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/opinion/24benjamin.html" type="external">op-ed in today’s New York Times</a>, which suggests that we use the CIA to root out Al Qaida in Pakistan:</p>
<p>While the C.I.A. doesn’t have an unblemished record…</p>
<p>Posted without further comment.</p>
<p>— Nick Baumann</p>
<p /> | 598,903 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Our teachers are the professionals in charge of the future and it’s time we give them the recognition they deserve.</p>
<p>In few professions can a person perform at a high level but be held back by time and credentials. In the business world, highly effective leaders are recognized, promoted and paid.</p>
<p>For our teachers — who labor with our most precious resource — their students could be achieving at a level beyond any others in the world, and they would have to wait for an arbitrary amount of time to pass before getting the recognition they deserve.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Our teachers move through a three-tier system, where higher tiers mean higher pay. The system is currently set up to reward teachers for two reasons: number of years in the classroom, and whether or not they receive a master’s degree.</p>
<p>Both circumstances are important, but ask any parent the measure of a great teacher, and they will tell you it’s all about the students’ learning growth.</p>
<p>Too many great New Mexico teachers are leaving our state because they can advance more quickly elsewhere. My effort to remedy the problem is simple: allow great teachers who are most effective with our students to advance faster than they can today.</p>
<p>In our classrooms right now, a great teacher has to wait years before they can even advance beyond the first level. If our teachers are making great strides, shouldn’t they be promoted faster? I say yes; the status quo disagrees.</p>
<p>The reason behind the defeat of my efforts can be summed up in one word: politics. The leaders of the state’s teacher unions were so concerned about student achievement being included in teacher evaluations that they decided great teachers should have to languish for years.</p>
<p>Their counterproposal is to re-package a dossier system many teachers despise already. The dossier lacks objective evidence showing why a teacher should be promoted.</p>
<p>Instead, teachers are allowed to pick which students to include in the portfolio they submit. In some cases, dossiers are authored — not by the teacher they represent — but by others.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that student achievement holds only a fraction of the weight it should.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>You will hear that judging a teacher only by “test scores” is wrong, and I agree. Teachers should be evaluated by a combination of student assessment results, fair observations and locally decided measures like what their students say about their teaching.</p>
<p>Speaking to parents and educators outside of Santa Fe, this is common sense. But in the Roundhouse where special interests can rule, good ideas face huge hurdles.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Gov. Susana Martinez continues to lead our state in making student-centered education reform a huge priority, and I stand in strong support of this reform.</p>
<p>This issue is the perfect example of how the governor’s focus on students plays a role in the vital area of rewarding our greatest teachers.</p>
<p>Putting the student’s interest first is a priority for me, for the governor, and for the vast majority of New Mexicans.</p>
<p>There are well over 20,000 teachers in New Mexico who steward over 330,000 students across our state. They are the professionals who are guiding the future, and it is past time we give them the recognition they deserve.</p> | Teachers need better means to advancement | false | https://abqjournal.com/176968/teachers-need-better-means-to-advancement.html | 2013-03-11 | 2least
| Teachers need better means to advancement
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Our teachers are the professionals in charge of the future and it’s time we give them the recognition they deserve.</p>
<p>In few professions can a person perform at a high level but be held back by time and credentials. In the business world, highly effective leaders are recognized, promoted and paid.</p>
<p>For our teachers — who labor with our most precious resource — their students could be achieving at a level beyond any others in the world, and they would have to wait for an arbitrary amount of time to pass before getting the recognition they deserve.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Our teachers move through a three-tier system, where higher tiers mean higher pay. The system is currently set up to reward teachers for two reasons: number of years in the classroom, and whether or not they receive a master’s degree.</p>
<p>Both circumstances are important, but ask any parent the measure of a great teacher, and they will tell you it’s all about the students’ learning growth.</p>
<p>Too many great New Mexico teachers are leaving our state because they can advance more quickly elsewhere. My effort to remedy the problem is simple: allow great teachers who are most effective with our students to advance faster than they can today.</p>
<p>In our classrooms right now, a great teacher has to wait years before they can even advance beyond the first level. If our teachers are making great strides, shouldn’t they be promoted faster? I say yes; the status quo disagrees.</p>
<p>The reason behind the defeat of my efforts can be summed up in one word: politics. The leaders of the state’s teacher unions were so concerned about student achievement being included in teacher evaluations that they decided great teachers should have to languish for years.</p>
<p>Their counterproposal is to re-package a dossier system many teachers despise already. The dossier lacks objective evidence showing why a teacher should be promoted.</p>
<p>Instead, teachers are allowed to pick which students to include in the portfolio they submit. In some cases, dossiers are authored — not by the teacher they represent — but by others.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that student achievement holds only a fraction of the weight it should.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>You will hear that judging a teacher only by “test scores” is wrong, and I agree. Teachers should be evaluated by a combination of student assessment results, fair observations and locally decided measures like what their students say about their teaching.</p>
<p>Speaking to parents and educators outside of Santa Fe, this is common sense. But in the Roundhouse where special interests can rule, good ideas face huge hurdles.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Gov. Susana Martinez continues to lead our state in making student-centered education reform a huge priority, and I stand in strong support of this reform.</p>
<p>This issue is the perfect example of how the governor’s focus on students plays a role in the vital area of rewarding our greatest teachers.</p>
<p>Putting the student’s interest first is a priority for me, for the governor, and for the vast majority of New Mexicans.</p>
<p>There are well over 20,000 teachers in New Mexico who steward over 330,000 students across our state. They are the professionals who are guiding the future, and it is past time we give them the recognition they deserve.</p> | 598,904 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Crimes reported to police in Albuquerque were up about 5 percent in 2012, according to figures provided by the city, largely because of a second consecutive increase in property crimes.</p>
<p>The crime rate, which takes population growth into account, was also up — from 5,771 per 100,000 in 2011 to 6,048 per 100,000 in 2012.</p>
<p>It was the second consecutive year that major crimes rose in the city, after a decrease in the number of crimes reported in 2010.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>However, Mayor Richard Berry and his aides point out that Albuquerque’s crime rate is still down from when he took office at the end of 2009, when it was 6,260 per 100,000 population.</p>
<p>“The fact is that since I have been in office, we have driven the … crime rate for Albuquerque to the lowest three years in the past two decades — and that’s good news,” Berry said in a written statement Wednesday.</p>
<p>Reducing property crimes in Albuquerque was among the most visible of Berry’s campaign platform planks when he was running for mayor. It has continued to be a top priority for Berry since he took office.</p>
<p>Last week, the mayor announced several new initiatives to combat property crimes, including posting stolen car information on electronic signs throughout the city, using APD’s new camera and data system to find stolen cars and a community campaign in which APD officers will place business cards on the doors of unlocked cars reminding their owners to lock up next time.</p>
<p>“Although these (statistics) show a slight increase in property crime, it still shows that APD has been successful at making this city a bad place to be a criminal,” Berry said in a news release last week. “I am proud of the work of every man and woman in uniform who has helped keep these numbers this low.”</p>
<p>Property crimes — burglary, larceny and auto theft — in 2012 were 2 percent higher than in 2009, when Berry took office. Violent crimes — murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — were higher by 1.7 percent in 2012. Property crimes make up a much larger share of crimes.</p>
<p>However, Berry pointed out in his statement that there have been fewer major crimes committed in each category during his three years in office than during the three years before he became mayor.</p>
<p>A closer look at the year-over-year numbers shows that, overall, major crimes reported in Albuquerque dropped nearly 8 percent in 2010, the mayor’s first full year in office.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The decrease continued a trend in which crime steadily dropped in the city after peaking in 1996. The reductions mirrored national patterns on crime as many cities adopted the “broken windows theory,” which essentially states that when law enforcement focuses on lesser crimes, escalation into more serious criminal conduct is less likely.</p>
<p>Studies have both supported and criticized the theory, which has been a hallmark of Police Chief’s Ray Schultz’s eight years at the helm of APD.</p>
<p>After the decrease in 2010, major crimes reported rose about 5 percent in 2011. That increase was driven by a spike in property crimes, while violent crimes reported went down slightly.</p>
<p>The same happened in 2012: Property crimes were up about 6 percent, and violent crimes dipped by about 1 percent.</p>
<p>Schultz has said in multiple interviews and emails that, as the reported crime numbers have gone up the past two years, so has the number of arrests his officers are making.</p>
<p>For example: The number of residential burglary arrests has increased by 137 percent since 2009, according to the city. Auto theft arrests were up by 178 percent in that time period, and arrests for commercial burglary increased by 66 percent.</p>
<p>“If crime were up and my arrests were down, then I’d be concerned,” the chief said in a January interview.</p>
<p>In an email to the Journal this week, Schultz said that nearly two-thirds of the people arrested for property crimes have previously been arrested on similar charges.</p>
<p>“This is where we are going to continue to target our strategies over the next year,” his email said. “While it is frustrating that criminals continue to victimize too many residents of the city, we will not reduce our resolve to continue and aggressively hold them accountable for their actions.”</p>
<p>In his statement to the Journal on Wednesday, Berry echoed Schultz in pointing out the increase in property crime arrests and the problem posed to police by repeat offenders. — This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal</p> | Duke City crime rate inches up | false | https://abqjournal.com/182931/duke-city-crime-rate-inches-up.html | 2013-03-28 | 2least
| Duke City crime rate inches up
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>Crimes reported to police in Albuquerque were up about 5 percent in 2012, according to figures provided by the city, largely because of a second consecutive increase in property crimes.</p>
<p>The crime rate, which takes population growth into account, was also up — from 5,771 per 100,000 in 2011 to 6,048 per 100,000 in 2012.</p>
<p>It was the second consecutive year that major crimes rose in the city, after a decrease in the number of crimes reported in 2010.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>However, Mayor Richard Berry and his aides point out that Albuquerque’s crime rate is still down from when he took office at the end of 2009, when it was 6,260 per 100,000 population.</p>
<p>“The fact is that since I have been in office, we have driven the … crime rate for Albuquerque to the lowest three years in the past two decades — and that’s good news,” Berry said in a written statement Wednesday.</p>
<p>Reducing property crimes in Albuquerque was among the most visible of Berry’s campaign platform planks when he was running for mayor. It has continued to be a top priority for Berry since he took office.</p>
<p>Last week, the mayor announced several new initiatives to combat property crimes, including posting stolen car information on electronic signs throughout the city, using APD’s new camera and data system to find stolen cars and a community campaign in which APD officers will place business cards on the doors of unlocked cars reminding their owners to lock up next time.</p>
<p>“Although these (statistics) show a slight increase in property crime, it still shows that APD has been successful at making this city a bad place to be a criminal,” Berry said in a news release last week. “I am proud of the work of every man and woman in uniform who has helped keep these numbers this low.”</p>
<p>Property crimes — burglary, larceny and auto theft — in 2012 were 2 percent higher than in 2009, when Berry took office. Violent crimes — murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — were higher by 1.7 percent in 2012. Property crimes make up a much larger share of crimes.</p>
<p>However, Berry pointed out in his statement that there have been fewer major crimes committed in each category during his three years in office than during the three years before he became mayor.</p>
<p>A closer look at the year-over-year numbers shows that, overall, major crimes reported in Albuquerque dropped nearly 8 percent in 2010, the mayor’s first full year in office.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The decrease continued a trend in which crime steadily dropped in the city after peaking in 1996. The reductions mirrored national patterns on crime as many cities adopted the “broken windows theory,” which essentially states that when law enforcement focuses on lesser crimes, escalation into more serious criminal conduct is less likely.</p>
<p>Studies have both supported and criticized the theory, which has been a hallmark of Police Chief’s Ray Schultz’s eight years at the helm of APD.</p>
<p>After the decrease in 2010, major crimes reported rose about 5 percent in 2011. That increase was driven by a spike in property crimes, while violent crimes reported went down slightly.</p>
<p>The same happened in 2012: Property crimes were up about 6 percent, and violent crimes dipped by about 1 percent.</p>
<p>Schultz has said in multiple interviews and emails that, as the reported crime numbers have gone up the past two years, so has the number of arrests his officers are making.</p>
<p>For example: The number of residential burglary arrests has increased by 137 percent since 2009, according to the city. Auto theft arrests were up by 178 percent in that time period, and arrests for commercial burglary increased by 66 percent.</p>
<p>“If crime were up and my arrests were down, then I’d be concerned,” the chief said in a January interview.</p>
<p>In an email to the Journal this week, Schultz said that nearly two-thirds of the people arrested for property crimes have previously been arrested on similar charges.</p>
<p>“This is where we are going to continue to target our strategies over the next year,” his email said. “While it is frustrating that criminals continue to victimize too many residents of the city, we will not reduce our resolve to continue and aggressively hold them accountable for their actions.”</p>
<p>In his statement to the Journal on Wednesday, Berry echoed Schultz in pointing out the increase in property crime arrests and the problem posed to police by repeat offenders. — This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal</p> | 598,905 |
<p>Recently speaking with my father, the topic of California’s unemployment came up. Trying to estimate the number of unemployed (this was before the official statistics came out), he used this formula: say there are about 30 million residents of California. Approximate that about 20 million are of the working age (18-65), and of those, say that about 15 million choose to work. If the unemployment rate is at 10%, this should equate to somewhere around 1.5 million unemployed.</p>
<p>The next day, the newspaper headline read something like this: “1.8 Million Unemployed in California.” Two things jumped out at me: firstly, the awesome estimation, and secondly, the thought there are nearly 2 million people who want to work, and don’t have jobs.</p>
<p>In California, things may look grim on the outside. On top of a more-than $40 billion budget shortfall and the so-serious-a-state-of-emergency-has-been-called water situation, the jobless rate of the Golden State has hit the double digits: 10.1 percent, to be precise. Keep in mind that the national unemployment rate is 7.6percent.</p>
<p>According to the Employment Development Department of the State of California, in tandem with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by January 2009, the 10.1 percent (subject to fluctuation) unemployment rate was joined by news of an additional decline of 79,300 “nonfarm payroll jobs” during the month of January as well. The EDD measured a decline of between 437,000-494,00 jobs from the 12 month period stretching from January 2008 to January 2009.</p>
<p>Los Angeles alone accounts for more than 500,000 of the unemployed workers.</p>
<p>According to the EDD, by January 2009, somewhere between 1,689,000 and 1,863,000 Californians have been designated as unemployed. (These are people who choose to be in the active work force.) Compare this to January 2008, in which approximately 1,109,000 Californian workers were out of a job and actively searching for a replacement. The entire California “civilian labor force” is estimated to be between 18,551,000 and 18,557,000.</p>
<p>The report estimates that, according to a federally-run survey of Californian workers, there are 16,668,000 Californians who currently hold at least one job. The survey estimates that the number of workers currently unemployed, is more than 750,000 people that were listed as being unemployed in January 2008. Just under one million of those listed as unemployed (990,600) were fired from their jobs.</p>
<p>Of the good news on the employment front, there is an interesting pattern. Of the four “categories” of jobs that have actually expanded their employee bases by a total of 43,000 jobs in the last year, there is a strong correlation with tax-payer funding: Natural Resources and Mining, Educational and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Government.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the seven other categories, which have lost, together, about 537,000 jobs over the last 12 months, including Construction, Manufacturing, Trade, Transportation an Utilities, Financial Activities, Information and Professional and Business Services. The Non-Agricultural Wage and Salary Workers classifications post the highest payroll employment rates (total of $14,724,400), followed by the industry groupings of Trade, Transportation and Utilities (total of $2,767,000) and Government (total of $2,515,200).</p>
<p>The data tell us that right now, industries most likely more supported by government funding are already experiencing a bounce, or rather, something of a shield, from the current economic situation. Perhaps this can help explain how the California budget ballooned more than $40 billion over current financial reserves. In an ironic twist, the very government that has spent irresponsibly to a massive budget shortfall, is the very same organization supporting the majority of the few areas in which unemployment has not hit hard. There is a joke now, that with the economic woe affecting the nation and the housing markets under a crunch, there is one city that is booming and enticing with a plethora of new jobs: Washington, D.C. The very same budget crunch that forces further governmental spending and less private-sector spending, is the very engine supporting a select network of jobs within its sphere of influence.</p>
<p>As Sir Walter Scott once penned, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”</p> | Can You Spare A Job, Bud? | false | https://ivn.us/2009/03/12/can-you-spare-job-bud/ | 2009-03-12 | 2least
| Can You Spare A Job, Bud?
<p>Recently speaking with my father, the topic of California’s unemployment came up. Trying to estimate the number of unemployed (this was before the official statistics came out), he used this formula: say there are about 30 million residents of California. Approximate that about 20 million are of the working age (18-65), and of those, say that about 15 million choose to work. If the unemployment rate is at 10%, this should equate to somewhere around 1.5 million unemployed.</p>
<p>The next day, the newspaper headline read something like this: “1.8 Million Unemployed in California.” Two things jumped out at me: firstly, the awesome estimation, and secondly, the thought there are nearly 2 million people who want to work, and don’t have jobs.</p>
<p>In California, things may look grim on the outside. On top of a more-than $40 billion budget shortfall and the so-serious-a-state-of-emergency-has-been-called water situation, the jobless rate of the Golden State has hit the double digits: 10.1 percent, to be precise. Keep in mind that the national unemployment rate is 7.6percent.</p>
<p>According to the Employment Development Department of the State of California, in tandem with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by January 2009, the 10.1 percent (subject to fluctuation) unemployment rate was joined by news of an additional decline of 79,300 “nonfarm payroll jobs” during the month of January as well. The EDD measured a decline of between 437,000-494,00 jobs from the 12 month period stretching from January 2008 to January 2009.</p>
<p>Los Angeles alone accounts for more than 500,000 of the unemployed workers.</p>
<p>According to the EDD, by January 2009, somewhere between 1,689,000 and 1,863,000 Californians have been designated as unemployed. (These are people who choose to be in the active work force.) Compare this to January 2008, in which approximately 1,109,000 Californian workers were out of a job and actively searching for a replacement. The entire California “civilian labor force” is estimated to be between 18,551,000 and 18,557,000.</p>
<p>The report estimates that, according to a federally-run survey of Californian workers, there are 16,668,000 Californians who currently hold at least one job. The survey estimates that the number of workers currently unemployed, is more than 750,000 people that were listed as being unemployed in January 2008. Just under one million of those listed as unemployed (990,600) were fired from their jobs.</p>
<p>Of the good news on the employment front, there is an interesting pattern. Of the four “categories” of jobs that have actually expanded their employee bases by a total of 43,000 jobs in the last year, there is a strong correlation with tax-payer funding: Natural Resources and Mining, Educational and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Government.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the seven other categories, which have lost, together, about 537,000 jobs over the last 12 months, including Construction, Manufacturing, Trade, Transportation an Utilities, Financial Activities, Information and Professional and Business Services. The Non-Agricultural Wage and Salary Workers classifications post the highest payroll employment rates (total of $14,724,400), followed by the industry groupings of Trade, Transportation and Utilities (total of $2,767,000) and Government (total of $2,515,200).</p>
<p>The data tell us that right now, industries most likely more supported by government funding are already experiencing a bounce, or rather, something of a shield, from the current economic situation. Perhaps this can help explain how the California budget ballooned more than $40 billion over current financial reserves. In an ironic twist, the very government that has spent irresponsibly to a massive budget shortfall, is the very same organization supporting the majority of the few areas in which unemployment has not hit hard. There is a joke now, that with the economic woe affecting the nation and the housing markets under a crunch, there is one city that is booming and enticing with a plethora of new jobs: Washington, D.C. The very same budget crunch that forces further governmental spending and less private-sector spending, is the very engine supporting a select network of jobs within its sphere of influence.</p>
<p>As Sir Walter Scott once penned, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”</p> | 598,906 |
<p>Photo by DaveBleasdale | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>There are more parallels between an unfinished 1950s war in Northeast Asia and an ongoing 16-year-old war in the crossroads between Central and South Asia than meet the eye. Let’s start with North Korea.</p>
<p>Once again the US/South Korea Hunger Games plow on. It didn’t have to be this way.</p>
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained how: “Russia together with China developed a plan which proposes ‘double freezing’: Kim Jong-un should freeze nuclear tests and stop launching any types of ballistic missiles, while US and South Korea should freeze large-scale drills which are used as a pretext for the North’s tests.”</p>
<p>Call it sound diplomacy. There’s no conclusive evidence the Russia-China strategic partnership floated this plan directly to the administration of US President Donald Trump. Even if they did, the proposal was shot down. The proverbial “military experts” lobbied hard against it, insisting on a lopsided advantage to Pyongyang. Worse, National Security Adviser H R McMaster consistently lobbies for preventative war – as if this is any sort of serious conflict “resolution”.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, that “plan for an enveloping fire” around Guam remains on Kim Jong-un’s table. It is essential to remember the plan was North Korea’s response to Trump’s “fire and fury” volley. Kim has stated that for diplomacy to work again, “it is necessary for the US to make a proper option first”. As in canceling the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian war games – featuring up to 30,000 US soldiers and more than 50,000 South Korean troops.</p>
<p>South Korean President Moon Jae-in dutifully repeats the Pentagon mantra that these Hunger Games, lasting until August 31, are “defensive”. Computer simulations gaming a – very unlikely – unilateral Pyongyang attack may qualify as defense. But Kim and the Korean Central News Agency interpret the war games in essence for what they are: rehearsal for a “decapitation”, a pre-emptive attack yielding regime change.</p>
<p>No wonder the KCNA insists on a possible “catastrophe”. And Beijing, crucially, concurs. The Global Times reasonably argued that “if South Korea really wants no war on the Korean Peninsula, it should try to stop this military exercise”.</p>
<p>Can’t pack up our troubles</p>
<p>It would be a relief to defuse the drama by evoking that great World War I marching song; “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag/ And smile, smile, smile.”</p>
<p>But this is extremely serious. A China-North Korea mutual defense treaty has been in effect since 1961. Under this framework, Beijing’s response to Trump’s “fire and fury” was a thing of beauty. If Pyongyang attacks, China is neutral. But if the US launches a McMaster-style pre-emptive attack, China intervenes – militarily – on behalf of Pyongyang.</p>
<p>As a clincher, Beijing even made it clear that its preference is for the current status quo to remain. Checkmate.</p>
<p>Hunger Games apart, the rhetorical war in the Korean Peninsula did decrease a substantial notch after China made its position clear. According to a Beltway intel source, that shows “the US and Chinese militaries, as the US and the Russians in Syria, are coordinating to avoid a war”.</p>
<p>Evidence may have been provided by a very important meeting last week between the chairmen of the US and Chinese Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford and General Fang Fenghui. They signed a deal that the Pentagon spun as able to “reduce the risk of miscalculation” in Northeast Asia.</p>
<p>Among the prodigious fireworks inherent to his departure as White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon nailed it: “There’s no military solution, forget it. Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don’t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don’t know what you’re talking about, there’s no military solution here, they got us.”</p>
<p>And extra evidence in the “they got us” department is that B-1B heavy bomber “decapitation” practice runs – out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam – have been quietly “suspended”. This crucial, largely unreported fact in the air supersedes rhetoric from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Pentagon head James “Mad Dog” Mattis, who previous to Bannon’s exit were stressing “strong military consequences if North Korea chooses wrongly”.</p>
<p>Once again, it’s all about BRI</p>
<p>Now let’s move to Afghanistan. “Mad Dog” Mattis once famously said it was fun to shoot Taliban fighters. “Known unknowns” Don Rumsfeld was more realistic; he moved out of Afghanistan (toward Iraq) because there were not enough good targets to bomb.</p>
<p>Anyone who spent time working/reporting on the Afghan Hindu Kush and the southwestern deserts knows why the proverbial “there’s no military solution” applies. There are myriad reasons, starting with the profound, radicalized Afghan ethnic divide (roughly, 40% are mostly rural, tribal Pashtun, many recruited by the Taliban; almost 30% are Tajik, a great deal of them urban, literate and in government; more than 20% are Hazara Shiites; and 10% are Uzbek).</p>
<p>The bulk of Washington’s “aid” to Kabul throughout these past 16 years has been on the bombing, not the economy, front. Government corruption is cataclysmic. Warlords rule. The Taliban thrive because they offer local protection. Much to Pashtun ire, most of the army is Tajik. Tajik politicians are mostly close to India while most Pashtun favor Pakistan (after all, they have cousins on the other side of the Durand line; enter the dream of a future, reunited Pashtunistan).</p>
<p>On the GWOT (Global War on Terror) front, al-Qaeda would not even exist if the late Dr Zbig “Grand Chessboard” Brzezinski had not come up with the idea of a sprawling, well-weaponized private army of demented jihadis-cum-tribal Afghans fighting the communist government in Kabul during the 1980s. Add to this the myth that the Pentagon needs to be on the ground in Afghanistan to prevent jihadis from attacking America. Al-Qaeda is extinct in Afghanistan. And Daesh does not need territory to concoct/project its DIY jihad.</p>
<p>When the myth of the US in Afghanistan as a categorical imperative is exposed, that may unveil what this is all about: business.</p>
<p>And we’re not even talking about who really profits from large-scale opium/heroin trade.</p>
<p>Two months ago the Afghan ambassador to Washington, Hamdullah Mohib, was breathlessly spinning how “President Trump is keenly interested in Afghanistan’s economic potential”, as in “our estimated $1 trillion in copper, iron ore, rare-earth elements, aluminum, gold, silver, zinc, mercury and lithium”. This led to the proverbial unnamed “US officials” telling Reuters last month that what Trump wants is for the US to demand some of that mineral wealth in exchange for “assisting” Kabul.</p>
<p>A US Geological Survey study a decade ago did identify potential Afghan mineral wealth – gold, silver, platinum, iron ore, uranium, zinc, tantalum, bauxite, coal, natural gas and copper – worth as much as US$1 trillion, with much spin dedicated to Afghanistan as “the Saudi Arabia of lithium”.</p>
<p>And the competition – once again, China – is already there, facing myriad infrastructure and red-tape problems, but concentrated on incorporating Afghanistan, long-term, into the New Silk Roads, aka Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), along with its security cooperation arm, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.</p>
<p>It’s no secret the Russia-China strategic partnership wants an Afghan solution hatched by Afghans and supervised by the SCO (of which Afghanistan is an observer and future full member). So from the point of view of neocon/neoliberalcon elements of the War Party in Washington, Afghanistan only makes sense as a forward base to harass/stall/thwart BRI.</p>
<p>What Russia and China want for Afghanistan – yet another node in the process of Eurasia integration – is not much different from what Russia, China and South Korea want for North Korea: increased connectivity as in a future Trans-Korean Railway linked to the Trans-Siberian.</p>
<p>As for Washington and the proverbially bombastic, failed futurists across the Beltway, do they even know what is the end game of “investing” in two never-ending wars with no visible benefits?</p> | Korea, Afghanistan and the Never Ending War Trap | true | https://counterpunch.org/2017/08/24/korea-afghanistan-and-the-never-ending-war-trap/ | 2017-08-24 | 4left
| Korea, Afghanistan and the Never Ending War Trap
<p>Photo by DaveBleasdale | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>There are more parallels between an unfinished 1950s war in Northeast Asia and an ongoing 16-year-old war in the crossroads between Central and South Asia than meet the eye. Let’s start with North Korea.</p>
<p>Once again the US/South Korea Hunger Games plow on. It didn’t have to be this way.</p>
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained how: “Russia together with China developed a plan which proposes ‘double freezing’: Kim Jong-un should freeze nuclear tests and stop launching any types of ballistic missiles, while US and South Korea should freeze large-scale drills which are used as a pretext for the North’s tests.”</p>
<p>Call it sound diplomacy. There’s no conclusive evidence the Russia-China strategic partnership floated this plan directly to the administration of US President Donald Trump. Even if they did, the proposal was shot down. The proverbial “military experts” lobbied hard against it, insisting on a lopsided advantage to Pyongyang. Worse, National Security Adviser H R McMaster consistently lobbies for preventative war – as if this is any sort of serious conflict “resolution”.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, that “plan for an enveloping fire” around Guam remains on Kim Jong-un’s table. It is essential to remember the plan was North Korea’s response to Trump’s “fire and fury” volley. Kim has stated that for diplomacy to work again, “it is necessary for the US to make a proper option first”. As in canceling the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian war games – featuring up to 30,000 US soldiers and more than 50,000 South Korean troops.</p>
<p>South Korean President Moon Jae-in dutifully repeats the Pentagon mantra that these Hunger Games, lasting until August 31, are “defensive”. Computer simulations gaming a – very unlikely – unilateral Pyongyang attack may qualify as defense. But Kim and the Korean Central News Agency interpret the war games in essence for what they are: rehearsal for a “decapitation”, a pre-emptive attack yielding regime change.</p>
<p>No wonder the KCNA insists on a possible “catastrophe”. And Beijing, crucially, concurs. The Global Times reasonably argued that “if South Korea really wants no war on the Korean Peninsula, it should try to stop this military exercise”.</p>
<p>Can’t pack up our troubles</p>
<p>It would be a relief to defuse the drama by evoking that great World War I marching song; “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag/ And smile, smile, smile.”</p>
<p>But this is extremely serious. A China-North Korea mutual defense treaty has been in effect since 1961. Under this framework, Beijing’s response to Trump’s “fire and fury” was a thing of beauty. If Pyongyang attacks, China is neutral. But if the US launches a McMaster-style pre-emptive attack, China intervenes – militarily – on behalf of Pyongyang.</p>
<p>As a clincher, Beijing even made it clear that its preference is for the current status quo to remain. Checkmate.</p>
<p>Hunger Games apart, the rhetorical war in the Korean Peninsula did decrease a substantial notch after China made its position clear. According to a Beltway intel source, that shows “the US and Chinese militaries, as the US and the Russians in Syria, are coordinating to avoid a war”.</p>
<p>Evidence may have been provided by a very important meeting last week between the chairmen of the US and Chinese Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford and General Fang Fenghui. They signed a deal that the Pentagon spun as able to “reduce the risk of miscalculation” in Northeast Asia.</p>
<p>Among the prodigious fireworks inherent to his departure as White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon nailed it: “There’s no military solution, forget it. Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don’t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don’t know what you’re talking about, there’s no military solution here, they got us.”</p>
<p>And extra evidence in the “they got us” department is that B-1B heavy bomber “decapitation” practice runs – out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam – have been quietly “suspended”. This crucial, largely unreported fact in the air supersedes rhetoric from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Pentagon head James “Mad Dog” Mattis, who previous to Bannon’s exit were stressing “strong military consequences if North Korea chooses wrongly”.</p>
<p>Once again, it’s all about BRI</p>
<p>Now let’s move to Afghanistan. “Mad Dog” Mattis once famously said it was fun to shoot Taliban fighters. “Known unknowns” Don Rumsfeld was more realistic; he moved out of Afghanistan (toward Iraq) because there were not enough good targets to bomb.</p>
<p>Anyone who spent time working/reporting on the Afghan Hindu Kush and the southwestern deserts knows why the proverbial “there’s no military solution” applies. There are myriad reasons, starting with the profound, radicalized Afghan ethnic divide (roughly, 40% are mostly rural, tribal Pashtun, many recruited by the Taliban; almost 30% are Tajik, a great deal of them urban, literate and in government; more than 20% are Hazara Shiites; and 10% are Uzbek).</p>
<p>The bulk of Washington’s “aid” to Kabul throughout these past 16 years has been on the bombing, not the economy, front. Government corruption is cataclysmic. Warlords rule. The Taliban thrive because they offer local protection. Much to Pashtun ire, most of the army is Tajik. Tajik politicians are mostly close to India while most Pashtun favor Pakistan (after all, they have cousins on the other side of the Durand line; enter the dream of a future, reunited Pashtunistan).</p>
<p>On the GWOT (Global War on Terror) front, al-Qaeda would not even exist if the late Dr Zbig “Grand Chessboard” Brzezinski had not come up with the idea of a sprawling, well-weaponized private army of demented jihadis-cum-tribal Afghans fighting the communist government in Kabul during the 1980s. Add to this the myth that the Pentagon needs to be on the ground in Afghanistan to prevent jihadis from attacking America. Al-Qaeda is extinct in Afghanistan. And Daesh does not need territory to concoct/project its DIY jihad.</p>
<p>When the myth of the US in Afghanistan as a categorical imperative is exposed, that may unveil what this is all about: business.</p>
<p>And we’re not even talking about who really profits from large-scale opium/heroin trade.</p>
<p>Two months ago the Afghan ambassador to Washington, Hamdullah Mohib, was breathlessly spinning how “President Trump is keenly interested in Afghanistan’s economic potential”, as in “our estimated $1 trillion in copper, iron ore, rare-earth elements, aluminum, gold, silver, zinc, mercury and lithium”. This led to the proverbial unnamed “US officials” telling Reuters last month that what Trump wants is for the US to demand some of that mineral wealth in exchange for “assisting” Kabul.</p>
<p>A US Geological Survey study a decade ago did identify potential Afghan mineral wealth – gold, silver, platinum, iron ore, uranium, zinc, tantalum, bauxite, coal, natural gas and copper – worth as much as US$1 trillion, with much spin dedicated to Afghanistan as “the Saudi Arabia of lithium”.</p>
<p>And the competition – once again, China – is already there, facing myriad infrastructure and red-tape problems, but concentrated on incorporating Afghanistan, long-term, into the New Silk Roads, aka Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), along with its security cooperation arm, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.</p>
<p>It’s no secret the Russia-China strategic partnership wants an Afghan solution hatched by Afghans and supervised by the SCO (of which Afghanistan is an observer and future full member). So from the point of view of neocon/neoliberalcon elements of the War Party in Washington, Afghanistan only makes sense as a forward base to harass/stall/thwart BRI.</p>
<p>What Russia and China want for Afghanistan – yet another node in the process of Eurasia integration – is not much different from what Russia, China and South Korea want for North Korea: increased connectivity as in a future Trans-Korean Railway linked to the Trans-Siberian.</p>
<p>As for Washington and the proverbially bombastic, failed futurists across the Beltway, do they even know what is the end game of “investing” in two never-ending wars with no visible benefits?</p> | 598,907 |
<p>Exhibit one: Taxpayers' hard-earned money is being used in the UK to " <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/threeyearold-child-from-london-placed-in-government-antiextremism-programme-10419346.html" type="external">deprogram" a 3-year old 'extremist' child.</a>&#160;Not an extremist Jew, Amish or Pastafarian.&#160;</p>
<p>If you think this is a good idea, then you are stupid. The better idea is not bringing mass populations of new immigrants, or illegals to your country whose primary beliefs are antithetic to democracy.</p>
<p>"A three-year-old child from London is one of hundreds of young people in the capital who have been tipped as potential future radicals and extremists"</p>
<p>"As reported <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-child-aged-three-in-terror-alert-over-radicalisation-10418455.html" type="external">by the Evening Standard</a>, 1,069 people have been put in the government's anti-extremism 'Channel' process, the de-radicalisation programme at the heart of the Government's 'Prevent' strategy." "The three-year-old in the programme is from <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/hundreds-of-pupils-missing-from-registers-in-tower-hamlets-and-birmingham-schools--with-fears-they-could-fall-prey-to-extremist-ideologies-10388297.html" type="external">the borough of Tower Hamlets</a>, and was a member of a family group that had been showing suspect behaviour" And I'll go further. If you think that the government has the right to "deprogram" any 3-year old child then you are a nanny-state loving bastard and super stupid. And I hate you. Exhibit two: <a href="http://m.torontosun.com/2015/07/24/feds-seek-to-strip-ottawa-terror-convict-of-canadian-citizenship?token=33c81ee749ee8ecbd43932876109b475" type="external">The Canadian government is planning to strip terror suspect of his Canadian citizenship</a>. Perhaps this is a good start? That would be the conventional wisdom for conservatives. Well, I'm not really terribly conventional. So I say, hey "Conservative" majority government: how about limiting the immigration to Canada by this type of chap? And again, when I say "this type of chap" I mean having a serious, national "conversation" about immigration from countries that are either themselves democracies, have democratic inclinations or yearnings, or are providing Canada with immigrant individuals that at the very least <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/muslim-school-in-uk-bans-contact-with-outsiders/" type="external">must be required to swear fidelity to democratic values</a>&#160;(at a cost of forfeiting citizenship and being deported) to their new country, to the values represented by Canada and to not subverting them. In America, how about stopping the flow of <a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/259558/obamas-illegal-aliens-importing-deadly-third-world-matthew-vadum" type="external">illegal aliens bringing lethal, Third World diseases across the borders?</a> How about our betters in government stop trying to present us with band-aid , smoke and mirrors judicial and legal 'solutions' to an immigration policy problem?</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Follow The Megaphone on&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/RebelMegaphone" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">JOIN TheRebel.media</a>&#160;for more news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else.</p> | Stupid governments make stupid immigration policies resulting in stupid band-aid “solutions” | true | http://therebel.media/stupid_governments_make_stupid_immigration_policies_resulting_in_stupid_band_aid_solutions | 2015-07-28 | 0right
| Stupid governments make stupid immigration policies resulting in stupid band-aid “solutions”
<p>Exhibit one: Taxpayers' hard-earned money is being used in the UK to " <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/threeyearold-child-from-london-placed-in-government-antiextremism-programme-10419346.html" type="external">deprogram" a 3-year old 'extremist' child.</a>&#160;Not an extremist Jew, Amish or Pastafarian.&#160;</p>
<p>If you think this is a good idea, then you are stupid. The better idea is not bringing mass populations of new immigrants, or illegals to your country whose primary beliefs are antithetic to democracy.</p>
<p>"A three-year-old child from London is one of hundreds of young people in the capital who have been tipped as potential future radicals and extremists"</p>
<p>"As reported <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-child-aged-three-in-terror-alert-over-radicalisation-10418455.html" type="external">by the Evening Standard</a>, 1,069 people have been put in the government's anti-extremism 'Channel' process, the de-radicalisation programme at the heart of the Government's 'Prevent' strategy." "The three-year-old in the programme is from <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/hundreds-of-pupils-missing-from-registers-in-tower-hamlets-and-birmingham-schools--with-fears-they-could-fall-prey-to-extremist-ideologies-10388297.html" type="external">the borough of Tower Hamlets</a>, and was a member of a family group that had been showing suspect behaviour" And I'll go further. If you think that the government has the right to "deprogram" any 3-year old child then you are a nanny-state loving bastard and super stupid. And I hate you. Exhibit two: <a href="http://m.torontosun.com/2015/07/24/feds-seek-to-strip-ottawa-terror-convict-of-canadian-citizenship?token=33c81ee749ee8ecbd43932876109b475" type="external">The Canadian government is planning to strip terror suspect of his Canadian citizenship</a>. Perhaps this is a good start? That would be the conventional wisdom for conservatives. Well, I'm not really terribly conventional. So I say, hey "Conservative" majority government: how about limiting the immigration to Canada by this type of chap? And again, when I say "this type of chap" I mean having a serious, national "conversation" about immigration from countries that are either themselves democracies, have democratic inclinations or yearnings, or are providing Canada with immigrant individuals that at the very least <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/muslim-school-in-uk-bans-contact-with-outsiders/" type="external">must be required to swear fidelity to democratic values</a>&#160;(at a cost of forfeiting citizenship and being deported) to their new country, to the values represented by Canada and to not subverting them. In America, how about stopping the flow of <a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/259558/obamas-illegal-aliens-importing-deadly-third-world-matthew-vadum" type="external">illegal aliens bringing lethal, Third World diseases across the borders?</a> How about our betters in government stop trying to present us with band-aid , smoke and mirrors judicial and legal 'solutions' to an immigration policy problem?</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Follow The Megaphone on&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/RebelMegaphone" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">JOIN TheRebel.media</a>&#160;for more news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else.</p> | 598,908 |
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<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - After a search of the neighborhood officers arrested a man who fled from a traffic stop near Indian School and Pennsylvania NE Thursday afternoon, according to a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department.</p>
<p>"The suspect has been identified as Joseph Terrell, 32," said officer Daren DeAguero. "Joseph had outstanding felony warrants that included kidnapping."</p>
<p>During the search children attending after school activities at the nearby Ines Elementary school were escorted off campus to their parents, DeAguero said.</p>
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<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | APD: Officers arrest man who fled traffic stop in NE ABQ | false | https://abqjournal.com/742227/apd-officers-search-ne-abq-for-man-who-fled-traffic-stop.html | 2016-03-17 | 2least
| APD: Officers arrest man who fled traffic stop in NE ABQ
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<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - After a search of the neighborhood officers arrested a man who fled from a traffic stop near Indian School and Pennsylvania NE Thursday afternoon, according to a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department.</p>
<p>"The suspect has been identified as Joseph Terrell, 32," said officer Daren DeAguero. "Joseph had outstanding felony warrants that included kidnapping."</p>
<p>During the search children attending after school activities at the nearby Ines Elementary school were escorted off campus to their parents, DeAguero said.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,909 |
<p>Chipotle Mexican Grill ( <a href="/quote.html?stockTicker=CMG" type="external">CMG</a>) said Wednesday it expects higher food costs to weigh down fourth-quarter earnings, despite revenue that beats current estimates.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The Denver-based restaurant chain is now anticipating earnings of $1.92 to $1.97 a share on revenue of $699.2 million, an increase of 17.2% from a year ago. Analysts were looking for per-share earnings of $2.07 and revenue of $692 million.</p>
<p>Chipotle also said same-restaurant sales have so far increased 3.8%, citing more traffic.</p>
<p>By the end of the quarter, food costs are expected to account for 33.5% of sales, an increase of 1.3% from last year. Marketing and promotional-related expenses drove other operating costs higher.</p>
<p>"We are pleased with our top line revenue growth, as we opened a record number of new restaurants in 2012, and underlying comparable transaction growth continued during the [fourth] quarter,? Monty Moran, co-chief executive of Chipotle, said in a statement. "While food costs driven by underlying inflation increased faster than expected in the fourth quarter, we're optimistic that food inflation will level off in 2013. We are confident in our ability to continue to drive attractive top line sales growth in 2013 through a combination of new restaurant growth, and by having teams of empowered top performers providing an extraordinary dining experience for our customers."</p>
<p>When the company releases fourth-quarter results on Feb. 5, it expects a restaurant-level operating margin of 24.6%, a 1.5% decrease year-over-year.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Shares of Chipotle tumbled $16.79, or 5.65%, to $280.53 a share Wednesday morning. As of Tuesday's market close, the stock had slid 16% over the past 12 months.</p>
<p /> | Chipotle Dims 4Q Outlook on Higher Food Costs | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2013/01/16/chipotle-dims-4q-outlook-on-higher-food-costs.html | 2013-01-16 | 0right
| Chipotle Dims 4Q Outlook on Higher Food Costs
<p>Chipotle Mexican Grill ( <a href="/quote.html?stockTicker=CMG" type="external">CMG</a>) said Wednesday it expects higher food costs to weigh down fourth-quarter earnings, despite revenue that beats current estimates.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The Denver-based restaurant chain is now anticipating earnings of $1.92 to $1.97 a share on revenue of $699.2 million, an increase of 17.2% from a year ago. Analysts were looking for per-share earnings of $2.07 and revenue of $692 million.</p>
<p>Chipotle also said same-restaurant sales have so far increased 3.8%, citing more traffic.</p>
<p>By the end of the quarter, food costs are expected to account for 33.5% of sales, an increase of 1.3% from last year. Marketing and promotional-related expenses drove other operating costs higher.</p>
<p>"We are pleased with our top line revenue growth, as we opened a record number of new restaurants in 2012, and underlying comparable transaction growth continued during the [fourth] quarter,? Monty Moran, co-chief executive of Chipotle, said in a statement. "While food costs driven by underlying inflation increased faster than expected in the fourth quarter, we're optimistic that food inflation will level off in 2013. We are confident in our ability to continue to drive attractive top line sales growth in 2013 through a combination of new restaurant growth, and by having teams of empowered top performers providing an extraordinary dining experience for our customers."</p>
<p>When the company releases fourth-quarter results on Feb. 5, it expects a restaurant-level operating margin of 24.6%, a 1.5% decrease year-over-year.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Shares of Chipotle tumbled $16.79, or 5.65%, to $280.53 a share Wednesday morning. As of Tuesday's market close, the stock had slid 16% over the past 12 months.</p>
<p /> | 598,910 |
<p />
<p>Indonesia's mining minister Ignasius Jonan on Monday said the government can also bring Freeport-McMoRan Inc to arbitration if both sides fail to reach an agreement over a mining contract.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Earlier on Monday, Freeport-McMoRan chief executive Richard Adkerson said the company may commence arbitration if it and the government cannot negotiate within 120 days a dispute over its mining contract in Indonesia.</p>
<p>"If there's no agreement, this can be brought to arbitration. Not only Freeport, the government also has a right to bring this to arbitration," Jonan told reporters.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Tom Hogue)</p> | Indonesia mining minister says government also has right to bring Freeport to arbitration | true | http://foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/02/20/indonesia-mining-minister-says-government-also-has-right-to-bring-freeport-to.html | 2017-02-23 | 0right
| Indonesia mining minister says government also has right to bring Freeport to arbitration
<p />
<p>Indonesia's mining minister Ignasius Jonan on Monday said the government can also bring Freeport-McMoRan Inc to arbitration if both sides fail to reach an agreement over a mining contract.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Earlier on Monday, Freeport-McMoRan chief executive Richard Adkerson said the company may commence arbitration if it and the government cannot negotiate within 120 days a dispute over its mining contract in Indonesia.</p>
<p>"If there's no agreement, this can be brought to arbitration. Not only Freeport, the government also has a right to bring this to arbitration," Jonan told reporters.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Tom Hogue)</p> | 598,911 |
<p />
<p>Ghost Town (watch the trailer <a href="http://www.ghosttownmovie.com/#/ghost-town-movie-trailer" type="external">here</a>) may not be original, but it is amusing. The romantic comedy starring <a href="http://www.rickygervais.com/" type="external">Ricky Gervais</a> (of Britain’s “ <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/" type="external">The Office</a>“) trails the life of an aloof dentist who can see dead people after a botched colonoscopy. Haunted by NYC ghosts pleading for help with their unfinished business, he proves heartless until the widow ( <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000495/" type="external">Téa Leoni</a>) of one cheating spirit ( <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001427/" type="external">Greg Kinnear</a>) perks up his otherwise lonely life.</p>
<p>The film clings to clichés and wastes screen time on some flat characters, but still manages to glide along on Gervais’ dry, charming humor. Devoid of gore and messy back stories, the ghost story stays lighthearted, aside from a tearjerker montage near the end.</p>
<p>It is doubly shocking, then, when Gervais’ character twice whips out racist humor that seems both unexplained and excessive. In the first instance, Leoni and Gervais are holding back giggles from her fuddy-duddy human rights lawyer boyfriend when Gervais peeps out that the Chinese are the only ones different from the rest of the human population. Refusing to stop there, he continues by mocking names like “Pong.” Later he targets his Indian colleague for tips on how to torture a patient for information (after asking his religion, of course).</p>
<p>Gervais’ character is selfish and socially-awkward, for sure, but the racial comments seem contrived and tossed in for cheap laughs. See the film yourself and let us know what you think about <a href="/riff_blog/archives/2008/07/8933_hancock_racist.html" type="external">movies with racial implications</a>.</p>
<p>—Brittney Andres</p>
<p>Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures.</p>
<p /> | Racist Jokes Tarnish Ricky Gervais Film, Ghost Town | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2008/09/racist-jokes-tarnish-ricky-gervais-film-ghost-town/ | 2008-09-26 | 4left
| Racist Jokes Tarnish Ricky Gervais Film, Ghost Town
<p />
<p>Ghost Town (watch the trailer <a href="http://www.ghosttownmovie.com/#/ghost-town-movie-trailer" type="external">here</a>) may not be original, but it is amusing. The romantic comedy starring <a href="http://www.rickygervais.com/" type="external">Ricky Gervais</a> (of Britain’s “ <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/" type="external">The Office</a>“) trails the life of an aloof dentist who can see dead people after a botched colonoscopy. Haunted by NYC ghosts pleading for help with their unfinished business, he proves heartless until the widow ( <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000495/" type="external">Téa Leoni</a>) of one cheating spirit ( <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001427/" type="external">Greg Kinnear</a>) perks up his otherwise lonely life.</p>
<p>The film clings to clichés and wastes screen time on some flat characters, but still manages to glide along on Gervais’ dry, charming humor. Devoid of gore and messy back stories, the ghost story stays lighthearted, aside from a tearjerker montage near the end.</p>
<p>It is doubly shocking, then, when Gervais’ character twice whips out racist humor that seems both unexplained and excessive. In the first instance, Leoni and Gervais are holding back giggles from her fuddy-duddy human rights lawyer boyfriend when Gervais peeps out that the Chinese are the only ones different from the rest of the human population. Refusing to stop there, he continues by mocking names like “Pong.” Later he targets his Indian colleague for tips on how to torture a patient for information (after asking his religion, of course).</p>
<p>Gervais’ character is selfish and socially-awkward, for sure, but the racial comments seem contrived and tossed in for cheap laughs. See the film yourself and let us know what you think about <a href="/riff_blog/archives/2008/07/8933_hancock_racist.html" type="external">movies with racial implications</a>.</p>
<p>—Brittney Andres</p>
<p>Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures.</p>
<p /> | 598,912 |
<p>There currently is a cavernous lack of leadership in our federal government on tackling climate change. Fortunately, cities, states, universities, and some businesses have stepped up to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and grow our renewable energy.</p>
<p>But there’s been one reluctant industry: your phone company.</p>
<p>The telecom industry uses enough electricity to power all the homes in New York City. Its networks are largely powered by fossil fuels, contributing to the industry’s emission of 830 million tons of carbon dioxide every year worldwide.</p>
<p>Until recently, telecom companies hadn’t made substantial commitments to renewable energy use. While Apple, Google, and even Amazon made major commitments to renewables, the telecom industry lagged behind. It still has a ways to go to catch up.</p>
<p>It takes a lot of energy to keep all our smartphones connected 24/7.</p>
<p>90 percent of energy use in the industry powers wireless access networks, towers, and other infrastructure to connect cell phone users nationwide. The rest is used to power data centers, which store our photos, videos, and other data.</p>
<p>This energy use is projected to increase dramatically in the next few years, as more and more people use their smartphones instead of their computers.</p>
<p>Green America’s new report, <a href="https://www.greenamerica.org/report-clean-energy-calling" type="external">Clean Energy is Calling</a>, lays out the steps companies have taken and the progress left to be made to reach 100 percent renewable energy. The report notes T-Mobile has made a commitment to use 100 percent clean energy by 2021, and AT&amp;T recently purchased 520 MWh of wind power.</p>
<p>But Verizon and Sprint have yet to make significant commitments. They’re currently using less than 2 percent renewable energy, and AT&amp;T is only at 20 percent.</p>
<p>The recent commitments are great strides forward. But as of 2018, including all current contracts for renewables by the major telecom companies, Green America estimates the entire industry will be using at most only 15 percent renewable energy.</p>
<p>Telecom companies need to set a goal of 100 percent renewable energy, made up of primarily wind and solar, by 2025. They should also provide public timelines and updates throughout the transition to show the steps made in meeting their goal.</p>
<p>We shouldn’t have to accept releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere to stay connected to our friends and family. It’s great to see certain companies stepping up. I hope they’ll follow through — and take the telecom industry from a laggard to a leader on clean energy.</p>
<p>Beth Porter directs Green America’s Better Paper Project.</p> | Clean Energy is Calling. Will Your Phone Company Answer? | true | https://counterpunch.org/2018/03/16/clean-energy-is-calling-will-your-phone-company-answer/ | 2018-03-16 | 4left
| Clean Energy is Calling. Will Your Phone Company Answer?
<p>There currently is a cavernous lack of leadership in our federal government on tackling climate change. Fortunately, cities, states, universities, and some businesses have stepped up to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and grow our renewable energy.</p>
<p>But there’s been one reluctant industry: your phone company.</p>
<p>The telecom industry uses enough electricity to power all the homes in New York City. Its networks are largely powered by fossil fuels, contributing to the industry’s emission of 830 million tons of carbon dioxide every year worldwide.</p>
<p>Until recently, telecom companies hadn’t made substantial commitments to renewable energy use. While Apple, Google, and even Amazon made major commitments to renewables, the telecom industry lagged behind. It still has a ways to go to catch up.</p>
<p>It takes a lot of energy to keep all our smartphones connected 24/7.</p>
<p>90 percent of energy use in the industry powers wireless access networks, towers, and other infrastructure to connect cell phone users nationwide. The rest is used to power data centers, which store our photos, videos, and other data.</p>
<p>This energy use is projected to increase dramatically in the next few years, as more and more people use their smartphones instead of their computers.</p>
<p>Green America’s new report, <a href="https://www.greenamerica.org/report-clean-energy-calling" type="external">Clean Energy is Calling</a>, lays out the steps companies have taken and the progress left to be made to reach 100 percent renewable energy. The report notes T-Mobile has made a commitment to use 100 percent clean energy by 2021, and AT&amp;T recently purchased 520 MWh of wind power.</p>
<p>But Verizon and Sprint have yet to make significant commitments. They’re currently using less than 2 percent renewable energy, and AT&amp;T is only at 20 percent.</p>
<p>The recent commitments are great strides forward. But as of 2018, including all current contracts for renewables by the major telecom companies, Green America estimates the entire industry will be using at most only 15 percent renewable energy.</p>
<p>Telecom companies need to set a goal of 100 percent renewable energy, made up of primarily wind and solar, by 2025. They should also provide public timelines and updates throughout the transition to show the steps made in meeting their goal.</p>
<p>We shouldn’t have to accept releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere to stay connected to our friends and family. It’s great to see certain companies stepping up. I hope they’ll follow through — and take the telecom industry from a laggard to a leader on clean energy.</p>
<p>Beth Porter directs Green America’s Better Paper Project.</p> | 598,913 |
<p>Oil futures pared some of their losses on Tuesday after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said caution on interest-rate hikes is justified. The U.S. dollar weakened in the wake of her comments, offering some support for dollar-denominated oil prices. May WTI crude traded at $38.41 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 98 cents, or 2.5%. It was trading around $38.19 before Yellen's speech.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2016 MarketWatch, Inc.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | Oil Futures Pare Losses As Yellen Cautious On Rate Hikes | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/03/29/oil-futures-pare-losses-as-yellen-cautious-on-rate-hikes.html | 2016-03-29 | 0right
| Oil Futures Pare Losses As Yellen Cautious On Rate Hikes
<p>Oil futures pared some of their losses on Tuesday after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said caution on interest-rate hikes is justified. The U.S. dollar weakened in the wake of her comments, offering some support for dollar-denominated oil prices. May WTI crude traded at $38.41 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 98 cents, or 2.5%. It was trading around $38.19 before Yellen's speech.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2016 MarketWatch, Inc.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | 598,914 |
<p>This post originally ran on <a href="http://www.marjoriecohn.com/2015/03/netanyahu-censored-voices-and-false.html" type="external">Marjorie Cohn’s Web page</a>.</p>
<p>On March 3rd, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an impassioned plea to Congress to protect Israel by opposing diplomacy with Iran. Referring to “the remarkable alliance between Israel and the United States” which includes “generous military assistance and missile defense,” Netanyahu failed to mention that Israel has an arsenal of 100 or 200 nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>The Six-Day War</p>
<p>The day before he delivered that controversial address, Netanyahu expressed similar sentiments to AIPAC, Israel’s powerful U.S. lobby. He reiterated the claim that Israel acted in the 1967 Six-Day War “to defend itself.” The narrative that Israel attacked Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in self-defense, seizing the Palestinian territories in the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula in 1967, has remained largely unquestioned in the public discourse. Israel relies on that narrative to continue occupying those Palestinian lands. And the powerful film “Censored Voices,” which premiered at Sundance in February, does not challenge that narrative.</p>
<p />
<p>But declassified high-level documents from Britain, France, Russia and the United States reveal that Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were not going to attack Israel and Israel knew it. In fact, they did not attack Israel. Instead, Israel mounted the first attack in order to decimate the Egyptian army and take the West Bank.</p>
<p>Censored Voices Uncensored</p>
<p>For two weeks following the Six Day War, Amos Oz and Avrahim Shapira visited Israeli kibbutzim and recorded interviews with several Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who had just returned from that war. Largely censored by the Israeli government for many years, those reels have finally been made public. “Censored Voices” features the taped voices of young IDF soldiers, as the aging, former soldiers sit silently beside the tape recorder, listening to their own voices.</p>
<p>The testimonies documented in the tapes reveal evidence of targeting civilians and summarily executing prisoners, which constitute war crimes. A soldier asks himself, “They’re civilians – should I kill them or not?” He replies, “I didn’t even think about it. Just kill! Kill everyone you see.” Likewise, one voice notes, “Several times we captured guys, positioned them and just killed them.” Another reveals, “In the war, we all became murderers.” Still another says, “Not only did this war not solve the state’s problems, but it complicated them in a way that’ll be very hard to solve.” One soldier likens evacuating Arab villages to what the Nazis did to Jews in Europe. As a soldier watched an Arab man being taken from his home, the soldier states, “I had an abysmal feeling that I was evil.”</p>
<p>In what proved to be a prescient question, one soldier asks, “Are we doomed to bomb villages every decade for defensive purposes?” Indeed, Israel justifies all of its assaults on Gaza as self-defense, even though Israel invariably attacks first, and kills overwhelming numbers of Palestinians – mostly civilians. Each time, many fewer Israelis are killed by Palestinian rockets.</p>
<p>Israel’s False Self-Defense Claim</p>
<p>The film begins by showing a map of Israel surrounded by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, with arrows from each country aimed at Israel. The IDF soldiers felt those Arab countries posed an existential threat to Israel. “There was a feeling it would be a Holocaust,” one soldier observed. The Israeli media claimed at the time that Egypt had attacked Israel by land and by air on June 5, 1967. According to British journalist Patrick Seale, “Israel’s preparation of opinion” was “brilliantly managed,” a “remarkable exercise in psychological warfare.”</p>
<p>In his book, “The Six-Day War and Israeli Self-Defense: Questioning the Legal Basis for Preventive War,” published by Cambridge University Press, Ohio State University law professor John Quigley documents conversations by high government officials in Israel, the United States, Egypt, the Soviet Union, France, and Britain leading up to the Six-Day War. He draws on minutes of British cabinet meetings, a French government publication, U.S. documents in “Foreign Relations of the United States,” and Russian national archives. Those conversations make clear that Israel knew Egypt, Syria and Jordan would not and did not attack Israel, and that Israel initiated the attacks.</p>
<p>Egypt was the only one of the three Arab countries that had a military of any consequence. Israeli General Yitzhak Rabin told the Israeli cabinet that the Egyptian forces maintained a defensive posture, and Israeli General Meir Amit, head of Mossad (Israeli’s intelligence agency), informed U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara that Egypt was not poised to attack Israel. Both the United States and the Soviet Union urged Israel not to attack. Nevertheless, Israel’s cabinet voted on June 4 to authorize the IDF to invade Egypt.</p>
<p>“After the cabinet vote,” Quigley writes, “informal discussion turned to ways to make it appear that Israel was not starting a war when in fact that was precisely what it was doing.” Moshe Dayan, who would soon become Israel’s Minister of Defense, ordered military censorship, saying, “For the first twenty-four hours, we have to be the victims.” Dayan admitted in his memoirs, “We had taken the first step in the war with Egypt.” Nevertheless, Israel’s UN Ambassador Gideon Rafael reported to the Security Council that Israel had acted in self-defense.</p>
<p>“The hostilities were attacks by the Israeli air force on multiple Egyptian airfields, aimed at demolishing Egyptian aircraft on the ground,” according to Quigley. On June 5, the CIA told President Lyndon B. Johnson, “Israel fired the first shots today.”</p>
<p>Article 51 of the UN Charter authorizes states to act in collective self-defense after another member state suffers an armed attack. Although Jordan and Syria responded to the Israeli attacks on Egypt, they – and Egypt – inflicted little damage to Israel. By the afternoon of June 5, Israel “had virtually destroyed the air war capacity of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria,” Quigley notes. “The IDF achieved the ‘utter defeat’ of the Egyptian army on June 7 and 8.”</p>
<p>The United States Empowers Israel</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk said that U.S. officials were “angry as hell, when the Israelis launched their surprise offensive.” Yet, Quigley notes, “Israel’s gamble paid off in that the United States would not challenge Israel’s story about how the fighting started. Even though it quickly saw through the story, the White House kept its analysis to itself.”</p>
<p>Although Security Council resolution 242, passed in 1967, refers to “the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war” and calls for “withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict,” Israel continues to occupy the Palestinian territories it acquired in the Six-Day War.</p>
<p>Israel has abandoned its claim that Egypt attacked first. Yet the international community considers that Israel acted in lawful anticipatory self-defense. Quigley explains how the UN Charter only permits the use of armed force after an armed attack on a UN member state; it does not authorize anticipatory, preventive, or preemptive self-defense.</p>
<p>“The UN did not condemn Israel in 1967 for its attack on Egypt,” Antonio Cassese of the University of Florence explained. Quigley attributes this to Cold War politics, as the USSR supported Egypt. “For the United States in particular, Israel’s success was a Cold War defeat for the USSR. The United States was hardly prepared to condemn Israel after it performed this service.”</p>
<p>The United States continues to support Israel by sending it $3 billion per year in military aid, even when Israel attacks Gaza with overwhelming firepower, as it did in the summer of 2014, killing 2,100 Palestinians (mostly civilians). Sixty-six Israeli soldiers and seven civilians were killed.</p>
<p>If Israel were to mount an attack on Iran, the United States would invariably support Israel against Iran and any Arab country that goes to Iran’s defense. Indeed, Netanyahu intoned to Congress, “may Israel and America always stand together.”</p> | Netanyahu, ‘Censored Voices’ and the False Narrative of Self-Defense | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/netanyahu-censored-voices-and-the-false-narrative-of-self-defense/ | 2015-03-04 | 4left
| Netanyahu, ‘Censored Voices’ and the False Narrative of Self-Defense
<p>This post originally ran on <a href="http://www.marjoriecohn.com/2015/03/netanyahu-censored-voices-and-false.html" type="external">Marjorie Cohn’s Web page</a>.</p>
<p>On March 3rd, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an impassioned plea to Congress to protect Israel by opposing diplomacy with Iran. Referring to “the remarkable alliance between Israel and the United States” which includes “generous military assistance and missile defense,” Netanyahu failed to mention that Israel has an arsenal of 100 or 200 nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>The Six-Day War</p>
<p>The day before he delivered that controversial address, Netanyahu expressed similar sentiments to AIPAC, Israel’s powerful U.S. lobby. He reiterated the claim that Israel acted in the 1967 Six-Day War “to defend itself.” The narrative that Israel attacked Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in self-defense, seizing the Palestinian territories in the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula in 1967, has remained largely unquestioned in the public discourse. Israel relies on that narrative to continue occupying those Palestinian lands. And the powerful film “Censored Voices,” which premiered at Sundance in February, does not challenge that narrative.</p>
<p />
<p>But declassified high-level documents from Britain, France, Russia and the United States reveal that Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were not going to attack Israel and Israel knew it. In fact, they did not attack Israel. Instead, Israel mounted the first attack in order to decimate the Egyptian army and take the West Bank.</p>
<p>Censored Voices Uncensored</p>
<p>For two weeks following the Six Day War, Amos Oz and Avrahim Shapira visited Israeli kibbutzim and recorded interviews with several Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who had just returned from that war. Largely censored by the Israeli government for many years, those reels have finally been made public. “Censored Voices” features the taped voices of young IDF soldiers, as the aging, former soldiers sit silently beside the tape recorder, listening to their own voices.</p>
<p>The testimonies documented in the tapes reveal evidence of targeting civilians and summarily executing prisoners, which constitute war crimes. A soldier asks himself, “They’re civilians – should I kill them or not?” He replies, “I didn’t even think about it. Just kill! Kill everyone you see.” Likewise, one voice notes, “Several times we captured guys, positioned them and just killed them.” Another reveals, “In the war, we all became murderers.” Still another says, “Not only did this war not solve the state’s problems, but it complicated them in a way that’ll be very hard to solve.” One soldier likens evacuating Arab villages to what the Nazis did to Jews in Europe. As a soldier watched an Arab man being taken from his home, the soldier states, “I had an abysmal feeling that I was evil.”</p>
<p>In what proved to be a prescient question, one soldier asks, “Are we doomed to bomb villages every decade for defensive purposes?” Indeed, Israel justifies all of its assaults on Gaza as self-defense, even though Israel invariably attacks first, and kills overwhelming numbers of Palestinians – mostly civilians. Each time, many fewer Israelis are killed by Palestinian rockets.</p>
<p>Israel’s False Self-Defense Claim</p>
<p>The film begins by showing a map of Israel surrounded by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, with arrows from each country aimed at Israel. The IDF soldiers felt those Arab countries posed an existential threat to Israel. “There was a feeling it would be a Holocaust,” one soldier observed. The Israeli media claimed at the time that Egypt had attacked Israel by land and by air on June 5, 1967. According to British journalist Patrick Seale, “Israel’s preparation of opinion” was “brilliantly managed,” a “remarkable exercise in psychological warfare.”</p>
<p>In his book, “The Six-Day War and Israeli Self-Defense: Questioning the Legal Basis for Preventive War,” published by Cambridge University Press, Ohio State University law professor John Quigley documents conversations by high government officials in Israel, the United States, Egypt, the Soviet Union, France, and Britain leading up to the Six-Day War. He draws on minutes of British cabinet meetings, a French government publication, U.S. documents in “Foreign Relations of the United States,” and Russian national archives. Those conversations make clear that Israel knew Egypt, Syria and Jordan would not and did not attack Israel, and that Israel initiated the attacks.</p>
<p>Egypt was the only one of the three Arab countries that had a military of any consequence. Israeli General Yitzhak Rabin told the Israeli cabinet that the Egyptian forces maintained a defensive posture, and Israeli General Meir Amit, head of Mossad (Israeli’s intelligence agency), informed U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara that Egypt was not poised to attack Israel. Both the United States and the Soviet Union urged Israel not to attack. Nevertheless, Israel’s cabinet voted on June 4 to authorize the IDF to invade Egypt.</p>
<p>“After the cabinet vote,” Quigley writes, “informal discussion turned to ways to make it appear that Israel was not starting a war when in fact that was precisely what it was doing.” Moshe Dayan, who would soon become Israel’s Minister of Defense, ordered military censorship, saying, “For the first twenty-four hours, we have to be the victims.” Dayan admitted in his memoirs, “We had taken the first step in the war with Egypt.” Nevertheless, Israel’s UN Ambassador Gideon Rafael reported to the Security Council that Israel had acted in self-defense.</p>
<p>“The hostilities were attacks by the Israeli air force on multiple Egyptian airfields, aimed at demolishing Egyptian aircraft on the ground,” according to Quigley. On June 5, the CIA told President Lyndon B. Johnson, “Israel fired the first shots today.”</p>
<p>Article 51 of the UN Charter authorizes states to act in collective self-defense after another member state suffers an armed attack. Although Jordan and Syria responded to the Israeli attacks on Egypt, they – and Egypt – inflicted little damage to Israel. By the afternoon of June 5, Israel “had virtually destroyed the air war capacity of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria,” Quigley notes. “The IDF achieved the ‘utter defeat’ of the Egyptian army on June 7 and 8.”</p>
<p>The United States Empowers Israel</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk said that U.S. officials were “angry as hell, when the Israelis launched their surprise offensive.” Yet, Quigley notes, “Israel’s gamble paid off in that the United States would not challenge Israel’s story about how the fighting started. Even though it quickly saw through the story, the White House kept its analysis to itself.”</p>
<p>Although Security Council resolution 242, passed in 1967, refers to “the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war” and calls for “withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict,” Israel continues to occupy the Palestinian territories it acquired in the Six-Day War.</p>
<p>Israel has abandoned its claim that Egypt attacked first. Yet the international community considers that Israel acted in lawful anticipatory self-defense. Quigley explains how the UN Charter only permits the use of armed force after an armed attack on a UN member state; it does not authorize anticipatory, preventive, or preemptive self-defense.</p>
<p>“The UN did not condemn Israel in 1967 for its attack on Egypt,” Antonio Cassese of the University of Florence explained. Quigley attributes this to Cold War politics, as the USSR supported Egypt. “For the United States in particular, Israel’s success was a Cold War defeat for the USSR. The United States was hardly prepared to condemn Israel after it performed this service.”</p>
<p>The United States continues to support Israel by sending it $3 billion per year in military aid, even when Israel attacks Gaza with overwhelming firepower, as it did in the summer of 2014, killing 2,100 Palestinians (mostly civilians). Sixty-six Israeli soldiers and seven civilians were killed.</p>
<p>If Israel were to mount an attack on Iran, the United States would invariably support Israel against Iran and any Arab country that goes to Iran’s defense. Indeed, Netanyahu intoned to Congress, “may Israel and America always stand together.”</p> | 598,915 |
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<p />
<p>A: No, in general, I won’t. I like to make my patients and their parents happy. But there are some exceptions, where I hope to prevent them from asking me to make bad decisions for them. An example: “No, you won’t need an antibiotic for that cold.” And another, in this case: “No, I think your child is so healthy, she should be in her class.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, appointments for school-aged children must often be made during school time, since we have only a few after the final bell of the afternoon. But that doesn’t mean that the rest of the day must be lost, nor that brothers and sisters of the child with an appointment need to miss school to come along. School is too important.</p>
<p>I asked an educator friend, Professor Ruth Luckasson of the UNM School of Education, what she felt the importance was of avoiding school absence. Here is her reply: “There are so many aspects to consider: keeping up with the academic content; maintaining the learning relationship between teacher and student; sustaining friendships; catching learning problems early; learning the discipline required to stick to a schedule; learning to keep one’s responsibilities; demonstrating one’s commitment so that others, for example, the teacher, are also motivated to fulfill their commitment; developing the ‘habits of mind’; keeping a schedule; learning to effectively deal with disruptions to routine; learning to organize oneself even when one’s schedule is disrupted by illness. All [of these are] important life skills and dispositions for effective human functioning.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Luckasson referred me to a number of scientific studies that show the importance of avoiding absence, even in the earliest grades. For example, the National Center for Children in Poverty has published a fine monograph on the subject, “Present, Engaged, and Accounted For,” at nccp.org/publications/pub_837.html. The study shows that high school dropouts had 60 percent more absences in first grade than high school graduates. Every day of absence in first grade is associated with a 5 percent increase in risk of dropping out of school. Reading is also affected; children who miss more school than average have much lower reading scores than those who miss less than average. And that applies both to children in poverty and children who are well off.</p>
<p>The NCCP divides factors leading to school absenteeism into three categories: school-, community- and family-related, and suggests remedies for each. Schools may not pay as much attention to absences as they might, for example; having a means of identifying children missing many days of school early in the year means that a staff member can address the reasons with families, resulting in plans on getting children to school.</p>
<p>Communities can provide adequate preschool experiences that help children “make a positive transition to school.” Families can recognize the “adverse impact of chronic early absence and … develop routines that promote consistent school attendance.”</p>
<p>I believe that there are three categories of good reasons for missing days of school: being too sick to learn, being contagious, and having a disease that will be made worse by being in school. In the clinic where I work, the five physicians and two nurse practitioners altogether see one or two school-aged patients a month who are too sick to be able to learn anything in school. It just isn’t that common.</p>
<p>Of course not every class minute is golden — there’s some wasted time there, just as there is in our clinic — but it’s just not possible to determine when those less than golden minutes will be, when a child will be inspired to do something wonderful, and when a continuing theme will reach a critical linking moment. If you miss the Emancipation Proclamation, will you understand Lincoln’s role in ending the Civil War?</p>
<p>Young children with eye infections and with diarrhea can’t be relied upon to keep their hands out of their eyes or other places, so they should stay home, but that probably does not apply to older children. Children with ear or sinus infections are not contagious, and their pain will probably be worse at home when there’s nothing else to think about. Common colds are so very common that most educators believe it’s better to go to school with them. And there are very few diseases that are made worse by attendance at school, except possibly inadequate immune systems.</p>
<p>Physicians should convince parents that their children benefit by going to school whenever they don’t meet one of those criteria — contagiousness, being too wiped out to learn, or having that rare disease that will get worse there. We must realize that each day of absence contributes to worse educational outcomes, and that, as has been shown in numerous studies, you must be educated to be optimally healthy.</p>
<p>Lance Chilton, M.D., is a pediatrician at the Young Children’s Health Center in Albuquerque, associated with the University of New Mexico. Send questions to [email protected].</p>
<p>— This article appeared on page C01 of the Albuquerque Journal</p> | Absences linked to dropout increase | false | https://abqjournal.com/176952/absences-linked-to-dropout-increase.html | 2013-03-11 | 2least
| Absences linked to dropout increase
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<p />
<p>A: No, in general, I won’t. I like to make my patients and their parents happy. But there are some exceptions, where I hope to prevent them from asking me to make bad decisions for them. An example: “No, you won’t need an antibiotic for that cold.” And another, in this case: “No, I think your child is so healthy, she should be in her class.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, appointments for school-aged children must often be made during school time, since we have only a few after the final bell of the afternoon. But that doesn’t mean that the rest of the day must be lost, nor that brothers and sisters of the child with an appointment need to miss school to come along. School is too important.</p>
<p>I asked an educator friend, Professor Ruth Luckasson of the UNM School of Education, what she felt the importance was of avoiding school absence. Here is her reply: “There are so many aspects to consider: keeping up with the academic content; maintaining the learning relationship between teacher and student; sustaining friendships; catching learning problems early; learning the discipline required to stick to a schedule; learning to keep one’s responsibilities; demonstrating one’s commitment so that others, for example, the teacher, are also motivated to fulfill their commitment; developing the ‘habits of mind’; keeping a schedule; learning to effectively deal with disruptions to routine; learning to organize oneself even when one’s schedule is disrupted by illness. All [of these are] important life skills and dispositions for effective human functioning.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Luckasson referred me to a number of scientific studies that show the importance of avoiding absence, even in the earliest grades. For example, the National Center for Children in Poverty has published a fine monograph on the subject, “Present, Engaged, and Accounted For,” at nccp.org/publications/pub_837.html. The study shows that high school dropouts had 60 percent more absences in first grade than high school graduates. Every day of absence in first grade is associated with a 5 percent increase in risk of dropping out of school. Reading is also affected; children who miss more school than average have much lower reading scores than those who miss less than average. And that applies both to children in poverty and children who are well off.</p>
<p>The NCCP divides factors leading to school absenteeism into three categories: school-, community- and family-related, and suggests remedies for each. Schools may not pay as much attention to absences as they might, for example; having a means of identifying children missing many days of school early in the year means that a staff member can address the reasons with families, resulting in plans on getting children to school.</p>
<p>Communities can provide adequate preschool experiences that help children “make a positive transition to school.” Families can recognize the “adverse impact of chronic early absence and … develop routines that promote consistent school attendance.”</p>
<p>I believe that there are three categories of good reasons for missing days of school: being too sick to learn, being contagious, and having a disease that will be made worse by being in school. In the clinic where I work, the five physicians and two nurse practitioners altogether see one or two school-aged patients a month who are too sick to be able to learn anything in school. It just isn’t that common.</p>
<p>Of course not every class minute is golden — there’s some wasted time there, just as there is in our clinic — but it’s just not possible to determine when those less than golden minutes will be, when a child will be inspired to do something wonderful, and when a continuing theme will reach a critical linking moment. If you miss the Emancipation Proclamation, will you understand Lincoln’s role in ending the Civil War?</p>
<p>Young children with eye infections and with diarrhea can’t be relied upon to keep their hands out of their eyes or other places, so they should stay home, but that probably does not apply to older children. Children with ear or sinus infections are not contagious, and their pain will probably be worse at home when there’s nothing else to think about. Common colds are so very common that most educators believe it’s better to go to school with them. And there are very few diseases that are made worse by attendance at school, except possibly inadequate immune systems.</p>
<p>Physicians should convince parents that their children benefit by going to school whenever they don’t meet one of those criteria — contagiousness, being too wiped out to learn, or having that rare disease that will get worse there. We must realize that each day of absence contributes to worse educational outcomes, and that, as has been shown in numerous studies, you must be educated to be optimally healthy.</p>
<p>Lance Chilton, M.D., is a pediatrician at the Young Children’s Health Center in Albuquerque, associated with the University of New Mexico. Send questions to [email protected].</p>
<p>— This article appeared on page C01 of the Albuquerque Journal</p> | 598,916 |
<p>Since 1971 the world has suffered two great inflations and three recessions. Hopes for a world-wide economic expansion have been interrupted once again, by an economic slowdown and the threat of a trade war. Will the world ever settle down to sustained noninflationary growth?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, no-not unless a basic flaw in the world monetary system is corrected. Each succeeding crisis is a different symptom of the same disorder. Each succeeding crisis is a different symptom of the same disorder.</p>
<p>The institutional flaw concerns the choice of international monetary reserves. We all need monetary reserves. Reserves are the “final asset” that bridges the gaps between our sales and purchases of goods, and bonds (promises of future goods).</p>
<p>The main problem is that the international reserves financing world growth and trade consist basically of U.S. dollars—financial claims on the U.S. The dollar is the “official reserve currency.” This means that the “reserves” of the Bundesbank or Bank of Japan are not held in Frankfurt or Tokyo but invested in New York.</p>
<p>Why is this a problem? Because there never can be a net increase in the world monetary reserves. The dollar is an asset for foreign central banks, but it is a liability for the U.S.; it must be paid sooner or later in goods. So other countries can increase their reserves only if the if the U.S. increases its net reserve indebtedness with a balance-of-payments deficit. The U.S. can increase its liquidity only at the expense of other countries. This has made the attempt to gain reserves—and trade surpluses—a zero-sum game.</p>
<p>Bretton Woods Breakdown</p>
<p>The problems arising from the dollar’s reserve-currency role are basically the same ones that led to the breakdown of the sterling-based monetary system established at the 1922 Genoa conference, and the dollar-based system established by the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement. (We sometimes think of these monetary systems as spanning halcyon decades, but they actually operated without major restrictions only in 1925-31 and 1959-1968.)</p>
<p>Under both systems, Britain or the U.S. redeemed its currency in gold, while other countries used pounds sterling or dollars as official reserves. Around 1960, economists Robert Triffin and Jacques Rueff accurately predicted that Bretton Woods had to break down just like the sterling-based system, because the gain in official reserves by other countries was being supplied by net reserve losses of the U.S., which could not last. Bretton Woods officially ended with the suspension of dollar-gold convertibility in 1971, just as Britain suspended the gold standard in 1931.</p>
<p>With the dollar no longer convertible into gold, the attempt after the Smithsonian agreement of 1971 to peg other currencies to the dollar without dollar-gold convertibility exploded within 15 months, resulting in the current managed float. But neither the dollar’s inconvertibility nor greater exchange-rate flexibility lessens the problems created by the dollar’s reserve currency role. The same effects occur in real terms whether exchange rates are fixed or floating. Today, governments seek to relieve the pressures that blew apart Bretton Woods and the Smithsonian system through increasingly wild exchange-rate swings—but only at the cost of a continuous lurch from one state of disequilibrium to another.</p>
<p>The dollar’s reserve-currency role has always had two attractions: It allows other countries to earn interest on their reserves (unlike gold), and it permits the U.S. to acquire foreign and domestic wealth with all the reserves lent us by other countries. However, this subjects the other countries to the risk of exchange losses and the tax of U.S. inflation on their reserves. And acting as the world’s banker tends to diminish U.S. public and private saving and promote an “overvaluation” of the U.S. dollar (like sterling in the 1920s).</p>
<p>These effects are usually associated with an increase in national wealth. They are created under the reserve-currency system by government-to-government borrowing that makes the U.S. private sector feel wealthier even as Washington takes advantage of its greater ease of borrowing. One might say that the reserve-currency system makes the U.S. behave as if it were richer, and other countries as if they were poorer, than they really are. The reserve-currency system encourages American industrial decline, yet leaves us with a monetary system in which the reserves of other countries can increase only in the largest debtor nation in the world goes further into debt.</p>
<p>This explains why no lasting equilibrium is compatible with steady noninflationary growth. When the rest of the world demands dollar reserves to accommodate economic growth, the real dollar exchange rate rises and the leverage of the U.S. financial system increases. But easing U.S. monetary policy to promote a “competitive” dollar and re-liquefy the domestic economy causes either inflation or economic contraction in other countries—depending on whether foreign central banks respond by letting their currencies appreciate or by defensively inflating.</p>
<p>Some argue that we could avoid this if Germany and Japan used fiscal rather than monetary policy to stimulate domestic demand, thus “rebalancing” world growth and U.S. trade. Desirable as initiatives like tax reform are on other grounds, this theory wrongly assumes that the monetary system is symmetrical—that the deutsche mark and the yen are as important as the dollar. For all practical purposes, Germany and Japan can only acquire and spend monetary reserves; they cannot create them. Higher growth abroad would increase the demand for U.S. exports, but it would increase the demand for dollar reserves, offsetting much of the hoped-for gain to U.S. trade.</p>
<p>It’s sometimes pointed out that all nations are trying to achieve a trade surplus at the same time. We are generally reminded that not everyone can have a balance-of-payments surplus. But this is not true. In fact, before the existence of official national-reserve currencies, it was normal for the world economy to have a trade surplus with itself.</p>
<p>Under the old gold standard, the world’s demand for new monetary reserves was met by mining and minting gold. The world’s net exports equaled the increase in monetary gold. Through this mechanism the gold standard maintained average price stability in the long run and even provided a kind of contracyclical job-creation policy. Periods of general prosperity and rising commodity prices tended to depress gold production, since gold’s price was fixed but its cost of production was rising. During depressions, deflation and unemployment in other industries stimulated increased employment in the gold industry, because gold’s price was fixed but its cost of production was falling.</p>
<p>Ironically, when John Maynard Keynes proposed anti-recessionary deficit spending 50 years ago, his theoretical model, as the General Theory makes clear, was the per-1914 gold standard. Keynes simply argued (like many economists since) that building roads and harbors on the cuff is more useful to society than mining gold.</p>
<p>But Keynes overlooked a crucial fact: Since debt must be paid off in real terms by someone, deficit spending alone cannot provide a permanent addition to real incomes: gold, being an asset that is not someone else’s liability, can.</p>
<p>The inescapable conclusion is that without restoring something strongly resembling the international gold standard we cannot solve the world’s systemic monetary and trade problems. To end the zero-sum scramble for monetary reserves and trade surpluses, we must restore an international money that is an asset without being any nation’s liability. This rules out national-reserve currencies like the dollar. It also rules out a currency issued, say, by the IMF, since that would not be a net asset either. The “resource cost” of using gold as money, which is often claimed to be a drawback, is in fact a major advantage. Unless the world’s “final asset” is a real commodity, there can never be an increase in net reserves. And unlike paper money, the production of gold adds to real as well as nominal income.</p>
<p>The world monetary system could regain a stable core, removing most of the reserve-currency problems, if the three or five nations with the largest market economies agreed to settle their accounts with one another in gold, not dollars.</p>
<p>Current dollar reserves of those nations should be redeemed or amortized. They could be financed in large part simply by revaluing official gold stocks from the still official $42.22 an ounce. The U.S. could then pay gold to countries without large gold stocks, such as Japan, and ask countries realizing capital gains on large gold reserves (like France and Germany) to convert their dollars from short to longer term loans. As a transition step, the U.S. could request other governments to hold dollar reserves on deposit directly with the Federal Reserve, not in New York or Eurodollar markets.</p>
<p>‘Portable’ Official Reserves</p>
<p>Meanwhile, private gold convertibility should be restored, with gold parities that initially overvalue gold against currencies in general. This would permit a slight upward drift of world prices to a new equilibrium, avoiding any deflation risk. This might mean a gold price higher than the current market price. Resulting private sales of gold to central banks would force down real interest rates, re-liquefy balance-sheets world-wide and provide a steady source of new monetary reserves.</p>
<p>Ending the dollar’s official reserve-currency role would make official reserve “portable” again: instead of being mechanically recycled to the U.S.—perpetuating the disadvantage for American farmers and manufacturers—part of the surpluses of Germany and Japan would naturally be routed to growing nations with the most investment-friendly policies. These countries would, in turn, find more congenial Japanese and European markets for their goods.</p>
<p>The reason there is no middle ground between protectionist stagnation and inflationary binge is that we have a world monetary system that is literally without reserve. If we are to restore equilibrium of balanced, noninflationary growth, we need to restore a money which is a real asset to the world: gold.</p> | The Reserve-Currency Curse | false | https://eppc.org/publications/the-reserve-currency-curse/ | 1right-center
| The Reserve-Currency Curse
<p>Since 1971 the world has suffered two great inflations and three recessions. Hopes for a world-wide economic expansion have been interrupted once again, by an economic slowdown and the threat of a trade war. Will the world ever settle down to sustained noninflationary growth?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, no-not unless a basic flaw in the world monetary system is corrected. Each succeeding crisis is a different symptom of the same disorder. Each succeeding crisis is a different symptom of the same disorder.</p>
<p>The institutional flaw concerns the choice of international monetary reserves. We all need monetary reserves. Reserves are the “final asset” that bridges the gaps between our sales and purchases of goods, and bonds (promises of future goods).</p>
<p>The main problem is that the international reserves financing world growth and trade consist basically of U.S. dollars—financial claims on the U.S. The dollar is the “official reserve currency.” This means that the “reserves” of the Bundesbank or Bank of Japan are not held in Frankfurt or Tokyo but invested in New York.</p>
<p>Why is this a problem? Because there never can be a net increase in the world monetary reserves. The dollar is an asset for foreign central banks, but it is a liability for the U.S.; it must be paid sooner or later in goods. So other countries can increase their reserves only if the if the U.S. increases its net reserve indebtedness with a balance-of-payments deficit. The U.S. can increase its liquidity only at the expense of other countries. This has made the attempt to gain reserves—and trade surpluses—a zero-sum game.</p>
<p>Bretton Woods Breakdown</p>
<p>The problems arising from the dollar’s reserve-currency role are basically the same ones that led to the breakdown of the sterling-based monetary system established at the 1922 Genoa conference, and the dollar-based system established by the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement. (We sometimes think of these monetary systems as spanning halcyon decades, but they actually operated without major restrictions only in 1925-31 and 1959-1968.)</p>
<p>Under both systems, Britain or the U.S. redeemed its currency in gold, while other countries used pounds sterling or dollars as official reserves. Around 1960, economists Robert Triffin and Jacques Rueff accurately predicted that Bretton Woods had to break down just like the sterling-based system, because the gain in official reserves by other countries was being supplied by net reserve losses of the U.S., which could not last. Bretton Woods officially ended with the suspension of dollar-gold convertibility in 1971, just as Britain suspended the gold standard in 1931.</p>
<p>With the dollar no longer convertible into gold, the attempt after the Smithsonian agreement of 1971 to peg other currencies to the dollar without dollar-gold convertibility exploded within 15 months, resulting in the current managed float. But neither the dollar’s inconvertibility nor greater exchange-rate flexibility lessens the problems created by the dollar’s reserve currency role. The same effects occur in real terms whether exchange rates are fixed or floating. Today, governments seek to relieve the pressures that blew apart Bretton Woods and the Smithsonian system through increasingly wild exchange-rate swings—but only at the cost of a continuous lurch from one state of disequilibrium to another.</p>
<p>The dollar’s reserve-currency role has always had two attractions: It allows other countries to earn interest on their reserves (unlike gold), and it permits the U.S. to acquire foreign and domestic wealth with all the reserves lent us by other countries. However, this subjects the other countries to the risk of exchange losses and the tax of U.S. inflation on their reserves. And acting as the world’s banker tends to diminish U.S. public and private saving and promote an “overvaluation” of the U.S. dollar (like sterling in the 1920s).</p>
<p>These effects are usually associated with an increase in national wealth. They are created under the reserve-currency system by government-to-government borrowing that makes the U.S. private sector feel wealthier even as Washington takes advantage of its greater ease of borrowing. One might say that the reserve-currency system makes the U.S. behave as if it were richer, and other countries as if they were poorer, than they really are. The reserve-currency system encourages American industrial decline, yet leaves us with a monetary system in which the reserves of other countries can increase only in the largest debtor nation in the world goes further into debt.</p>
<p>This explains why no lasting equilibrium is compatible with steady noninflationary growth. When the rest of the world demands dollar reserves to accommodate economic growth, the real dollar exchange rate rises and the leverage of the U.S. financial system increases. But easing U.S. monetary policy to promote a “competitive” dollar and re-liquefy the domestic economy causes either inflation or economic contraction in other countries—depending on whether foreign central banks respond by letting their currencies appreciate or by defensively inflating.</p>
<p>Some argue that we could avoid this if Germany and Japan used fiscal rather than monetary policy to stimulate domestic demand, thus “rebalancing” world growth and U.S. trade. Desirable as initiatives like tax reform are on other grounds, this theory wrongly assumes that the monetary system is symmetrical—that the deutsche mark and the yen are as important as the dollar. For all practical purposes, Germany and Japan can only acquire and spend monetary reserves; they cannot create them. Higher growth abroad would increase the demand for U.S. exports, but it would increase the demand for dollar reserves, offsetting much of the hoped-for gain to U.S. trade.</p>
<p>It’s sometimes pointed out that all nations are trying to achieve a trade surplus at the same time. We are generally reminded that not everyone can have a balance-of-payments surplus. But this is not true. In fact, before the existence of official national-reserve currencies, it was normal for the world economy to have a trade surplus with itself.</p>
<p>Under the old gold standard, the world’s demand for new monetary reserves was met by mining and minting gold. The world’s net exports equaled the increase in monetary gold. Through this mechanism the gold standard maintained average price stability in the long run and even provided a kind of contracyclical job-creation policy. Periods of general prosperity and rising commodity prices tended to depress gold production, since gold’s price was fixed but its cost of production was rising. During depressions, deflation and unemployment in other industries stimulated increased employment in the gold industry, because gold’s price was fixed but its cost of production was falling.</p>
<p>Ironically, when John Maynard Keynes proposed anti-recessionary deficit spending 50 years ago, his theoretical model, as the General Theory makes clear, was the per-1914 gold standard. Keynes simply argued (like many economists since) that building roads and harbors on the cuff is more useful to society than mining gold.</p>
<p>But Keynes overlooked a crucial fact: Since debt must be paid off in real terms by someone, deficit spending alone cannot provide a permanent addition to real incomes: gold, being an asset that is not someone else’s liability, can.</p>
<p>The inescapable conclusion is that without restoring something strongly resembling the international gold standard we cannot solve the world’s systemic monetary and trade problems. To end the zero-sum scramble for monetary reserves and trade surpluses, we must restore an international money that is an asset without being any nation’s liability. This rules out national-reserve currencies like the dollar. It also rules out a currency issued, say, by the IMF, since that would not be a net asset either. The “resource cost” of using gold as money, which is often claimed to be a drawback, is in fact a major advantage. Unless the world’s “final asset” is a real commodity, there can never be an increase in net reserves. And unlike paper money, the production of gold adds to real as well as nominal income.</p>
<p>The world monetary system could regain a stable core, removing most of the reserve-currency problems, if the three or five nations with the largest market economies agreed to settle their accounts with one another in gold, not dollars.</p>
<p>Current dollar reserves of those nations should be redeemed or amortized. They could be financed in large part simply by revaluing official gold stocks from the still official $42.22 an ounce. The U.S. could then pay gold to countries without large gold stocks, such as Japan, and ask countries realizing capital gains on large gold reserves (like France and Germany) to convert their dollars from short to longer term loans. As a transition step, the U.S. could request other governments to hold dollar reserves on deposit directly with the Federal Reserve, not in New York or Eurodollar markets.</p>
<p>‘Portable’ Official Reserves</p>
<p>Meanwhile, private gold convertibility should be restored, with gold parities that initially overvalue gold against currencies in general. This would permit a slight upward drift of world prices to a new equilibrium, avoiding any deflation risk. This might mean a gold price higher than the current market price. Resulting private sales of gold to central banks would force down real interest rates, re-liquefy balance-sheets world-wide and provide a steady source of new monetary reserves.</p>
<p>Ending the dollar’s official reserve-currency role would make official reserve “portable” again: instead of being mechanically recycled to the U.S.—perpetuating the disadvantage for American farmers and manufacturers—part of the surpluses of Germany and Japan would naturally be routed to growing nations with the most investment-friendly policies. These countries would, in turn, find more congenial Japanese and European markets for their goods.</p>
<p>The reason there is no middle ground between protectionist stagnation and inflationary binge is that we have a world monetary system that is literally without reserve. If we are to restore equilibrium of balanced, noninflationary growth, we need to restore a money which is a real asset to the world: gold.</p> | 598,917 |
|
<p>Update:&#160;A ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinians aimed at ending their seven-week conflict in Gaza went into effect on Tuesday and joyous Palestinians streamed into the streets of the battered enclave to celebrate.</p>
<p>Minutes before the Egyptian-brokered truce began at 1600 GMT (12.00 noon EDT), a rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed one person in an Israeli kibbutz, or collective farm, near the Gaza border, police said.</p>
<p>Palestinian and Egyptian officials said the deal calls for an indefinite halt to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt and a widening of the territory's fishing zone in the Mediterranean.</p>
<p>There was no immediate confirmation from Israel, where a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment.</p>
<p>"An agreement has been reached between the two sides and we are awaiting the announcement from Cairo to determine the zero hour for implementation," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Gaza.</p>
<p>A spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, one of the Gaza militant groups that has been firing rockets into Israel, said the announcement could be made within two hours.</p>
<p>Cairo's initiative, Palestinians officials said, called for an indefinite halt to seven weeks of hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt and a widening of the enclave's fishing zone in the Mediterranean.</p>
<p>Under a second stage that would begin a month later, Israel and the Palestinians would discuss the construction of a Gaza sea port and an Israeli release of Hamas prisoners in the occupied West Bank, the officials said.</p>
<p>Both Israel and Egypt view Hamas as a security threat and are demanding guarantees that weapons will not enter the economically crippled territory.</p>
<p>Increasing pressure on Palestinian militants to end their rocket strikes, Israel bombed more of Gaza's tallest structures on Tuesday, bringing down a 13-storey apartment and office tower and destroying most of a 16-floor residential building.</p>
<p>The strikes flattened the Basha Tower and wrecked the Italian Complex, after occupants were warned to get out, and no deaths were reported.</p>
<p>Declining to comment specifically on the attacks, the Israeli military said it had hit 15 "terror sites," including some in buildings that housed Hamas command and control centers.</p>
<p>Warning missiles</p>
<p>Hamas, the dominant militant group in the Gaza Strip, accused Israel of an "unprecedented act of revenge against civilians" aimed at deterring Palestinians from supporting the Islamist movement.</p>
<p>Israel has now attacked three of Gaza's most prominent high-rise buildings since Saturday, when it destroyed the 13-storey Al Zafer Tower.</p>
<p>The strikes were preceded by non-explosive warning missiles that sent residents fleeing, but 20 people were wounded in the attack on the Italian Complex.</p>
<p>Six Palestinians were killed in other Israeli strikes on Tuesday, medical officials said. Israel's military said 70 rockets were fired from Gaza and that one damaged a house in the southern coastal town of Ashkelon, lightly wounding 10 people.</p>
<p>Palestinian health officials say 2,129 people, most of them civilians, including more than 490 children, have been killed in Gaza since July 8, when Israel launched an offensive with the declared aim of ending the rocket salvoes.</p>
<p>Sixty-four Israeli soldiers and four civilians in Israel have been killed.</p>
<p>Thousands of homes in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged in the conflict. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said 540,000 people had been displaced in the territory where Palestinians, citing Israeli attacks that have hit schools and mosques, say no place is safe.</p>
<p>Israel has said Hamas bears responsibility for civilian casualties, because it operates among non-combatants. The group, it said, uses schools and mosques to store weapons and as launch sites for rockets.</p>
<p>(Additional reporting by Ori Lewis and Allyn Fisher-Ilan in Jerusalem; Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Alison Williams)</p> | Gaza ceasefire takes effect as Palestinians celebrate | false | https://pri.org/stories/2014-08-26/gaza-ceasefire-takes-effect-palestinians-celebrate | 2014-08-26 | 3left-center
| Gaza ceasefire takes effect as Palestinians celebrate
<p>Update:&#160;A ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinians aimed at ending their seven-week conflict in Gaza went into effect on Tuesday and joyous Palestinians streamed into the streets of the battered enclave to celebrate.</p>
<p>Minutes before the Egyptian-brokered truce began at 1600 GMT (12.00 noon EDT), a rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed one person in an Israeli kibbutz, or collective farm, near the Gaza border, police said.</p>
<p>Palestinian and Egyptian officials said the deal calls for an indefinite halt to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt and a widening of the territory's fishing zone in the Mediterranean.</p>
<p>There was no immediate confirmation from Israel, where a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment.</p>
<p>"An agreement has been reached between the two sides and we are awaiting the announcement from Cairo to determine the zero hour for implementation," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Gaza.</p>
<p>A spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, one of the Gaza militant groups that has been firing rockets into Israel, said the announcement could be made within two hours.</p>
<p>Cairo's initiative, Palestinians officials said, called for an indefinite halt to seven weeks of hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt and a widening of the enclave's fishing zone in the Mediterranean.</p>
<p>Under a second stage that would begin a month later, Israel and the Palestinians would discuss the construction of a Gaza sea port and an Israeli release of Hamas prisoners in the occupied West Bank, the officials said.</p>
<p>Both Israel and Egypt view Hamas as a security threat and are demanding guarantees that weapons will not enter the economically crippled territory.</p>
<p>Increasing pressure on Palestinian militants to end their rocket strikes, Israel bombed more of Gaza's tallest structures on Tuesday, bringing down a 13-storey apartment and office tower and destroying most of a 16-floor residential building.</p>
<p>The strikes flattened the Basha Tower and wrecked the Italian Complex, after occupants were warned to get out, and no deaths were reported.</p>
<p>Declining to comment specifically on the attacks, the Israeli military said it had hit 15 "terror sites," including some in buildings that housed Hamas command and control centers.</p>
<p>Warning missiles</p>
<p>Hamas, the dominant militant group in the Gaza Strip, accused Israel of an "unprecedented act of revenge against civilians" aimed at deterring Palestinians from supporting the Islamist movement.</p>
<p>Israel has now attacked three of Gaza's most prominent high-rise buildings since Saturday, when it destroyed the 13-storey Al Zafer Tower.</p>
<p>The strikes were preceded by non-explosive warning missiles that sent residents fleeing, but 20 people were wounded in the attack on the Italian Complex.</p>
<p>Six Palestinians were killed in other Israeli strikes on Tuesday, medical officials said. Israel's military said 70 rockets were fired from Gaza and that one damaged a house in the southern coastal town of Ashkelon, lightly wounding 10 people.</p>
<p>Palestinian health officials say 2,129 people, most of them civilians, including more than 490 children, have been killed in Gaza since July 8, when Israel launched an offensive with the declared aim of ending the rocket salvoes.</p>
<p>Sixty-four Israeli soldiers and four civilians in Israel have been killed.</p>
<p>Thousands of homes in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged in the conflict. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said 540,000 people had been displaced in the territory where Palestinians, citing Israeli attacks that have hit schools and mosques, say no place is safe.</p>
<p>Israel has said Hamas bears responsibility for civilian casualties, because it operates among non-combatants. The group, it said, uses schools and mosques to store weapons and as launch sites for rockets.</p>
<p>(Additional reporting by Ori Lewis and Allyn Fisher-Ilan in Jerusalem; Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Alison Williams)</p> | 598,918 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California issued more than a half-million driver's licenses under a new law granting the identifying documents to immigrants who may be in the country illegally.</p>
<p>The Department of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday that 605,000 licenses were issued since AB60 took effect last January. That's out of 830,000 applications.</p>
<p>AB60 allows people who can't prove they're in the country legally to obtain driver's licenses using identification from their home countries.</p>
<p>They also must prove California residency and pass written and driving tests.</p>
<p>Supporters pushed for the law as a safety measure, arguing that many immigrants already get behind the wheel but lack the training and testing required of other drivers and may not carry insurance.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | California issues 605,000 driver's licenses to immigrants | false | https://abqjournal.com/701991/california-issues-605000-drivers-licenses-to-immigrants.html | 2least
| California issues 605,000 driver's licenses to immigrants
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California issued more than a half-million driver's licenses under a new law granting the identifying documents to immigrants who may be in the country illegally.</p>
<p>The Department of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday that 605,000 licenses were issued since AB60 took effect last January. That's out of 830,000 applications.</p>
<p>AB60 allows people who can't prove they're in the country legally to obtain driver's licenses using identification from their home countries.</p>
<p>They also must prove California residency and pass written and driving tests.</p>
<p>Supporters pushed for the law as a safety measure, arguing that many immigrants already get behind the wheel but lack the training and testing required of other drivers and may not carry insurance.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,919 |
|
<p>KAZAN, Russia (AP) — Katie Ledecky touched the wall, turned around, spit out some water, curled her mouth into a big smile and began waving her finger.</p>
<p>For a swimmer who is getting accustomed to breaking world records, this one was a bit of a surprise.</p>
<p>The American teenager improved her own mark in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the world championships Monday in morning heats.</p>
<p>The 18-year-old Ledecky completed the marathon-like race in 15 minutes, 27.71 seconds — shaving 0.65 seconds off the mark she set at last year's Pan Pacific championships in Australia.</p>
<p>"I'm in quite a bit of shock right now," Ledecky said. "I was barely even focusing on this morning's swim. I was so relaxed. ... I realized kind of toward the end because I could see people waving."</p>
<p>It's the fourth time Ledecky has broken the record in the 1,500 and she'll have a chance to improve it again in Tuesday's final.</p>
<p>Ledecky also holds world marks in the 400 and 800 free. She was just off her record pace in winning the 400 free Sunday.</p>
<p>"It's probably one of the coolest world records I've broken," Ledecky said. "Each one is really unique, but just sort of how relaxed and calm I was it's pretty neat and hopefully I can carry that energy through the rest of the week."</p>
<p>While the Kazan Arena was only half full, Ledecky's American teammates and family members in the stands were going wild, and she acknowledged them after climbing out of the temporary pool.</p>
<p>"I knew where my parents and brother and uncle were sitting and I could see them waving as well," Ledecky said.</p>
<p>It was the second world record of the meet after Sarah Sjoestrom of Sweden broke one in the 100 fly semifinals Sunday.</p>
<p>Jessica Ashwood, the second-placed swimmer in Ledecky's heat, finished more than a lap behind. Others were more than two laps behind. That gave Ledecky plenty of time to savor the moment, while resting on the lane ropes.</p>
<p>Lotte Friis of Denmark qualified second in 15:54.23.</p>
<p>The 1,500 — the longest event in the pool — is not an Olympic race for women.</p>
<p>Ledecky's biggest challenge of the meet could come Tuesday when she'll race against teammate Missy Franklin and a loaded field in the 200 free semifinals after the 1,500 final.</p>
<p>"The 200 is going to be a big race," Ledecky said. "I should have 20 minutes in between and that should be plenty of time."</p>
<p>Franklin, meanwhile, is learning how to deal with the lingering effects of her back injury. She should be glad she won't have to deal with Katinka Hosszu, otherwise known as the "Iron Lady," for the remainder of the 100 backstroke.</p>
<p>While it was only good for fifth, the 20-year-old Franklin swam her fastest time of the year Monday.</p>
<p>Hungary's Hosszu led the event in 58.78 seconds ahead of Australians Emily Seebohm and Madison Wilson, while Franklin touched in 59.59.</p>
<p>Hosszu then announced she was scratching the rest of the event to focus on the 200 individual medley final later Monday. She qualified first in that event, too, and is planning to swim five more individual events this week.</p>
<p>Franklin was injured at last year's Pan Pacific Championships in Australia and she still undergoes physical therapy two or three times a week to strengthen her back.</p>
<p>"It's my first 59 of the season. It felt great. It's a tough field," Franklin said. "After last summer I have this new appreciation of getting up there and not worrying about injury."</p>
<p>Aiming for his second gold of the championships, China's Sun Yang topped the 200 free heats in 1:46.00. James Guy, the British swimmer who took silver behind Sun in the 400 free Sunday, was again second, just 0.10 behind.</p>
<p>World-record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany qualified third and Australia's Cameron McEvoy was fourth. American standout Ryan Lochte only barely advanced to the semifinals in 13th.</p>
<p>"I'm glad that's over. That felt horrible," Lochte said, describing his swim as "a tactical disaster."</p>
<p>Always the favorite in the 400, 800 and 1,500 free, Sun's best result in the 200 was silver at the London Games.</p>
<p>China's anti-doping agency revealed in November that Sun served a three-month ban earlier that year after testing positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine. After his 400 win, Sun lashed out at the criticism stemming from his ban, saying it showed "a lack of respect."</p>
<p>In the men's 100 back, Mitchell Larkin of Australia qualified first in 52.50 with Olympic gold medalist and defending champion Matt Grevers of the United States second in 53.21.</p>
<p>Fresh off her doping ban, Yuliya Efimova of Russia got the crowd inside the Kazan Arena going by leading the 100 breaststroke heats in 1:06.31.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf</p>
<p>KAZAN, Russia (AP) — Katie Ledecky touched the wall, turned around, spit out some water, curled her mouth into a big smile and began waving her finger.</p>
<p>For a swimmer who is getting accustomed to breaking world records, this one was a bit of a surprise.</p>
<p>The American teenager improved her own mark in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the world championships Monday in morning heats.</p>
<p>The 18-year-old Ledecky completed the marathon-like race in 15 minutes, 27.71 seconds — shaving 0.65 seconds off the mark she set at last year's Pan Pacific championships in Australia.</p>
<p>"I'm in quite a bit of shock right now," Ledecky said. "I was barely even focusing on this morning's swim. I was so relaxed. ... I realized kind of toward the end because I could see people waving."</p>
<p>It's the fourth time Ledecky has broken the record in the 1,500 and she'll have a chance to improve it again in Tuesday's final.</p>
<p>Ledecky also holds world marks in the 400 and 800 free. She was just off her record pace in winning the 400 free Sunday.</p>
<p>"It's probably one of the coolest world records I've broken," Ledecky said. "Each one is really unique, but just sort of how relaxed and calm I was it's pretty neat and hopefully I can carry that energy through the rest of the week."</p>
<p>While the Kazan Arena was only half full, Ledecky's American teammates and family members in the stands were going wild, and she acknowledged them after climbing out of the temporary pool.</p>
<p>"I knew where my parents and brother and uncle were sitting and I could see them waving as well," Ledecky said.</p>
<p>It was the second world record of the meet after Sarah Sjoestrom of Sweden broke one in the 100 fly semifinals Sunday.</p>
<p>Jessica Ashwood, the second-placed swimmer in Ledecky's heat, finished more than a lap behind. Others were more than two laps behind. That gave Ledecky plenty of time to savor the moment, while resting on the lane ropes.</p>
<p>Lotte Friis of Denmark qualified second in 15:54.23.</p>
<p>The 1,500 — the longest event in the pool — is not an Olympic race for women.</p>
<p>Ledecky's biggest challenge of the meet could come Tuesday when she'll race against teammate Missy Franklin and a loaded field in the 200 free semifinals after the 1,500 final.</p>
<p>"The 200 is going to be a big race," Ledecky said. "I should have 20 minutes in between and that should be plenty of time."</p>
<p>Franklin, meanwhile, is learning how to deal with the lingering effects of her back injury. She should be glad she won't have to deal with Katinka Hosszu, otherwise known as the "Iron Lady," for the remainder of the 100 backstroke.</p>
<p>While it was only good for fifth, the 20-year-old Franklin swam her fastest time of the year Monday.</p>
<p>Hungary's Hosszu led the event in 58.78 seconds ahead of Australians Emily Seebohm and Madison Wilson, while Franklin touched in 59.59.</p>
<p>Hosszu then announced she was scratching the rest of the event to focus on the 200 individual medley final later Monday. She qualified first in that event, too, and is planning to swim five more individual events this week.</p>
<p>Franklin was injured at last year's Pan Pacific Championships in Australia and she still undergoes physical therapy two or three times a week to strengthen her back.</p>
<p>"It's my first 59 of the season. It felt great. It's a tough field," Franklin said. "After last summer I have this new appreciation of getting up there and not worrying about injury."</p>
<p>Aiming for his second gold of the championships, China's Sun Yang topped the 200 free heats in 1:46.00. James Guy, the British swimmer who took silver behind Sun in the 400 free Sunday, was again second, just 0.10 behind.</p>
<p>World-record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany qualified third and Australia's Cameron McEvoy was fourth. American standout Ryan Lochte only barely advanced to the semifinals in 13th.</p>
<p>"I'm glad that's over. That felt horrible," Lochte said, describing his swim as "a tactical disaster."</p>
<p>Always the favorite in the 400, 800 and 1,500 free, Sun's best result in the 200 was silver at the London Games.</p>
<p>China's anti-doping agency revealed in November that Sun served a three-month ban earlier that year after testing positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine. After his 400 win, Sun lashed out at the criticism stemming from his ban, saying it showed "a lack of respect."</p>
<p>In the men's 100 back, Mitchell Larkin of Australia qualified first in 52.50 with Olympic gold medalist and defending champion Matt Grevers of the United States second in 53.21.</p>
<p>Fresh off her doping ban, Yuliya Efimova of Russia got the crowd inside the Kazan Arena going by leading the 100 breaststroke heats in 1:06.31.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf</p> | Ledecky shocked after improving 1,500 world record in heats | false | https://apnews.com/amp/b39ddd16b0534ae78a8443d540093e10 | 2015-08-03 | 2least
| Ledecky shocked after improving 1,500 world record in heats
<p>KAZAN, Russia (AP) — Katie Ledecky touched the wall, turned around, spit out some water, curled her mouth into a big smile and began waving her finger.</p>
<p>For a swimmer who is getting accustomed to breaking world records, this one was a bit of a surprise.</p>
<p>The American teenager improved her own mark in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the world championships Monday in morning heats.</p>
<p>The 18-year-old Ledecky completed the marathon-like race in 15 minutes, 27.71 seconds — shaving 0.65 seconds off the mark she set at last year's Pan Pacific championships in Australia.</p>
<p>"I'm in quite a bit of shock right now," Ledecky said. "I was barely even focusing on this morning's swim. I was so relaxed. ... I realized kind of toward the end because I could see people waving."</p>
<p>It's the fourth time Ledecky has broken the record in the 1,500 and she'll have a chance to improve it again in Tuesday's final.</p>
<p>Ledecky also holds world marks in the 400 and 800 free. She was just off her record pace in winning the 400 free Sunday.</p>
<p>"It's probably one of the coolest world records I've broken," Ledecky said. "Each one is really unique, but just sort of how relaxed and calm I was it's pretty neat and hopefully I can carry that energy through the rest of the week."</p>
<p>While the Kazan Arena was only half full, Ledecky's American teammates and family members in the stands were going wild, and she acknowledged them after climbing out of the temporary pool.</p>
<p>"I knew where my parents and brother and uncle were sitting and I could see them waving as well," Ledecky said.</p>
<p>It was the second world record of the meet after Sarah Sjoestrom of Sweden broke one in the 100 fly semifinals Sunday.</p>
<p>Jessica Ashwood, the second-placed swimmer in Ledecky's heat, finished more than a lap behind. Others were more than two laps behind. That gave Ledecky plenty of time to savor the moment, while resting on the lane ropes.</p>
<p>Lotte Friis of Denmark qualified second in 15:54.23.</p>
<p>The 1,500 — the longest event in the pool — is not an Olympic race for women.</p>
<p>Ledecky's biggest challenge of the meet could come Tuesday when she'll race against teammate Missy Franklin and a loaded field in the 200 free semifinals after the 1,500 final.</p>
<p>"The 200 is going to be a big race," Ledecky said. "I should have 20 minutes in between and that should be plenty of time."</p>
<p>Franklin, meanwhile, is learning how to deal with the lingering effects of her back injury. She should be glad she won't have to deal with Katinka Hosszu, otherwise known as the "Iron Lady," for the remainder of the 100 backstroke.</p>
<p>While it was only good for fifth, the 20-year-old Franklin swam her fastest time of the year Monday.</p>
<p>Hungary's Hosszu led the event in 58.78 seconds ahead of Australians Emily Seebohm and Madison Wilson, while Franklin touched in 59.59.</p>
<p>Hosszu then announced she was scratching the rest of the event to focus on the 200 individual medley final later Monday. She qualified first in that event, too, and is planning to swim five more individual events this week.</p>
<p>Franklin was injured at last year's Pan Pacific Championships in Australia and she still undergoes physical therapy two or three times a week to strengthen her back.</p>
<p>"It's my first 59 of the season. It felt great. It's a tough field," Franklin said. "After last summer I have this new appreciation of getting up there and not worrying about injury."</p>
<p>Aiming for his second gold of the championships, China's Sun Yang topped the 200 free heats in 1:46.00. James Guy, the British swimmer who took silver behind Sun in the 400 free Sunday, was again second, just 0.10 behind.</p>
<p>World-record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany qualified third and Australia's Cameron McEvoy was fourth. American standout Ryan Lochte only barely advanced to the semifinals in 13th.</p>
<p>"I'm glad that's over. That felt horrible," Lochte said, describing his swim as "a tactical disaster."</p>
<p>Always the favorite in the 400, 800 and 1,500 free, Sun's best result in the 200 was silver at the London Games.</p>
<p>China's anti-doping agency revealed in November that Sun served a three-month ban earlier that year after testing positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine. After his 400 win, Sun lashed out at the criticism stemming from his ban, saying it showed "a lack of respect."</p>
<p>In the men's 100 back, Mitchell Larkin of Australia qualified first in 52.50 with Olympic gold medalist and defending champion Matt Grevers of the United States second in 53.21.</p>
<p>Fresh off her doping ban, Yuliya Efimova of Russia got the crowd inside the Kazan Arena going by leading the 100 breaststroke heats in 1:06.31.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf</p>
<p>KAZAN, Russia (AP) — Katie Ledecky touched the wall, turned around, spit out some water, curled her mouth into a big smile and began waving her finger.</p>
<p>For a swimmer who is getting accustomed to breaking world records, this one was a bit of a surprise.</p>
<p>The American teenager improved her own mark in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the world championships Monday in morning heats.</p>
<p>The 18-year-old Ledecky completed the marathon-like race in 15 minutes, 27.71 seconds — shaving 0.65 seconds off the mark she set at last year's Pan Pacific championships in Australia.</p>
<p>"I'm in quite a bit of shock right now," Ledecky said. "I was barely even focusing on this morning's swim. I was so relaxed. ... I realized kind of toward the end because I could see people waving."</p>
<p>It's the fourth time Ledecky has broken the record in the 1,500 and she'll have a chance to improve it again in Tuesday's final.</p>
<p>Ledecky also holds world marks in the 400 and 800 free. She was just off her record pace in winning the 400 free Sunday.</p>
<p>"It's probably one of the coolest world records I've broken," Ledecky said. "Each one is really unique, but just sort of how relaxed and calm I was it's pretty neat and hopefully I can carry that energy through the rest of the week."</p>
<p>While the Kazan Arena was only half full, Ledecky's American teammates and family members in the stands were going wild, and she acknowledged them after climbing out of the temporary pool.</p>
<p>"I knew where my parents and brother and uncle were sitting and I could see them waving as well," Ledecky said.</p>
<p>It was the second world record of the meet after Sarah Sjoestrom of Sweden broke one in the 100 fly semifinals Sunday.</p>
<p>Jessica Ashwood, the second-placed swimmer in Ledecky's heat, finished more than a lap behind. Others were more than two laps behind. That gave Ledecky plenty of time to savor the moment, while resting on the lane ropes.</p>
<p>Lotte Friis of Denmark qualified second in 15:54.23.</p>
<p>The 1,500 — the longest event in the pool — is not an Olympic race for women.</p>
<p>Ledecky's biggest challenge of the meet could come Tuesday when she'll race against teammate Missy Franklin and a loaded field in the 200 free semifinals after the 1,500 final.</p>
<p>"The 200 is going to be a big race," Ledecky said. "I should have 20 minutes in between and that should be plenty of time."</p>
<p>Franklin, meanwhile, is learning how to deal with the lingering effects of her back injury. She should be glad she won't have to deal with Katinka Hosszu, otherwise known as the "Iron Lady," for the remainder of the 100 backstroke.</p>
<p>While it was only good for fifth, the 20-year-old Franklin swam her fastest time of the year Monday.</p>
<p>Hungary's Hosszu led the event in 58.78 seconds ahead of Australians Emily Seebohm and Madison Wilson, while Franklin touched in 59.59.</p>
<p>Hosszu then announced she was scratching the rest of the event to focus on the 200 individual medley final later Monday. She qualified first in that event, too, and is planning to swim five more individual events this week.</p>
<p>Franklin was injured at last year's Pan Pacific Championships in Australia and she still undergoes physical therapy two or three times a week to strengthen her back.</p>
<p>"It's my first 59 of the season. It felt great. It's a tough field," Franklin said. "After last summer I have this new appreciation of getting up there and not worrying about injury."</p>
<p>Aiming for his second gold of the championships, China's Sun Yang topped the 200 free heats in 1:46.00. James Guy, the British swimmer who took silver behind Sun in the 400 free Sunday, was again second, just 0.10 behind.</p>
<p>World-record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany qualified third and Australia's Cameron McEvoy was fourth. American standout Ryan Lochte only barely advanced to the semifinals in 13th.</p>
<p>"I'm glad that's over. That felt horrible," Lochte said, describing his swim as "a tactical disaster."</p>
<p>Always the favorite in the 400, 800 and 1,500 free, Sun's best result in the 200 was silver at the London Games.</p>
<p>China's anti-doping agency revealed in November that Sun served a three-month ban earlier that year after testing positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine. After his 400 win, Sun lashed out at the criticism stemming from his ban, saying it showed "a lack of respect."</p>
<p>In the men's 100 back, Mitchell Larkin of Australia qualified first in 52.50 with Olympic gold medalist and defending champion Matt Grevers of the United States second in 53.21.</p>
<p>Fresh off her doping ban, Yuliya Efimova of Russia got the crowd inside the Kazan Arena going by leading the 100 breaststroke heats in 1:06.31.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf</p> | 598,920 |
<p>WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 14 (UPI) — A South Korean ruling party lawmaker said he is in favor of the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in his country, although South Korean President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Moon-Jae/" type="external">Moon Jae</a>-in’s office <a href="https://www.upi.com/South-Korea-official-No-plan-to-redeploy-tactical-nukes/7561505225505/" type="external">clearly ruled out</a> the option in September.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Lee_Jong/" type="external">Lee Jong</a>-kul, a politician in Moon’s progressive Minjoo Party, said Tuesday he is seeking U.S. endorsement on a potential South Korean decision to develop and deploy “sophisticated nuclear assets” on the peninsula to deter against <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/North_Korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> provocations.</p>
<p>“I ask your strong support,” Lee said before an audience gathered at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>Lee’s somewhat controversial proposal was met with support from the opposing side of South Korea’s political spectrum.</p>
<p>Shin Sang-jin, a member of the National Assembly and the conservative Liberty Korea Party, said at the same forum organized by the Global Peace Foundation he supports the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>“Even though we don’t know how effective this will be, one of the desired measures, I feel it, is the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula,” Shin said Tuesday.</p>
<p>“Tactical nuclear weapons make North Koreans aware of their predicament.”</p>
<p>Lee, who expressed <a href="https://www.upi.com/South-Korea-considers-its-nuclear-options/6831500576202/" type="external">his support for</a> the redeployment of weapons in July, said the United States strictly regulates South Korea’s development of nuclear power.</p>
<p>South Korea signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, and all U.S. tactical nuclear weapons were removed from the country in 1991.</p>
<p>But Lee said the restrictions should be removed and defended South Korea’s nuclear option.</p>
<p>“The most secure and cheap [deterrent] is to possess [nuclear weapons],” Lee said.</p>
<p>Shin said redeployment is needed because more needs to be done to address North Korea’s threats.</p>
<p>“The world needs a more active approach beyond sanctions and pressure,” Shin said.</p>
<p>A recent Gallup Korea poll showed 60 percent of South Korean respondents were in favor of tactical nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>A U.S. analyst <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/10/31/Trump-visit-to-South-Korea-could-address-issues-beyond-North-Korea/8881509495709/" type="external">who spoke to</a> UPI ahead of U.S. President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/" type="external">Donald Trump</a>‘s 12-day Asia trip said there is anxiety in the South about North Korea’s provocations, but South Koreans may also be lowering their expectations the United States will be respond to South Korea’s protection.</p>
<p>Those concerns, however, may have been addressed during Trump’s <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/11/07/Trump-warns-North-Korea-against-fatal-miscalculation/5601510090103/?utm_source=sec&amp;utm_campaign=sl&amp;utm_medium=8" type="external">visit to Seoul</a> last week, when he reassured South Koreans the alliance must stay strong in the face of a common threat.</p>
<p>Trump reaffirmed a longtime alliance “forged in war,” while warning North Korea against a “fatal miscalculation.”</p>
<p>In their last summit, Trump and Moon <a href="https://www.upi.com/Moon-Trump-agree-to-build-up-deterrence-urge-North-Korea-to-give-up-nukes/1151510059984/" type="external">agreed to remove</a> the limit on the payload of South Korean missiles.</p>
<p>The Global Peace Foundation is affiliated with the ultimate holding company that owns United Press International.</p> | South Korea lawmakers agree on tactical nuclear weapons | false | https://newsline.com/south-korea-lawmakers-agree-on-tactical-nuclear-weapons/ | 2017-11-15 | 1right-center
| South Korea lawmakers agree on tactical nuclear weapons
<p>WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 14 (UPI) — A South Korean ruling party lawmaker said he is in favor of the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in his country, although South Korean President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Moon-Jae/" type="external">Moon Jae</a>-in’s office <a href="https://www.upi.com/South-Korea-official-No-plan-to-redeploy-tactical-nukes/7561505225505/" type="external">clearly ruled out</a> the option in September.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Lee_Jong/" type="external">Lee Jong</a>-kul, a politician in Moon’s progressive Minjoo Party, said Tuesday he is seeking U.S. endorsement on a potential South Korean decision to develop and deploy “sophisticated nuclear assets” on the peninsula to deter against <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/North_Korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> provocations.</p>
<p>“I ask your strong support,” Lee said before an audience gathered at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>Lee’s somewhat controversial proposal was met with support from the opposing side of South Korea’s political spectrum.</p>
<p>Shin Sang-jin, a member of the National Assembly and the conservative Liberty Korea Party, said at the same forum organized by the Global Peace Foundation he supports the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>“Even though we don’t know how effective this will be, one of the desired measures, I feel it, is the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula,” Shin said Tuesday.</p>
<p>“Tactical nuclear weapons make North Koreans aware of their predicament.”</p>
<p>Lee, who expressed <a href="https://www.upi.com/South-Korea-considers-its-nuclear-options/6831500576202/" type="external">his support for</a> the redeployment of weapons in July, said the United States strictly regulates South Korea’s development of nuclear power.</p>
<p>South Korea signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, and all U.S. tactical nuclear weapons were removed from the country in 1991.</p>
<p>But Lee said the restrictions should be removed and defended South Korea’s nuclear option.</p>
<p>“The most secure and cheap [deterrent] is to possess [nuclear weapons],” Lee said.</p>
<p>Shin said redeployment is needed because more needs to be done to address North Korea’s threats.</p>
<p>“The world needs a more active approach beyond sanctions and pressure,” Shin said.</p>
<p>A recent Gallup Korea poll showed 60 percent of South Korean respondents were in favor of tactical nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>A U.S. analyst <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/10/31/Trump-visit-to-South-Korea-could-address-issues-beyond-North-Korea/8881509495709/" type="external">who spoke to</a> UPI ahead of U.S. President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/" type="external">Donald Trump</a>‘s 12-day Asia trip said there is anxiety in the South about North Korea’s provocations, but South Koreans may also be lowering their expectations the United States will be respond to South Korea’s protection.</p>
<p>Those concerns, however, may have been addressed during Trump’s <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/11/07/Trump-warns-North-Korea-against-fatal-miscalculation/5601510090103/?utm_source=sec&amp;utm_campaign=sl&amp;utm_medium=8" type="external">visit to Seoul</a> last week, when he reassured South Koreans the alliance must stay strong in the face of a common threat.</p>
<p>Trump reaffirmed a longtime alliance “forged in war,” while warning North Korea against a “fatal miscalculation.”</p>
<p>In their last summit, Trump and Moon <a href="https://www.upi.com/Moon-Trump-agree-to-build-up-deterrence-urge-North-Korea-to-give-up-nukes/1151510059984/" type="external">agreed to remove</a> the limit on the payload of South Korean missiles.</p>
<p>The Global Peace Foundation is affiliated with the ultimate holding company that owns United Press International.</p> | 598,921 |
<p>Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board appointed 116 missionaries-the second-largest group of new missionaries in board history-during their May 19-21 meeting in Midland, Texas.</p>
<p>They also adopted guidelines for cooperating with other Great Commission Christian partners overseas; elected new officers for 2005-06; received reports on the board's finances and missionary personnel; and heard from IMB President Jerry Rankin about the necessity of ongoing evangelical mission efforts in Roman Catholic countries.</p>
<p>Trustees adopted revised goals and guidelines outlining five levels of “strategic relationships” with other Christian groups committed to international missions. The guidelines clarify for trustees, board staff and missionaries appropriate ways to partner with others-some of whom differ with Southern Baptists in theology and church practice.</p>
<p>“IMB missionaries do not enter into strategic relationships randomly” but with the intention of starting church-planting movements and “in accord with the biblical principles of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message,” the guidelines state. “The deeper the level [of cooperation], the greater the significance” of being in accord on those principles.</p>
<p>The first two levels offer wide latitude for networking with many types of groups, including secular organizations. In Level One, “Our aim is simply to gain a presence or access to a people group or population segment,” the guidelines state. “The missionary may be trying to make inroads into what may be a hostile situation. Creativity and flexibility are essential in associating with cultural programs, educational institutions, business forums or whatever can open the door to deeper levels of relationships.”</p>
<p>Level Two centers on human needs projects, disaster response and mobilizing prayer in cooperation with many kinds of relief groups, Christians and Christian organizations.</p>
<p>Level Three focuses on specific presentation of the gospel, limiting potential partners to “those whose commitment is to New Testament evangelism and who present personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation.” These include joint efforts with groups skilled in various aspects of outreach and discipleship, such as TransWorld Radio, Operation Mobilization and the Navigators.</p>
<p>Level Four, the actual planting of churches, further narrows partners to those in alignment with the definition of a church found in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as well as the additional guidelines on what constitutes a church approved by IMB trustees in January.</p>
<p>Finally, Level Five “seeks to influence the ongoing shape of Baptist work and identity … through theological education and ministerial training. Seldom, if ever, would we engage in strategic relationships, even with other Great Commission Christians, at this level. …”</p>
<p>Rankin, in his president's report to trustees, noted the passing of Pope John Paul II, a man beloved by millions of Protestants and evangelicals “for his zeal, his personal warmth and his unyielding stand for human dignity, the sanctity of life and many other moral convictions shared in common.”</p>
<p>Rankin added, however, that nearly 1,200 Southern Baptist missionaries continue to serve in 65 predominately Roman Catholic countries where 852 million people live.</p>
<p>“Why would we invest such efforts in Catholic countries? The answer is quite simple: It is because they are lost,” Rankin said. “The people may be identified as cultural Christians since that is their socio-religious profile, but most of them do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. … They, too, deserve an opportunity to hear, understand and respond to the life-changing message of the gospel. They cannot be ignored in our commitment that all peoples would know our Lord Jesus Christ.”</p>
<p>David Steverson, IMB treasurer and vice president for finance, reported that contributions to IMB mission work in 2004 through the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, hunger and relief giving and other gifts totaled more than $245 million, up almost $6 million over 2003 giving. Other income-from investments, legacies, additions to endowments and the like-totaled $41.6 million, bringing all income for the year to nearly $287 million.</p>
<p>“Let me hasten to say that the numbers are not growing at the rate we need them to grow in order to sustain a growing missionary force,” Steverson said. “However, just as we experienced last year when we told Southern Baptists we had missionary candidates ready, willing and able to go but insufficient funds to send them, I'm convinced Southern Baptists will respond to the needs as they catch the vision of reaching a lost world.”</p>
<p>Steverson projected that the Lottie Moon Offering for 2004, which was to be officially announced after all receipts are counted at the end of May, will total about $133 million-down some $3 million from the 2003 offering. However, Steverson reminded trustees that the devastating tsunami slammed into Asia Dec. 26 and churches immediately began giving for relief efforts.</p>
<p>“Southern Baptists have responded by giving over $16 million toward tsunami relief right in the middle of Lottie Moon season,” he said. “Between the two offerings, Lottie Moon and tsunami, Southern Baptists have given almost $150 million for international missions efforts.”</p>
<p>IMB Executive Vice President Clyde Meador reported that the international missionary force at the end of last year-5,165-reflected a net loss of 205 when compared to the previous year. While 686 new missionaries were added during the year, 891 were subtracted due to retirement (48), completion of service by shorter-term missionaries (572) and attrition (271).</p>
<p>The IMB missionary count peaked at about 5,500 in early 2003, but began to fall with the budget cuts and temporary freeze on new appointments that year.</p>
<p>Baptist Press</p> | IMB appoints missionaries, sets partner guidelines | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/imbappointsmissionariessetspartnerguidelines/ | 3left-center
| IMB appoints missionaries, sets partner guidelines
<p>Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board appointed 116 missionaries-the second-largest group of new missionaries in board history-during their May 19-21 meeting in Midland, Texas.</p>
<p>They also adopted guidelines for cooperating with other Great Commission Christian partners overseas; elected new officers for 2005-06; received reports on the board's finances and missionary personnel; and heard from IMB President Jerry Rankin about the necessity of ongoing evangelical mission efforts in Roman Catholic countries.</p>
<p>Trustees adopted revised goals and guidelines outlining five levels of “strategic relationships” with other Christian groups committed to international missions. The guidelines clarify for trustees, board staff and missionaries appropriate ways to partner with others-some of whom differ with Southern Baptists in theology and church practice.</p>
<p>“IMB missionaries do not enter into strategic relationships randomly” but with the intention of starting church-planting movements and “in accord with the biblical principles of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message,” the guidelines state. “The deeper the level [of cooperation], the greater the significance” of being in accord on those principles.</p>
<p>The first two levels offer wide latitude for networking with many types of groups, including secular organizations. In Level One, “Our aim is simply to gain a presence or access to a people group or population segment,” the guidelines state. “The missionary may be trying to make inroads into what may be a hostile situation. Creativity and flexibility are essential in associating with cultural programs, educational institutions, business forums or whatever can open the door to deeper levels of relationships.”</p>
<p>Level Two centers on human needs projects, disaster response and mobilizing prayer in cooperation with many kinds of relief groups, Christians and Christian organizations.</p>
<p>Level Three focuses on specific presentation of the gospel, limiting potential partners to “those whose commitment is to New Testament evangelism and who present personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation.” These include joint efforts with groups skilled in various aspects of outreach and discipleship, such as TransWorld Radio, Operation Mobilization and the Navigators.</p>
<p>Level Four, the actual planting of churches, further narrows partners to those in alignment with the definition of a church found in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as well as the additional guidelines on what constitutes a church approved by IMB trustees in January.</p>
<p>Finally, Level Five “seeks to influence the ongoing shape of Baptist work and identity … through theological education and ministerial training. Seldom, if ever, would we engage in strategic relationships, even with other Great Commission Christians, at this level. …”</p>
<p>Rankin, in his president's report to trustees, noted the passing of Pope John Paul II, a man beloved by millions of Protestants and evangelicals “for his zeal, his personal warmth and his unyielding stand for human dignity, the sanctity of life and many other moral convictions shared in common.”</p>
<p>Rankin added, however, that nearly 1,200 Southern Baptist missionaries continue to serve in 65 predominately Roman Catholic countries where 852 million people live.</p>
<p>“Why would we invest such efforts in Catholic countries? The answer is quite simple: It is because they are lost,” Rankin said. “The people may be identified as cultural Christians since that is their socio-religious profile, but most of them do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. … They, too, deserve an opportunity to hear, understand and respond to the life-changing message of the gospel. They cannot be ignored in our commitment that all peoples would know our Lord Jesus Christ.”</p>
<p>David Steverson, IMB treasurer and vice president for finance, reported that contributions to IMB mission work in 2004 through the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, hunger and relief giving and other gifts totaled more than $245 million, up almost $6 million over 2003 giving. Other income-from investments, legacies, additions to endowments and the like-totaled $41.6 million, bringing all income for the year to nearly $287 million.</p>
<p>“Let me hasten to say that the numbers are not growing at the rate we need them to grow in order to sustain a growing missionary force,” Steverson said. “However, just as we experienced last year when we told Southern Baptists we had missionary candidates ready, willing and able to go but insufficient funds to send them, I'm convinced Southern Baptists will respond to the needs as they catch the vision of reaching a lost world.”</p>
<p>Steverson projected that the Lottie Moon Offering for 2004, which was to be officially announced after all receipts are counted at the end of May, will total about $133 million-down some $3 million from the 2003 offering. However, Steverson reminded trustees that the devastating tsunami slammed into Asia Dec. 26 and churches immediately began giving for relief efforts.</p>
<p>“Southern Baptists have responded by giving over $16 million toward tsunami relief right in the middle of Lottie Moon season,” he said. “Between the two offerings, Lottie Moon and tsunami, Southern Baptists have given almost $150 million for international missions efforts.”</p>
<p>IMB Executive Vice President Clyde Meador reported that the international missionary force at the end of last year-5,165-reflected a net loss of 205 when compared to the previous year. While 686 new missionaries were added during the year, 891 were subtracted due to retirement (48), completion of service by shorter-term missionaries (572) and attrition (271).</p>
<p>The IMB missionary count peaked at about 5,500 in early 2003, but began to fall with the budget cuts and temporary freeze on new appointments that year.</p>
<p>Baptist Press</p> | 598,922 |
|
<p>Railroads are always worth looking at for those seeking good dividend growth prospects. But since no two railroads will have exactly the same dividend or growth potential, let's consider which ones are best for income seekers.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Let's first review what a few of the numbers mean in the table above.</p>
<p>The third column shows the amount of free cash flow that was used to pay dividends in 2016. Here, a low number is better because it implies the company has, at least in theory, more financial firepower to grow its dividend. Kansas City Southern scores the best in this regard.</p>
<p>The fourth column shows 10-year average return on equity (ROE), which is how much net income a company generates from shareholder equity. Here, a higher number is better as it implies the company can keep growing its income and cash flows more.&#160;Canadian National Railway comes out top on this metric.</p>
<p>The fifth column is the theoretical growth rate of the company's dividend based on its free cash flow payout ratio. It's calculated as return on equity divided by the free cash flow payout ratio Canadian National Railway and Union Pacific Corporation come out on top.</p>
<p>Of course, if you're just looking for the highest current yield, Union Pacific is the winner. Is that the right answer, though? Should you just go ahead and buy them all and wait for some low but solid dividend growth in the future? Investing is never that simple.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Assuming a railroad's previous 10-year average ROE will be the same in the next decade is a risky exercise. On the other hand, risk and uncertainty imply upside potential.</p>
<p>Indeed, CSX and Norfolk Southern both have the opportunity to increase their ROE in future years. Operating margin at both companies has been relatively flat since 2012 -- a marked contrast to improvements at the other four railroads:</p>
<p>One reason for their relative underperformance is their exposure to coal. At the start of 2012, both companies generated around 28% of revenue from coal, but that figure is down to around 18% in their most recent quarters:&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Here's why both companies can improve their ROE in the future:</p>
<p>Putting all these points together, there is reason to believe that operating margin and revenue could improve at both companies, and all things being equal, that usually means an increase in ROE and the ability to grow dividends.</p>
<p>All told, while none of the railroad stocks offer a high yield, now or in the near future, they are relatively safe to invest in. Union Pacific stands out, but CSX and Norfolk Southern are noteworthy for their potential to step up earnings, cash flow, and dividend growth. Of the two, Norfolk Southern looks like the best bet.</p>
<p>CSX stock has priced in a lot of the expectations for operational improvements from Harrison's tenure, but Norfolk Southern also has growth prospects, and its current dividend yield makes it a slightly better prospect right now.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than CSXWhen 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=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=0657af83-4bdf-4820-82cc-66c9236eb6a5&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bfe8bc32-8fa9-11e7-9607-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and CSX 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=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=0657af83-4bdf-4820-82cc-66c9236eb6a5&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bfe8bc32-8fa9-11e7-9607-0050569d4be0&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 August 1, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSaintGermain/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bfe8bc32-8fa9-11e7-9607-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Lee Samaha Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool recommends CSX. 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;uuid=bfe8bc32-8fa9-11e7-9607-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | The 6 Best Dividend Stocks in the Railroad Industry | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/09/05/6-best-dividend-stocks-in-railroad-industry.html | 2017-09-05 | 0right
| The 6 Best Dividend Stocks in the Railroad Industry
<p>Railroads are always worth looking at for those seeking good dividend growth prospects. But since no two railroads will have exactly the same dividend or growth potential, let's consider which ones are best for income seekers.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Let's first review what a few of the numbers mean in the table above.</p>
<p>The third column shows the amount of free cash flow that was used to pay dividends in 2016. Here, a low number is better because it implies the company has, at least in theory, more financial firepower to grow its dividend. Kansas City Southern scores the best in this regard.</p>
<p>The fourth column shows 10-year average return on equity (ROE), which is how much net income a company generates from shareholder equity. Here, a higher number is better as it implies the company can keep growing its income and cash flows more.&#160;Canadian National Railway comes out top on this metric.</p>
<p>The fifth column is the theoretical growth rate of the company's dividend based on its free cash flow payout ratio. It's calculated as return on equity divided by the free cash flow payout ratio Canadian National Railway and Union Pacific Corporation come out on top.</p>
<p>Of course, if you're just looking for the highest current yield, Union Pacific is the winner. Is that the right answer, though? Should you just go ahead and buy them all and wait for some low but solid dividend growth in the future? Investing is never that simple.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Assuming a railroad's previous 10-year average ROE will be the same in the next decade is a risky exercise. On the other hand, risk and uncertainty imply upside potential.</p>
<p>Indeed, CSX and Norfolk Southern both have the opportunity to increase their ROE in future years. Operating margin at both companies has been relatively flat since 2012 -- a marked contrast to improvements at the other four railroads:</p>
<p>One reason for their relative underperformance is their exposure to coal. At the start of 2012, both companies generated around 28% of revenue from coal, but that figure is down to around 18% in their most recent quarters:&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Here's why both companies can improve their ROE in the future:</p>
<p>Putting all these points together, there is reason to believe that operating margin and revenue could improve at both companies, and all things being equal, that usually means an increase in ROE and the ability to grow dividends.</p>
<p>All told, while none of the railroad stocks offer a high yield, now or in the near future, they are relatively safe to invest in. Union Pacific stands out, but CSX and Norfolk Southern are noteworthy for their potential to step up earnings, cash flow, and dividend growth. Of the two, Norfolk Southern looks like the best bet.</p>
<p>CSX stock has priced in a lot of the expectations for operational improvements from Harrison's tenure, but Norfolk Southern also has growth prospects, and its current dividend yield makes it a slightly better prospect right now.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than CSXWhen 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=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=0657af83-4bdf-4820-82cc-66c9236eb6a5&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bfe8bc32-8fa9-11e7-9607-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and CSX wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of August 1, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSaintGermain/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bfe8bc32-8fa9-11e7-9607-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Lee Samaha Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool recommends CSX. 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;uuid=bfe8bc32-8fa9-11e7-9607-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | 598,923 |
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<p>A lawyer says she was fired by the Human Services Department because of her whistle-blowing on Medicaid-related matters – including the recent behavioral health audits – while the agency says her claims are baseless.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Jeffreys sued the department in state District Court last month, complaining that she was fired in June after she reported alleged violations of law and malfeasance in the Medicaid program to the attorney general and state auditor.</p>
<p>Jeffreys alleges that she was discriminated and retaliated against and that her work environment was hostile.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The HSD counters with this from spokesman Matt Kennicott: “Jeffreys’ claims are completely without merit and are retaliation for her being passed over for promotion.”</p>
<p>According to the lawsuit filed in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, Jeffreys had worked for the HSD’s Office of General Counsel for 10 years, advising staff and representing the agency in litigation, including Medicaid provider cases. She says regular evaluations consistently rated her performance as good to excellent.</p>
<p>She says she was repeatedly passed over for promotions in the Office of General Counsel in 2011 and 2012 in favor of male attorneys. After she complained to the Human Rights Bureau about gender discrimination, she was “isolated and marginalized” within the office, the lawsuit contends.</p>
<p>Jeffreys says in the lawsuit that she went to the state auditor and the attorney general in February of this year complaining of irregularities related to behavioral health audit arrangements. Included in her allegations: that the state’s behavioral health overseer, OptumHealth , did not conduct required audits, and that the HSD should have sought reimbursement from OptumHealth for audits not done.</p>
<p>The HSD disputes her claims, saying it was OptumHealth audits that first raised red flags about 15 behavioral health providers currently under investigation by the attorney general’s office.</p>
<p>Jeffreys also complained that HSD’s contract with Boston-based Public Consulting Group to audit the 15 nonprofits did not go through the proper channels, in violation of the state procurement process. The HSD disputes that, as well.</p>
<p>Jeffreys also sued HSD in 2011 in state District Court over the denied promotions, saying the agency wasn’t following its own selection process; that case is still pending. The recently filed lawsuit over her firing alleges gender discrimination as well as whistle-blower violations.</p>
<p />
<p /> | Lawyer sues state agency over dismissal | false | https://abqjournal.com/266184/lawyer-sues-state-agency-over-dismissal.html | 2013-09-20 | 2least
| Lawyer sues state agency over dismissal
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>A lawyer says she was fired by the Human Services Department because of her whistle-blowing on Medicaid-related matters – including the recent behavioral health audits – while the agency says her claims are baseless.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Jeffreys sued the department in state District Court last month, complaining that she was fired in June after she reported alleged violations of law and malfeasance in the Medicaid program to the attorney general and state auditor.</p>
<p>Jeffreys alleges that she was discriminated and retaliated against and that her work environment was hostile.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The HSD counters with this from spokesman Matt Kennicott: “Jeffreys’ claims are completely without merit and are retaliation for her being passed over for promotion.”</p>
<p>According to the lawsuit filed in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, Jeffreys had worked for the HSD’s Office of General Counsel for 10 years, advising staff and representing the agency in litigation, including Medicaid provider cases. She says regular evaluations consistently rated her performance as good to excellent.</p>
<p>She says she was repeatedly passed over for promotions in the Office of General Counsel in 2011 and 2012 in favor of male attorneys. After she complained to the Human Rights Bureau about gender discrimination, she was “isolated and marginalized” within the office, the lawsuit contends.</p>
<p>Jeffreys says in the lawsuit that she went to the state auditor and the attorney general in February of this year complaining of irregularities related to behavioral health audit arrangements. Included in her allegations: that the state’s behavioral health overseer, OptumHealth , did not conduct required audits, and that the HSD should have sought reimbursement from OptumHealth for audits not done.</p>
<p>The HSD disputes her claims, saying it was OptumHealth audits that first raised red flags about 15 behavioral health providers currently under investigation by the attorney general’s office.</p>
<p>Jeffreys also complained that HSD’s contract with Boston-based Public Consulting Group to audit the 15 nonprofits did not go through the proper channels, in violation of the state procurement process. The HSD disputes that, as well.</p>
<p>Jeffreys also sued HSD in 2011 in state District Court over the denied promotions, saying the agency wasn’t following its own selection process; that case is still pending. The recently filed lawsuit over her firing alleges gender discrimination as well as whistle-blower violations.</p>
<p />
<p /> | 598,924 |
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<p>CARLSBAD (AP) — Officials at a nuclear waste repository near Carlsbad say the facility could continue accepting shipments through 2055 because the nation’s need for contaminated materials storage will surpass its planned 2030 shutdown date.</p>
<p>The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s manager told lawmakers on a panel tasked with overseeing the $1.2 billion plant that it would undergo a five-year decommissioning process when it finally does close.</p>
<p>The plant accepts plutonium-contaminated waste like clothing, tools and other debris from defense projects. The waste is then buried in rooms cut from underground salt beds.</p>
<p>The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that WIPP manager Farok Sharif says necessity probably would keep it open, because Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory and other defense-related nuclear facilities are still operating.</p>
<p>“Los Alamos isn’t going to disappear by 2030,” Sharif said at Tuesday’s hearing.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Sharif and Joe Franco, manager of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Carlsbad field office, outlined WIPP’s operations for the committee.</p>
<p>WIPP currently receives 17 to 19 shipments each week from sites around the country. The sites include Los Alamos and installations in Idaho, Illinois and South Carolina. WIPP could handle 35 shipments of waste per week, and Franco said it was running close to that capacity when money from the federal stimulus plan was added to its budget.</p>
<p>About 100 people were laid off when the stimulus money ran out, he said.</p>
<p>The plant that opened in 1999 would be demolished, not mothballed, Sharif said. The waste would be sealed in place.</p>
<p>WIPP can’t accept non-defense nuclear waste unless Congress changes the law defining its mission.</p> | WIPP nuke storage site could operate till 2055 | false | https://abqjournal.com/300631/wipp-nuke-storage-site-could-operate-till-2055.html | 2least
| WIPP nuke storage site could operate till 2055
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>CARLSBAD (AP) — Officials at a nuclear waste repository near Carlsbad say the facility could continue accepting shipments through 2055 because the nation’s need for contaminated materials storage will surpass its planned 2030 shutdown date.</p>
<p>The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s manager told lawmakers on a panel tasked with overseeing the $1.2 billion plant that it would undergo a five-year decommissioning process when it finally does close.</p>
<p>The plant accepts plutonium-contaminated waste like clothing, tools and other debris from defense projects. The waste is then buried in rooms cut from underground salt beds.</p>
<p>The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that WIPP manager Farok Sharif says necessity probably would keep it open, because Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory and other defense-related nuclear facilities are still operating.</p>
<p>“Los Alamos isn’t going to disappear by 2030,” Sharif said at Tuesday’s hearing.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Sharif and Joe Franco, manager of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Carlsbad field office, outlined WIPP’s operations for the committee.</p>
<p>WIPP currently receives 17 to 19 shipments each week from sites around the country. The sites include Los Alamos and installations in Idaho, Illinois and South Carolina. WIPP could handle 35 shipments of waste per week, and Franco said it was running close to that capacity when money from the federal stimulus plan was added to its budget.</p>
<p>About 100 people were laid off when the stimulus money ran out, he said.</p>
<p>The plant that opened in 1999 would be demolished, not mothballed, Sharif said. The waste would be sealed in place.</p>
<p>WIPP can’t accept non-defense nuclear waste unless Congress changes the law defining its mission.</p> | 598,925 |
|
<p>With a 5-to-4 split decision on the 21st of January, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled “that labor unions and corporations can spend unlimited amounts to influence federal elections, throwing out a ban that had been in effect for 63 years and adding an explosive new element to this year’s midterm elections.”</p>
<p>This ruling “dismayed lawmakers and public interest groups that fought for decades to limit the influence of wealthy special interests in politics.” But voices for those interests expressed satisfaction with the success of their tactic of arguing against the ban in court on the grounds it was contrary to the First Amendment, because it was government control of free speech in election campaigns.</p>
<p>The new ruling specifically applies to federal elections, however it is certain to be used as the basis of new lawsuits aimed at overturning state laws, which limit corporate spending to influence state and local elections.</p>
<p>Speaking for the court’s majority (with Alioto, Roberts, Thomas and Scalia), Justice Anthony Kennedy equated corporate and labor union spending on elections to free speech, which needed constitutional protection: “The censorship we now confront is vast in its reach.’’</p>
<p>The ruling also eviscerates the “McCain-Feingold” election campaign finance reform law of 2002, by removing the ban on corporate and union-sponsored “issue ads’’ in the waning days of a campaign. The court left unchanged the dollar limits for contributions to candidates by individuals and political action committees, preserving a fig leaf of respectability against the appearance of bribery.</p>
<p>Justice John Paul Stevens issued a spirited dissent (joined by Breyer, Ginsburg and Sotomayor), saying the majority had committed a grave error in equating corporate speech to that of human beings: “The difference between selling a vote and selling access is a matter of degree, not kind… and selling access is not qualitatively different from giving special preference to those who spent money on one’s behalf.” The definition of paid media as political free speech is corrupted by the inherent disproportion of wealth, people who can invest in media corporations know “that media outlets may seek to influence elections.”</p>
<p>From the perspective of public good, the fatal flaw here is as Justice Stevens acknowledged: “we have long since held that corporations are covered by the First Amendment,” in many prior Supreme Court decisions.</p>
<p>Indeed, the ideal remedy would be federal legislation — ideally as a constitutional amendment — defining “personhood” as solely the property of individual living human beings, and specifically not so for any corporate entity. Thus, corporations would be stripped of 1st, 5th and 14th Amendment rights. In brief, these Amendments define:</p>
<p>(1st) freedom of: religion, speech, the press, assembly; and freedom to petition;</p>
<p>(5th) indictments, due process, self-incrimination, double jeopardy, eminent domain;</p>
<p>(14th) citizenship.</p>
<p>The pernicious effect of allowing corporations 1st and 14th Amendment rights — hence, the right to lobby Congress — is evident today in the many distortions of government and public institutions to the detriment of the public good: ‘ <a href="" type="internal">pork barrel nation</a>.’</p>
<p>Corporations can often be far wealthier than individual citizens, and thus capable of buying far more power (of any and every kind) to prevail in any contest with a human adversary. Also, corporations can outlive a normal human lifetime, and so have a temporal advantage over actual humans: corporations can use delay till a human contender’s money is spent, or life expended. Of course, the best insurance for corporations is to use the wealth invested in them, and their possibly superhuman lifetimes, to acquire dominating political influence so as to shape the government and the laws to their particular economic advantage.</p>
<p>Corporations combine superhuman attributes for potential wealth accumulation and longevity, with the subhuman attribute of lacking an immediately responsible actor to be held accountable for the consequences of corporate actions. This combination is an affront to the very concept we actual human “persons” have of our individual selves, and it should not be equated with human reality in the laws devised to regulate human society.</p>
<p>People have human rights and they have property rights, but property itself has no rights; it is by definition not-human (the 13th Amendment abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime; property is stuff and livestock). People can form private clubs of pooled property — corporations — because these are profitable ways of engaging in commerce. But, by bending law to debase the definition of a human being so as to bestow “personhood” on pooled property clubs, we dehumanize society:</p>
<p>— by allowing inhuman combines with superhuman attributes to overpower the interests of many individual people; and</p>
<p>— by bestowing an often complete immunity from the hazard of personal responsibility, to the humans directing and profiting from corporate actions.</p>
<p>In brief: people have rights and property does not; and accumulated property does not shield the individual from responsibility for the consequences of their acts.</p>
<p>We take each of these principles to disqualify corporations from legal consideration as “persons.” Let the living and breathing persons in corporations carry what personhood is claimed for such entities, and let those corporate people equally well carry the accountability that each and every other individual in the nation’s public shoulders as their defining social responsibility.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court justices promoting this decision knew exactly what they were doing, and why. Behind the display of magisterial solemnity and jurisprudential weight, these justices know — deep down — they are just elements of a much larger machine, they are only where they are because of who they really serve.</p>
<p>“When government seeks to use its full power, including the criminal law, to command where a person may get his or her information or what distrusted source he or she may not hear, it uses censorship to control thought,” Justice Kennedy wrote. “This is unlawful. The First Amendment confirms the freedom to think for ourselves.”</p>
<p>Indeed, with corporations now freed from restraints on their propaganda spending and lobbying, the sanctity of their ‘personhood’ protected by the First Amendment, we can certainly expect the floodgates of censorship to burst, allowing a torrent of accurate, diverse and trustworthy information to wash away all trace of control on personal thought and public discourse, and to enhance the actual people’s “freedom to think for ourselves.”</p>
<p>MANUEL GARCIA, Jr., a former physicist at Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratory, can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Corporate Personhood and Political Free Speech | true | https://counterpunch.org/2010/01/22/corporate-personhood-and-political-free-speech/ | 2010-01-22 | 4left
| Corporate Personhood and Political Free Speech
<p>With a 5-to-4 split decision on the 21st of January, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled “that labor unions and corporations can spend unlimited amounts to influence federal elections, throwing out a ban that had been in effect for 63 years and adding an explosive new element to this year’s midterm elections.”</p>
<p>This ruling “dismayed lawmakers and public interest groups that fought for decades to limit the influence of wealthy special interests in politics.” But voices for those interests expressed satisfaction with the success of their tactic of arguing against the ban in court on the grounds it was contrary to the First Amendment, because it was government control of free speech in election campaigns.</p>
<p>The new ruling specifically applies to federal elections, however it is certain to be used as the basis of new lawsuits aimed at overturning state laws, which limit corporate spending to influence state and local elections.</p>
<p>Speaking for the court’s majority (with Alioto, Roberts, Thomas and Scalia), Justice Anthony Kennedy equated corporate and labor union spending on elections to free speech, which needed constitutional protection: “The censorship we now confront is vast in its reach.’’</p>
<p>The ruling also eviscerates the “McCain-Feingold” election campaign finance reform law of 2002, by removing the ban on corporate and union-sponsored “issue ads’’ in the waning days of a campaign. The court left unchanged the dollar limits for contributions to candidates by individuals and political action committees, preserving a fig leaf of respectability against the appearance of bribery.</p>
<p>Justice John Paul Stevens issued a spirited dissent (joined by Breyer, Ginsburg and Sotomayor), saying the majority had committed a grave error in equating corporate speech to that of human beings: “The difference between selling a vote and selling access is a matter of degree, not kind… and selling access is not qualitatively different from giving special preference to those who spent money on one’s behalf.” The definition of paid media as political free speech is corrupted by the inherent disproportion of wealth, people who can invest in media corporations know “that media outlets may seek to influence elections.”</p>
<p>From the perspective of public good, the fatal flaw here is as Justice Stevens acknowledged: “we have long since held that corporations are covered by the First Amendment,” in many prior Supreme Court decisions.</p>
<p>Indeed, the ideal remedy would be federal legislation — ideally as a constitutional amendment — defining “personhood” as solely the property of individual living human beings, and specifically not so for any corporate entity. Thus, corporations would be stripped of 1st, 5th and 14th Amendment rights. In brief, these Amendments define:</p>
<p>(1st) freedom of: religion, speech, the press, assembly; and freedom to petition;</p>
<p>(5th) indictments, due process, self-incrimination, double jeopardy, eminent domain;</p>
<p>(14th) citizenship.</p>
<p>The pernicious effect of allowing corporations 1st and 14th Amendment rights — hence, the right to lobby Congress — is evident today in the many distortions of government and public institutions to the detriment of the public good: ‘ <a href="" type="internal">pork barrel nation</a>.’</p>
<p>Corporations can often be far wealthier than individual citizens, and thus capable of buying far more power (of any and every kind) to prevail in any contest with a human adversary. Also, corporations can outlive a normal human lifetime, and so have a temporal advantage over actual humans: corporations can use delay till a human contender’s money is spent, or life expended. Of course, the best insurance for corporations is to use the wealth invested in them, and their possibly superhuman lifetimes, to acquire dominating political influence so as to shape the government and the laws to their particular economic advantage.</p>
<p>Corporations combine superhuman attributes for potential wealth accumulation and longevity, with the subhuman attribute of lacking an immediately responsible actor to be held accountable for the consequences of corporate actions. This combination is an affront to the very concept we actual human “persons” have of our individual selves, and it should not be equated with human reality in the laws devised to regulate human society.</p>
<p>People have human rights and they have property rights, but property itself has no rights; it is by definition not-human (the 13th Amendment abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime; property is stuff and livestock). People can form private clubs of pooled property — corporations — because these are profitable ways of engaging in commerce. But, by bending law to debase the definition of a human being so as to bestow “personhood” on pooled property clubs, we dehumanize society:</p>
<p>— by allowing inhuman combines with superhuman attributes to overpower the interests of many individual people; and</p>
<p>— by bestowing an often complete immunity from the hazard of personal responsibility, to the humans directing and profiting from corporate actions.</p>
<p>In brief: people have rights and property does not; and accumulated property does not shield the individual from responsibility for the consequences of their acts.</p>
<p>We take each of these principles to disqualify corporations from legal consideration as “persons.” Let the living and breathing persons in corporations carry what personhood is claimed for such entities, and let those corporate people equally well carry the accountability that each and every other individual in the nation’s public shoulders as their defining social responsibility.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court justices promoting this decision knew exactly what they were doing, and why. Behind the display of magisterial solemnity and jurisprudential weight, these justices know — deep down — they are just elements of a much larger machine, they are only where they are because of who they really serve.</p>
<p>“When government seeks to use its full power, including the criminal law, to command where a person may get his or her information or what distrusted source he or she may not hear, it uses censorship to control thought,” Justice Kennedy wrote. “This is unlawful. The First Amendment confirms the freedom to think for ourselves.”</p>
<p>Indeed, with corporations now freed from restraints on their propaganda spending and lobbying, the sanctity of their ‘personhood’ protected by the First Amendment, we can certainly expect the floodgates of censorship to burst, allowing a torrent of accurate, diverse and trustworthy information to wash away all trace of control on personal thought and public discourse, and to enhance the actual people’s “freedom to think for ourselves.”</p>
<p>MANUEL GARCIA, Jr., a former physicist at Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratory, can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 598,926 |
<p><a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/5460986-wmal-interviews-ted-cruz-1-4-16" type="external">Speaking</a> with radio host Larry O’Connor on WMAL on Tuesday, Senator Ted Cruz called the Cabinet nominations of president-elect Donald Trump a “team of all-stars.” He also explained why he introduced a Constitutional amendment on Tuesday to implement term limits for members of Congress.</p>
<p>O’Connor asked: "As a conservative, is this a conservative Cabinet?"</p>
<p>Cruz answered:</p>
<p>Well, I certainly hope so, and I tell you I am excited. I think we have an opportunity to do a great deal of good. We have been entrusted with something that has rarely happened in our nation’s history and that is Republicans have been elected by the American people and have been given control of the White House, of every executive branch and of both houses of Congress, and we have an historic opportunity and my hope, Larry, is that we deliver. It’s what I am here working hard and fighting to do everyday, is for us to actually deliver to our promises that we have given to the American people. I think the top priorities for the voters are three-fold; jobs, freedom, and security, I think number one jobs and I think that’s why I am very glad to see in the the next month we are going to see Congress acting to finally appeal the disaster that is Obamacare.</p>
<p>O’Connor pointed out, “Hey! You were against it before it was cool.”</p>
<p>Cruz laughed, continuing:</p>
<p>It was one of the fundamental reasons why I ran for the Senate and promised the people of Texas I would fight everyday to repeal Obamacare and I cannot tell you how gratifying it is to see us on the verge of delivering on that promise, and you asked specifically about the Cabinet nominations and I’ll tell you that I have been really pleased and very impressed with the cabinet nominations of president-elect Trump. This is a serious Cabinet, it is a Cabinet of highly-qualified individuals. It is a Cabinet of strong conservatives. The president-elect is to be commended for bringing together a team of all-stars and I think that bodes really well. I hope for the commitment to carry through and deliver on the promises we made.</p>
<p>Earlier in the interview, O’Connor asked Cruz why he supported term limits. On Tuesday Cruz <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-introduces-term-limits-amendment/article/2610799" type="external">offered a Constitutional amendment</a> that would limit Senators to two terms and Congressman to three terms. Cruz replied:</p>
<p>The framers of the Constitution, the authors of the Federalist Papers, envisioned citizen legislators, envisioned men and women who would take time from their businesses, from their farms, come to Washington, serve for a period of time in their nation’s government and then leave, and then return to be among the people, and what we've seen instead... D.C. is broken, Washington D.C., the federal government is broken, and we have right now, career politicians in both parties that come to Washington and stay here for decades and decades and decades and they get entrenched in power; they become captive to the special interests and the power of incumbency is such that many of them can get elected as long as they like and that is much of what is contributing to the explosion of government spending, to the explosion of debt.</p>
<p>I believe instead we need fundamental reforms and I think term limits, you know something like 80 percent of the American people support term limits, as a way to limit the corruption, to break through the bipartisan corruption in Washington so you come serve a period of time, and then go home that’s one of the major structural reforms that we need to actually really solve the problems in the country and as president-elect Trump puts it, to drain the swamp. I think that sentiment is exactly right and I think there are few if any more potent tools to drain the swamp then term limits that make people leave Congress and go back to get an honest job for a change.</p>
<p>"This is a serious Cabinet, it is a cabinet of highly-qualified individuals. It is a Cabinet of strong conservatives."</p>
<p>Ted Cruz</p>
<p>Cruz pointed out that implementing term limits should be something Democrats could support, recalling that he often connected with Bernie Sanders supporters when he was campaigning for president:</p>
<p>I would often encounter young people on the campaign trail supporting Bernie and I would tell them, you know what? I agree with Bernie, and you would see they would do a double take; they were startled. I said “Listen, Bernie has been saying for a long time that Washington is corrupt; it’s both parties in bed with big business and special interests, and it’s fundamentally corrupt, and I agree with every word of that.” He concluded, “It’s one of the reasons why introduced the term limits amendment.”</p> | Cruz: Trump Cabinet A Team of Conservative ‘All-Stars’ | true | https://dailywire.com/news/12155/cruz-trump-cabinet-team-conservative-all-stars-hank-berrien | 2017-01-04 | 0right
| Cruz: Trump Cabinet A Team of Conservative ‘All-Stars’
<p><a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/5460986-wmal-interviews-ted-cruz-1-4-16" type="external">Speaking</a> with radio host Larry O’Connor on WMAL on Tuesday, Senator Ted Cruz called the Cabinet nominations of president-elect Donald Trump a “team of all-stars.” He also explained why he introduced a Constitutional amendment on Tuesday to implement term limits for members of Congress.</p>
<p>O’Connor asked: "As a conservative, is this a conservative Cabinet?"</p>
<p>Cruz answered:</p>
<p>Well, I certainly hope so, and I tell you I am excited. I think we have an opportunity to do a great deal of good. We have been entrusted with something that has rarely happened in our nation’s history and that is Republicans have been elected by the American people and have been given control of the White House, of every executive branch and of both houses of Congress, and we have an historic opportunity and my hope, Larry, is that we deliver. It’s what I am here working hard and fighting to do everyday, is for us to actually deliver to our promises that we have given to the American people. I think the top priorities for the voters are three-fold; jobs, freedom, and security, I think number one jobs and I think that’s why I am very glad to see in the the next month we are going to see Congress acting to finally appeal the disaster that is Obamacare.</p>
<p>O’Connor pointed out, “Hey! You were against it before it was cool.”</p>
<p>Cruz laughed, continuing:</p>
<p>It was one of the fundamental reasons why I ran for the Senate and promised the people of Texas I would fight everyday to repeal Obamacare and I cannot tell you how gratifying it is to see us on the verge of delivering on that promise, and you asked specifically about the Cabinet nominations and I’ll tell you that I have been really pleased and very impressed with the cabinet nominations of president-elect Trump. This is a serious Cabinet, it is a Cabinet of highly-qualified individuals. It is a Cabinet of strong conservatives. The president-elect is to be commended for bringing together a team of all-stars and I think that bodes really well. I hope for the commitment to carry through and deliver on the promises we made.</p>
<p>Earlier in the interview, O’Connor asked Cruz why he supported term limits. On Tuesday Cruz <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-introduces-term-limits-amendment/article/2610799" type="external">offered a Constitutional amendment</a> that would limit Senators to two terms and Congressman to three terms. Cruz replied:</p>
<p>The framers of the Constitution, the authors of the Federalist Papers, envisioned citizen legislators, envisioned men and women who would take time from their businesses, from their farms, come to Washington, serve for a period of time in their nation’s government and then leave, and then return to be among the people, and what we've seen instead... D.C. is broken, Washington D.C., the federal government is broken, and we have right now, career politicians in both parties that come to Washington and stay here for decades and decades and decades and they get entrenched in power; they become captive to the special interests and the power of incumbency is such that many of them can get elected as long as they like and that is much of what is contributing to the explosion of government spending, to the explosion of debt.</p>
<p>I believe instead we need fundamental reforms and I think term limits, you know something like 80 percent of the American people support term limits, as a way to limit the corruption, to break through the bipartisan corruption in Washington so you come serve a period of time, and then go home that’s one of the major structural reforms that we need to actually really solve the problems in the country and as president-elect Trump puts it, to drain the swamp. I think that sentiment is exactly right and I think there are few if any more potent tools to drain the swamp then term limits that make people leave Congress and go back to get an honest job for a change.</p>
<p>"This is a serious Cabinet, it is a cabinet of highly-qualified individuals. It is a Cabinet of strong conservatives."</p>
<p>Ted Cruz</p>
<p>Cruz pointed out that implementing term limits should be something Democrats could support, recalling that he often connected with Bernie Sanders supporters when he was campaigning for president:</p>
<p>I would often encounter young people on the campaign trail supporting Bernie and I would tell them, you know what? I agree with Bernie, and you would see they would do a double take; they were startled. I said “Listen, Bernie has been saying for a long time that Washington is corrupt; it’s both parties in bed with big business and special interests, and it’s fundamentally corrupt, and I agree with every word of that.” He concluded, “It’s one of the reasons why introduced the term limits amendment.”</p> | 598,927 |
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster" type="external">Chernobyl</a>, Russia</p>
<p>We all know that the Russians used this area to test their nuclear rockets and artillery. They also used animals to test their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" type="external">cold war</a> weaponry and chemicals that were clearly meant for humans.</p>
<p>But here, we can see that the result of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_testing" type="external">nuclear testing</a> has an interesting outcome. The decades of nuclear essence&#160;has made the fox community around the Chernobyl area smart enough to make sandwiches. You can see that awesome skill below.</p> | The Sandwich-Making Fox From Chernobyl Shows Off Skills | true | http://bigamericannews.com/2015/04/29/the-sandwich-making-fox-from-chernobyl-shows-off-skills/ | 2015-04-29 | 0right
| The Sandwich-Making Fox From Chernobyl Shows Off Skills
<p />
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster" type="external">Chernobyl</a>, Russia</p>
<p>We all know that the Russians used this area to test their nuclear rockets and artillery. They also used animals to test their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" type="external">cold war</a> weaponry and chemicals that were clearly meant for humans.</p>
<p>But here, we can see that the result of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_testing" type="external">nuclear testing</a> has an interesting outcome. The decades of nuclear essence&#160;has made the fox community around the Chernobyl area smart enough to make sandwiches. You can see that awesome skill below.</p> | 598,928 |
<p>Tammy54/Shutterstock</p>
<p />
<p>WikiLeaks released <a href="https://wikileaks.org/cia-emails" type="external">its latest document dump</a> on Wednesday afternoon: a collection of files allegedly taken from the personal email of CIA director John Brennan, whose AOL account was allegedly <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/10/hacker-who-broke-into-cia-director-john-brennan-email-tells-how-he-did-it/" type="external">hacked by a teenager</a> and his friends.</p>
<p>The most sensitive of the documents is a draft version of Brennan’s SF-86, the lengthy form that people must fill out when applying for a security clearance. The form requests years’ worth of employment and personal history, allowing government investigators to delve deep into the backgrounds of applicants—and providing foreign intelligence services or hackers with a treasure trove of potential information for blackmail. That threat is why members of Congress, security professionals, and others freaked out when millions of SF-86s were stolen in the hacks on the Office of Personnel Management, exposing the personal data of a vast number of government employees. Those records are now presumed to be in Chinese hands.</p>
<p>Brennan’s alleged form is now out in public, so his exposure may be even worse. The form released by WikiLeaks isn’t complete, but it does include the personal information of both Brennan and his wife.</p>
<p>The exposure also highlights the government’s ongoing problems with securing sensitive information and using it in unofficial channels. Such documents are supposed to be kept on secure government systems, but officials from Brennan to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/us/politics/second-review-says-classified-information-was-in-hillary-clintons-email.html?_r=0" type="external">former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/petraeus-set-to-plead-guilty-to-mishandling-classified-materials/2015/04/22/3e6dbf20-e8f5-11e4-aae1-d642717d8afa_story.html" type="external">former CIA director David Petraeus</a> have run afoul of classification rules or used unsecured systems for sensitive data. Part of that may come down to aging, inefficient government computer systems that make using personal email attractive, but overclassification <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-hillary-clinton-e-mail-scandal-that-isnt/2015/08/27/b1cabed8-4cf4-11e5-902f-39e9219e574b_story.html" type="external">may also play a role</a>. “It’s inevitable, because the classified systems are often cumbersome and lots of people have access to the classified e-mails or cables,” former CIA general counsel Jeffrey Smith told the Washington Post in August.</p>
<p>Other documents in the Brennan leak are much less interesting, including the 2007 draft of a memo on Iran that <a href="http://ann.sagepub.com/content/618/1/168.abstract" type="external">Brennan eventually published in 2008</a>. The Department of Homeland Security says <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/19/politics/cia-fbi-alleged-hacking-report/" type="external">the FBI and the Secret Service are investigating</a> the incident.</p>
<p /> | WikiLeaks Releases What It Says Are the CIA Director’s Personal Emails | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/wikileaks-releases-documents-cia-directors-personal-email/ | 2015-10-21 | 4left
| WikiLeaks Releases What It Says Are the CIA Director’s Personal Emails
<p>Tammy54/Shutterstock</p>
<p />
<p>WikiLeaks released <a href="https://wikileaks.org/cia-emails" type="external">its latest document dump</a> on Wednesday afternoon: a collection of files allegedly taken from the personal email of CIA director John Brennan, whose AOL account was allegedly <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/10/hacker-who-broke-into-cia-director-john-brennan-email-tells-how-he-did-it/" type="external">hacked by a teenager</a> and his friends.</p>
<p>The most sensitive of the documents is a draft version of Brennan’s SF-86, the lengthy form that people must fill out when applying for a security clearance. The form requests years’ worth of employment and personal history, allowing government investigators to delve deep into the backgrounds of applicants—and providing foreign intelligence services or hackers with a treasure trove of potential information for blackmail. That threat is why members of Congress, security professionals, and others freaked out when millions of SF-86s were stolen in the hacks on the Office of Personnel Management, exposing the personal data of a vast number of government employees. Those records are now presumed to be in Chinese hands.</p>
<p>Brennan’s alleged form is now out in public, so his exposure may be even worse. The form released by WikiLeaks isn’t complete, but it does include the personal information of both Brennan and his wife.</p>
<p>The exposure also highlights the government’s ongoing problems with securing sensitive information and using it in unofficial channels. Such documents are supposed to be kept on secure government systems, but officials from Brennan to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/us/politics/second-review-says-classified-information-was-in-hillary-clintons-email.html?_r=0" type="external">former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/petraeus-set-to-plead-guilty-to-mishandling-classified-materials/2015/04/22/3e6dbf20-e8f5-11e4-aae1-d642717d8afa_story.html" type="external">former CIA director David Petraeus</a> have run afoul of classification rules or used unsecured systems for sensitive data. Part of that may come down to aging, inefficient government computer systems that make using personal email attractive, but overclassification <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-hillary-clinton-e-mail-scandal-that-isnt/2015/08/27/b1cabed8-4cf4-11e5-902f-39e9219e574b_story.html" type="external">may also play a role</a>. “It’s inevitable, because the classified systems are often cumbersome and lots of people have access to the classified e-mails or cables,” former CIA general counsel Jeffrey Smith told the Washington Post in August.</p>
<p>Other documents in the Brennan leak are much less interesting, including the 2007 draft of a memo on Iran that <a href="http://ann.sagepub.com/content/618/1/168.abstract" type="external">Brennan eventually published in 2008</a>. The Department of Homeland Security says <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/19/politics/cia-fbi-alleged-hacking-report/" type="external">the FBI and the Secret Service are investigating</a> the incident.</p>
<p /> | 598,929 |
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<p>Firefighters have contained around 60 percent of the Piedra Fire in the north Sandia Mountains, though the blaze has grown to 50 acres.</p>
<p>Crews created a perimeter around the Piedra Fire with fire retardant when the blaze ignited Thursday, and since then fire activity has slowed due to low temperatures and the reduction of heavy fuels.</p>
<p>The number of personnel fighting the fire has remained constant at about 95, according to the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The fire is about four miles east-south-east of Bernalillo, and its cause is still under investigation.</p>
<p>The Piedra Lisa Trail is closed on both north and south trail heads.</p>
<p>LOS ALAMOS — One of the most popular sites at Bandelier National Monument is open again.</p>
<p>Monument officials announced Friday that the public can again visit the Alcove House site. Accessible only by a series of wooden ladders and steep stone steps, the site is perched in a niche along Frijoles Canyon.</p>
<p>The site was closed in April due to concerns over structural stability of the kiva. The walls of the structure have loosened and there are other signs of severe erosion.</p>
<p>The kiva is now fenced off, but visitors can still climb the ladders to access the niche. Signs are posted to keep visitors from walking around the kiva.</p>
<p>Monument spokeswoman Claudia Brookshire says another closure is planned in late fall 2013, when crews will repair the cracks in the kiva walls.</p>
<p>WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Fans of the “Star Wars” movie flocked to the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock over the last two days for voice auditions.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The classic 1977 film that launched a science fiction empire and revealed the force within a farm boy who battles evil has been dubbed in Japanese, French, Spanish and about a dozen other languages. Now, Navajo is being added to the list.</p>
<p>Saturday was the last day for the auditions.</p>
<p>Teroy Teler showed up Friday. He told Albuquerque television station KOB-TV that he thought it was his chance to be a part of something iconic. Teller auditioned for the part of Luke Skywalker.</p>
<p>The Navajo version of “Star Wars” will be premiering at the July 4 fair in Window Rock.</p>
<p>CLOVIS — Gov. Susana Martinez got a slice of local economics Friday during a brief visit to the Southwest Cheese plant in southern Curry County.</p>
<p>She was given a front-row seat in the crowd of business leaders and elected officials, and offered a small bowl of cheese curds created at the facility, while SWC Director of Operations George Chappell gave a slide presentation on the company.</p>
<p>Chappell noted that the plant produces 10 percent of all American cheese the United States consumes, and that its products are used at restaurants, grocery stores and whey protein powder sold at nutrition stores and used to increase protein content in Greek yogurt.</p>
<p>Chappell said a feasibility study began in April to see if the plant could expand into the baby formula market, and hopes are the study will be finished before the year ends.</p> | Around New Mexico | false | https://abqjournal.com/196046/around-new-mexico-328.html | 2013-05-05 | 2least
| Around New Mexico
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<p>Firefighters have contained around 60 percent of the Piedra Fire in the north Sandia Mountains, though the blaze has grown to 50 acres.</p>
<p>Crews created a perimeter around the Piedra Fire with fire retardant when the blaze ignited Thursday, and since then fire activity has slowed due to low temperatures and the reduction of heavy fuels.</p>
<p>The number of personnel fighting the fire has remained constant at about 95, according to the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The fire is about four miles east-south-east of Bernalillo, and its cause is still under investigation.</p>
<p>The Piedra Lisa Trail is closed on both north and south trail heads.</p>
<p>LOS ALAMOS — One of the most popular sites at Bandelier National Monument is open again.</p>
<p>Monument officials announced Friday that the public can again visit the Alcove House site. Accessible only by a series of wooden ladders and steep stone steps, the site is perched in a niche along Frijoles Canyon.</p>
<p>The site was closed in April due to concerns over structural stability of the kiva. The walls of the structure have loosened and there are other signs of severe erosion.</p>
<p>The kiva is now fenced off, but visitors can still climb the ladders to access the niche. Signs are posted to keep visitors from walking around the kiva.</p>
<p>Monument spokeswoman Claudia Brookshire says another closure is planned in late fall 2013, when crews will repair the cracks in the kiva walls.</p>
<p>WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Fans of the “Star Wars” movie flocked to the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock over the last two days for voice auditions.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The classic 1977 film that launched a science fiction empire and revealed the force within a farm boy who battles evil has been dubbed in Japanese, French, Spanish and about a dozen other languages. Now, Navajo is being added to the list.</p>
<p>Saturday was the last day for the auditions.</p>
<p>Teroy Teler showed up Friday. He told Albuquerque television station KOB-TV that he thought it was his chance to be a part of something iconic. Teller auditioned for the part of Luke Skywalker.</p>
<p>The Navajo version of “Star Wars” will be premiering at the July 4 fair in Window Rock.</p>
<p>CLOVIS — Gov. Susana Martinez got a slice of local economics Friday during a brief visit to the Southwest Cheese plant in southern Curry County.</p>
<p>She was given a front-row seat in the crowd of business leaders and elected officials, and offered a small bowl of cheese curds created at the facility, while SWC Director of Operations George Chappell gave a slide presentation on the company.</p>
<p>Chappell noted that the plant produces 10 percent of all American cheese the United States consumes, and that its products are used at restaurants, grocery stores and whey protein powder sold at nutrition stores and used to increase protein content in Greek yogurt.</p>
<p>Chappell said a feasibility study began in April to see if the plant could expand into the baby formula market, and hopes are the study will be finished before the year ends.</p> | 598,930 |
<p>Many of the immigrants who've hit the road in Europe are desperate to make it to Germany, where the economy is booming.</p>
<p>But the country is struggling to house a record influx of refugees — a number that's expected to more than double this year to a record 450,000. The surge seems to be stirring up ever more anti-immigrant sentiment, in addition to increasing violence.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>A spate of arson attacks in recent months has targeted housing for asylum seekers from Syria and Iraq.&#160;Many Germans say the country just can't take any more refugees. But others like Jonas Kakoschke disagree.</p>
<p>"This country is totally able to have more people here," Kakoschke says, "People try to give this message that it's totally not possible to take more people. but it's not. We are really a rich country. We can take more people, and we're responsible for many bad situations in the world, so we have to be welcoming."</p>
<p>One way the Berlin resident decided to be more welcoming was to help create a roommate sharing website called <a href="http://www.refugees-welcome.net/" type="external">Refugees Welcome</a>. The setup is simple. Those with a spare room can go on the website and submit some information about themselves. From there, the site will try to find refugees who would be a good match.</p>
<p>"We will try to find refugees which can fit to you and you fit to [them], so everybody's sympathetic to each other," Kakoschke says.</p>
<p>On paper, it would be easy to describe Refugees Welcome as an Airbnb for refugees, but Kakoschke stresses that, unlike Airbnb, the goal of his venture is not monetary gain, but getting people to live together and not bringing refugees into empty homes.</p>
<p>"We think it brings the big benefit to refugees that it's really easier and faster to learn German, to feel as a part of our society here."</p>
<p>Kakoschke adds that the effort is also beneficial to Germans — many of whom, he says, have never interacted with refugees.</p>
<p>When it comes to rent, Kakoschke says they usually try to let the government pay, but another method used is something Kakoschke describes as "private micro funding."</p>
<p>"Just write an email to all your friends and family and ask them if they want to support with maybe five euro a month or 10 euro a month."</p>
<p>So far, the site has matched nearly 100 refugees to shared housing in Germany and Austria, where it's been working with a sister organization since January. Out of the 100, Kakoschke says only two have had problems.</p>
<p>"All the refugees are individuals, so it's really depending on this individual person — what can fit and what cannot."</p>
<p>Kakoschke hosted a refugee in his home for six months and says the two of them got along well and were able to find common ground, despite some cultural differences.</p>
<p>"Bakary, my flatmate, he's a Muslim.&#160;I'm a non-believer, and when he moved in he just said, 'I hope I don't disturb you when I pray.'&#160; So I was like, 'No, you can [pray] in your room, whatever you want.' And I said, 'I hope not to disturb you when I drink beer or something,' and he was like, 'No, you can do whatever you want.' So I think it's never about religion or where [you're from]; it's always about respect and about dialogue between people."</p> | Not like Airbnb: Germans open their doors and their wallets to share apartments with immigrants | false | https://pri.org/stories/2015-08-13/not-airbnb-germans-open-their-doors-and-their-wallets-share-apartments-immigrants | 2015-08-13 | 3left-center
| Not like Airbnb: Germans open their doors and their wallets to share apartments with immigrants
<p>Many of the immigrants who've hit the road in Europe are desperate to make it to Germany, where the economy is booming.</p>
<p>But the country is struggling to house a record influx of refugees — a number that's expected to more than double this year to a record 450,000. The surge seems to be stirring up ever more anti-immigrant sentiment, in addition to increasing violence.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>A spate of arson attacks in recent months has targeted housing for asylum seekers from Syria and Iraq.&#160;Many Germans say the country just can't take any more refugees. But others like Jonas Kakoschke disagree.</p>
<p>"This country is totally able to have more people here," Kakoschke says, "People try to give this message that it's totally not possible to take more people. but it's not. We are really a rich country. We can take more people, and we're responsible for many bad situations in the world, so we have to be welcoming."</p>
<p>One way the Berlin resident decided to be more welcoming was to help create a roommate sharing website called <a href="http://www.refugees-welcome.net/" type="external">Refugees Welcome</a>. The setup is simple. Those with a spare room can go on the website and submit some information about themselves. From there, the site will try to find refugees who would be a good match.</p>
<p>"We will try to find refugees which can fit to you and you fit to [them], so everybody's sympathetic to each other," Kakoschke says.</p>
<p>On paper, it would be easy to describe Refugees Welcome as an Airbnb for refugees, but Kakoschke stresses that, unlike Airbnb, the goal of his venture is not monetary gain, but getting people to live together and not bringing refugees into empty homes.</p>
<p>"We think it brings the big benefit to refugees that it's really easier and faster to learn German, to feel as a part of our society here."</p>
<p>Kakoschke adds that the effort is also beneficial to Germans — many of whom, he says, have never interacted with refugees.</p>
<p>When it comes to rent, Kakoschke says they usually try to let the government pay, but another method used is something Kakoschke describes as "private micro funding."</p>
<p>"Just write an email to all your friends and family and ask them if they want to support with maybe five euro a month or 10 euro a month."</p>
<p>So far, the site has matched nearly 100 refugees to shared housing in Germany and Austria, where it's been working with a sister organization since January. Out of the 100, Kakoschke says only two have had problems.</p>
<p>"All the refugees are individuals, so it's really depending on this individual person — what can fit and what cannot."</p>
<p>Kakoschke hosted a refugee in his home for six months and says the two of them got along well and were able to find common ground, despite some cultural differences.</p>
<p>"Bakary, my flatmate, he's a Muslim.&#160;I'm a non-believer, and when he moved in he just said, 'I hope I don't disturb you when I pray.'&#160; So I was like, 'No, you can [pray] in your room, whatever you want.' And I said, 'I hope not to disturb you when I drink beer or something,' and he was like, 'No, you can do whatever you want.' So I think it's never about religion or where [you're from]; it's always about respect and about dialogue between people."</p> | 598,931 |
<p>BANGALORE, India — Detroit may be sputtering in the face of the global economic meltdown. But in booming India, the world’s biggest automakers are in a race to build and launch a slew of small cars.</p>
<p>Late last month, Ford Motor, the lone major U.S. carmaker to fend off bankruptcy, announced it will make and sell its first small car in India — the Figo, or Italian for "cool." Unveiling the Figo in New Delhi, Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally said the company’s Chennai factory would produce the Figo next year for both domestic and export markets.</p>
<p>But it's not just Detroit that's moving into the subcontinent.</p>
<p>Toyota, Volkswagen, Suzuki, Hyundai and Nissan have announced combined investments of more than $6 billion to build plants across India.</p>
<p>In the southern Indian city of Chennai, Nissan will roll out its compact car for the global market by May 2010. “Of the total investment of 350 billion yen ($4 billion) by Nissan globally in 2009, India gets a major chunk of the investment,” a Nissan spokesman told GlobalPost.</p>
<p>The global crisis has presented a huge opportunity for India to become the world’s dominant player in producing small, fuel-efficient hatchbacks. Cheap labor is abundant, while India’s growing domestic market is a huge incentive. Today, three of four cars sold in India are small cars. Bucking the trend in the United States, car sales in India rose 13 percent in the April-August period compared with the previous year. By 2015, annual sales are projected to hit 3 million, as India's rising middle class looks for more ways to hit the road.</p>
<p>“Detroit is a benchmark only to be surpassed, the United States is no longer the last frontier in car technology and production,” said V.G. Ramakrishnan, of Chennai-based automotive consultancy Frost &amp; Sullivan. “Detroit is going to feel the pressure,” he adds.</p>
<p>Unlike the green-mindedness of buyers in Europe and elsewhere, the size and price of cars produced in India will be driven by the limited wallet power of thousands aspiring to own their first cars.</p>
<p>Dr. Saraswathi Kanth, 40, of Bangarpet town outside Bangalore is a classic example of an Indian car buyer. Dr. Kanth runs a gynecology practice and could have afforded luxury.</p>
<p>But she chose to be swayed by price and chose the Nano, India’s homegrown small car produced by Mumbai’s Tata Motors. The Nano, a $2,500 air conditioned, gasoline-powered cheap wonder, hit Indian roads in March.</p>
<p>Dr. Kanth now bumps along the rutted roads of her town in her sporty Nano. She says she is thrilled with the design and fuel efficiency of her new acquisition.</p>
<p>Ford is only the latest in a long lineup of carmakers scrambling to build, sell and export small cars out of India. And it's not only small, combustine engine models that are drawing attention.</p>
<p>Last week, General Motors’ Indian subsidiary announced that it had tied up with Bangalore’s Reva Electric Car Company to jointly develop and produce electric vehicles for the Indian market.</p> | India: The next Detroit? | false | https://pri.org/stories/2009-10-06/india-next-detroit | 2009-10-06 | 3left-center
| India: The next Detroit?
<p>BANGALORE, India — Detroit may be sputtering in the face of the global economic meltdown. But in booming India, the world’s biggest automakers are in a race to build and launch a slew of small cars.</p>
<p>Late last month, Ford Motor, the lone major U.S. carmaker to fend off bankruptcy, announced it will make and sell its first small car in India — the Figo, or Italian for "cool." Unveiling the Figo in New Delhi, Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally said the company’s Chennai factory would produce the Figo next year for both domestic and export markets.</p>
<p>But it's not just Detroit that's moving into the subcontinent.</p>
<p>Toyota, Volkswagen, Suzuki, Hyundai and Nissan have announced combined investments of more than $6 billion to build plants across India.</p>
<p>In the southern Indian city of Chennai, Nissan will roll out its compact car for the global market by May 2010. “Of the total investment of 350 billion yen ($4 billion) by Nissan globally in 2009, India gets a major chunk of the investment,” a Nissan spokesman told GlobalPost.</p>
<p>The global crisis has presented a huge opportunity for India to become the world’s dominant player in producing small, fuel-efficient hatchbacks. Cheap labor is abundant, while India’s growing domestic market is a huge incentive. Today, three of four cars sold in India are small cars. Bucking the trend in the United States, car sales in India rose 13 percent in the April-August period compared with the previous year. By 2015, annual sales are projected to hit 3 million, as India's rising middle class looks for more ways to hit the road.</p>
<p>“Detroit is a benchmark only to be surpassed, the United States is no longer the last frontier in car technology and production,” said V.G. Ramakrishnan, of Chennai-based automotive consultancy Frost &amp; Sullivan. “Detroit is going to feel the pressure,” he adds.</p>
<p>Unlike the green-mindedness of buyers in Europe and elsewhere, the size and price of cars produced in India will be driven by the limited wallet power of thousands aspiring to own their first cars.</p>
<p>Dr. Saraswathi Kanth, 40, of Bangarpet town outside Bangalore is a classic example of an Indian car buyer. Dr. Kanth runs a gynecology practice and could have afforded luxury.</p>
<p>But she chose to be swayed by price and chose the Nano, India’s homegrown small car produced by Mumbai’s Tata Motors. The Nano, a $2,500 air conditioned, gasoline-powered cheap wonder, hit Indian roads in March.</p>
<p>Dr. Kanth now bumps along the rutted roads of her town in her sporty Nano. She says she is thrilled with the design and fuel efficiency of her new acquisition.</p>
<p>Ford is only the latest in a long lineup of carmakers scrambling to build, sell and export small cars out of India. And it's not only small, combustine engine models that are drawing attention.</p>
<p>Last week, General Motors’ Indian subsidiary announced that it had tied up with Bangalore’s Reva Electric Car Company to jointly develop and produce electric vehicles for the Indian market.</p> | 598,932 |
<p />
<p>Image source: Flickr user Gage Skidmore.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Bank stocks love Donald Trump.</p>
<p>For thefourth trading day in a row, theKBW Nasdaq Bank Indexof large-cap bank stocks is flying higher. The index has gained more than 13% since Trump was declared the winner, compared to a mere 1% change in theS&amp;P 500 over the same time.</p>
<p>Some banks are rising faster than others.Notable gainers includeBank of America (NYSE: BAC) and SVB Financial (NASDAQ: SIVB)which have gained 17% and 20%, respectively, all in less than one full week after election results were declared</p>
<p>If you're thinking that Trump is a puzzling inspiration for a bank stock boom, you're not alone. Here's why bank stocks are flying on the back of his presidential win.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The market is still trying to digest what exactly a Trump presidency would entail, but the consensus view is that Trump's United States will spend more while taking in less in tax revenue.</p>
<p>On the campaign trail and after his election, Trump has repeatedly signaled his interest in fiscal stimulus, suggesting that he would seek to spend more than $550 billion on infrastructure projects all around the United States. At the same time, Trump alsosupports lowering the corporate tax rate to 15% from 35%, and allowing American companies to pay a reduced rate of 10% on untaxed earnings currently stored overseas.</p>
<p>In short, Trump's policies call for more government spending and less tax revenue, inevitably leading to larger budget deficits and more government borrowing.And while few may have taken Trump seriously just hours before he was named the winner, the market is taking him very seriously now. Trump will take office with Republican majorities in the House and Senate, giving him a better chance to turn campaign promises into legislative reality.</p>
<p>Over long periods of time, the banking industry as a whole can only grow at a rate roughly equal to GDP growth. Higher inflation should theoretically allow for higher nominal GDP growth, and greater loan demand.</p>
<p>In simple terms, banks make money borrowing short and lending long. What this means is that they generally pay interest to their depositors based on short-term rates, and charge their borrowers interest that is based on long-term rates.</p>
<p>As a rule of thumb, banks make the most money when the difference between short-term rates and longer-term rates is larger. Analysts and investors look at the so-called "2-10 spread," which measures the difference between yields on 2-Year and 10-Year U.S. Treasuries.</p>
<p>The rates banks pay on their deposits generally follow 2-Year U.S. Treasury yields, where their loans are generally priced based on 10-Year U.S. Treasury yields. Therefore, a bigger 2-10 spread should imply that banks are earning a larger spread between what they pay on their liabilities and earn on their assets.</p>
<p>Chart by author.</p>
<p>You'd have to be blind to miss the "Trump bump" on the year-to-date chart of the 2-10 spread above. Since Trump's election, long-term rates have risen much faster than short-term rates to reflect changing expectations surrounding inflation and the government's demand for borrowed money. At 1.23% on Monday, the 2-10 spread reached a new high for 2016, and marked a 60% increase since the low achieved in September.</p>
<p>Of course, not all banks are created equal. The largest Trump bumps are showing up in banks like Bank of America and SVB Financial, which are largely agnostic to whether short- or long-term rates rise. Both banks would be perfectly happy to see rates increase on the short end, long end, or both.</p>
<p>Rate increases are easily the largest banks' biggest earnings drivers. In a recent presentation, Bank of America noted that it would earn more than $5.3 billion in incremental net interest income if short- and long-term rates increased by one percentage point over the next 12 months. Importantly, it distinguished between increased income from short-term rates, noting that 60% of the increase in net interest income would come from an increase in short-term rates.</p>
<p>Likewise, SVB Financial is in good position to benefit from a rise on the short end of the curve. The bank's cash-rich clientele entrust it with more than $30 billion of deposits on which the bank pays nothing in interest. It uses these deposits to invest in low-yielding, short-term securities. If short-term rates were to rise, yields on its securities portfolio would rise, too. Given that it doesn't pay interest on most of its deposits, the increased income will flow to its shareholders.</p>
<p>Short-term rates could soon be on the rise. Traders are optimistic that the Federal Reserve will decide to raise interest rates in December, with markets pricing in a 92% chance of a 0.25 percentage point increase or larger.</p>
<p>It's become a running joke among bank investors that post-crisis banks are compliance companies that just happen to make loans on the side. Increased regulatory scrutiny and compliance costs are affecting banks of all sizes, and have been a frequent subject on earnings conference calls for years since the financial crisis.</p>
<p>Trump has prominently proposed eliminating many of the provisions in 2,300 pages of the Dodd-Frank Reform Act, which passed in 2010 and regulated everything from banks' trading activities to just how much banks could earn from swipe fees on customer debit cards.</p>
<p>To be sure, rolling back regulation has its pros and cons. Many of the rules put in place were established for a reason, and were at least intended to avoid another great financial crisis inspired by excessive risk-taking throughout the banking industry. Where higher rates provide a clear and obvious benefit to bank profitability -- rate-sensitivity tables are published plainly in banks' financial reports -- it's impossible to know which regulations will be trimmed back, if at all. But one thing is certain: Reduced regulation could help banks scrape more savings from already gutted expenses.</p>
<p>Forget the 2016 Election: 10 stocks we like better than Bank of America Donald Trump was just elected president, and volatility is up. But here's why you should ignore the election:</p>
<p>Investing geniuses Tom and David Gardner have spent a long time beating the market no matter who's in the White House. In fact, 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%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=dca63491-afb3-4ad5-9792-c1ee5fc9db21&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">ten best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Bank of America 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%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=dca63491-afb3-4ad5-9792-c1ee5fc9db21&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 November 7, 2016.</p>
<p>SVB Financial provides credit and banking services to The Motley Fool. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFValueMagnet/info.aspx" type="external">Jordan Wathen Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends SVB Financial Group. The Motley Fool recommends Bank of America. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" 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://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" 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?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | The Trump Bump: Why Banks Are Up After the Election | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/11/15/trump-bump-why-banks-are-up-after-election.html | 2016-11-15 | 0right
| The Trump Bump: Why Banks Are Up After the Election
<p />
<p>Image source: Flickr user Gage Skidmore.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Bank stocks love Donald Trump.</p>
<p>For thefourth trading day in a row, theKBW Nasdaq Bank Indexof large-cap bank stocks is flying higher. The index has gained more than 13% since Trump was declared the winner, compared to a mere 1% change in theS&amp;P 500 over the same time.</p>
<p>Some banks are rising faster than others.Notable gainers includeBank of America (NYSE: BAC) and SVB Financial (NASDAQ: SIVB)which have gained 17% and 20%, respectively, all in less than one full week after election results were declared</p>
<p>If you're thinking that Trump is a puzzling inspiration for a bank stock boom, you're not alone. Here's why bank stocks are flying on the back of his presidential win.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The market is still trying to digest what exactly a Trump presidency would entail, but the consensus view is that Trump's United States will spend more while taking in less in tax revenue.</p>
<p>On the campaign trail and after his election, Trump has repeatedly signaled his interest in fiscal stimulus, suggesting that he would seek to spend more than $550 billion on infrastructure projects all around the United States. At the same time, Trump alsosupports lowering the corporate tax rate to 15% from 35%, and allowing American companies to pay a reduced rate of 10% on untaxed earnings currently stored overseas.</p>
<p>In short, Trump's policies call for more government spending and less tax revenue, inevitably leading to larger budget deficits and more government borrowing.And while few may have taken Trump seriously just hours before he was named the winner, the market is taking him very seriously now. Trump will take office with Republican majorities in the House and Senate, giving him a better chance to turn campaign promises into legislative reality.</p>
<p>Over long periods of time, the banking industry as a whole can only grow at a rate roughly equal to GDP growth. Higher inflation should theoretically allow for higher nominal GDP growth, and greater loan demand.</p>
<p>In simple terms, banks make money borrowing short and lending long. What this means is that they generally pay interest to their depositors based on short-term rates, and charge their borrowers interest that is based on long-term rates.</p>
<p>As a rule of thumb, banks make the most money when the difference between short-term rates and longer-term rates is larger. Analysts and investors look at the so-called "2-10 spread," which measures the difference between yields on 2-Year and 10-Year U.S. Treasuries.</p>
<p>The rates banks pay on their deposits generally follow 2-Year U.S. Treasury yields, where their loans are generally priced based on 10-Year U.S. Treasury yields. Therefore, a bigger 2-10 spread should imply that banks are earning a larger spread between what they pay on their liabilities and earn on their assets.</p>
<p>Chart by author.</p>
<p>You'd have to be blind to miss the "Trump bump" on the year-to-date chart of the 2-10 spread above. Since Trump's election, long-term rates have risen much faster than short-term rates to reflect changing expectations surrounding inflation and the government's demand for borrowed money. At 1.23% on Monday, the 2-10 spread reached a new high for 2016, and marked a 60% increase since the low achieved in September.</p>
<p>Of course, not all banks are created equal. The largest Trump bumps are showing up in banks like Bank of America and SVB Financial, which are largely agnostic to whether short- or long-term rates rise. Both banks would be perfectly happy to see rates increase on the short end, long end, or both.</p>
<p>Rate increases are easily the largest banks' biggest earnings drivers. In a recent presentation, Bank of America noted that it would earn more than $5.3 billion in incremental net interest income if short- and long-term rates increased by one percentage point over the next 12 months. Importantly, it distinguished between increased income from short-term rates, noting that 60% of the increase in net interest income would come from an increase in short-term rates.</p>
<p>Likewise, SVB Financial is in good position to benefit from a rise on the short end of the curve. The bank's cash-rich clientele entrust it with more than $30 billion of deposits on which the bank pays nothing in interest. It uses these deposits to invest in low-yielding, short-term securities. If short-term rates were to rise, yields on its securities portfolio would rise, too. Given that it doesn't pay interest on most of its deposits, the increased income will flow to its shareholders.</p>
<p>Short-term rates could soon be on the rise. Traders are optimistic that the Federal Reserve will decide to raise interest rates in December, with markets pricing in a 92% chance of a 0.25 percentage point increase or larger.</p>
<p>It's become a running joke among bank investors that post-crisis banks are compliance companies that just happen to make loans on the side. Increased regulatory scrutiny and compliance costs are affecting banks of all sizes, and have been a frequent subject on earnings conference calls for years since the financial crisis.</p>
<p>Trump has prominently proposed eliminating many of the provisions in 2,300 pages of the Dodd-Frank Reform Act, which passed in 2010 and regulated everything from banks' trading activities to just how much banks could earn from swipe fees on customer debit cards.</p>
<p>To be sure, rolling back regulation has its pros and cons. Many of the rules put in place were established for a reason, and were at least intended to avoid another great financial crisis inspired by excessive risk-taking throughout the banking industry. Where higher rates provide a clear and obvious benefit to bank profitability -- rate-sensitivity tables are published plainly in banks' financial reports -- it's impossible to know which regulations will be trimmed back, if at all. But one thing is certain: Reduced regulation could help banks scrape more savings from already gutted expenses.</p>
<p>Forget the 2016 Election: 10 stocks we like better than Bank of America Donald Trump was just elected president, and volatility is up. But here's why you should ignore the election:</p>
<p>Investing geniuses Tom and David Gardner have spent a long time beating the market no matter who's in the White House. In fact, 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%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=dca63491-afb3-4ad5-9792-c1ee5fc9db21&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">ten best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Bank of America 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%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=dca63491-afb3-4ad5-9792-c1ee5fc9db21&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 November 7, 2016.</p>
<p>SVB Financial provides credit and banking services to The Motley Fool. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFValueMagnet/info.aspx" type="external">Jordan Wathen Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends SVB Financial Group. The Motley Fool recommends Bank of America. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" 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://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" 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?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | 598,933 |
<p>In a huge humiliation for Teabagistan, Paul Ryan was elected to House Speaker minutes ago with 236 votes, 18 more than needed. As is tradition, all of the Democrats voted for Nancy Pelosi. Teabagger Daniel Webster, who abstained, got eight votes. And interestingly, one vote went to Colin Powell. <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p /> | Paul Ryan Elected House Speaker [VIDEO] | true | http://joemygod.com/2015/10/29/paul-ryan-elected-house-speaker/ | 2015-10-29 | 4left
| Paul Ryan Elected House Speaker [VIDEO]
<p>In a huge humiliation for Teabagistan, Paul Ryan was elected to House Speaker minutes ago with 236 votes, 18 more than needed. As is tradition, all of the Democrats voted for Nancy Pelosi. Teabagger Daniel Webster, who abstained, got eight votes. And interestingly, one vote went to Colin Powell. <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p /> | 598,934 |
<p>BOSTON (AP) — New Year's Eve revelers can catch a free ride thanks to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.</p>
<p>The MBTA is providing free service for all forms of transportation from 8 p.m. Sunday until the end of service.</p>
<p>Police and transportation officials are encouraging partiers to remain sober if driving, use a designated driver or take public transportation. Massachusetts State Police say troopers will be on the lookout for impaired and dangerous drivers.</p>
<p>The 18 MassDOT service plazas will also be helping drivers stay alert by handing out free coffee from 10 p.m. on Sunday through 5 a.m. on Monday.</p>
<p>BOSTON (AP) — New Year's Eve revelers can catch a free ride thanks to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.</p>
<p>The MBTA is providing free service for all forms of transportation from 8 p.m. Sunday until the end of service.</p>
<p>Police and transportation officials are encouraging partiers to remain sober if driving, use a designated driver or take public transportation. Massachusetts State Police say troopers will be on the lookout for impaired and dangerous drivers.</p>
<p>The 18 MassDOT service plazas will also be helping drivers stay alert by handing out free coffee from 10 p.m. on Sunday through 5 a.m. on Monday.</p> | MBTA offering free rides for New Year's Eve revelers | false | https://apnews.com/amp/9aca9d62836a472a830c5e5beb6bd5dd | 2017-12-30 | 2least
| MBTA offering free rides for New Year's Eve revelers
<p>BOSTON (AP) — New Year's Eve revelers can catch a free ride thanks to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.</p>
<p>The MBTA is providing free service for all forms of transportation from 8 p.m. Sunday until the end of service.</p>
<p>Police and transportation officials are encouraging partiers to remain sober if driving, use a designated driver or take public transportation. Massachusetts State Police say troopers will be on the lookout for impaired and dangerous drivers.</p>
<p>The 18 MassDOT service plazas will also be helping drivers stay alert by handing out free coffee from 10 p.m. on Sunday through 5 a.m. on Monday.</p>
<p>BOSTON (AP) — New Year's Eve revelers can catch a free ride thanks to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.</p>
<p>The MBTA is providing free service for all forms of transportation from 8 p.m. Sunday until the end of service.</p>
<p>Police and transportation officials are encouraging partiers to remain sober if driving, use a designated driver or take public transportation. Massachusetts State Police say troopers will be on the lookout for impaired and dangerous drivers.</p>
<p>The 18 MassDOT service plazas will also be helping drivers stay alert by handing out free coffee from 10 p.m. on Sunday through 5 a.m. on Monday.</p> | 598,935 |
<p>Iran has fired its head of cyber security after a blogger died while in custody, officials in that country announced today.</p>
<p>That country's <a href="" type="external">Press TV</a> said police fired Gen. Mohammad Hasan Shokrian for "failure and lack of sufficient supervision over the performance of personnel under his command."</p>
<p>Blogger Sattar Beheshti died after his arrest on Oct. 30, <a href="" type="external">The Associated Press</a>reported.</p>
<p>The incident sparked an investigation headed by lawmaker Mehdi Davatgari, Press TV said.</p>
<p>"The judiciary's measure for arresting Sattar Beheshti has been legal, but the violation by cyber police in this case is indisputable," Davatgari said Nov. 26, according to Press TV.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="" type="external">Iran parliament to probe death of Sattar Beheshti</a></p>
<p>Police arrested Beheshti on Oct. 30 for alleged cybercrimes. They took him to Evin prison in Tehran the next day for interrogation. He died Nov. 3, the AP said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="external">Sky News</a> said Beheshti, 35, was tortured and found dead in his cell.</p>
<p>The incident sparked rare outrage in Iran's government, Sky said, and nearly unprecedented response.</p>
<p>Sky News, citing Iranian media reports, said Beheshti's death has led to seven arrests.</p>
<p>Iranian parliament formed a committee to investigate the incident, and justice officials pledged to act "quickly and decisively," Sky reported.</p>
<p>Beheshti was critical of the Iranian government, and his death triggered international outrage.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="" type="external">Iran says "shock" likely killed blogger Beheshti</a>&#160;</p> | Iran fires police chief after death of blogger Sattar Beheshti | false | https://pri.org/stories/2012-12-01/iran-fires-police-chief-after-death-blogger-sattar-beheshti | 2012-12-01 | 3left-center
| Iran fires police chief after death of blogger Sattar Beheshti
<p>Iran has fired its head of cyber security after a blogger died while in custody, officials in that country announced today.</p>
<p>That country's <a href="" type="external">Press TV</a> said police fired Gen. Mohammad Hasan Shokrian for "failure and lack of sufficient supervision over the performance of personnel under his command."</p>
<p>Blogger Sattar Beheshti died after his arrest on Oct. 30, <a href="" type="external">The Associated Press</a>reported.</p>
<p>The incident sparked an investigation headed by lawmaker Mehdi Davatgari, Press TV said.</p>
<p>"The judiciary's measure for arresting Sattar Beheshti has been legal, but the violation by cyber police in this case is indisputable," Davatgari said Nov. 26, according to Press TV.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="" type="external">Iran parliament to probe death of Sattar Beheshti</a></p>
<p>Police arrested Beheshti on Oct. 30 for alleged cybercrimes. They took him to Evin prison in Tehran the next day for interrogation. He died Nov. 3, the AP said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="external">Sky News</a> said Beheshti, 35, was tortured and found dead in his cell.</p>
<p>The incident sparked rare outrage in Iran's government, Sky said, and nearly unprecedented response.</p>
<p>Sky News, citing Iranian media reports, said Beheshti's death has led to seven arrests.</p>
<p>Iranian parliament formed a committee to investigate the incident, and justice officials pledged to act "quickly and decisively," Sky reported.</p>
<p>Beheshti was critical of the Iranian government, and his death triggered international outrage.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="" type="external">Iran says "shock" likely killed blogger Beheshti</a>&#160;</p> | 598,936 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>To paraphrase, the arroyo to hell is paved with good intentions, illegally dumped garbage, dead trees and underbrush. Just ask Peter and Françoise Smith. They had the audacity to clear debris out of the arroyo on their property behind their home, off N.M. 14 southwest of Santa Fe.</p>
<p>Peter Smith says “people dumped garbage down there, and there was a beetle infestation that took out a lot of the piñon.” He says the estimated 600 dead trees presented a fire hazard and the non-native “salt cedar was getting to the point it was so thick you couldn’t walk through it. So I cleaned up as much as I could and tried to maintain it.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Then the Army Corps of Engineers schooled him on the power of the U.S. government. It sent a certified letter saying the Smiths violated the Clean Water Act because the 150-yard cleanup was done without a permit.</p>
<p>When Peter Smith tried to explain his actions, the Corps responded “Gallina Arroyo is a water of the United States” — though it is dry year-round save for the rare rain storm — and if the Smiths persisted, they would need to get a permit or face “legal action, including applicable penalties and fines.”</p>
<p>That’s courtesy of a federal government that has posted nearly 6,000 new regulations in the last three months, according to regulations.gov. Think about that the next time you’re tempted to put litter in its place.</p>
<p>Instead the Smiths contacted the nonprofit Pacific Legal Foundation, which sued the Corps in U.S. District Court in Santa Fe on the Smiths’ behalf.</p>
<p>Foundation attorney Jennifer Fry says the case could set precedents on whether someone can take the Corps to court, what type of property the Corps has jurisdiction over and what its burden of proof is for declaring that jurisdiction.</p>
<p>She raises the very reasonable question of how a high-and-dry desert arroyo is a water of the United States, and adds “we’re aiming to stop federal regulators from becoming a national zoning board with unlimited control over land use, from coast to coast. They must be subject to court review when they make a jurisdictional determination that someone’s property is covered by the Clean Water Act.”</p>
<p>Because apparently they can not make a common-sense determination that landowners should pick up garbage and debris on their own property.</p>
<p>This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.</p> | Editorial: Feds Run Amok With Arroyo Over-Regulation | false | https://abqjournal.com/153649/feds-run-amok-with-arroyo-overregulation.html | 2012-12-16 | 2least
| Editorial: Feds Run Amok With Arroyo Over-Regulation
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>To paraphrase, the arroyo to hell is paved with good intentions, illegally dumped garbage, dead trees and underbrush. Just ask Peter and Françoise Smith. They had the audacity to clear debris out of the arroyo on their property behind their home, off N.M. 14 southwest of Santa Fe.</p>
<p>Peter Smith says “people dumped garbage down there, and there was a beetle infestation that took out a lot of the piñon.” He says the estimated 600 dead trees presented a fire hazard and the non-native “salt cedar was getting to the point it was so thick you couldn’t walk through it. So I cleaned up as much as I could and tried to maintain it.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Then the Army Corps of Engineers schooled him on the power of the U.S. government. It sent a certified letter saying the Smiths violated the Clean Water Act because the 150-yard cleanup was done without a permit.</p>
<p>When Peter Smith tried to explain his actions, the Corps responded “Gallina Arroyo is a water of the United States” — though it is dry year-round save for the rare rain storm — and if the Smiths persisted, they would need to get a permit or face “legal action, including applicable penalties and fines.”</p>
<p>That’s courtesy of a federal government that has posted nearly 6,000 new regulations in the last three months, according to regulations.gov. Think about that the next time you’re tempted to put litter in its place.</p>
<p>Instead the Smiths contacted the nonprofit Pacific Legal Foundation, which sued the Corps in U.S. District Court in Santa Fe on the Smiths’ behalf.</p>
<p>Foundation attorney Jennifer Fry says the case could set precedents on whether someone can take the Corps to court, what type of property the Corps has jurisdiction over and what its burden of proof is for declaring that jurisdiction.</p>
<p>She raises the very reasonable question of how a high-and-dry desert arroyo is a water of the United States, and adds “we’re aiming to stop federal regulators from becoming a national zoning board with unlimited control over land use, from coast to coast. They must be subject to court review when they make a jurisdictional determination that someone’s property is covered by the Clean Water Act.”</p>
<p>Because apparently they can not make a common-sense determination that landowners should pick up garbage and debris on their own property.</p>
<p>This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.</p> | 598,937 |
<p>RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the North Carolina Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:</p>
<p>7-2-5-8, Lucky Sum: 22</p>
<p>(seven, two, five, eight; Lucky Sum: twenty-two)</p>
<p>RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the North Carolina Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:</p>
<p>7-2-5-8, Lucky Sum: 22</p>
<p>(seven, two, five, eight; Lucky Sum: twenty-two)</p> | Winning numbers drawn in 'Pick 4 Evening' game | false | https://apnews.com/amp/74e708ce3c5b4d50bd995abceac085e7 | 2018-01-24 | 2least
| Winning numbers drawn in 'Pick 4 Evening' game
<p>RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the North Carolina Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:</p>
<p>7-2-5-8, Lucky Sum: 22</p>
<p>(seven, two, five, eight; Lucky Sum: twenty-two)</p>
<p>RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the North Carolina Lottery's "Pick 4 Evening" game were:</p>
<p>7-2-5-8, Lucky Sum: 22</p>
<p>(seven, two, five, eight; Lucky Sum: twenty-two)</p> | 598,938 |
<p />
<p>March 31, 2010</p>
<p>By ANTHONY PIGNATARO</p>
<p>Despite a state Auditor’s report and a four-year-old law that prohibits consumers from throwing old and broken electronic devices into the trash, many state agencies are apparently still throwing computers, television sets, radios, printers, copiers, radios and cell phones into the trash rather than putting them through special recycling efforts, a CalWatchdog investigation shows.</p>
<p>Through the California Public Records Act, CalWatchdog obtained copies of all Property Survey Reports – which record in some detail the proposed disposition of state-owned property — filed by state agencies between July and December 2009. Because the Department of General Services receives between 1,000 and 1,200 such reports every month, the request ended up gathering between 6,000 and 7,200 individual records. From these, we were able to determine that 29 separate state agencies disposed of some kind of electronic device during that time period.</p>
<p>Of those agencies, 28 of them reported that they had declared electronic devices – many of which contain heavy metals and other potential toxics — to be “valueless,” meaning that they could be “legally/safely disposed of.” For instance, the property survey reports showed that between July and December 2009, the state Department of Corrections “legally/safely disposed of” 228 television sets or computer monitors, 235 desktop or laptop computers, 127 printers or copiers, 13 phones and two microwave ovens. All of the equipment was classified as “junk.”</p>
<p>The Department of Corrections’ public affairs office didn’t respond to call for comment by press time.</p>
<p>“There are probably many reasons for this,” Teresa Bui, a policy associate at the non-profit environmental advocacy group Californians Against Waste who was familiar with the issue of state e-waste issues, said. “Mostly I think people just didn’t know that they need to properly recycle. There may not be a contract with a recycler. Or it’s just easier to throw it in the trash.”</p>
<p>For its part, the Department of General Services insists that state agencies are recycling old and unwanted electronic devices, but that many agencies simply aren’t properly reporting the recycling on the property survey reports. “I think there’s room for improvement as to how they report this on the forms,” General Services spokesman Eric Lamoureaux said. “We’ve been focused on this over the last two years. Between June and December of 2009 we recycled 74,000 tons of electronic waste.”</p>
<p>Lamoureaux admitted there is often a “disconnect” between how agencies fill out the survey reports and what actually becomes of the old devices, but added that many times General Services will alert departments that classifies electronic devices as trash to change their disposition codes on the property survey report. Lamoureaux had no explanation when CalWatchdog found no instance of new recycling codes being added to the survey reports obtained through the Public Records Act.</p>
<p>Indeed, just a handful of agencies reported recycling obsolete or non-working electronic devices. In most cases, the agencies exhibited a kind of split personality where electronic devices were concerned – sending some off to a recycler while tossing others in the trash.</p>
<p>In all cases, the numbers of devices the agencies reported recycling paled before those they trashed. For instance, the state Department of Forestry and Fire’s Santa Cruz office classified nine computers, eight television sets and eight other devices as “Donation to Scrap/Salvage Dealer (To be recycled)” while the rest of the department’s offices reported junking 137 computers, 23 televisions, 42 printers, 50 cell phones, seven laptop batteries and one microwave oven.</p>
<p>A new disposition classification, “Universal Waste – Salvage Dealer, Recycler (E-Waste),” is apparently in use, though in the records CalWatchdog examined, only the Department of General Services – which manages the disposition forms in the first place – used it. Between August and December 2009, General Services reported four computer hard drives and three tapes as disposed under this E-Waste classification and another two “data modems” disposed to a scrap/salvage dealer. But the department also reported three printers and a copier as bound for the trash.</p>
<p>In any case, the apparent “disconnect” between the thousands of property survey reports generated every month and the actual disposition of state property raises serious questions about both the value of the reports and the efficacy of state recycling efforts. For that reason, last month Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, introduced SB1052, which would attempt to rationalize state e-waste recycling efforts. It would also assign the Department of Toxic Substances Control to watchdog the rest of state government on the recycling of old electronic devices.</p>
<p>“The disposal of electronic waste is currently overseen by a confusing jumble of state agencies,” Oropeza said in a Feb. 16 press release on SB1052, which will come up for hearing on April 5. “In this economic crunch, where we are trying to maintain quality standards with less money, it is simply dumb to assign the same duty to so many agencies. Streamlining this process would not only help protect the environment and public health, but also would result in better use of taxpayer funds.”</p>
<p>Lamoureaux, who said he had not heard of SB1052, had no comment on the proposed legislation.</p>
<p>The numbers of electronic devices headed to the trash every year are staggering. “Americans own nearly 3 billion electronic products,” states a 2007 Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet. “For each new product that comes along, one or more becomes outdated or obsolete.”</p>
<p>An aide to Oropeza said the inspiration for the bill was a 2008 state Auditor’s review of property survey reports that also seemed to indicate huge numbers of state-owned computers, televisions and other devices were ending up in the trash. One of the Auditor’s recommendations was to develop an overall effort to keep electronic waste out of landfills.</p>
<p>“This report concludes that a lack of clear communication from oversight agencies, coupled with some state employees’ lack of knowledge about e-waste, contributed to state agencies improperly disposing of some electronic devices in the trash,” Auditor Elaine M. Howle wrote in a Nov. 18, 2008 letter that preceded the report on e-waste. “Finally, our review found that state and local oversight of e-waste is infrequent and may not always identify instances when state agencies improperly dispose of e-waste.”</p>
<p>The numbers of electronic devices potentially bound for landfills is staggering. In 2005, the EPA estimated that in 26 million to 37 million computers become obsolete. That same year, Americans stopped using an estimated 130 million cell phones (the average life of a cellular phone, because of steadily accumulating new features, provider compatibility and quality control is a mere year and a half). Put another way, Americans quit using 1.9 million to 2.2 million tons of electronic devices. Of that, the vast majority – 1.5 million to 1.8 million tons – ended up in the trash, according to the EPA.</p>
<p>Electronic devices like computers and television monitors pose special dangers for landfills. According to the EPA, they contain numerous toxins, including lead (used in glass cathode ray tubes), mercury (from laptop monitor screens), brominated flame retardants (from plastic cases and cables) and cadmium (from older laptop batteries). Cell phones, though small, contain many different types of metals: copper, iron, nickel, silver, zinc, aluminum, gold, lead, manganese, palladium, platinum and tin, according to the United States Geological Survey.</p>
<p>Elise Viebeck provided research assistance for this story.</p> | State violates e-waste rules | false | https://calwatchdog.com/2010/03/31/new-state-violates-e-waste-rules/ | 2018-03-20 | 3left-center
| State violates e-waste rules
<p />
<p>March 31, 2010</p>
<p>By ANTHONY PIGNATARO</p>
<p>Despite a state Auditor’s report and a four-year-old law that prohibits consumers from throwing old and broken electronic devices into the trash, many state agencies are apparently still throwing computers, television sets, radios, printers, copiers, radios and cell phones into the trash rather than putting them through special recycling efforts, a CalWatchdog investigation shows.</p>
<p>Through the California Public Records Act, CalWatchdog obtained copies of all Property Survey Reports – which record in some detail the proposed disposition of state-owned property — filed by state agencies between July and December 2009. Because the Department of General Services receives between 1,000 and 1,200 such reports every month, the request ended up gathering between 6,000 and 7,200 individual records. From these, we were able to determine that 29 separate state agencies disposed of some kind of electronic device during that time period.</p>
<p>Of those agencies, 28 of them reported that they had declared electronic devices – many of which contain heavy metals and other potential toxics — to be “valueless,” meaning that they could be “legally/safely disposed of.” For instance, the property survey reports showed that between July and December 2009, the state Department of Corrections “legally/safely disposed of” 228 television sets or computer monitors, 235 desktop or laptop computers, 127 printers or copiers, 13 phones and two microwave ovens. All of the equipment was classified as “junk.”</p>
<p>The Department of Corrections’ public affairs office didn’t respond to call for comment by press time.</p>
<p>“There are probably many reasons for this,” Teresa Bui, a policy associate at the non-profit environmental advocacy group Californians Against Waste who was familiar with the issue of state e-waste issues, said. “Mostly I think people just didn’t know that they need to properly recycle. There may not be a contract with a recycler. Or it’s just easier to throw it in the trash.”</p>
<p>For its part, the Department of General Services insists that state agencies are recycling old and unwanted electronic devices, but that many agencies simply aren’t properly reporting the recycling on the property survey reports. “I think there’s room for improvement as to how they report this on the forms,” General Services spokesman Eric Lamoureaux said. “We’ve been focused on this over the last two years. Between June and December of 2009 we recycled 74,000 tons of electronic waste.”</p>
<p>Lamoureaux admitted there is often a “disconnect” between how agencies fill out the survey reports and what actually becomes of the old devices, but added that many times General Services will alert departments that classifies electronic devices as trash to change their disposition codes on the property survey report. Lamoureaux had no explanation when CalWatchdog found no instance of new recycling codes being added to the survey reports obtained through the Public Records Act.</p>
<p>Indeed, just a handful of agencies reported recycling obsolete or non-working electronic devices. In most cases, the agencies exhibited a kind of split personality where electronic devices were concerned – sending some off to a recycler while tossing others in the trash.</p>
<p>In all cases, the numbers of devices the agencies reported recycling paled before those they trashed. For instance, the state Department of Forestry and Fire’s Santa Cruz office classified nine computers, eight television sets and eight other devices as “Donation to Scrap/Salvage Dealer (To be recycled)” while the rest of the department’s offices reported junking 137 computers, 23 televisions, 42 printers, 50 cell phones, seven laptop batteries and one microwave oven.</p>
<p>A new disposition classification, “Universal Waste – Salvage Dealer, Recycler (E-Waste),” is apparently in use, though in the records CalWatchdog examined, only the Department of General Services – which manages the disposition forms in the first place – used it. Between August and December 2009, General Services reported four computer hard drives and three tapes as disposed under this E-Waste classification and another two “data modems” disposed to a scrap/salvage dealer. But the department also reported three printers and a copier as bound for the trash.</p>
<p>In any case, the apparent “disconnect” between the thousands of property survey reports generated every month and the actual disposition of state property raises serious questions about both the value of the reports and the efficacy of state recycling efforts. For that reason, last month Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, introduced SB1052, which would attempt to rationalize state e-waste recycling efforts. It would also assign the Department of Toxic Substances Control to watchdog the rest of state government on the recycling of old electronic devices.</p>
<p>“The disposal of electronic waste is currently overseen by a confusing jumble of state agencies,” Oropeza said in a Feb. 16 press release on SB1052, which will come up for hearing on April 5. “In this economic crunch, where we are trying to maintain quality standards with less money, it is simply dumb to assign the same duty to so many agencies. Streamlining this process would not only help protect the environment and public health, but also would result in better use of taxpayer funds.”</p>
<p>Lamoureaux, who said he had not heard of SB1052, had no comment on the proposed legislation.</p>
<p>The numbers of electronic devices headed to the trash every year are staggering. “Americans own nearly 3 billion electronic products,” states a 2007 Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet. “For each new product that comes along, one or more becomes outdated or obsolete.”</p>
<p>An aide to Oropeza said the inspiration for the bill was a 2008 state Auditor’s review of property survey reports that also seemed to indicate huge numbers of state-owned computers, televisions and other devices were ending up in the trash. One of the Auditor’s recommendations was to develop an overall effort to keep electronic waste out of landfills.</p>
<p>“This report concludes that a lack of clear communication from oversight agencies, coupled with some state employees’ lack of knowledge about e-waste, contributed to state agencies improperly disposing of some electronic devices in the trash,” Auditor Elaine M. Howle wrote in a Nov. 18, 2008 letter that preceded the report on e-waste. “Finally, our review found that state and local oversight of e-waste is infrequent and may not always identify instances when state agencies improperly dispose of e-waste.”</p>
<p>The numbers of electronic devices potentially bound for landfills is staggering. In 2005, the EPA estimated that in 26 million to 37 million computers become obsolete. That same year, Americans stopped using an estimated 130 million cell phones (the average life of a cellular phone, because of steadily accumulating new features, provider compatibility and quality control is a mere year and a half). Put another way, Americans quit using 1.9 million to 2.2 million tons of electronic devices. Of that, the vast majority – 1.5 million to 1.8 million tons – ended up in the trash, according to the EPA.</p>
<p>Electronic devices like computers and television monitors pose special dangers for landfills. According to the EPA, they contain numerous toxins, including lead (used in glass cathode ray tubes), mercury (from laptop monitor screens), brominated flame retardants (from plastic cases and cables) and cadmium (from older laptop batteries). Cell phones, though small, contain many different types of metals: copper, iron, nickel, silver, zinc, aluminum, gold, lead, manganese, palladium, platinum and tin, according to the United States Geological Survey.</p>
<p>Elise Viebeck provided research assistance for this story.</p> | 598,939 |
<p>By Joe Flint Of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL</p>
<p>NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Veteran television correspondent Peter Arnett, who has been covering the war with Iraq for NBC News through an arrangement with National Geographic Explorer, went on Iraq's state television network and praised Iraq's treatment of journalists. In a transcript of Arnett's comments during the interview, he seemed to praise Iraq's Ministry of Information, saying it has "allowed me and many other reporters to cover 12 whole years since the Gulf War with a degree which we appreciate and that is continuing today."</p> | Arnett, On Iraq TV, Praises Treatment Of Reporters | false | https://poynter.org/news/arnett-iraq-tv-praises-treatment-reporters | 2003-03-31 | 2least
| Arnett, On Iraq TV, Praises Treatment Of Reporters
<p>By Joe Flint Of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL</p>
<p>NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Veteran television correspondent Peter Arnett, who has been covering the war with Iraq for NBC News through an arrangement with National Geographic Explorer, went on Iraq's state television network and praised Iraq's treatment of journalists. In a transcript of Arnett's comments during the interview, he seemed to praise Iraq's Ministry of Information, saying it has "allowed me and many other reporters to cover 12 whole years since the Gulf War with a degree which we appreciate and that is continuing today."</p> | 598,940 |
<p>This article is being republished as part of our daily reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S. print edition of The Wall Street Journal (January 30, 2018).</p>
<p>Selling in government bonds intensified around the world. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note notched its highest closing level since April 2014.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>U.S. stocks retreated as utilities and real estate shares declined. The Dow fell 177.23 points to 26439.48.</p>
<p>Global investors are shifting more money from U.S. to foreign stocks, betting on opportunities overseas.</p>
<p>The household saving rate fell in December to its lowest level since September 2005 amid a spending splurge by Americans.</p>
<p>Coffee company Keurig is taking over Dr Pepper Snapple, a deal that will unite popular brands that have faced struggles.</p>
<p>JPMorgan named two executives to share the No. 2 post, the bank's clearest step yet to designate a potential successor to CEO Dimon.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>MetLife delayed its earnings report and said it would revise prior financial reports due to unpaid pensions.</p>
<p>France's Sanofi said it would acquire Belgian biotech company Ablynx for $4.85 billion.</p>
<p>Lawmakers are moving to stanch the flow of U.S. technology to foreign investors with legislation to broaden CFIUS's authority.</p>
<p>China's JinkoSolar said it plans to open a solar-panel plant in the U.S., a week after Trump imposed tariffs.</p>
<p>Fitch is exiting a joint venture and will apply to operate independently in China.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>January 30, 2018 02:47 ET (07:47 GMT)</p> | What's News: Business & Finance -- WSJ | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/07/29/whats-news-business-finance-wsj.html | 2018-01-30 | 0right
| What's News: Business & Finance -- WSJ
<p>This article is being republished as part of our daily reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S. print edition of The Wall Street Journal (January 30, 2018).</p>
<p>Selling in government bonds intensified around the world. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note notched its highest closing level since April 2014.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>U.S. stocks retreated as utilities and real estate shares declined. The Dow fell 177.23 points to 26439.48.</p>
<p>Global investors are shifting more money from U.S. to foreign stocks, betting on opportunities overseas.</p>
<p>The household saving rate fell in December to its lowest level since September 2005 amid a spending splurge by Americans.</p>
<p>Coffee company Keurig is taking over Dr Pepper Snapple, a deal that will unite popular brands that have faced struggles.</p>
<p>JPMorgan named two executives to share the No. 2 post, the bank's clearest step yet to designate a potential successor to CEO Dimon.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>MetLife delayed its earnings report and said it would revise prior financial reports due to unpaid pensions.</p>
<p>France's Sanofi said it would acquire Belgian biotech company Ablynx for $4.85 billion.</p>
<p>Lawmakers are moving to stanch the flow of U.S. technology to foreign investors with legislation to broaden CFIUS's authority.</p>
<p>China's JinkoSolar said it plans to open a solar-panel plant in the U.S., a week after Trump imposed tariffs.</p>
<p>Fitch is exiting a joint venture and will apply to operate independently in China.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>January 30, 2018 02:47 ET (07:47 GMT)</p> | 598,941 |
<p>ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s military says its warplanes have pounded a militant hideout in a troubled tribal region along the Afghan border, killing 22 “terrorists.”</p>
<p>In a statement released Wednesday, the military said the airstrikes were carried out the night before in the North Waziristan region, where the military launched a major offensive last year.</p>
<p>The latest strikes came weeks after the military said it had cleared most of the region of militants, who use the mountainous border area to launch attacks in both countries.</p>
<p>The military says it has killed more than 1,200 militants since launching the June 15, 2014 operation in North Waziristan.</p>
<p>The North Waziristan tribal region is one of seven tribal regions near the Afghan border where local and foreign militants had found safe haven for years.</p>
<p>ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s military says its warplanes have pounded a militant hideout in a troubled tribal region along the Afghan border, killing 22 “terrorists.”</p>
<p>In a statement released Wednesday, the military said the airstrikes were carried out the night before in the North Waziristan region, where the military launched a major offensive last year.</p>
<p>The latest strikes came weeks after the military said it had cleared most of the region of militants, who use the mountainous border area to launch attacks in both countries.</p>
<p>The military says it has killed more than 1,200 militants since launching the June 15, 2014 operation in North Waziristan.</p>
<p>The North Waziristan tribal region is one of seven tribal regions near the Afghan border where local and foreign militants had found safe haven for years.</p> | Pakistani jets hit militant hideout in northwest, kill 22 | false | https://apnews.com/a1767daa167f4430984a539dd7ac5c1b | 2015-04-22 | 2least
| Pakistani jets hit militant hideout in northwest, kill 22
<p>ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s military says its warplanes have pounded a militant hideout in a troubled tribal region along the Afghan border, killing 22 “terrorists.”</p>
<p>In a statement released Wednesday, the military said the airstrikes were carried out the night before in the North Waziristan region, where the military launched a major offensive last year.</p>
<p>The latest strikes came weeks after the military said it had cleared most of the region of militants, who use the mountainous border area to launch attacks in both countries.</p>
<p>The military says it has killed more than 1,200 militants since launching the June 15, 2014 operation in North Waziristan.</p>
<p>The North Waziristan tribal region is one of seven tribal regions near the Afghan border where local and foreign militants had found safe haven for years.</p>
<p>ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s military says its warplanes have pounded a militant hideout in a troubled tribal region along the Afghan border, killing 22 “terrorists.”</p>
<p>In a statement released Wednesday, the military said the airstrikes were carried out the night before in the North Waziristan region, where the military launched a major offensive last year.</p>
<p>The latest strikes came weeks after the military said it had cleared most of the region of militants, who use the mountainous border area to launch attacks in both countries.</p>
<p>The military says it has killed more than 1,200 militants since launching the June 15, 2014 operation in North Waziristan.</p>
<p>The North Waziristan tribal region is one of seven tribal regions near the Afghan border where local and foreign militants had found safe haven for years.</p> | 598,942 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The three-day event, which starts Tuesday, affords investors from across America the chance to hear about and sink money into innovative companies that are commercializing technologies developed in national laboratories, universities and research institutions.</p>
<p>“Checks aren’t written at the Deal Stream Summit,” said John Freisinger, president and CEO of Technology Ventures Corp. “The summit is really sort of a debutante ball to introduce the investment opportunities to the investment community.”</p>
<p>On Wednesday, each of the presenting companies – nine from New Mexico and three from out of state – will get 10 minutes to pitch their products and services. They are as diverse as a water purifier that can disinfect 80 gallons with salt and an electrical charge to an electron accelerator that provides improved treatment for inoperable tumors, to name just two.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The event’s record suggests the presenters’ chances are pretty fair: One in three historically have been funded – including three of last year’s nine participants, Freisinger said.</p>
<p>Ophthalmologic technician Sheila Nemeth of VisionQuest i-Rx, left, takes a non-dilated retinal image of Ana Edwards. The company is one of this year’s summit presenters. (COURTESy of VISIONQUEST I-RX)</p>
<p>Here’s a closer look at three participating New Mexico companies:</p>
<p>Energy Related Devices: Adapting solar for ranchers</p>
<p>Then-Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Robert Hockaday bundled his ideas for fixing the world’s major problems into what he calls his “Book of Dreams” when he founded Energy Related Devices, first as a hobby business, and then as a fully incorporated company in 1996.</p>
<p>“The idea was the Cold War is over, let’s go solve the major problems,” he said. His attention currently is on making a more-efficient but tougher solar panel.</p>
<p>Just more than a year ago, Hockaday closed his lab in Los Alamos and relocated to Tucumcari, which was looking for a job-producing, anchor industry. If it can get financing, the company plans to launch an assembly operation that melds standard industry solar panels with ERD’s unique sheet-metal backing that not only keeps solar cells cool and more efficient, but also strengthens the panels to stand up to high winds and other severe weather. ERD initially plans to target the ranching community, which can use the panels to power pumps for watering cattle.</p>
<p>“Almost every panel in the industry can be adapted. The idea is we can take their panel and put our part onto it,” he said, noting hundreds of jobs could be created.</p>
<p>The critical piece is a flexible heat sink developed by ERD that imitates shark skins, he said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“More or less these are sheet metal that are formed into a structure that removes heat from the back side of the solar panel,” he said. “It supports the whole panel from the back side so it strengthens the panel and makes it so you can actually use it, in say, abusive weather, hurricanes and high winds.”</p>
<p>Because of their toughness, the panels don’t require a racking system and could be mounted on old windmill or water towers instead of having to construct concrete pads. If those aren’t available, they could be mounted on old rubber tires and easily moved to other locations if the ranch has multiple wells.</p>
<p>APPCityLife: Going mobile for the locals</p>
<p>Lisa Abeyta is the founder of APPCityLife, an Albuquerque startup she’s confident has found a niche in the growing market for mobile apps – “solving the problems of mobiles for the local audience,” to use her words. It has earned “Top 20 Hottest Startup” recognition from technology blog VentureBeat.</p>
<p>APPCityLife is developing mobile apps cities and businesses can use to inform users. (COURTESY of APPCITYLIFE)</p>
<p>“(The city of) Albuquerque approached me last year as the mayor was getting ready to announce the open-data initiative that would be all the different feeds they created for the website that you could go up and access,” she said. “But they needed a flagship app to really kind of show what you could do with open data. So I worked with the transit department, which really had a serious problem: They were getting about a million calls a year to the 311 call service to one specific reason – where is my bus?”</p>
<p>The result was the ABQ RIDE app. It reduced the 311 calls and gained about 5,000 users. Working on open-data issues for the city also laid the foundation for its proposition to summit investors.</p>
<p>The company plans to provide a mobile “gamification” platform for cities, businesses or other entities to reward people for participating in an activity. A public art app being developed for the city, for instance, would give users a chance to win an iPad for participating in a scavenger hunt that involves viewing public art, not only encouraging people to see the art, but giving the city feedback on how many people view it.</p>
<p>A business like Vans could issue a challenge to kids to use skate parks and reward them with points toward free or discounted merchandise, she said.</p>
<p>“There are companies that are beginning to circle around this, but nobody is doing what we’re doing,” Abeyta said.</p>
<p>The platform can also be used for local businesses to advertise or offer coupons. “Imagine you’re riding a bus and you can get coupons from the businesses that are right where (you) go every day,” she said.</p>
<p>VisionQuest i-Rx: Targeting diabetes-related eye disease</p>
<p>Peter Soliz, president and CEO of Albuquerque-based VisionQuest Biomedical, presented at the summit about three years ago when his company was in early stage development of a software screening for diabetes-related eye disease.</p>
<p>The company wasn’t successful that time, but it continued with research funding from the National Eye Institute and spun off VisionQuest i-Rx in 2011 to provide tele-ophthalmology services commercially. This year, it is seeking to raise about $2 million to complete the software’s validation by the federal Food and Drug Administration and to launch “clinics” in New Mexico and Texas, Soliz said.</p>
<p>Soliz said there are almost 28 million diabetics in the U.S., but only about 19,000 ophthalmolo-gists. But as many as two thirds of those individuals may not, in fact, need to see a specialist.</p>
<p>The algorithm written into the software is designed to “triage out” individuals at low risk for eye disease, leaving only those who actually need medical intervention, Soliz said.</p>
<p>“If we could only pass those that need intervention, then they (eye-care specialists) would be spending 80 to 90 percent of their time treating patients that absolutely need treatment,” he said.</p>
<p>VisionQuest has completed more than 10,000 screenings for eye disease without the software the past 18 months, rotating retinal-imaging cameras among 15 clinics in New Mexico with permanent cameras at four clinics in Texas. Each clinic is networked into a secure communication system to electronically transmit the images to optometrists for evaluation, and then a referral to an opththamologist if necessary.</p>
<p>“In the future,” he said, “when the software gets approved by the FDA, it will enable the doctors to see more patients with disease and not have to deal with those without disease.”</p> | Summit to showcase tech firms | false | https://abqjournal.com/183915/summit-to-showcase-tech-firms.html | 2013-04-01 | 2least
| Summit to showcase tech firms
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<p />
<p>The three-day event, which starts Tuesday, affords investors from across America the chance to hear about and sink money into innovative companies that are commercializing technologies developed in national laboratories, universities and research institutions.</p>
<p>“Checks aren’t written at the Deal Stream Summit,” said John Freisinger, president and CEO of Technology Ventures Corp. “The summit is really sort of a debutante ball to introduce the investment opportunities to the investment community.”</p>
<p>On Wednesday, each of the presenting companies – nine from New Mexico and three from out of state – will get 10 minutes to pitch their products and services. They are as diverse as a water purifier that can disinfect 80 gallons with salt and an electrical charge to an electron accelerator that provides improved treatment for inoperable tumors, to name just two.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The event’s record suggests the presenters’ chances are pretty fair: One in three historically have been funded – including three of last year’s nine participants, Freisinger said.</p>
<p>Ophthalmologic technician Sheila Nemeth of VisionQuest i-Rx, left, takes a non-dilated retinal image of Ana Edwards. The company is one of this year’s summit presenters. (COURTESy of VISIONQUEST I-RX)</p>
<p>Here’s a closer look at three participating New Mexico companies:</p>
<p>Energy Related Devices: Adapting solar for ranchers</p>
<p>Then-Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Robert Hockaday bundled his ideas for fixing the world’s major problems into what he calls his “Book of Dreams” when he founded Energy Related Devices, first as a hobby business, and then as a fully incorporated company in 1996.</p>
<p>“The idea was the Cold War is over, let’s go solve the major problems,” he said. His attention currently is on making a more-efficient but tougher solar panel.</p>
<p>Just more than a year ago, Hockaday closed his lab in Los Alamos and relocated to Tucumcari, which was looking for a job-producing, anchor industry. If it can get financing, the company plans to launch an assembly operation that melds standard industry solar panels with ERD’s unique sheet-metal backing that not only keeps solar cells cool and more efficient, but also strengthens the panels to stand up to high winds and other severe weather. ERD initially plans to target the ranching community, which can use the panels to power pumps for watering cattle.</p>
<p>“Almost every panel in the industry can be adapted. The idea is we can take their panel and put our part onto it,” he said, noting hundreds of jobs could be created.</p>
<p>The critical piece is a flexible heat sink developed by ERD that imitates shark skins, he said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“More or less these are sheet metal that are formed into a structure that removes heat from the back side of the solar panel,” he said. “It supports the whole panel from the back side so it strengthens the panel and makes it so you can actually use it, in say, abusive weather, hurricanes and high winds.”</p>
<p>Because of their toughness, the panels don’t require a racking system and could be mounted on old windmill or water towers instead of having to construct concrete pads. If those aren’t available, they could be mounted on old rubber tires and easily moved to other locations if the ranch has multiple wells.</p>
<p>APPCityLife: Going mobile for the locals</p>
<p>Lisa Abeyta is the founder of APPCityLife, an Albuquerque startup she’s confident has found a niche in the growing market for mobile apps – “solving the problems of mobiles for the local audience,” to use her words. It has earned “Top 20 Hottest Startup” recognition from technology blog VentureBeat.</p>
<p>APPCityLife is developing mobile apps cities and businesses can use to inform users. (COURTESY of APPCITYLIFE)</p>
<p>“(The city of) Albuquerque approached me last year as the mayor was getting ready to announce the open-data initiative that would be all the different feeds they created for the website that you could go up and access,” she said. “But they needed a flagship app to really kind of show what you could do with open data. So I worked with the transit department, which really had a serious problem: They were getting about a million calls a year to the 311 call service to one specific reason – where is my bus?”</p>
<p>The result was the ABQ RIDE app. It reduced the 311 calls and gained about 5,000 users. Working on open-data issues for the city also laid the foundation for its proposition to summit investors.</p>
<p>The company plans to provide a mobile “gamification” platform for cities, businesses or other entities to reward people for participating in an activity. A public art app being developed for the city, for instance, would give users a chance to win an iPad for participating in a scavenger hunt that involves viewing public art, not only encouraging people to see the art, but giving the city feedback on how many people view it.</p>
<p>A business like Vans could issue a challenge to kids to use skate parks and reward them with points toward free or discounted merchandise, she said.</p>
<p>“There are companies that are beginning to circle around this, but nobody is doing what we’re doing,” Abeyta said.</p>
<p>The platform can also be used for local businesses to advertise or offer coupons. “Imagine you’re riding a bus and you can get coupons from the businesses that are right where (you) go every day,” she said.</p>
<p>VisionQuest i-Rx: Targeting diabetes-related eye disease</p>
<p>Peter Soliz, president and CEO of Albuquerque-based VisionQuest Biomedical, presented at the summit about three years ago when his company was in early stage development of a software screening for diabetes-related eye disease.</p>
<p>The company wasn’t successful that time, but it continued with research funding from the National Eye Institute and spun off VisionQuest i-Rx in 2011 to provide tele-ophthalmology services commercially. This year, it is seeking to raise about $2 million to complete the software’s validation by the federal Food and Drug Administration and to launch “clinics” in New Mexico and Texas, Soliz said.</p>
<p>Soliz said there are almost 28 million diabetics in the U.S., but only about 19,000 ophthalmolo-gists. But as many as two thirds of those individuals may not, in fact, need to see a specialist.</p>
<p>The algorithm written into the software is designed to “triage out” individuals at low risk for eye disease, leaving only those who actually need medical intervention, Soliz said.</p>
<p>“If we could only pass those that need intervention, then they (eye-care specialists) would be spending 80 to 90 percent of their time treating patients that absolutely need treatment,” he said.</p>
<p>VisionQuest has completed more than 10,000 screenings for eye disease without the software the past 18 months, rotating retinal-imaging cameras among 15 clinics in New Mexico with permanent cameras at four clinics in Texas. Each clinic is networked into a secure communication system to electronically transmit the images to optometrists for evaluation, and then a referral to an opththamologist if necessary.</p>
<p>“In the future,” he said, “when the software gets approved by the FDA, it will enable the doctors to see more patients with disease and not have to deal with those without disease.”</p> | 598,943 |
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<p>APD officer Daniel Burge, accused of stealing a 70-inch flat-screen television from the roommate of another officer, has resigned, police spokeswoman Tasia Martinez confirmed this afternoon.</p>
<p>A monthslong investigation by APD detectives that began last spring eventually resulted in Burge’s arrest in December. The investigation also included detectives looking into allegations that <a href="" type="internal">APD officers had been using illegal steroids</a>, although Burge has not been accused of using steroids. Outside a court room following his initial appearance in the stolen TV case, Burge’s attorney <a href="" type="internal">said his client had nothing to do with stealing the TV and had never used steroids</a>.</p>
<p>Burge was indicted by a Bernalillo County grand jury Wednesday on charges of residential burglary and larceny over $2,500 but under $20,000. A spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, however, said prosecutors plan to dismiss the indictment because they’ve determined, through additional investigation, that “additional evidence may support other charges.” Prosecutors plan to present a new case, with the additional evidence, to another grand jury within the next 10 days.</p>
<p>Pick up a copy of tomorrow’s paper for more on this story.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | BREAKING: APD Cop Accused In TV Theft Quits | false | https://abqjournal.com/161224/breaking-apd-cop-accused-in-tv-theft-quits.html | 2013-01-17 | 2least
| BREAKING: APD Cop Accused In TV Theft Quits
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<p>APD officer Daniel Burge, accused of stealing a 70-inch flat-screen television from the roommate of another officer, has resigned, police spokeswoman Tasia Martinez confirmed this afternoon.</p>
<p>A monthslong investigation by APD detectives that began last spring eventually resulted in Burge’s arrest in December. The investigation also included detectives looking into allegations that <a href="" type="internal">APD officers had been using illegal steroids</a>, although Burge has not been accused of using steroids. Outside a court room following his initial appearance in the stolen TV case, Burge’s attorney <a href="" type="internal">said his client had nothing to do with stealing the TV and had never used steroids</a>.</p>
<p>Burge was indicted by a Bernalillo County grand jury Wednesday on charges of residential burglary and larceny over $2,500 but under $20,000. A spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, however, said prosecutors plan to dismiss the indictment because they’ve determined, through additional investigation, that “additional evidence may support other charges.” Prosecutors plan to present a new case, with the additional evidence, to another grand jury within the next 10 days.</p>
<p>Pick up a copy of tomorrow’s paper for more on this story.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,944 |
<p>"A dingo took my baby!"</p>
<p>As familiar phrases go, it's right up there with "Throw another shrimp on the barbee," Paul Hogan's immortalized - and Americanized (Australians call them prawns) travel ad jingle.</p>
<p>They were the words - more or less - uttered by Lindy Chamberlain to raise the alarm after she said she saw her 9-week-old girl, Azaria, dragged by a dingo from their tent during a family camping holiday at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in 1980.</p>
<p>Now, it seems the case - and the famous phrase - may get one last go around, after the Northern Territory coroner's office announced it was preparing to hold a final inquest into Azaria Chamberlain's disappearance, starting Feb. 24, <a href="http://m.smh.com.au/national/nt-coroner-orders-new-azaria-inquest-20111218-1p0ed.html" type="external">according to The Sydney Morning Herald</a>.</p>
<p>Azaria's body as never found, but her bloodied damaged jumpsuit was, in an area reportedly surrounded by dingo lairs. The first coroner's inquest found in February 1981 that a dingo - a wild dog native to Australia - had taken the baby.</p>
<p>However, it seemed Northern Territory police were not convinced by Lindy Chamberlain's claim that she had seen an animal near the family's tent with something in its mouth, and they kept the investigation open.</p>
<p>According to the SMH, "a second inquest in February 1982 concluded that the baby had not been taken by a dingo but that Lindy Chamberlain should go on trial for murder and then-husband Michael [a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor] as an accessory after the fact."</p>
<p>Lindy Chamberlain was ultimately convicted of murdering Azaria and sentenced to life in prison. Michael Chamberlain was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact and given a suspended sentence.</p>
<p>However, Chamberlain was released from prison after a royal commission in 1987 exonerated the couple.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Then, to further confuse things, yet another coroner's inquest in 1995 delivered an open verdict, leaving an open question in many minds - did she or didn't she? Or did the dingo?</p>
<p>In a report last year, based on previously unseen jury notes, <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/the-lindy-chamberlain-files-secrets-from-the-jury/story-e6frf7l6-1225902734788" type="external">the Herald Sun wrote</a> that police had "built an entirely circumstantial case that Lindy slashed her baby's throat with a pair of scissors in the front seat of the family car and then, somehow, made the body disappear."</p>
<p>Police also believed her husband "helped her get rid of the baby, probably by burying her in a sand dune at the base of the Rock."</p>
<p>Lindy Chamberlain's claims of innocence were also greeted skepticism by many Australians, who saw her as an unsympathetic figure, to put it mildly. Asked to decide between a woman who became something of a media celebrity in the months after her daughter's disappearance - and turned up newly pregnant to an inquest into her death - and an iconic animal that had roamed the Australian continent for more than 5,000 years, many chose the dingo.</p>
<p>However, Coroner Elizabeth Morris was reopening the case mainly because of information regarding dingo attacks since Azaria's disappearance, the SMH reported.</p>
<p>The information is understood to include an account of attacks by dingoes on children at Fraser Island in Queensland, which included a fatal attack by two dingoes on a nine-year-old boy in 2001</p>
<p>Michael Chamberlain <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-18/new-inquest-into-azaria-chamberlain27s-death/3736858" type="external">told Australia's ABC radio</a> over the weekend that he and Lindy, from whom he has since been divorced, hoped to establish forever that Azaria was taken by a dingo.</p>
<p>"I am incredibly gratified," he said. "It's been 31 years now and I just hope this time it will be the ultimate verdict which we've been looking for, for this length of time."</p> | Another inquest to probe Azaria Chamberlain disappearance in Australia | false | https://pri.org/stories/2011-12-17/another-inquest-probe-azaria-chamberlain-disappearance-australia | 2011-12-17 | 3left-center
| Another inquest to probe Azaria Chamberlain disappearance in Australia
<p>"A dingo took my baby!"</p>
<p>As familiar phrases go, it's right up there with "Throw another shrimp on the barbee," Paul Hogan's immortalized - and Americanized (Australians call them prawns) travel ad jingle.</p>
<p>They were the words - more or less - uttered by Lindy Chamberlain to raise the alarm after she said she saw her 9-week-old girl, Azaria, dragged by a dingo from their tent during a family camping holiday at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in 1980.</p>
<p>Now, it seems the case - and the famous phrase - may get one last go around, after the Northern Territory coroner's office announced it was preparing to hold a final inquest into Azaria Chamberlain's disappearance, starting Feb. 24, <a href="http://m.smh.com.au/national/nt-coroner-orders-new-azaria-inquest-20111218-1p0ed.html" type="external">according to The Sydney Morning Herald</a>.</p>
<p>Azaria's body as never found, but her bloodied damaged jumpsuit was, in an area reportedly surrounded by dingo lairs. The first coroner's inquest found in February 1981 that a dingo - a wild dog native to Australia - had taken the baby.</p>
<p>However, it seemed Northern Territory police were not convinced by Lindy Chamberlain's claim that she had seen an animal near the family's tent with something in its mouth, and they kept the investigation open.</p>
<p>According to the SMH, "a second inquest in February 1982 concluded that the baby had not been taken by a dingo but that Lindy Chamberlain should go on trial for murder and then-husband Michael [a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor] as an accessory after the fact."</p>
<p>Lindy Chamberlain was ultimately convicted of murdering Azaria and sentenced to life in prison. Michael Chamberlain was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact and given a suspended sentence.</p>
<p>However, Chamberlain was released from prison after a royal commission in 1987 exonerated the couple.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Then, to further confuse things, yet another coroner's inquest in 1995 delivered an open verdict, leaving an open question in many minds - did she or didn't she? Or did the dingo?</p>
<p>In a report last year, based on previously unseen jury notes, <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/the-lindy-chamberlain-files-secrets-from-the-jury/story-e6frf7l6-1225902734788" type="external">the Herald Sun wrote</a> that police had "built an entirely circumstantial case that Lindy slashed her baby's throat with a pair of scissors in the front seat of the family car and then, somehow, made the body disappear."</p>
<p>Police also believed her husband "helped her get rid of the baby, probably by burying her in a sand dune at the base of the Rock."</p>
<p>Lindy Chamberlain's claims of innocence were also greeted skepticism by many Australians, who saw her as an unsympathetic figure, to put it mildly. Asked to decide between a woman who became something of a media celebrity in the months after her daughter's disappearance - and turned up newly pregnant to an inquest into her death - and an iconic animal that had roamed the Australian continent for more than 5,000 years, many chose the dingo.</p>
<p>However, Coroner Elizabeth Morris was reopening the case mainly because of information regarding dingo attacks since Azaria's disappearance, the SMH reported.</p>
<p>The information is understood to include an account of attacks by dingoes on children at Fraser Island in Queensland, which included a fatal attack by two dingoes on a nine-year-old boy in 2001</p>
<p>Michael Chamberlain <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-18/new-inquest-into-azaria-chamberlain27s-death/3736858" type="external">told Australia's ABC radio</a> over the weekend that he and Lindy, from whom he has since been divorced, hoped to establish forever that Azaria was taken by a dingo.</p>
<p>"I am incredibly gratified," he said. "It's been 31 years now and I just hope this time it will be the ultimate verdict which we've been looking for, for this length of time."</p> | 598,945 |
<p />
<p>The Coen brothers + environmental advocacy equals this:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Take that, “clean” coal! You’re never going win the battle for the hearts and minds of America’s movie-going hipster minority now! (No, seriously, “clean” coal is a hoax and needs to be stopped. Kudos to the Coen brothers for joining the effort.)</p>
<p /> | Coen Brothers Take on Clean Coal (Video) | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2009/02/coen-brothers-take-clean-coal-video/ | 2009-02-26 | 4left
| Coen Brothers Take on Clean Coal (Video)
<p />
<p>The Coen brothers + environmental advocacy equals this:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Take that, “clean” coal! You’re never going win the battle for the hearts and minds of America’s movie-going hipster minority now! (No, seriously, “clean” coal is a hoax and needs to be stopped. Kudos to the Coen brothers for joining the effort.)</p>
<p /> | 598,946 |
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<p>ALLEN, Texas — Police say four people have been wounded during gunfire in a North Texas neighborhood blamed on a feud over some Facebook postings.</p>
<p>Allen police on Wednesday arrested one person and detained eight others for questioning following the overnight shootings. Sgt. Jon Felty (FEL’-tee) says an internet disagreement going live on Facebook led to Tuesday night’s altercation.</p>
<p>Felty had no immediate details on charges or whether other arrests were pending after police say nine people from Dallas drove about 25 miles north, to a house in Allen, to confront several individuals.</p>
<p>Felty says the fight seemed to stem from an incident a few days ago in Dallas. He had no immediate information on the original dispute.</p>
<p>Police say all four gunshot victims were transported to hospitals and should recover.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Police say Facebook postings feud led to gunfire, 4 wounded | false | https://abqjournal.com/920382/police-say-facebook-postings-feud-led-to-gunfire-4-wounded.html | 2least
| Police say Facebook postings feud led to gunfire, 4 wounded
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<p>ALLEN, Texas — Police say four people have been wounded during gunfire in a North Texas neighborhood blamed on a feud over some Facebook postings.</p>
<p>Allen police on Wednesday arrested one person and detained eight others for questioning following the overnight shootings. Sgt. Jon Felty (FEL’-tee) says an internet disagreement going live on Facebook led to Tuesday night’s altercation.</p>
<p>Felty had no immediate details on charges or whether other arrests were pending after police say nine people from Dallas drove about 25 miles north, to a house in Allen, to confront several individuals.</p>
<p>Felty says the fight seemed to stem from an incident a few days ago in Dallas. He had no immediate information on the original dispute.</p>
<p>Police say all four gunshot victims were transported to hospitals and should recover.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,947 |
|
<p />
<p>Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab — Facebook</p>
<p />
<p>Two Iraqi refugees, one in California, have been arrested on joint terrorism-related charges.</p>
<p>“From his pictures on Facebook, Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab looks like any other millennial with a wardrobe of Nike sneakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses and flannel shirts.&#160;But federal officials say the 23-year-old was living a double life — one as a refugee starting a new life in America and another as a young man anxious to return to the Middle East to fight in the&#160;Syrian&#160;Civil War,” the Daily Mail&#160; <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3389819/Feds-say-terrorism-related-arrests-2-states.html" type="external">reported</a>. “The&#160;Iraqi-born Palestinian man was arrested Thursday in Sacramento,&#160;California&#160;on charges he was plotting to travel to Syria to join the al-Nusra Front terrorist organization.”</p>
<p>As the New York Times&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/us/iraqi-refugees-in-texas-and-california-accused-of-terrorism-ties.html?_r=0" type="external">reported</a>, Jayab’s alleged partner in the scheme, 24-year-old&#160;Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, “was arrested in Houston and charged with three counts of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State, according to a statement from the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.”</p>
<p>“Prosecutors said that Mr. Jayab entered the United States from Syria as a refugee in October 2012, living in Arizona and Wisconsin before settling in Sacramento. Mr. Hardan, who lives in Houston, entered the United States as a refugee in 2009 and was granted legal permanent residence status in 2011, according to law enforcement.”</p>
<p>“Prosecutors allege Al Hardan was coordinating efforts with another Iraqi refugee living in California, Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab,” the Associated Press&#160; <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/Iraqi-Refugee-Held-Without-Bail-on-Terror-Related-Charges-365213711.html" type="external">reported</a>. “The two men communicated through Facebook messenger from April 2013 to October 2014 and talked about getting weapons training and eventually sneaking into Syria to fight alongside the terrorist group,” according to prosecution witness Department of&#160;Homeland Security Special Agent Herman Wittliff.</p>
<p>While&#160;Al Hardan’s&#160;family has been&#160;evicted from their apartment, “Al-Jayab remains jailed in Sacramento, California,”&#160;the AP&#160;added. “Authorities say Al-Jayab fought twice in Syria, including with a group later affiliated with the Islamic State between November 2013 and January 2014.”</p>
<p>Hardan was denied bond by&#160;U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes. Based on details relayed by&#160;Wittliff,&#160;he&#160;ruled “there would be a serious risk that the Iraqi refugee would flee if released from federal custody,”&#160; <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/01/14/federal-agent-says-iraqi-refugee-wanted-to-bomb-texas-malls.html" type="external">reported</a>&#160;Fox News.&#160;According to&#160;the channel, Wittliff “said that in addition to Al Hardan wanting to set off bombs at the two Houston malls, including the popular Galleria mall, the Iraqi man was also learning how to make electronic transmitters that could be used to detonate improvised explosive devices. Al Hardan wanted used cellphones — a collection of which were found in his apartment — to detonate the devices, Wittliff said.”</p>
<p>The arrests have fueled election-year concern, especially among Republicans, that U.S. screening processes have not been&#160;adequately tightened amid the rise of ISIS and the recent waves of Mideast migration it has caused. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a consistent critic of President Obama’s border and security policies, took the opportunity to press home the point. “I once again urge the president to halt the resettlement of these refugees in the United States until there is an effective vetting process that will ensure refugees do not compromise the safety of Americans and Texans,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.</p>
<p>And Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, currently pushing a bill that would mandate additional procedures, tied Hardan and Jayab to the broader security situation in a statement.&#160;“While I commend the FBI for their hard work, these arrests heighten my concern that our refugee program is susceptible to exploitation by terrorists. The president has assured us that individuals from Iraq and Syria receive close scrutiny, but it is clearly not enough,” he concluded,&#160; <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2016/0114/Does-Iraqi-refugee-s-alleged-Houston-bomb-plot-reveal-holes-in-US-screening" type="external">according</a>&#160;to the Christian Science Monitor.</p>
<p>“McCaul introduced the&#160;American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act&#160;last year, which calls for Federal Bureau of Investigation background checks in addition to initial Homeland Security screenings for all ‘covered aliens,’ or refugees with ties to Iraq or Syria. The bill passed 289 to 137 in the House in November.”</p> | Iraqi refugee arrested in CA on terror charge | false | https://calwatchdog.com/2016/01/15/iraqi-refugee-arrested-in-ca-on-terror-charge/ | 2018-01-20 | 3left-center
| Iraqi refugee arrested in CA on terror charge
<p />
<p>Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab — Facebook</p>
<p />
<p>Two Iraqi refugees, one in California, have been arrested on joint terrorism-related charges.</p>
<p>“From his pictures on Facebook, Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab looks like any other millennial with a wardrobe of Nike sneakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses and flannel shirts.&#160;But federal officials say the 23-year-old was living a double life — one as a refugee starting a new life in America and another as a young man anxious to return to the Middle East to fight in the&#160;Syrian&#160;Civil War,” the Daily Mail&#160; <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3389819/Feds-say-terrorism-related-arrests-2-states.html" type="external">reported</a>. “The&#160;Iraqi-born Palestinian man was arrested Thursday in Sacramento,&#160;California&#160;on charges he was plotting to travel to Syria to join the al-Nusra Front terrorist organization.”</p>
<p>As the New York Times&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/us/iraqi-refugees-in-texas-and-california-accused-of-terrorism-ties.html?_r=0" type="external">reported</a>, Jayab’s alleged partner in the scheme, 24-year-old&#160;Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, “was arrested in Houston and charged with three counts of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State, according to a statement from the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.”</p>
<p>“Prosecutors said that Mr. Jayab entered the United States from Syria as a refugee in October 2012, living in Arizona and Wisconsin before settling in Sacramento. Mr. Hardan, who lives in Houston, entered the United States as a refugee in 2009 and was granted legal permanent residence status in 2011, according to law enforcement.”</p>
<p>“Prosecutors allege Al Hardan was coordinating efforts with another Iraqi refugee living in California, Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab,” the Associated Press&#160; <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/Iraqi-Refugee-Held-Without-Bail-on-Terror-Related-Charges-365213711.html" type="external">reported</a>. “The two men communicated through Facebook messenger from April 2013 to October 2014 and talked about getting weapons training and eventually sneaking into Syria to fight alongside the terrorist group,” according to prosecution witness Department of&#160;Homeland Security Special Agent Herman Wittliff.</p>
<p>While&#160;Al Hardan’s&#160;family has been&#160;evicted from their apartment, “Al-Jayab remains jailed in Sacramento, California,”&#160;the AP&#160;added. “Authorities say Al-Jayab fought twice in Syria, including with a group later affiliated with the Islamic State between November 2013 and January 2014.”</p>
<p>Hardan was denied bond by&#160;U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes. Based on details relayed by&#160;Wittliff,&#160;he&#160;ruled “there would be a serious risk that the Iraqi refugee would flee if released from federal custody,”&#160; <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/01/14/federal-agent-says-iraqi-refugee-wanted-to-bomb-texas-malls.html" type="external">reported</a>&#160;Fox News.&#160;According to&#160;the channel, Wittliff “said that in addition to Al Hardan wanting to set off bombs at the two Houston malls, including the popular Galleria mall, the Iraqi man was also learning how to make electronic transmitters that could be used to detonate improvised explosive devices. Al Hardan wanted used cellphones — a collection of which were found in his apartment — to detonate the devices, Wittliff said.”</p>
<p>The arrests have fueled election-year concern, especially among Republicans, that U.S. screening processes have not been&#160;adequately tightened amid the rise of ISIS and the recent waves of Mideast migration it has caused. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a consistent critic of President Obama’s border and security policies, took the opportunity to press home the point. “I once again urge the president to halt the resettlement of these refugees in the United States until there is an effective vetting process that will ensure refugees do not compromise the safety of Americans and Texans,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.</p>
<p>And Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, currently pushing a bill that would mandate additional procedures, tied Hardan and Jayab to the broader security situation in a statement.&#160;“While I commend the FBI for their hard work, these arrests heighten my concern that our refugee program is susceptible to exploitation by terrorists. The president has assured us that individuals from Iraq and Syria receive close scrutiny, but it is clearly not enough,” he concluded,&#160; <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2016/0114/Does-Iraqi-refugee-s-alleged-Houston-bomb-plot-reveal-holes-in-US-screening" type="external">according</a>&#160;to the Christian Science Monitor.</p>
<p>“McCaul introduced the&#160;American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act&#160;last year, which calls for Federal Bureau of Investigation background checks in addition to initial Homeland Security screenings for all ‘covered aliens,’ or refugees with ties to Iraq or Syria. The bill passed 289 to 137 in the House in November.”</p> | 598,948 |
<p />
<p>Here's what's On Our Radar today:</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>More bad news for Hillary Clinton and the DNC. After yesterday’s bombshell of a <a href="" type="internal">major straw-poll donor scandal</a>, senators scrambled to return thousands of dollars in campaign donations. Now, <a href="" type="internal">new reports</a> show secret audio recordings fueled an internal feud between the FBI and prosecutors on whether to probe the Clinton Foundation. Agents say that audio obtained from an unrelated corruption case was enough to merit a probe into the Clinton Foundation, whereas prosecutors said “not so fast.” This is just another controversy Clinton doesn’t need five days out.</p>
<p>Tune in to Risk and Reward tonight at 5 p.m. ET for the very latest.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>For the first time, Melania Trump will headline a rally in Pennsylvania at 2 p.m. ET. While Donald Trump is still reeling from the Access Hollywood “locker room talk” scandal, Melania’s mission is to appeal to women and mothers. Will it be enough to soften the often brash candidate just days before the election?</p>
<p>Watch The Intelligence Report at 2 p.m. ET &#160;for Mrs. Trump’s speech and analysis.</p>
<p>GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO), Overstock (NASDAQ:OSTK) and TiVo (NASDAQ:TIVO) are some of the major companies releasing their earnings today. So what’s percolating on Wall Street? Investors will be keeping an eye on Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX). This year alone, the stock has dropped 12% and is brewing for its first yearly decline since 2008.</p>
<p>As the news breaks, tune in to After the Bell at 4 p.m. ET for a complete breakdown.</p>
<p>Also, have you heard? There’s an election coming up on Tuesday and FOX Business has you covered!</p> | What's On Our Radar November 3rd, 2016 | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2016/11/03/whats-on-our-radar-november-3rd-2016.html | 2016-11-03 | 0right
| What's On Our Radar November 3rd, 2016
<p />
<p>Here's what's On Our Radar today:</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>More bad news for Hillary Clinton and the DNC. After yesterday’s bombshell of a <a href="" type="internal">major straw-poll donor scandal</a>, senators scrambled to return thousands of dollars in campaign donations. Now, <a href="" type="internal">new reports</a> show secret audio recordings fueled an internal feud between the FBI and prosecutors on whether to probe the Clinton Foundation. Agents say that audio obtained from an unrelated corruption case was enough to merit a probe into the Clinton Foundation, whereas prosecutors said “not so fast.” This is just another controversy Clinton doesn’t need five days out.</p>
<p>Tune in to Risk and Reward tonight at 5 p.m. ET for the very latest.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>For the first time, Melania Trump will headline a rally in Pennsylvania at 2 p.m. ET. While Donald Trump is still reeling from the Access Hollywood “locker room talk” scandal, Melania’s mission is to appeal to women and mothers. Will it be enough to soften the often brash candidate just days before the election?</p>
<p>Watch The Intelligence Report at 2 p.m. ET &#160;for Mrs. Trump’s speech and analysis.</p>
<p>GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO), Overstock (NASDAQ:OSTK) and TiVo (NASDAQ:TIVO) are some of the major companies releasing their earnings today. So what’s percolating on Wall Street? Investors will be keeping an eye on Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX). This year alone, the stock has dropped 12% and is brewing for its first yearly decline since 2008.</p>
<p>As the news breaks, tune in to After the Bell at 4 p.m. ET for a complete breakdown.</p>
<p>Also, have you heard? There’s an election coming up on Tuesday and FOX Business has you covered!</p> | 598,949 |
<p>RANDOLPH, Mass. (AP) — Police in Massachusetts say a man suspected of robbing a store at gunpoint has died after crashing his vehicle into oncoming traffic during a police chase.</p>
<p>Investigators say the 37-year-old Holbrook man was fleeing from officers in Randolph on Wednesday when he crashed head-on into another vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. The driver of the other car was injured but was expected to survive.</p>
<p>Police say the man had robbed a store in Randolph earlier in the day, firing a sawed-off shotgun at the floor as he demanded money from the clerk. The clerk was uninjured.</p>
<p>Authorities used his license plate number to track him to a home in Holbrook. They say officers were at the home when the man arrived, prompting him to take off at high speed.</p>
<p>RANDOLPH, Mass. (AP) — Police in Massachusetts say a man suspected of robbing a store at gunpoint has died after crashing his vehicle into oncoming traffic during a police chase.</p>
<p>Investigators say the 37-year-old Holbrook man was fleeing from officers in Randolph on Wednesday when he crashed head-on into another vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. The driver of the other car was injured but was expected to survive.</p>
<p>Police say the man had robbed a store in Randolph earlier in the day, firing a sawed-off shotgun at the floor as he demanded money from the clerk. The clerk was uninjured.</p>
<p>Authorities used his license plate number to track him to a home in Holbrook. They say officers were at the home when the man arrived, prompting him to take off at high speed.</p> | Armed robbery suspect dies in crash during police chase | false | https://apnews.com/amp/010e885f94e04f76893094a3b463953b | 2018-01-18 | 2least
| Armed robbery suspect dies in crash during police chase
<p>RANDOLPH, Mass. (AP) — Police in Massachusetts say a man suspected of robbing a store at gunpoint has died after crashing his vehicle into oncoming traffic during a police chase.</p>
<p>Investigators say the 37-year-old Holbrook man was fleeing from officers in Randolph on Wednesday when he crashed head-on into another vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. The driver of the other car was injured but was expected to survive.</p>
<p>Police say the man had robbed a store in Randolph earlier in the day, firing a sawed-off shotgun at the floor as he demanded money from the clerk. The clerk was uninjured.</p>
<p>Authorities used his license plate number to track him to a home in Holbrook. They say officers were at the home when the man arrived, prompting him to take off at high speed.</p>
<p>RANDOLPH, Mass. (AP) — Police in Massachusetts say a man suspected of robbing a store at gunpoint has died after crashing his vehicle into oncoming traffic during a police chase.</p>
<p>Investigators say the 37-year-old Holbrook man was fleeing from officers in Randolph on Wednesday when he crashed head-on into another vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. The driver of the other car was injured but was expected to survive.</p>
<p>Police say the man had robbed a store in Randolph earlier in the day, firing a sawed-off shotgun at the floor as he demanded money from the clerk. The clerk was uninjured.</p>
<p>Authorities used his license plate number to track him to a home in Holbrook. They say officers were at the home when the man arrived, prompting him to take off at high speed.</p> | 598,950 |
<p />
<p />
<p>The <a href="http://www.wutang-corp.com/artists/wu-artist.php?id=9" type="external">RZA</a> is a genius at putting music to fight scenes, and even better at putting the sounds of fight scenes to music. To complement this <a href="http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/15-11/pl_music" type="external">Wired interview</a> with Bobby Digital himself, here’s a Riff rundown of the <a href="http://www.wutang-corp.com/" type="external">Wu-Tang Clan</a> co-founder’s best cinematic work.</p>
<p>1. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) This Jim Jarmusch mob/samurai drama is a hybrid of Japanese, African American and Italian American cultures. Who better to compose the soundtrack than the man who first synthesized East Asian martial arts culture and New York hip-hop on the Clan’s 1993 debut, Enter The Wu-Tang? RZA sets an eerie tone for the movie, with dark and heavy bass lines and samples that propel the movie’s narrative forward. During fight scenes, the mellow music matches Ghost Dog’s cool, thoughtful demeanor. Works as a stand-alone album as well as a soundtrack.</p>
<p>2. Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) The four tracks that RZA contributed to this East-meets-West Tarantino masterpiece are more traditional movie fare—they’re not meant to stand alone, but rather to enhance the scene. In contrast to the dark mood of Ghost Dog, the comic book feel of Kill Bill 1 inspired livelier RZA pieces. Individual instruments played one at a time match fighters’ specific weapons and moves. Influences range from hip-hop poetry on “Ode to Oren Ishii” to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop" type="external">J-pop</a> feel on “Crane-White Lightning” to a Spanish guitar-strumming, old West shootout sound on “Yakuza Oren 1.”</p>
<p>3. Afro Samurai RZA’s soundtrack to this Spike TV show about a futuristic, afro-adorned samurai trying to avenge his father’s death is as underrated as the show itself. It ranges from funky to soulful to militant, and it features rappers <a href="http://www.talibkweli.com/" type="external">Talib Kweli</a> <a type="external" href="" />, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/qtip" type="external">Q-Tip</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Daddy_Kane" type="external">Big Daddy Kane</a>, as well as RZA’s cousin, the GZA. “Afro’s Father Fight” is pure funk, while “Take Sword Part 1” gives the fights an epic, apocalyptic feel. Picture Sam Jackson cruisin’ while you’re listening to the album, and you’ll see how badassss it is, even if the vastly different styles make it too disjointed to be a classic.</p>
<p>4. Blade: Trinity (2004) Wu-Tang Clan fans might be disappointed to find that this Wes Snipes flick’s soundtrack sounds much more like generic commercial rap than RZA’s other movie compositions. It features <a href="http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/LilFlip/" type="external">Lil Flip</a>, <a href="http://www.e-40.com/" type="external">E-40</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WC_(rapper)" type="external">WC</a> and the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan, but not in any particularly noteworthy songs. The one <a href="http://www.thecrystalmethod.com/" type="external">Crystal Method song</a>, “Weapons of Mad Distortion,” is completely out of place on this hip-hop album, and seems like a failed attempt to make the soundtrack eclectic. The high point is “Daywalkers” with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramin_Djawadi" type="external">Ramin Djawadi</a>, a shadowy track with an electronic, trance influence, perfect for the movie’s fight scenes.</p>
<p>If you’ve overplayed your Wu-Tang library and can’t wait for the December 4th release of 8 Diagrams, these somewhat hidden RZA gems should tide you over.</p>
<p>—Andre Sternberg</p>
<p /> | RZA Draws His Wu-Tang Sword in Movie Soundtracks | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2007/11/rza-draws-his-wu-tang-sword-movie-soundtracks/ | 2007-11-17 | 4left
| RZA Draws His Wu-Tang Sword in Movie Soundtracks
<p />
<p />
<p>The <a href="http://www.wutang-corp.com/artists/wu-artist.php?id=9" type="external">RZA</a> is a genius at putting music to fight scenes, and even better at putting the sounds of fight scenes to music. To complement this <a href="http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/15-11/pl_music" type="external">Wired interview</a> with Bobby Digital himself, here’s a Riff rundown of the <a href="http://www.wutang-corp.com/" type="external">Wu-Tang Clan</a> co-founder’s best cinematic work.</p>
<p>1. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) This Jim Jarmusch mob/samurai drama is a hybrid of Japanese, African American and Italian American cultures. Who better to compose the soundtrack than the man who first synthesized East Asian martial arts culture and New York hip-hop on the Clan’s 1993 debut, Enter The Wu-Tang? RZA sets an eerie tone for the movie, with dark and heavy bass lines and samples that propel the movie’s narrative forward. During fight scenes, the mellow music matches Ghost Dog’s cool, thoughtful demeanor. Works as a stand-alone album as well as a soundtrack.</p>
<p>2. Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) The four tracks that RZA contributed to this East-meets-West Tarantino masterpiece are more traditional movie fare—they’re not meant to stand alone, but rather to enhance the scene. In contrast to the dark mood of Ghost Dog, the comic book feel of Kill Bill 1 inspired livelier RZA pieces. Individual instruments played one at a time match fighters’ specific weapons and moves. Influences range from hip-hop poetry on “Ode to Oren Ishii” to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop" type="external">J-pop</a> feel on “Crane-White Lightning” to a Spanish guitar-strumming, old West shootout sound on “Yakuza Oren 1.”</p>
<p>3. Afro Samurai RZA’s soundtrack to this Spike TV show about a futuristic, afro-adorned samurai trying to avenge his father’s death is as underrated as the show itself. It ranges from funky to soulful to militant, and it features rappers <a href="http://www.talibkweli.com/" type="external">Talib Kweli</a> <a type="external" href="" />, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/qtip" type="external">Q-Tip</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Daddy_Kane" type="external">Big Daddy Kane</a>, as well as RZA’s cousin, the GZA. “Afro’s Father Fight” is pure funk, while “Take Sword Part 1” gives the fights an epic, apocalyptic feel. Picture Sam Jackson cruisin’ while you’re listening to the album, and you’ll see how badassss it is, even if the vastly different styles make it too disjointed to be a classic.</p>
<p>4. Blade: Trinity (2004) Wu-Tang Clan fans might be disappointed to find that this Wes Snipes flick’s soundtrack sounds much more like generic commercial rap than RZA’s other movie compositions. It features <a href="http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/LilFlip/" type="external">Lil Flip</a>, <a href="http://www.e-40.com/" type="external">E-40</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WC_(rapper)" type="external">WC</a> and the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan, but not in any particularly noteworthy songs. The one <a href="http://www.thecrystalmethod.com/" type="external">Crystal Method song</a>, “Weapons of Mad Distortion,” is completely out of place on this hip-hop album, and seems like a failed attempt to make the soundtrack eclectic. The high point is “Daywalkers” with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramin_Djawadi" type="external">Ramin Djawadi</a>, a shadowy track with an electronic, trance influence, perfect for the movie’s fight scenes.</p>
<p>If you’ve overplayed your Wu-Tang library and can’t wait for the December 4th release of 8 Diagrams, these somewhat hidden RZA gems should tide you over.</p>
<p>—Andre Sternberg</p>
<p /> | 598,951 |
<p>Many sex-related stories captured popular attention in 2011.&#160; Most upsetting, many of the incidents involved sexual violence.&#160; Taken together, they indicate something bigger, deeper, taking place in America, a social crisis.&#160; It’s as if the body politic is moaning, declaring that sexual intimacy, too, is a terrain of the mounting social crisis.</p>
<p>A number of nonviolent incidents are illustrative.&#160; Most pathetic, the outing of Herman Cain for an increasing number of disturbing actions involving women (e.g., pay-offs related to sexual harassment suits and an extramarital “friendship” with a woman his wife didn’t know about) forced him out of the Republican presidential race. &#160;The Cain incident followed the outings of Congressmen Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Chris Lee (R-NY) and Mark Souder (R-IN) for inappropriate sex-related conduct, conduct that led to their resignations.</p>
<p>Sexual politics also drew national attention.&#160; The Republican Congress and many Republican-controlled state legislatures continued their culture-wars campaign to end Roe, to restrict sex education and to cut funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. &#160;The U.S. military ended Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell, enabling “out” gay people to serve their country.&#160; This sets the stage for a push to overturn the <a href="" type="internal" /> Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), something that might happend if Obama and the Congressional Democrats win in 2012.&#160; Tilting to the right in anticipation of the 2012 campaign, President Obama backed HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ decision to require girls under 17 years to get a doctor’s prescription for Plan B, the morning-after contraceptive pill.</p>
<p>However, the killing of ten female prostitutes on eastern Long Island remains an unsolved crime, raising questions about law enforcement’s ability to solve horrendous sex crimes.&#160; The “justice” system is either clueless (like the “Intelligence” establishment per 9/11) or complicit (like so many police and prosecutor per DNA exonerations).&#160; And then there are the revelations about alleged sexual crimes committed by athletic coaches toward young boys and underage youths and the institutional cover-ups that kept them quiet for years.</p>
<p>More troubling are the findings of a recently released report from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documenting the alarmingly high level of sexual violence among intimate partners, violence most often perpetrated by men against women.&#160; According to Linda Degutis, director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the study found that “almost one in five women have been raped in their lifetime ….”&#160; She added, this “is very striking and, I think, will be surprising to a lot of people.”</p>
<p>This is an invaluable study that confirms what many knew for years: American is a terrain of widespread sexual conflict.&#160; However, as a government document, it reflects a disturbing lack of intellectual boldness.&#160; Its proposals (like the First Lady’s anti-obesity campaign) are well meaning, but neither really address the problem nor are likely to accomplish much.&#160; As it insists, “Collective action is needed to implement prevention approaches, ensure appropriate responses, and support these efforts based on strong data and research.”</p>
<p>Worse still but expected, it doesn’t link reported incidents of sexual violence to the nation’s social context, particularly the mounting crisis of the Great Recession. It doesn’t ask respondents if violence has increased over the last 4 to 5 years, due to financial hardship. &#160;Nevertheless, reading between the lines, the study is a testament to one of the hidden costs associated with the mounting economic, social and political crisis.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>The CDC’s report on intimate sexual violence is one scary document.&#160; It is formally titled, “ <a href="" type="internal">The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS)</a>.”&#160; It is an empirical survey based on some 16,000 24-minute telephone interviews conducted in English and Spanish.&#160; It reports that, on average, 24 people per minute in the U.S. are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner.</p>
<p>Each year, more than 12 million American women and men face some form of sexual violence, be it rape, physical assault (i.e., “intimate partner violence”) or stalking.&#160;&#160; Most shocking, an estimated 1.3 million women are raped each year!&#160; Given the shame that still envelops sex in the country, one can expected many survey respondents to have not told the whole truth.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the study’s findings are disturbing:</p>
<p>*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; More than 1 in 3 women (35.6% or approximately 42.4 million) have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime</p>
<p>* &#160; &#160;Nearly 1 in 5 women has been raped during their lifetime.&#160; Approximately four-fifths (80%) of female victims of rape were first raped before age 25.</p>
<p>*&#160; About 1 in 4 women has been a victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in her lifetime.&#160; Nearly 3-out-of-4 (70%) of female victims experienced were victims before the age of 25.</p>
<p>*&#160; About 1 in 6 women has been a victim of stalking during her lifetime.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most disturbing finding was that the vast majority of victims of sexual violence knew their perpetrator.&#160; The perpetrator was most often an intimate partner or acquaintance, seldom a stranger.&#160; This characteristic is common to the pedophile.</p>
<p>Reflecting a new sexual consciousness, the study found that a man could also be the victim of sexual violence.&#160; The CDC study found:</p>
<p>* &#160;More than one-quarter of male rape victims were first raped when they were 10 years old or younger.</p>
<p>* About 1 in 7 men has experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.</p>
<p>* More then half (53%) of male victims experienced some form of intimate partner violence for the first time before age of 25. &#160;More than a quarter (28%) of male victims of rape reported that they were first assaulted when they were no older than 10.</p>
<p>For women and men, violence is an intimate feature of American sexual culture.</p>
<p>One of the study’s troubling findings concerns the relationship of ethnicity and sexual violence; the study does not analyze its findings in terms of family income.&#160; Intimate partner violence is widespread among minority communities: approximately 4 out of every 10 non-Hispanic Black women, 4 out of every 10 American Indian or Alaska Native women (43.7% and 46.0%, respectively), and 1 in 2 multiracial non-Hispanic women (53.8%) have been the victim intimate partner violence in their lifetime. &#160;Among the other racial/ethnic groups of women, about one-third of White non-Hispanic women (34.6%), more than one-third of Hispanic women (37.1%), and about one-fifth of Asian or Pacific Islander non-Hispanic women (19.6%).</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>The CDC study defines rape as completed forced penetration, forced-penetration facilitated by drugs or alcohol, or attempted forced penetration.&#160; It found that 1 percent of women surveyed reported being raped in the previous year; in the U.S., an estimated 1.3 million women are raped annually.</p>
<p>The CDC findings are significantly higher than previous federal estimates of violent sex crimes. &#160;The most widely cited estimates of sexual violence in America are from the Department of Justice.&#160; It estimates that, in 2010 188,000 Americans were victims of sexual violence.&#160; Of these, the Federal Bureau of Investigation specified 85,000 as forcible rapes.&#160; No federal agency seems to have attempted to reconcile the differences between these conflicting estimates.</p>
<p>The significant difference between the CDC estimates and the FBI reports of forced rape — 1.3 million vs. 85,000 — suggests the vast divide between the informal, popular experience (what really happens) and the formal, official report (the social fiction).&#160; The ideological orientation of most government agencies, whether at the local, state or federal level, is to minimize troubling information and to maximize glowing fictions.&#160; Occasionally, the truth sneaks out.&#160; This CDC report is such a disclosure, a scary reminder of just how primitive, patriarchal America remains.</p>
<p>The CDC report does not link its findings to the decline in the divorce rate.&#160; The U.S. divorce rate peaked in 1981 at 5.3 divorces per 1,000 marriages; in 2010, it was at 3.6 divorces per 1,000.</p>
<p>A number of factors have contributed to this decline.&#160; One is life-style changes.&#160; Since 1970, the number of unmarried couples who are living together has increased tenfold.&#160; Another is a campaign by the Christian, Republican right at the state level to make it harder to get a divorce.&#160; In state legislatures across the country, they have pushed to extend the divorce waiting-period, propose “covenant” marriages or require pre-marital and divorce education classes.</p>
<p>Another factor is the recession.&#160; For many couples, the crisis has made things more difficult, financially and emotionally, thus making it harder separate.&#160; There has been a recent spike in the divorce rate, but many couples are forced to persist in bad relations and one can only image this fueling intimate violence, likely making things worse.</p>
<p>How this all holds together, how Herman Cain’s sexual harassment suits fit with intimate sexual violence among, for example, white, non-Hispanic women, is yet to be determined.&#160; What is clear is that sex matters, that intimacy too-often involves violence and the deepening economic crisis seems to only make matters worse.&#160; Sexual violence is the shame of the nation.</p>
<p>David Rosen is a contributor to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion</a>, forthcoming from AK Press. He&#160;can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Sexual Violence in America | true | https://counterpunch.org/2011/12/23/sexual-violence-in-america/ | 2011-12-23 | 4left
| Sexual Violence in America
<p>Many sex-related stories captured popular attention in 2011.&#160; Most upsetting, many of the incidents involved sexual violence.&#160; Taken together, they indicate something bigger, deeper, taking place in America, a social crisis.&#160; It’s as if the body politic is moaning, declaring that sexual intimacy, too, is a terrain of the mounting social crisis.</p>
<p>A number of nonviolent incidents are illustrative.&#160; Most pathetic, the outing of Herman Cain for an increasing number of disturbing actions involving women (e.g., pay-offs related to sexual harassment suits and an extramarital “friendship” with a woman his wife didn’t know about) forced him out of the Republican presidential race. &#160;The Cain incident followed the outings of Congressmen Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Chris Lee (R-NY) and Mark Souder (R-IN) for inappropriate sex-related conduct, conduct that led to their resignations.</p>
<p>Sexual politics also drew national attention.&#160; The Republican Congress and many Republican-controlled state legislatures continued their culture-wars campaign to end Roe, to restrict sex education and to cut funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. &#160;The U.S. military ended Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell, enabling “out” gay people to serve their country.&#160; This sets the stage for a push to overturn the <a href="" type="internal" /> Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), something that might happend if Obama and the Congressional Democrats win in 2012.&#160; Tilting to the right in anticipation of the 2012 campaign, President Obama backed HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ decision to require girls under 17 years to get a doctor’s prescription for Plan B, the morning-after contraceptive pill.</p>
<p>However, the killing of ten female prostitutes on eastern Long Island remains an unsolved crime, raising questions about law enforcement’s ability to solve horrendous sex crimes.&#160; The “justice” system is either clueless (like the “Intelligence” establishment per 9/11) or complicit (like so many police and prosecutor per DNA exonerations).&#160; And then there are the revelations about alleged sexual crimes committed by athletic coaches toward young boys and underage youths and the institutional cover-ups that kept them quiet for years.</p>
<p>More troubling are the findings of a recently released report from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documenting the alarmingly high level of sexual violence among intimate partners, violence most often perpetrated by men against women.&#160; According to Linda Degutis, director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the study found that “almost one in five women have been raped in their lifetime ….”&#160; She added, this “is very striking and, I think, will be surprising to a lot of people.”</p>
<p>This is an invaluable study that confirms what many knew for years: American is a terrain of widespread sexual conflict.&#160; However, as a government document, it reflects a disturbing lack of intellectual boldness.&#160; Its proposals (like the First Lady’s anti-obesity campaign) are well meaning, but neither really address the problem nor are likely to accomplish much.&#160; As it insists, “Collective action is needed to implement prevention approaches, ensure appropriate responses, and support these efforts based on strong data and research.”</p>
<p>Worse still but expected, it doesn’t link reported incidents of sexual violence to the nation’s social context, particularly the mounting crisis of the Great Recession. It doesn’t ask respondents if violence has increased over the last 4 to 5 years, due to financial hardship. &#160;Nevertheless, reading between the lines, the study is a testament to one of the hidden costs associated with the mounting economic, social and political crisis.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>The CDC’s report on intimate sexual violence is one scary document.&#160; It is formally titled, “ <a href="" type="internal">The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS)</a>.”&#160; It is an empirical survey based on some 16,000 24-minute telephone interviews conducted in English and Spanish.&#160; It reports that, on average, 24 people per minute in the U.S. are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner.</p>
<p>Each year, more than 12 million American women and men face some form of sexual violence, be it rape, physical assault (i.e., “intimate partner violence”) or stalking.&#160;&#160; Most shocking, an estimated 1.3 million women are raped each year!&#160; Given the shame that still envelops sex in the country, one can expected many survey respondents to have not told the whole truth.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the study’s findings are disturbing:</p>
<p>*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; More than 1 in 3 women (35.6% or approximately 42.4 million) have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime</p>
<p>* &#160; &#160;Nearly 1 in 5 women has been raped during their lifetime.&#160; Approximately four-fifths (80%) of female victims of rape were first raped before age 25.</p>
<p>*&#160; About 1 in 4 women has been a victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in her lifetime.&#160; Nearly 3-out-of-4 (70%) of female victims experienced were victims before the age of 25.</p>
<p>*&#160; About 1 in 6 women has been a victim of stalking during her lifetime.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most disturbing finding was that the vast majority of victims of sexual violence knew their perpetrator.&#160; The perpetrator was most often an intimate partner or acquaintance, seldom a stranger.&#160; This characteristic is common to the pedophile.</p>
<p>Reflecting a new sexual consciousness, the study found that a man could also be the victim of sexual violence.&#160; The CDC study found:</p>
<p>* &#160;More than one-quarter of male rape victims were first raped when they were 10 years old or younger.</p>
<p>* About 1 in 7 men has experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.</p>
<p>* More then half (53%) of male victims experienced some form of intimate partner violence for the first time before age of 25. &#160;More than a quarter (28%) of male victims of rape reported that they were first assaulted when they were no older than 10.</p>
<p>For women and men, violence is an intimate feature of American sexual culture.</p>
<p>One of the study’s troubling findings concerns the relationship of ethnicity and sexual violence; the study does not analyze its findings in terms of family income.&#160; Intimate partner violence is widespread among minority communities: approximately 4 out of every 10 non-Hispanic Black women, 4 out of every 10 American Indian or Alaska Native women (43.7% and 46.0%, respectively), and 1 in 2 multiracial non-Hispanic women (53.8%) have been the victim intimate partner violence in their lifetime. &#160;Among the other racial/ethnic groups of women, about one-third of White non-Hispanic women (34.6%), more than one-third of Hispanic women (37.1%), and about one-fifth of Asian or Pacific Islander non-Hispanic women (19.6%).</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>The CDC study defines rape as completed forced penetration, forced-penetration facilitated by drugs or alcohol, or attempted forced penetration.&#160; It found that 1 percent of women surveyed reported being raped in the previous year; in the U.S., an estimated 1.3 million women are raped annually.</p>
<p>The CDC findings are significantly higher than previous federal estimates of violent sex crimes. &#160;The most widely cited estimates of sexual violence in America are from the Department of Justice.&#160; It estimates that, in 2010 188,000 Americans were victims of sexual violence.&#160; Of these, the Federal Bureau of Investigation specified 85,000 as forcible rapes.&#160; No federal agency seems to have attempted to reconcile the differences between these conflicting estimates.</p>
<p>The significant difference between the CDC estimates and the FBI reports of forced rape — 1.3 million vs. 85,000 — suggests the vast divide between the informal, popular experience (what really happens) and the formal, official report (the social fiction).&#160; The ideological orientation of most government agencies, whether at the local, state or federal level, is to minimize troubling information and to maximize glowing fictions.&#160; Occasionally, the truth sneaks out.&#160; This CDC report is such a disclosure, a scary reminder of just how primitive, patriarchal America remains.</p>
<p>The CDC report does not link its findings to the decline in the divorce rate.&#160; The U.S. divorce rate peaked in 1981 at 5.3 divorces per 1,000 marriages; in 2010, it was at 3.6 divorces per 1,000.</p>
<p>A number of factors have contributed to this decline.&#160; One is life-style changes.&#160; Since 1970, the number of unmarried couples who are living together has increased tenfold.&#160; Another is a campaign by the Christian, Republican right at the state level to make it harder to get a divorce.&#160; In state legislatures across the country, they have pushed to extend the divorce waiting-period, propose “covenant” marriages or require pre-marital and divorce education classes.</p>
<p>Another factor is the recession.&#160; For many couples, the crisis has made things more difficult, financially and emotionally, thus making it harder separate.&#160; There has been a recent spike in the divorce rate, but many couples are forced to persist in bad relations and one can only image this fueling intimate violence, likely making things worse.</p>
<p>How this all holds together, how Herman Cain’s sexual harassment suits fit with intimate sexual violence among, for example, white, non-Hispanic women, is yet to be determined.&#160; What is clear is that sex matters, that intimacy too-often involves violence and the deepening economic crisis seems to only make matters worse.&#160; Sexual violence is the shame of the nation.</p>
<p>David Rosen is a contributor to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion</a>, forthcoming from AK Press. He&#160;can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 598,952 |
<p>The US&#160;Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory to President Donald Trump by allowing his latest travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries to go into full effect even as legal challenges continue in lower courts.</p>
<p>The nine-member court, with two liberal justices dissenting, granted his administration's request to lift two injunctions imposed by lower courts that had partially blocked the ban, which is the third version of a contentious policy that Trump first sought to implement a week after taking office in January.</p>
<p>The high court's action means that the ban will now go fully into effect for people from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen seeking to enter the United States. The Republican president has said the travel ban is needed to protect the United States from terrorism by Islamic militants.</p>
<p>In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the Supreme Court's action "a substantial victory for the safety and security of the American people." Sessions said the Trump administration was heartened that a clear majority of the justices "allowed the president's lawful proclamation protecting our country's national security to go into full effect."</p>
<p>The ban was challenged in separate lawsuits by the state of Hawaii and the American Civil Liberties Union. Both sets of challengers said the latest ban, like the earlier ones, discriminates against Muslims in violation of the US&#160;Constitution and is not permissible under immigration laws.</p>
<p>Trump had promised as a candidate to impose "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Last week he shared on Twitter anti-Muslim videos posted by a far-right British party leader.</p>
<p>"President Trump's anti-Muslim prejudice is no secret — he has repeatedly confirmed it, including just last week on Twitter," ACLU lawyer Omar Jadwat said.</p>
<p>"It's unfortunate that the full ban can move forward for now, but this order does not address the merits of our claims. We continue to stand for freedom, equality and for those who are unfairly being separated from their loved ones," Jadwat added.</p>
<p>Lower courts had previously limited the scope of the ban to people without either certain family connections to the United States or formal relationships with US-based entities such as universities and resettlement agencies.</p>
<p>Trump's ban also covers people from North Korea and certain government officials from Venezuela, but the lower courts had already allowed those provisions to go into effect.</p>
<p>The high court said in two similar one-page orders that lower court rulings that partly blocked the latest ban should be put on hold while federal appeals courts in San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia weigh the cases. Both courts are due to hear arguments in those cases this week.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court said the ban will remain in effect regardless of what the appeals courts rule, at least until the justices ultimately decide whether to take up the issue on the merits, which they are highly likely to do. The court's order said the appeals courts should decide the cases "with appropriate dispatch."</p>
<p>"We agree a speedy resolution is needed for the sake of our universities, our businesses and most of all, for people marginalized by this unlawful order," Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin said.</p>
<p>Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said they would have denied the administration's request.</p>
<p>Monday's action sent a strong signal that the court is likely to uphold the ban on the merits when the case likely returns to the justices in the coming months.</p>
<p>There are some exceptions to the ban. Certain people from each targeted country can still apply for a visa for tourism, business or education purposes, and any applicant can ask for an individual waiver.</p>
<p>The San Francisco-based 9th US&#160;Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on the merits of Hawaii's challenge on Wednesday in Seattle. The 4th US&#160;Circuit Court of Appeals will arguments on the merits of case spearheaded by the ACLU on Friday in Richmond.</p>
<p>Trump issued his first travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries in January, then issued a revised one in March after the first was blocked by federal courts. The second one expired in September after a long court fight and was replaced with the present version.</p>
<p>The Trump administration said the president put the latest restrictions in place after a worldwide review of the ability of each country in the world to issue reliable passports and share data with the United States.</p>
<p>The administration argues that a president has broad authority to decide who can come into the United States, but detractors say the expanded ban violates a law forbidding the government from discriminating based on nationality when issuing immigrant visas.</p>
<p>The administration has said the ban is not discriminatory and pointed out that many Muslim-majority countries are unaffected by it.</p>
<p>For many impacted by the travel ban, it's a painful and deeply personal turn of events.&#160;</p>
<p>Afaf Nasher directs the New York chapter of the&#160;Council on American-Islamic Relations ( <a href="http://www.cair-ny.org/staff/" type="external">CAIR</a>). The new travel restrictions mean a central figure in her family, her&#160;father-in-law,&#160;won't be permitted to visit the US from Yemen.&#160;</p>
<p>"He really is the one that brings the entire family together, that takes care of others whenever there's a problem," said Nasher.&#160;</p>
<p>She's talking about her octagenarian father-in-law. His deteriorating health led him to flee Yemen a few weeks ago for Egypt.&#160;Nasher and her husband were discussing how to get him to the United States just hours before the latest version of the travel ban went into effect.&#160;</p>
<p>"We really just want to see him live out his final years with his family beside him," said Nasher. "We can't send him back to Yemen where bullets are flying and missiles may be overhead."</p>
<p>Nasher does not accept the rationale that the ban is necessary to ensure Americans' security.&#160;</p>
<p>"All it takes is a simple Google search and we see that the real threat is internal [to the US]. It has nothing to do with people coming in from Yemen. Yemen had nothing to do with 9/11, for example, and neither are the other countries that are on the list," she said. "This lie of trying to make things secure, it's nothing but deceit."</p>
<p>Nasher said&#160;she hasn't given up on the idea that in America her family will have all the rights they're entitled to under the constitution. But the travel ban has shaken her confidence in her homeland.&#160;&#160;"To be honest, it's emotional for me, because the belief that I've always had in this country is really being tested," she said, her voice shaking.&#160;</p>
<p>Reuters contributed to this report.</p> | Supreme Court lets Trump's latest travel ban go into full effect | false | https://pri.org/stories/2017-12-05/supreme-court-lets-trumps-latest-travel-ban-go-full-effect | 2017-12-05 | 3left-center
| Supreme Court lets Trump's latest travel ban go into full effect
<p>The US&#160;Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory to President Donald Trump by allowing his latest travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries to go into full effect even as legal challenges continue in lower courts.</p>
<p>The nine-member court, with two liberal justices dissenting, granted his administration's request to lift two injunctions imposed by lower courts that had partially blocked the ban, which is the third version of a contentious policy that Trump first sought to implement a week after taking office in January.</p>
<p>The high court's action means that the ban will now go fully into effect for people from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen seeking to enter the United States. The Republican president has said the travel ban is needed to protect the United States from terrorism by Islamic militants.</p>
<p>In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the Supreme Court's action "a substantial victory for the safety and security of the American people." Sessions said the Trump administration was heartened that a clear majority of the justices "allowed the president's lawful proclamation protecting our country's national security to go into full effect."</p>
<p>The ban was challenged in separate lawsuits by the state of Hawaii and the American Civil Liberties Union. Both sets of challengers said the latest ban, like the earlier ones, discriminates against Muslims in violation of the US&#160;Constitution and is not permissible under immigration laws.</p>
<p>Trump had promised as a candidate to impose "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Last week he shared on Twitter anti-Muslim videos posted by a far-right British party leader.</p>
<p>"President Trump's anti-Muslim prejudice is no secret — he has repeatedly confirmed it, including just last week on Twitter," ACLU lawyer Omar Jadwat said.</p>
<p>"It's unfortunate that the full ban can move forward for now, but this order does not address the merits of our claims. We continue to stand for freedom, equality and for those who are unfairly being separated from their loved ones," Jadwat added.</p>
<p>Lower courts had previously limited the scope of the ban to people without either certain family connections to the United States or formal relationships with US-based entities such as universities and resettlement agencies.</p>
<p>Trump's ban also covers people from North Korea and certain government officials from Venezuela, but the lower courts had already allowed those provisions to go into effect.</p>
<p>The high court said in two similar one-page orders that lower court rulings that partly blocked the latest ban should be put on hold while federal appeals courts in San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia weigh the cases. Both courts are due to hear arguments in those cases this week.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court said the ban will remain in effect regardless of what the appeals courts rule, at least until the justices ultimately decide whether to take up the issue on the merits, which they are highly likely to do. The court's order said the appeals courts should decide the cases "with appropriate dispatch."</p>
<p>"We agree a speedy resolution is needed for the sake of our universities, our businesses and most of all, for people marginalized by this unlawful order," Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin said.</p>
<p>Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said they would have denied the administration's request.</p>
<p>Monday's action sent a strong signal that the court is likely to uphold the ban on the merits when the case likely returns to the justices in the coming months.</p>
<p>There are some exceptions to the ban. Certain people from each targeted country can still apply for a visa for tourism, business or education purposes, and any applicant can ask for an individual waiver.</p>
<p>The San Francisco-based 9th US&#160;Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on the merits of Hawaii's challenge on Wednesday in Seattle. The 4th US&#160;Circuit Court of Appeals will arguments on the merits of case spearheaded by the ACLU on Friday in Richmond.</p>
<p>Trump issued his first travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries in January, then issued a revised one in March after the first was blocked by federal courts. The second one expired in September after a long court fight and was replaced with the present version.</p>
<p>The Trump administration said the president put the latest restrictions in place after a worldwide review of the ability of each country in the world to issue reliable passports and share data with the United States.</p>
<p>The administration argues that a president has broad authority to decide who can come into the United States, but detractors say the expanded ban violates a law forbidding the government from discriminating based on nationality when issuing immigrant visas.</p>
<p>The administration has said the ban is not discriminatory and pointed out that many Muslim-majority countries are unaffected by it.</p>
<p>For many impacted by the travel ban, it's a painful and deeply personal turn of events.&#160;</p>
<p>Afaf Nasher directs the New York chapter of the&#160;Council on American-Islamic Relations ( <a href="http://www.cair-ny.org/staff/" type="external">CAIR</a>). The new travel restrictions mean a central figure in her family, her&#160;father-in-law,&#160;won't be permitted to visit the US from Yemen.&#160;</p>
<p>"He really is the one that brings the entire family together, that takes care of others whenever there's a problem," said Nasher.&#160;</p>
<p>She's talking about her octagenarian father-in-law. His deteriorating health led him to flee Yemen a few weeks ago for Egypt.&#160;Nasher and her husband were discussing how to get him to the United States just hours before the latest version of the travel ban went into effect.&#160;</p>
<p>"We really just want to see him live out his final years with his family beside him," said Nasher. "We can't send him back to Yemen where bullets are flying and missiles may be overhead."</p>
<p>Nasher does not accept the rationale that the ban is necessary to ensure Americans' security.&#160;</p>
<p>"All it takes is a simple Google search and we see that the real threat is internal [to the US]. It has nothing to do with people coming in from Yemen. Yemen had nothing to do with 9/11, for example, and neither are the other countries that are on the list," she said. "This lie of trying to make things secure, it's nothing but deceit."</p>
<p>Nasher said&#160;she hasn't given up on the idea that in America her family will have all the rights they're entitled to under the constitution. But the travel ban has shaken her confidence in her homeland.&#160;&#160;"To be honest, it's emotional for me, because the belief that I've always had in this country is really being tested," she said, her voice shaking.&#160;</p>
<p>Reuters contributed to this report.</p> | 598,953 |
<p>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the South Carolina Lottery’s “Pick 4 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>7-1-7-4</p>
<p>(seven, one, seven, four)</p>
<p>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the South Carolina Lottery’s “Pick 4 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>7-1-7-4</p>
<p>(seven, one, seven, four)</p> | Winning numbers drawn in ‘Pick 4 Evening’ game | false | https://apnews.com/f2fee57d1257401184246aeadc193a6e | 2018-01-18 | 2least
| Winning numbers drawn in ‘Pick 4 Evening’ game
<p>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the South Carolina Lottery’s “Pick 4 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>7-1-7-4</p>
<p>(seven, one, seven, four)</p>
<p>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the South Carolina Lottery’s “Pick 4 Evening” game were:</p>
<p>7-1-7-4</p>
<p>(seven, one, seven, four)</p> | 598,954 |
<p>The Trump administration is targeting federal programs it says don’t work. But, if you want homeless families in affordable housing, job training that leads to well-paying work, and after-school programs for grade schoolers, take a closer look at those targets.</p>
<p>Consider Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood and the <a href="https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/communitydevelopment/programs" type="external">Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program</a>.</p>
<p>Over the years, the program’s funding has been woven into the fabric of this historic neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, supporting everything from job training, placement and support at the <a href="http://www.chinesemutualaid.org" type="external">Chinese Mutual Aid Association</a> to services for the homeless at the <a href="http://www.inspirationcorp.org" type="external">Inspiration Corporation</a>.</p>
<p>Killing funding for this single program would tear at the fabric of the country’s third-largest city, home to diverse neighborhoods and families from Africa, Asia and Appalachia, even as waves of gentrification threaten that diversity.</p>
<p>“It (CDBG) definitely helps the most vulnerable. We are talking about families and kids,” Shannon Stewart, executive director at Inspiration Corporation, says.</p>
<p>“It really just takes away the safety net.”</p>
<p>Already, Illinois is struggling because lawmakers have not passed a comprehensive state budget for nearly two years. Community organizations, especially in Chicago, have already cut operations and staff because of the state budget crisis.</p>
<p>Without CDBG dollars, social service agencies in the neighborhood could close their doors, according to Jennifer Ritter, executive director of <a href="http://onenorthside.org" type="external">Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside</a>.</p>
<p>Many agencies have cut their budgets “to the bone already,” she adds.</p>
<p>If President Donald Trump manages to cut the CDBG program, this story could play out in urban and rural neighborhoods that are home to low-income families across the country.</p>
<p>The debate over CDBG comes down to results, or at least what results you want.</p>
<p>In his <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/budget/fy2018/2018_blueprint.pdf" type="external">inaugural budget proposal</a> released on March 16,&#160;the president said the 43-year-old development program is “not well-targeted to the poorest populations and has not demonstrated results.”</p>
<p>In Uptown, the Chinese Mutual Aid Association’s Gisella Faggi disagrees. Last year, for example, the group spent less than $400 on each client in its job-training program, helping them land and keep decent jobs, where they contributed to the region’s economy, Faggi points out.</p>
<p>In 2016, all of the funding for this workforce support came from the CDBG program.</p>
<p>“The return on investment seems obvious,” says Faggi, who manages the organization’s civics and community integration. “I think it (eliminating funding) goes against our interest as a community, as a nation even.”</p>
<p>Block grant funds also flow into Uptown’s social services for homeless families, who struggle in a neighborhood where rents are rising. If that flow stops you would see more people on the streets, Stewart says.</p>
<p>Gutting CDBG is only a slice in the president’s budget that seeks to carve $6.2 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the program.</p>
<p>For now, these cuts to housing and community development are theoretical, part of a proposed starting line in the annual race to pass a budget and spending bills that finance the federal government.</p>
<p>But, this budget may matter more than most because the Trump administration has staked out a far right position. Instead of serving as fodder for political debates about the size and role of the federal government, this budget likely will be one side in negotiations with a Republican-controlled Congress that’s already pushing for a smaller federal government.</p>
<p>If you want to know what the president’s first budget really means, look at this single proposed cut – eliminating funding for the Community Development Block Grant – under a microscope. Whatever your political position, you will see its elimination could also end programs that support families and neighborhoods nationwide.</p>
<p>“Put it in Trump’s terms: It would be a disaster,” says Ritter of&#160; <a href="http://onenorthside.org" type="external">Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality</a>.</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Paul Nyhan</a> is the senior writer for Equal Voice News, which is published by <a href="http://caseygrants.org/" type="external">Marguerite Casey Foundation</a>. Contact: [email protected] or 206-691-3134.&#160;The top image, which shows a Chinese Mutual Aid Association class in Boston, is courtesy of the organization. This analysis includes information from The Associated Press.</p>
<p>All original Equal Voice News content – articles, graphics and videos – can be reproduced for free, as long as proper credit and a link to our homepage are included. For more information on&#160;housing, employment and other issues important to families, visit the <a href="http://dayofequity.org/nationalfamilyplatform" type="external">Equal Voice National Family Platform</a>.</p>
<p>2017 © Equal Voice for America’s Families Newspaper</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="external">Contact author</a></p>
<p>&#160;&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Chicago</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Chinese Mutual Aid Association</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Community Development Block Grants</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Inspiration Corporation</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Trump budget</a></p> | A Program Trump Wants to Kill Helps Build Neighborhoods | true | http://equalvoiceforfamilies.org/a-program-trump-wants-to-kill-is-the-building-block-of-neighborhoods/ | 4left
| A Program Trump Wants to Kill Helps Build Neighborhoods
<p>The Trump administration is targeting federal programs it says don’t work. But, if you want homeless families in affordable housing, job training that leads to well-paying work, and after-school programs for grade schoolers, take a closer look at those targets.</p>
<p>Consider Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood and the <a href="https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/communitydevelopment/programs" type="external">Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program</a>.</p>
<p>Over the years, the program’s funding has been woven into the fabric of this historic neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, supporting everything from job training, placement and support at the <a href="http://www.chinesemutualaid.org" type="external">Chinese Mutual Aid Association</a> to services for the homeless at the <a href="http://www.inspirationcorp.org" type="external">Inspiration Corporation</a>.</p>
<p>Killing funding for this single program would tear at the fabric of the country’s third-largest city, home to diverse neighborhoods and families from Africa, Asia and Appalachia, even as waves of gentrification threaten that diversity.</p>
<p>“It (CDBG) definitely helps the most vulnerable. We are talking about families and kids,” Shannon Stewart, executive director at Inspiration Corporation, says.</p>
<p>“It really just takes away the safety net.”</p>
<p>Already, Illinois is struggling because lawmakers have not passed a comprehensive state budget for nearly two years. Community organizations, especially in Chicago, have already cut operations and staff because of the state budget crisis.</p>
<p>Without CDBG dollars, social service agencies in the neighborhood could close their doors, according to Jennifer Ritter, executive director of <a href="http://onenorthside.org" type="external">Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside</a>.</p>
<p>Many agencies have cut their budgets “to the bone already,” she adds.</p>
<p>If President Donald Trump manages to cut the CDBG program, this story could play out in urban and rural neighborhoods that are home to low-income families across the country.</p>
<p>The debate over CDBG comes down to results, or at least what results you want.</p>
<p>In his <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/budget/fy2018/2018_blueprint.pdf" type="external">inaugural budget proposal</a> released on March 16,&#160;the president said the 43-year-old development program is “not well-targeted to the poorest populations and has not demonstrated results.”</p>
<p>In Uptown, the Chinese Mutual Aid Association’s Gisella Faggi disagrees. Last year, for example, the group spent less than $400 on each client in its job-training program, helping them land and keep decent jobs, where they contributed to the region’s economy, Faggi points out.</p>
<p>In 2016, all of the funding for this workforce support came from the CDBG program.</p>
<p>“The return on investment seems obvious,” says Faggi, who manages the organization’s civics and community integration. “I think it (eliminating funding) goes against our interest as a community, as a nation even.”</p>
<p>Block grant funds also flow into Uptown’s social services for homeless families, who struggle in a neighborhood where rents are rising. If that flow stops you would see more people on the streets, Stewart says.</p>
<p>Gutting CDBG is only a slice in the president’s budget that seeks to carve $6.2 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the program.</p>
<p>For now, these cuts to housing and community development are theoretical, part of a proposed starting line in the annual race to pass a budget and spending bills that finance the federal government.</p>
<p>But, this budget may matter more than most because the Trump administration has staked out a far right position. Instead of serving as fodder for political debates about the size and role of the federal government, this budget likely will be one side in negotiations with a Republican-controlled Congress that’s already pushing for a smaller federal government.</p>
<p>If you want to know what the president’s first budget really means, look at this single proposed cut – eliminating funding for the Community Development Block Grant – under a microscope. Whatever your political position, you will see its elimination could also end programs that support families and neighborhoods nationwide.</p>
<p>“Put it in Trump’s terms: It would be a disaster,” says Ritter of&#160; <a href="http://onenorthside.org" type="external">Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality</a>.</p>
<p>___________</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Paul Nyhan</a> is the senior writer for Equal Voice News, which is published by <a href="http://caseygrants.org/" type="external">Marguerite Casey Foundation</a>. Contact: [email protected] or 206-691-3134.&#160;The top image, which shows a Chinese Mutual Aid Association class in Boston, is courtesy of the organization. This analysis includes information from The Associated Press.</p>
<p>All original Equal Voice News content – articles, graphics and videos – can be reproduced for free, as long as proper credit and a link to our homepage are included. For more information on&#160;housing, employment and other issues important to families, visit the <a href="http://dayofequity.org/nationalfamilyplatform" type="external">Equal Voice National Family Platform</a>.</p>
<p>2017 © Equal Voice for America’s Families Newspaper</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="external">Contact author</a></p>
<p>&#160;&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Chicago</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Chinese Mutual Aid Association</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Community Development Block Grants</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Inspiration Corporation</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Trump budget</a></p> | 598,955 |
|
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says politicians who run sanctuary cities should be charged with crimes.</p>
<p>Thomas Homan said in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto that the Department of Justice needs to file charges against municipalities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities and deny them funding.</p>
<p>He also says politicians should be held "personally accountable" for crimes committed by people living in the U.S. illegally.</p>
<p>Homan says, "We've got to start charging some of these politicians with crimes."</p>
<p>U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly vowed to withhold federal money from localities that refuse to give federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice when someone in the country illegally is about to be released.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says politicians who run sanctuary cities should be charged with crimes.</p>
<p>Thomas Homan said in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto that the Department of Justice needs to file charges against municipalities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities and deny them funding.</p>
<p>He also says politicians should be held "personally accountable" for crimes committed by people living in the U.S. illegally.</p>
<p>Homan says, "We've got to start charging some of these politicians with crimes."</p>
<p>U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly vowed to withhold federal money from localities that refuse to give federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice when someone in the country illegally is about to be released.</p> | Immigration official wants pols in sanctuary cities charged | false | https://apnews.com/amp/848f3acd31794e808699d8c2cb225ae2 | 2018-01-03 | 2least
| Immigration official wants pols in sanctuary cities charged
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says politicians who run sanctuary cities should be charged with crimes.</p>
<p>Thomas Homan said in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto that the Department of Justice needs to file charges against municipalities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities and deny them funding.</p>
<p>He also says politicians should be held "personally accountable" for crimes committed by people living in the U.S. illegally.</p>
<p>Homan says, "We've got to start charging some of these politicians with crimes."</p>
<p>U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly vowed to withhold federal money from localities that refuse to give federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice when someone in the country illegally is about to be released.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says politicians who run sanctuary cities should be charged with crimes.</p>
<p>Thomas Homan said in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto that the Department of Justice needs to file charges against municipalities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities and deny them funding.</p>
<p>He also says politicians should be held "personally accountable" for crimes committed by people living in the U.S. illegally.</p>
<p>Homan says, "We've got to start charging some of these politicians with crimes."</p>
<p>U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly vowed to withhold federal money from localities that refuse to give federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice when someone in the country illegally is about to be released.</p> | 598,956 |
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<p>Casa Verde Builders LLC took the prize for the best home in the lowest price category of the parade of homes with its gold-certified green home in the High Range community of Rio Rancho. (richard pipes/journal)</p>
<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An affordable super-green house, a Craftsman-inspired home with a man cave, a Southwest-style home in Placitas and two major remodels were among the favorites of visitors to the Homes of Enchantment Parade this fall.</p>
<p>Consumers who toured the homes had a chance to vote in eight different categories — curb appeal/exterior appearance, master suite/bath, kitchen, layout/floor plan, great room/living room, energy efficient aspects, overall value and overall impression. The scores were tallied and a winner named in each of eight new construction and two remodeling price categories.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“This was one of our most successful and best-attended parades we’ve held,” said Jim Folkman, executive vice president of HBA, formerly the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico, which sponsors the event.</p>
<p>“We had a wide variety of builders, architectural styles and locations, and there were many more visitors obviously interested in purchasing or building than we’ve seen for several years, which we think reflects the improvement and optimism we’re starting to see in the marketplace in general,” Folkman said. “In fact there were reports of visitors actually bringing their plans with them to talk to our builders — that’s something we haven’t seen in a very long time.”</p>
<p>Casa Verde Builders LLC took the prize for the best home in the lowest price category with its gold-certified green home in the High Range community of Rio Rancho.</p>
<p>This is the spacious dining and kitchen area of the Rio Rancho model home by Casa Verde Builders LLC. The Tuscan-Mediterranean styled house features granite countertops, extensive custom tile and stainless steel appliances — all standard amenities for Casa Verde homes. (richard pipes/journal)</p>
<p>The model at 3624 Buckaroo NE marked the company’s first entry in the Parade of Homes. The Tuscan-Mediterranean styled house features granite countertops, extensive custom tile and stainless steel appliances — all standard amenities for Casa Verde homes.</p>
<p>“Every single home that we build is gold certified,” said Shawn Stalls of Casa Verde.</p>
<p>The new company, which opened its first model about a year ago, aims to build fully custom, sustainable homes at an affordable price.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“We make the most efficient homes in town,” Stalls said. “We make sure the home performs.”</p>
<p>The three-bedroom, two-bath house is 1,718 square feet and priced at $214,900.</p>
<p>“It’s kind of the everything-you-see-you-get design,” he said. “It’s just an exceptionally beautiful home. … People come in and love it from the get-go.”</p>
<p>Also making his first entry in the Parade of Homes was custom builder Drew Owens, who won for the best remodel under $500,000 for his complete update of the 34-year-old house at 101 Coyote Trail in Corrales. The house received new cabinets, flooring, paint, windows and doors and new stucco as well as new landscaping as part of the $200,000 project.</p>
<p>“They loved the house and they loved the fact that we kept the Old World hacienda character with modern conveniences,” Owens said of the visitors who voted for his project. “I feel honored to receive the recognition and the award.”</p>
<p>New Haven Homes also was voted a winner for its Southwest pueblo-style house at 275 Star Meadow Rd. in the Diamond Tail Ranch community of Placitas. The 2,750-square-foot home with three bedrooms is priced at $569,000 and features a great room with a radiating viga ceiling, American Clay plaster over adobe walls and beautiful views.</p>
<p>JIM THOMPSON/JOURNALThis home at 6828 Rio Grande NW&#160;has received a complete face-lift and remodel by owner and Albuquerque-area builder Ben Lucero of Lucero Homes.</p>
<p>“We gave a lot of attention to the small things, the details,” company President Bill Reynolds said of the Build Green New Mexico silver-certified house. “One of the things that probably stood out to the public is the value we created out there. It’s a lot of home for $500,000.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Many homes in Diamond Tail are valued at more than $1 million.</p>
<p>There were seven other Parade of Homes winners:</p>
<p>♦ A three-bedroom bungalow by Vineyard Homes at 6628 Icarian NE in Rio Rancho and priced at $280,000. The house has a curved back wall, mountain views, radiant heat, a stone fireplace and an oversized two-car garage in 2,150 square feet.</p>
<p>♦ The $394,900 Fiesta model by Rachel Matthew Homes at 2523 Steiglitz SE in Mesa del Sol. The New Mexico–style home blends tradition with a new urban flair. The 3,006 square-foot house boasts four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths.</p>
<p>♦ A stone tower marks the entry to the winning Tiara Homes house at 4805 Valle Rio Trail NW in the El Bosque at Andalucia community. The four-bedroom home with high ceilings, separate bedroom wings and a portal with wood-burning kiva fireplace sits on a large lot just steps from the Rio Grande bosque. It is priced at $549,900.Â</p>
<p>♦ A Craftsman-inspired home with a large man cave in the Wild Horse Mesa community of Placitas built by Lee Michael Homes. The house at 42 Horseshoe Loop features beamed ceilings, dormers, wood floors, a stone fireplace, a chef’s kitchen with a wine bar and an art room in 2,800 square feet. The price is $625,000.</p>
<p>♦ The $900,000 Territorial-style house by Panorama Homes at 53 Broken Arrow in the gated area of Paa-Ko Village Communities. The three-bedroom house is 3,660 square feet.</p>
<p>♦ The most expensive home in the parade, the 3,700 square-foot, Tuscan-style house by Designer Studios at 9901 Eagle Rock NE in North Albuquerque Acres. With an indoor pool, a media room and many green features, it has three bedrooms and costs $1.2 million.</p>
<p>♦ The high-end remodel of 6828 Rio Grande NW by Lucero Homes. A state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen with retro flair, hardwood flooring, faux enhancement by painter Joy Conway and a new pool area are among the upgrades in the $650,000 project.</p> | Winners selected in parade of homes | false | https://abqjournal.com/147119/winners-selected-in-parade-of-homes.html | 2012-11-18 | 2least
| Winners selected in parade of homes
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<p>Casa Verde Builders LLC took the prize for the best home in the lowest price category of the parade of homes with its gold-certified green home in the High Range community of Rio Rancho. (richard pipes/journal)</p>
<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An affordable super-green house, a Craftsman-inspired home with a man cave, a Southwest-style home in Placitas and two major remodels were among the favorites of visitors to the Homes of Enchantment Parade this fall.</p>
<p>Consumers who toured the homes had a chance to vote in eight different categories — curb appeal/exterior appearance, master suite/bath, kitchen, layout/floor plan, great room/living room, energy efficient aspects, overall value and overall impression. The scores were tallied and a winner named in each of eight new construction and two remodeling price categories.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“This was one of our most successful and best-attended parades we’ve held,” said Jim Folkman, executive vice president of HBA, formerly the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico, which sponsors the event.</p>
<p>“We had a wide variety of builders, architectural styles and locations, and there were many more visitors obviously interested in purchasing or building than we’ve seen for several years, which we think reflects the improvement and optimism we’re starting to see in the marketplace in general,” Folkman said. “In fact there were reports of visitors actually bringing their plans with them to talk to our builders — that’s something we haven’t seen in a very long time.”</p>
<p>Casa Verde Builders LLC took the prize for the best home in the lowest price category with its gold-certified green home in the High Range community of Rio Rancho.</p>
<p>This is the spacious dining and kitchen area of the Rio Rancho model home by Casa Verde Builders LLC. The Tuscan-Mediterranean styled house features granite countertops, extensive custom tile and stainless steel appliances — all standard amenities for Casa Verde homes. (richard pipes/journal)</p>
<p>The model at 3624 Buckaroo NE marked the company’s first entry in the Parade of Homes. The Tuscan-Mediterranean styled house features granite countertops, extensive custom tile and stainless steel appliances — all standard amenities for Casa Verde homes.</p>
<p>“Every single home that we build is gold certified,” said Shawn Stalls of Casa Verde.</p>
<p>The new company, which opened its first model about a year ago, aims to build fully custom, sustainable homes at an affordable price.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“We make the most efficient homes in town,” Stalls said. “We make sure the home performs.”</p>
<p>The three-bedroom, two-bath house is 1,718 square feet and priced at $214,900.</p>
<p>“It’s kind of the everything-you-see-you-get design,” he said. “It’s just an exceptionally beautiful home. … People come in and love it from the get-go.”</p>
<p>Also making his first entry in the Parade of Homes was custom builder Drew Owens, who won for the best remodel under $500,000 for his complete update of the 34-year-old house at 101 Coyote Trail in Corrales. The house received new cabinets, flooring, paint, windows and doors and new stucco as well as new landscaping as part of the $200,000 project.</p>
<p>“They loved the house and they loved the fact that we kept the Old World hacienda character with modern conveniences,” Owens said of the visitors who voted for his project. “I feel honored to receive the recognition and the award.”</p>
<p>New Haven Homes also was voted a winner for its Southwest pueblo-style house at 275 Star Meadow Rd. in the Diamond Tail Ranch community of Placitas. The 2,750-square-foot home with three bedrooms is priced at $569,000 and features a great room with a radiating viga ceiling, American Clay plaster over adobe walls and beautiful views.</p>
<p>JIM THOMPSON/JOURNALThis home at 6828 Rio Grande NW&#160;has received a complete face-lift and remodel by owner and Albuquerque-area builder Ben Lucero of Lucero Homes.</p>
<p>“We gave a lot of attention to the small things, the details,” company President Bill Reynolds said of the Build Green New Mexico silver-certified house. “One of the things that probably stood out to the public is the value we created out there. It’s a lot of home for $500,000.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Many homes in Diamond Tail are valued at more than $1 million.</p>
<p>There were seven other Parade of Homes winners:</p>
<p>♦ A three-bedroom bungalow by Vineyard Homes at 6628 Icarian NE in Rio Rancho and priced at $280,000. The house has a curved back wall, mountain views, radiant heat, a stone fireplace and an oversized two-car garage in 2,150 square feet.</p>
<p>♦ The $394,900 Fiesta model by Rachel Matthew Homes at 2523 Steiglitz SE in Mesa del Sol. The New Mexico–style home blends tradition with a new urban flair. The 3,006 square-foot house boasts four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths.</p>
<p>♦ A stone tower marks the entry to the winning Tiara Homes house at 4805 Valle Rio Trail NW in the El Bosque at Andalucia community. The four-bedroom home with high ceilings, separate bedroom wings and a portal with wood-burning kiva fireplace sits on a large lot just steps from the Rio Grande bosque. It is priced at $549,900.Â</p>
<p>♦ A Craftsman-inspired home with a large man cave in the Wild Horse Mesa community of Placitas built by Lee Michael Homes. The house at 42 Horseshoe Loop features beamed ceilings, dormers, wood floors, a stone fireplace, a chef’s kitchen with a wine bar and an art room in 2,800 square feet. The price is $625,000.</p>
<p>♦ The $900,000 Territorial-style house by Panorama Homes at 53 Broken Arrow in the gated area of Paa-Ko Village Communities. The three-bedroom house is 3,660 square feet.</p>
<p>♦ The most expensive home in the parade, the 3,700 square-foot, Tuscan-style house by Designer Studios at 9901 Eagle Rock NE in North Albuquerque Acres. With an indoor pool, a media room and many green features, it has three bedrooms and costs $1.2 million.</p>
<p>♦ The high-end remodel of 6828 Rio Grande NW by Lucero Homes. A state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen with retro flair, hardwood flooring, faux enhancement by painter Joy Conway and a new pool area are among the upgrades in the $650,000 project.</p> | 598,957 |
<p>Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked President Donald Trump in one of their first meetings to stop his talk of&#160;“draining the swamp,” according to former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon.</p>
<p>In an interview <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bannon-mcconnell-doesnt-want-to-hear-anymore-drain-the-swamp-talk/" type="external">to air Sunday on CBS News'”60 Minutes,”</a> Bannon decried the lack of support from the Republican establishment for the new president.</p>
<p>“I think Mitch McConnell, and to a degree, [House Speaker] Paul Ryan… do not want Donald Trump’s populist, economic nationalist agenda to be implemented,” he told host Charlie Rose. “It’s very obvious… obvious as night follows day.”</p>
<p>Asked to give an example of how they were “trying to nullify the 2016 election,” Bannon recalled an early meeting at Trump Tower.</p>
<p>“Mitch McConnell when we first met him… I think in one of the first meetings in Trump Tower with the president, as we’re wrapping up, he basically says, ‘I don’t wanna hear any more of this ‘drain the swamp’ talk,'” Bannon said.</p>
<p>“He… flat out. He goes, ‘A guy up on Capitol Hill can’t buy a Coke unless it’s gotta be reported. I can’t — I can’t hire any smart people’ because everybody’s all over him for reporting requirements and the pay, et cetera, and the scrutiny,” Bannon continued.</p>
<p>“You know, ‘You gotta back off that.’ The ‘drain the swamp thing’ … Mitch McConnell was day one did not wanna — did not wanna go there. Wanted us to back off.”</p>
<p>Bannon was unapologetic about his critique of some leading GOP members, saying they “do not support the president’s program. It’s an open secret on Capitol Hill. Everybody in this city knows it,” and <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/bannon-interview-firing-bloomberg/2017/08/18/id/808508/" type="external">said that was “absolutely”</a> why he is going to war with them.</p> | Bannon: McConnell Asked Trump to Stop Talk of 'Draining the Swamp' | false | https://newsline.com/bannon-mcconnell-asked-trump-to-stop-talk-of-draining-the-swamp/ | 2017-09-09 | 1right-center
| Bannon: McConnell Asked Trump to Stop Talk of 'Draining the Swamp'
<p>Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked President Donald Trump in one of their first meetings to stop his talk of&#160;“draining the swamp,” according to former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon.</p>
<p>In an interview <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bannon-mcconnell-doesnt-want-to-hear-anymore-drain-the-swamp-talk/" type="external">to air Sunday on CBS News'”60 Minutes,”</a> Bannon decried the lack of support from the Republican establishment for the new president.</p>
<p>“I think Mitch McConnell, and to a degree, [House Speaker] Paul Ryan… do not want Donald Trump’s populist, economic nationalist agenda to be implemented,” he told host Charlie Rose. “It’s very obvious… obvious as night follows day.”</p>
<p>Asked to give an example of how they were “trying to nullify the 2016 election,” Bannon recalled an early meeting at Trump Tower.</p>
<p>“Mitch McConnell when we first met him… I think in one of the first meetings in Trump Tower with the president, as we’re wrapping up, he basically says, ‘I don’t wanna hear any more of this ‘drain the swamp’ talk,'” Bannon said.</p>
<p>“He… flat out. He goes, ‘A guy up on Capitol Hill can’t buy a Coke unless it’s gotta be reported. I can’t — I can’t hire any smart people’ because everybody’s all over him for reporting requirements and the pay, et cetera, and the scrutiny,” Bannon continued.</p>
<p>“You know, ‘You gotta back off that.’ The ‘drain the swamp thing’ … Mitch McConnell was day one did not wanna — did not wanna go there. Wanted us to back off.”</p>
<p>Bannon was unapologetic about his critique of some leading GOP members, saying they “do not support the president’s program. It’s an open secret on Capitol Hill. Everybody in this city knows it,” and <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/bannon-interview-firing-bloomberg/2017/08/18/id/808508/" type="external">said that was “absolutely”</a> why he is going to war with them.</p> | 598,958 |
<p>Oct. 11 (UPI) — Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra.</p>
<p>They include:</p>
<p>— Clergyman Mason Locke Weems, who invented the story of George Washington and the cherry tree, in 1759</p>
<p>— Englishman George Williams, founder of the YMCA, in 1821</p>
<p>— Food industry pioneer Henry John Heinz in 1844</p>
<p>— Former first lady and author Eleanor Roosevelt in 1884</p>
<p>— Writer Elmore Leonard in 1925</p>
<p>— Football Hall of Fame Coach LaVell Edwards in 1930</p>
<p>— Actor/singer Ron Leibman in 1937 (age 80)</p>
<p>— Singer Daryl Hall in 1946 (age 71)</p>
<p>— Sports columnist Thomas Boswell in 1947 (age 70)</p>
<p>— Football Hall of Fame member Steve Young in 1961 (age 56)</p>
<p>— Actor David Morse in 1953 (age 64)</p>
<p>— Actor Joan Cusack in 1962 (age 55)</p>
<p>— Actor Lennie James in 1965 (age 52)</p>
<p>— Actor Luke Perry in 1966 (age 51)</p>
<p>— Actor Jane Krakowski in 1968 (age 49)</p>
<p>— Actor Emily Deschanel in 1976 (age 41)</p>
<p>— Actor Matt Bomer in 1977 (age 40)</p>
<p>— Actor Bradley James in 1983 (age 34)</p>
<p>— Actor Michelle Trachtenberg in 1985 (age 32)</p>
<p>— Golfer Michelle Wie in 1989 (age 28)</p>
<p>— Rapper Cardi B in 1992 (age 25)</p>
<p>— Actor Brandon Flynn in 1993 (age 24)</p> | Famous birthdays for Oct. 11: Michelle Wie, Luke Perry | false | https://newsline.com/famous-birthdays-for-oct-11-michelle-wie-luke-perry/ | 2017-10-11 | 1right-center
| Famous birthdays for Oct. 11: Michelle Wie, Luke Perry
<p>Oct. 11 (UPI) — Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra.</p>
<p>They include:</p>
<p>— Clergyman Mason Locke Weems, who invented the story of George Washington and the cherry tree, in 1759</p>
<p>— Englishman George Williams, founder of the YMCA, in 1821</p>
<p>— Food industry pioneer Henry John Heinz in 1844</p>
<p>— Former first lady and author Eleanor Roosevelt in 1884</p>
<p>— Writer Elmore Leonard in 1925</p>
<p>— Football Hall of Fame Coach LaVell Edwards in 1930</p>
<p>— Actor/singer Ron Leibman in 1937 (age 80)</p>
<p>— Singer Daryl Hall in 1946 (age 71)</p>
<p>— Sports columnist Thomas Boswell in 1947 (age 70)</p>
<p>— Football Hall of Fame member Steve Young in 1961 (age 56)</p>
<p>— Actor David Morse in 1953 (age 64)</p>
<p>— Actor Joan Cusack in 1962 (age 55)</p>
<p>— Actor Lennie James in 1965 (age 52)</p>
<p>— Actor Luke Perry in 1966 (age 51)</p>
<p>— Actor Jane Krakowski in 1968 (age 49)</p>
<p>— Actor Emily Deschanel in 1976 (age 41)</p>
<p>— Actor Matt Bomer in 1977 (age 40)</p>
<p>— Actor Bradley James in 1983 (age 34)</p>
<p>— Actor Michelle Trachtenberg in 1985 (age 32)</p>
<p>— Golfer Michelle Wie in 1989 (age 28)</p>
<p>— Rapper Cardi B in 1992 (age 25)</p>
<p>— Actor Brandon Flynn in 1993 (age 24)</p> | 598,959 |
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<p>FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Larimer County authorities say a man fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy at a mobile home park near Fort Collins had been armed with a pair of scissors.</p>
<p>The Coloradoan reports ( <a href="http://noconow.co/1UEKDYE" type="external">http://noconow.co/1UEKDYE</a> ) a Fort Collins Police Services release says deputies reported seeing 38-year-old Philip B. Salazar wielding a large pair of scissors, which was allegedly found at the scene of the Saturday shooting.</p>
<p>The Larimer County Sheriff's Office had responded to the mobile home park on a domestic disturbance call. Lt. Bobby Moll says the incident escalated when Salazar took a woman hostage and did not comply with commands from members of a SWAT team.</p>
<p>Investigators have determined that one deputy fired his weapon multiple times during the incident. The deputy has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, <a href="http://www.coloradoan.com" type="external">http://www.coloradoan.com</a></p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Man killed in hostage standoff allegedly wielded scissors | false | https://abqjournal.com/716701/man-killed-in-hostage-standoff-allegedly-wielded-scissors.html | 2least
| Man killed in hostage standoff allegedly wielded scissors
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<p>FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Larimer County authorities say a man fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy at a mobile home park near Fort Collins had been armed with a pair of scissors.</p>
<p>The Coloradoan reports ( <a href="http://noconow.co/1UEKDYE" type="external">http://noconow.co/1UEKDYE</a> ) a Fort Collins Police Services release says deputies reported seeing 38-year-old Philip B. Salazar wielding a large pair of scissors, which was allegedly found at the scene of the Saturday shooting.</p>
<p>The Larimer County Sheriff's Office had responded to the mobile home park on a domestic disturbance call. Lt. Bobby Moll says the incident escalated when Salazar took a woman hostage and did not comply with commands from members of a SWAT team.</p>
<p>Investigators have determined that one deputy fired his weapon multiple times during the incident. The deputy has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, <a href="http://www.coloradoan.com" type="external">http://www.coloradoan.com</a></p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,960 |
|
<p />
<p>With the amount of income that goes to paying taxes every year and considering how complex tax law has become, if you are in need of a tax professional it behooves you to find one that will have your back. You also want someone who knows tax law and how to apply it to minimize your tax bill.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Or, do you really need a tax professional? You may have a very simple filing situation. If your income [AGI] is $58,000 or less, you can file your taxes for free by going to www.irs.gov and clicking on “free file.” The government provides a step-by-step process in which you will input your data, process the return, and file it electronically at no charge to you. You can even elect direct deposit of your refund.</p>
<p>If you have more than just a W2, and would like double checks, reminders and diagnostics provided by tax preparation software packages, you can still do it yourself. I’ve seen many self-prepared income tax returns, impressive in the vast number of professional-looking pages generated, but fraught with errors because tax law is just too complicated. Self-prepared returns are more often selected for audit for this reason alone. Often the tax savings a tax professional can provide will exceed the fee charged for the service. If you elect to self-prepare in this manner, don’t forget to write-off the cost of the tax software.</p>
<p>But perhaps self-preparation is not the route for you. So how do you sift out the right tax professional? The first thing to do is to check credentials. Licensed tax professionals fall into three categories:</p>
<p>1. State licensed Tax Preparer. This is likely the least expensive route for tax preparation. If all you have is a W2, a bit of interest and dividend income, a very basic Schedule A and itemized deductions, you may find your needs met at this level.</p>
<p>2. Certified Public Accountant.&#160; Licensed at the state level, a CPA may only do taxes as a sideline and instead specialize in accounting issues. Be sure to inquire as to his or her area of specialty. Many CPAs specialize in taxation. If your tax return is complicated, you may want to seek the help of a CPA.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>3. Enrolled Agent. EAs are licensed at the federal level and specialize only in taxation and can help you with complicated transactions. Many EAs are well versed in representation issues, so if you have tax problems, you may consider engaging the services of an experienced EA.</p>
<p>Secondly, find out if the tax pro specializes in the area that applies to your tax return. Every tax pro has a post season sideline that will tip you off to his or her specialty. If you own a small business, look for a tax pro who also offers bookkeeping and accounting services; you can be sure this person understands small business issues. If your tax return is heavy with brokerage activity, find one who offers financial-planning services. If you own rental real estate, be sure to find a preparer that deals with these transactions on a regular basis. Oftentimes a friend or relative who is involved in similar financial dealings would be a good source of reference.</p>
<p>Once you have found a few likely candidates, interview them before making a decision. Naturally, the time to conduct the interview is not at the height of tax season. Prepare a series of questions and take along a copy of your most recently-filed income tax return. You will want to know:</p>
<p>a.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; if the preparer is aggressive or conservative,</p>
<p>b.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; if s/he specializes in the issues that pertain to your tax situation,</p>
<p>c.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; if the tax office is open year round,</p>
<p>d.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; If s/he is willing to represent you in the event of audit or if a tax problem arises,</p>
<p>e.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; If s/he charges extra if you call with a quick question.</p>
<p>A personality fit is important as well. You want to feel comfortable and trust the tax pro you select.</p>
<p><a href="http://mailto:[email protected]" type="external">Bonnie Lee Opens a New Window.</a> is an Enrolled Agent admitted to practice and representing taxpayers in all fifty states at all levels within the Internal Revenue Service. She is the owner of Taxpertise in Sonoma, CA and the author of Entrepreneur Press book, “Taxpertise, The Complete Book of Dirty Little Secrets and Hidden Deductions for Small Business that the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know,” available at all major booksellers. Follow Bonnie Lee on Twitter at BLTaxpertise and at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/taxpertise.bonnielee." type="external">Facebook Opens a New Window.</a>.&#160;</p> | How to Choose the Right Tax Pro for Your Situation | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2011/03/24/choose-right-tax-pro-situation.html | 2016-03-18 | 0right
| How to Choose the Right Tax Pro for Your Situation
<p />
<p>With the amount of income that goes to paying taxes every year and considering how complex tax law has become, if you are in need of a tax professional it behooves you to find one that will have your back. You also want someone who knows tax law and how to apply it to minimize your tax bill.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Or, do you really need a tax professional? You may have a very simple filing situation. If your income [AGI] is $58,000 or less, you can file your taxes for free by going to www.irs.gov and clicking on “free file.” The government provides a step-by-step process in which you will input your data, process the return, and file it electronically at no charge to you. You can even elect direct deposit of your refund.</p>
<p>If you have more than just a W2, and would like double checks, reminders and diagnostics provided by tax preparation software packages, you can still do it yourself. I’ve seen many self-prepared income tax returns, impressive in the vast number of professional-looking pages generated, but fraught with errors because tax law is just too complicated. Self-prepared returns are more often selected for audit for this reason alone. Often the tax savings a tax professional can provide will exceed the fee charged for the service. If you elect to self-prepare in this manner, don’t forget to write-off the cost of the tax software.</p>
<p>But perhaps self-preparation is not the route for you. So how do you sift out the right tax professional? The first thing to do is to check credentials. Licensed tax professionals fall into three categories:</p>
<p>1. State licensed Tax Preparer. This is likely the least expensive route for tax preparation. If all you have is a W2, a bit of interest and dividend income, a very basic Schedule A and itemized deductions, you may find your needs met at this level.</p>
<p>2. Certified Public Accountant.&#160; Licensed at the state level, a CPA may only do taxes as a sideline and instead specialize in accounting issues. Be sure to inquire as to his or her area of specialty. Many CPAs specialize in taxation. If your tax return is complicated, you may want to seek the help of a CPA.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>3. Enrolled Agent. EAs are licensed at the federal level and specialize only in taxation and can help you with complicated transactions. Many EAs are well versed in representation issues, so if you have tax problems, you may consider engaging the services of an experienced EA.</p>
<p>Secondly, find out if the tax pro specializes in the area that applies to your tax return. Every tax pro has a post season sideline that will tip you off to his or her specialty. If you own a small business, look for a tax pro who also offers bookkeeping and accounting services; you can be sure this person understands small business issues. If your tax return is heavy with brokerage activity, find one who offers financial-planning services. If you own rental real estate, be sure to find a preparer that deals with these transactions on a regular basis. Oftentimes a friend or relative who is involved in similar financial dealings would be a good source of reference.</p>
<p>Once you have found a few likely candidates, interview them before making a decision. Naturally, the time to conduct the interview is not at the height of tax season. Prepare a series of questions and take along a copy of your most recently-filed income tax return. You will want to know:</p>
<p>a.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; if the preparer is aggressive or conservative,</p>
<p>b.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; if s/he specializes in the issues that pertain to your tax situation,</p>
<p>c.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; if the tax office is open year round,</p>
<p>d.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; If s/he is willing to represent you in the event of audit or if a tax problem arises,</p>
<p>e.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; If s/he charges extra if you call with a quick question.</p>
<p>A personality fit is important as well. You want to feel comfortable and trust the tax pro you select.</p>
<p><a href="http://mailto:[email protected]" type="external">Bonnie Lee Opens a New Window.</a> is an Enrolled Agent admitted to practice and representing taxpayers in all fifty states at all levels within the Internal Revenue Service. She is the owner of Taxpertise in Sonoma, CA and the author of Entrepreneur Press book, “Taxpertise, The Complete Book of Dirty Little Secrets and Hidden Deductions for Small Business that the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know,” available at all major booksellers. Follow Bonnie Lee on Twitter at BLTaxpertise and at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/taxpertise.bonnielee." type="external">Facebook Opens a New Window.</a>.&#160;</p> | 598,961 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The complex's 22 sprawling grassy fields, just north of U.S. 550 near N.M. 528, have hosted local and regional leagues and tournaments for more than two decades, attracting thousands of players of all ages each year.</p>
<p>And those players often need a place to eat, buy drinks or get gas. With Bernalillo a stone's throw from the complex, you will often find entire teams of jersey-clad players and their families chowing down at the Range Cafe, Freight House and Abuelita's along Bernalillo's main street, Camino del Pueblo. You will also find them at Dion's and Chili's near the N.M. 528-U.S. 550 corridor as well as Subway, McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants on U.S. 550.</p>
<p>"We do recognize it has an impact on the restaurants, anywhere from Dion's on (U.S.) 550 and Chili's to Freight House," Maria Rinaldi, director of community planning and development for the Town of Bernalillo, said of the soccer complex. "There's a lot of business along 550. They'll stop (at these restaurants) and pick up something to take to the facility. (The economic impact) is noticeable."</p>
<p>The soccer complex, more commonly known as the Bernalillo Soccer Complex, was constructed in phases beginning in 1995, according to Mike Edwards, vice president of the U.S. Soccer Federation and treasurer of the Albuquerque Soccer League. The first phase consisted of eight lighted fields, with 14 unlighted fields built about 1999 in phase two.</p>
<p>The complex was originally built because Albuquerque Public Schools needed a space for its high school soccer teams to play, according to Edwards. That's now changed and APS teams play in Albuquerque.</p>
<p>Today, the soccer complex is still used by adult and youth leagues and for state championships and regional tournaments. Youth leagues play on Saturdays; adult leagues on Sundays.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Albuquerque Soccer League has about 160 adult soccer teams, which are either men's, women's or co-ed. Duke City Soccer League is about seven clubs for youth soccer. All play at the soccer complex.</p>
<p>The complex is maintained at about half a million dollars annually. The money is derived from the soccer players who use the fields through their team fees. Tournaments also bring in money to maintain the fields, as well as local sponsors.</p>
<p>The complex cost about $3 million to build, Edwards said. The original eight fields were created from money it received from the Legislature. The added fields were created through funding raised by the U.S. Soccer Federation.</p>
<p>"The legislative money was (derived) through joint powers," Edwards said. "The bond issue, which was organized by Debbie Hayes when she was the county manager for Sandoval County, is what helped fund a $1 million bond issue - It is difficult and it is slow to get facilities built within the city. It was easier for those municipalities to build outside the city a 22-field complex. It was Sandoval County, Bernalillo County, the Town of Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and the city of Albuquerque that helped get it built."</p>
<p /> | Soccer complex hosts more than 160 teams | false | https://abqjournal.com/730824/soccer-complex-hosts-more-than-160-teams.html | 2least
| Soccer complex hosts more than 160 teams
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p />
<p>The complex's 22 sprawling grassy fields, just north of U.S. 550 near N.M. 528, have hosted local and regional leagues and tournaments for more than two decades, attracting thousands of players of all ages each year.</p>
<p>And those players often need a place to eat, buy drinks or get gas. With Bernalillo a stone's throw from the complex, you will often find entire teams of jersey-clad players and their families chowing down at the Range Cafe, Freight House and Abuelita's along Bernalillo's main street, Camino del Pueblo. You will also find them at Dion's and Chili's near the N.M. 528-U.S. 550 corridor as well as Subway, McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants on U.S. 550.</p>
<p>"We do recognize it has an impact on the restaurants, anywhere from Dion's on (U.S.) 550 and Chili's to Freight House," Maria Rinaldi, director of community planning and development for the Town of Bernalillo, said of the soccer complex. "There's a lot of business along 550. They'll stop (at these restaurants) and pick up something to take to the facility. (The economic impact) is noticeable."</p>
<p>The soccer complex, more commonly known as the Bernalillo Soccer Complex, was constructed in phases beginning in 1995, according to Mike Edwards, vice president of the U.S. Soccer Federation and treasurer of the Albuquerque Soccer League. The first phase consisted of eight lighted fields, with 14 unlighted fields built about 1999 in phase two.</p>
<p>The complex was originally built because Albuquerque Public Schools needed a space for its high school soccer teams to play, according to Edwards. That's now changed and APS teams play in Albuquerque.</p>
<p>Today, the soccer complex is still used by adult and youth leagues and for state championships and regional tournaments. Youth leagues play on Saturdays; adult leagues on Sundays.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Albuquerque Soccer League has about 160 adult soccer teams, which are either men's, women's or co-ed. Duke City Soccer League is about seven clubs for youth soccer. All play at the soccer complex.</p>
<p>The complex is maintained at about half a million dollars annually. The money is derived from the soccer players who use the fields through their team fees. Tournaments also bring in money to maintain the fields, as well as local sponsors.</p>
<p>The complex cost about $3 million to build, Edwards said. The original eight fields were created from money it received from the Legislature. The added fields were created through funding raised by the U.S. Soccer Federation.</p>
<p>"The legislative money was (derived) through joint powers," Edwards said. "The bond issue, which was organized by Debbie Hayes when she was the county manager for Sandoval County, is what helped fund a $1 million bond issue - It is difficult and it is slow to get facilities built within the city. It was easier for those municipalities to build outside the city a 22-field complex. It was Sandoval County, Bernalillo County, the Town of Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and the city of Albuquerque that helped get it built."</p>
<p /> | 598,962 |
|
<p>Investing.com – Bitcoin remained close to record highs as investors continued to bet that demand for the popular will surge with the launch of bitcoin futures expected before year-end.</p>
<p>On the U.S.-based Bitfinex exchange, rose to $11,719, up $124, or 1.07% after hitting an all-time high of $11,961 earlier in the session. The popular digital currency market cap rose to $199.06 billion.</p>
<p>Cboe Global Markets Inc. said Monday it will start trading bitcoin futures on Dec. 10, after receiving the go ahead last week from US futures regulator Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).</p>
<p>The news comes after CME group announced last week that it would launch bitcoin futures on Dec. 18.</p>
<p>“We are pleased to bring Bitcoin futures to market after working closely with the CFTC and market participants to design a regulated offering that will provide investors with transparency, price discovery, and risk transfer capabilities,” said Terry Duffy, CME Group (NASDAQ:) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on Friday.</p>
<p>With the world’s largest two exchanges for derivative products set to launch trading of bitcoin futures before the end of the year, investors continued to express optimism that bitcoin exchange-traded funds will follow the launch of bitcoin futures, which would stoke institutional demand for bitcoin as it seeks to become an established asset class.</p>
<p>fell 3.16% to $1490.50, while fell 6.39% to $291.17.</p>
<p>, the second largest cryptocurrency by market cap, fell 1.83% to $456.51.</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> | Bitcoin Eyes $12,000, Bitcoin Gold Falls 6% | false | https://newsline.com/bitcoin-eyes-12000-bitcoin-gold-falls-6/ | 2017-12-05 | 1right-center
| Bitcoin Eyes $12,000, Bitcoin Gold Falls 6%
<p>Investing.com – Bitcoin remained close to record highs as investors continued to bet that demand for the popular will surge with the launch of bitcoin futures expected before year-end.</p>
<p>On the U.S.-based Bitfinex exchange, rose to $11,719, up $124, or 1.07% after hitting an all-time high of $11,961 earlier in the session. The popular digital currency market cap rose to $199.06 billion.</p>
<p>Cboe Global Markets Inc. said Monday it will start trading bitcoin futures on Dec. 10, after receiving the go ahead last week from US futures regulator Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).</p>
<p>The news comes after CME group announced last week that it would launch bitcoin futures on Dec. 18.</p>
<p>“We are pleased to bring Bitcoin futures to market after working closely with the CFTC and market participants to design a regulated offering that will provide investors with transparency, price discovery, and risk transfer capabilities,” said Terry Duffy, CME Group (NASDAQ:) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on Friday.</p>
<p>With the world’s largest two exchanges for derivative products set to launch trading of bitcoin futures before the end of the year, investors continued to express optimism that bitcoin exchange-traded funds will follow the launch of bitcoin futures, which would stoke institutional demand for bitcoin as it seeks to become an established asset class.</p>
<p>fell 3.16% to $1490.50, while fell 6.39% to $291.17.</p>
<p>, the second largest cryptocurrency by market cap, fell 1.83% to $456.51.</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> | 598,963 |
<p />
<p>As readers flee news on the printed page for an on-line life and classified ads head out the door for Craigslist and points west, the Washington Post became just the latest major newspaper to announce significant staff cuts. With fourth-quarter revenue down 3% from the previous year, eighty jobs — 9% of the Post’s newsroom –- are to be shed in the next twelve months. According to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/business/media/11post.html?_r=1&amp;oref=slogin&amp;pagewanted=print" type="external">the New York Times</a>, Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie, Jr. “said other cost savings could come from having foreign correspondents cover broad topics — terrorism, say — rather than cover specific countries, thus allowing for the elimination of some [Post] foreign bureaus.”</p>
<p>This, of course, is the route that the TV news followed long ago, shedding foreign bureaus like so much flaky skin. Anyone who loves his or her daily dose of news in print should be dismayed at the thought of news bureaus abroad closing. It’s just another way in which American isolation is likely to increase, as our bubble world, so prized by the Bush administration, continues to morph into something more permanent.</p>
<p>On the brighter side, though, assigning more reporters to “broad topics” might have an unexpectedly salutary effect. After all, one of the strangest aspects of the news in the Bush years has been its unwillingness to connect regional or global dots. In most cases, foreign reporting has consisted of stories about only one country (at most two) at a time.</p>
<p>Not so long ago, we lived in a world that the media regularly told us was being connected in ever more complex ways — think of all that reporting on globalization in the 1990s. But for the last several years, “just disconnect” might have been the reigning news motto. If you read about the Iraq War, you get Iraq, and generally little else. No Turkey, no Israel, few Syrians, no Saudis, nor Egyptians. Reports on our little Afghan war give you Afghanistan, but certainly nothing about the fighters that, according to Syed Saleem Shahzad of <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HC15Df03.html" type="external">Asia Times on-line</a>, the resurgent Taliban, based in Pakistani border areas, has been sending to Iraq for training in the new ways of guerrilla warfare. (Think: IEDs and car bombs.) You would never know from stories in the American press that Iran bordered Afghanistan, or that both India and Russia have complex interests and connections there. And forget about the ‘Stans of Central Asia.) Why exactly this has been so, I leave others to analyze. That it has left our major papers strangely demobilized when it comes to offering us a picture of our world and so in an unequal contest with the Bush administration is hard to deny.</p>
<p>After all, the administration’s top officials have had a vision of American geopolitical dominance that has been nothing if not grandly global in nature. In their version of the Great Game, they seldom even bother to deal with one country at a time — often, as in Iraq, to their detriment. It wasn’t by happenstance that they named their “war” of choice the Global War on Terror (GWOT) or that they regularly label the Iraq War <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=65191" type="external">not a war at all</a> but a “theater” in their GWOT. In military, political, or energy terms, they have never hesitated to <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=2144" type="external">connect the dots</a> in a vast region they once termed the “arc of instability” — basically, the planet’s oil heartlands — into patterns of imperial dominance.</p>
<p>Where newspaper reporting saw individual countries that happened to have enormous oil or natural gas reserves, this administration has, from the beginning, seen global energy flows. In many ways, Bush’s top officials seemed to recognize no traditional boundaries at all. No wonder they were surprised by an insurgency largely based on gut feelings about national sovereignty.</p>
<p>As we now know, they hit Iraq running in March 2003. They were determined to make it to Baghdad <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/13/international/middleeast/13command.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fInternational%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fIraq&amp;pagewanted=print" type="external">without looking back</a>; leave their prize Iraqi, Ahmed Chalabi, in charge; and turn their attention elsewhere, especially to Syria and Iran. When it came to those two countries, they were ready to connect the dots in person and, if need be, by force of arms. They thought they could make “regime change” a regional, and then global, way of life.</p>
<p>Okay, it didn’t quite work out. Instead, they ran into a three-year-going-on-endless roadblock. But they’ve never stopped thinking in these terms. The invasion of Iraq was a stunning gamble. There’s no reason to believe that, in a pinch, an administration still made up of many of the same figures wouldn’t take another.</p>
<p>Bush administration planners framed that initial gamble brilliantly, in part by moving assertively into the vacuum of non-connection that was then our mainstream media. With their own propaganda organs like Fox News and right-wing talk radio in tow, they began to connect the dots as they pleased and very publicly. There were those lines drawn between, say, the 9/11 attackers and Saddam Hussein, or weapons of mass destruction and an Axis of Evil, or Saddam’s supposed WMD arsenal, African “yellowcake” uranium, and possible future <a href="http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/08/iraq.debate/" type="external">mushroom clouds</a> rising over American cities — but this part of the story you all remember well. In doing so, they largely determined the limits of, and nature of, what “debate” there was in our media from September 12, 2001 to March 20, 2003.</p>
<p>Déjà Vu All Over Again in Ira…</p>
<p>They were of course ascendant in that period, which would seem to explain a lot. But here’s the strange thing: The Bush administration is now in the dumps and the President’s ratings again heading for something <a href="http://www.pollkatz.homestead.com/wp-content/uploads/pollkatzmainGRAPHICS_8911_image001.gif" type="external">like freefall</a>. The latest <a href="http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060315-051944-5810r" type="external">Pew poll</a> gives him a 33% approval rating, leaving him heading for depths of unpopularity previously reached only by Richard Nixon in his pre-Watergate moment. And that’s not the worst of it. The President’s strongest suit, handling terror, has plummeted as well to 42%, an 11 point drop since January; while his once cherished trustworthiness sits at a paltry 40%. In the most recent <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060316/pl_afp/usiraqbushpoll_060316142538" type="external">Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll</a>, Americans say they “prefer Democratic control of Congress after the mid-term elections” by a 50-37% margin; and, perhaps more strikingly, “a congressional candidate urging the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq within a year would gain favor by a 50-35 percent margin, while one advocating staying ‘as long as necessary’ would lose favor by 43-39 percent.” And it’s not as if matters are going peachily elsewhere either. In Iraq, for instance, everything seems to be plummeting (except civilian death tolls) — and that includes, for instance, <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Iraq_Powerless.html" type="external">electricity</a> availability and <a href="http://today.reuters.com/misc/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=reutersEdge&amp;storyID=uri:2006-03-14T135434Z_01_L14264883_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-IRAQ-CORRUPTION.xml" type="external">oil production</a>.</p>
<p>And yet, give this administration credit. By connecting those dots (while the media generally doesn’t), they have been able, despite their position of increasing weakness, to continue to frame, and so drive, the debate, such as it is, in this country. Under the circumstances, this is nothing short of miraculous — the latest example being the way they have both escalated and contextualized the nuclear crisis with Iran (with a goodly helping hand from that country’s fundamentalist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) simply by following — almost without contradiction in the press — a well-trodden Iraqi path.</p>
<p>On a visit to Washington recently, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, remembering the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC10Ak04.html" type="external">commented</a>: “It looks so déjà vu, you know. I don’t believe we should engage in something which might become self-fulfilling prophecy.”</p>
<p>What’s déjà vu, of course, is the way the administration has been assertively connecting its chosen Iranian dots to other dots of its choice. In the first of a new wave of <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060313-3.html" type="external">Iraq speeches</a> (before the <a href="http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031406F.shtml" type="external">hawkish Foundation</a> for the Defense of Democracies), the President spoke of how the Iranians were sending the makings for advanced IEDs (roadside explosives) into Iraq to kill Americans. (“Some of the most powerful IEDs we’re seeing in Iraq today includes components that came from Iran. Our Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, told the Congress, ‘Tehran has been responsible for at least some of the increasing lethality of anti-coalition attacks by providing Shia militia with the capability to build improvised explosive devises’ in Iraq.) Secretary of Defense <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC10Ak04.html" type="external">Donald Rumsfeld</a> accused the Iranians of “dispatching the Al-Quds Division of its Revolutionary Guard to ‘stir trouble inside Iraq.'” <a href="http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2006/Mar/10-930103.html" type="external">Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice</a> declared Iran the “central banker for terrorism” in the Middle East as well as the single most dangerous threat to the United States on the planet. And just last week, the administration released its latest version of the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/" type="external">U.S. National Security Strategy</a>, reiterating its belief in “preventive war,” threatening a future Iran/U.S. “confrontation,” and ramping up that relatively impoverished, fractious, mid-sized regional power with enormous oil and natural gas reserves, into a near Cold War-level public enemy number one. Its key line was, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/sectionV.html" type="external">“We may face</a> no greater challenge from a single country than from Iran,” and Secretary of State Rice began running with it instantly.</p>
<p>Every one of these statements, as well as a drumbeat of others in recent weeks, is at best questionable; a number like the IED charges are probably ludicrous. (For those wanting to understand why, don’t miss Juan Cole’s recent piece at <a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20060313_fishing_for_a_pretext_in_iran/" type="external">Truthdig.com</a>in which he writes, “The guerrillas in Iraq are militant Sunnis who hate Shiites, and it is wholly implausible that the Iranian regime would supply bombs to the enemies of its Iraqi allies.”) But every one of these claims and assertions has one thing in common — a familiar ring to it from the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. This is especially true, of course, of the various charges about Iran’s nuclear program (which Cole also handles superbly).</p>
<p>When it comes to Iranian WMDs, no serious analyst claims that the country could possibly produce a nuclear weapon for, at best, years; yet at this moment we find ourselves in a crisis leading, many signs indicate, to the possible launching of a massive “preventive” American air attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, some in heavily populated urban areas, and undoubtedly Iranian air defenses as well, later this year or early in 2007. For those in the media who claim that the U.S. military is too overstretched for such a campaign, think again. This is true only of the Army, which probably would not be used. Despite a <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/14098141.htm" type="external">recent upsurge</a> in air attacks in Iraq, the Air Force and especially the Navy are quite underutilized right now and reputedly raring to show their stuff. On the other hand, unlike Iraq, which was in 2003 a toothless, fifth rate power incapable of harming Americans, the Iranians do have a multitude of ways of striking back — including at the 130,000 American troops just across the border in tumultuous Iraq.</p>
<p>When it comes to the Iranian nuclear program in particular, the Bush administration has been nothing short of brilliant in connecting only those dots that put it in the worst possible light, while isolating it from every other nuclear program on Earth, from what Jonathan Schell has dubbed our global <a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20030303/schell/5" type="external">“atomic archipelago.”</a> At this, top administration officials continue to prove themselves unbelievably competent; in part because, without those Downie-esque “broad topics” to cover, the press — with rare honorable exceptions like a recent Peter Baker and Glenn Kessler Post piece, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/12/AR2006031201016_pf.html" type="external">U.S. Campaign Is Aimed at Iran’s Leaders</a> — has proved so abysmally incompetent in creating more reasonable patterns on its own.</p>
<p>But let’s, for a moment, imagine a Washington Post reporter taken from the South Asia bureau and assigned to an overarching global nuclear beat. Let’s imagine that he or she started with India, a country which, unlike Iran, would be in thorough violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), had it ever signed on. With a major military program and now nuclear-armed, it has come to the brink of nuclear war more than once with its nuclear-armed neighbor Pakistan. Our President, of course, just visited India and offered it a non-proliferation-whacking sweetheart deal on nuclear fuel and technology. Next door, of course, is nuclear-armed Pakistan, a shaky military regime and U.S. ally that has lost control of some of its border regions to the Taliban, elements of al Qaeda, and a growing fundamentalist opposition which, should it ever come to power, would find itself instantly in possession of a full-scale nuclear arsenal.</p>
<p>Skip Afghanistan (nothing but warlords and opium) and you’ve made it to Iran, whose nuclear program, begun with American help back in the days of the Shah and continued with secret aid from our ally Pakistan, is now in question. Then jump over to Israel, which, like India, has never signed on to the NPT and possesses (but refuses to publicly acknowledge) a near-civilization busting arsenal of 200-300 nuclear weapons. You can read the American press for months at a time without the slightest mention of the <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=1005" type="external">Israeli nuclear arsenal</a>, though the as-yet-nonexistent Irani dominates the front-page day after day.</p>
<p>Finally, that Post reporter might take a glance at the country charging Iran with nuclear crimes worthy of a future full-scale assault, the U.S. (You can also hunt our press practically in vain for any discussion of the Iranian nuclear “arsenal” in the context of the American one.) In fact, the Bush administration has been intent on expanding and “modernizing” our already staggering nuclear arsenal of almost 10,000 weapons, while putting new nuclear weapons on the drawing board and dreaming about how to use “tactical nukes” in future “rogue wars” against countries like Iran. Meanwhile, the Soviet arsenal decays and the relatively small Chinese one remains fairly stagnant. According to scholars Keir A. Lieber and Daryl G. Press in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs magazine (“The Rise of U.S. Nuclear Primacy”), the administration has by now come close to achieving a Cold War dream state: nuclear dominance. “Today, for the first time in almost 50 years,” they write, “the United States stands on the verge of attaining nuclear primacy. It will probably soon be possible for the United States to destroy the long-range nuclear arsenals of Russia or China with a first strike.” When you try to connect a few of these dots, a possible future Iranian “bomb,” while still unpalatable, takes on a somewhat different look and you have to wonder about the administration’s threats of war.</p>
<p>Or let’s imagine a reporter from some other downsizing newspaper being pulled from the disappearing Paris bureau and given the History-of-the-Bush Administration-in-the-Middle-East archival beat. Might not that broad-topic journalist pull together the déjà-vu-all-over-again aspect of our present Iran build-up and, connecting just a few dots, make something of it? In fact, Robert Dreyfuss has already done this chillingly <a href="http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/03/14/deja_vu_all_over_iran.php" type="external">at Tompaine.com</a>, pointing out everything from the “brand-new Office of Iranian Affairs at the State Department, which looks suspiciously like a step toward creating the Iraq war planning office at the Pentagon called the Office of Special Plans” to the Chalabi-like Iranian exiles gathering in Washington and the new talk of a “coalition of the willing.”</p>
<p>That former Paris bureau reporter might even have noticed a déjà vu that Dreyfuss missed: These days, as in the run-up to the Iraq war, there is much connect-the-dots analysis (and some reporting)that steps outside the administration-defined Iranian box, but it’s almost all on the Internet, and so, as in 2002-03, when it comes to Iran, most Americans see little of it. (Just to offer a few examples in addition to Cole and Dreyfuss, there was Ira Chernus at <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0313-35.htm" type="external">Commondreams.org</a>, writing on Dubai as an administration “home base” for a new cold war against Iran; Ian Williams at the invaluable Asia Times on-line, considering the <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC15Ak01.html" type="external">“slippery slope”</a> to war; Ehsan Ahrari, also at <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC10Ak04.html" type="external">Asia Times</a>, on “Iran’s turn for a ‘coalition of the willing'”; and Tom Porteous at <a href="http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/03/13/its_regime_change_again.php" type="external">Tompaine.com</a> on the return of “regime change.”)</p>
<p>It’s an indication of the administration’s success in driving the media before it and making its Iran agenda our agenda that, in a recent poll (as Inter Press Service reporter <a href="http://antiwar.com/lobe/?articleid=8526" type="external">Jim Lobe</a> pointed out), “Some 27% of respondents cite Iran as Washington’s greatest menace — three times the percentage who ranked it at the top of foreign threats just four months ago.” A recent Zogby poll revealed that, while surprising numbers of Americans are now thoroughly sick of George Bush’s war in Iraq, 47% of Americans nonetheless favor some kind of military action, “preferably along with European allies, to halt Iran’s nuclear program.”</p>
<p>Call it connecting the dots — yet again — Bush-administration style. It’s sobering that the media learned so little from the last major round of this back in 2002-2003 and is reporting the Iran crisis only within the bounds of what the administration cares to have debated, while Bush, Cheney, and associates let the UN process on Iran play itself out over the coming months and prepare (possibly along with <a href="http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC07.php?CID=287" type="external">the Israelis</a>) for a major military strike that could lead the planet into energy (and economic) chaos.</p>
<p>The Irrationality Factor</p>
<p>If this administration’s top officials have proven to be dreamers on a planetary scale and immensely competent at setting the terms for debate in this country, they are in so many other ways utter incompetents. If we want to use that increasingly common term for them, however, we have to think a little about what it really means. At the most basic level, inside their bubble world these insular beings and their remarkably insulated President undoubtedly believe that they are ready to correct for errors and apply lessons learned in Iraq to the Iran crisis, but there is one lesson they are guaranteed not to have learned, the simplest but most difficult one of all: Know thyself.</p>
<p>In fact, their inability to gain any perspective on themselves guarantees their dangerous incompetence in the Iran crisis to come. Imagine, for instance, that their second leading diplomat, UN ambassador John Bolton, recently offered this assessment of the prospect of negotiations with Iran: “I don’t think we have anything to say to the Iranians.” His statement — and it could be multiplied by so many others from Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and associates — represents one aspect of their incompetence: hubris (or call it arrogance). To that should be added a profound belief — on this they are the ultimate fundamentalists — in preponderant American power, especially in its military guise, as well as in their ability to wield it with precision and invariably to their advantage.</p>
<p>Throw in the fact that they are not only the greatest gamblers in our history, but also control freaks of the first order, and you already have a combustible meld of “incompetence” factors. If they do move against Iran, they will surely be blinded by their arrogance, overly impressed by the power they think they wield, and ridiculously sure of the plans they have made for various contingencies to come.</p>
<p>And yet the single thing that can be guaranteed about any air assault on Iran is that, whatever anybody’s plans may be, events will quickly spin out of control — and that they will then be stunned and unprepared to deal. The result will be the “incompetence” for which they are already well known as well as disaster for us all.</p>
<p>At least one more factor should be added to the mix: irrationality. This is not a word we usually associate with the United States government. It’s the sort of term normally left for Arabs who are, of course, known to be overemotional, closer to those more primitive, “tribal” emotions, and consequently deeply irrational. (In the American context, by the way, Iranians should be thought of as Arabs, even though they aren’t.) Whatever our flaws and mistakes, we tend to assume that we are <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/" type="external">civilized</a> and reasonably rational. This is why we don’t worry enormously about our own singular nuclear arsenal. We know that, unlike the many revenge-bound, irrational, rogue regimes out there, not even the Bush administration would, in the end, use such weapons — even though, of course, the U.S. is the only country to do so to date.</p>
<p>While the Bush administration may have incredibly destructive military powers at its command, it’s worth remembering that its officials are anything but supermen and women. Don’t imagine them simply as Machiavellian manipulators of the rest of us. They are instead blunderers like the rest of us — only more so. We already know from reports seeping out of Washington that the administration is <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-10889-2071918-10889,00.html" type="external">“riven by divisions”</a> over, and <a href="http://tonykaron.com/2006/03/16/a-self-defeating-iran-strategy/" type="external">confusions about</a>, its Iran policy. The box its officials have been intent on creating to lock in the international community, the Iranians, and the American public may, sooner or later, come to feel like a kind of prison to them as well from which the only release, many months down the line, could appear to involve the mad act of pulling the superpower trigger. In other words, they may find themselves backed into a corner of their own making.</p>
<p>What we face, in fact, are two fundamentalist regimes, American and Iranian — each in the process of overestimating the hand it is playing; each underestimating its enemy; each in the grip of a different kind of irrationality. It’s a frighteningly combustible mix. All those people who believe that the administration’s Iran approach is just so much saber-rattling and bluster, part of a reasonably rational plan to create bargaining chips, or force the Iranians to the table on more favorable terms, should divest themselves of such fantasies. We are on the path to madness, which also happens to be the path to $100 a barrel oil and possibly some kind of economic meltdown. Then again, dreams of riches have often gone hand-in-hand with madness. Why not now?</p>
<p>[Note to readers: Let me recommend <a href="http://www.bu.edu/globalbeat/" type="external">The Global Beat</a>, a website which I mined heavily for this piece (as I often do). A project of Boston University, it is compiled by Tony Karon of Time magazine and bills itself as offering “resources for the global journalist.” You don’t have to be a journalist or even a student of journalism, however, to benefit from its superb once-a-week run-downs of crucial news articles on and analyses of foreign-policy crisis points (with extremely useful links). Check it out and take a look as well at Karon’s always fascinating, periodically updated blog, <a href="http://www.tonykaron.com/" type="external">Rootless Cosmopolitan</a>.]</p>
<p>Tom Engelhardt, who runs the Nation Institute’s Tomdispatch.com (“a regular antidote to the mainstream media”), is the co-founder of <a href="http://www.americanempireproject.com/" type="external">the American Empire Project</a> and the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558491333/nationbooks08" type="external">The End of Victory Culture</a>, a history of American triumphalism in the Cold War. His novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558495061/nationbooks08" type="external">The Last Days of Publishing</a>, has recently come out in paperback.</p>
<p>Copyright 2006 Tom Engelhardt</p>
<p>This article appeared first at <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com" type="external">Tomdispatch.com</a>.</p>
<p /> | Iran and the Irrationality Factor | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2006/03/iran-and-irrationality-factor/ | 2006-03-20 | 4left
| Iran and the Irrationality Factor
<p />
<p>As readers flee news on the printed page for an on-line life and classified ads head out the door for Craigslist and points west, the Washington Post became just the latest major newspaper to announce significant staff cuts. With fourth-quarter revenue down 3% from the previous year, eighty jobs — 9% of the Post’s newsroom –- are to be shed in the next twelve months. According to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/business/media/11post.html?_r=1&amp;oref=slogin&amp;pagewanted=print" type="external">the New York Times</a>, Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie, Jr. “said other cost savings could come from having foreign correspondents cover broad topics — terrorism, say — rather than cover specific countries, thus allowing for the elimination of some [Post] foreign bureaus.”</p>
<p>This, of course, is the route that the TV news followed long ago, shedding foreign bureaus like so much flaky skin. Anyone who loves his or her daily dose of news in print should be dismayed at the thought of news bureaus abroad closing. It’s just another way in which American isolation is likely to increase, as our bubble world, so prized by the Bush administration, continues to morph into something more permanent.</p>
<p>On the brighter side, though, assigning more reporters to “broad topics” might have an unexpectedly salutary effect. After all, one of the strangest aspects of the news in the Bush years has been its unwillingness to connect regional or global dots. In most cases, foreign reporting has consisted of stories about only one country (at most two) at a time.</p>
<p>Not so long ago, we lived in a world that the media regularly told us was being connected in ever more complex ways — think of all that reporting on globalization in the 1990s. But for the last several years, “just disconnect” might have been the reigning news motto. If you read about the Iraq War, you get Iraq, and generally little else. No Turkey, no Israel, few Syrians, no Saudis, nor Egyptians. Reports on our little Afghan war give you Afghanistan, but certainly nothing about the fighters that, according to Syed Saleem Shahzad of <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HC15Df03.html" type="external">Asia Times on-line</a>, the resurgent Taliban, based in Pakistani border areas, has been sending to Iraq for training in the new ways of guerrilla warfare. (Think: IEDs and car bombs.) You would never know from stories in the American press that Iran bordered Afghanistan, or that both India and Russia have complex interests and connections there. And forget about the ‘Stans of Central Asia.) Why exactly this has been so, I leave others to analyze. That it has left our major papers strangely demobilized when it comes to offering us a picture of our world and so in an unequal contest with the Bush administration is hard to deny.</p>
<p>After all, the administration’s top officials have had a vision of American geopolitical dominance that has been nothing if not grandly global in nature. In their version of the Great Game, they seldom even bother to deal with one country at a time — often, as in Iraq, to their detriment. It wasn’t by happenstance that they named their “war” of choice the Global War on Terror (GWOT) or that they regularly label the Iraq War <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=65191" type="external">not a war at all</a> but a “theater” in their GWOT. In military, political, or energy terms, they have never hesitated to <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=2144" type="external">connect the dots</a> in a vast region they once termed the “arc of instability” — basically, the planet’s oil heartlands — into patterns of imperial dominance.</p>
<p>Where newspaper reporting saw individual countries that happened to have enormous oil or natural gas reserves, this administration has, from the beginning, seen global energy flows. In many ways, Bush’s top officials seemed to recognize no traditional boundaries at all. No wonder they were surprised by an insurgency largely based on gut feelings about national sovereignty.</p>
<p>As we now know, they hit Iraq running in March 2003. They were determined to make it to Baghdad <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/13/international/middleeast/13command.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fInternational%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fIraq&amp;pagewanted=print" type="external">without looking back</a>; leave their prize Iraqi, Ahmed Chalabi, in charge; and turn their attention elsewhere, especially to Syria and Iran. When it came to those two countries, they were ready to connect the dots in person and, if need be, by force of arms. They thought they could make “regime change” a regional, and then global, way of life.</p>
<p>Okay, it didn’t quite work out. Instead, they ran into a three-year-going-on-endless roadblock. But they’ve never stopped thinking in these terms. The invasion of Iraq was a stunning gamble. There’s no reason to believe that, in a pinch, an administration still made up of many of the same figures wouldn’t take another.</p>
<p>Bush administration planners framed that initial gamble brilliantly, in part by moving assertively into the vacuum of non-connection that was then our mainstream media. With their own propaganda organs like Fox News and right-wing talk radio in tow, they began to connect the dots as they pleased and very publicly. There were those lines drawn between, say, the 9/11 attackers and Saddam Hussein, or weapons of mass destruction and an Axis of Evil, or Saddam’s supposed WMD arsenal, African “yellowcake” uranium, and possible future <a href="http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/08/iraq.debate/" type="external">mushroom clouds</a> rising over American cities — but this part of the story you all remember well. In doing so, they largely determined the limits of, and nature of, what “debate” there was in our media from September 12, 2001 to March 20, 2003.</p>
<p>Déjà Vu All Over Again in Ira…</p>
<p>They were of course ascendant in that period, which would seem to explain a lot. But here’s the strange thing: The Bush administration is now in the dumps and the President’s ratings again heading for something <a href="http://www.pollkatz.homestead.com/wp-content/uploads/pollkatzmainGRAPHICS_8911_image001.gif" type="external">like freefall</a>. The latest <a href="http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060315-051944-5810r" type="external">Pew poll</a> gives him a 33% approval rating, leaving him heading for depths of unpopularity previously reached only by Richard Nixon in his pre-Watergate moment. And that’s not the worst of it. The President’s strongest suit, handling terror, has plummeted as well to 42%, an 11 point drop since January; while his once cherished trustworthiness sits at a paltry 40%. In the most recent <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060316/pl_afp/usiraqbushpoll_060316142538" type="external">Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll</a>, Americans say they “prefer Democratic control of Congress after the mid-term elections” by a 50-37% margin; and, perhaps more strikingly, “a congressional candidate urging the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq within a year would gain favor by a 50-35 percent margin, while one advocating staying ‘as long as necessary’ would lose favor by 43-39 percent.” And it’s not as if matters are going peachily elsewhere either. In Iraq, for instance, everything seems to be plummeting (except civilian death tolls) — and that includes, for instance, <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Iraq_Powerless.html" type="external">electricity</a> availability and <a href="http://today.reuters.com/misc/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=reutersEdge&amp;storyID=uri:2006-03-14T135434Z_01_L14264883_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-IRAQ-CORRUPTION.xml" type="external">oil production</a>.</p>
<p>And yet, give this administration credit. By connecting those dots (while the media generally doesn’t), they have been able, despite their position of increasing weakness, to continue to frame, and so drive, the debate, such as it is, in this country. Under the circumstances, this is nothing short of miraculous — the latest example being the way they have both escalated and contextualized the nuclear crisis with Iran (with a goodly helping hand from that country’s fundamentalist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) simply by following — almost without contradiction in the press — a well-trodden Iraqi path.</p>
<p>On a visit to Washington recently, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, remembering the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC10Ak04.html" type="external">commented</a>: “It looks so déjà vu, you know. I don’t believe we should engage in something which might become self-fulfilling prophecy.”</p>
<p>What’s déjà vu, of course, is the way the administration has been assertively connecting its chosen Iranian dots to other dots of its choice. In the first of a new wave of <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060313-3.html" type="external">Iraq speeches</a> (before the <a href="http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031406F.shtml" type="external">hawkish Foundation</a> for the Defense of Democracies), the President spoke of how the Iranians were sending the makings for advanced IEDs (roadside explosives) into Iraq to kill Americans. (“Some of the most powerful IEDs we’re seeing in Iraq today includes components that came from Iran. Our Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, told the Congress, ‘Tehran has been responsible for at least some of the increasing lethality of anti-coalition attacks by providing Shia militia with the capability to build improvised explosive devises’ in Iraq.) Secretary of Defense <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC10Ak04.html" type="external">Donald Rumsfeld</a> accused the Iranians of “dispatching the Al-Quds Division of its Revolutionary Guard to ‘stir trouble inside Iraq.'” <a href="http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2006/Mar/10-930103.html" type="external">Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice</a> declared Iran the “central banker for terrorism” in the Middle East as well as the single most dangerous threat to the United States on the planet. And just last week, the administration released its latest version of the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/" type="external">U.S. National Security Strategy</a>, reiterating its belief in “preventive war,” threatening a future Iran/U.S. “confrontation,” and ramping up that relatively impoverished, fractious, mid-sized regional power with enormous oil and natural gas reserves, into a near Cold War-level public enemy number one. Its key line was, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/sectionV.html" type="external">“We may face</a> no greater challenge from a single country than from Iran,” and Secretary of State Rice began running with it instantly.</p>
<p>Every one of these statements, as well as a drumbeat of others in recent weeks, is at best questionable; a number like the IED charges are probably ludicrous. (For those wanting to understand why, don’t miss Juan Cole’s recent piece at <a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20060313_fishing_for_a_pretext_in_iran/" type="external">Truthdig.com</a>in which he writes, “The guerrillas in Iraq are militant Sunnis who hate Shiites, and it is wholly implausible that the Iranian regime would supply bombs to the enemies of its Iraqi allies.”) But every one of these claims and assertions has one thing in common — a familiar ring to it from the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. This is especially true, of course, of the various charges about Iran’s nuclear program (which Cole also handles superbly).</p>
<p>When it comes to Iranian WMDs, no serious analyst claims that the country could possibly produce a nuclear weapon for, at best, years; yet at this moment we find ourselves in a crisis leading, many signs indicate, to the possible launching of a massive “preventive” American air attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, some in heavily populated urban areas, and undoubtedly Iranian air defenses as well, later this year or early in 2007. For those in the media who claim that the U.S. military is too overstretched for such a campaign, think again. This is true only of the Army, which probably would not be used. Despite a <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/14098141.htm" type="external">recent upsurge</a> in air attacks in Iraq, the Air Force and especially the Navy are quite underutilized right now and reputedly raring to show their stuff. On the other hand, unlike Iraq, which was in 2003 a toothless, fifth rate power incapable of harming Americans, the Iranians do have a multitude of ways of striking back — including at the 130,000 American troops just across the border in tumultuous Iraq.</p>
<p>When it comes to the Iranian nuclear program in particular, the Bush administration has been nothing short of brilliant in connecting only those dots that put it in the worst possible light, while isolating it from every other nuclear program on Earth, from what Jonathan Schell has dubbed our global <a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20030303/schell/5" type="external">“atomic archipelago.”</a> At this, top administration officials continue to prove themselves unbelievably competent; in part because, without those Downie-esque “broad topics” to cover, the press — with rare honorable exceptions like a recent Peter Baker and Glenn Kessler Post piece, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/12/AR2006031201016_pf.html" type="external">U.S. Campaign Is Aimed at Iran’s Leaders</a> — has proved so abysmally incompetent in creating more reasonable patterns on its own.</p>
<p>But let’s, for a moment, imagine a Washington Post reporter taken from the South Asia bureau and assigned to an overarching global nuclear beat. Let’s imagine that he or she started with India, a country which, unlike Iran, would be in thorough violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), had it ever signed on. With a major military program and now nuclear-armed, it has come to the brink of nuclear war more than once with its nuclear-armed neighbor Pakistan. Our President, of course, just visited India and offered it a non-proliferation-whacking sweetheart deal on nuclear fuel and technology. Next door, of course, is nuclear-armed Pakistan, a shaky military regime and U.S. ally that has lost control of some of its border regions to the Taliban, elements of al Qaeda, and a growing fundamentalist opposition which, should it ever come to power, would find itself instantly in possession of a full-scale nuclear arsenal.</p>
<p>Skip Afghanistan (nothing but warlords and opium) and you’ve made it to Iran, whose nuclear program, begun with American help back in the days of the Shah and continued with secret aid from our ally Pakistan, is now in question. Then jump over to Israel, which, like India, has never signed on to the NPT and possesses (but refuses to publicly acknowledge) a near-civilization busting arsenal of 200-300 nuclear weapons. You can read the American press for months at a time without the slightest mention of the <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=1005" type="external">Israeli nuclear arsenal</a>, though the as-yet-nonexistent Irani dominates the front-page day after day.</p>
<p>Finally, that Post reporter might take a glance at the country charging Iran with nuclear crimes worthy of a future full-scale assault, the U.S. (You can also hunt our press practically in vain for any discussion of the Iranian nuclear “arsenal” in the context of the American one.) In fact, the Bush administration has been intent on expanding and “modernizing” our already staggering nuclear arsenal of almost 10,000 weapons, while putting new nuclear weapons on the drawing board and dreaming about how to use “tactical nukes” in future “rogue wars” against countries like Iran. Meanwhile, the Soviet arsenal decays and the relatively small Chinese one remains fairly stagnant. According to scholars Keir A. Lieber and Daryl G. Press in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs magazine (“The Rise of U.S. Nuclear Primacy”), the administration has by now come close to achieving a Cold War dream state: nuclear dominance. “Today, for the first time in almost 50 years,” they write, “the United States stands on the verge of attaining nuclear primacy. It will probably soon be possible for the United States to destroy the long-range nuclear arsenals of Russia or China with a first strike.” When you try to connect a few of these dots, a possible future Iranian “bomb,” while still unpalatable, takes on a somewhat different look and you have to wonder about the administration’s threats of war.</p>
<p>Or let’s imagine a reporter from some other downsizing newspaper being pulled from the disappearing Paris bureau and given the History-of-the-Bush Administration-in-the-Middle-East archival beat. Might not that broad-topic journalist pull together the déjà-vu-all-over-again aspect of our present Iran build-up and, connecting just a few dots, make something of it? In fact, Robert Dreyfuss has already done this chillingly <a href="http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/03/14/deja_vu_all_over_iran.php" type="external">at Tompaine.com</a>, pointing out everything from the “brand-new Office of Iranian Affairs at the State Department, which looks suspiciously like a step toward creating the Iraq war planning office at the Pentagon called the Office of Special Plans” to the Chalabi-like Iranian exiles gathering in Washington and the new talk of a “coalition of the willing.”</p>
<p>That former Paris bureau reporter might even have noticed a déjà vu that Dreyfuss missed: These days, as in the run-up to the Iraq war, there is much connect-the-dots analysis (and some reporting)that steps outside the administration-defined Iranian box, but it’s almost all on the Internet, and so, as in 2002-03, when it comes to Iran, most Americans see little of it. (Just to offer a few examples in addition to Cole and Dreyfuss, there was Ira Chernus at <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0313-35.htm" type="external">Commondreams.org</a>, writing on Dubai as an administration “home base” for a new cold war against Iran; Ian Williams at the invaluable Asia Times on-line, considering the <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC15Ak01.html" type="external">“slippery slope”</a> to war; Ehsan Ahrari, also at <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC10Ak04.html" type="external">Asia Times</a>, on “Iran’s turn for a ‘coalition of the willing'”; and Tom Porteous at <a href="http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/03/13/its_regime_change_again.php" type="external">Tompaine.com</a> on the return of “regime change.”)</p>
<p>It’s an indication of the administration’s success in driving the media before it and making its Iran agenda our agenda that, in a recent poll (as Inter Press Service reporter <a href="http://antiwar.com/lobe/?articleid=8526" type="external">Jim Lobe</a> pointed out), “Some 27% of respondents cite Iran as Washington’s greatest menace — three times the percentage who ranked it at the top of foreign threats just four months ago.” A recent Zogby poll revealed that, while surprising numbers of Americans are now thoroughly sick of George Bush’s war in Iraq, 47% of Americans nonetheless favor some kind of military action, “preferably along with European allies, to halt Iran’s nuclear program.”</p>
<p>Call it connecting the dots — yet again — Bush-administration style. It’s sobering that the media learned so little from the last major round of this back in 2002-2003 and is reporting the Iran crisis only within the bounds of what the administration cares to have debated, while Bush, Cheney, and associates let the UN process on Iran play itself out over the coming months and prepare (possibly along with <a href="http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC07.php?CID=287" type="external">the Israelis</a>) for a major military strike that could lead the planet into energy (and economic) chaos.</p>
<p>The Irrationality Factor</p>
<p>If this administration’s top officials have proven to be dreamers on a planetary scale and immensely competent at setting the terms for debate in this country, they are in so many other ways utter incompetents. If we want to use that increasingly common term for them, however, we have to think a little about what it really means. At the most basic level, inside their bubble world these insular beings and their remarkably insulated President undoubtedly believe that they are ready to correct for errors and apply lessons learned in Iraq to the Iran crisis, but there is one lesson they are guaranteed not to have learned, the simplest but most difficult one of all: Know thyself.</p>
<p>In fact, their inability to gain any perspective on themselves guarantees their dangerous incompetence in the Iran crisis to come. Imagine, for instance, that their second leading diplomat, UN ambassador John Bolton, recently offered this assessment of the prospect of negotiations with Iran: “I don’t think we have anything to say to the Iranians.” His statement — and it could be multiplied by so many others from Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and associates — represents one aspect of their incompetence: hubris (or call it arrogance). To that should be added a profound belief — on this they are the ultimate fundamentalists — in preponderant American power, especially in its military guise, as well as in their ability to wield it with precision and invariably to their advantage.</p>
<p>Throw in the fact that they are not only the greatest gamblers in our history, but also control freaks of the first order, and you already have a combustible meld of “incompetence” factors. If they do move against Iran, they will surely be blinded by their arrogance, overly impressed by the power they think they wield, and ridiculously sure of the plans they have made for various contingencies to come.</p>
<p>And yet the single thing that can be guaranteed about any air assault on Iran is that, whatever anybody’s plans may be, events will quickly spin out of control — and that they will then be stunned and unprepared to deal. The result will be the “incompetence” for which they are already well known as well as disaster for us all.</p>
<p>At least one more factor should be added to the mix: irrationality. This is not a word we usually associate with the United States government. It’s the sort of term normally left for Arabs who are, of course, known to be overemotional, closer to those more primitive, “tribal” emotions, and consequently deeply irrational. (In the American context, by the way, Iranians should be thought of as Arabs, even though they aren’t.) Whatever our flaws and mistakes, we tend to assume that we are <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/" type="external">civilized</a> and reasonably rational. This is why we don’t worry enormously about our own singular nuclear arsenal. We know that, unlike the many revenge-bound, irrational, rogue regimes out there, not even the Bush administration would, in the end, use such weapons — even though, of course, the U.S. is the only country to do so to date.</p>
<p>While the Bush administration may have incredibly destructive military powers at its command, it’s worth remembering that its officials are anything but supermen and women. Don’t imagine them simply as Machiavellian manipulators of the rest of us. They are instead blunderers like the rest of us — only more so. We already know from reports seeping out of Washington that the administration is <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-10889-2071918-10889,00.html" type="external">“riven by divisions”</a> over, and <a href="http://tonykaron.com/2006/03/16/a-self-defeating-iran-strategy/" type="external">confusions about</a>, its Iran policy. The box its officials have been intent on creating to lock in the international community, the Iranians, and the American public may, sooner or later, come to feel like a kind of prison to them as well from which the only release, many months down the line, could appear to involve the mad act of pulling the superpower trigger. In other words, they may find themselves backed into a corner of their own making.</p>
<p>What we face, in fact, are two fundamentalist regimes, American and Iranian — each in the process of overestimating the hand it is playing; each underestimating its enemy; each in the grip of a different kind of irrationality. It’s a frighteningly combustible mix. All those people who believe that the administration’s Iran approach is just so much saber-rattling and bluster, part of a reasonably rational plan to create bargaining chips, or force the Iranians to the table on more favorable terms, should divest themselves of such fantasies. We are on the path to madness, which also happens to be the path to $100 a barrel oil and possibly some kind of economic meltdown. Then again, dreams of riches have often gone hand-in-hand with madness. Why not now?</p>
<p>[Note to readers: Let me recommend <a href="http://www.bu.edu/globalbeat/" type="external">The Global Beat</a>, a website which I mined heavily for this piece (as I often do). A project of Boston University, it is compiled by Tony Karon of Time magazine and bills itself as offering “resources for the global journalist.” You don’t have to be a journalist or even a student of journalism, however, to benefit from its superb once-a-week run-downs of crucial news articles on and analyses of foreign-policy crisis points (with extremely useful links). Check it out and take a look as well at Karon’s always fascinating, periodically updated blog, <a href="http://www.tonykaron.com/" type="external">Rootless Cosmopolitan</a>.]</p>
<p>Tom Engelhardt, who runs the Nation Institute’s Tomdispatch.com (“a regular antidote to the mainstream media”), is the co-founder of <a href="http://www.americanempireproject.com/" type="external">the American Empire Project</a> and the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558491333/nationbooks08" type="external">The End of Victory Culture</a>, a history of American triumphalism in the Cold War. His novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558495061/nationbooks08" type="external">The Last Days of Publishing</a>, has recently come out in paperback.</p>
<p>Copyright 2006 Tom Engelhardt</p>
<p>This article appeared first at <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com" type="external">Tomdispatch.com</a>.</p>
<p /> | 598,964 |
<p>Omaha World-Herald "The media are doing what they're supposed to do," says Gallup international polling director Richard Burkholder, who recently returned from Baghdad. "There's a shooting, there's a killing -- those are all valid stories. As somebody said the other day, if the power comes back on and stays on, that's not a story, that's something returning to normal."</p> | Gallup rep: U.S. media aren't misrepresenting reality in Iraq | false | https://poynter.org/news/gallup-rep-us-media-arent-misrepresenting-reality-iraq | 2003-10-23 | 2least
| Gallup rep: U.S. media aren't misrepresenting reality in Iraq
<p>Omaha World-Herald "The media are doing what they're supposed to do," says Gallup international polling director Richard Burkholder, who recently returned from Baghdad. "There's a shooting, there's a killing -- those are all valid stories. As somebody said the other day, if the power comes back on and stays on, that's not a story, that's something returning to normal."</p> | 598,965 |
<p>JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A U.S. Navy destroyer damaged in a June collision that killed seven sailors is expected to arrive at a Mississippi shipyard Friday.</p>
<p>Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula announced the USS Fitzgerald's arrival Thursday, inviting area residents to wave flags as the ship is carried up the Pascagoula River aboard a transport ship.</p>
<p>Colleen O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command, which is overseeing the Fitzgerald's repair, wrote in an email Thursday that the Navy will have more information once the ship arrives.</p>
<p>The ship's arrival comes only days after the <a href="" type="internal">Navy announced Tuesday</a> that it was seeking negligent homicide charges against four officers of the Fitzgerald at the time of the collision, including the then-commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson. A hearing has not yet been held to determine whether there's enough evidence for those and other charges to go to a trial by court-martial. Other charges could include dereliction of duty and endangering a ship.</p>
<p>The June 17 collision with a Philippine-flagged container ship off Japan caved in parts of the Fitzgerald above and below the waterline. Water gushed into berthing compartments, killing the sailors. Its hull was punctured twice more in November as it was loaded aboard a transport ship. The transport ship sailed Dec. 9.</p>
<p>Ingalls, a unit of Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries, was chosen by the Navy to repair the ship in August and awarded an initial <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1398382/" type="external">$63 million contract</a> in December.</p>
<p>The Navy said it chose Ingalls because it determined that it was the only shipyard that builds destroyers and also has available capacity to fix the damage. Only Ingalls and the Bath Iron Works unit of General Dynamics Corp. in Maine build American destroyers.</p>
<p>The Navy has said it will use the opportunity to modernize the Fitzgerald, which was built in 1995 at Bath and had been scheduled for an overhaul in the 2019 budget year. Repairs are likely to cost far more than the initial $63 million, which covers ripping out damaged areas.</p>
<p>The Navy conducted a series of investigations and reviews into the collision involving the Fitzgerald and a second collision between the USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker near Singapore in August, which killed 10 U.S. sailors,</p>
<p>Those reviews concluded that the incidents resulted from poor judgment, bad decision-making and widespread training and leadership failures by the commanders and crew who didn't quickly recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies. The Navy also seeks charges against the commanding officer of the John S. McCain.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jeff Amy at: <a href="http://twitter.com/jeffamy" type="external">http://twitter.com/jeffamy</a> . Read his work at <a href="" type="internal">https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy</a> .</p>
<p>JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A U.S. Navy destroyer damaged in a June collision that killed seven sailors is expected to arrive at a Mississippi shipyard Friday.</p>
<p>Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula announced the USS Fitzgerald's arrival Thursday, inviting area residents to wave flags as the ship is carried up the Pascagoula River aboard a transport ship.</p>
<p>Colleen O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command, which is overseeing the Fitzgerald's repair, wrote in an email Thursday that the Navy will have more information once the ship arrives.</p>
<p>The ship's arrival comes only days after the <a href="" type="internal">Navy announced Tuesday</a> that it was seeking negligent homicide charges against four officers of the Fitzgerald at the time of the collision, including the then-commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson. A hearing has not yet been held to determine whether there's enough evidence for those and other charges to go to a trial by court-martial. Other charges could include dereliction of duty and endangering a ship.</p>
<p>The June 17 collision with a Philippine-flagged container ship off Japan caved in parts of the Fitzgerald above and below the waterline. Water gushed into berthing compartments, killing the sailors. Its hull was punctured twice more in November as it was loaded aboard a transport ship. The transport ship sailed Dec. 9.</p>
<p>Ingalls, a unit of Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries, was chosen by the Navy to repair the ship in August and awarded an initial <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1398382/" type="external">$63 million contract</a> in December.</p>
<p>The Navy said it chose Ingalls because it determined that it was the only shipyard that builds destroyers and also has available capacity to fix the damage. Only Ingalls and the Bath Iron Works unit of General Dynamics Corp. in Maine build American destroyers.</p>
<p>The Navy has said it will use the opportunity to modernize the Fitzgerald, which was built in 1995 at Bath and had been scheduled for an overhaul in the 2019 budget year. Repairs are likely to cost far more than the initial $63 million, which covers ripping out damaged areas.</p>
<p>The Navy conducted a series of investigations and reviews into the collision involving the Fitzgerald and a second collision between the USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker near Singapore in August, which killed 10 U.S. sailors,</p>
<p>Those reviews concluded that the incidents resulted from poor judgment, bad decision-making and widespread training and leadership failures by the commanders and crew who didn't quickly recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies. The Navy also seeks charges against the commanding officer of the John S. McCain.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jeff Amy at: <a href="http://twitter.com/jeffamy" type="external">http://twitter.com/jeffamy</a> . Read his work at <a href="" type="internal">https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy</a> .</p> | Damaged Navy ship to arrive Friday at Mississippi shipyard | false | https://apnews.com/amp/02849aeabaf540b7aad947dd92debae3 | 2018-01-18 | 2least
| Damaged Navy ship to arrive Friday at Mississippi shipyard
<p>JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A U.S. Navy destroyer damaged in a June collision that killed seven sailors is expected to arrive at a Mississippi shipyard Friday.</p>
<p>Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula announced the USS Fitzgerald's arrival Thursday, inviting area residents to wave flags as the ship is carried up the Pascagoula River aboard a transport ship.</p>
<p>Colleen O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command, which is overseeing the Fitzgerald's repair, wrote in an email Thursday that the Navy will have more information once the ship arrives.</p>
<p>The ship's arrival comes only days after the <a href="" type="internal">Navy announced Tuesday</a> that it was seeking negligent homicide charges against four officers of the Fitzgerald at the time of the collision, including the then-commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson. A hearing has not yet been held to determine whether there's enough evidence for those and other charges to go to a trial by court-martial. Other charges could include dereliction of duty and endangering a ship.</p>
<p>The June 17 collision with a Philippine-flagged container ship off Japan caved in parts of the Fitzgerald above and below the waterline. Water gushed into berthing compartments, killing the sailors. Its hull was punctured twice more in November as it was loaded aboard a transport ship. The transport ship sailed Dec. 9.</p>
<p>Ingalls, a unit of Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries, was chosen by the Navy to repair the ship in August and awarded an initial <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1398382/" type="external">$63 million contract</a> in December.</p>
<p>The Navy said it chose Ingalls because it determined that it was the only shipyard that builds destroyers and also has available capacity to fix the damage. Only Ingalls and the Bath Iron Works unit of General Dynamics Corp. in Maine build American destroyers.</p>
<p>The Navy has said it will use the opportunity to modernize the Fitzgerald, which was built in 1995 at Bath and had been scheduled for an overhaul in the 2019 budget year. Repairs are likely to cost far more than the initial $63 million, which covers ripping out damaged areas.</p>
<p>The Navy conducted a series of investigations and reviews into the collision involving the Fitzgerald and a second collision between the USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker near Singapore in August, which killed 10 U.S. sailors,</p>
<p>Those reviews concluded that the incidents resulted from poor judgment, bad decision-making and widespread training and leadership failures by the commanders and crew who didn't quickly recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies. The Navy also seeks charges against the commanding officer of the John S. McCain.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jeff Amy at: <a href="http://twitter.com/jeffamy" type="external">http://twitter.com/jeffamy</a> . Read his work at <a href="" type="internal">https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy</a> .</p>
<p>JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A U.S. Navy destroyer damaged in a June collision that killed seven sailors is expected to arrive at a Mississippi shipyard Friday.</p>
<p>Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula announced the USS Fitzgerald's arrival Thursday, inviting area residents to wave flags as the ship is carried up the Pascagoula River aboard a transport ship.</p>
<p>Colleen O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command, which is overseeing the Fitzgerald's repair, wrote in an email Thursday that the Navy will have more information once the ship arrives.</p>
<p>The ship's arrival comes only days after the <a href="" type="internal">Navy announced Tuesday</a> that it was seeking negligent homicide charges against four officers of the Fitzgerald at the time of the collision, including the then-commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson. A hearing has not yet been held to determine whether there's enough evidence for those and other charges to go to a trial by court-martial. Other charges could include dereliction of duty and endangering a ship.</p>
<p>The June 17 collision with a Philippine-flagged container ship off Japan caved in parts of the Fitzgerald above and below the waterline. Water gushed into berthing compartments, killing the sailors. Its hull was punctured twice more in November as it was loaded aboard a transport ship. The transport ship sailed Dec. 9.</p>
<p>Ingalls, a unit of Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries, was chosen by the Navy to repair the ship in August and awarded an initial <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1398382/" type="external">$63 million contract</a> in December.</p>
<p>The Navy said it chose Ingalls because it determined that it was the only shipyard that builds destroyers and also has available capacity to fix the damage. Only Ingalls and the Bath Iron Works unit of General Dynamics Corp. in Maine build American destroyers.</p>
<p>The Navy has said it will use the opportunity to modernize the Fitzgerald, which was built in 1995 at Bath and had been scheduled for an overhaul in the 2019 budget year. Repairs are likely to cost far more than the initial $63 million, which covers ripping out damaged areas.</p>
<p>The Navy conducted a series of investigations and reviews into the collision involving the Fitzgerald and a second collision between the USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker near Singapore in August, which killed 10 U.S. sailors,</p>
<p>Those reviews concluded that the incidents resulted from poor judgment, bad decision-making and widespread training and leadership failures by the commanders and crew who didn't quickly recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies. The Navy also seeks charges against the commanding officer of the John S. McCain.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jeff Amy at: <a href="http://twitter.com/jeffamy" type="external">http://twitter.com/jeffamy</a> . Read his work at <a href="" type="internal">https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy</a> .</p> | 598,966 |
<p>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ These Missouri lotteries were drawn Tuesday:</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>01-42-47-64-70, Mega Ball: 22, Megaplier: 4</p>
<p>(one, forty-two, forty-seven, sixty-four, seventy; Mega Ball: twenty-two; Megaplier: four)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $343 million</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>2-3-6</p>
<p>(two, three, six)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>3-4-4</p>
<p>(three, four, four)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>6-9-1-2</p>
<p>(six, nine, one, two)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-4-0-9</p>
<p>(seven, four, zero, nine)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $440 million</p>
<p>Show Me Cash</p>
<p>02-09-10-18-28</p>
<p>(two, nine, ten, eighteen, twenty-eight)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $88,000</p>
<p>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ These Missouri lotteries were drawn Tuesday:</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>01-42-47-64-70, Mega Ball: 22, Megaplier: 4</p>
<p>(one, forty-two, forty-seven, sixty-four, seventy; Mega Ball: twenty-two; Megaplier: four)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $343 million</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>2-3-6</p>
<p>(two, three, six)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>3-4-4</p>
<p>(three, four, four)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>6-9-1-2</p>
<p>(six, nine, one, two)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-4-0-9</p>
<p>(seven, four, zero, nine)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $440 million</p>
<p>Show Me Cash</p>
<p>02-09-10-18-28</p>
<p>(two, nine, ten, eighteen, twenty-eight)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $88,000</p> | MO Lottery | false | https://apnews.com/9e75a4e880e84afab2095c02bf6f75ad | 2018-01-03 | 2least
| MO Lottery
<p>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ These Missouri lotteries were drawn Tuesday:</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>01-42-47-64-70, Mega Ball: 22, Megaplier: 4</p>
<p>(one, forty-two, forty-seven, sixty-four, seventy; Mega Ball: twenty-two; Megaplier: four)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $343 million</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>2-3-6</p>
<p>(two, three, six)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>3-4-4</p>
<p>(three, four, four)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>6-9-1-2</p>
<p>(six, nine, one, two)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-4-0-9</p>
<p>(seven, four, zero, nine)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $440 million</p>
<p>Show Me Cash</p>
<p>02-09-10-18-28</p>
<p>(two, nine, ten, eighteen, twenty-eight)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $88,000</p>
<p>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ These Missouri lotteries were drawn Tuesday:</p>
<p>Mega Millions</p>
<p>01-42-47-64-70, Mega Ball: 22, Megaplier: 4</p>
<p>(one, forty-two, forty-seven, sixty-four, seventy; Mega Ball: twenty-two; Megaplier: four)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $343 million</p>
<p>Pick 3 Evening</p>
<p>2-3-6</p>
<p>(two, three, six)</p>
<p>Pick 3 Midday</p>
<p>3-4-4</p>
<p>(three, four, four)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Evening</p>
<p>6-9-1-2</p>
<p>(six, nine, one, two)</p>
<p>Pick 4 Midday</p>
<p>7-4-0-9</p>
<p>(seven, four, zero, nine)</p>
<p>Powerball</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $440 million</p>
<p>Show Me Cash</p>
<p>02-09-10-18-28</p>
<p>(two, nine, ten, eighteen, twenty-eight)</p>
<p>Estimated jackpot: $88,000</p> | 598,967 |
<p>Morning after morning, New York City based casino capitalists trade with Greece and the latest rumors from Western Europe on their minds.</p>
<p>What will affluent Germany do to bail out the collapsing, debt-ridden country of Greece? Will France go along with those plans? Will the massive injection of liquidity by the European Central Bank help the banks to behave in ways that help Greece, among other countries? Day after trading day, the U.S.</p>
<p>Why? Greece is a country of just over ten million people with a GDP smaller than that of New Jersey. But because it is closest to the fiscal cliff, financial observers fear a domino effect. If Greece defaults badly, it could pull Portugal, Spain, Ireland and then possibly Italy closer to financial disaster.</p>
<p>And what is the chain that binds Greece to these nations and then to larger countries in the EU and across the Atlantic to the U.S.? It is the deep, interdependency brought about by corporate globalization and its massive financial speculators, piling derivatives such as credit default swaps and other <a href="" type="internal" />intricate pyramids of bets, on additional bets. These are the banks, hedge funds and other financial entities that pool other peoples’ money into ever-more abstract and complex betting or gambling instruments of parasitic, big finance.</p>
<p>Not that much has changed since the Wall Street collapse of 2008 other than the renewed “Wall Street” belief that you, the taxpayers, will be forced once again by your government to bail out even larger financial giants who are so interlocked as to be “too big to fail.”</p>
<p>Traders making speculative money from speculative money, traded in trillions of dollars, now hold hostage the real economy wherein people make money from providing needed or wanted goods and services. The fate of American workers, their pensions and the real businesses that employ them, rests on the globalized dominoes that a teetering Greece could set in motion. This is the craven logic of a global casino economy, driven by split-second computerized algorithms and camouflaged by the phony theory of “free trade” which is really corporate-managed trade.</p>
<p>The U.S. does not need to be shackled by the global corporatists to what may happen in Greece or Spain or Portugal. We should be less dependent on financial economies abroad and more self-reliant and independent of the global economy’s dangerously contagious risks.</p>
<p>That is why the more community-based economic activity there is in our country – credit unions; renewable, efficient energy; community health clinics; community food markets, etc. – the more insulated we will be from global seismic ravages. Those same community economies would have helped shield the Greek people from the wily clutches of Goldman Sachs and other aggressive casino creditors.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the intellectually impoverished presidential and Congressional campaigns never propose ways to extricate our country from the octuple straitjackets of global speculators. The two-party political tyranny – Republican and Democratic – is too busy kneeling before the check-writers of imperious corporatists to stand up for the people whose votes they strive to secure.</p>
<p>As U.S. citizens struggle, Wall Street and Washington worry about Greece.</p>
<p>Ralph Nader&#160;is a consumer advocate, lawyer and author of&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!</a>&#160;He is a contributor to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion</a>, forthcoming from AK Press.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | The Parasites of Big Finance | true | https://counterpunch.org/2012/03/15/the-parasites-of-big-finance/ | 2012-03-15 | 4left
| The Parasites of Big Finance
<p>Morning after morning, New York City based casino capitalists trade with Greece and the latest rumors from Western Europe on their minds.</p>
<p>What will affluent Germany do to bail out the collapsing, debt-ridden country of Greece? Will France go along with those plans? Will the massive injection of liquidity by the European Central Bank help the banks to behave in ways that help Greece, among other countries? Day after trading day, the U.S.</p>
<p>Why? Greece is a country of just over ten million people with a GDP smaller than that of New Jersey. But because it is closest to the fiscal cliff, financial observers fear a domino effect. If Greece defaults badly, it could pull Portugal, Spain, Ireland and then possibly Italy closer to financial disaster.</p>
<p>And what is the chain that binds Greece to these nations and then to larger countries in the EU and across the Atlantic to the U.S.? It is the deep, interdependency brought about by corporate globalization and its massive financial speculators, piling derivatives such as credit default swaps and other <a href="" type="internal" />intricate pyramids of bets, on additional bets. These are the banks, hedge funds and other financial entities that pool other peoples’ money into ever-more abstract and complex betting or gambling instruments of parasitic, big finance.</p>
<p>Not that much has changed since the Wall Street collapse of 2008 other than the renewed “Wall Street” belief that you, the taxpayers, will be forced once again by your government to bail out even larger financial giants who are so interlocked as to be “too big to fail.”</p>
<p>Traders making speculative money from speculative money, traded in trillions of dollars, now hold hostage the real economy wherein people make money from providing needed or wanted goods and services. The fate of American workers, their pensions and the real businesses that employ them, rests on the globalized dominoes that a teetering Greece could set in motion. This is the craven logic of a global casino economy, driven by split-second computerized algorithms and camouflaged by the phony theory of “free trade” which is really corporate-managed trade.</p>
<p>The U.S. does not need to be shackled by the global corporatists to what may happen in Greece or Spain or Portugal. We should be less dependent on financial economies abroad and more self-reliant and independent of the global economy’s dangerously contagious risks.</p>
<p>That is why the more community-based economic activity there is in our country – credit unions; renewable, efficient energy; community health clinics; community food markets, etc. – the more insulated we will be from global seismic ravages. Those same community economies would have helped shield the Greek people from the wily clutches of Goldman Sachs and other aggressive casino creditors.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the intellectually impoverished presidential and Congressional campaigns never propose ways to extricate our country from the octuple straitjackets of global speculators. The two-party political tyranny – Republican and Democratic – is too busy kneeling before the check-writers of imperious corporatists to stand up for the people whose votes they strive to secure.</p>
<p>As U.S. citizens struggle, Wall Street and Washington worry about Greece.</p>
<p>Ralph Nader&#160;is a consumer advocate, lawyer and author of&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!</a>&#160;He is a contributor to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion</a>, forthcoming from AK Press.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | 598,968 |
<p>A baby girl born with her heart outside her body has been discharged from a Texas hospital.</p>
<p>Audrina Cardenas was born Oct. 15, 2012, with a condition known as ectopia cordis, where part of the heart grows outside the chest, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/baby-born-heart-body-leaves-texas-hospital/story?id=18313959" type="external">reported ABC News</a>. The birth defect is usually fatal, but Audrina underwent a successful six-hour operation at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston that put her heart back in her body.</p>
<p><a href="http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/01/25/16699202-baby-born-with-heart-outside-her-chest-leaves-hospital" type="external">According to MSNBC Health</a>, the condition affects eight out of 1 million babies every year, and 90 percent die within the first three days of life or are stillborn.</p>
<p>Audrina's doctors have said she is doing well and expect her life to be good.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/weird-wide-web/conjoined-twin-girls-separated-surgery" type="external">Conjoined twin girls separated in 7-hour surgery</a></p>
<p>"She's ready to go home," hospital spokeswoman Jenn Jacome said Friday. "The physicians expect her to lead a pretty healthy and normal life."</p>
<p>"She’ll have some restraints in what she can do," she continued. "Playing sports, that may be up in the air depending on what her cardiologists say."</p>
<p>Audrina's condition was discovered when her mother went for an ultrasound during the 16th week of her pregnancy, <a href="http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/baby-born-with-heart-outside-of-body-leaves-hospital" type="external">reported Mother Nature Network</a>. She was given the option of ending her pregnancy, opting for comfort care or giving birth to the baby, who would have to undergo a very risky surgery at birth.</p>
<p>"After my doctors explained just how sick my baby was and what options I had, it didn't matter how scared I was, I knew I had to do anything possible to save my daughter's life," Ashley Cardenas&#160; <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/baby-born-with-heart-outside-of-body-goes-home-3-months-after-lifesaving-surgery" type="external">told Examiner.com</a>. "As soon as I made my decision to continue with the pregnancy, the physicians in Midland referred me to Texas Children's Hospital where a team of miracle workers provided the specialized treatment and care my baby and I both needed."</p> | Baby born with heart outside body leaves Texas hospital | false | https://pri.org/stories/2013-01-26/baby-born-heart-outside-body-leaves-texas-hospital | 2013-01-26 | 3left-center
| Baby born with heart outside body leaves Texas hospital
<p>A baby girl born with her heart outside her body has been discharged from a Texas hospital.</p>
<p>Audrina Cardenas was born Oct. 15, 2012, with a condition known as ectopia cordis, where part of the heart grows outside the chest, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/baby-born-heart-body-leaves-texas-hospital/story?id=18313959" type="external">reported ABC News</a>. The birth defect is usually fatal, but Audrina underwent a successful six-hour operation at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston that put her heart back in her body.</p>
<p><a href="http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/01/25/16699202-baby-born-with-heart-outside-her-chest-leaves-hospital" type="external">According to MSNBC Health</a>, the condition affects eight out of 1 million babies every year, and 90 percent die within the first three days of life or are stillborn.</p>
<p>Audrina's doctors have said she is doing well and expect her life to be good.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/weird-wide-web/conjoined-twin-girls-separated-surgery" type="external">Conjoined twin girls separated in 7-hour surgery</a></p>
<p>"She's ready to go home," hospital spokeswoman Jenn Jacome said Friday. "The physicians expect her to lead a pretty healthy and normal life."</p>
<p>"She’ll have some restraints in what she can do," she continued. "Playing sports, that may be up in the air depending on what her cardiologists say."</p>
<p>Audrina's condition was discovered when her mother went for an ultrasound during the 16th week of her pregnancy, <a href="http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/baby-born-with-heart-outside-of-body-leaves-hospital" type="external">reported Mother Nature Network</a>. She was given the option of ending her pregnancy, opting for comfort care or giving birth to the baby, who would have to undergo a very risky surgery at birth.</p>
<p>"After my doctors explained just how sick my baby was and what options I had, it didn't matter how scared I was, I knew I had to do anything possible to save my daughter's life," Ashley Cardenas&#160; <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/baby-born-with-heart-outside-of-body-goes-home-3-months-after-lifesaving-surgery" type="external">told Examiner.com</a>. "As soon as I made my decision to continue with the pregnancy, the physicians in Midland referred me to Texas Children's Hospital where a team of miracle workers provided the specialized treatment and care my baby and I both needed."</p> | 598,969 |
<p>It took most of two centuries to build the Liberal-Democratic state, to the specs we typically use to explain it.&#160; And less than 40 years for its tacit demolition.&#160; Some of us, who recall fewer bruises from lawless capital than from Capitalism’s well-organized, state institutions, even welcomed getting kicked-out of what we considered a bad home (literally as of 2008).&#160; As the state discards its civic obligations we obediently pick up the tab, from paying for basic health and education, to beating the drum for war.&#160; Instead of despair, a revived sense of ‘publicness’ esteemed us, reductively, as the 99%.&#160; Now, as our patience for Neoliberalism wears thin, a ‘neo-nationalism’ has peaked some imaginations.&#160; In response to Trump’s graceless efforts to revive white-male exclusivity, Liberals have proffered a strawman of their own, embracing a new, broader ‘inclusiveness’.</p>
<p>To (past) solidarity we owe the civil and labor rights and public welfares that made nationhood, if not great, at least bearable.&#160; But it required expanding the state, not gutting it.&#160; Instead, whether making America great again or great for the first time, both parties govern by wrecking ball, with the scrap going to Wall Street.&#160; Unable or unwilling to stem or budding kleptocracy, Liberals have made a separate peace, (ostensibly) creating room for us within Capitalism, instead of attacking its contradictions.</p>
<p>Yet, nationalism’s success was never based on egalite or social justice, but on surplus production.&#160; Contrarily, it served elites by diverting what may have otherwise become class-based solidarity. &#160;&#160;Capitalism required a simultaneously strong and weak caretaker; able to both mobilize and restrain mass-labor; strong enough to secure the Capitalist’ advantage, but pliant enough to maintain it. &#160;Despite the obvious contradiction, it claimed both rich and poor should pursue the same goal, even when it yielded vastly different outcomes.&#160; It was a racket, but defensible, due to its immense productivity, presuming the yield would not be just in private dollars, but in broadly-useful development.&#160; Ergo, it promised the working-class a softer form of abuse than they could expect from unofficiated Capitalism.&#160; And to be fair, it did allow for some gradual amelioration for the working-class.&#160; But with surplus, rather than more-equal, shares.&#160; Through affluence, not democracy.</p>
<p>Adhering the masses depended, in equal part, on a collective task, and on some evidence of return.&#160; In which case America, the nation, had ran its course by the 1970s, when imports surpassed exports, and the principal ‘civic’ duty shifted from production to consumption.&#160; (Allegedly this was still the case in 2001, when George Bush proclaimed shopping as a means to fight terrorism, while him and his set to toppling America, the empire.)&#160; Still, since what exactly the public did or received was always somewhat hypothetical, the nation lumbered on.&#160; But now a pressing environmental crisis means the liberal-class, whose sole civic duty was to unsparingly consume, has an added and contrary responsibility not to.&#160; Moreover, if consumption and preservation are conflicting national duties, save our being vessels for debt, neo-nationalism carries no responsibilities.&#160; Hence, without mounting waste to paper over its contradictions, America has to rely solely on ‘we the people’ for its legitimacy.&#160; Itself a contradiction.</p>
<p>By tying popular-class’ hopes for prosperity to the success of the state, nationalism had welcomed, sotto voce, class within popular rule.&#160; ‘Meritocracy’ imbued America with a notion of Liberal-class stewardship.&#160; But it also emphasized nationalism’s lack of space for minorities.&#160; While we are right to fear the erosion of the middle-class, it is because they act as litmus for the larger political-economy (and because we are still slow to take cues from the poor).&#160; But the oft-cited reason -their political clout- is farce.&#160; The atomic family was and remains a steward (and invention) of Capitalism, not Democracy.&#160; Middle-class sentiment ignores that the surrounding poverty is not simply a failure or byproduct of Capitalism, but also a strategy.&#160; Hence, the key to a healthier democracy is not a healthier middle-class, but a less-unhealthy poor.&#160; And selling Liberal-class values to the poor has been anything but democratizing.</p>
<p>Identity politics, born of this, attacked Capitalism -and by extension nationalism’s- inequities in stirring ways.&#160; We owe to it the Left’s few and often pyric victories of recent years.&#160; But decoupled from economics, identity politics, progressivism in general, looks less like democracy, and more like social capital (social in lieu of material, no less).&#160; Where the nation-state promised affluence instead of equality, ‘neo-nationalism’ promotes, rather than engages, sub-groups, and the lower-class, more broadly.&#160; In either case ‘conscientious capitalism’ erodes democracy.</p>
<p>If a larger sliver of the Capitalist pie, and not dismantling, or at least reigning in, Capitalism, is at all the goal, identity politics, progressivism, itself, risks being co-opted.&#160; Consider for example, the internet, where many of our ‘democratic’ hopes now lie.&#160; Like writing and print before, it democratizes participation on an unprecedented scale, but it centralizes control.&#160; It is an invaluable tool, but if we mistake it for democracy, the right to self-determination is effectively reduced to the right to access.&#160; This guts the very definition of democracy as it pertains to the rights of citizens.&#160; It is to beg consideration rather than demand justice- ‘inclusiveness’, rather than solidarity.&#160; But justice, recall, including public health and welfare, is not a courtesy.&#160; It is the minimal payment for our obeying laws that obviously favor the Capitalists.</p>
<p>Until now Capitalism has survived by making sure we haggled over the wrong questions; ‘nation’ instead of ‘class’, us or them, recognition when what we need is solidarity, for examples.&#160; We should dwell less on negotiating these boundaries, and think instead why the rest is so unlivable.&#160; Otherwise, should we ever get around to attacking Capitalism; we’ll have only capitalists at the helm.</p> | Reform Should Serve Not the Dying Middle-Class, But the Surviving Poor | true | https://counterpunch.org/2017/09/08/reform-should-serve-not-the-dying-middle-class-but-the-surviving-poor/ | 2017-09-08 | 4left
| Reform Should Serve Not the Dying Middle-Class, But the Surviving Poor
<p>It took most of two centuries to build the Liberal-Democratic state, to the specs we typically use to explain it.&#160; And less than 40 years for its tacit demolition.&#160; Some of us, who recall fewer bruises from lawless capital than from Capitalism’s well-organized, state institutions, even welcomed getting kicked-out of what we considered a bad home (literally as of 2008).&#160; As the state discards its civic obligations we obediently pick up the tab, from paying for basic health and education, to beating the drum for war.&#160; Instead of despair, a revived sense of ‘publicness’ esteemed us, reductively, as the 99%.&#160; Now, as our patience for Neoliberalism wears thin, a ‘neo-nationalism’ has peaked some imaginations.&#160; In response to Trump’s graceless efforts to revive white-male exclusivity, Liberals have proffered a strawman of their own, embracing a new, broader ‘inclusiveness’.</p>
<p>To (past) solidarity we owe the civil and labor rights and public welfares that made nationhood, if not great, at least bearable.&#160; But it required expanding the state, not gutting it.&#160; Instead, whether making America great again or great for the first time, both parties govern by wrecking ball, with the scrap going to Wall Street.&#160; Unable or unwilling to stem or budding kleptocracy, Liberals have made a separate peace, (ostensibly) creating room for us within Capitalism, instead of attacking its contradictions.</p>
<p>Yet, nationalism’s success was never based on egalite or social justice, but on surplus production.&#160; Contrarily, it served elites by diverting what may have otherwise become class-based solidarity. &#160;&#160;Capitalism required a simultaneously strong and weak caretaker; able to both mobilize and restrain mass-labor; strong enough to secure the Capitalist’ advantage, but pliant enough to maintain it. &#160;Despite the obvious contradiction, it claimed both rich and poor should pursue the same goal, even when it yielded vastly different outcomes.&#160; It was a racket, but defensible, due to its immense productivity, presuming the yield would not be just in private dollars, but in broadly-useful development.&#160; Ergo, it promised the working-class a softer form of abuse than they could expect from unofficiated Capitalism.&#160; And to be fair, it did allow for some gradual amelioration for the working-class.&#160; But with surplus, rather than more-equal, shares.&#160; Through affluence, not democracy.</p>
<p>Adhering the masses depended, in equal part, on a collective task, and on some evidence of return.&#160; In which case America, the nation, had ran its course by the 1970s, when imports surpassed exports, and the principal ‘civic’ duty shifted from production to consumption.&#160; (Allegedly this was still the case in 2001, when George Bush proclaimed shopping as a means to fight terrorism, while him and his set to toppling America, the empire.)&#160; Still, since what exactly the public did or received was always somewhat hypothetical, the nation lumbered on.&#160; But now a pressing environmental crisis means the liberal-class, whose sole civic duty was to unsparingly consume, has an added and contrary responsibility not to.&#160; Moreover, if consumption and preservation are conflicting national duties, save our being vessels for debt, neo-nationalism carries no responsibilities.&#160; Hence, without mounting waste to paper over its contradictions, America has to rely solely on ‘we the people’ for its legitimacy.&#160; Itself a contradiction.</p>
<p>By tying popular-class’ hopes for prosperity to the success of the state, nationalism had welcomed, sotto voce, class within popular rule.&#160; ‘Meritocracy’ imbued America with a notion of Liberal-class stewardship.&#160; But it also emphasized nationalism’s lack of space for minorities.&#160; While we are right to fear the erosion of the middle-class, it is because they act as litmus for the larger political-economy (and because we are still slow to take cues from the poor).&#160; But the oft-cited reason -their political clout- is farce.&#160; The atomic family was and remains a steward (and invention) of Capitalism, not Democracy.&#160; Middle-class sentiment ignores that the surrounding poverty is not simply a failure or byproduct of Capitalism, but also a strategy.&#160; Hence, the key to a healthier democracy is not a healthier middle-class, but a less-unhealthy poor.&#160; And selling Liberal-class values to the poor has been anything but democratizing.</p>
<p>Identity politics, born of this, attacked Capitalism -and by extension nationalism’s- inequities in stirring ways.&#160; We owe to it the Left’s few and often pyric victories of recent years.&#160; But decoupled from economics, identity politics, progressivism in general, looks less like democracy, and more like social capital (social in lieu of material, no less).&#160; Where the nation-state promised affluence instead of equality, ‘neo-nationalism’ promotes, rather than engages, sub-groups, and the lower-class, more broadly.&#160; In either case ‘conscientious capitalism’ erodes democracy.</p>
<p>If a larger sliver of the Capitalist pie, and not dismantling, or at least reigning in, Capitalism, is at all the goal, identity politics, progressivism, itself, risks being co-opted.&#160; Consider for example, the internet, where many of our ‘democratic’ hopes now lie.&#160; Like writing and print before, it democratizes participation on an unprecedented scale, but it centralizes control.&#160; It is an invaluable tool, but if we mistake it for democracy, the right to self-determination is effectively reduced to the right to access.&#160; This guts the very definition of democracy as it pertains to the rights of citizens.&#160; It is to beg consideration rather than demand justice- ‘inclusiveness’, rather than solidarity.&#160; But justice, recall, including public health and welfare, is not a courtesy.&#160; It is the minimal payment for our obeying laws that obviously favor the Capitalists.</p>
<p>Until now Capitalism has survived by making sure we haggled over the wrong questions; ‘nation’ instead of ‘class’, us or them, recognition when what we need is solidarity, for examples.&#160; We should dwell less on negotiating these boundaries, and think instead why the rest is so unlivable.&#160; Otherwise, should we ever get around to attacking Capitalism; we’ll have only capitalists at the helm.</p> | 598,970 |
<p>Horace Cort/AP</p>
<p>As Americans reflect on the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day of the Trump administration and prepare for the fiftieth anniversary of his assassination, it’s as good a time as any to measure our world against the one Dr. King dared us to imagine.</p>
<p>In the months leading up to the April day in Memphis when he was shot dead by a white supremacist after standing with striking sanitation workers, King had grown increasingly outspoken on issues of class, income inequality, and economic justice. Along with other leading lights of the civil rights movement, he had just launched the Poor People’s Campaign against what he <a href="http://kingencyclopedia.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/documentsentry/doc_beyond_vietnam/" type="external">termed</a> the “giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism.”&#160;It is in the statements and writings of his final months where we find the fullest expression of King’s political and economic vision, and a guidepost for our current assessments.</p>
<p>For black Americans in particular,&#160;the odds of achieving equal economic footing remain, in many ways, as dim as they were in the years leading up to 1968.&#160;Sweeping across the Bible Belt to promote his anti-poverty campaign, King issued a stinging&#160; <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=8UNQakQfn4sC&amp;pg=PA169&amp;lpg=PA169&amp;dq=penniless+and+illiterate+after+244+years+of+slavery&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=G1ZLTKUHHc&amp;sig=i9ftMSv2cp-exctfXaOJFXrHs4A&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi93Kqx1tjYAhWqQt8KHTIRCjwQ6AEINTAC#v=onepage&amp;q=" type="external">criticism</a>&#160;against a status quo that left black people “penniless and illiterate” in the country they had built.</p>
<p>Fifty years later, on everything from hourly wages to household income to family wealth, black people remain miles behind their white counterparts.</p>
<p>This chart from <a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/racial-inequalities-in-wages-income-and-wealth-show-that-mlks-work-remains-unfinished/" type="external">The Economic Policy Institute</a>&#160;illustrates the point:</p>
<p />
<p>At $14.92 per hour, the median black worker currently earns just 75 percent of the $19.79 that their white counterpart earns. On the income front, the median black household is bringing down just 61 percent of the total median white household, about $39,500 versus $65,000 annually. That’s slightly improved from the gap in 1967, when the median black household <a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/06/27/1-demographic-trends-and-economic-well-being/" type="external">earned</a> just 55 percent of white household income. But in absolute terms, the racial income gap has grown by more than $5,000 since the year King <a href="https://poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php/poor-peoples-campaign-1968/" type="external">called</a> for “a&#160;radical redistribution of economic and political power.”</p>
<p>Moreover, the wealth gap between black and white families is more like a yawning chasm. The most widely cited data on this comes from the Federal Reserve’s <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/recent-trends-in-wealth-holding-by-race-and-ethnicity-evidence-from-the-survey-of-consumer-finances-20170927.htm" type="external">Survey of Consumer Finances</a>, which shows that the median white family is worth 10 times more than the median black one, ($171,000 and $17,600, respectively). On the surface, that’s actually an improvement since 1963, the year King led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, when the median white family was worth <a href="http://apps.urban.org/features/wealth-inequality-charts/" type="external">19 times</a> the median nonwhite one.</p>
<p>Yet under a less generous model employed by the Institute for Policy Studies (but perhaps more accurate since it excludes the falling value of the family car), the median white family ($151,800) is worth <a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BILLIONAIRE-BONANZA-2017-FinalV.pdf" type="external">over 35 times</a> the median black one ($4,300). More damningly, a recent <a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/report-the-road-to-zero-wealth/" type="external">report</a> from the institute finds that 30 percent of black households have “zero or negative wealth,” with median black household wealth on a collision course to hit $0 by 2053.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>“In the human rights revolution,” King <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89336517" type="external">remarked</a> in his final speech, “if something isn’t done and done in a hurry, to bring the colored peoples of the world out of their long years of poverty, their long years of hurt and neglect, the whole world is doomed.” Nearly 50 years later, scores of black families remain nearly penniless, with untold others at risk of the same.</p> | It’s Been 50 Years Since MLK Jr. Declared War on Poverty. The Economy for Black Americans Still Stinks. | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/its-been-50-years-dr-king-declared-war-on-poverty-but-the-economy-is-still-a-nightmare-for-black-americans/ | 2018-01-16 | 4left
| It’s Been 50 Years Since MLK Jr. Declared War on Poverty. The Economy for Black Americans Still Stinks.
<p>Horace Cort/AP</p>
<p>As Americans reflect on the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day of the Trump administration and prepare for the fiftieth anniversary of his assassination, it’s as good a time as any to measure our world against the one Dr. King dared us to imagine.</p>
<p>In the months leading up to the April day in Memphis when he was shot dead by a white supremacist after standing with striking sanitation workers, King had grown increasingly outspoken on issues of class, income inequality, and economic justice. Along with other leading lights of the civil rights movement, he had just launched the Poor People’s Campaign against what he <a href="http://kingencyclopedia.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/documentsentry/doc_beyond_vietnam/" type="external">termed</a> the “giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism.”&#160;It is in the statements and writings of his final months where we find the fullest expression of King’s political and economic vision, and a guidepost for our current assessments.</p>
<p>For black Americans in particular,&#160;the odds of achieving equal economic footing remain, in many ways, as dim as they were in the years leading up to 1968.&#160;Sweeping across the Bible Belt to promote his anti-poverty campaign, King issued a stinging&#160; <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=8UNQakQfn4sC&amp;pg=PA169&amp;lpg=PA169&amp;dq=penniless+and+illiterate+after+244+years+of+slavery&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=G1ZLTKUHHc&amp;sig=i9ftMSv2cp-exctfXaOJFXrHs4A&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi93Kqx1tjYAhWqQt8KHTIRCjwQ6AEINTAC#v=onepage&amp;q=" type="external">criticism</a>&#160;against a status quo that left black people “penniless and illiterate” in the country they had built.</p>
<p>Fifty years later, on everything from hourly wages to household income to family wealth, black people remain miles behind their white counterparts.</p>
<p>This chart from <a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/racial-inequalities-in-wages-income-and-wealth-show-that-mlks-work-remains-unfinished/" type="external">The Economic Policy Institute</a>&#160;illustrates the point:</p>
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<p>At $14.92 per hour, the median black worker currently earns just 75 percent of the $19.79 that their white counterpart earns. On the income front, the median black household is bringing down just 61 percent of the total median white household, about $39,500 versus $65,000 annually. That’s slightly improved from the gap in 1967, when the median black household <a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/06/27/1-demographic-trends-and-economic-well-being/" type="external">earned</a> just 55 percent of white household income. But in absolute terms, the racial income gap has grown by more than $5,000 since the year King <a href="https://poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php/poor-peoples-campaign-1968/" type="external">called</a> for “a&#160;radical redistribution of economic and political power.”</p>
<p>Moreover, the wealth gap between black and white families is more like a yawning chasm. The most widely cited data on this comes from the Federal Reserve’s <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/recent-trends-in-wealth-holding-by-race-and-ethnicity-evidence-from-the-survey-of-consumer-finances-20170927.htm" type="external">Survey of Consumer Finances</a>, which shows that the median white family is worth 10 times more than the median black one, ($171,000 and $17,600, respectively). On the surface, that’s actually an improvement since 1963, the year King led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, when the median white family was worth <a href="http://apps.urban.org/features/wealth-inequality-charts/" type="external">19 times</a> the median nonwhite one.</p>
<p>Yet under a less generous model employed by the Institute for Policy Studies (but perhaps more accurate since it excludes the falling value of the family car), the median white family ($151,800) is worth <a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BILLIONAIRE-BONANZA-2017-FinalV.pdf" type="external">over 35 times</a> the median black one ($4,300). More damningly, a recent <a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/report-the-road-to-zero-wealth/" type="external">report</a> from the institute finds that 30 percent of black households have “zero or negative wealth,” with median black household wealth on a collision course to hit $0 by 2053.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>“In the human rights revolution,” King <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89336517" type="external">remarked</a> in his final speech, “if something isn’t done and done in a hurry, to bring the colored peoples of the world out of their long years of poverty, their long years of hurt and neglect, the whole world is doomed.” Nearly 50 years later, scores of black families remain nearly penniless, with untold others at risk of the same.</p> | 598,971 |
<p>(Reuters) – Time Inc said on Friday it was looking to sell several assets, including Time Inc UK, and warned it experienced more-than-anticipated softness in both print and advertising revenue during the current quarter.</p>
<p>The publisher, which said in April that it would not sell itself, last month announced a fresh cost-cutting program, targeting $400 million in spending cuts.</p>
<p>The assets identified for sale include Time Customer Service and a majority stake in the Essence magazine, the company said in a regulatory filing on Friday.</p>
<p>The company estimated that the assets marked for divestiture represent about $488 million, or 17 percent of total revenues for the 12-months ended June 30.</p>
<p>A sale may be announced as early as the fourth quarter, the company said.</p>
<p>The New York-based publisher of Sports Illustrated, People and namesake Time said it experienced softness in both print and advertising revenue during the current quarter relative to the forecast issued during the second-quarter earnings call.</p>
<p>Time Inc, which reported a 17 percent fall in second quarter print and other advertising revenues, had said it expected sequential improvement in the third quarter ending Sept. 30.</p>
<p>The company’s magazine circulation revenue fell 12 percent in the second quarter ended June 30 and its advertising revenue dipped about 12 percent, as more readers and advertisers shift to digital platforms.</p>
<p>The company said on Friday that it expected its cost savings and efficiency initiatives to offset the advertising softness.</p>
<p>Separately, the company said it received a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requiring it to provide documents relating to certain goodwill and asset impairments and some restructuring and severance costs.</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> | Time Inc in talks to sell assets; warns on third-quarter ad revenue softness | false | https://newsline.com/time-inc-in-talks-to-sell-assets-warns-on-third-quarter-ad-revenue-softness/ | 2017-09-22 | 1right-center
| Time Inc in talks to sell assets; warns on third-quarter ad revenue softness
<p>(Reuters) – Time Inc said on Friday it was looking to sell several assets, including Time Inc UK, and warned it experienced more-than-anticipated softness in both print and advertising revenue during the current quarter.</p>
<p>The publisher, which said in April that it would not sell itself, last month announced a fresh cost-cutting program, targeting $400 million in spending cuts.</p>
<p>The assets identified for sale include Time Customer Service and a majority stake in the Essence magazine, the company said in a regulatory filing on Friday.</p>
<p>The company estimated that the assets marked for divestiture represent about $488 million, or 17 percent of total revenues for the 12-months ended June 30.</p>
<p>A sale may be announced as early as the fourth quarter, the company said.</p>
<p>The New York-based publisher of Sports Illustrated, People and namesake Time said it experienced softness in both print and advertising revenue during the current quarter relative to the forecast issued during the second-quarter earnings call.</p>
<p>Time Inc, which reported a 17 percent fall in second quarter print and other advertising revenues, had said it expected sequential improvement in the third quarter ending Sept. 30.</p>
<p>The company’s magazine circulation revenue fell 12 percent in the second quarter ended June 30 and its advertising revenue dipped about 12 percent, as more readers and advertisers shift to digital platforms.</p>
<p>The company said on Friday that it expected its cost savings and efficiency initiatives to offset the advertising softness.</p>
<p>Separately, the company said it received a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requiring it to provide documents relating to certain goodwill and asset impairments and some restructuring and severance costs.</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> | 598,972 |
<p>Permit us a moment to just let you all know that earlier this month <a href="http://hectorluisalamo" type="external">Hector Luis Alamo</a>, our very own Deputy Editor, was on Al Jazeera’s The Stream as part of a show about Donald Trump. We have published edited clips of Hector’s appearance (see if you can find the tweet our founder also sent it):</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Here is a video of the entire show:</p>
<p />
<p>One very intelligent conversation occurred this weekend.</p>
<p>February 1, 2016</p>
<p>Maybe US Latinos should thank Katt Williams for his 7-minute Mexican rant in Phoenix last week since it had raised some very interesting issues regarding the complexities of being a US Latino in the 21st century. Hector Luis Alamo, Jr The latest debate has now shifted to Hispanically Speaking News,…</p>
<p>September 2, 2011</p>
<p>Latino Rebels Radio had some amazing guests last night:&#160;Adriana Camarena from&#160;Justice For Alex Nieto,&#160;Olmeca&#160;and LR contributor Hector Luis Alamo. Catch the full show below (even with some technical difficulties, the show was solid): We closed the show with Olmeca's "Browning of America." Hit it.</p>
<p>December 22, 2014</p> | Latino Rebels’ Hector Luis Alamo Talks Trump on Al Jazeera | true | http://latinorebels.com/2015/10/01/latino-rebels-hector-luis-alamo-talks-trump-on-al-jazeera/ | 2015-10-01 | 4left
| Latino Rebels’ Hector Luis Alamo Talks Trump on Al Jazeera
<p>Permit us a moment to just let you all know that earlier this month <a href="http://hectorluisalamo" type="external">Hector Luis Alamo</a>, our very own Deputy Editor, was on Al Jazeera’s The Stream as part of a show about Donald Trump. We have published edited clips of Hector’s appearance (see if you can find the tweet our founder also sent it):</p>
<p />
<p>&#160; &#160; Here is a video of the entire show:</p>
<p />
<p>One very intelligent conversation occurred this weekend.</p>
<p>February 1, 2016</p>
<p>Maybe US Latinos should thank Katt Williams for his 7-minute Mexican rant in Phoenix last week since it had raised some very interesting issues regarding the complexities of being a US Latino in the 21st century. Hector Luis Alamo, Jr The latest debate has now shifted to Hispanically Speaking News,…</p>
<p>September 2, 2011</p>
<p>Latino Rebels Radio had some amazing guests last night:&#160;Adriana Camarena from&#160;Justice For Alex Nieto,&#160;Olmeca&#160;and LR contributor Hector Luis Alamo. Catch the full show below (even with some technical difficulties, the show was solid): We closed the show with Olmeca's "Browning of America." Hit it.</p>
<p>December 22, 2014</p> | 598,973 |
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<p>SANTA FE, N.M. — Santa Fe Police are investigating an accident that has a bicyclist in critical condition.</p>
<p>The crash happened just after 11 a.m. today at the intersection of Saint Francis Drive and Camino de Monte Rey</p>
<p>Santa Fe police said the bicyclist, a 51-year-old man, was headed north on Saint Francis Drive and turning left onto Camino de Monte Rey when he was hit by a man driving a red 1984 Nissan 330ZX.</p>
<p>It appears the bicyclist failed to yield to traffic, the police said. The Nissan’s driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating. No charges have been filed at this time. The crash is still under investigation.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Bicyclist in critical condition after Santa Fe accident | false | https://abqjournal.com/213998/bicyclist-in-critical-condition-after-santa-fe-accident.html | 2least
| Bicyclist in critical condition after Santa Fe accident
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<p>SANTA FE, N.M. — Santa Fe Police are investigating an accident that has a bicyclist in critical condition.</p>
<p>The crash happened just after 11 a.m. today at the intersection of Saint Francis Drive and Camino de Monte Rey</p>
<p>Santa Fe police said the bicyclist, a 51-year-old man, was headed north on Saint Francis Drive and turning left onto Camino de Monte Rey when he was hit by a man driving a red 1984 Nissan 330ZX.</p>
<p>It appears the bicyclist failed to yield to traffic, the police said. The Nissan’s driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating. No charges have been filed at this time. The crash is still under investigation.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,974 |
|
<p>#GivingTuesday, a charitable initiative which uses social media as its catalyst, raised nearly $117 million in online donations, a jump of 155% over last year, according to preliminary calculations exclusively provided to Reuters by the event's organizers.</p>
<p>In the 24 hours starting at midnight Eastern Time on Dec. 1, U.S. charities reported receiving 1.08 million donations.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>"We are just so thrilled. The movement caught on last year, and it's here to stay," said Sheila Herrling, senior vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based Case Foundation, which financed the data analysis. "We had a lot of confidence that this would keep on rolling."</p>
<p>#GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 as a counterpunch to the holiday-fueled spending orgies of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday co-founder Henry Timms, executive director of New York City's 92nd Street Y community and culture center, said he had hoped the day would become something for individuals and groups to rally around (http://reut.rs/1XrIvJ2).</p>
<p>It appears that in its fourth year, #GivingTuesday considerably expanded its reach. The preliminary numbers show 1.3 million mentions of #GivingTuesday on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, compared with about 750,000 last year.</p>
<p>The day has become a focal point for fundraisers from a wide variety of groups from universities to small charities to national organizations. One of the biggest philanthropic acts ever was announced on #GivingTuesday with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's pledge of some $45 billion in Facebook shares in a note on his Facebook page about his daughter's birth.</p>
<p>Katherina Rosqueta, executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania, said #GivingTuesday appears to be a boon to philanthropy in general. An analysis of data has shown that the event brings in new money and isn't "cannibalizing" money that otherwise would have been donated.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The biggest plus, Rosqueta said, is the opportunity the day has given to allow people and groups to adopt it as their own.</p>
<p>"It's much more of a grassroots effort taking advantage of the way social media can spread ideas and connections from small donors," Rosqueta said. "The increased focus has led to an increase in at least online donations.</p>
<p>Even so, the money raised on #GivingTuesday represents only a very small fraction of total annual charitable giving in the United States. According to Giving USA, which issues an annual report on philanthropy, charitable donations in 2014 totaled $358.38 billion.</p>
<p>Sandra Miniutti, vice president of the nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator, agreed that #GivingTuesday has been a plus for charity awareness.</p>
<p>"As for its overall impact, I don't know that it has significantly moved the needle on total annual donations to charities," Miniutti said. "But I do think as a campaign, it has done a great job of bringing greater awareness to all the different causes that need support and helped donors remember to give at year-end." (Editing by Leslie Adler)</p>
<p>By Mitch Lipka</p> | #GivingTuesday Raises Nearly $117 Million for U.S. Groups | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2015/12/02/givingtuesday-raises-nearly-117-million-for-us-groups.html | 2016-03-05 | 0right
| #GivingTuesday Raises Nearly $117 Million for U.S. Groups
<p>#GivingTuesday, a charitable initiative which uses social media as its catalyst, raised nearly $117 million in online donations, a jump of 155% over last year, according to preliminary calculations exclusively provided to Reuters by the event's organizers.</p>
<p>In the 24 hours starting at midnight Eastern Time on Dec. 1, U.S. charities reported receiving 1.08 million donations.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>"We are just so thrilled. The movement caught on last year, and it's here to stay," said Sheila Herrling, senior vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based Case Foundation, which financed the data analysis. "We had a lot of confidence that this would keep on rolling."</p>
<p>#GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 as a counterpunch to the holiday-fueled spending orgies of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday co-founder Henry Timms, executive director of New York City's 92nd Street Y community and culture center, said he had hoped the day would become something for individuals and groups to rally around (http://reut.rs/1XrIvJ2).</p>
<p>It appears that in its fourth year, #GivingTuesday considerably expanded its reach. The preliminary numbers show 1.3 million mentions of #GivingTuesday on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, compared with about 750,000 last year.</p>
<p>The day has become a focal point for fundraisers from a wide variety of groups from universities to small charities to national organizations. One of the biggest philanthropic acts ever was announced on #GivingTuesday with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's pledge of some $45 billion in Facebook shares in a note on his Facebook page about his daughter's birth.</p>
<p>Katherina Rosqueta, executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania, said #GivingTuesday appears to be a boon to philanthropy in general. An analysis of data has shown that the event brings in new money and isn't "cannibalizing" money that otherwise would have been donated.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The biggest plus, Rosqueta said, is the opportunity the day has given to allow people and groups to adopt it as their own.</p>
<p>"It's much more of a grassroots effort taking advantage of the way social media can spread ideas and connections from small donors," Rosqueta said. "The increased focus has led to an increase in at least online donations.</p>
<p>Even so, the money raised on #GivingTuesday represents only a very small fraction of total annual charitable giving in the United States. According to Giving USA, which issues an annual report on philanthropy, charitable donations in 2014 totaled $358.38 billion.</p>
<p>Sandra Miniutti, vice president of the nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator, agreed that #GivingTuesday has been a plus for charity awareness.</p>
<p>"As for its overall impact, I don't know that it has significantly moved the needle on total annual donations to charities," Miniutti said. "But I do think as a campaign, it has done a great job of bringing greater awareness to all the different causes that need support and helped donors remember to give at year-end." (Editing by Leslie Adler)</p>
<p>By Mitch Lipka</p> | 598,975 |
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<p>The City of Alamogordo's annual July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza, a community tradition for 37 years, is scheduled for Saturday, July 4.</p>
<p>Coordinated by the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the show is one of the largest in the state.</p>
<p>"The Fireworks Extravaganza is a tribute to our community and the pride that we have in our country," said New Mexico Museum of Space History Executive Director Chris Orwoll.</p>
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<p>The theme for this year's show is Apollo 13. Museum staff have been working closely with choreographers from PyroShows of Texas, the company producing the event, to create a unique mix of music and sounds to complement the fireworks.</p>
<p>Tailgating in the museum's parking lots is allowed and begins at 6 p.m., although charcoal grills and personal fireworks are banned for fire safety reasons. Sparklers are allowed.</p>
<p>A live band kicks off the festivities at 7 p.m. Gasoline Alley will be playing a mix of classic rock and country.</p>
<p>The fireworks will begin around 9:15 p.m.; all events are weather permitting with a back-up date of Sunday, July 5.</p>
<p>Up-and-coming country singer Brett Young will perform at Albuquerque's Freedom Fourth.</p>
<p>The Duke City once again has its Freedom Fourth on Saturday, July 4, at Balloon Fiesta Park.</p>
<p>The fireworks show is one of the biggest in the state and it's free to the public and is a rain-or-shine event.</p>
<p>This year's Freedom Fourth will feature music, which is <a href="" type="internal">headlined by country duo Thompson Square</a> at 8 p.m.</p>
<p>The music begins at 4 p.m. with Merican Slang. At 5:15 p.m., Rock Candy takes the stage and then up-and-coming <a href="" type="internal">country singer Brett Young takes the stage</a> at 6:30 p.m.</p>
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<p>The Air Force Band of the Southwest also will perform on the Patriotic Stage at the park from 6-8 p.m.</p>
<p>There will be food and drink available for purchase, as well as kids' activities and a car show.</p>
<p>City officials are urging event-goers to take the Park and Ride service from the Westside and Northeast Heights.</p>
<p>"Driving in and out of Balloon Fiesta Park in your own car and paying $10 for parking can be a hassle," said Bruce Rizzieri, director of ABQ RIDE. "Let ABQ RIDE give you a quicker, more inexpensive alternative."</p>
<p>The Albuquerque Isotopes aren't playing a Fourth of July game as in previous years, but they are having a fireworks show at their game against the Reno Aces tonight. The gates open at 5:30 and entertainment will be provided by the Albuquerque Youth Symphony program. For tickets visit <a href="http://milb.com" type="external">milb.com</a>.</p>
<p>Al Hurricane and Al Hurricane Jr. are performing at Fourth of July events in Socorro and Las Vegas, N.M.</p>
<p>The city of Las Vegas, N.M., will host many of its Fourth of July events on the Historic Plaza and many of the events are free.</p>
<p>There will be a children's fishing derby beginning at 7 a.m. today and the fiestas opening ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m.</p>
<p>The night will be headlined by Grammy Award winners Texmaniacs with Rick Trevino and Flaco Jimenez from 6-8 p.m. tonight. The show will be followed by a plaza dance featuring Agua Negra &amp; Los Tropicales.</p>
<p>At 9 a.m. Saturday, July 4 a parade will be held through the Historic Plaza Park.</p>
<p>Micky Cruz will perform at 11:30 a.m. At dusk the fireworks will take place at the New Mexico Highlands University Golf Course. They will be followed by a plaza dance featuring Maldito Baby &amp; Quemoso.</p>
<p>On Sunday, July 5, there will be performances from Sorela, Al Hurricane and Al Hurricane Jr., as well as Gonzalo.</p>
<p>The 12th Annual Pork &amp; Brew State BBQ Championship will be held both inside and outside of the Santa Ana Star Center from 4-11 today; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, July 4, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 5.</p>
<p>The event will include local, regional and national participants competing and selling food items. In addition to world-class barbecue, the event will feature arts-and-crafts vendors, popular beers including local micro-brews, live music and pig races and a petting zoo courtesy of the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch.</p>
<p>It is $6 general admission, free for ages 3 and under; $4 for ages 4-12 and those over 65 years.</p>
<p>On July 4, an Independence Day parade will kick off at 10 a.m. and head east from Country Club Drive down Southern Boulevard and end on Pinetree Road near the Esther Bone Memorial Library and the Rio Rancho Veterans Monument Park.</p>
<p>As part of the parade, children and their parents are encouraged to participate by riding decorated bicycles. Bike registration will begin at 9 a.m. on the day of the parade in the Bank of America parking lot, 3101 Southern Blvd.</p>
<p>Prizes in three different age groups - 5 to 7, 8 to 10, and 11 to 15 - will be awarded to the bike that is decorated the best, most patriotic and most original. Bikes will join the last entry in the parade as it travels down Southern Boulevard. Helmets must be worn by all children riding a bike.</p>
<p>7th Annual Corbin Hayes Flag Football Tournament, will take place starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, at the Rio Rancho High School Football Stadium, 301 Loma Colorado Blvd.</p>
<p>Loma Colorado Park and the Rio Rancho High School football stadium will both serve as great locations for fireworks viewing. There will be live music starting at 6 p.m. at both locations and the fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m.</p>
<p>There is no admission fee to attend the show. Spectators are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. Parking will be available at the high school and surrounding parking lots for a $5 fee, which benefits the Rio Rancho and Cleveland high school athletic booster clubs.</p>
<p>Pancakes on the Plaza has been around for 40 years in The City Different. This year's event begins at 7 a.m. and runs until noon on Saturday, July 4. Tickets are $7 in advance and $8 on the day of the event. For more information, visit <a href="http://pancakesontheplaza.com" type="external">pancakesontheplaza.com</a>.</p>
<p>Once you've had your fix of pancakes, head on over to Ivan Head Stadium at Santa Fe High School. The fireworks begins at dusk and the event is free and open to the public.</p>
<p>Santa Fe Wine Festival will be held at El Rancho de las Golondrinas.</p>
<p>There will be New Mexico wines from 21 vintners. In addition there will be food, live music and artisans demonstrating traditional crafts.</p>
<p>Music will be provided by Santa Fe's indie band Bus Tapes and Sweet Jones from New Orleans.</p>
<p>The festival is open both from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5.</p>
<p>Tickets are $13 for adults 21 and over, $5 for teens 13-20 and free for children 12 and under. They can be purchased at <a href="http://golondrinas.org" type="external">golondrinas.org</a>.</p>
<p>New this year is a parade to open the day, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Historic Plaza and ending at the music venue, Macey Center.</p>
<p>New Mexico Tech and the city of Socorro have just the ticket: A 23rd annual Fourth of July celebration on the grassy grounds of the campus north of Macey Center that's free to all - and so is parking.</p>
<p>There also are plenty of family options, such as the return of Clan Tynker with their magic show and juggling acts; water slides and balloon jump for the kiddies; traditional barbecue; and a lineup of first-rate entertainment, all back by popular demand.</p>
<p>Headlining the music portion will be Al Hurricane and Al Hurricane Jr.</p>
<p>This year's lineup includes some new names and some crowd favorites. Revelation is a local rock band of middle school musicians. Also performing will be the The Tanya Griego Band as well as The DCN Project. For the first time, the Socorro band Suavecito will close the show.</p>
<p>Returning acts include the Socorro Community Band, Clan Tynker, Doug Figgs and the Cowboy Way and the Et Alia Belly Dancers. At dusk, around 9:30 p.m., the pyrotechnical experts at New Mexico Tech's Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center will put on their own aerial show.</p> | Concerts, fireworks, a BBQ championship and a wine festival are just a few ways to spend the holiday | false | https://abqjournal.com/607215/fourth.html | 2015-07-03 | 2least
| Concerts, fireworks, a BBQ championship and a wine festival are just a few ways to spend the holiday
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<p />
<p>The City of Alamogordo's annual July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza, a community tradition for 37 years, is scheduled for Saturday, July 4.</p>
<p>Coordinated by the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the show is one of the largest in the state.</p>
<p>"The Fireworks Extravaganza is a tribute to our community and the pride that we have in our country," said New Mexico Museum of Space History Executive Director Chris Orwoll.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The theme for this year's show is Apollo 13. Museum staff have been working closely with choreographers from PyroShows of Texas, the company producing the event, to create a unique mix of music and sounds to complement the fireworks.</p>
<p>Tailgating in the museum's parking lots is allowed and begins at 6 p.m., although charcoal grills and personal fireworks are banned for fire safety reasons. Sparklers are allowed.</p>
<p>A live band kicks off the festivities at 7 p.m. Gasoline Alley will be playing a mix of classic rock and country.</p>
<p>The fireworks will begin around 9:15 p.m.; all events are weather permitting with a back-up date of Sunday, July 5.</p>
<p>Up-and-coming country singer Brett Young will perform at Albuquerque's Freedom Fourth.</p>
<p>The Duke City once again has its Freedom Fourth on Saturday, July 4, at Balloon Fiesta Park.</p>
<p>The fireworks show is one of the biggest in the state and it's free to the public and is a rain-or-shine event.</p>
<p>This year's Freedom Fourth will feature music, which is <a href="" type="internal">headlined by country duo Thompson Square</a> at 8 p.m.</p>
<p>The music begins at 4 p.m. with Merican Slang. At 5:15 p.m., Rock Candy takes the stage and then up-and-coming <a href="" type="internal">country singer Brett Young takes the stage</a> at 6:30 p.m.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Air Force Band of the Southwest also will perform on the Patriotic Stage at the park from 6-8 p.m.</p>
<p>There will be food and drink available for purchase, as well as kids' activities and a car show.</p>
<p>City officials are urging event-goers to take the Park and Ride service from the Westside and Northeast Heights.</p>
<p>"Driving in and out of Balloon Fiesta Park in your own car and paying $10 for parking can be a hassle," said Bruce Rizzieri, director of ABQ RIDE. "Let ABQ RIDE give you a quicker, more inexpensive alternative."</p>
<p>The Albuquerque Isotopes aren't playing a Fourth of July game as in previous years, but they are having a fireworks show at their game against the Reno Aces tonight. The gates open at 5:30 and entertainment will be provided by the Albuquerque Youth Symphony program. For tickets visit <a href="http://milb.com" type="external">milb.com</a>.</p>
<p>Al Hurricane and Al Hurricane Jr. are performing at Fourth of July events in Socorro and Las Vegas, N.M.</p>
<p>The city of Las Vegas, N.M., will host many of its Fourth of July events on the Historic Plaza and many of the events are free.</p>
<p>There will be a children's fishing derby beginning at 7 a.m. today and the fiestas opening ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m.</p>
<p>The night will be headlined by Grammy Award winners Texmaniacs with Rick Trevino and Flaco Jimenez from 6-8 p.m. tonight. The show will be followed by a plaza dance featuring Agua Negra &amp; Los Tropicales.</p>
<p>At 9 a.m. Saturday, July 4 a parade will be held through the Historic Plaza Park.</p>
<p>Micky Cruz will perform at 11:30 a.m. At dusk the fireworks will take place at the New Mexico Highlands University Golf Course. They will be followed by a plaza dance featuring Maldito Baby &amp; Quemoso.</p>
<p>On Sunday, July 5, there will be performances from Sorela, Al Hurricane and Al Hurricane Jr., as well as Gonzalo.</p>
<p>The 12th Annual Pork &amp; Brew State BBQ Championship will be held both inside and outside of the Santa Ana Star Center from 4-11 today; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, July 4, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 5.</p>
<p>The event will include local, regional and national participants competing and selling food items. In addition to world-class barbecue, the event will feature arts-and-crafts vendors, popular beers including local micro-brews, live music and pig races and a petting zoo courtesy of the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch.</p>
<p>It is $6 general admission, free for ages 3 and under; $4 for ages 4-12 and those over 65 years.</p>
<p>On July 4, an Independence Day parade will kick off at 10 a.m. and head east from Country Club Drive down Southern Boulevard and end on Pinetree Road near the Esther Bone Memorial Library and the Rio Rancho Veterans Monument Park.</p>
<p>As part of the parade, children and their parents are encouraged to participate by riding decorated bicycles. Bike registration will begin at 9 a.m. on the day of the parade in the Bank of America parking lot, 3101 Southern Blvd.</p>
<p>Prizes in three different age groups - 5 to 7, 8 to 10, and 11 to 15 - will be awarded to the bike that is decorated the best, most patriotic and most original. Bikes will join the last entry in the parade as it travels down Southern Boulevard. Helmets must be worn by all children riding a bike.</p>
<p>7th Annual Corbin Hayes Flag Football Tournament, will take place starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, at the Rio Rancho High School Football Stadium, 301 Loma Colorado Blvd.</p>
<p>Loma Colorado Park and the Rio Rancho High School football stadium will both serve as great locations for fireworks viewing. There will be live music starting at 6 p.m. at both locations and the fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m.</p>
<p>There is no admission fee to attend the show. Spectators are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. Parking will be available at the high school and surrounding parking lots for a $5 fee, which benefits the Rio Rancho and Cleveland high school athletic booster clubs.</p>
<p>Pancakes on the Plaza has been around for 40 years in The City Different. This year's event begins at 7 a.m. and runs until noon on Saturday, July 4. Tickets are $7 in advance and $8 on the day of the event. For more information, visit <a href="http://pancakesontheplaza.com" type="external">pancakesontheplaza.com</a>.</p>
<p>Once you've had your fix of pancakes, head on over to Ivan Head Stadium at Santa Fe High School. The fireworks begins at dusk and the event is free and open to the public.</p>
<p>Santa Fe Wine Festival will be held at El Rancho de las Golondrinas.</p>
<p>There will be New Mexico wines from 21 vintners. In addition there will be food, live music and artisans demonstrating traditional crafts.</p>
<p>Music will be provided by Santa Fe's indie band Bus Tapes and Sweet Jones from New Orleans.</p>
<p>The festival is open both from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5.</p>
<p>Tickets are $13 for adults 21 and over, $5 for teens 13-20 and free for children 12 and under. They can be purchased at <a href="http://golondrinas.org" type="external">golondrinas.org</a>.</p>
<p>New this year is a parade to open the day, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Historic Plaza and ending at the music venue, Macey Center.</p>
<p>New Mexico Tech and the city of Socorro have just the ticket: A 23rd annual Fourth of July celebration on the grassy grounds of the campus north of Macey Center that's free to all - and so is parking.</p>
<p>There also are plenty of family options, such as the return of Clan Tynker with their magic show and juggling acts; water slides and balloon jump for the kiddies; traditional barbecue; and a lineup of first-rate entertainment, all back by popular demand.</p>
<p>Headlining the music portion will be Al Hurricane and Al Hurricane Jr.</p>
<p>This year's lineup includes some new names and some crowd favorites. Revelation is a local rock band of middle school musicians. Also performing will be the The Tanya Griego Band as well as The DCN Project. For the first time, the Socorro band Suavecito will close the show.</p>
<p>Returning acts include the Socorro Community Band, Clan Tynker, Doug Figgs and the Cowboy Way and the Et Alia Belly Dancers. At dusk, around 9:30 p.m., the pyrotechnical experts at New Mexico Tech's Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center will put on their own aerial show.</p> | 598,976 |
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<p>Dear Tax Talk,I paid $65,000 for my home. I have a sinkhole and received $200,000 from the insurance company. I'm not fixing the home, but I'm going to sell it. I will probably only get about $20,000 for the home. I am going to use about $30,000 to buy another home that I already own half of. Do I have to pay taxes on the difference between the $200,000 and the $45,000 ($65,000 paid for home minus $20,000 I'll sell it for)? If so, is it ordinary income or capital gains? I am getting the insurance money in 2010 but won't be able to sell the home until 2011, if that matters.-Kristine</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Dear Kristine,I think you've redefined the term "money pit." What happened must have been a disaster, but at least you won't have to worry about tax problems. The insurance settlement and subsequent sale are treated as the sale of your home. Even though you do not reinvest the proceeds in a new home, you can exclude the capital gain on the sale as if you had sold your home. An individual is entitled to exclude up to $250,000 in gain from the sale of their home if they have owned and lived it in it for more than two years within the last five years.</p>
<p>Considering the amount of appreciation in your home, I assume you have lived in it longer than the requisite two years. If you don't meet the two-year criterion, there are exclusion rules that could apply to get you a good part of the exclusion such as those rules under unforeseen circumstances.</p>
<p>Ask the adviser</p>
<p>To ask a question on Tax Talk, go to the "Ask the Experts" page, and select "Taxes" as the topic. Read more Tax Talk columns.To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Taxpayers should seek professional advice based on their particular circumstances.</p> | Capital Gains on Sale of Money Pit | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2010/12/14/capital-gains-sale-money-pit-126964184.html | 2016-03-17 | 0right
| Capital Gains on Sale of Money Pit
<p />
<p>Dear Tax Talk,I paid $65,000 for my home. I have a sinkhole and received $200,000 from the insurance company. I'm not fixing the home, but I'm going to sell it. I will probably only get about $20,000 for the home. I am going to use about $30,000 to buy another home that I already own half of. Do I have to pay taxes on the difference between the $200,000 and the $45,000 ($65,000 paid for home minus $20,000 I'll sell it for)? If so, is it ordinary income or capital gains? I am getting the insurance money in 2010 but won't be able to sell the home until 2011, if that matters.-Kristine</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Dear Kristine,I think you've redefined the term "money pit." What happened must have been a disaster, but at least you won't have to worry about tax problems. The insurance settlement and subsequent sale are treated as the sale of your home. Even though you do not reinvest the proceeds in a new home, you can exclude the capital gain on the sale as if you had sold your home. An individual is entitled to exclude up to $250,000 in gain from the sale of their home if they have owned and lived it in it for more than two years within the last five years.</p>
<p>Considering the amount of appreciation in your home, I assume you have lived in it longer than the requisite two years. If you don't meet the two-year criterion, there are exclusion rules that could apply to get you a good part of the exclusion such as those rules under unforeseen circumstances.</p>
<p>Ask the adviser</p>
<p>To ask a question on Tax Talk, go to the "Ask the Experts" page, and select "Taxes" as the topic. Read more Tax Talk columns.To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Taxpayers should seek professional advice based on their particular circumstances.</p> | 598,977 |
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<p>ATLANTA — A winter storm striking the South disrupted a new governor’s inauguration in North Carolina, coated roads with hazardous ice and snow in parts of Georgia and Alabama and triggered hundreds of fender benders in Tennessee.</p>
<p>Road workers manning 12-hour shifts pre-treated roads after states of emergency were declared in Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas — racing the storm as it closed in on a wide swath of the Southeast with a messy mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.</p>
<p>Parts of North Carolina and Virginia were forecast to receive up to a foot of snow. Officials warned that their Southern cities, with far fewer snowplows than up north, could grind to a halt with even a thin coat of ice or snow.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Sleet and snow fell on the outlying northwest suburbs of Atlanta while rain and freezing rain brought slush to that city’s streets. But there was no immediate repeat of the epic traffic jam of a January 2014 snowsotrm when gridlock engulfed interstates and many were stranded in their cars.</p>
<p>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted police as saying authorities were handling some vehicle crashes on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta on Friday night. No injuries were reported.</p>
<p>In parts of Alabama, road conditions quickly deteriorated under a thin blanket of snow and sleet. Police said many roads were deemed impassable in Anniston, Oxford and other areas of the state. State troopers say they were working several weather-related crashes and warned that ice-covered bridges were hazardous in the Birmingham area.</p>
<p>The winter mess was blamed for hundreds of fender benders and other non-injury crashes, some involving school buses, on Nashville roads coated by 1 to 2 inches of snow Friday morning. Nashville’s city school district initially ordered classes to start on schedule but had to hastily call early dismissals as police reports of non-injury crashes multiplied. All students safely made it home.</p>
<p>“We apologize,” Nashville Schools Chief Operating Officer Chris Henson said. “We realize that it’s been very frustrating for everyone.”</p>
<p>In North Carolina, the storm threat sent new Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper scrambling to his Executive Mansion ballroom for an abridged swearing-in ceremony Friday. A larger outdoor ceremony Saturday organized for thousands had to be scrapped, along with a parade.</p>
<p>“Consider yourselves the chosen few,” Cooper jokingly told well-wishers who made it to his 20-minute oath-taking.</p>
<p>Lauren Rathbone, manager of a Public Hardware store in Durham, North Carolina, estimated the store sold nearly 7 tons of ice melt in 50- and 10-pound bags, along with hundreds of sleds and shovels. Describing the mood of customers, she said all was good til items began selling out: “Up until about 10 o’clock: Happy, excited, and ‘at least I got my stuff.’ After 10 o’clock: ‘Why the hell ain’t you got anything?'”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>In Atlanta, where memories of a catastrophic snow and ice storm in 2014 are still fresh, city leaders organized early departures from schools, companies and other places. The earlier storm brought traffic to a standstill on metro Atlanta freeways, and office workers were forced to spend the night in their cars in gridlock.</p>
<p>At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport, Delta Air Lines on Friday announced that 350 flights had been canceled ahead of the storm.</p>
<p>Even before the storm hit, shoppers were out in force stocking up on basic foods. But by the time Justin Fetty, 31, of Hampton, Virginia, made it to a Food Lion in that state, every brand of bread that he was familiar with was gone.</p>
<p>“You had to buy like weird stuff,” he said, at a loss describe exactly what kind of bread he purchased. “But my daughter needs her PB&amp;Js.”</p>
<p>The storm was blamed for one death Thursday in Kentucky when a motorist drove off a curve on a snow-slickened road.</p>
<p>Winter weather was also slamming parts of the West during the week, prompting some dangerous conditions but also drawing skiers to the slopes. The storm dumped 6 feet of snow alone atop the Sierra Nevada, raising fears of a flood threat</p>
<p>In Colorado, heavy snow and strong winds raised the danger of avalanches. Snow in Boise, Idaho, reached 15 inches Thursday, breaking the previous snow-depth record of 13 inches from mid-1980s.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Foreman reported from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Associated Press writers Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; Jack Jones in Columbia, South Carolina; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; Jeff Amy in Jackson, Mississippi; and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed to this report.</p> | South storm: Fender benders, food runs, disrupted inaugural | false | https://abqjournal.com/922435/atlanta-aims-to-avoid-repeat-of-epic-icy-traffic-jam.html | 2017-01-06 | 2least
| South storm: Fender benders, food runs, disrupted inaugural
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>ATLANTA — A winter storm striking the South disrupted a new governor’s inauguration in North Carolina, coated roads with hazardous ice and snow in parts of Georgia and Alabama and triggered hundreds of fender benders in Tennessee.</p>
<p>Road workers manning 12-hour shifts pre-treated roads after states of emergency were declared in Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas — racing the storm as it closed in on a wide swath of the Southeast with a messy mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.</p>
<p>Parts of North Carolina and Virginia were forecast to receive up to a foot of snow. Officials warned that their Southern cities, with far fewer snowplows than up north, could grind to a halt with even a thin coat of ice or snow.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Sleet and snow fell on the outlying northwest suburbs of Atlanta while rain and freezing rain brought slush to that city’s streets. But there was no immediate repeat of the epic traffic jam of a January 2014 snowsotrm when gridlock engulfed interstates and many were stranded in their cars.</p>
<p>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted police as saying authorities were handling some vehicle crashes on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta on Friday night. No injuries were reported.</p>
<p>In parts of Alabama, road conditions quickly deteriorated under a thin blanket of snow and sleet. Police said many roads were deemed impassable in Anniston, Oxford and other areas of the state. State troopers say they were working several weather-related crashes and warned that ice-covered bridges were hazardous in the Birmingham area.</p>
<p>The winter mess was blamed for hundreds of fender benders and other non-injury crashes, some involving school buses, on Nashville roads coated by 1 to 2 inches of snow Friday morning. Nashville’s city school district initially ordered classes to start on schedule but had to hastily call early dismissals as police reports of non-injury crashes multiplied. All students safely made it home.</p>
<p>“We apologize,” Nashville Schools Chief Operating Officer Chris Henson said. “We realize that it’s been very frustrating for everyone.”</p>
<p>In North Carolina, the storm threat sent new Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper scrambling to his Executive Mansion ballroom for an abridged swearing-in ceremony Friday. A larger outdoor ceremony Saturday organized for thousands had to be scrapped, along with a parade.</p>
<p>“Consider yourselves the chosen few,” Cooper jokingly told well-wishers who made it to his 20-minute oath-taking.</p>
<p>Lauren Rathbone, manager of a Public Hardware store in Durham, North Carolina, estimated the store sold nearly 7 tons of ice melt in 50- and 10-pound bags, along with hundreds of sleds and shovels. Describing the mood of customers, she said all was good til items began selling out: “Up until about 10 o’clock: Happy, excited, and ‘at least I got my stuff.’ After 10 o’clock: ‘Why the hell ain’t you got anything?'”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>In Atlanta, where memories of a catastrophic snow and ice storm in 2014 are still fresh, city leaders organized early departures from schools, companies and other places. The earlier storm brought traffic to a standstill on metro Atlanta freeways, and office workers were forced to spend the night in their cars in gridlock.</p>
<p>At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport, Delta Air Lines on Friday announced that 350 flights had been canceled ahead of the storm.</p>
<p>Even before the storm hit, shoppers were out in force stocking up on basic foods. But by the time Justin Fetty, 31, of Hampton, Virginia, made it to a Food Lion in that state, every brand of bread that he was familiar with was gone.</p>
<p>“You had to buy like weird stuff,” he said, at a loss describe exactly what kind of bread he purchased. “But my daughter needs her PB&amp;Js.”</p>
<p>The storm was blamed for one death Thursday in Kentucky when a motorist drove off a curve on a snow-slickened road.</p>
<p>Winter weather was also slamming parts of the West during the week, prompting some dangerous conditions but also drawing skiers to the slopes. The storm dumped 6 feet of snow alone atop the Sierra Nevada, raising fears of a flood threat</p>
<p>In Colorado, heavy snow and strong winds raised the danger of avalanches. Snow in Boise, Idaho, reached 15 inches Thursday, breaking the previous snow-depth record of 13 inches from mid-1980s.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Foreman reported from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Associated Press writers Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; Jack Jones in Columbia, South Carolina; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; Jeff Amy in Jackson, Mississippi; and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed to this report.</p> | 598,978 |
<p>From Vietnam to Iraq, Generations Disagree About the Use of Military Force</p>
<p>by Nicole Speulda</p>
<p>Images of war protesters on college campuses have given rise to a common perception that younger people tend to be pacifists. After all, is it not the young whose lives and health are most on the line in any military action? Yet, nearly four decades of survey data show a far more complex and often contradictory reality than does the popular hawk/dove dichotomy.</p>
<p>There is a generation gap over U.S. military interventions­but it is older Americans, not young people, who typically show the greatest wariness about using military force. This was evident during the war in Vietnam and remains the case today. Pew surveys now show that roughly half of those in every age group­except for those ages 50 to 64­ believe the decision to go to war in Iraq was right. And until recently, senior citizens were the least enthusiastic­last fall, for example, just 39% of those ages 65 and over felt it was right to go to war, while 50% said it was wrong.</p>
<p>While young people are at least as supportive of the war as those in other age groups, they are also more likely to support efforts to secure peaceful resolutions through diplomacy and multilateral approaches as well as humanitarian interventions abroad. Americans under age 30 also give priority to domestic concerns over foreign policy in matters of governance.</p>
<p>The generation gap in attitudes toward using force in Iraq was greater in the months leading up to the war. A Pew Research Center commentary analyzing data from August through September of 2002 found solid majorities in every age cohort between 18 and 64 – including 69% of those under age 30 – in favor of taking military action in Iraq. But those in the oldest age cohort – ages 65 and older – were considerably more wary of using force; just 51% were in favor while 31% were opposed.</p>
<p>It is not only in the latest Iraq war that younger and older people have disagreed about the use of military force. In 1990, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, 70% of people under age 30 favored military action against Iraq if economic sanctions failed, compared with just 52% of those ages 50 and older. And on the eve of war in January 1991, young people favored military action over giving sanctions more time by a 54% to 40% margin. People age 50 and older were evenly divided (45% to 45%). It was the older generation that worried most about U.S. forces sustaining high numbers of casualties.</p>
<p>In the 1990s, the use of U.S. troops for peacekeeping missions divided generations. Times-Mirror Center surveys conducted in 1994 posited potential scenarios in which U.S. forces might be used.</p>
<p>In every situation, Americans ages 65 and older were far less willing to support the deployment of U.S. ground forces. These scenarios envisioned such purposes as sending troops to prevent famines, restore law and order in Asian or African countries if their governments completely broke down, or dispatching troops to the Middle East to make sure that U.S. oil supplies would not be cut. Younger people were more likely to support the use of air power in these hypothetical scenarios as well. Citing such observations in a 1995 Aspen Institute report, “The United States and the Use of Force in the Post-Cold War Era,” Andrew Kohut and Robert Toth concluded that interventionists were much more likely to be found among Americans under the age of 30.1</p>
<p>During the Vietnam War, Gallup surveys showed that not only were older people less supportive of President Lyndon Johnson’s Vietnam policies early on, but they also were more likely to say the United States made a mistake in sending troops to fight there. In August 1965, just 41% of those ages 50 and older approved of Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam situation. Americans under age 30 were far more positive toward Johnson’s performance on Vietnam (56% approval).</p>
<p>The generation gap in attitudes toward the Vietnam War did not erode over time. Gallup surveys conducted between 1965 and 1973 show that over time people of all ages increasingly expressed the view that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake, but the broadest criticism always came from older generations. In August of 1965, people ages 50 and older were already twice as likely as those under 30 (by a 29% to 15% margin) to say sending troops to Vietnam was a mistake. Nearly eight years later, as U.S. forces were about to be completely withdrawn, majorities in all age groups saw Vietnam as a mistake, but younger people remained far less likely to take this view (53%) than those age 50 and older (69%).2</p>
<p>Older Americans are more opposed to the use of military force than those in other age groups, but most believe that, in principle, the best way to ensure peace is through military strength rather than effective diplomacy. Americans under age 30 generally favor the opposite approach. Since 1987, the belief in military strength as the best way to ensure peace has never fallen below 60% among those ages 65 and older, while on average only 44% of younger Americans subscribe to that opinion.</p>
<p>Younger people also have a much more favorable opinion of the United Nations than do older Americans and are more likely to say that the international body has a good influence on the way things are going in the United States. Even today, at a time when the public’s ratings of the U.N. are at record lows, young people hold the international organization in relatively high esteem. Today fully 58% of those under 30 say they have a favorable opinion of the U.N., while just 35% of those ages 65 and older say the same. The same generational difference is seen in a 2002 survey that showed a quarter of young people saying the United Nations was having a very good influence on the way things are going in the United States compared with only 14% of those over 65 who said so.</p>
<p>By the same token, the young are also more likely to favor a cooperative approach to foreign policy, and express less concern about maintaining America’s sole superpower status. In a December 2004 survey fully 62% of those under age 30 said U.S. foreign policy should take into account the interests of its allies even if it means making compromises with them. Fewer than half (46%) of those ages 65 and older said the same. And in Pew’s latest foreign policy survey, conducted Oct. 12-24, young respondents were divided over whether U.S. foreign policy should try to keep it so that America is the only military superpower (45%) or whether it would be acceptable if another country became as powerful as the U.S. (40%). By contrast, those ages 65 and older favored preventing the emergence of rival superpowers by more than two-to-one (56% to 24%).</p>
<p>Despite their wariness of U.S. military action, older Americans are more likely than those in younger age groups to hold the view that “we should all be willing to fight for our country, whether it is right or wrong.” In August 2003, 64% of those over 65 supported this tenet, while barely half (51%) of those under age 30 agreed. This gap has persisted since the late 1980s .</p>
<p>Younger age cohorts are not only more likely to be defenders of international agreements but also to express concern about the protection of innocents abroad. Pew’s survey in October did not show obvious generation gaps in the way age groups ranked the importance of such issues as preventing nuclear war, protecting the United States from future terrorist attacks and ensuring adequate energy supplies. But the issue of “Helping improve the living standards in developing nations” was accorded top priority by 38% among those under the age of 30, compared with just 28% of those ages 65 and older, and younger people also place a significantly higher priority on reducing AIDS and other infectious diseases. In this same vein, young people are consistently less likely than older people to subscribe to the view that “most of the countries that have gotten help from America end up resenting us.”</p>
<p>This internationalist view extends to trade agreements as well. In October 2005, nearly six-in-ten (58%) young people said that free trade agreements such as NAFTA are a good thing for the country; only 35% of people ages 50-64 and 33% of those over age 65 agreed – a difference observed consistently in surveys since 1997.</p>
<p>Younger people also tend to be much more supportive of international trade in general, seeing it as a good thing both for the country and for themselves and their families. In a 2002 Pew survey, 27% of those under 30 said growing trade and business ties with other countries are a very good thing for them personally, whereas only 12% of those over 65 said so.</p>
<p>While younger Americans desire a multilateral approach to foreign affairs and are willing to engage military forces more readily to solve a wide range of international problems, their core instinct is to take care of problems at home first. Most (54%) young people agree with the statement “the U.S. should mind its own business internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own” – just 42% disagree. By comparison, majorities in all older age groups disagree.</p>
<p>Similarly, when given the choice of two governing principles, “It’s best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs” or “We should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home,” younger people prefer to focus on their own country. In 2003, only 39% of those under age 30 thought it best to be active, while 53% of those ages 30-64 and nearly half (49%) of those 65 and older preferred international activism.</p>
<p>The foreign policy views of neither younger nor older Americans can be captured in a single word, particularly not by such generalizations as “hawks” or “doves.” The caution that older Americans express on any specific question about sending U.S. troops overseas belies their clear sense that maintaining America’s military strength and superpower status is the best way to keep us – and the rest of the world – safe. The youngest Americans generally prefer effective diplomacy over military strength as the best way to foster peace – but are not notably opposed to using military force in specific circumstances. Who, then, are the hawks and who are the doves? And if the young support international engagement only when problems at home have been addressed first, but want to work with allies through international institutions, while older generations see global affairs as more important but see America’s interests taking priority over international cooperation, who are the isolationists and who are the internationalists?</p>
<p>These seeming paradoxes, however, have their own internal logic. For example, it is not necessarily inconsistent to insist that America remain the world’s only superpower and to see military strength as the best way to achieve peace, yet at the same time to be exceedingly cautious about the application of military force – as is the position of many older Americans. Similarly, while younger people believe America’s best approach to foreign policy is through cooperation and compromise, they also see the use of military force as a tool in the foreign policy toolbox – a practical and tough-minded way to achieve a compassionate end.</p>
<p>Some of these differences across age groups may be explained by the nature of the life cycle – and as today’s youth grow older their views may take on the characteristics of their seniors today. Some may also reflect generational divides – views that are shaped by the events and experiences they share such as World War II, Vietnam, and the end of the Cold War. Only by tracking their opinions of future conflicts will we be able to see if, as today’s young adults grow older, their ideas about these issues change as did those of their forebears.</p>
<p>1 “The United States and the Use of Force in the Post-Cold War Era,” The Aspen Institute, Queenstown, Maryland: 1995.</p>
<p>2 The consistent generational pattern in views of the Vietnam and Iraq wars stands in stark contrast to an analysis of partisan divides. Partisanship was never a major factor in views of the Vietnam conflict – Gallup surveys show that at the outset majorities in both parties said sending troops was correct, and by the end majorities in both parties said it was a mistake, and the partisan gap never widened beyond 10 percentage point.</p> | Youth and War | false | http://pewresearch.org/2006/02/21/youth-and-war/ | 2006-02-21 | 2least
| Youth and War
<p>From Vietnam to Iraq, Generations Disagree About the Use of Military Force</p>
<p>by Nicole Speulda</p>
<p>Images of war protesters on college campuses have given rise to a common perception that younger people tend to be pacifists. After all, is it not the young whose lives and health are most on the line in any military action? Yet, nearly four decades of survey data show a far more complex and often contradictory reality than does the popular hawk/dove dichotomy.</p>
<p>There is a generation gap over U.S. military interventions­but it is older Americans, not young people, who typically show the greatest wariness about using military force. This was evident during the war in Vietnam and remains the case today. Pew surveys now show that roughly half of those in every age group­except for those ages 50 to 64­ believe the decision to go to war in Iraq was right. And until recently, senior citizens were the least enthusiastic­last fall, for example, just 39% of those ages 65 and over felt it was right to go to war, while 50% said it was wrong.</p>
<p>While young people are at least as supportive of the war as those in other age groups, they are also more likely to support efforts to secure peaceful resolutions through diplomacy and multilateral approaches as well as humanitarian interventions abroad. Americans under age 30 also give priority to domestic concerns over foreign policy in matters of governance.</p>
<p>The generation gap in attitudes toward using force in Iraq was greater in the months leading up to the war. A Pew Research Center commentary analyzing data from August through September of 2002 found solid majorities in every age cohort between 18 and 64 – including 69% of those under age 30 – in favor of taking military action in Iraq. But those in the oldest age cohort – ages 65 and older – were considerably more wary of using force; just 51% were in favor while 31% were opposed.</p>
<p>It is not only in the latest Iraq war that younger and older people have disagreed about the use of military force. In 1990, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, 70% of people under age 30 favored military action against Iraq if economic sanctions failed, compared with just 52% of those ages 50 and older. And on the eve of war in January 1991, young people favored military action over giving sanctions more time by a 54% to 40% margin. People age 50 and older were evenly divided (45% to 45%). It was the older generation that worried most about U.S. forces sustaining high numbers of casualties.</p>
<p>In the 1990s, the use of U.S. troops for peacekeeping missions divided generations. Times-Mirror Center surveys conducted in 1994 posited potential scenarios in which U.S. forces might be used.</p>
<p>In every situation, Americans ages 65 and older were far less willing to support the deployment of U.S. ground forces. These scenarios envisioned such purposes as sending troops to prevent famines, restore law and order in Asian or African countries if their governments completely broke down, or dispatching troops to the Middle East to make sure that U.S. oil supplies would not be cut. Younger people were more likely to support the use of air power in these hypothetical scenarios as well. Citing such observations in a 1995 Aspen Institute report, “The United States and the Use of Force in the Post-Cold War Era,” Andrew Kohut and Robert Toth concluded that interventionists were much more likely to be found among Americans under the age of 30.1</p>
<p>During the Vietnam War, Gallup surveys showed that not only were older people less supportive of President Lyndon Johnson’s Vietnam policies early on, but they also were more likely to say the United States made a mistake in sending troops to fight there. In August 1965, just 41% of those ages 50 and older approved of Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam situation. Americans under age 30 were far more positive toward Johnson’s performance on Vietnam (56% approval).</p>
<p>The generation gap in attitudes toward the Vietnam War did not erode over time. Gallup surveys conducted between 1965 and 1973 show that over time people of all ages increasingly expressed the view that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake, but the broadest criticism always came from older generations. In August of 1965, people ages 50 and older were already twice as likely as those under 30 (by a 29% to 15% margin) to say sending troops to Vietnam was a mistake. Nearly eight years later, as U.S. forces were about to be completely withdrawn, majorities in all age groups saw Vietnam as a mistake, but younger people remained far less likely to take this view (53%) than those age 50 and older (69%).2</p>
<p>Older Americans are more opposed to the use of military force than those in other age groups, but most believe that, in principle, the best way to ensure peace is through military strength rather than effective diplomacy. Americans under age 30 generally favor the opposite approach. Since 1987, the belief in military strength as the best way to ensure peace has never fallen below 60% among those ages 65 and older, while on average only 44% of younger Americans subscribe to that opinion.</p>
<p>Younger people also have a much more favorable opinion of the United Nations than do older Americans and are more likely to say that the international body has a good influence on the way things are going in the United States. Even today, at a time when the public’s ratings of the U.N. are at record lows, young people hold the international organization in relatively high esteem. Today fully 58% of those under 30 say they have a favorable opinion of the U.N., while just 35% of those ages 65 and older say the same. The same generational difference is seen in a 2002 survey that showed a quarter of young people saying the United Nations was having a very good influence on the way things are going in the United States compared with only 14% of those over 65 who said so.</p>
<p>By the same token, the young are also more likely to favor a cooperative approach to foreign policy, and express less concern about maintaining America’s sole superpower status. In a December 2004 survey fully 62% of those under age 30 said U.S. foreign policy should take into account the interests of its allies even if it means making compromises with them. Fewer than half (46%) of those ages 65 and older said the same. And in Pew’s latest foreign policy survey, conducted Oct. 12-24, young respondents were divided over whether U.S. foreign policy should try to keep it so that America is the only military superpower (45%) or whether it would be acceptable if another country became as powerful as the U.S. (40%). By contrast, those ages 65 and older favored preventing the emergence of rival superpowers by more than two-to-one (56% to 24%).</p>
<p>Despite their wariness of U.S. military action, older Americans are more likely than those in younger age groups to hold the view that “we should all be willing to fight for our country, whether it is right or wrong.” In August 2003, 64% of those over 65 supported this tenet, while barely half (51%) of those under age 30 agreed. This gap has persisted since the late 1980s .</p>
<p>Younger age cohorts are not only more likely to be defenders of international agreements but also to express concern about the protection of innocents abroad. Pew’s survey in October did not show obvious generation gaps in the way age groups ranked the importance of such issues as preventing nuclear war, protecting the United States from future terrorist attacks and ensuring adequate energy supplies. But the issue of “Helping improve the living standards in developing nations” was accorded top priority by 38% among those under the age of 30, compared with just 28% of those ages 65 and older, and younger people also place a significantly higher priority on reducing AIDS and other infectious diseases. In this same vein, young people are consistently less likely than older people to subscribe to the view that “most of the countries that have gotten help from America end up resenting us.”</p>
<p>This internationalist view extends to trade agreements as well. In October 2005, nearly six-in-ten (58%) young people said that free trade agreements such as NAFTA are a good thing for the country; only 35% of people ages 50-64 and 33% of those over age 65 agreed – a difference observed consistently in surveys since 1997.</p>
<p>Younger people also tend to be much more supportive of international trade in general, seeing it as a good thing both for the country and for themselves and their families. In a 2002 Pew survey, 27% of those under 30 said growing trade and business ties with other countries are a very good thing for them personally, whereas only 12% of those over 65 said so.</p>
<p>While younger Americans desire a multilateral approach to foreign affairs and are willing to engage military forces more readily to solve a wide range of international problems, their core instinct is to take care of problems at home first. Most (54%) young people agree with the statement “the U.S. should mind its own business internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own” – just 42% disagree. By comparison, majorities in all older age groups disagree.</p>
<p>Similarly, when given the choice of two governing principles, “It’s best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs” or “We should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home,” younger people prefer to focus on their own country. In 2003, only 39% of those under age 30 thought it best to be active, while 53% of those ages 30-64 and nearly half (49%) of those 65 and older preferred international activism.</p>
<p>The foreign policy views of neither younger nor older Americans can be captured in a single word, particularly not by such generalizations as “hawks” or “doves.” The caution that older Americans express on any specific question about sending U.S. troops overseas belies their clear sense that maintaining America’s military strength and superpower status is the best way to keep us – and the rest of the world – safe. The youngest Americans generally prefer effective diplomacy over military strength as the best way to foster peace – but are not notably opposed to using military force in specific circumstances. Who, then, are the hawks and who are the doves? And if the young support international engagement only when problems at home have been addressed first, but want to work with allies through international institutions, while older generations see global affairs as more important but see America’s interests taking priority over international cooperation, who are the isolationists and who are the internationalists?</p>
<p>These seeming paradoxes, however, have their own internal logic. For example, it is not necessarily inconsistent to insist that America remain the world’s only superpower and to see military strength as the best way to achieve peace, yet at the same time to be exceedingly cautious about the application of military force – as is the position of many older Americans. Similarly, while younger people believe America’s best approach to foreign policy is through cooperation and compromise, they also see the use of military force as a tool in the foreign policy toolbox – a practical and tough-minded way to achieve a compassionate end.</p>
<p>Some of these differences across age groups may be explained by the nature of the life cycle – and as today’s youth grow older their views may take on the characteristics of their seniors today. Some may also reflect generational divides – views that are shaped by the events and experiences they share such as World War II, Vietnam, and the end of the Cold War. Only by tracking their opinions of future conflicts will we be able to see if, as today’s young adults grow older, their ideas about these issues change as did those of their forebears.</p>
<p>1 “The United States and the Use of Force in the Post-Cold War Era,” The Aspen Institute, Queenstown, Maryland: 1995.</p>
<p>2 The consistent generational pattern in views of the Vietnam and Iraq wars stands in stark contrast to an analysis of partisan divides. Partisanship was never a major factor in views of the Vietnam conflict – Gallup surveys show that at the outset majorities in both parties said sending troops was correct, and by the end majorities in both parties said it was a mistake, and the partisan gap never widened beyond 10 percentage point.</p> | 598,979 |
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<p>The Ethos Percussion Group will perform in Los Alamos this afternoon.</p>
<p>SANTA FE, N.M. - A compelling cross-cultural experience comes to Los Alamos today when the Ethos Percussion group will perform "Rhythms of the Silk Road," an exploration of the musical influences that spread along ancient trade routes from East Asia into the Near East and North Africa, around the Mediterranean and into Europe.</p>
<p>Highly regarded for their Western chamber music expertise, Ethos percussionists Trey Files, Michael Lipsey, Eric Phinney and Yousif Sheronick also are virtuosos on a wide array of exotic instruments.</p>
<p>The audience will be introduced to the Iranian daf, the Egyptian rig and dumbek, the tabla, udu and kanjira of India, Tibetian singing bowls and a host of gongs and drums from Java and China.</p>
<p>For 25 years Ethos has performed at major concert venues across the United States and abroad, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and London's Wigmore Hall.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The ensemble has expanded the percussion repertoire by commissioning more than 25 new works from composers steeped in both western and non-western musical traditions.</p>
<p>The concert is presented by the Los Alamos Concert Association.</p>
<p /> | Ethos Percussion Group employs exotic instruments and influences | false | https://abqjournal.com/571705/ethos-percussion-group-uses-exotic-instruments.html | 2least
| Ethos Percussion Group employs exotic instruments and influences
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<p>The Ethos Percussion Group will perform in Los Alamos this afternoon.</p>
<p>SANTA FE, N.M. - A compelling cross-cultural experience comes to Los Alamos today when the Ethos Percussion group will perform "Rhythms of the Silk Road," an exploration of the musical influences that spread along ancient trade routes from East Asia into the Near East and North Africa, around the Mediterranean and into Europe.</p>
<p>Highly regarded for their Western chamber music expertise, Ethos percussionists Trey Files, Michael Lipsey, Eric Phinney and Yousif Sheronick also are virtuosos on a wide array of exotic instruments.</p>
<p>The audience will be introduced to the Iranian daf, the Egyptian rig and dumbek, the tabla, udu and kanjira of India, Tibetian singing bowls and a host of gongs and drums from Java and China.</p>
<p>For 25 years Ethos has performed at major concert venues across the United States and abroad, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and London's Wigmore Hall.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The ensemble has expanded the percussion repertoire by commissioning more than 25 new works from composers steeped in both western and non-western musical traditions.</p>
<p>The concert is presented by the Los Alamos Concert Association.</p>
<p /> | 598,980 |
|
<p>FOX Business: Capitalism Lives Here</p>
<p>Stocks posted a big rally Friday in the wake of a better-than-expected September jobs report.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Today’s Markets</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 208 points, or 1.2%, to 17009, the S&amp;P 500 climbed 21.7 points, or 1.1%, to 1967, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 45.4 points, or 1%, to 4475.</p>
<p>However, all three major indices still closed the week in negative territory, with Wednesday’s sharp selloff proving too much to overcome.</p>
<p>Wall Street has seen volatility increase in recent weeks amid questions over the timing of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Escalating battles with Islamic State terrorists in the Middle East, as well as protests in Hong Kong, has also weighed on sentiment.</p>
<p>On Friday, an upbeat jobs report gave Wall Street a boost as traders gained confidence that economic growth will remain on track once the Fed moves on interest rates.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The U.S. Labor Department said the economy added a seasonally adjusted 248,000 jobs in September. That topped a consensus estimate of 215,000. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.9%, the first reading below 6% since 2008, although participation in the labor force ticked lower.</p>
<p>Following the jobs report, gold prices slipped to four-year lows.</p>
<p>On the corporate front, General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced two recalls and a stop-delivery order for its new 2015 mid-size pickup trucks. Shares rose 1.8% to $33.76.</p>
<p>Trades in RadioShack (NYSE:RSH) were halted early Friday after reports of a $585 million financing package led by hedge fund Standard General.</p>
<p>In commodities, West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.40 higher, or 1.5%, to $89.61 a barrel. Wholesale New York Harbor gasoline dropped three cents to $2.37 a gallon.</p> | Stocks Rally on Upbeat September Jobs Report | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2014/10/03/stocks-rally-on-upbeat-september-jobs-report.html | 2016-03-06 | 0right
| Stocks Rally on Upbeat September Jobs Report
<p>FOX Business: Capitalism Lives Here</p>
<p>Stocks posted a big rally Friday in the wake of a better-than-expected September jobs report.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Today’s Markets</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 208 points, or 1.2%, to 17009, the S&amp;P 500 climbed 21.7 points, or 1.1%, to 1967, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 45.4 points, or 1%, to 4475.</p>
<p>However, all three major indices still closed the week in negative territory, with Wednesday’s sharp selloff proving too much to overcome.</p>
<p>Wall Street has seen volatility increase in recent weeks amid questions over the timing of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Escalating battles with Islamic State terrorists in the Middle East, as well as protests in Hong Kong, has also weighed on sentiment.</p>
<p>On Friday, an upbeat jobs report gave Wall Street a boost as traders gained confidence that economic growth will remain on track once the Fed moves on interest rates.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>The U.S. Labor Department said the economy added a seasonally adjusted 248,000 jobs in September. That topped a consensus estimate of 215,000. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.9%, the first reading below 6% since 2008, although participation in the labor force ticked lower.</p>
<p>Following the jobs report, gold prices slipped to four-year lows.</p>
<p>On the corporate front, General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced two recalls and a stop-delivery order for its new 2015 mid-size pickup trucks. Shares rose 1.8% to $33.76.</p>
<p>Trades in RadioShack (NYSE:RSH) were halted early Friday after reports of a $585 million financing package led by hedge fund Standard General.</p>
<p>In commodities, West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.40 higher, or 1.5%, to $89.61 a barrel. Wholesale New York Harbor gasoline dropped three cents to $2.37 a gallon.</p> | 598,981 |
<p>Russia’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) seemingly used video game footage to accuse the U.S. of cooperating with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/russias-evidence-us-helping-isis-comes-2015-computer-game-710474?utm_campaign=NewsweekFacebookSF&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=Social" type="external">Newsweek</a>.</p>
<p>Newsweek on Tuesday reported that the agency’s official Twitter account tweeted out a post with several attached drone combat pictures earlier that morning.</p>
<p>“The Ministry of Defence shows irrefutable evidence that #US are actually covering ISIS combat units to recover their combat capabilities, redeploy, and use them to promote American interests in the Middle East,” the tweet said.</p>
<p>The images posted by Russia’s MOD accused the U.S. of cooperating with ISIS in Syria alongside messages in Arabic, English and Russian.</p>
<p>Russia's MOD tweeted one photo with a specific date and location as part of its “evidence.”</p>
<p>“The ISIS convoy, coming out of Abu-Kamal near the Syria-Iraq border,” the image’s description read, listing the date of its creation as Nov. 9.</p>
<p>The image is a still from a development preview of the video game "AC-130 Gunship Simulator" posted on YouTube in 2015.</p>
<p>Another drone image tweeted by Russia’s MOD allegedly showed an ISIS automobile convoy leaving Abu Kamal for the Syrian-Iraqi border on Nov. 9.</p>
<p>The Conflict Intelligence Team noted on Twitter, however, that the screenshot is actually from a June 2016 "Russia Today" video.</p>
<p>The video was provided by Iraq’s Ministry of Defence and showed the Iraqi Air Force bombing ISIS near the Iraqi city of Fallujah.</p>
<p>The Russian-language version of the tweet carrying the compromised evidence first disappeared from the Russian MOD’s page Tuesday.</p>
<p>The English-language version of the same messages soon followed suit, and the Russian MOD later sent out a tweet linking to the original Facebook statement without the images.</p>
<p>Russia has backed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad during his nation’s civil war, and Moscow has often been critical of U.S. operations there.</p>
<p>Moscow has repeatedly claimed that U.S. forces are at best inefficient at fighting ISIS and at worst aligned with jihadist groups.</p> | Russia used video game footage to accuse the US of cooperating with ISIS | false | https://circa.com/story/2017/11/14/world/russia-uses-video-game-footage-to-accuse-us-of-cooperating-with-isis | 2017-11-14 | 1right-center
| Russia used video game footage to accuse the US of cooperating with ISIS
<p>Russia’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) seemingly used video game footage to accuse the U.S. of cooperating with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/russias-evidence-us-helping-isis-comes-2015-computer-game-710474?utm_campaign=NewsweekFacebookSF&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=Social" type="external">Newsweek</a>.</p>
<p>Newsweek on Tuesday reported that the agency’s official Twitter account tweeted out a post with several attached drone combat pictures earlier that morning.</p>
<p>“The Ministry of Defence shows irrefutable evidence that #US are actually covering ISIS combat units to recover their combat capabilities, redeploy, and use them to promote American interests in the Middle East,” the tweet said.</p>
<p>The images posted by Russia’s MOD accused the U.S. of cooperating with ISIS in Syria alongside messages in Arabic, English and Russian.</p>
<p>Russia's MOD tweeted one photo with a specific date and location as part of its “evidence.”</p>
<p>“The ISIS convoy, coming out of Abu-Kamal near the Syria-Iraq border,” the image’s description read, listing the date of its creation as Nov. 9.</p>
<p>The image is a still from a development preview of the video game "AC-130 Gunship Simulator" posted on YouTube in 2015.</p>
<p>Another drone image tweeted by Russia’s MOD allegedly showed an ISIS automobile convoy leaving Abu Kamal for the Syrian-Iraqi border on Nov. 9.</p>
<p>The Conflict Intelligence Team noted on Twitter, however, that the screenshot is actually from a June 2016 "Russia Today" video.</p>
<p>The video was provided by Iraq’s Ministry of Defence and showed the Iraqi Air Force bombing ISIS near the Iraqi city of Fallujah.</p>
<p>The Russian-language version of the tweet carrying the compromised evidence first disappeared from the Russian MOD’s page Tuesday.</p>
<p>The English-language version of the same messages soon followed suit, and the Russian MOD later sent out a tweet linking to the original Facebook statement without the images.</p>
<p>Russia has backed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad during his nation’s civil war, and Moscow has often been critical of U.S. operations there.</p>
<p>Moscow has repeatedly claimed that U.S. forces are at best inefficient at fighting ISIS and at worst aligned with jihadist groups.</p> | 598,982 |
<p>As a show of strength, the earsplitting flyby was unambiguous.</p>
<p>The public got its first glimpse of China's newest fighter jet Tuesday, with two Chengdu J-20 warplanes roaring through the skies at an airshow in the southern city of Zhuhai.</p>
<p>The stealth fighters aroused gasps and applause from the hundreds of spectators, dignitaries and industry executives in attendance, while producing a deafening scream that set off car alarms in the parking lot.</p>
<p>Equally impressed were the country's residents who reacted to the show on Sina Weibo, a social media site similar to Twitter.</p>
<p>"The J-20 is a sharp sword to defend our country and protect our people," one user wrote.</p>
<p>"I am so excited that it has finally taken to the skies," another added.</p>
<p>The J-20 is designed as a rival to America's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor — the most advanced fighter jets currently patrolling the skies.</p>
<p>The similarities between the aircraft may not be coincidental.</p>
<p>U.S. officials <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/chinese-national-who-conspired-hack-us-defense-contractors-systems-sentenced-46-months" type="external">have accused</a>the Chinese military of hacking into their computer systems and <a href="" type="internal">stealing information</a> relating to their cutting-edge stealth fighters.</p>
<p>Experts say that the striking similarities between China's J-20 and America's F-35 and F-22 are clear evidence that this stolen know-how has allowed Beijing to quickly catch-up on these so-called "fifth generation" fighter jets.</p>
<p>"China has been extremely active in stealing design information for many years," said Justin Bronk, a research fellow at the <a href="https://rusi.org" type="external">Royal United Services Institute</a>, a London-based think-tank. "It's a Chinese strategy to steal what they can and reverse engineer it."</p>
<p>Bronk said that many features of the J-20 appeared to be nearly identical to either the F-35 or the F-22.</p>
<p>However, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense rejected any suggestion that the design was stolen.</p>
<p>"The J-20 is a new generation of stealth fighter jet independently developed by China," it said in a faxed statement sent to NBC News on Thursday. "The accusation by some people that China stole the technology of others is totally groundless."</p>
<p>While the prospect of a direct war between the U.S and China is currently unlikely, Beijing is in open and heated disagreements with several of Washington's allies over <a href="" type="internal">territorial disputes</a> in the South China Sea.</p>
<p>Senior Colonel Shen , a spokesman for the Chinese military said the J-20 would be given the "sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity."</p>
<p>The J-20 will likely not be deployed until at least 2018, and it's rare for China to display its aircraft at such an early stage. From Tuesday's display alone, it is difficult to gauge its capabilities.</p>
<p>A version of the plane first made an appearance in 2011 — although not in front of a public crowd — and it appears to be ahead of schedule to being deployed at squadron-level.</p>
<p>The U.S. appears unperturbed about China's newest bird.</p>
<p>Asked about the plane in August, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said that in the theater of modern warfare aircraft themselves were just one piece of the puzzle.</p>
<p>"It's no longer about a [single aircraft], it's about a family of systems and it's about a network, and that's what gives us an asymmetric advantage," he said. "So that's why when I hear about an F-35 versus J-20, it's almost an irrelevant comparison because you really got to think about a network versus a network."</p>
<p>The J-20 likely won't be as stealthy or fast as its U.S. counterparts, according to Bronk, who based his assessment on the aircraft's visible features and China's traditional problems making engines.</p>
<p>But it will probably have an extremely long range and represents a "leap forward" for the country's military capabilities, he said.</p>
<p>"While it's not a game-changer it does give China a much improved operational strike capability," added Ben Moores, a senior analyst at <a href="http://www.janes.com/" type="external">IHS Janes</a>. "It gives China a modern long-range strike capability that is able to carry much heavier payloads into areas of the Pacific and South China Sea that it was previously unable to reach in an effective manner."</p>
<p>China may also be able to outclass its rivals through sheer numbers.</p>
<p>The U.S. says it intends to purchase 2,450 of Lockheed Martin's F-35s at a cost of almost $400 billion — but the production line will be relatively slow.</p>
<p>By comparison, China "will mostly ramp up production of these things pretty quickly," according to Bronk. "They might not be a matchup one-on-one with the F-35 but they may well be able to put far more of them in the sky in the next few years."</p> | China Offers First Glimpse of Chengdu J-20 Stealth Fighter | false | http://nbcnews.com/news/china/china-offers-first-glimpse-chengdu-j-20-stealth-fighter-n676156 | 2016-11-03 | 3left-center
| China Offers First Glimpse of Chengdu J-20 Stealth Fighter
<p>As a show of strength, the earsplitting flyby was unambiguous.</p>
<p>The public got its first glimpse of China's newest fighter jet Tuesday, with two Chengdu J-20 warplanes roaring through the skies at an airshow in the southern city of Zhuhai.</p>
<p>The stealth fighters aroused gasps and applause from the hundreds of spectators, dignitaries and industry executives in attendance, while producing a deafening scream that set off car alarms in the parking lot.</p>
<p>Equally impressed were the country's residents who reacted to the show on Sina Weibo, a social media site similar to Twitter.</p>
<p>"The J-20 is a sharp sword to defend our country and protect our people," one user wrote.</p>
<p>"I am so excited that it has finally taken to the skies," another added.</p>
<p>The J-20 is designed as a rival to America's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor — the most advanced fighter jets currently patrolling the skies.</p>
<p>The similarities between the aircraft may not be coincidental.</p>
<p>U.S. officials <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/chinese-national-who-conspired-hack-us-defense-contractors-systems-sentenced-46-months" type="external">have accused</a>the Chinese military of hacking into their computer systems and <a href="" type="internal">stealing information</a> relating to their cutting-edge stealth fighters.</p>
<p>Experts say that the striking similarities between China's J-20 and America's F-35 and F-22 are clear evidence that this stolen know-how has allowed Beijing to quickly catch-up on these so-called "fifth generation" fighter jets.</p>
<p>"China has been extremely active in stealing design information for many years," said Justin Bronk, a research fellow at the <a href="https://rusi.org" type="external">Royal United Services Institute</a>, a London-based think-tank. "It's a Chinese strategy to steal what they can and reverse engineer it."</p>
<p>Bronk said that many features of the J-20 appeared to be nearly identical to either the F-35 or the F-22.</p>
<p>However, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense rejected any suggestion that the design was stolen.</p>
<p>"The J-20 is a new generation of stealth fighter jet independently developed by China," it said in a faxed statement sent to NBC News on Thursday. "The accusation by some people that China stole the technology of others is totally groundless."</p>
<p>While the prospect of a direct war between the U.S and China is currently unlikely, Beijing is in open and heated disagreements with several of Washington's allies over <a href="" type="internal">territorial disputes</a> in the South China Sea.</p>
<p>Senior Colonel Shen , a spokesman for the Chinese military said the J-20 would be given the "sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity."</p>
<p>The J-20 will likely not be deployed until at least 2018, and it's rare for China to display its aircraft at such an early stage. From Tuesday's display alone, it is difficult to gauge its capabilities.</p>
<p>A version of the plane first made an appearance in 2011 — although not in front of a public crowd — and it appears to be ahead of schedule to being deployed at squadron-level.</p>
<p>The U.S. appears unperturbed about China's newest bird.</p>
<p>Asked about the plane in August, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said that in the theater of modern warfare aircraft themselves were just one piece of the puzzle.</p>
<p>"It's no longer about a [single aircraft], it's about a family of systems and it's about a network, and that's what gives us an asymmetric advantage," he said. "So that's why when I hear about an F-35 versus J-20, it's almost an irrelevant comparison because you really got to think about a network versus a network."</p>
<p>The J-20 likely won't be as stealthy or fast as its U.S. counterparts, according to Bronk, who based his assessment on the aircraft's visible features and China's traditional problems making engines.</p>
<p>But it will probably have an extremely long range and represents a "leap forward" for the country's military capabilities, he said.</p>
<p>"While it's not a game-changer it does give China a much improved operational strike capability," added Ben Moores, a senior analyst at <a href="http://www.janes.com/" type="external">IHS Janes</a>. "It gives China a modern long-range strike capability that is able to carry much heavier payloads into areas of the Pacific and South China Sea that it was previously unable to reach in an effective manner."</p>
<p>China may also be able to outclass its rivals through sheer numbers.</p>
<p>The U.S. says it intends to purchase 2,450 of Lockheed Martin's F-35s at a cost of almost $400 billion — but the production line will be relatively slow.</p>
<p>By comparison, China "will mostly ramp up production of these things pretty quickly," according to Bronk. "They might not be a matchup one-on-one with the F-35 but they may well be able to put far more of them in the sky in the next few years."</p> | 598,983 |
<p>The student president of Cornell University’s College Republicans was physically shoved and called a “racist b****” the day after the November 8 election, she told The Tab, Cornell’s conservative student paper.</p>
<p>“I was actually assaulted on campus for being a Republican,” sophomore Olivia Corn said. “I had someone throw me to the ground and say: ‘F*** you, racist b****, you support a racist party.’”</p>
<p>Corn told The Tab leftist students on campus had become exceptionally emotional when her organization hosted former presidential candidate Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), telling her she was a "disgrace" to women.</p>
<p>“I had people come up and scream in my face about it,” she said, adding she felt insulted to be called a fascist because “I am very far from the definition of a fascist. I am about as moderate of a Republican as you’re going to find- I am pro-choice, I am pro-gay marriage, I believe climate change exists.”</p>
<p>The Republican student organization was known for its criticism of Republican President-Elect Donald Trump, and had endorsed Gary Johnson for president; nonetheless, it received heat for simply not positioning itself on the hard left.</p>
<p>“So that was very interesting to me that automatically people find those words and boxes to put you in when you’re on the conservative side,” Corn explained.</p>
<p>Corn says she did not see her attacker’s face-- as the incident happened when it was dark outside-- but she thinks she knows who it was. She has since felt nervous walking around alone on campus.</p>
<p>“I now walk with an alarm at all times,” she said. “That’s pretty much my new normal. I don’t walk by myself after a certain time, once it gets dark. And that’s not something I should have to be concerned with. I’m a college student, I’m just trying to get good grades, get to law school, keep my head down – besides being the head of an organization.”</p>
<p>The CR leader reported the incident to school authorities and was offered counseling. Cornell media spokesperson John Carberry confirmed receiving her report.</p>
<p>“On the afternoon of Nov. 10, a female student reported that a physical harassment incident occurred on campus the previous evening,” he wrote. “Cornell University Police began a criminal investigation, and assisted the student in filing a report with our Title IX coordinator and a Bias Incident Report with our Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity. The Cornell University Police investigation is ongoing.”</p>
<p>In his email statement to the student paper, Carberry invited students to contact Cornell’s police department if they had any information related to Corn’s attacker.</p>
<p>Follow Pardes Seleh on <a href="https://twitter.com/PardesSeleh" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p> | Cornell University Republican President Called ‘Racist B****’ | true | https://dailywire.com/news/11685/cornell-college-republican-president-called-racist-pardes-seleh | 2016-12-16 | 0right
| Cornell University Republican President Called ‘Racist B****’
<p>The student president of Cornell University’s College Republicans was physically shoved and called a “racist b****” the day after the November 8 election, she told The Tab, Cornell’s conservative student paper.</p>
<p>“I was actually assaulted on campus for being a Republican,” sophomore Olivia Corn said. “I had someone throw me to the ground and say: ‘F*** you, racist b****, you support a racist party.’”</p>
<p>Corn told The Tab leftist students on campus had become exceptionally emotional when her organization hosted former presidential candidate Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), telling her she was a "disgrace" to women.</p>
<p>“I had people come up and scream in my face about it,” she said, adding she felt insulted to be called a fascist because “I am very far from the definition of a fascist. I am about as moderate of a Republican as you’re going to find- I am pro-choice, I am pro-gay marriage, I believe climate change exists.”</p>
<p>The Republican student organization was known for its criticism of Republican President-Elect Donald Trump, and had endorsed Gary Johnson for president; nonetheless, it received heat for simply not positioning itself on the hard left.</p>
<p>“So that was very interesting to me that automatically people find those words and boxes to put you in when you’re on the conservative side,” Corn explained.</p>
<p>Corn says she did not see her attacker’s face-- as the incident happened when it was dark outside-- but she thinks she knows who it was. She has since felt nervous walking around alone on campus.</p>
<p>“I now walk with an alarm at all times,” she said. “That’s pretty much my new normal. I don’t walk by myself after a certain time, once it gets dark. And that’s not something I should have to be concerned with. I’m a college student, I’m just trying to get good grades, get to law school, keep my head down – besides being the head of an organization.”</p>
<p>The CR leader reported the incident to school authorities and was offered counseling. Cornell media spokesperson John Carberry confirmed receiving her report.</p>
<p>“On the afternoon of Nov. 10, a female student reported that a physical harassment incident occurred on campus the previous evening,” he wrote. “Cornell University Police began a criminal investigation, and assisted the student in filing a report with our Title IX coordinator and a Bias Incident Report with our Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity. The Cornell University Police investigation is ongoing.”</p>
<p>In his email statement to the student paper, Carberry invited students to contact Cornell’s police department if they had any information related to Corn’s attacker.</p>
<p>Follow Pardes Seleh on <a href="https://twitter.com/PardesSeleh" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p> | 598,984 |
<p>The base of the Republican Party in recent elections has been white voters from the South but its presidential candidates have come from almost every state outside the former Confederacy.</p>
<p>As Nate Cohn <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html?rref=upshot" type="external">noted</a> in the New York Times on Thursday, "a record 41 percent of Republican voters in the 2012 election hailed from the South" and, in some counties, over 90% of whites voted for Mitt Romney in the GOP ticket. But, while the Republican Party is increasingly becoming the party of Southern whites, this shift has not been reflected in the GOP's national candidates.</p>
<p>In fact, since the GOP's founding in 1856, the party has only had one presidential nominee who was born and raised in the South. That, of course, was the guy they nominated in 1856, Georgia native <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Fr%C3%A9mont" type="external">John Fremont</a>, who acquired wealth and fame exploring California and helping lead American forces in the state during the Mexican War. Since then, only one other GOP presidential nominee was even born in one of the eleven former states of the Confederacy, Dwight Eisenhower, who was born in Texas while his family briefly lived in the Lone Star State. Eisenhower's family returned to Kansas before the 34th President's second birthday. (The only other Republican nominee with a case to southern roots is Connecticut native George W. Bush, who grew up in Midland, Texas. There is a broad debate about whether West Texas should even be considered part of the South or part of the Southwest but our 43rd President's birth in New Haven makes that debate somewhat immaterial.)</p>
<p>The Republican Party hasn't made up for this with its vice presidential choices either. Although Lincoln's second vice president, Andrew Johnson, was born in North Carolina and raised in Tennessee, he wasn't even a Republican. Instead, Johnson, who became president after Lincoln's assassination was a Democrat who was chosen to signify bipartisan unity in the midst of the Civil War. Besides Johnson, the only other Republican vice presidential choice to hail from south of the Mason-Dixon line was Spiro Agnew, who just technically made it, having grown up in northwest Baltimore.</p>
<p>This seems primed to change in 2016 as most of the GOP's frontrunners have southern roots. Ted Cruz, despite being <a href="" type="internal">born in Canada</a>, has spent most of life living in metro Houston, <a href="" type="internal">Rand Paul</a> grew up in East Texas before moving to Kentucky and, of course, <a href="" type="internal">Mike Huckabee</a> is the former Governor of Arkansas. But, at least for the next two years, while Democrats can point to decades of Southerners, from Al Gore and Bill Clinton on back to Jimmy Carter and Lyndon Johnson and beyond, the Republican Party can still only point to John Fremont as the only southerner to ever represent their party on a national ticket.</p> | GOP's Lack Of Presidential Nominees From The South | true | https://thedailybeast.com/gops-lack-of-presidential-nominees-from-the-south | 2018-10-03 | 4left
| GOP's Lack Of Presidential Nominees From The South
<p>The base of the Republican Party in recent elections has been white voters from the South but its presidential candidates have come from almost every state outside the former Confederacy.</p>
<p>As Nate Cohn <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html?rref=upshot" type="external">noted</a> in the New York Times on Thursday, "a record 41 percent of Republican voters in the 2012 election hailed from the South" and, in some counties, over 90% of whites voted for Mitt Romney in the GOP ticket. But, while the Republican Party is increasingly becoming the party of Southern whites, this shift has not been reflected in the GOP's national candidates.</p>
<p>In fact, since the GOP's founding in 1856, the party has only had one presidential nominee who was born and raised in the South. That, of course, was the guy they nominated in 1856, Georgia native <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Fr%C3%A9mont" type="external">John Fremont</a>, who acquired wealth and fame exploring California and helping lead American forces in the state during the Mexican War. Since then, only one other GOP presidential nominee was even born in one of the eleven former states of the Confederacy, Dwight Eisenhower, who was born in Texas while his family briefly lived in the Lone Star State. Eisenhower's family returned to Kansas before the 34th President's second birthday. (The only other Republican nominee with a case to southern roots is Connecticut native George W. Bush, who grew up in Midland, Texas. There is a broad debate about whether West Texas should even be considered part of the South or part of the Southwest but our 43rd President's birth in New Haven makes that debate somewhat immaterial.)</p>
<p>The Republican Party hasn't made up for this with its vice presidential choices either. Although Lincoln's second vice president, Andrew Johnson, was born in North Carolina and raised in Tennessee, he wasn't even a Republican. Instead, Johnson, who became president after Lincoln's assassination was a Democrat who was chosen to signify bipartisan unity in the midst of the Civil War. Besides Johnson, the only other Republican vice presidential choice to hail from south of the Mason-Dixon line was Spiro Agnew, who just technically made it, having grown up in northwest Baltimore.</p>
<p>This seems primed to change in 2016 as most of the GOP's frontrunners have southern roots. Ted Cruz, despite being <a href="" type="internal">born in Canada</a>, has spent most of life living in metro Houston, <a href="" type="internal">Rand Paul</a> grew up in East Texas before moving to Kentucky and, of course, <a href="" type="internal">Mike Huckabee</a> is the former Governor of Arkansas. But, at least for the next two years, while Democrats can point to decades of Southerners, from Al Gore and Bill Clinton on back to Jimmy Carter and Lyndon Johnson and beyond, the Republican Party can still only point to John Fremont as the only southerner to ever represent their party on a national ticket.</p> | 598,985 |
<p>ST. LOUIS (MO)St. Louis Post-DispatchBy <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">TIM BRYANT</a> Post-Dispatch11/05/2003</p>
<p>When the Rev. Bryan Kuchar wore his Catholic priest's collar and black shirt and slacks during his trials for sexually molesting a teenager, he stirred up some controversy. The first jury that heard the case against Kuchar, who will be sentenced Friday, deadlocked on charges that the priest had sodomized a 14-year-old boy in 1995. After that trial in May, some of the jurors interviewed said that they found it difficult to think ill of a priest. Kuchar had worn his collar to court each day. He wore it again in August, but a second St. Louis County jury convicted him of three counts of sodomy and recommended a year in jail on each count. As more priests go on trial nationwide in the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic church, the issue of what they wear has become a concern.</p>
<p>Richard Waites, a lawyer and psychologist who heads a nationwide jury consulting firm, said that more often than not he recommends that defendant priests wear their collars to court.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p /> | At priests' trials, collars are controversial | false | https://poynter.org/news/priests-trials-collars-are-controversial | 2003-11-06 | 2least
| At priests' trials, collars are controversial
<p>ST. LOUIS (MO)St. Louis Post-DispatchBy <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">TIM BRYANT</a> Post-Dispatch11/05/2003</p>
<p>When the Rev. Bryan Kuchar wore his Catholic priest's collar and black shirt and slacks during his trials for sexually molesting a teenager, he stirred up some controversy. The first jury that heard the case against Kuchar, who will be sentenced Friday, deadlocked on charges that the priest had sodomized a 14-year-old boy in 1995. After that trial in May, some of the jurors interviewed said that they found it difficult to think ill of a priest. Kuchar had worn his collar to court each day. He wore it again in August, but a second St. Louis County jury convicted him of three counts of sodomy and recommended a year in jail on each count. As more priests go on trial nationwide in the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic church, the issue of what they wear has become a concern.</p>
<p>Richard Waites, a lawyer and psychologist who heads a nationwide jury consulting firm, said that more often than not he recommends that defendant priests wear their collars to court.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p /> | 598,986 |
<p>Anti-Trump protesters march along Van Nuys Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Sipa USA via AP Photo</p>
<p />
<p>On January 20, president-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated into office. The swearing-in ceremony will begin&#160;at 11:30 a.m. followed by several celebrations, including galas and inaugural balls, throughout&#160;the weekend.</p>
<p>But if Trump’s critics have anything to do with it, the inauguration won’t entirely be festive: Dozens of groups have announced rallies and protests leading up to the historic event, including the <a href="https://www.womensmarch.com/" type="external">Women’s March on Washington</a>, which is expected to draw as many as 200,000 attendees. Washington, DC officials say they’re preparing for at least <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-prepares-for-a-million-inauguration-visitors--plus-many-protesters/2016/12/01/1764c78e-b707-11e6-a677-b608fbb3aaf6_story.html?utm_term=.d09914dfe987" type="external">a million visitors</a> to the city for the inauguration and protests. And it’s not just the capital that’s bracing for January 20. Hundreds of cities expect local rallies to take place.</p>
<p>These are some of the major events that have already taken place, as well as ones that are planned. Follow our live coverage of highlights from the inauguration protests <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.</p>
<p>January 14: March for Immigrants and Refugees</p>
<p>Part of the <a href="http://weareheretostay.org/" type="external">We Are Here to Stay</a> campaign, immigrant and refugee rights groups organized to show solidarity for immigrants and other vulnerable communities and to stand up against hateful rhetoric against immigrants. The grassroots campaign,&#160;led by United We Dream, a youth-led immigrant justice group, urged&#160;local groups to start their own chapters to protest Trump’s immigration proposals. Events took place in numerous cities, including <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/rally-to-protect-immigrants-refugees" type="external">Tucson</a>, <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/rally-to-protect-immigrants-and-refugees-12" type="external">Albuquerque</a>, <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/rally-to-protect-immigrants-and-refugees-14" type="external">Chicago</a>, and <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/march-to-protect-immigrants-and-refugees-9" type="external">Houston</a>.</p>
<p>January&#160;14: We Shall Not Be Moved March on Washington</p>
<p>Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network <a href="https://mic.com/articles/165530/the-we-shall-not-be-moved-march-draws-hundreds-concerned-about-civil-rights-under-trump#.9xtIwHdII" type="external">held</a> a <a href="http://nationalactionnetwork.net/the-march-january-12th-2016-washington-dc/" type="external">march on Washington</a> to call for Trump to continue protecting civil rights. “Protecting the civil rights of citizens and the voting rights of people that have been excluded, providing health care for all Americans and equal opportunity should supersede any of the beltway partisan fights that we are inevitably headed into,” said&#160;the group.</p>
<p>January&#160;15: Our First Stand: Save Health Care</p>
<p>Led by Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Democratic members of Congress and other health care groups&#160; <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/01/15/509960559/democrats-rally-in-dozens-of-cities-to-oppose-obamacare-repeal" type="external">protested</a>&#160;the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act with&#160;rallies across the country. House leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) held&#160;an event in San Francisco, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was&#160;in Los Angeles, and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), along with Mayor Marty Walsh, <a href="https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2017/01/15/watch-elizabeth-warren-marty-walsh-and-other-health-care-law-supporters-speak-at-faneuil-hall-rally" type="external">led a rally</a> in Boston, Massachusetts. Sanders made headlines recently when he <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/politics/2017/01/04/bernie-sanders-brought-giant-trump-tweet-congress/96182194/" type="external">brought</a> a giant banner of a Trump tweet to Congress (Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/596338364187602944" type="external">tweeted</a> last May that he would not make cuts to social security, Medicare, and Medicaid) and drew <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/beginning-fight-sanders-schumer-hold-rally-defending-affordable-care-act-n707136" type="external">thousands</a> to his own event in Warren, Michigan.</p>
<p>January&#160;15: Writers Resist rallies</p>
<p>Launched by poet Erin Belieu, <a href="http://www.writersresist.org/" type="external">Writer’s Resist</a> calls itself a national network of writers “driven to defend the ideals of a free, just and compassionate democratic society.” The group asked writers to independently organize local events where writers read from historic and contemporary texts on democracy and free expression. More than 75 events were planned, including in Seattle, Portland, Omaha, London and Hong Kong, according to its website. The flagship event was held in New York City, where writers <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/our-democracy-risk-writers-resist-martin-luther-king-jr-day-n707316" type="external">gathered</a> at the steps of the New York Public Library for readings, performances, and a pledge to defend the First Amendment.</p>
<p>January 19: Reclaim Our Schools Day of Action</p>
<p>Several teachers unions and education groups, including the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, have organized under a newly-formed group called the National Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools. They plan to stage a <a href="http://www.reclaimourschools.org/january-19-day-resistance" type="external">national day of action</a> to “defend” schools from Donald Trump and his calls to dismantle the public education system. Educators have called Trump and his secretary of education pick, Betsy DeVos, an “ <a href="" type="internal">existential threat to public schools</a>.”&#160;</p>
<p>January 19: Busboys and Poets Peace Ball</p>
<p>Described as an alternative to anti-Trump protests, the <a href="http://busboysandpoets.com/events/info/2017-inaugural-peace-ball" type="external">Busboys and Poets Peace Ball</a> will be a “gathering to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the past four years” at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Notable attendees include celebrities, authors, and organizers such as Solange, Alice Walker, Amy Goodman and Alicia Garza. The event had room for more than 3,000 people and has already sold out, founder Andy Shallal told <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/progressives-seeking-joy-wake-election-889b6e75e1cc#.wqlv67x89" type="external">ThinkProgress</a>.</p>
<p>January 20: #InaugurateTheResistance</p>
<p>The Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition secured a permit to stage a “ <a href="http://www.answercoalition.org/protest_on_inauguration_day" type="external">mass protest</a>” against Donald Trump, starting at 7 a.m. at DC’s Freedom Plaza. Other groups holding marches include the <a href="http://www.occupyinauguration.org/schedules" type="external">Occupy Movement,</a>the <a href="http://www.dsausa.org/dsa_at_inauguration_2017" type="external">Democratic Socialists of America</a>, and <a href="http://www.disruptj20.org" type="external">#DisruptJ20</a>, a group which says it wants to shut down the inauguration.</p>
<p>Separately, the DCMJ, a lobbying group focused on marijuana legislation, says it will <a href="http://dcmj.org/trump420/" type="external">distribute</a> free joints to celebrate pot legalization in D.C.</p>
<p>January 20: Student walkouts</p>
<p>College students across the country are planning campus walkouts, organized by groups including <a href="http://socialiststudents.net/student-walkouts/" type="external">Socialist Students</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1155379994550006/" type="external">Students for a Democratic Society</a>.</p>
<p>January 21: Women’s March</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.womensmarch.com/" type="external">Women’s March</a> on Washington, which started as a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2169332969958991/" type="external">Facebook page</a> after the election, will be by far one of the biggest events after the inauguration. The march’s organizers say up to 200,000 people could attend, and the event has drawn such enthusiasm and support that additional Facebook pages have been set up for parents who are <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1864386127130497/" type="external">bringing their children</a>, as well as a “ <a href="http://www.marchbnb.com/" type="external">MarchBnb</a>” website for people in need of housing.</p>
<p>Other marches inspired by the Women’s March are also being held in other cities in the US and worldwide. A full list can be found <a href="https://www.womensmarch.com/sisters" type="external">here.</a></p>
<p>This post has been updated.</p>
<p /> | A Firestorm of Protests Will Take Aim at Donald Trump’s Inauguration | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/trump-inauguration-protest-rally/ | 2017-01-14 | 4left
| A Firestorm of Protests Will Take Aim at Donald Trump’s Inauguration
<p>Anti-Trump protesters march along Van Nuys Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Sipa USA via AP Photo</p>
<p />
<p>On January 20, president-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated into office. The swearing-in ceremony will begin&#160;at 11:30 a.m. followed by several celebrations, including galas and inaugural balls, throughout&#160;the weekend.</p>
<p>But if Trump’s critics have anything to do with it, the inauguration won’t entirely be festive: Dozens of groups have announced rallies and protests leading up to the historic event, including the <a href="https://www.womensmarch.com/" type="external">Women’s March on Washington</a>, which is expected to draw as many as 200,000 attendees. Washington, DC officials say they’re preparing for at least <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-prepares-for-a-million-inauguration-visitors--plus-many-protesters/2016/12/01/1764c78e-b707-11e6-a677-b608fbb3aaf6_story.html?utm_term=.d09914dfe987" type="external">a million visitors</a> to the city for the inauguration and protests. And it’s not just the capital that’s bracing for January 20. Hundreds of cities expect local rallies to take place.</p>
<p>These are some of the major events that have already taken place, as well as ones that are planned. Follow our live coverage of highlights from the inauguration protests <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.</p>
<p>January 14: March for Immigrants and Refugees</p>
<p>Part of the <a href="http://weareheretostay.org/" type="external">We Are Here to Stay</a> campaign, immigrant and refugee rights groups organized to show solidarity for immigrants and other vulnerable communities and to stand up against hateful rhetoric against immigrants. The grassroots campaign,&#160;led by United We Dream, a youth-led immigrant justice group, urged&#160;local groups to start their own chapters to protest Trump’s immigration proposals. Events took place in numerous cities, including <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/rally-to-protect-immigrants-refugees" type="external">Tucson</a>, <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/rally-to-protect-immigrants-and-refugees-12" type="external">Albuquerque</a>, <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/rally-to-protect-immigrants-and-refugees-14" type="external">Chicago</a>, and <a href="https://action.unitedwedream.org/events/march-to-protect-immigrants-and-refugees-9" type="external">Houston</a>.</p>
<p>January&#160;14: We Shall Not Be Moved March on Washington</p>
<p>Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network <a href="https://mic.com/articles/165530/the-we-shall-not-be-moved-march-draws-hundreds-concerned-about-civil-rights-under-trump#.9xtIwHdII" type="external">held</a> a <a href="http://nationalactionnetwork.net/the-march-january-12th-2016-washington-dc/" type="external">march on Washington</a> to call for Trump to continue protecting civil rights. “Protecting the civil rights of citizens and the voting rights of people that have been excluded, providing health care for all Americans and equal opportunity should supersede any of the beltway partisan fights that we are inevitably headed into,” said&#160;the group.</p>
<p>January&#160;15: Our First Stand: Save Health Care</p>
<p>Led by Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Democratic members of Congress and other health care groups&#160; <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/01/15/509960559/democrats-rally-in-dozens-of-cities-to-oppose-obamacare-repeal" type="external">protested</a>&#160;the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act with&#160;rallies across the country. House leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) held&#160;an event in San Francisco, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was&#160;in Los Angeles, and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), along with Mayor Marty Walsh, <a href="https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2017/01/15/watch-elizabeth-warren-marty-walsh-and-other-health-care-law-supporters-speak-at-faneuil-hall-rally" type="external">led a rally</a> in Boston, Massachusetts. Sanders made headlines recently when he <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/politics/2017/01/04/bernie-sanders-brought-giant-trump-tweet-congress/96182194/" type="external">brought</a> a giant banner of a Trump tweet to Congress (Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/596338364187602944" type="external">tweeted</a> last May that he would not make cuts to social security, Medicare, and Medicaid) and drew <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/beginning-fight-sanders-schumer-hold-rally-defending-affordable-care-act-n707136" type="external">thousands</a> to his own event in Warren, Michigan.</p>
<p>January&#160;15: Writers Resist rallies</p>
<p>Launched by poet Erin Belieu, <a href="http://www.writersresist.org/" type="external">Writer’s Resist</a> calls itself a national network of writers “driven to defend the ideals of a free, just and compassionate democratic society.” The group asked writers to independently organize local events where writers read from historic and contemporary texts on democracy and free expression. More than 75 events were planned, including in Seattle, Portland, Omaha, London and Hong Kong, according to its website. The flagship event was held in New York City, where writers <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/our-democracy-risk-writers-resist-martin-luther-king-jr-day-n707316" type="external">gathered</a> at the steps of the New York Public Library for readings, performances, and a pledge to defend the First Amendment.</p>
<p>January 19: Reclaim Our Schools Day of Action</p>
<p>Several teachers unions and education groups, including the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, have organized under a newly-formed group called the National Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools. They plan to stage a <a href="http://www.reclaimourschools.org/january-19-day-resistance" type="external">national day of action</a> to “defend” schools from Donald Trump and his calls to dismantle the public education system. Educators have called Trump and his secretary of education pick, Betsy DeVos, an “ <a href="" type="internal">existential threat to public schools</a>.”&#160;</p>
<p>January 19: Busboys and Poets Peace Ball</p>
<p>Described as an alternative to anti-Trump protests, the <a href="http://busboysandpoets.com/events/info/2017-inaugural-peace-ball" type="external">Busboys and Poets Peace Ball</a> will be a “gathering to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the past four years” at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Notable attendees include celebrities, authors, and organizers such as Solange, Alice Walker, Amy Goodman and Alicia Garza. The event had room for more than 3,000 people and has already sold out, founder Andy Shallal told <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/progressives-seeking-joy-wake-election-889b6e75e1cc#.wqlv67x89" type="external">ThinkProgress</a>.</p>
<p>January 20: #InaugurateTheResistance</p>
<p>The Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition secured a permit to stage a “ <a href="http://www.answercoalition.org/protest_on_inauguration_day" type="external">mass protest</a>” against Donald Trump, starting at 7 a.m. at DC’s Freedom Plaza. Other groups holding marches include the <a href="http://www.occupyinauguration.org/schedules" type="external">Occupy Movement,</a>the <a href="http://www.dsausa.org/dsa_at_inauguration_2017" type="external">Democratic Socialists of America</a>, and <a href="http://www.disruptj20.org" type="external">#DisruptJ20</a>, a group which says it wants to shut down the inauguration.</p>
<p>Separately, the DCMJ, a lobbying group focused on marijuana legislation, says it will <a href="http://dcmj.org/trump420/" type="external">distribute</a> free joints to celebrate pot legalization in D.C.</p>
<p>January 20: Student walkouts</p>
<p>College students across the country are planning campus walkouts, organized by groups including <a href="http://socialiststudents.net/student-walkouts/" type="external">Socialist Students</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1155379994550006/" type="external">Students for a Democratic Society</a>.</p>
<p>January 21: Women’s March</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.womensmarch.com/" type="external">Women’s March</a> on Washington, which started as a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2169332969958991/" type="external">Facebook page</a> after the election, will be by far one of the biggest events after the inauguration. The march’s organizers say up to 200,000 people could attend, and the event has drawn such enthusiasm and support that additional Facebook pages have been set up for parents who are <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1864386127130497/" type="external">bringing their children</a>, as well as a “ <a href="http://www.marchbnb.com/" type="external">MarchBnb</a>” website for people in need of housing.</p>
<p>Other marches inspired by the Women’s March are also being held in other cities in the US and worldwide. A full list can be found <a href="https://www.womensmarch.com/sisters" type="external">here.</a></p>
<p>This post has been updated.</p>
<p /> | 598,987 |
<p />
<p>On Tuesday, the Senate is expected to <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/17/senate-poised-to-pass-sandy-aid/1843135/" type="external">finally approve a Sandy aid package</a> worth about $50 billion, three months after the hurricane devastated major metropolitan regions on the East Coast. Many GOP representatives <a href="" type="internal">bitterly oppose</a> this bill and an immediate relief package failed to pass the GOP-controlled House in 2012. But when it comes to hurricane relief, the GOP isn’t exactly consistent: In 2005, 58 House Republicans who voted no on the Sandy aid bill approved a disaster relief package for Katrina victims worth <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801081.html" type="external">$51.8 billion</a>—less than two weeks after the storm hit.</p>
<p>The map below shows states where representatives voted on both Katrina and Sandy aid bills but changed their votes. For example, Florida, which was slammed by Katrina, has two GOP reps who voted for Katrina aid and nixed disaster relief for their Northern neighbors. States that suffered less severe Katrina damages, like Ohio, Georgia and Tennessee, are all represented by Republicans who chose to support the victims of Katrina but not Sandy. Louisiana is the exception; the lawmakers that have been around through both hurricanes appear to still have Katrina’s aftermath fresh in their minds: Republican Reps. Charles Boustany and Rodney Alexander both supported aid for Sandy.</p>
<p>Conservatives are using <a href="http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/breeanneh/sandy-pork-and-the-lesson-of-katrina" type="external">the usual argument</a>that the Sandy aid bill had more pork and wasteful spending than the Katrina aid bill. Jason Klindt, a spokesman for Rep. Sam Graves (one of the reps who voted for Katrina aid and against Sandy aid), told <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/the-58-representatives-who-voted-for-katrina-aid-and-against-sandy-aid" type="external">ProPublica</a> that “the difference is the fiscal state of the country.”</p>
<p />
<p>But Michele Dauber, a Stanford law professor and author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sympathetic-State-Disaster-Origins-American/dp/0226923487" type="external">The Sympathetic State: Disaster Relief and the Origins of the American Welfare State</a>, says that this doesn’t tell the whole story: “Although blue NOLA was hit, the rest of the states on the Gulf are red states, and Louisiana has a lot of red parts.” She points out that “House Republicans have got themselves tied into kind of a pretzel” because “they have made ideological commitments against pork.” Dauber says it’s possible those Republicans who voted against the bill did so in order to fend off challenges in the primaries from Tea Party and other rightist candidates, a risky political maneuver, as “voting against disaster relief is super stupid.”</p>
<p>That’s a lesson Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) appears to have learned the hard way: Before his state was hit by Sandy, he voted against aid for Katrina. He’s the only GOP representative in the United States that was present for both disasters, and changed his mind in the end.</p>
<p>Correction: A previous version of the key stated that the purple area refers to a Democrat. It refers to Scott Garrett, a Republican.&#160;</p>
<p /> | MAP: Which GOPers Voted to Help Victims of Katrina, but Not Sandy? | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/map-gop-reps-sandy-katrina-aid/ | 2013-01-22 | 4left
| MAP: Which GOPers Voted to Help Victims of Katrina, but Not Sandy?
<p />
<p>On Tuesday, the Senate is expected to <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/17/senate-poised-to-pass-sandy-aid/1843135/" type="external">finally approve a Sandy aid package</a> worth about $50 billion, three months after the hurricane devastated major metropolitan regions on the East Coast. Many GOP representatives <a href="" type="internal">bitterly oppose</a> this bill and an immediate relief package failed to pass the GOP-controlled House in 2012. But when it comes to hurricane relief, the GOP isn’t exactly consistent: In 2005, 58 House Republicans who voted no on the Sandy aid bill approved a disaster relief package for Katrina victims worth <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801081.html" type="external">$51.8 billion</a>—less than two weeks after the storm hit.</p>
<p>The map below shows states where representatives voted on both Katrina and Sandy aid bills but changed their votes. For example, Florida, which was slammed by Katrina, has two GOP reps who voted for Katrina aid and nixed disaster relief for their Northern neighbors. States that suffered less severe Katrina damages, like Ohio, Georgia and Tennessee, are all represented by Republicans who chose to support the victims of Katrina but not Sandy. Louisiana is the exception; the lawmakers that have been around through both hurricanes appear to still have Katrina’s aftermath fresh in their minds: Republican Reps. Charles Boustany and Rodney Alexander both supported aid for Sandy.</p>
<p>Conservatives are using <a href="http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/breeanneh/sandy-pork-and-the-lesson-of-katrina" type="external">the usual argument</a>that the Sandy aid bill had more pork and wasteful spending than the Katrina aid bill. Jason Klindt, a spokesman for Rep. Sam Graves (one of the reps who voted for Katrina aid and against Sandy aid), told <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/the-58-representatives-who-voted-for-katrina-aid-and-against-sandy-aid" type="external">ProPublica</a> that “the difference is the fiscal state of the country.”</p>
<p />
<p>But Michele Dauber, a Stanford law professor and author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sympathetic-State-Disaster-Origins-American/dp/0226923487" type="external">The Sympathetic State: Disaster Relief and the Origins of the American Welfare State</a>, says that this doesn’t tell the whole story: “Although blue NOLA was hit, the rest of the states on the Gulf are red states, and Louisiana has a lot of red parts.” She points out that “House Republicans have got themselves tied into kind of a pretzel” because “they have made ideological commitments against pork.” Dauber says it’s possible those Republicans who voted against the bill did so in order to fend off challenges in the primaries from Tea Party and other rightist candidates, a risky political maneuver, as “voting against disaster relief is super stupid.”</p>
<p>That’s a lesson Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) appears to have learned the hard way: Before his state was hit by Sandy, he voted against aid for Katrina. He’s the only GOP representative in the United States that was present for both disasters, and changed his mind in the end.</p>
<p>Correction: A previous version of the key stated that the purple area refers to a Democrat. It refers to Scott Garrett, a Republican.&#160;</p>
<p /> | 598,988 |
<p>In marked contrast to the foolishness and irrelevance that surrounds the controversy over who will be California’s next lieutenant governor, the California Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes just released <a href="http://www3.senate.ca.gov/deployedfiles/vcm2007/senoversight/docs/furloughsfranchisetaxboard.pdf" type="external">this report</a>, which explains how Governor Schwarzenegger’s furlough of 5,300 Franchise Tax Board employees will actually cost the state money:</p>
<p>“The Franchise Tax Board estimates that $465 million in taxes will be lost because furloughed workers will not be on the job to pursue the money through audits and collection efforts. That loss offsets by 28% the $1.66 billion in general fund money that the administration expects to save furloughing state workers two to three days a month.”</p>
<p>Hmmm… so the furloughs a theft of much needed tax revenue? Or are they a secret tax cut; a kind of a backdoor amnesty on audits?</p>
<p>That’s for the pundits to decide. Me, I just see the furloughs as yet another example of a state government that is only bipartisan where mismanagement and stupidity are concerned.</p>
<p>-Anthony Pignataro</p> | Finally, something important | false | https://calwatchdog.com/2010/02/12/finally-something-important/ | 2018-02-20 | 3left-center
| Finally, something important
<p>In marked contrast to the foolishness and irrelevance that surrounds the controversy over who will be California’s next lieutenant governor, the California Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes just released <a href="http://www3.senate.ca.gov/deployedfiles/vcm2007/senoversight/docs/furloughsfranchisetaxboard.pdf" type="external">this report</a>, which explains how Governor Schwarzenegger’s furlough of 5,300 Franchise Tax Board employees will actually cost the state money:</p>
<p>“The Franchise Tax Board estimates that $465 million in taxes will be lost because furloughed workers will not be on the job to pursue the money through audits and collection efforts. That loss offsets by 28% the $1.66 billion in general fund money that the administration expects to save furloughing state workers two to three days a month.”</p>
<p>Hmmm… so the furloughs a theft of much needed tax revenue? Or are they a secret tax cut; a kind of a backdoor amnesty on audits?</p>
<p>That’s for the pundits to decide. Me, I just see the furloughs as yet another example of a state government that is only bipartisan where mismanagement and stupidity are concerned.</p>
<p>-Anthony Pignataro</p> | 598,989 |
<p />
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>What: Shares of Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), the original biotech blue-chip and a global developer of game-changing therapeutics, surged 13% in July, according to data from <a href="https://www.spcapitaliq.com/" type="external">S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence Opens a New Window.</a>. Amgen's strong results can be traced to four key catalysts.</p>
<p>So what: The first catalyst, though superficial, is that biotech stocks as a whole outperformed during July following an early year swoon. The S&amp;P 500 gained less than 4% in the month of July, but the S&amp;P SPDR Biotech ETF leaped just shy of 15%. This gave Amgen quite the boost in July.</p>
<p>Beyond this superficial bump, Amgen also benefited from another strong earnings report. For the second quarter, Amgen reported revenue growth of 6% to $5.69 billion and adjusted profit growth of 11% to $2.84 per share. Higher demand for key therapeutics and operating margin expansion tied to its extensive cost cuts propelled Amgen's EPS higher. The company also increased its full-year guidance to a range of $22.5 billion to $22.8 billion in sales and $11.10 to $11.40 in adjusted EPS. Comparatively, Wall Street had been looking for $110 million less in Q2 sales, and just $2.74 in adjusted quarterly EPS.</p>
<p>The third and fourth catalysts were wholly related to Amgen's developing pipeline. First, on July 21, Amgen and UCB announced the submission of a biologics license application to the Food and Drug Administration for romosozumab as a treatment for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at risk for fracture. This filing moves romosozumab one step closer to potentially generating revenue for Amgen, though the drug will admittedly face stiff competition from Radius Healthwithin the space.</p>
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<p>Lastly, Amgen and Allergan announced positive top-line data from a phase 3 trial of ABP 980, a <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/what-is-a-biosimilar.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">biosimilar Opens a New Window.</a> of cancer drug Herceptin in patients with HER2+ early breast cancer. The study ruled out inferiority to Herceptin, but did not rule out superiority, which is a good sign. The data should put ABP 980 on track for a regulatory filing in the near future.</p>
<p>Image source: Amgen via Flickr.</p>
<p>Now what: Though Amgen tends to be tied at the hip to the movements of the biotech sector as a whole, it's really a standout among its peers.</p>
<p>The company's second-quarter earnings results showed strong growth for cancer drug Kyprolis and osteoporosis drug Prolia, which grew sales by 45% and 30%, respectively, all while pushing research and development costs down by 7% to $900 million from the prior-year quarter. Amgen has a strong late-stage pipeline that could still yield, including its biosimilar program, around a dozen new drug launches in the coming years. In other words, Amgen appears well on its way to sustained growth and operating margins in excess of 50%.</p>
<p>Best of all, Amgen is among the top dividend companies in the healthcare industry. Having initiated a $0.28 per quarter dividend in 2011, Amgen is now paying an even $1 per quarter. That's an annual dividend growth rate of nearly 30%, and a yield of 2.3%.</p>
<p>Amgen's current PEG of 1.8 implies that the company is probably appropriately valued for the time being, but that could easily change as new drugs hit pharmacy shelves. In short, Amgen still looks to be an intriguing stock to consider for the long-term.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2518&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a>has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name <a href="http://caps.fool.com/player/tmfultralong.aspx" type="external">TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/TMFUltraLong" type="external">@TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" 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" 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?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | 4 Reasons Amgen, Inc. Shareholders Netted a 13% Gain in July | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/08/11/4-reasons-amgen-inc-shareholders-netted-13-gain-in-july.html | 2016-08-11 | 0right
| 4 Reasons Amgen, Inc. Shareholders Netted a 13% Gain in July
<p />
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>What: Shares of Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), the original biotech blue-chip and a global developer of game-changing therapeutics, surged 13% in July, according to data from <a href="https://www.spcapitaliq.com/" type="external">S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence Opens a New Window.</a>. Amgen's strong results can be traced to four key catalysts.</p>
<p>So what: The first catalyst, though superficial, is that biotech stocks as a whole outperformed during July following an early year swoon. The S&amp;P 500 gained less than 4% in the month of July, but the S&amp;P SPDR Biotech ETF leaped just shy of 15%. This gave Amgen quite the boost in July.</p>
<p>Beyond this superficial bump, Amgen also benefited from another strong earnings report. For the second quarter, Amgen reported revenue growth of 6% to $5.69 billion and adjusted profit growth of 11% to $2.84 per share. Higher demand for key therapeutics and operating margin expansion tied to its extensive cost cuts propelled Amgen's EPS higher. The company also increased its full-year guidance to a range of $22.5 billion to $22.8 billion in sales and $11.10 to $11.40 in adjusted EPS. Comparatively, Wall Street had been looking for $110 million less in Q2 sales, and just $2.74 in adjusted quarterly EPS.</p>
<p>The third and fourth catalysts were wholly related to Amgen's developing pipeline. First, on July 21, Amgen and UCB announced the submission of a biologics license application to the Food and Drug Administration for romosozumab as a treatment for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at risk for fracture. This filing moves romosozumab one step closer to potentially generating revenue for Amgen, though the drug will admittedly face stiff competition from Radius Healthwithin the space.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>Lastly, Amgen and Allergan announced positive top-line data from a phase 3 trial of ABP 980, a <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/what-is-a-biosimilar.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">biosimilar Opens a New Window.</a> of cancer drug Herceptin in patients with HER2+ early breast cancer. The study ruled out inferiority to Herceptin, but did not rule out superiority, which is a good sign. The data should put ABP 980 on track for a regulatory filing in the near future.</p>
<p>Image source: Amgen via Flickr.</p>
<p>Now what: Though Amgen tends to be tied at the hip to the movements of the biotech sector as a whole, it's really a standout among its peers.</p>
<p>The company's second-quarter earnings results showed strong growth for cancer drug Kyprolis and osteoporosis drug Prolia, which grew sales by 45% and 30%, respectively, all while pushing research and development costs down by 7% to $900 million from the prior-year quarter. Amgen has a strong late-stage pipeline that could still yield, including its biosimilar program, around a dozen new drug launches in the coming years. In other words, Amgen appears well on its way to sustained growth and operating margins in excess of 50%.</p>
<p>Best of all, Amgen is among the top dividend companies in the healthcare industry. Having initiated a $0.28 per quarter dividend in 2011, Amgen is now paying an even $1 per quarter. That's an annual dividend growth rate of nearly 30%, and a yield of 2.3%.</p>
<p>Amgen's current PEG of 1.8 implies that the company is probably appropriately valued for the time being, but that could easily change as new drugs hit pharmacy shelves. In short, Amgen still looks to be an intriguing stock to consider for the long-term.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2518&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a>has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name <a href="http://caps.fool.com/player/tmfultralong.aspx" type="external">TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/TMFUltraLong" type="external">@TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" 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" 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?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | 598,990 |
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<p>The Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park will present Summer Wings, its 20th annual August festival celebrating New Mexico’s small but spectacular wildlife including hummingbirds, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies and bees on Aug. 2.</p>
<p>Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the events are free; day-use parking at the Nature Center, 2901 Candelaria NW, is $3.</p>
<p>Activities include hummingbird banding and release from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., dragonfly/damselfly capture, ID and release from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and guided bird and nature walks.</p>
<p>Talks and slide shows include “Life Cycle of the Butterfly” with Tatia Veltkamp of Wings of Enchantment, “Hummingbirds” with bird bander Bill Talbot, and “Native Bees of New Mexico” with University of New Mexico entomologist Karen Wright.</p>
<p>A full schedule is available at rgnc.org.</p>
<p />
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Fest celebrates small wildlife | false | https://abqjournal.com/427110/fest-celebrates-small-wildlife.html | 2014-07-10 | 2least
| Fest celebrates small wildlife
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<p />
<p>The Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park will present Summer Wings, its 20th annual August festival celebrating New Mexico’s small but spectacular wildlife including hummingbirds, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies and bees on Aug. 2.</p>
<p>Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the events are free; day-use parking at the Nature Center, 2901 Candelaria NW, is $3.</p>
<p>Activities include hummingbird banding and release from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., dragonfly/damselfly capture, ID and release from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and guided bird and nature walks.</p>
<p>Talks and slide shows include “Life Cycle of the Butterfly” with Tatia Veltkamp of Wings of Enchantment, “Hummingbirds” with bird bander Bill Talbot, and “Native Bees of New Mexico” with University of New Mexico entomologist Karen Wright.</p>
<p>A full schedule is available at rgnc.org.</p>
<p />
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,991 |
<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/06/29/dhs-announces-implementation-travel-restriction-provisions" type="external">announced</a> that it would begin implementing “certain travel restrictions” at 8 p.m. EDT on 29 June in accordance with President Donald
<a href="" type="internal">Trump’s executive order</a> (EO), “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” The
<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/871674214356484096" type="external">“travel ban”</a> initiates a “temporary suspension of entry… to foreign nationals from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, who are outside the United States as of June 26, who did not have a valid visa at 5 p.m. EST on January 27, and who do not have a valid visa as of 8 p.m. EDT on June 29.” Implementation of the ban follows a
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">Supreme Court order</a>&#160;on 26 June that allowed the travel ban to go partially into effect. The Supreme Court ruled that the ban can go into effect, except for certain provisions that include refugees citing “a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States” and placing a 50,000 person cap on the number of refugees who can enter the US in fiscal year 2017. According to government officials, a
<a href="https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/06/272281.htm" type="external">“bona fide relationship” to family</a>is defined as parents, spouses, children, adult son or daughters, sons and daughter-in-laws, and siblings. According to an administration official, the
<a href="https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/06/272281.htm" type="external">definition</a>&#160;is&#160;based on the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Supreme Court order: A
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">bona fide relationship to an entity</a> is defined as “a formal documented relationship, those formed in the ordinary course of events and not for the purposes of evading the executive order.” The Supreme Court is
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">scheduled</a> to hear the case in full in October. Trump issued his original travel ban through&#160;
<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/27/executive-order-protecting-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states" type="external">Executive Order 13769</a>&#160;on 27 January. The executive order “suspended for 90 days the entry of certain aliens from seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.” On 6 March, the White House issued a
<a href="" type="internal">second, superseding executive order</a>&#160;(EO2) revising the travel ban. EO2&#160;removed Iraq from the list of banned countries and
<a href="" type="internal">clarified that green card holders</a> would not be banned from entering the US. Under EO2,&#160;Syrian refugees we no longer&#160;barred indefinitely from entering the US. According to the
<a href="http://coop.ca4.uscourts.gov/171351.P.pdf" type="external">US Court of Appeals</a> for the Fourth Circuit — which&#160;
<a href="http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Published/171351.P.pdf" type="external">upheld</a>&#160;on 25 May a lower court ruling by a Maryland judge that blocked parts of the executive order — during the 2016 presidential race, the Trump campaign’s website issued a
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170508054010/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-on-preventing-muslim-immigration" type="external">press release</a> on curtailing Muslim immigration. The statement read: The statement was later
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170428091433/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases" type="external">&#160;deleted</a> from the campaign’s&#160;website (
<a href="https://gizmodo.com/president-trump-deletes-every-old-press-release-but-th-1795042808" type="external">h/t</a> Gizmodo). The
<a href="" type="internal">9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld</a> the majority of a Hawaii District Court ruling that blocked part of the EO because the president, “in issuing the Executive Order, exceeded the scope of the authority delegated to him by Congress.” The
<a href="http://coop.ca4.uscourts.gov/171351.P.pdf" type="external">4th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked</a>&#160;part of EO2 for violating the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, as its issuance&#160;“was motivated not by concerns pertaining to national security, but by animus toward Islam.” On 26 June,
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">the&#160;Supreme Court</a> granted a stay,&#160;allowing EO2 to be partially implemented until the court hears the case in&#160;full in October. Foreign nationals without a connection to the US&#160;are “subject to the provisions” of the revised executive order, but those with a bona fide relationship are not. Trump released the following
<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/06/26/statement-president-donald-j-trump" type="external">statement</a> on the White House website: The president wrote on Twitter following the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the travel ban to be partially implemented: Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a
<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-unanimous-supreme-court-decision" type="external">statement</a>: Karen Tumlin, legal director of the National Immigration Law Center, told reporters, according to the
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-travel-ban-case.html" type="external">New York Times</a>: Sen.&#160;Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) tweeted: Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said in&#160;a
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/comment-reported-guidance-trump-muslim-ban-implementation" type="external">statement</a>: Naureen Shah, senior director of campaigns for Amnesty International USA, released the following
<a href="https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/amnesty-international-usa-refugee-ban-could-have-devastating-effect/" type="external">statement</a>: Share on
<a href="" type="internal">Facebook</a>
<a href="" type="internal">Twitter</a>
<a href="" type="internal">Email</a> | Travel Ban Partially Takes Effect | false | http://thewhim.com/travel-ban-partially-takes-effect/ | 2017-06-30 | 2least
| Travel Ban Partially Takes Effect
<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/06/29/dhs-announces-implementation-travel-restriction-provisions" type="external">announced</a> that it would begin implementing “certain travel restrictions” at 8 p.m. EDT on 29 June in accordance with President Donald
<a href="" type="internal">Trump’s executive order</a> (EO), “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” The
<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/871674214356484096" type="external">“travel ban”</a> initiates a “temporary suspension of entry… to foreign nationals from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, who are outside the United States as of June 26, who did not have a valid visa at 5 p.m. EST on January 27, and who do not have a valid visa as of 8 p.m. EDT on June 29.” Implementation of the ban follows a
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">Supreme Court order</a>&#160;on 26 June that allowed the travel ban to go partially into effect. The Supreme Court ruled that the ban can go into effect, except for certain provisions that include refugees citing “a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States” and placing a 50,000 person cap on the number of refugees who can enter the US in fiscal year 2017. According to government officials, a
<a href="https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/06/272281.htm" type="external">“bona fide relationship” to family</a>is defined as parents, spouses, children, adult son or daughters, sons and daughter-in-laws, and siblings. According to an administration official, the
<a href="https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/06/272281.htm" type="external">definition</a>&#160;is&#160;based on the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Supreme Court order: A
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">bona fide relationship to an entity</a> is defined as “a formal documented relationship, those formed in the ordinary course of events and not for the purposes of evading the executive order.” The Supreme Court is
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">scheduled</a> to hear the case in full in October. Trump issued his original travel ban through&#160;
<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/27/executive-order-protecting-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states" type="external">Executive Order 13769</a>&#160;on 27 January. The executive order “suspended for 90 days the entry of certain aliens from seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.” On 6 March, the White House issued a
<a href="" type="internal">second, superseding executive order</a>&#160;(EO2) revising the travel ban. EO2&#160;removed Iraq from the list of banned countries and
<a href="" type="internal">clarified that green card holders</a> would not be banned from entering the US. Under EO2,&#160;Syrian refugees we no longer&#160;barred indefinitely from entering the US. According to the
<a href="http://coop.ca4.uscourts.gov/171351.P.pdf" type="external">US Court of Appeals</a> for the Fourth Circuit — which&#160;
<a href="http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Published/171351.P.pdf" type="external">upheld</a>&#160;on 25 May a lower court ruling by a Maryland judge that blocked parts of the executive order — during the 2016 presidential race, the Trump campaign’s website issued a
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170508054010/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-on-preventing-muslim-immigration" type="external">press release</a> on curtailing Muslim immigration. The statement read: The statement was later
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170428091433/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases" type="external">&#160;deleted</a> from the campaign’s&#160;website (
<a href="https://gizmodo.com/president-trump-deletes-every-old-press-release-but-th-1795042808" type="external">h/t</a> Gizmodo). The
<a href="" type="internal">9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld</a> the majority of a Hawaii District Court ruling that blocked part of the EO because the president, “in issuing the Executive Order, exceeded the scope of the authority delegated to him by Congress.” The
<a href="http://coop.ca4.uscourts.gov/171351.P.pdf" type="external">4th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked</a>&#160;part of EO2 for violating the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, as its issuance&#160;“was motivated not by concerns pertaining to national security, but by animus toward Islam.” On 26 June,
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf" type="external">the&#160;Supreme Court</a> granted a stay,&#160;allowing EO2 to be partially implemented until the court hears the case in&#160;full in October. Foreign nationals without a connection to the US&#160;are “subject to the provisions” of the revised executive order, but those with a bona fide relationship are not. Trump released the following
<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/06/26/statement-president-donald-j-trump" type="external">statement</a> on the White House website: The president wrote on Twitter following the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the travel ban to be partially implemented: Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a
<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-unanimous-supreme-court-decision" type="external">statement</a>: Karen Tumlin, legal director of the National Immigration Law Center, told reporters, according to the
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-travel-ban-case.html" type="external">New York Times</a>: Sen.&#160;Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) tweeted: Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said in&#160;a
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/comment-reported-guidance-trump-muslim-ban-implementation" type="external">statement</a>: Naureen Shah, senior director of campaigns for Amnesty International USA, released the following
<a href="https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/amnesty-international-usa-refugee-ban-could-have-devastating-effect/" type="external">statement</a>: Share on
<a href="" type="internal">Facebook</a>
<a href="" type="internal">Twitter</a>
<a href="" type="internal">Email</a> | 598,992 |
<p>The <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/140728/day-21-gaza-fighting-eases-diplomatic-" type="external">Middle East</a> is a mess. Child refugees are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/obama-child-migrants-us-mexico-border" type="external">lining up</a> at the US border. Terrorists are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140722/the-islamic-state-marking-christian-homes-kicking-out-resid" type="external">taking over</a> Iraq. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140801/roundup-more-240-killed-afghan-conflicts-july" type="external">Afghanistan</a> could be next. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140728/29-step-guide-to-libya-chaos" type="external">Libya</a>. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/140729/putin-man-of-many-crises" type="external">Ukraine</a>. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/cultural-differences-complicate-ebola-treatment" type="external">Ebola</a>. Our government, meanwhile, remains in a fiscal crisis.</p>
<p>Well, too bad. Because it's summertime! The <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/congress-track-be-least-productive-n170151" type="external">least-productive</a> Congress in history is about to go on a not-even-remotely-deserved month-long vacation, and they're skipping town without addressing a whole lot of very serious issues, domestic and foreign.</p>
<p>Really, about the only things they could agree on were giving more money to Israel, which is on its 25th day of pummeling Gaza <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140709/these-are-the-photos-gaza-too-graphic-for-some-news-media-to-show" type="external">into oblivion</a>, and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/01/border-crisis-tom-cole_n_5641292.html" type="external">suing</a> President Barack Obama for reasons that are hard to imagine.</p>
<p>Congress did pass a massive bill overhauling the US veteran health care system, but only after reports of veterans actually dying while they wait for treatment. Americans were shocked and pissed off. Congress needed an emergency Band-Aid. For this Congress it was nothing short of a tremendous accomplishment.</p>
<p>Here's some of the major issues it failed to get to before the summer holiday. How much do <a href="http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm" type="external">we pay</a> these guys?</p>
<p />
<p>(MOHAMMED ABED AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>It looked like all was lost when it came to more funding for America's best friend in the Middle East. But if there's one thing the US Congress can always rally behind, it's giving money to Israel. So despite some earlier wavering, the Senate ultimately approved $225 million to help bolster Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.</p>
<p>Late Friday, it went to the House, and it was one of the few things that chamber could agree on.</p>
<p>Not so much for Iraq. Washington was stunned when the Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS or ISIL, began taking over large parts of the country. Baghdad falling to a global terrorist group is <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/iraq/140611/how-us-helped-turn-iraq-into-al-qaeda-haven-53-steps-isis-isil-syria-bush-obama" type="external">pretty much the opposite</a> of why the United States first invaded Iraq. But that's what's coming unless someone intervenes.</p>
<p>While the Obama administration has shipped off a few "military advisers," the president has vowed not to put troops back on the ground in Iraq. And if Congress has a plan to restore order, it's not a clear one. The House did do manage to do something. It passed a resolution barring Obama from sending forces to Iraq for sustained combat without its approval.</p>
<p>But Obama's already pledged not to do that. And the Senate has no plans to take up the House resolution, so really it's a moot point. No other plan of action is now on the table. Yay Congress!</p>
<p>As for Ukraine, many US lawmakers have pointed at Russia as the probable source of the missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in rebel-held territory. A Senate subcommittee considered a new sanctions bill against Russia, but nothing came of it and there are no other proposals in the works.</p>
<p>Libya is also <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140728/29-step-guide-to-libya-chaos" type="external">descending</a> into chaos at the moment. More than 150 people have been killed in the past two weeks as armed groups battle over who will get to fill the power vacuum left by the ouster and death of Muammar Gaddafi.</p>
<p>The US was quick to get involved in 2011, but is watching from afar this time around.</p>
<p />
<p>(John Moore AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>More than 90,000 children, most of them from Central America, are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/140725/interactive-map-minors-apprehended-US-border" type="external">expected</a> to cross the US border by the end of September. Most of the children are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140724/honduras-unaccompanied-child-migrants-us-immigration" type="external">fleeing</a> violence and war in their home countries.</p>
<p>Obama asked Congress for $3.7 billion to help federal agencies struggling to manage the influx of the refugees. But he didn't get it. Congress, in a not-very-shocking turn of events, couldn't agree on a short-term fix to the issue, let alone a long-term one. The Democrat-controlled Senate wanted to give Obama $2.7 billion, plus some funding for Israel and money to battle Western wildfires, but the GOP-controlled House thought that was too much.</p>
<p>House Republicans scraped together enough votes late Friday night to pass a $694 million border security bill, but it's almost certain to never become law. The Senate won't ever vote on it, and Obama has vowed to veto the plan if it ever makes it to his desk.</p>
<p>The House vote came after GOP leaders canceled a vote on the measure altogether Thursday amid in-fighting with tea party members.</p>
<p>Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other conservatives freaked out, and House leaders called lawmakers back from the airport (literally) and pieced together the DOA legislation passed Friday.</p>
<p>There's a huge <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140731/senate-immigration-efforts-nutso-wont-fly-house-boehner" type="external">partisan rift</a>on this issue. And with a split Congress, it's hard to see any major immigration reform happening by the end of the year.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>(Justin Sullivan AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>While Congress did manage to pass a short-term fix to keep the nation's highway trust fund from running out of money, the $11 billion will only last so long.</p>
<p>Money is expected to get low again by May, and lawmakers are nowhere near taking up Obama's long-term transportation plan, which would increase highway and transit funding to the tune of $302 billion.</p>
<p>The nation's roads and bridges are a mess. They <a href="http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/" type="external">were given</a>a D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers last year, and they're only getting worse as Congress dawdles. If US media <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130607/what-if-journalists-covered-us-like-they-cover-world" type="external">covered the United States</a> the way it did other nations, it would already be calling it a "developing country."</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>(PAUL J. RICHARDS AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Remember this scene last October, when the federal government actually shut down for several days?</p>
<p>It could happen again if Congress doesn't hammer out a deal on overall government funding by the end of September. The House has passed about half of the funding bills for various government agencies, but the Senate hasn't voted on a single one yet.</p>
<p>House Speaker John Boehner has said he expects the House to extend current funding levels through sometime in December. But there's no long-term deal in the works.</p>
<p>So, in other words, another punt until the next crisis.</p> | US Congress fails at almost everything before a much-deserved vacation | false | https://pri.org/stories/2014-08-01/us-congress-fails-almost-everything-much-deserved-vacation | 2014-08-01 | 3left-center
| US Congress fails at almost everything before a much-deserved vacation
<p>The <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/140728/day-21-gaza-fighting-eases-diplomatic-" type="external">Middle East</a> is a mess. Child refugees are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/obama-child-migrants-us-mexico-border" type="external">lining up</a> at the US border. Terrorists are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140722/the-islamic-state-marking-christian-homes-kicking-out-resid" type="external">taking over</a> Iraq. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140801/roundup-more-240-killed-afghan-conflicts-july" type="external">Afghanistan</a> could be next. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140728/29-step-guide-to-libya-chaos" type="external">Libya</a>. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/140729/putin-man-of-many-crises" type="external">Ukraine</a>. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/cultural-differences-complicate-ebola-treatment" type="external">Ebola</a>. Our government, meanwhile, remains in a fiscal crisis.</p>
<p>Well, too bad. Because it's summertime! The <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/congress-track-be-least-productive-n170151" type="external">least-productive</a> Congress in history is about to go on a not-even-remotely-deserved month-long vacation, and they're skipping town without addressing a whole lot of very serious issues, domestic and foreign.</p>
<p>Really, about the only things they could agree on were giving more money to Israel, which is on its 25th day of pummeling Gaza <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140709/these-are-the-photos-gaza-too-graphic-for-some-news-media-to-show" type="external">into oblivion</a>, and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/01/border-crisis-tom-cole_n_5641292.html" type="external">suing</a> President Barack Obama for reasons that are hard to imagine.</p>
<p>Congress did pass a massive bill overhauling the US veteran health care system, but only after reports of veterans actually dying while they wait for treatment. Americans were shocked and pissed off. Congress needed an emergency Band-Aid. For this Congress it was nothing short of a tremendous accomplishment.</p>
<p>Here's some of the major issues it failed to get to before the summer holiday. How much do <a href="http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm" type="external">we pay</a> these guys?</p>
<p />
<p>(MOHAMMED ABED AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>It looked like all was lost when it came to more funding for America's best friend in the Middle East. But if there's one thing the US Congress can always rally behind, it's giving money to Israel. So despite some earlier wavering, the Senate ultimately approved $225 million to help bolster Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.</p>
<p>Late Friday, it went to the House, and it was one of the few things that chamber could agree on.</p>
<p>Not so much for Iraq. Washington was stunned when the Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS or ISIL, began taking over large parts of the country. Baghdad falling to a global terrorist group is <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/iraq/140611/how-us-helped-turn-iraq-into-al-qaeda-haven-53-steps-isis-isil-syria-bush-obama" type="external">pretty much the opposite</a> of why the United States first invaded Iraq. But that's what's coming unless someone intervenes.</p>
<p>While the Obama administration has shipped off a few "military advisers," the president has vowed not to put troops back on the ground in Iraq. And if Congress has a plan to restore order, it's not a clear one. The House did do manage to do something. It passed a resolution barring Obama from sending forces to Iraq for sustained combat without its approval.</p>
<p>But Obama's already pledged not to do that. And the Senate has no plans to take up the House resolution, so really it's a moot point. No other plan of action is now on the table. Yay Congress!</p>
<p>As for Ukraine, many US lawmakers have pointed at Russia as the probable source of the missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in rebel-held territory. A Senate subcommittee considered a new sanctions bill against Russia, but nothing came of it and there are no other proposals in the works.</p>
<p>Libya is also <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/140728/29-step-guide-to-libya-chaos" type="external">descending</a> into chaos at the moment. More than 150 people have been killed in the past two weeks as armed groups battle over who will get to fill the power vacuum left by the ouster and death of Muammar Gaddafi.</p>
<p>The US was quick to get involved in 2011, but is watching from afar this time around.</p>
<p />
<p>(John Moore AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>More than 90,000 children, most of them from Central America, are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/140725/interactive-map-minors-apprehended-US-border" type="external">expected</a> to cross the US border by the end of September. Most of the children are <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140724/honduras-unaccompanied-child-migrants-us-immigration" type="external">fleeing</a> violence and war in their home countries.</p>
<p>Obama asked Congress for $3.7 billion to help federal agencies struggling to manage the influx of the refugees. But he didn't get it. Congress, in a not-very-shocking turn of events, couldn't agree on a short-term fix to the issue, let alone a long-term one. The Democrat-controlled Senate wanted to give Obama $2.7 billion, plus some funding for Israel and money to battle Western wildfires, but the GOP-controlled House thought that was too much.</p>
<p>House Republicans scraped together enough votes late Friday night to pass a $694 million border security bill, but it's almost certain to never become law. The Senate won't ever vote on it, and Obama has vowed to veto the plan if it ever makes it to his desk.</p>
<p>The House vote came after GOP leaders canceled a vote on the measure altogether Thursday amid in-fighting with tea party members.</p>
<p>Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other conservatives freaked out, and House leaders called lawmakers back from the airport (literally) and pieced together the DOA legislation passed Friday.</p>
<p>There's a huge <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140731/senate-immigration-efforts-nutso-wont-fly-house-boehner" type="external">partisan rift</a>on this issue. And with a split Congress, it's hard to see any major immigration reform happening by the end of the year.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>(Justin Sullivan AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>While Congress did manage to pass a short-term fix to keep the nation's highway trust fund from running out of money, the $11 billion will only last so long.</p>
<p>Money is expected to get low again by May, and lawmakers are nowhere near taking up Obama's long-term transportation plan, which would increase highway and transit funding to the tune of $302 billion.</p>
<p>The nation's roads and bridges are a mess. They <a href="http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/" type="external">were given</a>a D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers last year, and they're only getting worse as Congress dawdles. If US media <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130607/what-if-journalists-covered-us-like-they-cover-world" type="external">covered the United States</a> the way it did other nations, it would already be calling it a "developing country."</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>(PAUL J. RICHARDS AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Remember this scene last October, when the federal government actually shut down for several days?</p>
<p>It could happen again if Congress doesn't hammer out a deal on overall government funding by the end of September. The House has passed about half of the funding bills for various government agencies, but the Senate hasn't voted on a single one yet.</p>
<p>House Speaker John Boehner has said he expects the House to extend current funding levels through sometime in December. But there's no long-term deal in the works.</p>
<p>So, in other words, another punt until the next crisis.</p> | 598,993 |
<p>The most poignant moment in the film The Battle of Algiers comes when the frank and brutal Colonel Mathieu, pushed by reporters regarding atrocities, puts the French occupation of Algeria in the clearest possible terms. Disgusted by intellectuals demanding a “humane” occupation, Mathieu says, “Should we remain in Algeria? If you answer ‘yes’ then you must accept all the necessary consequences.” His point being, of course, that there is no such thing as a humane occupation. Similarly, here in Mexico, there is no such thing as a humane drug war and today La Jornada introduced the Mexican people to their Colonel Mathieu: Brigadier General Carlos Bibiano Villa Castillo, Torreon’s Director of Public Security.</p>
<p>Torreon, Coahuila is a city divided, held by the Zetas, but challenged by allies of the Sinaloa Cartel. A large population of poor youth, often drug addicts, provides cannon fodder for the cartels. As Villa Castillo puts it, “The problem is that we kill a few and more spring up, we lift another rock and more come out.” But this is the sort of place that a man like Villa Castillo thrives. His most recent brush with death came less than two weeks ago, when his SUVs armor withstood a barrage of some 500 rounds. Somebody sold him out.</p>
<p>“Who was it?” he asked himself during the interview with La Jornada. “If I knew I already would have killed the bastard. Those who sell us out don’t deserve to live.” Death, specifically bringing it to those who deserve it in his eyes, seems to be his animating obsession. He is blunt and vulgar, the Mexican analog to Full Metal Jacket’s Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, and the interview was full of brash language like, “I distrust the Federal Police because they don’t kill, just capture. The army and the marines, they kill.”</p>
<p>As the drug war drags on, losing more public support with each tick on the body count, concerns about the dangers of militarization increase. The latest polls show that a majority believes the drug war has failed and complaints of human rights violations against the armed forces have skyrocketed since they were deployed across Mexico.</p>
<p>Villa Castillo’s flippant dismissal of human rights and the judicial process seems to be at the heart of the increasingly apparent incompatibility between rising militarization and the rule of law and human rights. To illustrate, the following is an exchange Villa Castillo had with La Jornada reporter Sanjuana Martinez:</p>
<p>VC: The other day we were sent out to kill six bastards and we killed them. What’s the problem?</p>
<p>SM: Were they Zetas or Chapos?</p>
<p>VC: Zetas.</p>
<p>SM: How do you know? You don’t interrogate them, or even talk with them.</p>
<p>VC: We found out because they had stolen some weapons from us and we found them there.</p>
<p>SM: There are laws, General. You decide who ought to live or die…Don’t you think that God decides that?</p>
<p>VC: Well, yeah, but you have to give him a little help.</p>
<p>SM: If one of these guys were to approach you to talk…</p>
<p>VC: I’d kill him right there. I’d fuck him myself.</p>
<p>SM: Kill, and ask questions later?</p>
<p>VC: That’s how it ought to be. It’s a code of honor.</p>
<p>When asked about human rights, he said they “don’t function like they should.” He went on to say that the work of the National Human Rights Commission is good, but that “it doesn’t carry out its obligations. It ought to protect the victim and it seems that it defends the criminal.”</p>
<p>Some people feel that Villa Castillo’s merciless violence is exactly what the narcos deserve and the only way to win the war. One comment left on La Jornada’s website states, “Men of this caliber and resolve and are what this country needs and if there are others it’s just a question of finding them without hesitation. Find them, and let them work.”</p>
<p>If indeed General Villa Castillo is as incorruptible he claims he is undoubtedly a threat to the narcos. But when you concentrate State violence in the hands of men like Villa Castillo – when you make them judge, jury and executioner – can you really call it the rule of law? When violence comes that easy, when killing becomes protocol, how safe is anyone who criticizes the government? How safe is someone who organizes against militarization or in defense of local control of territory and resources?</p>
<p>The future of the drug war seems to be in the hands of the Villa Castillos of Mexico; the logic of the war, an internal war against the country’s own people, won’t have it any other way. The remarkable thing about Villa Castillos is that he tells it like it is; he disabuses anyone who listens to him of the notion that a militarized drug war can be fought with a strict observance of human rights. He demonstrates that the drug war model itself sows tragedies that are not “collateral” but endemic.</p>
<p>There are other ways to fight organized crime, ways being promoted by the youths that form the backbone of the “No More Blood” and anti-militarization movements emerging throughout the country. The citizen mobilization is not simply a backlash against the rising violence; it is also driven by the underlying social injustice that feeds the violence. In their eyes, much of the strength of the cartels stems from the fact that the state has turned its back on much of the nation’s youth, leaving them with few paths to success other than the ‘live fast, die young’ credo offered by the narcos.</p>
<p>As the students chanted during their march in Mexico City last month, “We want schools! We want jobs! We want hospitals! We don’t want soldiers!”</p>
<p>MURPHY WOODHOUSE is an intern for the America’s Program in Mexico City at <a href="http://www.cipamericas.org" type="external">www.cipamericas.org</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Kill and Ask Questions Later | true | https://counterpunch.org/2011/03/15/kill-and-ask-questions-later/ | 2011-03-15 | 4left
| Kill and Ask Questions Later
<p>The most poignant moment in the film The Battle of Algiers comes when the frank and brutal Colonel Mathieu, pushed by reporters regarding atrocities, puts the French occupation of Algeria in the clearest possible terms. Disgusted by intellectuals demanding a “humane” occupation, Mathieu says, “Should we remain in Algeria? If you answer ‘yes’ then you must accept all the necessary consequences.” His point being, of course, that there is no such thing as a humane occupation. Similarly, here in Mexico, there is no such thing as a humane drug war and today La Jornada introduced the Mexican people to their Colonel Mathieu: Brigadier General Carlos Bibiano Villa Castillo, Torreon’s Director of Public Security.</p>
<p>Torreon, Coahuila is a city divided, held by the Zetas, but challenged by allies of the Sinaloa Cartel. A large population of poor youth, often drug addicts, provides cannon fodder for the cartels. As Villa Castillo puts it, “The problem is that we kill a few and more spring up, we lift another rock and more come out.” But this is the sort of place that a man like Villa Castillo thrives. His most recent brush with death came less than two weeks ago, when his SUVs armor withstood a barrage of some 500 rounds. Somebody sold him out.</p>
<p>“Who was it?” he asked himself during the interview with La Jornada. “If I knew I already would have killed the bastard. Those who sell us out don’t deserve to live.” Death, specifically bringing it to those who deserve it in his eyes, seems to be his animating obsession. He is blunt and vulgar, the Mexican analog to Full Metal Jacket’s Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, and the interview was full of brash language like, “I distrust the Federal Police because they don’t kill, just capture. The army and the marines, they kill.”</p>
<p>As the drug war drags on, losing more public support with each tick on the body count, concerns about the dangers of militarization increase. The latest polls show that a majority believes the drug war has failed and complaints of human rights violations against the armed forces have skyrocketed since they were deployed across Mexico.</p>
<p>Villa Castillo’s flippant dismissal of human rights and the judicial process seems to be at the heart of the increasingly apparent incompatibility between rising militarization and the rule of law and human rights. To illustrate, the following is an exchange Villa Castillo had with La Jornada reporter Sanjuana Martinez:</p>
<p>VC: The other day we were sent out to kill six bastards and we killed them. What’s the problem?</p>
<p>SM: Were they Zetas or Chapos?</p>
<p>VC: Zetas.</p>
<p>SM: How do you know? You don’t interrogate them, or even talk with them.</p>
<p>VC: We found out because they had stolen some weapons from us and we found them there.</p>
<p>SM: There are laws, General. You decide who ought to live or die…Don’t you think that God decides that?</p>
<p>VC: Well, yeah, but you have to give him a little help.</p>
<p>SM: If one of these guys were to approach you to talk…</p>
<p>VC: I’d kill him right there. I’d fuck him myself.</p>
<p>SM: Kill, and ask questions later?</p>
<p>VC: That’s how it ought to be. It’s a code of honor.</p>
<p>When asked about human rights, he said they “don’t function like they should.” He went on to say that the work of the National Human Rights Commission is good, but that “it doesn’t carry out its obligations. It ought to protect the victim and it seems that it defends the criminal.”</p>
<p>Some people feel that Villa Castillo’s merciless violence is exactly what the narcos deserve and the only way to win the war. One comment left on La Jornada’s website states, “Men of this caliber and resolve and are what this country needs and if there are others it’s just a question of finding them without hesitation. Find them, and let them work.”</p>
<p>If indeed General Villa Castillo is as incorruptible he claims he is undoubtedly a threat to the narcos. But when you concentrate State violence in the hands of men like Villa Castillo – when you make them judge, jury and executioner – can you really call it the rule of law? When violence comes that easy, when killing becomes protocol, how safe is anyone who criticizes the government? How safe is someone who organizes against militarization or in defense of local control of territory and resources?</p>
<p>The future of the drug war seems to be in the hands of the Villa Castillos of Mexico; the logic of the war, an internal war against the country’s own people, won’t have it any other way. The remarkable thing about Villa Castillos is that he tells it like it is; he disabuses anyone who listens to him of the notion that a militarized drug war can be fought with a strict observance of human rights. He demonstrates that the drug war model itself sows tragedies that are not “collateral” but endemic.</p>
<p>There are other ways to fight organized crime, ways being promoted by the youths that form the backbone of the “No More Blood” and anti-militarization movements emerging throughout the country. The citizen mobilization is not simply a backlash against the rising violence; it is also driven by the underlying social injustice that feeds the violence. In their eyes, much of the strength of the cartels stems from the fact that the state has turned its back on much of the nation’s youth, leaving them with few paths to success other than the ‘live fast, die young’ credo offered by the narcos.</p>
<p>As the students chanted during their march in Mexico City last month, “We want schools! We want jobs! We want hospitals! We don’t want soldiers!”</p>
<p>MURPHY WOODHOUSE is an intern for the America’s Program in Mexico City at <a href="http://www.cipamericas.org" type="external">www.cipamericas.org</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | 598,994 |
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<p>PHOENIX&#160;—&#160;The 18th-ranked university of New Mexico beach volleyball team dropped a pair of contests to fellow nationally ranked squads on Friday, falling 4-1 to both No. 20 Loyola Marymount and No. 11 Grand Canyon.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Beach volleyball: No. 19 UNM falls twice | false | https://abqjournal.com/961984/beach-volleyball-no-19-unm-falls-twice.html | 2least
| Beach volleyball: No. 19 UNM falls twice
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<p>PHOENIX&#160;—&#160;The 18th-ranked university of New Mexico beach volleyball team dropped a pair of contests to fellow nationally ranked squads on Friday, falling 4-1 to both No. 20 Loyola Marymount and No. 11 Grand Canyon.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,995 |
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<p>Charles Schwab (NASDAQ:SCHW) reported on Monday a year-over-year increase in average trades and total client assets for April, but saw a 90% drop in net new assets sequentially.</p>
<p>The online broker said total client assets climbed 9% to $1.83 trillion last month compared with April 2011, but were flat from the month prior.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Daily average trades by clients were 458,900, an increase of 5% from the year-earlier period but down 1% from March 2012.</p>
<p>Net new assets brought to the San Francisco-based company by new and existing clients was $1 billion, a 90% drop from $10.5 billion in March, but up from a decline last April.</p> | Charles Schwab Activity Ramps Up in April | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2012/05/14/charles-schwab-april-activity-higher.html | 2016-03-03 | 0right
| Charles Schwab Activity Ramps Up in April
<p>Charles Schwab (NASDAQ:SCHW) reported on Monday a year-over-year increase in average trades and total client assets for April, but saw a 90% drop in net new assets sequentially.</p>
<p>The online broker said total client assets climbed 9% to $1.83 trillion last month compared with April 2011, but were flat from the month prior.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Daily average trades by clients were 458,900, an increase of 5% from the year-earlier period but down 1% from March 2012.</p>
<p>Net new assets brought to the San Francisco-based company by new and existing clients was $1 billion, a 90% drop from $10.5 billion in March, but up from a decline last April.</p> | 598,996 |
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<p>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has fired two senior commanders in the Pacific region in connection with recent deadly collisions of Navy ships, as part of a sweeping purge of leadership in the Japan-based fleet.</p>
<p>The announcement comes a day before the top U.S. Navy officer and the Navy secretary are scheduled to go to Capitol Hill for a hearing on the ship crashes.</p>
<p>The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided in Southeast Asia last month, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead and five injured. And seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided in waters off Japan.</p>
<p>The latest dismissals bring the number of fired senior commanders to six, including the top three officers of the Fitzgerald.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Navy fires 2 commanders in connection with ship collisions | false | https://abqjournal.com/1065549/navy-fires-2-commanders-in-connection-with-ship-collisions.html | 2least
| Navy fires 2 commanders in connection with ship collisions
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<p>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has fired two senior commanders in the Pacific region in connection with recent deadly collisions of Navy ships, as part of a sweeping purge of leadership in the Japan-based fleet.</p>
<p>The announcement comes a day before the top U.S. Navy officer and the Navy secretary are scheduled to go to Capitol Hill for a hearing on the ship crashes.</p>
<p>The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided in Southeast Asia last month, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead and five injured. And seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided in waters off Japan.</p>
<p>The latest dismissals bring the number of fired senior commanders to six, including the top three officers of the Fitzgerald.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 598,997 |
|
<p>British Prime Minister David Cameron stood before Parliament on Monday and feverishly defended his decision to veto European Union treaty changes at the European Summit last week, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/world/europe/david-cameron-to-address-british-parliament-over-europe-treaty.html" type="external">The New York Times</a> reported.</p>
<p>Cameron said he made the only reasonable choice to defend Britain's national interest and said he couldn't agree to the treaty changes because they would have threatened the competitive future of London's financial services industry, The Times reported. He was the only leader among the 27 EU nations to reject the treaty.</p>
<p>"Britain remains a full member of the EU and the events of the last week do nothing to change that," Cameron said, The Times reported. "Our membership of the EU is vital to our national interest. We are a trading nation and we need the single market for trade, investment and jobs."</p>
<p>More on GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/111209/europe-agrees-new-fiscal-union-treaty-without-uk" type="external">Europe agrees to new fiscal union treaty - without UK</a></p>
<p>Lawmakers from the opposition Labor Party and from Cameron's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_%E2%80%93_Liberal_Democrat_coalition_agreement" type="external">coalition Liberal Democrat</a> partners criticized Cameron in the House of Commons for "isolating the UK," in his decision to reject a deal agreed by other EU nations to prevent a repeat of the euro zone crisis.</p>
<p>The changes to the EU's <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Lisbon+Treaty&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;aq=t&amp;rls=org.mozilla:fr:official&amp;client=firefox-a" type="external">Lisbon Treaty</a>, blocked by Cameron, were agreed at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels last Friday.</p>
<p>Following the announcement, Cameron's Liberal Democrat deputy, Nick Clegg, said Sunday that he was "bitterly disappointed" with the veto, adding that it risked marginalizing the UK within Europe.</p>
<p>He told the BBC:</p>
<p>"There's nothing bulldog about Britain hovering somewhere in the mid-Atlantic, not standing tall in Europe, not being taken seriously in Washington ... I don't think that's good for jobs, in the City or elsewhere, I don't think it's good for growth or for families up and down the country."</p>
<p>Both Cameron and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_of_the_Exchequer" type="external">Chancellor of the Exchequer</a>, George Osborne, say the veto was carried out to protect European intervention in London's financial sector, but opposition parties argue that no additional safeguards were achieved, the BBC reported.</p>
<p>In order to proceed, EU treaty changes require the support of all 27 members states. Cameron's statement in front of the House of Commons is being live streamed by the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16136672" type="external">BBC</a>.</p> | British PM Cameron defends EU treaty veto in parliament | false | https://pri.org/stories/2011-12-12/british-pm-cameron-defends-eu-treaty-veto-parliament | 2011-12-12 | 3left-center
| British PM Cameron defends EU treaty veto in parliament
<p>British Prime Minister David Cameron stood before Parliament on Monday and feverishly defended his decision to veto European Union treaty changes at the European Summit last week, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/world/europe/david-cameron-to-address-british-parliament-over-europe-treaty.html" type="external">The New York Times</a> reported.</p>
<p>Cameron said he made the only reasonable choice to defend Britain's national interest and said he couldn't agree to the treaty changes because they would have threatened the competitive future of London's financial services industry, The Times reported. He was the only leader among the 27 EU nations to reject the treaty.</p>
<p>"Britain remains a full member of the EU and the events of the last week do nothing to change that," Cameron said, The Times reported. "Our membership of the EU is vital to our national interest. We are a trading nation and we need the single market for trade, investment and jobs."</p>
<p>More on GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/111209/europe-agrees-new-fiscal-union-treaty-without-uk" type="external">Europe agrees to new fiscal union treaty - without UK</a></p>
<p>Lawmakers from the opposition Labor Party and from Cameron's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_%E2%80%93_Liberal_Democrat_coalition_agreement" type="external">coalition Liberal Democrat</a> partners criticized Cameron in the House of Commons for "isolating the UK," in his decision to reject a deal agreed by other EU nations to prevent a repeat of the euro zone crisis.</p>
<p>The changes to the EU's <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Lisbon+Treaty&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;aq=t&amp;rls=org.mozilla:fr:official&amp;client=firefox-a" type="external">Lisbon Treaty</a>, blocked by Cameron, were agreed at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels last Friday.</p>
<p>Following the announcement, Cameron's Liberal Democrat deputy, Nick Clegg, said Sunday that he was "bitterly disappointed" with the veto, adding that it risked marginalizing the UK within Europe.</p>
<p>He told the BBC:</p>
<p>"There's nothing bulldog about Britain hovering somewhere in the mid-Atlantic, not standing tall in Europe, not being taken seriously in Washington ... I don't think that's good for jobs, in the City or elsewhere, I don't think it's good for growth or for families up and down the country."</p>
<p>Both Cameron and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_of_the_Exchequer" type="external">Chancellor of the Exchequer</a>, George Osborne, say the veto was carried out to protect European intervention in London's financial sector, but opposition parties argue that no additional safeguards were achieved, the BBC reported.</p>
<p>In order to proceed, EU treaty changes require the support of all 27 members states. Cameron's statement in front of the House of Commons is being live streamed by the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16136672" type="external">BBC</a>.</p> | 598,998 |
<p>Máxima Acuña fought a proposed gold mine on her farm. For that, she went to jail, had her house knocked down, her potato crop destroyed and faces death threats. But&#160;her bravery and determination have also earned her the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize for Central and South America.</p>
<p>The Goldman awards are perhaps the most prestigious environmental prizes in the world. They are presented annually to six&#160;environmental activists from around the world who “demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment, often working at great risk to protect our environment.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/maxima-acuna/" type="external">Acuña is an indigenous farmer</a> from the Cajamarca highlands of Peru, near one of the largest open-pit copper and gold mines in the world, run by Peru’s Buenaventura and Colorado-based Newmont mining companies. In 2010, the companies tried to build a new mine 10 miles away, right in Maxima’s backyard. The project would have destroyed four mountain lakes, but Maxima stood in the way, refusing to leave her land.</p>
<p>In 2011, armed men arrived, destroyed her house, and brutally&#160;beat her. Then the mining company pressed charges against her for allegedly squatting on the 60 acres she bought legally in 1994. Acuña was sentenced to three years in prison. But she fought the conviction and eventually won her freedom and the right to return to her land, where she grows potatoes and raises guinea pigs, sheep and cows. The mine is now on hold, but Maxima continues to face threats of violence and harassment.</p>
<p>This year’s Goldman Prize ceremony,&#160;honoring&#160;Acuña and five others, began by remembering&#160;one of last year’s winners, <a href="" type="internal">Berta Cáceres of Honduras</a>. Cáceres was murdered by gunmen in March. She won the Goldman Prize for her work resisting a series of dam developments that could have cut off her indigenous Lenca people from traditional access to safe water, food&#160;and medicine.</p>
<p>At the ceremony, Douglas Goldman, son of the prize’s founders, said Cáceres' death should be viewed as an assassination and her life an inspiration to all those fighting for justice.</p>
<p>“Berta was a gentle soul,” Goldman said. “However, when confronted with the wrongs being threatened upon her indigenous Lenca people of Honduras, she was a fiercely determined fighter for that which is right. For her outspoken stance in defense of her people she was subjected to numerous and constant death threats. On March 3, those threats became a reality.”</p>
<p>Goldman dedicated this year’s awards to Cáceres, and said he “retain[s] the hope that such outrageous, inhuman actions to unjustly stifle the defense of native peoples and their environments will once and for all cease.”</p>
<p>At the ceremony, Acuña said: “That is why I defend the land, I defend the water, because that is what life is for. I am not afraid of the power of these corporations. I will continue fighting. This is for those who have died in Celedin and Bambamarca, and those who continue to fight in Cajamarca.”</p>
<p>This article is based on a <a href="http://loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=16-P13-00017&amp;segmentID=6" type="external">story</a> that aired on PRI’s <a href="http://loe.org/index.html" type="external">Living on Earth</a> with Steve Curwood.</p> | Violence, death threats confront latest winner of prestigious environmental prize | false | https://pri.org/stories/2016-05-08/latest-latin-american-winner-goldman-environmental-prize-faces-violence-and-death | 2016-05-08 | 3left-center
| Violence, death threats confront latest winner of prestigious environmental prize
<p>Máxima Acuña fought a proposed gold mine on her farm. For that, she went to jail, had her house knocked down, her potato crop destroyed and faces death threats. But&#160;her bravery and determination have also earned her the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize for Central and South America.</p>
<p>The Goldman awards are perhaps the most prestigious environmental prizes in the world. They are presented annually to six&#160;environmental activists from around the world who “demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment, often working at great risk to protect our environment.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/maxima-acuna/" type="external">Acuña is an indigenous farmer</a> from the Cajamarca highlands of Peru, near one of the largest open-pit copper and gold mines in the world, run by Peru’s Buenaventura and Colorado-based Newmont mining companies. In 2010, the companies tried to build a new mine 10 miles away, right in Maxima’s backyard. The project would have destroyed four mountain lakes, but Maxima stood in the way, refusing to leave her land.</p>
<p>In 2011, armed men arrived, destroyed her house, and brutally&#160;beat her. Then the mining company pressed charges against her for allegedly squatting on the 60 acres she bought legally in 1994. Acuña was sentenced to three years in prison. But she fought the conviction and eventually won her freedom and the right to return to her land, where she grows potatoes and raises guinea pigs, sheep and cows. The mine is now on hold, but Maxima continues to face threats of violence and harassment.</p>
<p>This year’s Goldman Prize ceremony,&#160;honoring&#160;Acuña and five others, began by remembering&#160;one of last year’s winners, <a href="" type="internal">Berta Cáceres of Honduras</a>. Cáceres was murdered by gunmen in March. She won the Goldman Prize for her work resisting a series of dam developments that could have cut off her indigenous Lenca people from traditional access to safe water, food&#160;and medicine.</p>
<p>At the ceremony, Douglas Goldman, son of the prize’s founders, said Cáceres' death should be viewed as an assassination and her life an inspiration to all those fighting for justice.</p>
<p>“Berta was a gentle soul,” Goldman said. “However, when confronted with the wrongs being threatened upon her indigenous Lenca people of Honduras, she was a fiercely determined fighter for that which is right. For her outspoken stance in defense of her people she was subjected to numerous and constant death threats. On March 3, those threats became a reality.”</p>
<p>Goldman dedicated this year’s awards to Cáceres, and said he “retain[s] the hope that such outrageous, inhuman actions to unjustly stifle the defense of native peoples and their environments will once and for all cease.”</p>
<p>At the ceremony, Acuña said: “That is why I defend the land, I defend the water, because that is what life is for. I am not afraid of the power of these corporations. I will continue fighting. This is for those who have died in Celedin and Bambamarca, and those who continue to fight in Cajamarca.”</p>
<p>This article is based on a <a href="http://loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=16-P13-00017&amp;segmentID=6" type="external">story</a> that aired on PRI’s <a href="http://loe.org/index.html" type="external">Living on Earth</a> with Steve Curwood.</p> | 598,999 |
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