Pass the Bill Newsletter - December 19, 2009

Pass the Bill Newsletter - December 19, 2009

“But let’s all take a deep breath, and consider just how much good this bill would do, if passed — and how much better it would be than anything that seemed possible just a few years ago. With all its flaws, the Senate health bill would be the biggest expansion of the social safety net since Medicare, greatly improving the lives of millions. Getting this bill would be much, much better than watching health care reform fail.” PAUL KRUGMAN

Pass the Bill By PAUL KRUGMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 17, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/opinion/18krugman.html?th&emc=th

Democrats Clinch a Deal on Health Bill By ROBERT PEAR, DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and CARL HULSE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 19, 2009. WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats said on Saturday that they had clinched an agreement on a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s health care system, and that they were on track to approve the legislation by Christmas over fierce Republican opposition. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/health/policy/20health.html?hp

December 15, 2009: For He's a Jowly Good Fellow http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/258564/december-15-2009/for-he-s-a-jowly-good-fellow



International

Nearing Arms Pact, U.S. and Russia Look Ahead By PETER BAKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 17, 2009. WASHINGTON — Eight months, three presidential meetings, countless Geneva negotiating sessions and one missed deadline later, the United States and Russia appear close to agreement on a new arms control treaty that will reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals by at least one quarter. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/world/18arms.html?ref=global-home

In Shift, U.S. Talks to Russia on Internet Security By JOHN MARKOFF and ANDREW E. KRAMER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/science/13cyber.html?th&emc=th

Attacker Fractures Berlusconi’s Nose By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO and RACHEL DONADIO. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/world/europe/14italy.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Abu Dhabi Gives Dubai $10 Billion for Use on Debt By LANDON THOMAS Jr. and BETTINA WASSENER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/global/15dubai.html?hpw



China

Financial Times Editorial Comment: China’s strong and brittle state. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: December 14 2009 19:42 | Last updated: December 14 2009 19:42. This year, we have grown accustomed to thinking about China’s strengths. We have been awed by its mountainous foreign exchange reserves and by its ability to power ahead in a global downturn. We have seen its ever-more sophisticated military and naval hardware on display. And we have witnessed its growing confidence on the world stage, to wit, its shrill lectures on the dangers of the US deficit and a weakening dollar. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/12/financial-times-editorial-comment.html

China’s Rapid Reactor Expansion Raises Concerns By KEITH BRADSHER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/business/global/16chinanuke.html?_r=1&ref=global-home



Mess-o-potamia


New York Times Editorial: A Test for President Karzai. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 15, 2009. President Hamid Karzai’s inaugural speech last month resonated with high-minded purpose. He vowed to end the “culture of impunity” and “bring to justice” those who threaten Afghanistan’s future with predatory ways. Ministers in his government, he insisted, “must possess integrity and be professionals serving the nation.” Whom Mr. Karzai chooses for his new cabinet will be the first indicator, after his fraud-marred election, of whether he is truly determined to rein in epidemic levels of corruption and incompetence. His speech on Tuesday to an anti-corruption conference in Kabul suggested, ominously, that he still does not get it. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/opinion/16wed3.html?ref=global

New Afghan Cabinet List Draws Ire From Legislators. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: December 19, 2009. Filed at 11:03 a.m. ET. KABUL (AP) -- Afghan legislators complained Saturday that several members of President Hamid Karzai's proposed Cabinet are inexperienced and beholden to warlords -- opposition that threatens to slow the reform Washington believes essential to beating the Taliban. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/19/world/AP-AS-Afghanistan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

U. N. Officials Say American Offered Plan to Replace Karzai By JAMES GLANZ and RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/world/asia/17galbraith.html?ref=global-home

Suicide Bomb Blast Near Hotel in Kabul. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: December 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/15/world/AP-AS-Afghanistan.html?th&emc=th

Pakistan Strikes Down Amnesty for Politicians By JANE PERLEZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/world/asia/17pstan.html?hpw

Pakistan Reported to Be Harassing U.S. Diplomats By JANE PERLEZ and ERIC SCHMITT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/world/asia/17visa.html?hpw

Iran Test-Fires Its Most Advanced Missile By MICHAEL SLACKMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/world/middleeast/17iran.html?ref=global-home

Credit Suisse to Settle Over U.S. Sanctions on Iran By CLAUDIO GATTI. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 15, 2009. Credit Suisse, the second-largest Swiss bank after UBS, is expected to pay a fine of $536 million to settle charges with the federal government and state authorities in New York that it violated sanctions against doing business with Iran and other countries, the bank said in a statement on Tuesday. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/business/16bank.html?ref=global-home

New York Times Editorial: Iraq, the Kurds and the Americans. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 17, 2009. Four months ago, with little fanfare, the State Department sent a full-time senior diplomat, Alan Misenheimer, to live in Iraq’s disputed oil-rich city Kirkuk. For the Obama administration, which had been hoping to back out of its day-to-day involvement in Iraq’s fractious politics, it was a smart, if belated, call. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/opinion/18fri1.html?th&emc=th

Weighing Netanyahu as Peace Maker By ETHAN BRONNER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/world/middleeast/16mideast.html?ref=global-home




National


Obama presses bank chiefs to lend more - White House to push for greater regulation, curbs on executive pay By Binyamin Appelbaum. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, December 14, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/13/AR2009121302760.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

New York Times Editorial: Guantánamo Must Be Closed. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 17, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/opinion/18fri2.html?th&emc=th

Senate passes defense spending bill, turns attention to health care By Paul Kane and Ben Pershing. Copyright by The Washington Post. Saturday, December 19, 2009; 11:20 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/19/AR2009121900796.html?hpid=topnews

Democrats Stepping Down (and Republicans, Too) By CARL HULSE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 19, 2009. Representative Bart Gordon, a 13-term Tennessee Democrat who is chairman of the House science committee, has never lost any of the 15 counties in his conservative district, let alone been in recent danger of losing his House seat. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/us/politics/20cong.html?hp

Morgan Stanley’s Mack gives up on bonus - Move reflects backlash over compensation By Francesco Guerrera and Justin Baer in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: December 18 2009 19:03 | Last updated: December 18 2009 21:07 http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/12/morgan-stanleys-mack-gives-up-on-bonus.html



Climate change


Grudging Accord in Climate Talks By ANDREW C. REVKIN and JOHN M. BRODER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 19, 2009. COPENHAGEN — After two weeks of delays, grandstanding and frantic dealmaking, the United Nations climate change talks concluded here early Saturday morning with a grudging agreement by the participants to “take note” of a pact shaped by five major nations. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/science/earth/20accord.html?ref=global-home

U.S. unveils plan to rev up clean technology in poor nations - Nations pledge funds to make renewable energy more accessible By Juliet Eilperin. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, December 14, 2009; 11:03 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/14/AR2009121400844.html?wpisrc=newsletter

Local Governments Can Lead Fight Against Climate Change by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Copyright by the Huffington Post. Posted: December 15, 2009 09:42 AM http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger/local-governments-can-lea_b_392442.html


Health Care


Building a Baby, With Few Ground Rules By STEPHANIE SAUL. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 12, 2009. Unable to have a baby of her own, Amy Kehoe became her own general contractor to manufacture one. For Ms. Kehoe and her husband, Scott, the idea seemed like their best hope after years of infertility. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/13surrogacy.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Washington Post Editorial: HIV/AIDS: The incurable epidemic - Two studies show how difficult it is to eradicate HIV/AIDS. Copyright by The Washington Post . Wednesday, December 16, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/15/AR2009121504873.html

Overuse of CT scans will lead to new cancer deaths, a study shows - Each year that today's scanners are used, 14,500 deaths could result, researchers say. When healthy people are exposed to the radiation, the imaging may create more problems than it solves. By Thomas H. Maugh II. Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times. December 15, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-sci-ct-scans15-2009dec15,0,5726817.story

Menopause, as Brought to You by Big Pharma By NATASHA SINGER and DUFF WILSON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 12, 2009. MILLIONS of American women in the 1990s were told they could help their bodies ward off major illness by taking menopausal hormone drugs. Some medical associations said so. Many gynecologists and physicians said so. Respected medical journals said so, too. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/business/13drug.html?hpw







GOP Bashing


Disaster and Denial By PAUL KRUGMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 13, 2009. When I first began writing for The Times, I was naïve about many things. But my biggest misconception was this: I actually believed that influential people could be moved by evidence, that they would change their views if events completely refuted their beliefs. And to be fair, it does happen now and then. I’ve been highly critical of Alan Greenspan over the years (since long before it was fashionable), but give the former Fed chairman credit: he has admitted that he was wrong about the ability of financial markets to police themselves. But he’s a rare case. Just how rare was demonstrated by what happened last Friday in the House of Representatives, when — with the meltdown caused by a runaway financial system still fresh in our minds, and the mass unemployment that meltdown caused still very much in evidence — every single Republican and 27 Democrats voted against a quite modest effort to rein in Wall Street excesses. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/opinion/14krugman.html?th&emc=th

In Senate Health Showdown, Round Goes to G.O.P. By ROBERT PEAR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009. WASHINGTON — On the 17th day of Senate debate on health legislation, it came down to this: A rock-ribbed conservative physician from Oklahoma squared off against a self-described democratic socialist from Vermont who was hoping for a full-throated debate on his proposal to establish a system of “Medicare for all.” The Oklahoman, Senator Tom Coburn, a Republican, had propounded a unanimous-consent request, stipulating that no amendment could be offered unless it had been publicly available for 72 hours, with an estimate of its costs. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/health/policy/17health.html?hpw

The Republicans' war within- In California, repercussions of one vote by legislator illustrate fractured state party By Michael Leahy. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, December 14, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/13/AR2009121303042.html?wpisrc=newsletter


Chicagoland


U.S. Said to Pick Illinois Prison to House Detainees By CHARLIE SAVAGE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/us/15gitmo.html?th&emc=th

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Quinn right to back Thomson. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. December 16, 2009. There aren't many politicians who would push for transferring suspected terrorists to their state on the eve of a primary election. But Gov. Quinn, to his credit, did just that, showing strong leadership by backing the federal government's proposal to turn the Thomson Correctional Center into a new home for Guantanamo Bay detainees. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1941757,CST-EDT-edit16b.article

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: State needs to put stop to revolving prison door. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. December 15, 2009. Sometimes, it's tempting to think the biggest bunch of repeat offenders in the state can be found right in our own Capitol. Year after year, various governors and legislators have approved policies that add to our prison populations. And year after year, they ignore the ultimate cost. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1939231,CST-EDT-edit15a.article

Supreme Court delays medical malpractice damage cap ruling By Bruce Japsen Tribune staff reporter. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. 9:45 a.m. CST, December 17, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-medical-malpractice-caps-supreme-court-dec17,0,513112.story

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk have big leads in Senate primary, poll says - But 35 percent of Democrats, 46 percent of Republicans are undecided in race to replace Sen. Roland Burris By Rick Pearson. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. December 14, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/chi-poll-senate-14-dec14,0,5398298.story

Silence is the golden rule in city politics BY CAROL MARIN. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. December 19, 2009. Who hired Angelo Torres? Shame on me, I haven't asked in a while. But a headline last week ("City Silence on Misconduct Riles Daley") made me smack my forehead with "I should have had a V8!" clarity. I suddenly remembered what is too important to forget. That for five years, n-o-b-o-d-y at City Hall has ever answered that question. http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1948231,CST-EDT-carol20.article

Judge rules Chicago can acquire Bensenville cemetery for new O'Hare runway - Decision is last of major hurdles for airport expansion By Art Barnum. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. December 19, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ohare-cemetery-19-dec19,0,2236282.story

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Chicago. Wal-Mart. It's time. Copyright by The Chicago Tribune. December 18, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-1218edit1dec18,0,5534026.story




Economy


House Considers Reinstating Glass-Steagall - Looking for ways to pressure banks to lend more, Democrats may revisit the 1999 law that allowed Citigroup and others to combine consumer and investment banking By James Rowley and Christine Harper. Copyright by Bloomberg News. December 15, 2009 http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2009/pi20091215_324681.htm

Senate Panel Backs Bernanke for a Second Term at Fed By BRIAN KNOWLTON and JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 17, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/business/economy/18fed.html?hpw

US consumer prices rise in November - New home construction jumps 8.9% By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: December 16 2009 14:20 | Last updated: December 16 2009 14:20. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/12/us-consumer-prices-rise-in-november-new.html

Producer Prices Jump, Factory Reports Mixed. Copyright By REUTERS. Published: December 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/15/business/business-us-usa-economy.html?scp=1&sq=US%20producer%20prices%20jump%201.8%&st=cse

US jobless claims show unexpected rise - Labour market remains under pressure By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: December 17 2009 14:23 | Last updated: December 17 2009 14:23 http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/12/us-jobless-claims-show-unexpected-rise.html

Citigroup Reaches Deal to Repay U.S. Bailout Funds By ERIC DASH and JEFF ZELENY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/economy/15bank.html?ref=global-home

U.S. Said to Reconsider Quick Sale of Citigroup Stake By ERIC DASH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/business/global/17citi.html?hp

New York Times Editorial: Even Bigger Than Too Big to Fail. Copyright by New York Times. Published: December 14, 2009. Asserting that it “is among the strongest banks in the industry,” Citigroup announced on Monday that it would soon repay $20 billion of federal bailout money. This from a bank that has been in the red for most of the past two years, that is expected to limp through 2010 amid a torrent of loan losses, that saw its stock price close after the announcement at a measly $3.70 a share — and that, like other big banks, is still reluctant to lend. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/opinion/15tue1.html?th&emc=th

Exxon’s Natural Gas Holdings Grow With $31 Billion Deal By JAD MOUAWAD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 14, 2009. In the biggest energy deal in years, Exxon Mobil said on Monday that it had agreed to buy XTO Energy, a domestic producer of natural gas, in an all-stock deal valued at $31 billion to increase its holdings in unconventional resources in the United States. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/energy-environment/15exxon.html?ref=global-home

4 Big Mortgage Backers Swim in Ocean of Debt By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/business/17wards.html?adxnnl=1&hpw=&adxnnlx=1261073054-N0RASHJtEAk6d0iajvR+bQ

G.M. Plans to Close Saab After Sales Talks Collapse By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ. Copyright by Reuters. Published: December 18, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/business/global/19saab.html?ref=global-home



Your Money


Dec. 31 Is a Big Day for Online Charity By STEPHANIE STROM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 17, 2009. For charities that solicit donations online, Dec. 31 is more than New Year’s Eve — it is the most lucrative day of the year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/us/18charity.html?scp=1&sq=Dec.%2031%20Is%20a%20Big%20Day%20for%20Online%20Charity%20&st=cse

Charities Criticize Online Fund-Raising Contest by Chase By STEPHANIE STROM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 18, 2009. JPMorgan Chase & Company is coming under fire for the way it conducted an online contest to award millions of dollars to 100 charities. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/us/19charity.html?th&emc=th

Nice Gift, but Ask if You Can Return It By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 18, 2009. So you think you’ve picked out the perfect gift for your loved one. But there’s one more thing you should consider: how hard will it be to return it? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/your-money/household-budgeting/19returns.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Estate Tax Is Expiring, but Death Won’t Last By CARL HULSE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 17, 2009. WASHINGTON — A Congressional tax standoff has opened a window of opportunity for wealthy Americans determined to avoid paying up post-mortem. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/us/politics/18cong.html?_r=1&th&emc=th


Housing


Interest Rates Are Low, but Banks Balk at Refinancing By DAVID STREITFELD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/business/economy/13rates.html?_r=1&th&emc=th


Commodities


Gold: On the flip side. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: December 15 2009 20:43. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/12/gold-on-flip-side.html

December 15, 2009: Prescott Financial Sells Gold, Women & Sheep http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/258566/december-15-2009/prescott-financial-sells-gold--women---sheep


Immigration


House Democrats push new comprehensive immigration bill By Ben Pershing. Copyright by The Washington Post. December 15, 2009 http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/12/democrats_push_new_immigration.html?hpid=topnews

Immigration bill fails to mention gays. Copyright by The Windy City Times. News update Wed., Dec. 16, 2009. The measure takes major strides toward repairing America's broken immigration system. However, it does not include workers or same-sex couples. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=23864



GLBT


D.C. Council Approves Gay Marriage By IAN URBINA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 15, 2009. WASHINGTON — The City Council passed a measure Tuesday legalizing same-sex marriage, making the nation’s capital the first jurisdiction below the Mason-Dixon Line to allow such unions. The bill, which passed by an 11-to-2 vote, may still face obstacles in Congress, among city voters and in the courts, but most advocates say they expect it to become law by the spring. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has said he will sign it. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/us/16marriage.html?_r=1&hp

Houston Is Largest City to Elect Openly Gay Mayor By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: December 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/politics/13houston.html?th&emc=th

Faith, folly and Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill By Michael Gerson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, December 18, 2009. It is sad when someone you care about threatens to do a foolish and destructive thing. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/17/AR2009121703673.html

California Companies Fight Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide By JESSE McKINLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 12, 2009. SAN FRANCISCO — As the political battle over same-sex marriage plays out in state capitals across the country, several California companies have emerged as the go-to players for opponents of the marriages. One of the companies, Mar/Com Services Inc., lists its business address here in San Francisco, a city well known for its large and politically active gay population. When Maine residents opposed to a new law permitting same-sex marriage decided earlier this year to challenge it, they hired Mar/Com to do the production work for the television and radio advertisements. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/13marriage.html?hpw

City council adopts Mercado resolution. Copyright by The Windy City Times. 2009-12-16. The Chicago City Council adopted a resolution Dec. 2 regarding Puerto Rico teen Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, who was found murdered Nov. 14 in the commonwealth. Mercado, who was gay, was found decapitated, partially burned and dismembered on an isolated street. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=23836

POLITICS: Guide to the Gays. Copyright by The Windy City Times. 2009-12-16 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=23847

Linda Pauel: Hoping to hold court - Extended for the Online Edition of Windy City Times by Blair Mishleau. Copyright by The Windy City Times. 2009-12-16 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=23826




Religion


How to Fight the Religious Right - A guide to defending yourself against Fundamentalist Christians By Brian Elroy McKinley. Copyright © 1995-2008 Brian Elroy McKinle http://www.elroy.net/ehr/fighttheright.html y

New York Times Editorial: A Bishop’s Words. Copyright by New York Times. Published: December 6, 2009. In the end it was not the power of repentance or compassion that compelled the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., to release more than 12,000 pages of documents relating to lawsuits alleging decades of sexual abuse of children by its priests. It was a court order. The diocese had spent seven years fighting a lawsuit brought by The New York Times and three other newspapers to unseal the records in 23 lawsuits involving accusations against seven priests. The diocese, which settled those cases in 2002, was ready to battle all the way to the United States Supreme Court to keep the archive secret. It lost in October, when the justices declined to hear its appeal. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/opinion/07mon2.html?_r=1&th&emc=th



Technology


Will Web anonymity end as Facebook monetizes its gigantic customer profile database to become an "identity medium?" By Douglas MacMillan. Copyright by Business Week. December 14, 2009 http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2009/tc20091214_734087.htm

F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition By STEVE LOHR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/technology/companies/17chip.html?ref=global-home

With a New Phone, Google May Challenge Apple By MIGUEL HELFT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/technology/companies/14gphone.html?th&emc=th

Google Phone May Rankle Android Partners - Marketing its own mobile phone might turn Google into a rival to many companies it now counts as allies in building the Android operating system By Olga Kharif. Copyright by Business Week. December 15, 2009 http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2009/tc20091215_283413.htm

Google Loses in French Copyright Case. Copyright By REUTERS. Published: December 18, 2009. PARIS (Reuters) — A Paris court on Friday found the Internet giant Google guilty of violating copyright by digitizing books and putting extracts online, following a legal challenge by French publishers. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/technology/companies/19google.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Google Is in Talks to Buy Yelp By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 18, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/technology/companies/19yelp.html?hpw

Forecast for 2010: The Coming Cloud 'Catastrophe' Mark Anderson predicts a big remote-computing service disaster, lost momentum for Microsoft, and growth in consumer payments for online news content By Arik Hesseldahl. Copyright by Business Week. December 11, 2009 http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2009/tc20091211_347388.htm

Europe Drops Microsoft Antitrust Case Over Browsers By KEVIN J. O'BRIEN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/business/global/17msft.html?_r=1&ref=global-home


Travel


British Airways Crews Vote to Strike By NICOLA CLARK. Copyright by Reuters. Published: December 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/global/15air.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Court Halts Strike at British Airways By JULIA WERDIGIER. Copyright by Reuters. Published: December 17, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/business/global/18air.html?ref=global-home

A Takeoff, and Hope, for Boeing Dreamliner By WILLIAM YARDLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/us/16flight.html?ref=global-home


Other


Poll Reveals Trauma of Joblessness in U.S. By MICHAEL LUO and MEGAN THEE-BRENAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 14, 2009. More than half of the nation’s unemployed workers have borrowed money from friends or relatives since losing their jobs. An equal number have cut back on doctor visits or medical treatments because they are out of work. Almost half have suffered from depression or anxiety. About 4 in 10 parents have noticed behavioral changes in their children that they attribute to their difficulties in finding work. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/us/15poll.html?th&emc=th





Entertainment


Man in the News: James Cameron By Matthew Garrahan. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: December 18 2009 20:15 | Last updated: December 18 2009 20:15. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/12/man-in-news-james-cameron.html

‘Up in the Air’ Nabs Some Golden Globe Love By BROOKS BARNES. Copyright by The New York Times. December 15, 2009, 8:58 AM http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/up-in-the-air-nabs-some-golden-globe-love/?ref=global-home

Comcast Introduces a Streaming TV Service By BRIAN STELTER. Published: December 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/business/media/16comcast.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Second City Looks Back in Laughter By LARRY ROHTER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: December 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/arts/16second.html?th&emc=th


Humor


Canadian Ice Fishing Crazy Canucks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x768VAsOQSw

Billy Dee Williams Tiger Woods Collectible Plates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgiCX_y1BW8



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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” The book is out. you can buy it at: http://www.amazon.com/Cuba-Libre-Carlos-T-Mock/dp/1888205164/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259453902&sr=1-4


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