Hurdles ahead for US health reform Newsletter - October 17, 2009

Hurdles ahead for US health reform Newsletter - October 17, 2009

“It is deplorable that Republicans are being so obstructive. They complain the bill’s good points will be ground down before it passes. If so, the time to object would be when that happens. Meanwhile, their intransigence has increased the risk that the bill will get worse not better, if it passes at all.” Financial Times Editorial

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Hurdles ahead for US health reform. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 14 2009 22:02 | Last updated: October 14 2009 22:02. The Senate finance committee, a crucial player in US healthcare reform, at last voted through its bill on the subject this week. It is likely to form the core of any eventual law. Barack Obama called the committee’s vote a milestone, but cautioned that “we’re not there yet”. He was right on both counts. In spite of the many compromises already struck, and the countless (often needless) complications already introduced, the bill is indeed a bold and comprehensive measure. After months of to and fro, one should recognise that fact. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/financial-times-editorial-comment.html

Fact Checker: Health Insurance Industry Reports. Copyright by the Washington Post. October 15, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/factchecker15.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Senate Panel Clears Health Bill With One G.O.P. Vote By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and ROBERT PEAR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/health/policy/14health.html?ref=global-home

GOP Claims Olympia Snowe Was Born in Kenya By Andy Borowitz. Copyright by The BorowitzReport.com. Posted: October 13, 2009 03:16 PM. WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) - Just moments after she broke with fellow Republicans and voted in favor of health care reform, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) came under fire from the GOP for allegedly lying about her nation of birth. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-borowitz/gop-claims-olympia-snowe_b_318963.html

Another GOP Senator Open to Health Care Overhaul By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR. Copyright by The Associated Press. Wednesday, October 14, 2009; 2:04 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/14/AR2009101400105.html

In Hawaii’s Health System, Lessons for Lawmakers By GARDINER HARRIS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009. HONOLULU — Imee Gallardo, 24, has been scooping ice cream at a Häagen-Dazs shop at Waikiki Beach for five years, and during that time the shop has done something its counterparts on the mainland rarely do: it has paid for her health care. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/health/policy/17hawaii.html?th&emc=th

THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART: THE JOY OF RX: http://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/2009/10/15/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-the-joy-of-rx/

White House to Let Insurers Warn Medicare Recipients About Pending Health Bills By ROBERT PEAR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009. WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Friday backed away from an order that had prohibited insurance companies from warning Medicare recipients about the possible loss of benefits under pending legislation to overhaul the health care system. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/health/policy/17health.html?th&emc=th



International


Biggest Obstacle to Global Climate Deal May Be How to Pay for It By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/science/earth/15climate.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Russia Gas Pipeline Heightens East Europe’s Fears - Eastern Europe Fears New Era of Russian Dominance By ANDREW E. KRAMER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/world/europe/13pipes.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Russia Resists U.S. Position on Sanctions for Iran By MARK LANDLER and CLIFFORD J. LEVY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/world/europe/14diplo.html?ref=global-home

Croatia edges closer to EU entry By Tony Barber in Brussels. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 14 2009 14:27 | Last updated: October 14 2009 14:27. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/croatia-edges-closer-to-eu-entry.html

Obama Drops Plan to Isolate Sudan Leaders By GINGER THOMPSON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009. WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has formulated a new policy for Sudan that proposes working with that country’s government, rather than isolating it as President Obama had pledged to do during his campaign. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/world/africa/17sudan.html?th&emc=th



China

Chinese Export Boom in Evidence at Trade Show By KEITH BRADSHER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/business/global/16yuan.html?ref=global-home

US hardens stance on renminbi rigidity By Sarah O’ Connor in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 16 2009 01:21 | Last updated: October 16 2009 01:21. The Obama administration said on Thursday that it had “serious concerns” about the value of the renminbi, but stopped short of accusing China of manipulating its currency in a closely watched report to Congress. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7b301ff2-b9e4-11de-a747-00144feab49a.html

Beijing’s Air Is Cleaner, but Far From Clean By MICHAEL WINES. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/world/asia/17beijing.html?th&emc=th

Chinese Premier Calls for Dialogue Between U.S. and North Korea By DAVID BARBOZA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 10, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/world/asia/11korea.html?hpw

Russia’s Leaders See China as Template for Ruling By CLIFFORD J. LEVY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 17, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/world/europe/18russia.html?ref=global-home


Mess-o-potamia


U.N. Rights Council Endorses Gaza Report By SHARON OTTERMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009. The United Nations Human Rights Council voted Thursday to endorse a report detailing evidence of war crimes committed by Israeli and Palestinian militants during the Gaza war, moving the inquiry a step closer to the Security Council and possible criminal investigations. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/world/middleeast/17nations.html?hpw

Pakistan Opens Offensive in a Militant Stronghold By JANE PERLEZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 17, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/world/asia/18pstan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Pakistan Retakes Army Headquarters; Hostages Freed By JANE PERLEZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 10, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/world/asia/11pstan.html?th&emc=th

Washington Post Editorial: The Taliban Threat - As Pakistan finally faces the truth, will the United States stand down? Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, October 14, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/13/AR2009101302796.html

Coordinated Attacks Strike Cultural Heart of Pakistan By JANE PERLEZ and SALMAN MASOOD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/world/asia/16pstan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Car Bomb Kills at Least 41 in Restive Region of Pakistan By PIR ZUBAIR SHAH and JANE PERLEZ. Copyright by Reuters. Published: October 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/world/asia/13pstan.html?th&emc=th

Pakistan Attacks Show Tighter Militant Links By JANE PERLEZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A wave of attacks against top security installations over the last several days demonstrated that the Taliban, Al Qaeda and militant groups once nurtured by the government are tightening an alliance aimed at bringing down the Pakistani state, government officials and analysts said. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/world/asia/16pstan.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Clinton and Gates Join Forces in Debate on Afghanistan Buildup By MARK LANDLER and THOM SHANKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/world/13cabinet.html?th&emc=th

Biden No Longer a Lone Voice on Afghanistan By PETER BAKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/world/14biden.html?th&emc=th

Not Good Enoug By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009. If President Obama can find a way to balance the precise number of troops that will stabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan, without tipping America into a Vietnam there, then he indeed deserves a Nobel Prize — for physics. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/opinion/14friedman.html?th&emc=th

Karzai Aide Says Afghan Runoff Vote Is Likely By ELISABETH BUMILLER and SABRINA TAVERNISE. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: October 15, 2009. WASHINGTON — The government of President Hamid Karzai is preparing for the likelihood that he will have to face an election runoff with his main challenger, Afghanistan’s ambassador here said Thursday, acknowledging an outcome that Western diplomats had been pushing for but that could complicate the debate over whether to send more American troops. The comments by the ambassador in Washington, Said Tayeb Jawad, were the first in which Mr. Karzai’s government conceded that a runoff was likely, after weeks of investigation into stark cases of election fraud. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/world/asia/16afghan.html?th&emc=th

In Kabul, Little Hope That a Runoff Will Be Fair By SABRINA TAVERNISE. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: October 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/world/asia/14afghan.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

What Failure in Afghanistan? By Fareed Zakaria. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, October 12, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101101552.html


National


Obama must start punching harder By Gideon Rachman. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 12 2009 22:11 | Last updated: October 12 2009 22:11. Just five years ago, Barack Obama was still a local politician in Illinois, preparing for a run for the US Senate. His office wall in Chicago at the time was decorated with the famous picture of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston, after knocking him out in a heavyweight title fight. Ali famously boasted that he could “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” But now that Mr Obama is president, he seems to float like a butterfly – and sting like one as well. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/obama-must-start-punching-harder.html

New York Times Editorial: Faith-Based Discrimination. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009. President Obama promised in his campaign to preserve President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiative aimed at helping social service programs sponsored by religious organizations win federal grants and contracts. He also promised a vitally important change: groups receiving federal money would no longer be allowed to hire employees on the basis of their religion. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/opinion/14wed4.html?th&emc=th

Hedge Fund Chief Is Charged With Fraud By MICHAEL J. de la MERCED. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: October 16, 2009. In all, six people were arrested, accused by prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission of earning more than $20 million from illegal trading in companies like Google, Akamai and Hilton Hotels over nearly three years. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/business/17insider.html?th&emc=th

Top Judge Calls Calif. Government ‘Dysfunctional’ By JENNIFER STEINHAUER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 10, 2009. LOS ANGELES — In a rare public rebuke of state government and policies delivered by a sitting judge, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court scathingly criticized the state’s reliance on the referendum process, arguing that it has “rendered our state government dysfunctional.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/11calif.html?th&emc=th

Two Americans Are Awarded Nobel in Economics By LOUIS UCHITELLE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/business/economy/13nobel.html?scp=1&sq=nobel%20in%20economics&st=cse

OPEd | Race Relations in America under an African American President By Carlos T Mock, MD http://www.ambiente.us/10509CTMock.html


Health Care


The Gift of Life, and Its Price By STEPHANIE SAUL. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 10, 2009. Scary. Like aliens. That is how Kerry Mastera remembers her twins, Max and Wes, in the traumatic days after they were born nine weeks early. Machines forced air into the infants’ lungs, pushing their tiny chests up and down in artificial heaves. Tubes delivered nourishment. They were so small her husband’s wedding band fit around an entire baby foot. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/health/11fertility.html?th&emc=th

Grievous Choice on Risky Path to Parenthood By STEPHANIE SAUL. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 11, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/health/12fertility.html?th&emc=th

For now, flu vaccine scarcer than expected; kids at higher risk as disease strikes US early By LAURAN NEERGAARD. Copyright 2009 Associated Press.. 1:26 p.m. CDT, October 17, 2009. http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-ap-us-med-swine-flu,0,611787.story

Doubt Break '09: Glenn Beck has to decide how much he trusts his government before getting the swine flu vaccine. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-15-2009/doubt-break—09

Officials See a Shortage in Vaccine for Swine Flu By DENISE GRADY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/health/17flu.html?th&emc=th

Hidden Costs of Medicare Advantage - Plans' Free Perks Are Subsidized By Government By Philip Rucker. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, October 15, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/14/AR2009101403953.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter


GOP Bashing


Me Talk Presidential One Day by Matt Latimer © 2009 by Matt Latimer. Published by Crown Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. Matt Latimer worked as one of Dubya’s speechwriters during the president’s final twenty-two months in office. He was there to help sell the surge to a skeptical public. He was there as we pretended that the fundamentals of the economy were strong. And he was there to see a president who failed to grasp his own $700 billion bailout package—even as he was pitching it to the American public on live TV. A disillusioned insider reveals for the first time just how messy things got. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/me-talk-presidential-one-day.html

Petulance and Peace Prize By Garrison Keillor. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 14, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped1013keilloroct14,0,1071912.column

Super Prize Me - Barack Obama's critics don't think he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, but he proves them wrong by bombing the moon. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-october-13-2009/super-prize-me Editorial Note: He won because he’s reversed all the hateful Bush policies the world so much despised. And yes, The U. S won for getting rid of the Republicans!!!!

Daily Show: Rape Nuts http://vodpod.com/watch/2341443-daily-show-rape-nuts

You've Got Fail - The RNC's new website features an American flag with hydraulics and Michael Steele's blog, "What Up." http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-15-2009/you-ve-got-fail

Obama 'birther' fined $20K by Andrew Zajac. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. Posted October 14, 2009 10:54 AM. Orly Taitz, the southern California dentist/lawyer who has filed numerous suits challenging President Obama's citizenship, yesterday was fined $20,000 by a federal judge in Georgia for using the courts "as a platform for a political agenda disconnected from any legitimate legal cause of action.” http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/10/obama_birther_fined_20k.html

Pass Rush: Why the NFL Sacked Limbaugh By Eugene Robinson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, October 16, 2009. Rush Limbaugh, are you ready for some football? The right-wing radio host's attempt to become part-owner of the St. Louis Rams ended Wednesday when his fellow investors cut him from the squad. Rush got the bum's rush shortly after Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the National Football League, hinted strongly that His Loudness was most unwelcome. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101502770.html

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Booting Limbaugh not a black and white issue. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. October 17, 2009. After Rush Limbaugh got dropped last week from a group bidding for the St. Louis Rams, the conservative talk show host had a laundry list of folks to blame. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1829641,CST-EDT-edit18a.article

A G.O.P. Agitator Not Named Palin By MONICA DAVEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 14, 2009. BUFFALO, Minn. — Representative Michele Bachmann will appear in the 2010 calendar of “Great American Conservative Women” (she will be November). Her likeness has been transformed into an action figure. And, so far in 2009, she has been interviewed on a national cable news show every nine days, on average, an analysis by Smart Politics, a nonpartisan blog affiliated with the University of Minnesota shows. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/us/politics/15bachmann.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1255622658-/1jGqL9CjbDZj6Ps0fkThw

Fox’s Volley With Obama Intensifying By BRIAN STELTER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 11, 2009. Attacking the news media is a time-honored White House tactic but to an unusual degree, the Obama administration has narrowed its sights to one specific organization, the Fox News Channel, calling it, in essence, part of the political opposition. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/business/media/12fox.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1255345257-VFoq9J+hpFLgEi1PiQEt6Q

Glenn Beck's Hate Speech: Likens Criticism of Fox News To Murder Of 6,000,000 Jews By M.J. Rosenberg. Copyright by TPM. October 13, 2009, 11:21AM. The Obama administration offered some mild criticism of Fox News the other day. It called its reporting opinion, and not news, and labelled it a de factor arm of the GOP. Now Glenn Beck has responded by likening this onslaught to the murder of Six Million Jews. http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/13/glenn_beck_likens_criticism_of_fox_news_to_the_hol/



Immigration

New York Times Editorial: Wrong Paths to Immigration Reform. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 11, 2009. All last week the people of Phoenix witnessed public outbursts by their sheriff, Joe Arpaio, as he railed against the Department of Homeland Security for supposedly trying to limit his ability to enforce federal immigration laws. He vowed to keep scouring Maricopa County for people whose clothing, accents and behavior betrayed them as likely illegal immigrants. He said he had already nabbed more than 32,000 people that way, and announced his next immigrant sweep for Oct. 16. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/opinion/12mon2.html?th&emc=th

Immigration Rally, Tied to a New Bill, Draws Thousands By IAN URBINA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/us/14immig.html?hpw

U.S. Alters Disputed Immigration Rules for Police By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009. PHOENIX — Addressing one of the most contentious immigration policies in recent years, the Obama administration unveiled changes Friday in a program that allows state and local police officers enforce federal immigration law. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/us/17immig.html?th&emc=th

U.S. Can’t Trace Foreign Visitors on Expired Visas By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. and JULIA PRESTON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 11, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/us/12visa.html?_r=1&th&emc=th




Chicagoland


Todd Stroger gets backing of 90 African-American ministers - Clergy members say they want a unified front in the race for Cook County Board president By Hal Dardick and Robert Becker. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 14, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-county-board-president-14oct14,0,7992234.story

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Right under our noses? Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 18, 2009. We can't prove that the beating death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert near Fenger High School could have been prevented. We do know that a remarkable Chicago anti-violence program called CeaseFire was working to lower hostilities between rival Fenger factions until June 30 -- when an interruption in funding from Springfield reduced CeaseFire's staffing and all but quashed that effort. Disputes at Fenger intensified as this school year began. And, after the Sept. 24 plank-thumping seen worldwide, Derrion lay broken, dead. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-1018edit1oct18,0,2252649.story

Chicago Tribune Editorial: CTA's tough reality. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 13, 2009. There's plenty of pain to go around in the Chicago Transit Authority's proposed 2010 budget. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-1013edit2oct13,0,6713689.story

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Does CTA back free-ride rollback?. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. October 17, 2009. It was an idea right up Rod Blagojevich's alley when he was governor. Latch onto a populist notion -- free bus rides for Chicago area seniors. Pay no mind how much it will cost -- tens of millions of dollars. And care even less how it will be paid for -- higher fares for everyone else. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1829638,CST-EDT-edit18b.article

Granite panels on Thompson Center deemed unstable; all panels in building's arcade to be removed By Blair Kamin. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 14, 2009 http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/10/granite-panels-on-thompson-center-deemed-unsable-all-panels-in-buildings-arcade-to-be-removed.html

Old post office building back on the block - Post office hopes to strike a deal with runner-up bidders By Melissa Harris. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. 6:00 p.m. CDT, October 13, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-old-post-office-oct13-,0,6037538.story





Economy


Social Security Makes It Official: No COLA in 2010. Copyright by By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: October 15, 2009. Filed at 12:23 p.m. ET. WASHINGTON (AP) -- There will be no cost of living increase for more than 50 million Social Security recipients next year, the first year without a raise since automatic adjustments were adopted in 1975 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/15/us/politics/AP-US-Social-Security-COLA.html?scp=1&sq=no%20social%20security%20increase&st=cse

Steep Losses Pose Crisis for Pensions - Two Bad Choices for Funds: Cut Benefits Or Take Greater Risks to Rebuild Assets - In the wake of the economic crisis, pension funds for police officers and other public employees have been battered and face a long recovery, experts say. By David Cho. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, October 11, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/10/AR2009101002360.html?hpid=topnews

US retail sales slump on post-‘clunker’ weakness - Business inventories shrink as companies clear stocks By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 14 2009 14:14 | Last updated: October 14 2009 15:42 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cdf0a750-b8ba-11de-809b-00144feab49a.html

$1.4 Trillion Deficit Complicates Stimulus Plans By JACKIE CALMES. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/us/17deficit.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

New York Times Editorial: 10,000: Then and Now. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009. Dow 10,000 brings back glowing memories of good times — and not just for the people in pinstripes walking around Wall Street with “Dow 10,000” baseball caps. When the Dow Jones industrial average first closed above 10,000 on March 29, 1999, the economy was in its eighth year of uninterrupted growth. The jobless rate was so low — 4.2 percent — that economists called it “full employment.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/opinion/16fri1.html?th&emc=th

Still on the Job, but at Half the Pay By LOUIS UCHITELLE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/business/economy/14income.html?th&emc=th

The Dow Passes Mile 10,000 on Road to Recovery - Joblessness in the Way of Future Gains By Frank Ahrens. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, October 15, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/14/AR2009101403962.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

US consumer prices tick up in September - Jobless claims fall more than expected By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 15 2009 14:08 | Last updated: October 15 2009 14:08. The cost of living in the US rose modestly last month in spite of a fall in food prices, signalling that inflation remains in check. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/us-consumer-prices-tick-up-in-september.html

US industrial production surges in third quarter - Consumer confidence sinks in October By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 16 2009 15:19 | Last updated: October 16 2009 15:19. US industrial production rose at the fastest rate in four years during the third quarter as manufacturers ramped up their efforts to match rekindling demand, but consumers remain anxious about the outlook for the economic recovery. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/us-industrial-production-surges-in.html

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Public needs more bank for its buck. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 15 2009 22:05 | Last updated: October 15 2009 22:05. Strong third-quarter results make this a good week for bankers’ bonuses: Goldman Sachs set aside $5.35bn, almost one-half of revenues, for compensation. Stay tuned for another swell of public outrage. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/financial-times-editorial-comment_16.html

Washington Post Editorial: The Unemployed Wait. Copyright by The Washington Post. Published: October 16, 2009. More than a million jobless Americans are in danger of losing benefits by the end of the year unless Congress passes an extension of unemployment insurance. The House has acted, but the Senate, which has a better bill, has been bogged down by obstruction from Republicans. In these extraordinarily hard times, Congress should extend this vital safety net without further delay. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/opinion/17sat2.html?th&emc=th

PepsiCo and Anheuser in landmark purchasing pact By Jonathan Birchall in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 14 2009 06:34 | Last updated: October 14 2009 06:34 http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/pepsico-and-anheuser-in-landmark.html

Failures of Small Banks Grow, Straining F.D.I.C. By ERIC DASH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 10, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/business/economy/11banks.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

JPMorgan Chase Reports Strong Profit of $3.6 Billion By ERIC DASH. Copyright by Bloomberg News. Published: October 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/business/15bank.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Goldman Earns $3.19 Billion, Beating Estimates By GRAHAM BOWLEY and MATTHEW SALTMARSH. Copyright by the New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/business/16goldman.html?hpw

Bonuses Put Goldman in Public Relations Bind By GRAHAM BOWLEY. Copyright by Bloomberg News. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/business/16bonus.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

A credibility problem for Goldman By John Gappe. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 14 2009 22:34 | Last updated: October 14 2009 22:34. It will be business as usual for Goldman Sachs on Thursday morning. The bank will annoy a lot of people. Goldman, the institution that came through last year’s financial crisis best – arguably the only pure investment bank left standing – will say how much money it made in the third quarter (a lot) and how many billions it has stored for bonuses (about $5.5bn towards a likely 2009 bonus pool of $23bn). http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/goldman-earns-3.html

US pay tsar gets tough over AIG packages - Insurer fears exodus of talent in crackdown By Francesco Guerrera in New York and Tom Braithwaite in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 11 2009 22:09 | Last updated: October 11 2009 22:09. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/us-pay-tsar-gets-tough-over-aig.html

Bank of America Posts a Loss and Misses Forecast By JACK HEALY and LOUISE STORY. Copyright by Bloomberg News. Published: October 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/business/17bank.html?hpw

Bank of America Chief Forgoes Pay for 2009 By LOUISE STORY and ERIC DASH. Copyright by Bloomberg News. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/business/16lewis.html?th&emc=th

Citi Struggles Even as Other Banks Show Strong Profits By ERIC DASH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/business/16citi.html?ref=global-home

At $2.5 Billion, G.E.’s Quarterly Profit Hints at Stability By STEVE LOHR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/business/17electric.html?hpw

GE profits fall 47% as revenue slumps By Justin Baer in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 16 2009 13:39 | Last updated: October 16 2009 13:39 http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/at-25-billion-ges-quarterly-profit.html. Editorial Note: Please note the difference in reporting between American and British papers on the same subject. Advice, subscribe to The Financial Times and drop the WSJ



Housing


For mortgages, 620 is the new magic number - If your credit score is lower than 620, getting a home loan will be difficult By Gregory Karp. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 11, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/chi-tc-biz-ym-spending-1011oct11,0,4102570.story

US foreclosure activity surges 23% in third quarter By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 15 2009 13:01 | Last updated: October 15 2009 13:01. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/us-foreclosure-activity-surges-23-in.html

More Illinois homeowners falling into foreclosure - New default notices were up in September, but overall filings dropped from August By Mary Ellen Podmolik. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 15, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/chi-thu-foreclosures-1015-oct15,0,4212972.story

Doubling Down On the Wrong Housing Policy By Charles Lane. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, October 18, 2009. The New York Times reports that a schoolteacher in Colorado recently got talked into buying a $134,000 fixer-upper with only 3.5 percent down. To afford that smidgen of equity, she liquidated her retirement savings. The bank rolled closing costs into the loan in return for a higher interest rate. Her monthly cost is 50 percent of her take-home pay. Happy for now, she may be a pink slip away from foreclosure and financial ruin. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/16/AR2009101602736.html

Ultrahigh-end homes slow to sell in crowded market - With no hordes of buyers in sight, builders of some of the area's most expensive homes are trapped in a down market By Mary Ellen Podmolik. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 18, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun-castles-1018-oct18,0,2937682.story


Commodities


Making the case for a weaker dollar By Wolfgang Münchau. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 11 2009 17:06 | Last updated: October 11 2009 17:06. Imagine a world with a small current account deficit in the US, a somewhat larger deficit in the eurozone and a not too excessive Asian surplus. In such a world, economic commentators would no longer bang on about global imbalances and would have to find a different subject. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-case-for-weaker-dollar.html

Oil hits 2009 high above $78 - Gold slips back from record high By Chris Flood. Published: October 16 2009 11:47 | Last updated: October 16 2009 11:47. US crude oil pushed above the $78 a barrel mark on Friday, reaching a fresh 2009 peak, while sugar prices rose and gold traded around the $1,050 level after hitting a record high earlier this week. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/oil-hits-2009-high-above-78-gold-slips.html

Recovery for base metal prices falters - Rally stalls over growing concerns about consumption By Chris Flood in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: October 11 2009 19:09 | Last updated: October 11 2009 19:09. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/recovery-for-base-metal-prices-falters.html




GLBT


Coming Out in Middle School By BENOIT DENIZET-LEWIS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: September 23, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27out-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine

Chicago Free Press Editorial: AIDS, the Times and the ‘Flame of Consciousness’ Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. October 15, 2009. An article that appeared last week in the New York Times, “Debate on March Exposes Split in Gay Rights Movement” (nytimes.com/2009/10/10/us/10march.html), described various controversies surrounding the Oct. 11 National Equality March and the difficulties GLBT activists have had in determining what would work best: advancing our agendas state-by-state or on a larger, national scale. http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/3984

Debate Over Gay March Exposes Split in Approach By JEREMY W. PETERS. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: October 9, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/us/10march.html?scp=1&sq=Debate%20on%20March%20Exposes%20Split%20in%20Gay%20Rights%20Movement”&st=cse

Marching for Equality By Jennifer Vanasco - Contributing writer. Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. October 15, 2009 http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/3986

Gay Rights Marchers Press Cause in Washington By JEREMY W. PETERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 11, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/us/politics/12protest.html?th&emc=th

For Gay Activists, The Lady Is a Champ - Fans Go Gaga As Singer Joins the March By Dan Zak. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, October 12, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101101892.html?hpid=artslot

Obama Pledges Again to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 10, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/politics/11speech.html?th&emc=th

Obama speaks at HRC Dinner on eve of National Equality March http://outgaylife.com/in-the-news/politics/obama-speaks-at-hrc-dinner-on-eve-of-national-equality-march

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Let gay soldiers serve. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 14, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-1014edit2oct14,0,7500123.story

I Didn't Tell. It Didn't Matter. - Trying to serve his country, a young man faced bigotry and abuse By Joseph Rocha. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, October 11, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100902570.html

Obama needs to keep this promise By Clarence Page. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 14, 2009. As if he didn't have enough headaches. President Barack Obama has to decide whether to deploy more troops to the Afghanistan war and whether gays and lesbians will be allowed to serve openly in the military. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped1014pageoct14,0,3365558.column

Washington Post Editorial: Leadership on Gay Rights - President Obama isn't the only one falling short. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, October 13, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/12/AR2009101202439.html

The Daily Show's Queer and Loathing in D.C.: Fox News Ignores the Gay Rights March in D.C. http://tpmtv.talkingpointsmemo.com/?id=3646735

Halloween Parade announces “Mad Hatters’ Ball” theme By Amy Wooten. Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. October 15, 2009. Triangle Neighbors, a branch of the Lake View Citizens’ Council, announced that the 13th annual Northalsted Halloween Costume Parade will feature an Alice and Wonderland-like theme, the “Mad Hatters’ Ball.” http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/3983

Alleged anti-gay cop files motion to stay, placed on leave By Amy Wooten. Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. October 15, 2009. A Chicago police officer who has been accused of trumping up DUI charges and targeting gay and lesbian motorists in the heart of Boystown has reportedly been placed on administrative leave. http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/3982

Lakeview cop's actions caught on video by Sam Worley. Copyright by The Windy City Times. 2009-10-14 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=23178

Geneva teacher reprimanded for gay slur By Noreen Ahmed-Ullah. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. October 14, 2009 11:33 AM http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/geneva-teacher-reprimanded-for-homophobic-comments.html

Aaron Schock – Please, someone tell me he's gay, I want him to be!!!! http://www.gq.com/style/suit-guide/200909/aaron-schock-illinois-republican-business-suits



Technology

The Tech Sector Trumpets Signs of a Real Rebound By STEVE LOHR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/technology/16compute.html?th&emc=th

Brisk Ad Sales Spur Google in Third Quarter By MIGUEL HELFT. Copyright by Reuters. Published: October 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/technology/companies/16google.html?th&emc=th

Intel’s Profit and Revenue Top Forecast By STEVE LOHR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/technology/companies/14chip.html?th&emc=th



Other

A Mother, a Sick Son and His Father, the Priest By LAURIE GOODSTEIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009... Eventually they had a son, setting off a series of legal battles as Ms. Bond repeatedly petitioned the church for child support. The Franciscans acquiesced, with the stipulation that she sign a confidentiality agreement. It is now an agreement she is willing to break as both she and her child, Nathan Halbach, 22, are battling cancer....http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/us/16priest.html?th&emc=th

Indigent Burials Are on the Rise By KATIE ZEZIMA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 10, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/11burial.html?th&emc=th

In Shift From ’08, Holiday Airfare Is Soaring Daily By MICHELLE HIGGINS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 15, 2009. Last year, procrastinators were rewarded when they finally got around to booking flights for holiday travel. Back then, airlines were not prepared for the sharp falloff in travel and offered last-minute deals to fill up empty planes. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/business/16fares.html?th&emc=th



Humor


Obama Named Country Music Entertainer of the Year - Surprise Selection Shocks Nashville. Copyright by The Borowitz Report. OCTOBER 12, 2009 http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2009/10/obama-named-country-music-entertainer.html

CNN Leaves It There http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-12-2009/cnn-leaves-it-there


It has come to my attention that you can only read 2 articles per month at the Financial Times if you haven't registered. If you would like to read more of the articles for free, simply sign up for the free account and you can read 10 articles per month. That should be enough. I'll try to keep the FT links to a minimum. - I used a link that will open the Financial Times articles this week. CTM

Ps. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, just go to my website: www.carlostmock.com and go the the subscription link. It will appear in your email every week.



In Pride (orgullo),


Carlos T. Mock, MD
www.carlostmock.com
Author: Borrowing Time: A Latino Sexual Odyssey - Floricanto Press 2003.
Nominated for a Stonewall Award by the American Library Association GLBT
Round Table.
Author: The Mosaic Virus – Floricanto Press 2007.  Nominated for a Stonewall Award by the American Library Association GLBT Round Table, and a Lammie from The Lambda Literary Foundation
Author: Author: Papi Chulo – Floricanto Press 2007.  Nominated for a Stonewall Award by the American Library Association GLBT Round Table, and a Lammie from The Lambda Literary Foundation
Author: Cuba Libre, “Mentirita” To be released late September 2009 by Floricanto Press