Unhealthy America Newsletter - November 7, 2009

Unhealthy America Newsletter - November 7, 2009

“The moment of truth for health care is at hand, and the distortion that perhaps gets the most traction is this: We have the greatest health care system in the world. Sure, it has flaws, but it saves lives in ways that other countries can only dream of. Abroad, people sit on waiting lists for months, so why should we squander billions of dollars to mess with a system that is the envy of the world? As Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama puts it, President Obama’s plans amount to ‘the first step in destroying the best health care system the world has ever known.’ That self-aggrandizing delusion may be the single greatest myth in the health care debate. In fact, America’s health care system is worse than Slov—er, oops, more on that later.” NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Unhealthy America By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/opinion/05kristof.html?th&emc=th

New York Times Editorial: Mandates and Affordability. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 31, 2009. If Congress approves health care reform, virtually all Americans will be required to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. That raises a fundamental question: Will the policies be affordable? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/opinion/01sun1.html?th&emc=th

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Obama must lead on healthcare. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 1 2009 17:34 | Last updated: November 1 2009 17:34. After months of debate, you might expect the outlines of a law to transform US healthcare to be clearer. If only. Already exhausted by endless to and fro on the question, US voters now long for clarity above all. Congress is not listening. Nor, apparently, is the White House. Confusion and posturing reign and the possibility of consensus seems as remote as ever. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/financial-times-editorial-comment-obama.html

Obama Strategy on Health Legislation Appears to Pay Off By ROBERT PEAR and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 1, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/health/policy/02health.html?th&emc=th

AMA supports House bills to make health reform a reality. H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961 would go a long way toward making the health system better for patients and physicians. Copyright by The A. M. A. Nov. 5, 2009 http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/health-system-reform/ama-supports-house-bills.shtml

AARP endorses House health-care bill By Lori Montgomery. Copyright by The Washiongton Post. November 5, 2009; 11:44 AM ET http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/11/aarp_endorses_house_health-car.html?hpid=topnews

New York Times Editorial: The Republican Health Plan. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 5, 2009. House Republican leaders have produced their own health care reform bill. Here is the first thing you need to know: It would do almost nothing to reduce the scandalously high number of Americans who have no insurance. And it makes only a token stab at slowing the relentlessly rising costs of medical care. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/opinion/06fri1.html?th&emc=th

'Death panels' myth just won't die By Clarence Page. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. November 1, 2009. Sarah Palin cannot see Russia from her house, as Tina Fey's version of the ex-Alaska-governor-turned-blogger claimed in a "Saturday Night Live" skit. But Palin is poking at the country's politics from her laptop. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped1101pagenov01,0,4348604.column

Health-care insurance cheaper in the suburbs - Firm's data show the farther you live from downtown Chicago, the less expensive your monthly coverage BY SANDRA GUY sguy@suntimes.com. November 2, 2009 http://www.suntimes.com/technology/guy/1859471,CST-FIN-ECOL02.article



International

N Korea signals willing to resume nuclear talks - Calls for direct discussions with US © Reuters Limited. November 2, 2009 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4770a7e2-c761-11de-bb6f-00144feab49a.html

European Union Treaty Clears Its Final Hurdle By DAN BILEFSKY and STEPHEN CASTLE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 3, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/europe/04europe.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Italy Convicts 23 Americans in C.I.A. Trials By RACHEL DONADIO. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009. MILAN — Twenty-three Americans, including a C.I.A. station chief, were convicted on Wednesday in a landmark case involving the seizure of a Muslim cleric from the streets of Milan more than six years ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/europe/05italy.html?hp

Eurozone rates left unchanged at 1% By Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 5 2009 12:45 | Last updated: November 5 2009 12:45. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/eurozone-rates-left-unchanged-at-1.html

British break up several bailed-out banks - Some want U.S. to follow suit to increase financial competition By Anthony Faiola. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, November 3, 2009; 9:18 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/03/AR2009110300352.html?hpid=topnews

British Bankers Defend Their Pay and Bonuses By JULIA WERDIGIER. Copyright by Reuters. Published: November 6, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/global/07greed.html?ref=global-home

Germans Angry Over G.M. Decision to Keep Opel By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ, DAVID JOLLY, and BILL VLASIC. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: November 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/business/global/05gm.html?ref=global-home

As Honduran Deal Failed, Split Behind Crisis Grew By ELISABETH MALKIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/world/americas/07honduras.html?hpw



China


World Bank Raises Forecast for China's Economy By BETTINA WASSENER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009. HONG KONG — The World Bank on Wednesday became the latest major institution to raise its forecast for growth in China, a reflection of the country’s rapid rebound this year, though it cautioned that more policy adjustments would be necessary in the medium term to ensure that the recovery would be sustained. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/business/global/05iht-yuan.html?hpw

China brands US ‘protectionist’ - Trade conflicts escalate By Geoff Dyer in Beijing. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 6 2009 18:39 | Last updated: November 6 2009 18:39. China on Friday accused the US of protectionist and biased trade policies less than a week before president Barack Obama’s first visit to Beijing. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/china-brands-us-protectionist-trade.html

Chinese Trial Reveals Vast Web of Corruption By ANDREW JACOBS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 3, 2009. CHONGQING, China — Wen Qiang had a fondness for Louis Vuitton belts, fossilized dinosaur eggs and B-list pop stars. For a public employee in charge of the local judiciary, he also had a lot of money: nearly $3 million that investigators found buried beneath a fish pond. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/asia/04crimewave.html?th&emc=th



Mess-o-potamia


Explosions Rip Two Cities in Pakistan By SALMAN MASOOD. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: November 2, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/world/asia/03pstan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

New York Times Editorial: President Karzai’s Second Term. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 2, 2009. We regret the decision by Afghanistan’s opposition leader, Abdullah Abdullah, to withdraw from this week’s runoff election for the presidency. After President Hamid Karzai’s supporters tried to steal the first-round vote, Mr. Abdullah had strong reason to mistrust the process. But Afghan voters deserved another chance. And Afghanistan’s government — under assault from the Taliban and its own corruption and incompetence — desperately needed the legitimacy of a cleaner vote. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/opinion/03tue1.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Karzai Vows Corruption Fight, but Avoids Details By ALISSA J. RUBIN and HELENE COOPER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 3, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/asia/04afghan.html?ref=global-home

Prospect of More U.S. Troops Worries Afghan Public By ALISSA J. RUBIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/world/asia/07doubts.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

CNN Interviews Matthew Hoh Who Resigned In Protest Over Afghanistan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EKSBBnzpE

What do Dogboy and Mr. Dan think of our future in Afghanistan? http://www.markfiore.com/political/time-flies

Iraq Swears by Bomb Detector U.S. Sees as Useless By ROD NORDLAND. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 3, 2009. BAGHDAD — Despite major bombings that have rattled the nation, and fears of rising violence as American troops withdraw, Iraq’s security forces have been relying on a device to detect bombs and weapons that the United States military and technical experts say is useless. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/middleeast/04sensors.html?th&emc=th

Israelis and Obama By HENRY SIEGMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 1, 2009. Polls indicate that President Obama enjoys the support of only 6 to 10 percent of the Israeli public — perhaps his lowest popularity in any country in the world.... Israelis do not oppose President Obama’s peace efforts because they dislike him; they dislike him because of his peace efforts. He will regain their affection only when he abandons these efforts....http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/opinion/02iht-edsiegman.html?ref=global

Clinton Backs Peace Talks Before Israeli Settlement Freeze By MARK LANDLER and ALAN COWELL. Published: November 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/middleeast/05diplo.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Top Palestinian Rules Out Race for Re-election By ETHAN BRONNER and MARK LANDLER. Copyright by Associated Press. Published: November 5, 2009. RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, warned on Thursday that he would not seek re-election, the latest sign that the Obama administration’s drive to broker a Middle East peace accord, one of President Obama’s key foreign policy goals, has fallen into disarray. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/world/middleeast/06mideast.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Saudi court upholds child rapist crucifixion ruling. Copyright by Reuters. Tue Nov 3, 2009 2:22pm IST. http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-43639120091103

Dissidents Mass in Tehran to Subvert an Anti-U.S. Rally By ROBERT F. WORTH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009. BEIRUT, Lebanon — Iran’s beleaguered opposition movement struggled to reassert itself on Wednesday, as tens of thousands of protesters braved police beatings and clouds of tear gas on the sidelines of a major, government-sponsored anti-American rally. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/middleeast/05iran.html?th&emc=th



National


New York Times Editorial: The Horror at Fort Hood. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009. It is always a shock — and a cause for deep sadness — when a gunman fires malevolently at crowds of innocent people. We have seen it far too often: at Columbine High School in Colorado a decade ago; on the campus of Virginia Tech two years ago; at a center for immigrants in upstate New York in April; and in downtown Orlando, Fla., where a gunman shot and killed one person and wounded five others on Friday. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/opinion/07sat1.html?th&emc=th

Army: 12 dead, 31 hurt in attack at Fort Hood By APRIL CASTRO and DEVLIN BARRETT. Copyright by The Associated Press. Friday, November 6, 2009; 1:37 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110503579.html

Suspect, devout Muslim from Va., wanted Army discharge, aunt said By Mary Pat Flaherty, William Wan, Derek Kravitz and Christian Davenport. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, November 6, 2009; 10:56 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR2009110600907.html?hpid=topnews

The Forever War of the Mind By Max Cleland. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009. “EVERY day I was in Vietnam, I thought about home. And, every day I’ve been home, I’ve thought about Vietnam.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/opinion/07cleland.html?th&emc=th

Muslims at Fort Voice Outrage and Ask Questions By MICHAEL MOSS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/us/07muslim.html?th&emc=th

A Final Verdict on the Presidential Salute By CAREY WINFREY. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: October 31, 2009. FOR nearly three decades, I’ve felt conflicted about presidential salutes. After all, my United States Marine Corps instructors drilled into me the idea that “you never salute without a cover” which, in civilian, meant without a hat. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/opinion/01winfrey.html?th&emc=th

Gunman Shoots 6 and Kills 1 in Fla. By JENNIFER STEINHAUER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009. A former office worker opened fire in his old building in downtown Orlando on Friday morning, killing one person, injuring five others and setting off a frantic lockdown of nearby schools and buildings before the gunman, whom the police identified as Jason Rodriguez, was quietly arrested hours later at his mother’s home. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/us/07orlando.html?scp=1&sq=shot%20in%20orlando&st=cse

New York Times Editorial: The Off-Off-Year Elections. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009. Tuesday’s vote — particularly the election of Republican governors in New Jersey and Virginia — has produced heated predictions about the revived power of Republican social conservatism and the declining fortunes of Barack Obama and his 2008 coalition. If there were broad messages in the grab bag of contests, they were for both parties: Voters remain fearful about the economy. Independent voters are a force to be reckoned with. And everyone wants results. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/opinion/05thu1.html?th&emc=th

Washington Post Editorial: Tuesday's lessons - The center holds. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, November 5, 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/04/AR2009110403769.html

Conservative Loses Upstate House Race in Blow to Right By JEREMY W. PETERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 3, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/nyregion/04district.html?th&emc=th

Houston mayor's race going to runoff By MICHAEL GRACZYK. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. November 4, 2009. HOUSTON — Houston won't know who its new mayor will be until next month. City controller Annise Parker and former city attorney Gene Locke are headed to a runoff to become mayor of America's fourth-biggest city. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijRd6gh_FQ2pQU531ysucBuQ_SjgD9BOIFGO2

Indecision 2009 - Vote or Keep Going About your Day http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-november-2-2009/indecision-2009---vote-or-keep-going-about-your-day?xrs=rss_tdsvids

Indecision 2009 - Reindecision 2008 And Beyond http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-3-2009/indecision-2009---reindecision-2008-and-beyond

"Indecision 2009 - Local Election Results" http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-4-2009/indecision-2009---local-election-results


Health Care


Now Is the Time to Weigh Medicare Options By WALECIA KONRAD. Copyright by The The New York Times. Published: October 30, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/health/31patient.html?hpw

Swine flu: Answers to your H1N1 questions By Dahleen Glanton and William Mullen. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. 4:11 p.m. CST, November 2, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-swine-flu-questions-answers,0,6646081.story

The answer to the war against drugs lies in a fundamental question: Are we against drugs use or are we against crime? By Carlos T Mock, MD. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/10/answer-to-war-against-drugs-lies-in.html

Chronicle of a Death We Can’t Accept By THOMAS G. LONG. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 31, 2009. AT a funeral directors’ convention recently, I wandered around an exhibition floor crowded with the usual accouterments of the trade — coffins, catafalques, cemetery tents, cremation furnaces and the like. Scattered among these traditional goods were also many new baubles and gewgaws of the funeral business — coffins emblazoned with sports logos; cremation urns in the shape of bowling pins, golf bags and motorcycle gas tanks; “virtual cemeteries” with video clips and eerie recorded messages from the dead; pendants, bracelets, lamps and table sculptures into which ashes of the deceased can be swirled and molded. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/opinion/01long.html?th&emc=th

Premature Births Worsen US Infant Death Rate. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: November 3, 2009. ATLANTA (AP) -- Premature births, often due to poor care of low-income pregnant women, are the main reason the U.S. infant mortality rate is higher than in most European countries, a government report said Tuesday. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/03/health/AP-US-MED-Preterm-Births.html?ref=global-home

Illinois hospital C-section rates released - Three of every 10 women have C-sections. November 03, 2009. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2009/11/illinois-hospital-csection-rates.html

Study: Options are key in sex education curriculum - Teaching both abstinence, risk-reduction may lower teen STD, pregnancy rates By Rob Stein. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, November 6, 2009; 9:00 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR2009110601208.html?hpid=topnews

Zuma Rallies S. Africa to Fight AIDS By CELIA W. DUGGER. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: October 31, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/world/africa/01zuma.html?ref=global-home



GOP Bashing


Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Moving right might cost Kirk election. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. November 6, 2009... Whose endorsement is Kirk seeking in his bid to win a U.S. Senate seat? None other than Sarah Palin. The same Sarah Palin he dismissed....http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1868099,CST-EDT-edit06a.article

Michael Steele's gotta crow By Dana Milbank. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, November 5, 2009....Presumably, the chairman meant that his party is ascendant, meaning on the rise, and not transcendent, meaning beyond the limits of comprehension. For while the Republicans can claim ascendancy after Tuesday's results, it's Steele himself who deserves the transcendent label: The things that pop out of his mouth are frequently beyond the comprehension of mortals....http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/04/AR2009110403118.html

GOP at war with itself - Attack of the Palinites By Eugene Robinson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, November 6, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110504335.html

Conservatives take aim at leaders, Charlie Crist, other races By JIM VANDEHEI & ALEX ISENSTADT. Copyright by Politico.com. 11/2/09 5:15 AM EST http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091102/pl_politico/29008

Who Are You Calling a Narcissist, Rush? By MAUREEN DOWD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 3, 2009....As he and Sarah Palin conduct their auto-da-fé of moderate Republicans — “Moderates by definition have no principles,” he told his radio audience on Monday — Limbaugh is more than ever the face of his party, as Rahm Emanuel said. He’s also the mouth....http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/opinion/04dowd.html?th&emc=th

Cheney told FBI he did not know who leaked Plame's identity. Copyright by CNN News. October 31, 2009 5:09 a.m. EDT http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/31/cheney.plame/index.html

Is Our Dick Going Soft? http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-3-2009/is-our-dick-going-soft-

If Fox Is Partisan, It Is Not Alone By JOHN HARWOOD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 1, 2009. The Obama White House’s decision to challenge Fox News appears driven equally by strategy and frustration. It is also a test case for politicians in both parties. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/us/politics/02caucus.html?th&emc=th

For Fox Sake! http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-29-2009/for-fox-sake-


Immigration

Immigrant Jail Tests U.S. View of Legal Access By NINA BERNSTEIN. Copyright by The The New York Times. Published: November 1, 2009. A startling petition arrived at the New York City Bar Association in October 2008, signed by 100 men, all locked up without criminal charges in the middle of Manhattan. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/nyregion/02detain.html?th&emc=th

New York Times Editorial: Driving Without English. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 3, 2009. Police officers giving drivers $204 tickets for not speaking English? It sounds like a rejected Monty Python sketch. Except the grim reality is that it has happened at least 39 times in Dallas since January 2007, according to The Dallas Morning News. At least six officers in several different patrol divisions wrote the tickets, each time citing a driver for violating a law that does not exist. All but one of the drivers were Hispanic. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/opinion/04wed3.html?th&emc=th



Chicagoland


New York Times Editorial: A Powerful Idea on Youth Violence. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009. As a former beat cop, Ron Huberman, the new chief of public schools in Chicago, learned long ago that violence among young urban people could not be solved simply by hauling ever larger numbers of children off to jail. With the prompting and support of his boss, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Mr. Huberman is trying a new approach to the violence that has killed and maimed hundreds of young people and turned Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods into precincts of terror and despair. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/opinion/05thu2.html?ref=opinion

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Don't rush this law without help for girls. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. November 4, 2009. Imagine you are a 17-year-old girl looking to get an abortion. You've made up your mind but fear telling your parents. It could mean getting kicked out of your home, beaten up or worse. A new state law says parents must be notified -- but there is a way around it if a teen can convince a judge she's mature enough to make the decision or that telling her parents could put her in danger. This page thinks parents should be involved in such a big decision. But if a teen cannot tell her parents, she must have a way out. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1863000,CST-EDT-edit04.article

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Daley and 'long term" Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. November 3, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-1103edit1nov03,0,1466219.story

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Blame Madigan, Daley for property tax hikes. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. November 2, 2009. It's property tax bill time, and if you're like many Chicago area residents, you're looking for which politician to blame -- or perhaps throttle -- for your increase. The politicians, meanwhile, are pointing fingers, then ducking. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1859507,CST-EDT-edit02a.article

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Cowardly legislators put CTA in peril to win election. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. November 2, 2009. Don't believe anybody who says the cowardly decision to continue free bus and train rides for Chicago area senior citizens was actually about helping seniors. It was about politicians looking for votes. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1859485,CST-EDT-edit02b.article

Block 37 developer lands new tenants - Joseph Freed and Associates still believes it can open mall by Thanksgiving despite foreclosure lawsuit by Bank of America and other lenders By Sandra M. Jones. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. November 4, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-block_37_tenantsnov04,0,2776922.story

How to beat a Chicago speeding ticket : Challenge it - | If city cop caught you with LIDAR, go to court: Judge will dismiss it BY MARK BROWN. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. November 6, 2009 http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/1868508,CST-NWS-brown06.article

Oprah leaving? Report says yes, history says maybe By Phil Rosenthal. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. November 6, 2009. If one can't yet set a watch by the frequency of reports that Oprah Winfrey is poised to give up her top-rated syndicated talk show, it's almost possible to mark one's calendar by it. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-fri-phil-1106nov06,0,728069.column

872: Chicago's newest area code a week away. Copyright by The Associated Press. October 31, 2009 8:25 PM http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/872-chicagos-newest-area-code-a-week-away.html



Economy


Fed Sees No Need to Raise Rates Soon By EDMUND L. ANDREWS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009. WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve signaled on Wednesday that it isn’t close to raising interest rates, saying the economy remains weak even though the recession appears to be over. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/business/economy/05fed.html?hp&emc=na

Fed spells out stance on rates By Krishna Guha in Washington and Michael Mackenzie in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 4 2009 20:29 | Last updated: November 5 2009 00:48. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday signalled that it still expected to keep interest rates near zero for at least six months, but for the first time identified factors that could lead to earlier rate rises. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/fed-spells-out-stance-on-rates.html

US productivity hits highest level since 2003 By Simone Baribeau in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 5 2009 14:59 | Last updated: November 5 2009 14:59. Labour productivity in the third quarter of 2009 unexpectedly increased at its fastest rate since 2003, in another sign that pressure on the labour market remains even as the economy returns to growth. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/us-productivity-hits-highest-level.html

U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits 10.2%, Highest in 26 Years By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/economy/07jobs.html?hp

J&J to Slash 7, 000 to 8,000 Jobs. Copyright By REUTERS. Published: November 3, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/11/03/business/business-us-johnsonandjohnson.html?scp=1&sq=Johnson%20&%20Johnson%20to%20slash%20workforce&st=Search

Broader Measure of U.S. Unemployment Stands at 17.5% By DAVID LEONHARDT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009. For all the pain caused by the Great Recession, the job market still was not in as bad shape as it had been during the depths of the early 1980s recession — until now. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/economy/07econ.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Fed tells banks to adopt pay rules early - Central bank calls for swift action to avoid public backlash By Francesco Guerrera in New York and Patrick Jenkins in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 2 2009 21:57 | Last updated: November 2 2009 21:57. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/fed-tells-banks-to-adopt-pay-rules.html

U.S. Readies Jobless Aid and Help on Homes By JACKIE CALMES and DAVID STOUT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 5, 2009. WASHINGTON — In separate actions to address Americans’ continuing economic hardship, the government moved Thursday to assist long-unemployed workers and struggling businesses, as well as home buyers and homeowners facing foreclosure. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/us/politics/06benefits.html?th&emc=th

Car Buyers Come Back, but Not in Droves By FLOYD NORRIS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009. THE American love affair with cars seemed to come to a sudden end this year, when car sales became less important to the economy than at any time since the government began counting more than 40 years ago. So far, there are only limited indications of a renewal of the relationship. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/economy/07charts.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1257609781-cqMel6Gmm9/rONe3wDHKWA

Ford Posts an Unexpected Profit of $997 Million By NICK BUNKLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 2, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/business/03auto.html?ref=global-home

Toyota posts first profit in four quarters - Stimulus measures boost sales By Jonathan Soble in Tokyo. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 5 2009 06:50 | Last updated: November 5 2009 17:44. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/toyota-posts-first-profit-in-four.html

Retailers Report Healthy Sales Increases By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 5, 2009. The nation’s stores posted a second consecutive month of sales increases in October, the retailing industry’s best performance in more than a year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/business/economy/06shop.html?hp

Price war, no deals barred - Wal-Mart's rivals fear the chain's power to undercut them, but they have holiday plans of their own. By Andrea Chang. Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times. November 7, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/la-fi-walmart7-2009nov07,0,5178493.story

Insider Trading Charges for 14, Some Tied to Galleon By ALEX BERENSON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 5, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/business/06insider.html?hp

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway triples profit - Boosts firepower for acquisitions By Francesco Guerrera and Justin Baer in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 7 2009 00:37 | Last updated: November 7 2009 00:37. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-triples.html

A.I.G. Reports Profit but Warns of Continued Volatility. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: November 6, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/07insure.html?hpw

BA suffers record first-half loss of £292m - First deficit for summer period By Pilita Clark. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 6 2009 09:10 | Last updated: November 6 2009 09:10 http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/ba-suffers-record-first-half-loss-of.html

Kraft set for hostile move on Cadbury - ‘Put-up or shut-up’ expiry looms By Jenny Wiggins and Kate Burgess. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 6 2009 22:01 | Last updated: November 6 2009 22:01. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/kraft-set-for-hostile-move-on-cadbury.html

CIT Files for Bankruptcy By Michael J. de la Merced. Copyright by The New York Times. November 1, 2009, 2:15 pm http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/cit-to-file-for-bankruptcy-soon/?emc=na

Regulators shut banks in 5 states; marks 120 US bank failures this year By IEVA M. AUGSTUMS, MARCY GORDON. Copyright 2009 Associated Press. 9:11 p.m. CST, November 6, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-bank-closures,0,6099722.story

Credit Card Gouging: Don’t Leave Home Without it. http://www.markfiore.com/political/watch-credit-card-reform-action



Housing


Foreclosure filings spike in collar counties - All post double-digit increases despite efforts to help homeowners By Mary Ellen Podmolik. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. November 3, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue-foreclosures-1103nov03,0,4959141.story

Why This Real Estate Bust Is Different - Unrealistic assumptions, layers of investors, sky-high prices, and possible fraud will make it hard to clean up the mess in commercial real estate. Copyright by Business Week November 16, 2009. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_46/b4155042792563.htm


Commodities


Gold hits record high on India purchase - IMF’s 200-tonne sale prompts speculation of further buying by central banks By Javier Blas in London and Sarah O’Connor in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 3 2009 09:08 | Last updated: November 3 2009 15:47 http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/gold-hits-record-high-on-india-purchase.html



GLBT


New York Times Editorial: Six Tests for Equality and Fairness. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 1, 2009. Political battles this fall in six different parts of the country could have a profound impact on whether the United States will extend the promise of equal rights to those who are not allowed to marry simply because they are the same sex as their partner. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/opinion/02mon1.html?th&emc=th

Marriage for Gays on Agenda in New York By DANNY HAKIM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 5, 2009. ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson said Thursday that he would include gay marriage on the agenda of an extraordinary session he is calling for Tuesday, potentially setting up the first vote on the issue in the State Senate and a dramatic floor debate. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/nyregion/06marriage.html?scp=1&sq=Marriage%20for%20Gays%20on%20Agenda%20in%20New%20York&st=cse

Washington voters may affirm domestic partnerships. Copyright by The Windy City Times. NEWS UPDATE Nov. 4, 2009. Washington may be first state in nation to support domestic partnership by popular vote. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=23373

Nondiscrimination Ordinance passes in Kalamazoo, MI. Copyright by The Windy City Times. Nov. 3, 2009 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=23370

Loss in Maine Sets Back Drive for Same-Sex Marriage By ABBY GOODNOUGH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/us/05marriage.html?hp

Gay Rights Rebuke May Change Approach By ABBY GOODNOUGH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/us/05marriage.html?th&emc=th

Privacy Looms Over Gay Rights Vote By WILLIAM YARDLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: October 31, 2009. SEATTLE — At a time when voters in many states are using petitions to qualify ballot measures on issues from gay rights to property rights, a legal dispute over the identity of 138,000 petition signers here is raising new questions about privacy, free speech and elections in the Internet age. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/us/01petition.html?th&emc=th

Can't Get Queer From Here http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-4-2009/can-t-get-queer-from-here

Johnston and Williams win Jon-Henri award By Matt Simonette. Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. November 5, 2009. Community members and activists gathered at Gerber-Hart Library Sunday to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the passing of writer Jon-Henri Damski and give out the award to the persons who best exemplified his spirit. http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/4046

Mr. International Rubber Schedule of Events By Matt Simonette. Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. November 5, 2009. Most Mr. International Rubber events will this year take place in the heart of Boystown, Center on Halsted at 3656 N. Halsted. http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/4059

Midlife Crisis No 287: Saints Preserve Us By St. Sukie de la Croix. Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. November 5, 2009. Several months ago I canonized myself—note the “St.” in front of my name. http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/4058

Tell South Park’s Creators About the Harms Caused By Slur-Filled “The F-Word.”/'South Park' last night: Trying to make 'The F Word' okay, and beating up Emmanuel Lewis by Ken Tucker. South Park tried to teach us a lesson last night, and lesson-teaching is something a TV show should usually try to avoid, because it usually makes for lousy storytelling. And comments http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/tell-south-parks-creators-about-harms.html

South Park the F Word Episode http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/251889/


Technology


Cuomo Files Federal Antitrust Lawsuit Against Intel By ASHLEE VANCE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/technology/companies/05chip.html?emc=na

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Intel in trouble. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 5 2009 19:38 | Last updated: November 5 2009 19:38. When corporate giants wield their pricing power as a weapon to smash pygmies, consumers win – but only for a while. That is why regulators must be vigilant. This week, Andrew Cuomo, New York attorney general, filed an anti-trust complaint against Intel, following a case that has already led to regulatory action in Europe and Asia. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/financial-times-editorial-comment-intel.html

Virtual Goods Start Bringing Real Paydays By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER and BRAD STONE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009. SAN FRANCISCO — Silicon Valley may have discovered the perfect business: charging real money for products that do not exist. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/technology/internet/07virtual.html?th&emc=th

Cisco’s Results Offer More Hope to Tech Industry By STEVE LOHR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/technology/companies/05cisco.html?th&emc=th

Does Technology Reduce Social Isolation? By STEFANIE OLSEN. Copyright by The New York Times. November 5, 2009, 5:15 PM. Update | 11:19 p.m. Made slight clarifications throughout. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/does-technology-reduce-social-isolation/?hpw

Google privacy tool unveiled By Maija Palmer. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: November 5 2009 11:10 | Last updated: November 5 2009 18:59. Google sought to alleviate the concerns of privacy campaigners on Thursday by unveiling new tools that will allow users to see what information the internet company is keeping on them. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e5116b30-c9f5-11de-a5b5-00144feabdc0.html

Microsoft Simplifies a Cluttered MSN By Miguel Helft. Copyright by The New York Times. November 4, 2009, 12:00 am http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/microsoft-simplifies-a-cluttered-msn/?th&emc=th

Review: Motorola's Droid delivers lots of features and looks good doing it By Mark Milian. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. November 7, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat-droid-review-1107nov07,0,2715919.story


Religion


Religious order rebukes Chicago-area nun who volunteers at abortion clinic. Contact: info@chicagocatholicnews.com. November 4, 2009. Copyright By ChicagoCatholicNews. http://www.chicagocatholicnews.com/2009/11/new-religious-order-acts-on-nun-who.html



Other


After 40 Years, Age Discrimination Still Gets Second-Class Treatment By ADAM COHEN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 6, 2009. After working for a vending machine company for more than 20 years, James O’Connor was replaced with someone younger. He sued. He testified that his boss had disparaged older workers, including saying — two weeks before he was fired — “O’Connor, you are too damn old for this kind of work.” A federal court was unmoved, ruling in 1995 that he had not connected the bigoted comments to his firing. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/opinion/07sat4.html?th&emc=th

YANKEES 7, PHILLIES 3 - Back on Top, Yankees Add a 27th Title By TYLER KEPNER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: November 5, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/sports/baseball/05series.html?th&emc=th


Humor


THE DUCK IS DEAD http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/10/duck-is-dead.html

Management Course http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/management-course.html

DIVORCE VS. MURDER http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/11/divorce-vs-murder.html

Fuck It - The Ultimate Spiritual Way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVdKQ0I35qo




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