The Toyota Crisis Newsletter - February 3, 2010

The Toyota Crisis Newsletter - February 3, 2010

Due to the large number of interesting articles will have a mid week newsletter this week.

“As it worked on solutions to the acceleration problem, Toyota has said that computers on its cars were not at fault. But lawyers, safety advocates and consumers continue to raise questions about the cars’ electronic systems, which they say could cause a car’s throttle to stick. Toyota faces 11 class-action lawsuits over accidents involving the defect. In their letter, Mr. Waxman, Democrat of California, and Mr. Stupak, Democrat of Michigan, told Mr. Lentz that statements he had made in interviews appeared to contradict information Toyota officials gave to committee staff members in a meeting last week. The Energy and Commerce Committee plans a hearing late this month to explore two recalls of Toyota vehicles related to reports of cars speeding up unexpectedly. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform plans its own hearing on Toyota next week. Mr. LaHood is expected to testify, as is Yoshimi Inaba, the chief executive of Toyota’s North American operations.” BILL VLASIC

Toyota’s Slow Awakening to a Deadly Problem By BILL VLASIC. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 31, 2010. DETROIT — The 911 call came at 6:35 p.m. on Aug. 28 from a car that was speeding out of control on Highway 125 near San Diego. Jordan Ziprin of Phoenix said regulators had focused exclusively on mechanical issues. “I believe this is an electronic issue.” The caller, a male voice, was panic-stricken: “We’re in a Lexus ... we’re going north on 125 and our accelerator is stuck ... we’re in trouble ... there’s no brakes ... we’re approaching the intersection ... hold on ... hold on and pray ... pray ...” The call ended with the sound of a crash. The Lexus ES 350 sedan, made by Toyota, had hit a sport utility vehicle, careened through a fence, rolled over and burst into flames. All four people inside were killed: the driver, Mark Saylor, an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, and his wife, daughter and brother-in-law. It was the tragedy that forced Toyota, which had received more than 2,000 complaints of unintended acceleration, to step up its own inquiry, after going through multiple government investigations since 2002. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/business/01toyota.html?th&emc=th

Japan Tells Toyota to Test Prius Brakes for Defect By HIROKO TABUCHI. COPYRIGHT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. Published: February 3, 2010. NAGOYA, Japan — The Japanese government said Wednesday that it had ordered Toyota to investigate a possible defect in its newest Prius hybrid model after receiving 14 reports of brake trouble, another blow for an automaker already embroiled in its biggest-ever recall. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/global/04prius.html?hpw

Stop Driving Recalled Toyotas, Says Agency Chief By MICHELINE MAYNARD. COPYRIGHT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. Published: February 3, 2010. Ray LaHood, the Transportation secretary, said Wednesday morning during a House Appropriations panel hearing that owners of recalled Toyotas should stop driving them and take them to their dealers to be repaired. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/global/04toyota.html?ref=global-home

Toyota Says It Will Start Fixing Recalled Cars This Week By NICK BUNKLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/business/global/02toyota.html?ref=global-home

Answers to Questions About Toyota’s Repair Plans By MICHELINE MAYNARD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/business/02questions.html?th&emc=th




International

When Economics Meets Politics By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/opinion/03friedman.html?th&emc=th

New York Times Editorial: The Not-So-Safe Euro Zone. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010. The euro is facing the most serious crisis in its 11-year history. Greece, one of 16 European Union members that uses the currency, must raise $76 billion this year — more than $50 billion of it before June 30 — or default. A default would threaten the euro’s global credibility, scare investors away from other struggling European economies and likely reverse Europe’s fragile recovery. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/opinion/02tues2.html?th&emc=th

E.U. Warns of Tough Supervision of Greece’s Budget By STEPHEN CASTLE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/global/04drachma.html?ref=global-home

Eurozone retail sales disappoint By Stanley Pignal in Brussels. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 3 2010 12:25 | Last updated: February 3 2010 12:25. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/eurozone-retail-sales-disappoint.html

U.S. Decision to Skip Meeting Seen as Slight in Europe By STEVEN ERLANGER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010. PARIS — President Obama has decided not to attend a United States-European Union summit meeting scheduled for Madrid in May, and European Union officials found out about the decision through news outlets late on Monday, senior European officials said Tuesday morning. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/world/europe/03europe.html?ref=global-home

NEW York Times Editorial: Thinking About a New Haiti. COPYRIGHT BY THE NEW York Times. Published: January 31, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/opinion/01mon1.html?th&emc=th

Case Stokes Haiti’s Fear for Children, and Itself. Copyright by Reuters By GINGER THOMPSON. Published: February 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/world/americas/02orphans.html?th&emc=th

Haiti Is Again a Canvas for Approaches to Aid By NEIL MacFARQUHAR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 30, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/world/americas/31reconstruct.html?ref=global-home

Haiti’s Homeless Are Short Hundreds of Thousands of Tents, Aid Groups Say By GINGER THOMPSON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 24, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/world/americas/25haiti.html?hpw

In Haiti, Many Amputees Have No Place to Go By RAY RIVERA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 24, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/world/americas/25amputee.html?scp=1&sq=haiti's%20amputees&st=cse



China


China’s Defiance Stirs Fears for Missing Dissident By ANDREW JACOBS. Copyright by Reuters. Published: February 2, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/world/asia/03dissident.html?th&emc=th




Mess-o-potamia


Iraqi Court Overturns Ban on Hundreds of Candidates By STEVEN LEE MYERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/world/middleeast/04baghdad.html?ref=global-home

Scores Killed in Attack on Shiite Pilgrims in Iraq By STEVEN LEE MYERS. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: February 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/world/middleeast/02iraq.html?th&emc=th


National


New York Times Editorial: A Verdict Against Vigilantism. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010. On Friday, a Kansas jury convicted an anti-abortion extremist of first-degree murder for the shooting death of a Wichita abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller. It was a just verdict, but it was not only the judgment of guilt that mattered in this case. The trial sends an important message upholding the rule of law. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/opinion/02tues3.html?th&emc=th

Obama should act more like a president than a prime minister By Fareed Zakaria. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, January 25, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/24/AR2010012402300.html

Follow the Leader: We elected him to do the right thing—not take dictation. By Anna Quindlen. Copyright by NEWSWEEK. Published Jan 29, 2010. From the magazine issue dated Feb 8, 2010 http://www.newsweek.com/id/232833

How Obama can reset his presidency By Clive Crook. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: January 24 2010 20:25 | Last updated: January 24 2010 20:25. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-obama-can-reset-his-presidency.html

Making Sense of the New Political Anger By SAM TANENHAUS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 23, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/weekinreview/24tanenhaus.html?hpw




Chicagoland

Illinois Area Latest Primary Election Results http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/results/index.html

Preckwinkle declares victory in Cook County Board president race - Todd Stroger stung by last-place showing BY LISA DONOVAN, FRANK MAIN AND CHERYL JACKSON. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. February 2, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/2025733,cook-county-board-race-020210.article

Ald. Carothers pleads guilty to corruption in deal with feds BY Jeff Coen and Todd Lighty. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 1, 2010 12:49 PM http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/ald-carothers-pleads-guilty-to-corruption-charges.html

City awards clout-heavy firm towing contract, again - Company linked to Daley pal has held the job for 20 years BY FRAN SPIELMAN. COPYRIGHT BY THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. February 2, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/2024003,CST-NWS-sameguys02web.article



Health Care


“A major British medical journal on Tuesday retracted a flawed study linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism and bowel disease. The retraction by The Lancet comes a day after a competing medical journal, BMJ, issued an embargoed commentary calling for The Lancet to formally retract the study. The commentary was to have been published on Wednesday.” The British Medical Journal

Lancet retracts study linking vaccines, autism - British medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday retracted a flawed study published in 1998 linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism and bowel disease. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune and The Associated Press. February 2, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-ap-health-lancet-autism-retract-feb02-20100202,0,7730853.story

Who is to blame for obesity, and what should be done about it? Is it individuals or junk food? Regardless, some workplaces now offer health-based initiatives. By Marni Jameson. Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times. February 1, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-he-fat-blame1-2010feb01,0,7067398.story

LaDonna Redmond pushes obesity battle on Chicago's West Side By Dawn Turner Trice. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 7:52 a.m. CST, January 25, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-trice-0125-20100124,0,6373898.column



Health Care Reform


Financial Times Editorial Comment: US healthcare reform falls ill. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: January 24 2010 19:49 | Last updated: January 24 2010 19:49. Last week’s loss in Massachusetts has stunned the Democratic party and caused panic. One likely consequence is that healthcare reform – Barack Obama’s signature initiative – will go down to defeat. This is a reform that the US badly needs, and which is decades overdue. Must the effort be abandoned? http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/01/financial-times-editorial-comment-us_25.html



GOP Bashing


Paulson says he was scared and clueless during Lehman collapse BY GAIL MARKSJARVIS. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 01, 2010 http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/marksjarvis_on_money/2010/02/paulson-says-he-was-scared-and-clueless-during-lehman-collapse.html

G.O.P. Hits Its Stride, but Faces Rifts Over Ideology By ADAM NAGOURNEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 30, 2010. HONOLULU — Republican leaders burst into applause here the other day as their luncheon speaker, Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii, shared the latest analysis by a Washington Congressional handicapper: The way things are heading, she read, “you can count on the Democratic majority in the House being toast this fall.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/us/politics/31gop.html?hpw

Lady BlahBlah By CHARLES M. BLOW. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 15, 2010. I have often accused Sarah Palin of having more fight than strategy in her. But I must concede that her decision to become a contributor to Fox News is a shrewd one. Touché, Barracuda http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/opinion/16blow.html

The Tea Party Last Time By ROBERT ZARETSKY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/opinion/03zaretsky.html?th&emc=th

The Great Tea Party Rip-Off By FRANK RICH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 16, 2010... The entire Tea Party Convention is a profit-seeking affair charging $560 a ticket — plus the cost of a room at the Opryland Hotel. Among the convention’s eight listed sponsors is Tea Party Emporium, which gives as its contact address 444 Madison Avenue in New York, also home to the high-fashion brand Burberry. This emporium’s Web site offers a bejeweled tea bag at $89.99 for those furious at “a government hell bent on the largest redistribution of wealth in history.” This is almost as shameless as Glenn Beck, whose own tea party profiteering has included hawking gold coins merchandised by a sponsor of his radio show. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/opinion/17rich.html

U.S. Examines Whether Blackwater Tried Bribery By MARK MAZZETTI and JAMES RISEN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 31, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/world/middleeast/01blackwater.html?th&emc=th

Shame on John McCain....Copyright by John Mixner. Feb 1 2010. John-McCain Just as the President is beginning to show serious leadership and courage on DADT, Senator John McCain of Arizona has announced he will lead the change against repeal. The senator knows better and we all know that he knows better. Most likely in the "Hanoi Hilton" there were gay prisoners of war being tortured with the senator. McCain most certainly has served with men and women he knew were gay and witnessed them serving with distinction. And there is no question in my mind that the senator really doesn't believe that the morale of the United States military is so low that allowing open members of the LGBT community to serve would make this nation weak. http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/02/shame-on-john-mccain.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

Defending the Long Gay Line By MAUREEN DOWD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010...Before Admiral Mullen and Secretary of Defense Bob Gates even made their opening statements, John McCain went on the attack against overturning the policy. Noting that gays and lesbians had served “admirably” and even given their lives, he said: “I honor their sacrifice, and I honor them.” Just as long as they deny their identity and pretend to be something they’re not. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/opinion/03dowd.html?th&emc=th

Supreme Court ruling calls for a populist revolt By E.J. Dionne Jr. Copyright by The Washington post. Monday, January 25, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/24/AR2010012402298.html

Obama Continues Policy Outreach to Republicans By CARL HULSE and JEFF ZELENY. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: February 2, 2010. WASHINGTON — Emboldened by the response to President Obama’s face-off with House Republicans last week, the White House is intensifying its push to engage Congressional Republicans in policy negotiations as a way to share the burden of governing and put more scrutiny on Republican initiatives. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/us/politics/03bipartisan.html?th&emc=th

February 1, 2010: Q & O http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-1-2010/q---o

February 1, 2010: Faulty Powers http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-1-2010/faulty-powers




The Economy



“President Obama got his priorities mostly right in the new $3.8 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2011. It calls for increased spending on education and clean energy technology, shows some restraint on the defense budget, and, most importantly, calls for more spending on job creation. It also rightly lets the Bush-era tax cuts for high-income Americans expire as scheduled at the end of 2010.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Mr. Obama’s New Budget. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/opinion/02tues1.html?th&emc=th

In $3.8 Trillion Budget, Obama Pivots to Trim Future Deficits By JACKIE CALMES and JEFF ZELENY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010. WASHINGTON — President Obama sent Congress on Monday a proposed budget of $3.8 trillion for the fiscal year 2011, saying that his plan would produce a decade-long reduction in the deficit from $1.6 trillion this year, a shortfall swollen by $100 billion in additional tax cuts and public works spending that he is seeking right away. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/us/politics/02budget.html?ref=global-home

Early winners and losers from Obama's proposed 2011 budget By Alec Macgillis. COPYRIGHT BY THE WASHINGTON POST. Monday, February 1, 2010; 1:51 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020101869.html?hpid=topnews

Gates Shakes Up Leadership for F-35 By CHRISTOPHER DREW and THOM SHANKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/us/politics/02pentagon.html?hpw

Stumping for Jobs Plan, Obama Pushes Health Bill By PETER BAKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/us/politics/03obama.html?th&emc=th

Global manufacturing surges back By James Politi in Washington, Stanley Pignal in Brussels and Justine Lau in Hong Kong. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 1 2010 20:16 | Last updated: February 2 2010 02:40. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/global-manufacturing-surges-back.html


US manufacturing sector continues to roar By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 1 2010 14:18 | Last updated: February 1 2010 15:40. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/us-manufacturing-sector-continues-to.html

Wall Street Tries to Shake Off January Blues. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: February 1, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/business/02markets.html?hpw

ADP shows US job cuts at two-year low By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 3 2010 13:59 | Last updated: February 3 2010 16:23. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/adp-shows-us-job-cuts-at-two-year-low.html

Risky Trading Wasn’t Just on the Fringe at A.I.G. By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH. COPYRIGHT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. Published: January 31, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/business/01swaps.html?th&emc=th

$100 Million Bonus Plan at A.I.G. Draws Fire By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH and SEWELL CHAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/business/03aig.html?th&emc=th

AIG staff agree to bonus cuts By Francesco Guerrera in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 3 2010 00:24 | Last updated: February 3 2010 00:24. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/aig-staff-agree-to-bonus-cuts.html

Volcker plea over Wall St shake-up By Tom Braithwaite in Washington and Francesco Guerrera in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 2 2010 17:27 | Last updated: February 3 2010 01:25. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/volcker-plea-over-wall-st-shake-up.html

The Bernanke Conundrum By Paul Krugman. Copyright by The New York Times. January 23, 2010, 10:54 AM. A funny thing happened on the way to the Bernanke confirmation: the vote in Massachusetts turned an easy coronation into a tough fight. And this isn’t one of those cases where everyone who knows something is on one side. Look at two of my favorite econobloggers: the very judicious Calculated Risk says “We can do better”, while Brad DeLong says, “Don’t block Ben.” http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/the-bernanke-conundrum/?scp=2&sq=ben%20bernanke%20confirmation&st=cse

Allstate may shed 20% of its agents - Insurer also raising expectations for agents, like target of generating annual premiums of at least $4 million per location By Becky Yerak. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. January 31, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0131-allstate-agents--20100129,0,1436082,full.story



Your Money


Five myths about America's credit card debt By Robert D. Manning. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, January 31, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012902504.html

Citibank to keep checking accounts free until at least 2011 - The bank had planned to start charging $9.50 a month for balances below $1,500. It holds off in a settlement with the New York attorney general, who said customers did not receive adequate notice. By Nathaniel Popper. Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times. February 2, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/la-fi-citigroup2-2010feb02,0,6696198.story

Moving Big Money By Dennis Santiago. Copyright by The Hoffington Post. January 23, 2010. I have to say I've always had a fondness for the State of New Mexico. I envy them the fact that they got to keep Governor Bill Richardson for themselves after the last election cycle. It doesn't surprise me that this state would be one of the first to recognize that there might be a payoff to bringing its operating accounts back inside its borders so the money can more closely support intra-state needs. That's exactly what legislator Brian Egolf proposes to do. And so we see the transition of the Move Your Money concept beyond the small sums game into big money. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dennis-santiago/moving-big-money_b_434048.html



Housing


No Help in Sight, More Homeowners Walk Away By DAVID STREITFELD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010. In 2006, Benjamin Koellmann bought a condominium in Miami Beach. By his calculation, it will be about the year 2025 before he can sell his modest home for what he paid. Or maybe 2040. “People like me are beginning to feel like suckers,” Mr. Koellmann said. “Why not let it go in default and rent a better place for less?” After three years of plunging real estate values, after the bailouts of the bankers and the revival of their million-dollar bonuses, after the Obama administration’s loan modification plan raised the expectations of many but satisfied only a few, a large group of distressed homeowners is wondering the same thing. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/business/03walk.html?th&emc=th

US pending home sales pick up in December By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 2 2010 16:44 | Last updated: February 2 2010 16:44 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c3c24978-1012-11df-841f-00144feab49a.html

Area home sales up for 6th month - U.S. home sales plunge nearly 17% in December after tax credit deadline extended By Mary Ellen Podmolik. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 10:40 a.m. CST, January 25, 2010. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-chicago-home-sales,0,1278819.story



Energy

Is the $1,500 tax credit for each product? Each year? Each person? http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5595&p_created=1236876860


Travel

Study: Airlines to charge more fees in 2010 By Carol Pucci. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 1, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-travel-airline-fees-going-up-story-20100201,0,5597113.story

10 dirtiest hotels in the U.S. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. January 25, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-dirty-hotels-story,0,4952170.htmlstory




GLBT


“History was made on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. More than 16 years after their predecessors helped impose the odious “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the nation’s two top defense officials called on Congress to repeal the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The principled courage of the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a major step forward for civil rights.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Equality in the Military. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/opinion/03wed1.html?th&emc=th

Washington Post Editorial: Repeal the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, February 1, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013101870.html

Pentagon supports ending 'don't ask, don't tell' law for gays in military By Craig Whitlock and Greg Jaffe. Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, February 3, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020200251.html?wpisrc=nl_politics

Forces Pushing Obama on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ By ELISABETH BUMILLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 31, 2010. WASHINGTON — President Obama and top Pentagon officials met repeatedly over the past year about repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the law that bans openly gay members of the military. But it was in Oval Office strategy sessions to review court cases challenging the ban — ones that could reach the Supreme Court — that Mr. Obama faced the fact that if he did not change the policy, his administration would be forced to defend publicly the constitutionality of a law he had long opposed. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/us/politics/01military.html?th&emc=th

Shame on John McCain....Copyright by John Mixner. Feb 1 2010. John-McCain Just as the President is beginning to show serious leadership and courage on DADT, Senator John McCain of Arizona has announced he will lead the change against repeal. The senator knows better and we all know that he knows better. Most likely in the "Hanoi Hilton" there were gay prisoners of war being tortured with the senator. McCain most certainly has served with men and women he knew were gay and witnessed them serving with distinction. And there is no question in my mind that the senator really doesn't believe that the morale of the United States military is so low that allowing open members of the LGBT community to serve would make this nation weak. http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/02/shame-on-john-mccain.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

Defending the Long Gay Line By MAUREEN DOWD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010...Before Admiral Mullen and Secretary of Defense Bob Gates even made their opening statements, John McCain went on the attack against overturning the policy. Noting that gays and lesbians had served “admirably” and even given their lives, he said: “I honor their sacrifice, and I honor them.” Just as long as they deny their identity and pretend to be something they’re not. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/opinion/03dowd.html?th&emc=th

'Marriage' benefits costly for gay couples - Heterosexuals are protected by $40 license, but wills and legal safeguards for same-sex couples cost thousands By Rex W. Huppke Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. January 18, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-gays-pay-more-18-jan18,0,2205178.story

LEGALLY SPEAKING - PROTECT YOUR LOVER BY MAKING YOUR WILL by Roger V. McCaffrey-Boss. Copyright by Gay Chicago Magazine and Roger V. McCaffrey-Boss. February 4-10, 2010 http://www.gaychicagomagazine.com/advice/legallyspeaking.shtml

GAY RIGHTS GROUP PUSHES ILLINOIS CIVIL UNION BILL. Copyright y Gay Chicago Magazine. January 28-February 3, 2010 http://www.gaychicagomagazine.com/news/illinois.shtml

Mona Noriega seeks aldermanic post by Tracy Baim. Copyright by The Windy City Times. January 20, 2010 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=24469


Technology

Nine out of 10 premium-priced PCs sold at US retail is a Mac By Joe Wilcox. COPYRIGHT BY BETANEWS.COM. Published February 1, 2010, 1:30 PM http://www.betanews.com/joewilcox/article/Nine-out-of-10-premiumpriced-PCs-sold-at-US-retail-is-a-Mac/1265047893

A Little Chip Designed by Apple Itself By ASHLEE VANCE and BRAD STONE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/technology/business-computing/02chip.html?th&emc=th

Recharging Your Cellphone, Mother Nature’s Way By ANNE EISENBERG. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 30, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/business/31novel.html?hpw

Publisher Wins Fight With Amazon Over E-Books By MOTOKO RICH and BRAD STONE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 31, 2010. After a weekend of brinksmanship, Amazon.com on Sunday surrendered to a publisher and agreed to raise prices on some electronic books. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/technology/companies/01amazonweb.html?th&emc=th

Is the Day of Tiny Ads Finally Here? By ERIC PFANNER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 31, 2010. Every year around this time, a few brave forecasters declare that advertising on mobile devices is poised to become the next big thing in marketing. And every year, the results disappoint. But this year, with technology powerhouses like Apple and Google introducing whole new mobile devices and buying up ad firms specializing in the small screen, the forecasts may finally be right. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/technology/01cache.html?th&emc=th

EBay typos can save you money By Craig Crossman, McClatchy. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. January 22, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/sc-ym-0131-ebay-typos-20100125,0,2036204.story




Entertainment


The 82nd Annual Oscar Nominations By THE NEW YORK TIMES. COPYRIGHT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. February 2, 2010, 8:34 AM http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/oscar-nominations/?ref=global-home

‘Avatar’ and ‘Hurt Locker’ Lead the Oscar Field By MICHAEL CIEPLY. COPYRIGHT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. February 2, 2010, 8:54 AM http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/avatar-and-hurt-locker-lead-the-oscar-field/?hpw

Avatar' tops $2 billion in ticket sales. Copyright by The Associated Press and Hollywood.com. January 31, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sc-ent-0131-celebs-celebrity-20100131,0,398968.story

Beyonce, Swift score big at the Grammys By Chris Richards. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, February 1, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013100757.html?hpid=topnews

O’Brien Will Leave ‘Tonight Show,’ NBC Says. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: January 21, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/21/business/AP-US-TV-Conan-Leno.html?scp=5&sq=O%92Brien%20Will%20Leave%20%91Tonight%20Show,%92%20NBC%20Says%20&st=cse

O’Brien Undone by His Media-Hopping Fans By BILL CARTER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: January 24, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/business/media/25conan.html?scp=1&sq=O%92Brien%20Will%20Leave%20%91Tonight%20Show,%92%20NBC%20Says%20&st=cse



Other

The Decline of St. Vincent’s Hospital By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 2, 2010. For more than 150 years, St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan has been a beacon in Greenwich Village, serving poets, writers, artists, winos, the poor and the working-class, and gay people. It has treated victims of calamities: the cholera epidemic of 1849, the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the 9/11 attack and, just last year, the Hudson River landing of US Airways Flight 1549. The poet Edna St. Vincent Millay got her middle name from the hospital, where her uncle’s life was saved in 1892 after he was accidentally locked in the hold of a ship for several days without food or water. But today the hospital is struggling, and last week, in what could mean the death knell of the last Roman Catholic general hospital in New York City, a chain of hospitals proposed to take over St. Vincent’s, shut down its inpatient beds and most of its emergency room services, and convert it into an outpatient center tied to hospitals uptown and on the East Side. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/nyregion/03vincents.html?th&emc=th


Humor


Weakly Humerus News 01-30-10 http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/weakly-humerus-news-01-30-10.html

Hello... http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello.html

Growing Old http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/growing-old.html





I am on a cast and receiving ultrasonic stimulation for bone regeneration. My cast will come off February 8th, just in time for our trip to Paris February 15th. Thanks to all who prayed and helped take care of me.

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” The book is out. you can buy it at: http://www.carlostmock.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32&osCsid=a0b517e687814469f8153c5070d69f99

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