Why doesn't Obama save us? Nedwsletter - June 12, 2010

Why doesn't Obama save us? Nedwsletter - June 12, 2010


Oil's Well That Never Ends http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/311927/june-07-2010/oil-s-well-that-never-ends

June 8, 2010: Ass Quest 2010 http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-8-2010/ass-quest-2010

“Not long ago, Barack Obama was pilloried for being too activist, too meddlesome and too inclined to see himself as the messiah. He was forcing health care reform down our throats, running General Motors, wrecking the financial system and promising to make the oceans recede. But that was a different guy, from a parallel universe. The President Obama we all know is a passive, detached do-nothing. Or so we have been hearing since the BP oil spill gained our attention. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican who once denounced Democrats for scheming to "increase dependence on government," now demands that Washington do more for his state. Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who recently urged Congress to zero out the Environmental Protection Agency, challenges the administration to "save the Louisiana coast, save the fisheries, save the wetlands." Funny how nobody said that at the 2008 Republican National Convention, where the chant was "drill, baby, drill." Back then, real men didn't protect sea turtles. "For 35 days, he hasn't used the full force of our government," Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., complained of the president last month. That's right: A conservative lamenting that Obama is being too cautious and prudent in his deployment of federal power. What's next? Griping that he's not enough of a socialist?” Steve Chapman


Why doesn't Obama save us? He's showing sensible restraint on the spill By Steve Chapman Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 13, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-oped-0613-chapman-20100613,0,349441.column

New York Times Editorial: BP’s Responsibility. Copyright by The New York Times . Published: June 11, 2010. The Times reported on Friday that investors and politicians in Britain are increasingly upset at America’s criticisms of BP. This isn’t an issue of American pique or British patriotism. Americans are rightly angry at BP’s inability to stop a disastrous leak for which it was wholly unprepared and its failure to tell the truth about the extent of the damage. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/opinion/12sat2.html?ref=global

New Estimates Double Rate of Oil That Flowed Into Gulf By JUSTIN GILLIS and HENRY FOUNTAIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/us/11spill.html?th&emc=th

A Tourist Mecca Fears a Long-Term Oil Smear By MICHAEL COOPER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 11, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/us/12community.html?hpw

Coast Guard Sees Cleanup of Spill Lasting Until the Fall By CLIFFORD KRAUSS and JOHN M. BRODER. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 6, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/us/07spill.html?th&emc=th

In Gulf, It Was Unclear Who Was in Charge of Oil Rig By IAN URBINA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 5, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/us/06rig.html?th&emc=th

Colbert Report - The Word - P.R.-mageddon http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/311942/june-08-2010/the-word---p-r—mageddon

BP Stock Sinks http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/312112/june-10-2010/bp-stock-sinks

June 10, 2010: The Spilling Fields - BP Ad Campaign http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-june-10-2010/the-spilling-fields---bp-ad-campaign

BP Pays Out Claims, but Satisfaction Is Not Included By ROBBIE BROWN and MICHAEL COOPER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 6, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/us/07claims.html?th&emc=th

First the Spill, Then the Lawsuits By JOHN SCHWARTZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/us/11liability.html?th&emc=th

Imagining the Worst in BP’s Future By ANDREW ROSS SORKIN. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/business/08sorkin.html?th&emc=th

BP Directors to Discuss Suspension of Dividends By CLIFFORD KRAUSS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 11, 2010. BP said Friday that its board of directors would meet Monday to discuss whether to suspend the company’s dividend to pay spill-related claims. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/us/12spill.html?hpw



International


ECB leaves interest rates at 1% By Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 10 2010 12:45 | Last updated: June 10 2010 12:45/ Bank of England holds interest rates at 0.5% By Norma Cohen. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 10 2010 12:02 | Last updated: June 10 2010 12:02 http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/ecb-leaves-interest-rates-at-1.html

Hungary Warns of Greek-Style Crisis By DAN BILEFSKY and MATTHEW SALTMARSH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/world/europe/05hungrary.html?hpw

Kyrgyzstan Seeks Russian Help to Quell Unrest By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ. Copyright by Reuters. Published: June 12, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/world/asia/13kyrgyz.html?ref=global-home

Views Show How a North Korean Policy Spread Misery By SHARON LaFRANIERE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/world/asia/10koreans.html?th&emc=th

Spreading thoughts of freedom among North Koreans By Michael Gerson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, June 11, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061004109.html

Police: Dutchman Confesses to Killing Lima Woman Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . Published: June 8, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06/08/world/AP-LT-Peru-Van-der-Sloot.html?_r=1&ref=global-home



China

What does China want? By Fareed Zakaria. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, June 7, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/06/AR2010060602924.html

Chinese export hopes boost confidence By Jamie Chisholm, Global Markets Commentator. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 9 2010 08:46 | Last updated: June 9 2010 13:19. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/chinese-export-hopes-boost-confidence.html

With Strikes, China’s Workers Seem to Gain Power By DAVID BARBOZA and HIROKO TABUCHI. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 8, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/business/global/09labor.html?ref=global-home

Changes in China Could Raise Prices Worldwide By DAVID BARBOZA. Copyright by Reuters. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/business/global/08wages.html?hpw

Chinese labour unrest spreads ByTom Mitchell in Hong Kong and Robin Kwong in Taipei. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010 Published: June 9 2010 06:18 | Last updated: June 9 2010 06:18. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/chinese-labour-unrest-spreads.html

4 Chinese Nationals Shot at North Korea Border By EDWARD WONG. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 8, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/world/asia/09china.html?ref=global-home



Mess-o-potamia


U.N. Approves New Sanctions to Deter Iran By NEIL MacFARQUHAR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/world/middleeast/10sanctions.html?th&emc=th

Across Iran, Anger Lies Behind Face of Calm By WILL YONG and MICHAEL SLACKMAN. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 11, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/world/middleeast/12iran.html?th&emc=th

Karzai’s Isolation Worries Afghans and the West By ALISSA J. RUBIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/world/asia/08afghan.html?ref=global-home

Karzai Is Said to Doubt West Can Defeat Taliban By DEXTER FILKINS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 11, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/world/asia/12karzai.html?th&emc=th

General: Kandahar operation will take longer By Craig Whitlock. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, June 10, 2010; 11:00 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061000781.html?hpid=topnews



Israel



“The assault by Israeli commandos on the Gaza aid flotilla in international waters was the work of a government that has lost sight of the national interest. It has exasperated Israel’s friends and both incensed and delighted its enemies. By behaving as though it were above the law, Israel is steadily alienating international public opinion and eroding its legitimacy – and therefore its security.” Financial Times Editorial Comment

Financial Times Editorial Comment: The siege of Gaza must be end. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 6 2010 19:53 | Last updated: June 6 2010 19:53. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/financial-times-editorial-comment-siege.html

Washington Asks: What to Do About Israel? By HELENE COOPER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/weekinreview/06cooper.html?ref=global-home

Four Militants Killed Near Gaza Coast by Israeli Navy By ISABEL KERSHNER. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/world/middleeast/08gaza.html?ref=global-home

Pressed to End Embargo, Israel Looks for New Policy By ETHAN BRONNER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/world/middleeast/11gaza.html?hp



National


“At an emotional hearing in the West Virginia hills where 29 miners died in April, mine workers dared to tell lawmakers the truth. One miner said that any employee who publicly complained about lethal hazards was soon a “marked man” and risked being fired. Others described slipshod safety routines, weak regulations and regulators more interested in protecting management’s profits than the lives of miners. This isn’t the first time these harsh truths have been spoken — only to have mine owners quickly return to business as usual. Senator Jay Rockefeller has vowed that things will be different. Rather than wait months for the formal investigation of the Upper Big Branch explosion to play out, the West Virginia Democrat is appealing to President Obama for sensible immediate fixes.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Listen to the Miners. Copyright by The New York Times . Published: June 6, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/opinion/07mon2.html?th&emc=th

June 9, 2010: Press You're Stuck http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-june-9-2010/press-you-re-stuck

Helen Thomas Retires in Wake of Anti-Israel Remarks By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG. Copyright by The New York Times. June 7, 2010, 12:05 PM http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/white-house-blasts-reporters-remarks/?ref=global-home

Efforts to Limit the Flow of Spill News By JEREMY W. PETERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/us/10access.html?th&emc=th

Obama Takes a Hard Line Against Leaks to Press By SCOTT SHANE. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 11, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/us/politics/12leak.html?th&emc=th

Two Arrested at Kennedy Airport on Terror Charges By WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 6, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/nyregion/07terror.html?th&emc=th

Search Continues After Fatal Flooding in Arkansas By LIZ ROBBINS, EVIN DEMIREL and ERIK ECKHOLM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 12, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/us/13flood.html?ref=global-home

Inquiry Finds Graves Mismarked at Arlington By YEGANEH JUNE TORBATI. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/us/11arlington.html?th&emc=th





Chicagoland


“It's hard to imagine the State of Illinois' nearly $13 billion budget crisis getting any worse than it is. But that's exactly what could happen if Congress does not pass a six-month extension of the increased Medicaid funding provided by the federal stimulus package. Last year, the federal government increased the rate at which it reimbursed states for providing Medicaid. In Illinois, the fed's share of Medicaid funding rose to 62 percent, from 50 percent. That extra funding will cease at the end of this year, unless Congress votes to extend it.” Chicago Sun Times Editorial

Chicago Sun Times Editorial: More Medicaid funding critical. Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times .June 11, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/2380662,CST-EDT-edit11b.article

Illinois suffers new credit rating blow By Nicole Bullock in New York and Hal Weitzman in Chicago. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010.. Published: June 12 2010 00:10 | Last updated: June 12 2010 00:10. Illinois’ unwillingness to tackle its budget woes prompted Fitch on Friday to become the second agency in a week to downgrade the cash-strapped state, which is likely to push up the state’s borrowing costs as it prepares to issue new debt. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/illinois-suffers-new-credit-rating-blow.html

No-bid contracts draw probe - State's attorney's office talks to 2 county employees, political adviser about a dozen Cook County deals BY LISA DONOVAN Cook County Reporter. Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times. June 6, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/2358126,CST-NWS-probe06.article

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Put it all out there. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 7:18 a.m. CDT, June 5, 2010. Jason Plummer, the 27-year-old Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, has refused to release his tax returns for voters to see. Plummer's family owns the R.P. Lumber chain headquartered in Edwardsville and other businesses and partnerships. Plummer calls the controversy over his returns a distraction from more serious issues. "I don't think a person's economic status, their financial status, should be a standard for whether or not they run for office," he said. He can think whatever he wishes, but the distraction will dog him throughout the campaign. Bill Brady, the GOP candidate for governor, initially refused to release his returns, then relented and gave reporters a limited window to peruse six years of filings. They revealed that Brady paid no federal income taxes the last two years because of business losses. So Plummer wants voters to trust him — on his terms. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-edit-taxes-20100604,0,6499515.story

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Candidates and trust. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 6, 2010. The current junior U.S. senator from Illinois, Roland Burris, lied his way into the job. He has given five different versions — three of them sworn — about his lobbying for the appointment during the fading days of Rod Blagojevich's governorship. Burris won't be on the Nov. 2 ballot, but his conduct is enough to make Illinoisans think thrice about the truthfulness of his successor. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-trust-0606-20100606,0,1688954.story

Kirk's embellishments let foe wriggle back into race By John Kass. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 1:48 a.m. CDT, June 4, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0604-kirk-20100603,0,6662848,full.column

Mark Kirk and the Illinois curse By Steve Chapman. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 10, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-oped-0610-chapman-20100610,0,4613876.column

Kirk again challenged over military record - Congressman's use of 'deployment' comes under scrutiny By John Chase and Todd Lighty. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 13, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-senate-kirk-giannoulias-20100612,0,2203077.story

Open Letter to Congressman Kirk, by Carlos T Mock, June 10, 2010. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/open-letter-to-senate-candidate-mark.html

Blackhawks Win First Stanley Cup in 49 Years By JEFF Z. KLEIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/sports/hockey/10flyers.html?th&emc=th

Stanley Cup lands in Chicago, Hawks party on By Joel Hood, Rob Hart, Stacy St. Clair, Randi Belisomo, Duaa Eldeib, and Jeremy Gorner. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 10, 2010 12:01 PM http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/06/hawks-stanley-cup-land-at-ohare.html

Weather service: 15 tornadoes hit central Illinois. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 7, 2010 12:36 PM http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/06/streator-dwight-central-illinois-tornado-national-weather-service-recovery.html




Health Care


“The group concludes that health professionals who facilitated these practices were in essence conducting research and experimentation on human subjects. The main purposes of such research, the group says, were to determine how to use various techniques, to calibrate the levels of pain and to create a legal basis for defending interrogators from potential prosecution under antitorture laws. The interrogators could claim that they had acted in good faith in accord with medical judgments of safety and had not intended to inflict extreme suffering. The report from the physicians’ group does not prove its case beyond doubt — how could it when so much is still hidden? — but it rightly calls on the White House and Congress to investigate the potentially illegal human experimentation and whether those who authorized or conducted it should be punished. Those are just two of the many unresolved issues from the Bush administration that President Obama and Congressional leaders have swept under the carpet.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Doctors Who Aid Torture. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 7, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/opinion/08tue1.html?th&emc=th

Findings May Alter Care for Early Breast Cancer By ANDREW POLLACK. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/health/08canc.html?th&emc=th

Growing Obesity Increases Perils of Childbearing By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 5, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/health/06obese.html?th&emc=th

Bringing Comparison Shopping to the Doctor’s Office By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/technology/11cost.html?th&emc=th

Why Patients Aren’t Getting the Shingles Vaccine By PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D.. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/health/10chen.html?hpw

Medicaid Cut Places States in Budget Bind By KEVIN SACK. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/us/08medicaid.html?th&emc=th


Health Care Reform


“The United States spends much more on health care than countries with similar kinds of economies. So costs are sure to be examined closely as federal officials shape regulations under the new health care law. Americans have abundant access to high-tech diagnostic tools like CT and M.R.I. scanners, and to life-saving surgical procedures like angioplasties. Yet Americans don’t see doctors more often or live longer, healthier lives, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. And Americans’ cancer survival rates are not markedly better. In fact, the population of the United States has about the same prevalence of disease as that of other developed countries.” The New York Times

Health Spending vs. Results - Confronting the truth about America's "best health care system in the world." Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 5, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/06/business/metrics-health-care-outlier.html

New York Times Editorial: The Doctor Payment Follies. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010. The formula that is used to pay doctors who treat Medicare patients is producing increasingly absurd results. If it were to be followed this year, doctors would face a 21 percent cut in payments for the tests, procedures, office visits and other services they provide to elderly Americans. That would be a disaster, driving many doctors to stop accepting Medicare patients. Luckily, nobody is seriously contemplating that. As it has done repeatedly in recent years, Congress is readying a short-term fix that would provide a modest increase in physician fees for the next 19 months. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/opinion/06sun1.html?th&emc=th




GOP Bashing


June 9, 2010: Indecision 2010 - Primary Victory for Women http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-june-9-2010/indecision-2010---primary-victory-for-women?xrs=eml_tds

Did Harry Reid get a softball opponent? By Dana Milbank. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, June 10, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/09/AR2010060905298.html

Nevada Challenger Lifted by Tea Party Ardor By JENNIFER STEINHAUER. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/us/politics/10nevada.html?hp

GOP's Obama vs. the real one By Clarence Page. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 6, 2010. Don't count Bobby Jindal out. The Louisiana governor, touted as "the Republican Obama" before his first big national speech flopped, is rising again, strong enough this time to go toe-to-toe with the real President Barack Obama. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-oped-0606-page-20100606,0,684090,full.column

Calif. GOP primary winners look headed for defeat By Harold Meyerson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, June 10, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/09/AR2010060904870.html

Calif. Voting Change Could Signal Big Political Shift By JESSE McKINLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/us/politics/10prop.html?th&emc=th

An Early Campaign Gaffe Makes a Non-Issue Big By JENNIFER STEINHAUER. Copyright by the New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/us/politics/11fiorina.html?th&emc=th

Who’s Alvin Greene? State Asks After Vote By MARK LEIBOVICH. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 11, 2010... Because everyone wants to know how Mr. Greene, an unemployed Army veteran who had been completely unknown until Tuesday, inexplicably defeated a heavily favored former legislator and judge to become the state’s Democratic nominee for the Senate — and the state’s latest political circus act. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/us/politics/12greene.html?th&emc=th





The Economy


Markets Up Sharply on Jobs Report Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/business/11markets.html?hp

Moody’s calms Europe bank debt fears By Megan Murphy. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 11 2010 13:22 | Last updated: June 11 2010 13:22. European banks can absorb “severe” losses on their exposure to Greek, Portuguese, Spanish and Irish assets without having to raise additional capital, Moody’s, the credit ratings agency, said in a report issued on Friday. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/moodys-calms-europe-bank-debt-fears.html

SEC puts in new 'circuit breaker' rules By MARCY GORDON. Copyright By The Associated Press. Thursday, June 10, 2010; 12:55 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061002636.html?hpid=topnews

Bernanke Says the Federal Debt Is ‘Unsustainable’ By SEWELL CHAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/business/economy/10fed.html?hp

US trade gap widens as exports fall By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 10 2010 14:40 | Last updated: June 10 2010 14:40. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/us-trade-gap-widens-as-exports-fall.html


Funding costs fall for US companies By Aline van Duyn and Nicole Bullock in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 10 2010 22:53 | Last updated: June 10 2010 23:10. Borrowing costs for industrial companies in the US have plunged, allowing some groups to pay the lowest interest rates ever on long-term debt. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/funding-costs-fall-for-us-companies.html

Sales dip raises doubts on US recovery By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 11 2010 14:08 | Last updated: June 11 2010 16:50. US retail sales recorded a surprise drop in May, breaking a seven-month stretch of solid increases and signalling that the US consumer remains stubbornly fragile. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/sales-dip-raises-doubts-on-us-recovery.html

Chrysler to recall about 600,000 Jeeps, minivans. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published on June 7, 2010 11:52 AM. http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/06/chrysler-to-recall-about-600000-jeeps-minivans.html




Your Money


App helps travelers find no-fee ATMs By Fritz Faerber. Copyright 2010 Associated Press. June 10, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-travel-app-atm-finder-story-20100610,0,1937413.story

Look who's shopping with coupons - Men joining the new wave of coupon cutters to save money By Wendy Donahue. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 5, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/family/sc-cons-0603-smart-solutions-coupon-20100603,0,772590.story

No-interest, no-payments credit card leads to no fun - Address glitch means late fees pile up as bills returned to sender By Jon Yates. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 6, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/problemsolver/ct-biz-0606-problem-gow-20100606,0,590974.column

How to manage student loan debt By Michelle Singletary. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, June 6, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/05/AR2010060500721.html?hpid=topnews



Commodities


Debtors’ Prism: Who Has Europe’s Loans? By JACK EWING. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/business/global/06toxic.html?ref=global-home




Travel


Spirit Strike Could Delay Thousands. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: June 12, 2010. A strike by Spirit Airlines pilots Saturday threatened to disrupt thousands of vacationers headed to the Caribbean and Latin America from the eastern U.S. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06/12/business/AP-US-Spirit-Airlines-Pilots.html?hpw

Global airlines expect $2.5B profit in 2010. Copyright by Reuters. Published on June 7, 2010 6:00 AM http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/06/global-airlines-expect-25b-profit-in-2010.html

Airlines overpack for summer travel - FAA says carriers can cut delays by reducing flights during peak airport hours By Jon Hilkevitch and Julie Johnsson. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 5:36 p.m. CDT, June 6, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-met-ohare-over-scheduling-0607-20100606,0,1684308.story

36 Hours in Brussels By ELAINE GLUSAC. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 3, 2010 http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/travel/13hours.html?hpw



Religion


Vermont: Settlement in Priest Abuse Cases. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: May 13, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14brfs-SETTLEMENTIN_BRF.html


GLBT


New York Times Editorial: A Basic Civil Right. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/opinion/11fri1.html?th&emc=th

In Iowa, Other Issues Crowd Out Gay Marriage By MONICA DAVEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/us/politics/08iowa.html?th&emc=th

Ike Skelton Against DADT Repeal - Join GetEqual.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qA8HAHuG2I

Hawaii Gov Consults With Rabbis on Civil Unions. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: June 12, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06/12/us/AP-US-Civil-Unions-Lingle.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Surgery no longer required for transgender people to change sex on US passports By CHRISTINE SIMMONS. Copyright 2010 Associated Press. 11:13 p.m. CDT, June 9, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sns-ap-us-transgender-travelers-passports,0,6090875.story



Legal


“ON THE SUBJECT of campaign finance regulation, the Supreme Court is out of control. The latest manifestation is the court's unwarranted intervention in Arizona's upcoming election. For more than a decade, elections for state office in Arizona have been conducted under a voluntary system of public financing. Among other provisions, participating candidates receive additional public funds if their wealthy or otherwise well-funded opponents choose not to take part in the system and choose to spend more than a specified amount. Some would-be big spenders challenged the law, claiming that the extra public funds violated their free-speech rights. In advance of deciding whether to hear that case, the justices took the extraordinary -- and extraordinarily unwise -- step of issuing an emergency order to block the state from dispensing the extra funds.” Washington Post Editorial

Washington Post Editorial: More judicial activism on campaign finance rules. Copyright by The Washington Post . Friday, June 11, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061004708.html

New York Times Editorial: Keeping Politics Safe for the Rich. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 8, 2010. In a burst of judicial activism, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upended the gubernatorial race in Arizona, cutting off matching funds to candidates participating in the state’s public campaign finance system. Suddenly, three candidates, including Gov. Jan Brewer, can no longer receive public funds they had counted on to run against a free-spending wealthy opponent. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/opinion/09wed1.html?th&emc=th

New Ground Zero Deal Gives Plaintiffs $712.5 Million By A. G. SULZBERGER and MIREYA NAVARRO. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/nyregion/11zero.html?hp

Countrywide Pays $108 Million to Settle Fees Complaint By EDWARD WYATT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/business/08ftc.html?ref=global-home

Goldman accused of hindering crisis probe By Tom Braithwaite in Washington and Francesco Guerrera and Justin Baer in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 7 2010 18:03 | Last updated: June 7 2010 22:25. The US Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission accused Goldman Sachs on Monday of an “abysmal” response to requests for information and said it had issued a subpoena to compel the bank to provide documents and executives for interviews. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/goldman-accused-of-hindering-crisis.html



Technology


Already an iPhone 4 Spoof–With Jane Lynch and Kassem G http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100607/already-an-iphone-4-spoof-with-jane-lynch-and-kassem-g/?reflink=ATD_yahoo_ticker

On Newest iPhone, Another Camera and a Gyroscope By MIGUEL HELFT and JENNA WORTHAM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/technology/08apple.html?th&emc=th

Analyst sees Apple's iPhone on the T-Mobile network as soon as this fall. Copyright By The Associated Press. 10:50 a.m. CDT, June 10, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-apple-ahead-of-the-bell,0,7935995.story

Antitrust probe looms for Apple on mobile ads By Joseph Menn and Richard Waters in San Francisco. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 9 2010 23:07 | Last updated: June 10 2010 01:43. US antitrust regulators plan to investigate whether Apple is unfairly restricting rivals such as Google and Microsoft in the market for advertisements carried on the iPhone, iPad and iPod, people familiar with the move said on Wednesday. http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/antitrust-probe-looms-for-apple-on.html

AT&T Said to Expose iPad Users’ Addresses By MIGUEL HELFT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/technology/10apple.html?th&emc=th

Google's changed home page sparks confusion. Copyright by Dow Jones Newswires. Published on June 10, 2010 4:53 PM http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/06/google-homepage-offers-background-images.html

Some Facebook users quit with little fanfare - Many of them said using the site became an alienating experience By Wailin Wong. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 7:14 p.m. CDT, June 9, 2010. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sc-biz-0610-facebook-quitters-20100609,0,3921822.story



Other


WEAKLY HUMERUS NEWS 06-12-10 AIMED AT YOUR FUNNY BONE http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/weakly-humerus-news-06-12-10-aimed-at.html

Funniest commercial ever http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqBy6TgYxTU&feature=email

Jake Gyllenhaal So Funny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emwOWB6NDQ

Why you might miss Rodney Dangerfield ........... ? http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-you-might-miss-rodney-dangerfield.html








I rarely use thye brace. Been off narcotics for a week. Have almost 80% of my left hand function back. Thanks to all who prayed and helped take care of me.

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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.carlostmock.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32&osCsid=a0b517e687814469f8153c5070d69f99

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The Spilling Fields Newsletter - June 5, 2010

The Spilling Fields Newsletter - June 5, 2010

The Spilling Fields http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-1-2010/the-spilling-fields

Cenac - The Spilling Fields - Oil Leak Containment Ideas http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-1-2010/cenac---the-spilling-fields---oil-leak-containment-ideas?xrs=rss_tdsvids

Colbert Report - Up Brit Creek http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/309923/june-01-2010/up-brit-creek

Colbert Report - Crude & Unusual http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/310039/june-03-2010/crude---unusual

“The nation’s political leaders have had a lot to say in recent years about America’s addiction to fossil fuels and the need to find cleaner, more climate-friendly alternatives. In recent weeks, they have had a lot to say about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. On Wednesday, President Obama put them together. In a speech at Carnegie Mellon University, he invoked the spill to pound on Congress about its duty to pass a comprehensive energy bill that addresses oil dependency and global warming. The House has passed such a bill, but a companion measure in the Senate languishes, hostage to solid Republican opposition, exaggerated fears about its costs and timidity on the part of the Democratic leadership. “I will work with anyone from either party to get this done,” he said. Mr. Obama’s task is to follow up that vow with action. We are not optimistic that his implacable Republican opposition will work with him on anything. But perhaps the spreading nightmare on the waters of the gulf will get a few to break with the party line.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: The Spill and Energy Bill. Copyright by The New York Times . Published: June 4, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/opinion/05sat1.html?th&emc=th

Obama’s opportunity to move US beyond oil By Edward Luce in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 31 2010 23:48 | Last updated: May 31 2010 23:48... There is another avenue available. While straining every sinew to contain this disaster, Mr Obama could seize the chance to overhaul America’s energy debate. As Mr Obama himself has made plain, every crisis is an opportunity. This summer may well be his best to move the US towards a future in which oil is a thing of the past. We know Vulcans are intelligent. But are they creative? http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/obamas-opportunity-to-move-us-beyond.html

BP ‘not prepared’ for deep-water spill By Ed Crooks in Houston. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 2 2010 16:20 | Last updated: June 3 2010 08:55. BP did not have all the equipment needed to stop the leak from its Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the explosion on an oil rig six weeks ago, the UK company’s chief executive admitted. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/bp-not-prepared-for-deep-water-spill.html

Cleanup Draws Critics Over Speed and Care By LESLIE KAUFMAN and JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 30, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/us/31cleanup.html?hpw

U.S. Opens Criminal Inquiry Into Oil Spill By HELENE COOPER and PETER BAKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/us/02spill.html?th&emc=th

Another Torrent BP Works to Stem: Its C.E.O. By JAD MOUAWAD and CLIFFORD KRAUSS. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 3, 2010. BP, already bedeviled by an out-of-control well spewing millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, now finds itself with one more problem: Tony Hayward, its gaffe-prone chief executive. Mr. Hayward on YouTube, pledging, “We will make this right.” Among his memorable lines: The spill is not going to cause big problems because the gulf “is a very big ocean” and “the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to have been very, very modest.” And this week, he apologized to the families of 11 men who died on the rig for having said, “You know, I’d like my life back.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/us/04image.html?th&emc=th

Cap Is Collecting Oil, but Result of Effort Is Still Unclear By MICHAEL COOPER, PETER BAKER and HENRY FOUNTAIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/us/politics/05obama.html?th&emc=th

Pelicans, Back From Brink of Extinction, Face Oil Threat By JOHN COLLINS RUDOLF and LESLIE KAUFMAN. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/us/05pelican.html?hp



International


Japan Elects a New Premier, Fifth in Four Years By MARTIN FACKLER. Copyright by Reuters. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/world/asia/05japan.html?hp

German businesses could steer the country out of the eurozone By Howard Schneider. Copyright by The Washington Post. Saturday, June 5, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/04/AR2010060404815.html?hpid=topnews

Eurozone jobless rise to highest level in decade By Stanley Pignal in Brussels. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 1 2010 11:49 | Last updated: June 1 2010 11:49. Unemployment continued to rise in the eurozone in April, to 10.1 per cent, the highest level of joblessness in more than a decade. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/eurozone-jobless-rise-to-highest-level.html

India’s economy grows 8.6 per cent By James Lamont in New Delhi. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 31 2010 08:00 | Last updated: May 31 2010 11:34. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/05/indias-economy-grows-86-per-cent.html



China


“CHINA HAS BEEN treating its neighbors, and the world, to a demonstration of why its rising power is not necessarily to be welcomed. Though it has become undeniable that its neighbor and client, North Korea, committed an act of war by sinking a South Korean warship in March, Beijing continues to shield the loathsome regime of Kim Jong Il. An authoritative investigation by a multinational commission has produced fragments of the torpedo fired by the North's submarine, yet Chinese officials continue to pretend they don't know the facts of what happened. Their public statements are limited to empty calls for "restraint." Washington Post Editorial

Washington Post Editorial: China's Korea crisis Copyright by The Washington Post . Monday, May 31, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/30/AR2010053003382.html

China’s Military an Obstacle to Improving Relations, Gates Says By THOM SHANKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/world/asia/05gates.html?hpw

Chinese Edge Toward Supercomputing Record By JOHN MARKOFF. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 30, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/science/01compute.html?hpw

China property risk is worse than in US By Geoff Dyer in Beijing. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 31 2010 20:08 | Last updated: May 31 2010 20:08. The problems in China’s housing market are more severe than those in the US before the financial crisis because they combine a potential bubble with the risk of social discontent, according to an adviser to the Chinese central bank. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/china-property-risk-is-worse-than-in-us.html

In Leaked Lecture, Details of China’s News Cleanups By ANDREW JACOBS. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/world/asia/04china.html?th&emc=th


Israel


Clusterf#&k to the War House – Korean Peninsula & Middle East http://vodpod.com/watch/3760784-daily-show-clusterfk-to-the-war-house-korean-peninsula-middle-east

“Israel’s government has decided to tough out the criticism of its attack this week on a six-ship flotilla trying to run the Gaza blockade. The story, and the anger, aren’t going away. The news wires on Thursday were filled with pictures of grieving mourners as Turkey held funerals for 8 of the 9 activists killed on the lead ship. Some of the more than 600 activists from 42 countries, released from Israeli detention, are accusing Israel of a litany of abuses. Israel’s charges that its commandos were attacked and shot at by some of the ship’s passengers are being ignored by everyone except its most passionate defenders. We still don’t know what happened on that ship. But we are sure that before things get even more out of control, the world — and Israel — needs an impartial international investigation. Instead of pressing for that, the Obama administration is encouraging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s misguided belief that Israel can lead its own probe with international participation. That is not going to suffice.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: A Credible Investigation. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/opinion/04fri3.html?th&emc=th

Israel and the USA, A similar situation like Korea and China By Carlos T Mock, MD. June 2, 2010. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/israel-and-usa-similar-situation-like.html

After Flotilla Raid, U.S. Is Torn Between Allies By MARK LANDLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/world/middleeast/02policy.html?th&emc=th

New York Times Editorial: Israel and the Blockade. Copyright by The New York Times . Published: June 1, 2010. The supporters of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla had more than humanitarian intentions. The Gaza Freedom March made its motives clear in a statement before Monday’s deadly confrontation: “A violent response from Israel will breathe new life into the Palestine solidarity movement, drawing attention to the blockade.” There can be no excuse for the way that Israel completely mishandled the incident. A commando raid on the lead, Turkish-flagged ship left nine activists dead and has opened Israel to a torrent of criticism. This is a grievous, self-inflicted wound. It has damaged Israel’s ties with Turkey, once its closest ally in the Muslim world; given the Hamas-led government in Gaza a huge propaganda boost; and complicated peace talks with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/opinion/02wed1.html?th&emc=th

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Israel is lost at sea. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 31 2010 19:12 | Last updated: May 31 2010 19:12. With Monday’s brazen act of piracy, Israel dealt a blow to the legitimacy of its own struggle. The killing of activists aboard the captured ships sent Israel’s way of defending its security, which it was already imperative to return within the bounds of international law, hurtling into lawlessness. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/financial-times-editorial-comment.html

Washington Post Editorial: The flotilla fiasco Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, June 1, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/31/AR2010053103160.html

Saving Israel From Itself By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 2, 2010. When reports first circulated on Twitter of a deadly attack by Israeli commandos on the Gaza flotilla, I didn’t forward them because they seemed implausible. I thought: Israel wouldn’t be so obtuse as to use lethal force on self-described peace activists in international waters with scores of reporters watching. Ah, but it turned out that Israel could be so obtuse after all. It shot itself in the foot, blasting American toes as well, and undermined all of its longer-term strategic objectives. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/opinion/03kristof.html?th&emc=th

Israel Signals New Flexibility on Gaza Shipments By ISABEL KERSHNER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/world/middleeast/04flotilla.html?th&emc=th

Thousands in Turkey Mourn Victims of Israeli Raid By SABRINA TAVERNISE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/world/europe/04turkey.html?th&emc=th

Israeli Military Boards Gaza-Bound Aid Ship By ISABEL KERSHNER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 5, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/world/middleeast/06flotilla.html?hpw

The Palestinians cannot be hammered into submission By Philip Stephens. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 3 2010 21:11 | Last updated: June 3 2010 21:11. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government sees the world through the prism of force. Only when Israel’s enemies have been crushed will it contemplate talking to them. Power has thus become the enemy rather than an instrument of peace. A rhetorical willingness to negotiate has been emptied of meaning. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/palestinians-cannot-be-hammered-into.html



Mess-o-potamia


Strike Is Said to Kill a Top Qaeda Leader By ERIC SCHMITT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 31, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/asia/01qaeda.html?th&emc=th

NATO Has High Hopes for Afghan Peace Council By ALISSA J. RUBIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 30, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/world/asia/31afghan.html?hpw




National

Obama to Name Retired General to Top Spy Post By PETER BAKER and ERIC SCHMITT. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/us/politics/05intel.html?th&emc=th



Chicagoland


Real Time With Bill Maher New Rules 5/28/10 http://realtimewithbillmaher.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-rules-52810.html

Tempting Area for Exaggeration Meets Tools of the YouTube Era By ADAM NAGOURNEY. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 4, 2010. It happened again. Another candidate for office is struggling to reconcile misleading statements he made about his record in the military. This time, it is Representative Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois running for the Senate, apologizing for misleading statements he made about, among other things, serving in the first Iraq war and in Kosovo. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/us/politics/05campaign.html?th&emc=th

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Pants on Fire Award. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 6:55 p.m. CDT, June 1, 2010. The Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award recognizes "the exceptional achievements of an outstanding Naval Intelligence career professional." It's a big deal. U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a 21-year Navy reservist, can list it proudly on his resume. Instead, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate has diminished the award — and himself — by misrepresenting it as an even bigger deal: The U.S. Navy's Intelligence Officer of the Year...."I think he's got an honorable record," Giannoulias said. "I don't know why he feels the need to embellish the record and not tell the truth." Neither do we. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-kirk-20100601,0,7271126.story

Kirk apologizes for military embellishment © 2010 United Press International, Inc.. Published: June 3, 2010 at 7:52 PM. Mark Kirk, the Republican congressman running for U.S. Senate in Illinois, apologized Thursday for misstatements about his military record. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/06/03/Kirk-apologizes-for-military-embellishment/UPI-68361275609156/hment

Mark Kirk - "The Iraqi Air Defense Network was shooting at us" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeFf4JNx3tc&feature=player_embedded

G.O.P. Senate Candidate from Illinois Acknowledges Incorrect Reference to Award By MONICA DAVEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 29, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/us/politics/30kirk.html?hpw

Chicago Tribune Editorial: The Nov. 2 election. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. May 30, 2010. They are pleasant people, most of these Illinois lawmakers who need to be voted from office. But there is no point to bathing them in soft encouragements, to say they should "summon the courage to act" or "demonstrate true leadership." They've had their chances and flat-out refused to deliver. Their devotion to nothing more noble than their own political survival has become the reason to deprive them of it. Failure can lead to consequences. Intentional failure should. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-state-20100530,0,2734217.story



GOP Bashing


Why I should be the Next President of the USA By Carlos T Mock, MD. May 30, 2010. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-i-should-be-next-president-of-usa.html

The fake feminism of Sarah Palin By Jessica Valenti. Copyright by the Washington Post. Sunday, May 30, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052802263.html?hpid=artslot

Beck apologizes for mocking Obama’s daughter. Copyright by CNN News. Posted: May 29th, 2010 04:04 PM ET http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/29/beck-apologizes-for-mocking-obama%E2%80%99s-daughter/?fbid=LpcWLxi1v_4

So You Still Want to Choose Your Senator? By DAVID FIRESTONE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 31, 2010. Few members of the Tea Party have endorsed Rand Paul’s misgivings about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but a surprising number are calling for the repeal of an older piece of transformative legislation: the 17th Amendment. If you don’t have the Constitution on your smartphone, that’s the one adopted in 1913 that provides for direct popular election of United States senators. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/opinion/01tue4.html?ref=opinion

The Really Creepy People Behind the Libertarian-Inspired Billionaire Sea Castles - The stinking rich are planning billion-dollar luxury liners that keep the land-based Americans they've plundered at a safe distance. By Mark Ames. Copyright by AlterNet. June 2, 2010 http://www.alternet.org/story/147058/the_really_creepy_people_behind_the_libertarian-inspired_billionaire_sea_castles?page=entire



Health Care


The Doctor Will See You Now. Please Log On By MILT FREUDENHEIM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/business/30telemed.html?th&emc=th

When Patients Meet Online, Are There Side Effects? By NATASHA SINGER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/business/30stream.html?th&emc=th

Opponents of Abortion Advance Cause at State Level By JOHN LELAND. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 2, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/health/policy/03abortion.html?th&emc=th



Health Care Reform

What's Next for You and Your Doctors - Worried health care reform will cause you to wait for treatment? Don't be. by: Mary A. Fischer. Copyright by AARP The Magazine July/August 2010 issue http://www.aarp.org/health/health-care-reform/info-05-2010/whats-next-for-you-and-your-doctors.html




The Economy


U.S. Stocks Falter; Nasdaq Breaches 200-Day Line By VINCENT MAO. Copyright by THE INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY . June 1, 2010, 05:08 PM ET http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/535891/201006012208/US-Stocks-Falter-Nasdaq-Breaches-200-Day-Line.aspx

The Pain Caucus By PAUL KRUGMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 30, 2010... A similar argument is used to justify fiscal austerity. Both textbook economics and experience say that slashing spending when you’re still suffering from high unemployment is a really bad idea — not only does it deepen the slump, but it does little to improve the budget outlook, because much of what governments save by spending less they lose as a weaker economy depresses tax receipts. And the O.E.C.D. predicts that high unemployment will persist for years. Nonetheless, the organization demands both that governments cancel any further plans for economic stimulus and that they begin “fiscal consolidation” next year. Why do this? Again, to give markets something they shouldn’t want and currently don’t. Right now, investors don’t seem at all worried about the solvency of the U.S. government; the interest rates on federal bonds are near historic lows. And even if markets were worried about U.S. fiscal prospects, spending cuts in the face of a depressed economy would do little to improve those prospects. But cut we must, says the O.E.C.D., because inadequate consolidation efforts “would risk adverse reactions in financial markets.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/opinion/31krugman.html?th&emc=th

U.S. Adds Jobs in May, but Private Hiring Disappoints By CHRISTINE HAUSER. Copyright by The The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/business/economy/05jobs.html?hp

A Jobless Rate Still Unaffected by New Hiring By MOTOKO RICH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/business/economy/04workers.html?th&emc=th

Worries over Hungary drive forint to one-year low By Neil Buckley, East Europe editor. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 4 2010 15:19 | Last updated: June 4 2010 15:19. Hungary’s currency fell to a one-year low against the euro on Friday after a senior official warned for the second time in two days about the weakness of its economy and public finances. The forint fell about 2 per cent after Peter Szijjarto, a spokesman for prime minister Viktor Orban, was quoted by news agencies as saying Hungary’s economy was in a grave situation and that a default was a possibility. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/worries-over-hungary-drive-forint-to.html

US manufacturers cautious on recovery By Hal Weitzman in Chicago and Jeremy Lemer. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 3 2010 23:39 | Last updated: June 3 2010 23:39. When Boeing, the world’s second biggest aircraft-maker, announced this year that it planned to increase production of its 777, 747 and 737 models ahead of schedule, it was a positive sign for global industrial demand. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/us-manufacturers-cautious-on-recovery.html

Lawmakers move to toughen ‘Volcker rule’ By Tom Braithwaite in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 2 2010 23:10 | Last updated: June 3 2010 01:35... Congressional negotiators are moving to toughen financial reform legislation, raising the chances that banks will face a strict ban on proprietary trading and a new conflict of interest rule, people involved in the deliberations say. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/lawmakers-move-to-toughen-volcker-rule.html

G20 to delay tough bank regulations By Chris Giles in Busan. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 4 2010 12:59 | Last updated: June 4 2010 15:14. Group of 20 finance ministers are set to delay the implementation of tougher regulations for the world’s banks as splits emerge over the scope of the new regulations. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/g20-to-delay-tough-bank-regulations.html

G20 drops support for fiscal stimulus By Chris Giles and Christian Oliver in Busan. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 5 2010 11:54 | Last updated: June 5 2010 11:54. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/g20-drops-support-for-fiscal-stimulus.html

Offshore Corporate Tax Havens: Why Are They Still Allowed? By Arianna Huffington. Copyright by The Huffington Post. Posted: June 1, 2010 06:34 PM http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/offshore-corporate-tax-ha_b_596753.html?ref=email_share



Your Money


Credit cards reward the smartest users - Pay your bill monthly and gain more than a free loan By Jim Gallagher, McClatchy. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. June 6, 2010. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sc-cons-money-0603-credit-card-20100603-15,0,1012730.story


Commodities


Despite U.S. deficit concerns, investors still pour money into Treasury bonds By Neil Irwin. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, June 1, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/31/AR2010053103456.html?hpid=topnews


Housing


Owners Stop Paying Mortgages, and Stop Fretting By DAVID STREITFELD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 31, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/business/01nopay.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1275400827-oWVodUTbD3jlUhnexGcXyw

US pending home sales jump in April By Simone Baribeau in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 2 2010 15:55 | Last updated: June 2 2010 15:55. Pending home sales in the US jumped 6 per cent in April as homebuyers took advantage of a popular tax credit ahead of its April 30 expiration. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/us-pending-home-sales-jump-in-april.html



Travel


“It would be nice if airlines would commit on their own to treat their passengers right: ensuring, at a minimum, that if you buy a ticket you get a seat and have a reasonable expectation of reaching your destination on time and with your luggage. In today’s world — where air travel is more of an ordeal than an adventure — this is, unfortunately, not the case. The Obama administration’s new consumer protections for beleaguered airline passengers — including higher compensation for travelers bumped from oversold flights and prominent disclosure of all service fees — are much needed.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: We Might Decide to Fly. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 3, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/opinion/04fri1.html?th&emc=th

U.S. Proposes Rules on Airline Tickets and Fees. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: June 2, 2010. Airline passengers would receive as much as $1,300 for being bumped from a flight and would have 24 hours to cancel reservations without penalty under a series of consumer measures proposed Wednesday by the Obama administration. Currently, airlines must pay up to $800. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/business/03air.html?hp

Summer of Full Flights and High Fares By JANE L. LEVERE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 31, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/business/01summer.html?th&emc=th


Religion


Pope Names Team to Investigate Abuse in Ireland By RACHEL DONADIO. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 31, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/europe/01vatican.html?th&emc=th

Prospective Catholic Priests Face Sexuality Hurdles By PAUL VITELLO. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 30, 2010. Every job interview has its awkward moments, but in recent years, the standard interview for men seeking a life in the Roman Catholic priesthood has made the awkward moment a requirement. “When was the last time you had sex?” all candidates for the seminary are asked. (The preferred answer: not for three years or more.) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/nyregion/31gay.html?hpw


Science

New York Times Editorial: One Cell Forward. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2010. In a recent issue of Science magazine, the genome pioneer Craig Venter announced that he and scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute had created a “synthetic cell.” Mr. Venter heralded it as “the first self-replicating species we’ve had on the planet whose parent is a computer” and said it could allow humans to create new vaccines and biofuels using artificial microbes. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/opinion/30sun3.html?th&emc=th


Legal


New York Times Editorial: Speaking Up to Stay Silent Copyright by The New York Times . Published: June 1, 2010... The court’s 5-to-4 opinion in the case of Berghuis v. Thompkins said that a suspect who wants the police to stop an interrogation must explicitly invoke the right to remain silent. Otherwise, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, the questioning can continue. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/opinion/02wed2.html?th&emc=th

David Souter vs. the Antonin Scalias By E.J. Dionne Jr. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, June 3, 2010. It should become the philosophical shot heard 'round the country. In a remarkable speech that received far too little attention, former Supreme Court justice David Souter took direct aim at the conservatives' favorite theory of judging. Souter's verdict: It "has only a tenuous connection to reality." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/02/AR2010060203496.html


Immigration


Bill Maher's final new rule on 5-07-10- illegal immigration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_fwNN_Pyyw

Foes and Supporters of New Immigration Law Gather in Arizona By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 29, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/us/30immig.html?th&emc=th

Ariz gov. bypasses attorney general on immigration lawsuits. Copyright By CNN News. May 29, 2010 3:45 p.m. EDT. Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona has bypassed Attorney General Terry Goddard and will rely on other lawyers to defend the state against lawsuits challenging its controversial law targeting illegal immigration, according to a statement. The legislature gave Brewer the power to hire outside counsel "because of its lack of confidence in the Attorney General's willingness to vigorously defend" the law, she said in the statement. http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/29/arizona.immigration.attorney.general/index.html?hpt=T2

Immigration Debate Defines Race in California By ADAM NAGOURNEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/us/05calif.html?th&emc=th



GLBT


What’s wrong with the GLBT Movement? By Carlos T Mock, MD Copyright by Ambiente Magazine, June Issue http://www.ambiente.us/06010CTMock.html

DADT: Compromise, Faith and Full Equality by David Mixner. Copyright by David Mixner. May 25 2010 http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/05/dadt-compromise-faith-and-full-equality.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

DADT: Muddy Waters by David Mixner. Copyright by David Mixner. May 26 2010 http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/05/dadt-muddy-waters.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

Repealing 'don't ask': History or hysteria? By Carolyn Lochhead. Copyright by The San Francisco Chronicle. Monday, May 31, 2010 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F05%2F30%2FMNJQ1DM6GQ.DTL

John McCain: Filibuster to Stop ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal? by Eve Conant. May 27, 2010. Copyright by Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/05/27/john-mccain-filibuster-to-stop-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-repeal-.html

McCain Circulates Service Chiefs Letter Urging Congress to Hold Off on DADT Repeal Vote, While Mullen Stresses 'Moral Courage' Copyright by Towleroad. June 1, 2010 http://www.towleroad.com/2010/05/mullen.html

Top officer talks change as gay ban vote nears By KRISTEN WYATT. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gO1CkBTvEmlL-47kgdQgkIHd6sFAD9FUMSR00

Gay? Whatever, Dude By CHARLES M. BLOW. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: June 4, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/opinion/05blow.html?th&emc=th Editorial comment: I did not make the author’s name up!

GetEQUAL co-founder arrested at Obama event by Rex Wockner. Copyright by Rex Wockner and Windy City Times. 2010-06-02 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=26755





Technology

Colbert Report - Who's Riding My Coattails Now? - iPad Suit Pocket http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/310041/june-03-2010/who-s-riding-my-coattails-now----ipad-suit-pocket

Apple sells 2m iPads in two months By Joseph Menn in San Francisco. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 31 2010 20:56 | Last updated: May 31 2010 20:56. A strong international debut for Apple ’s iPad had lifted sales of the tablet computer to 2m since its US launch two months ago, the company said, a rate exceeding the most recent public figures for its flagship Mac laptop and desktop computers. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/apple-sells-2m-ipads-in-two-months.html

Appholes http://www.thedailyshow.com/collection/309080/the-daily-show-s-best-apple-moments/307953

Steve Jobs Muses on All Things Apple By MIGUEL HELFT. Copyright by The New York Times. June 2, 2010, 12:04 am http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/steve-jobs-muses-on-all-things-apple/?th&emc=th

Heaviest Users of Phone Data Will Pay More By MATT RICHTEL. Copyright by Bloomberg News. Published: June 2, 2010. They spend hours watching video on their phones, downloading songs, browsing the Web, sending photos to friends and generally using mobile devices as full-fledged computers. They are the data hogs. On Wednesday, AT&T pulled away the trough. And other wireless carriers could do the same. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/technology/03phone.html?th&emc=th

AT&T's New iPhone Data Plans: Pros and Cons By Ian Paul. Copyright by PC World. Jun 4, 2010 11:02 am. The discussion continues around AT&T's new tiered data plans for the iPhone, and whether AT&T's decision will significantly impact how new iPhone owners use their device. http://www.pcworld.com/article/197992/atandts_new_iphone_data_plans_pros_and_cons.html

Skype for iPhone now supports 3G, but free ride's ending By Ben Patterson. Copyright by Yahoo News. June 3, 2010 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc2393

Google to hand over intercepted data By Maija Palmer and Lionel Barber in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 3 2010 23:04 | Last updated: June 3 2010 23:04. Google will begin handing over to European regulators the rogue data it intercepted from private WiFi internet connections within the next two days, in an effort to defuse growing controversy over its latest privacy blunder. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/google-to-hand-over-intercepted-data.html

Google ditches Windows on security concerns By David Gelles and Richard Waters in San Francisco. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 31 2010 23:26 | Last updated: May 31 2010 23:26. Google is phasing out the internal use of Microsoft’s ubiquitous Windows operating system because of security concerns, according to several Google employees. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/google-ditches-windows-on-security.html

Microsoft chief defends Windows’ future By Joseph Menn in Los Angeles. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: June 3 2010 20:17 | Last updated: June 3 2010 20:17. Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, on Thursday gave a spirited defence of the software company’s strategy and the future of its Windows operating system, following an assertion from Steve Jobs earlier in the week that personal computers that run it are in permanent decline. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/microsoft-chief-defends-windows-future.html

H.P. Will Cut 9,000 Jobs as It Streamlines Its Data Centers By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: June 1, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/technology/02hewlett.html?th&emc=th


Education


Placing the Blame as Students Are Buried in Debt By RON LIEBER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2010. Like many middle-class families, Cortney Munna and her mother began the college selection process with a grim determination. They would do whatever they could to get Cortney into the best possible college, and they maintained a blind faith that the investment would be worth it. Today, however, Ms. Munna, a 26-year-old graduate of New York University, has nearly $100,000 in student loan debt from her four years in college, and affording the full monthly payments would be a struggle. For much of the time since her 2005 graduation, she’s been enrolled in night school, which allows her to defer loan payments. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/your-money/student-loans/29money.html?hpw




Other


WEAKLY HUMERUS NEWS 06-05-10 AIMED AT YOUR FUNNY BONE http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/06/weakly-humerus-news-06-05-10-aimed-at.html



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www.carlostmock.com


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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
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Drill Baby Drill - The President Confronts The Spill Newsletter - May 29, 2010

Drill Baby Drill - The President Confronts The Spill Newsletter - May 29, 2010

“President Obama’s news conference on Thursday was partly a political exercise aimed at showing that his administration is on top of the unfolding disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. But what really mattered were Mr. Obama’s promises to call a timeout on coastal drilling and to shape up the federal bureaucracy, strengthen oversight of the drilling industry and do whatever else is required to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. These are necessary steps since there are other offshore rigs drilling at depths even greater than the Deepwater Horizon — and just as risky.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: The President Confronts the Spill Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/opinion/28fri1.html?th&emc=th

Obama Gives a Bipartisan Commission Six Months to Revise Drilling Rules By PETER BAKER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/us/23address.html?th&emc=th

Obama Extends Moratorium; Agency Chief Resigns By PETER BAKER. Copyright by The The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28drill.html?hpw

Estimates Suggest Spill Is Biggest in U.S. History By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON. Copyright by The The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28flow.html?hp

Panel Suggests Signs of Trouble Before Rig Explosion By HENRY FOUNTAIN and TOM ZELLER Jr.. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 25, 2010. In the hours before the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded last month in the Gulf of Mexico, there were strong warning signs that something was terribly wrong with the well, according to a Congressional committee that was briefed on the accident by executives from BP. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/us/26rig.html?hp

Inspector General’s Inquiry Faults Regulators. By IAN URBINA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2010. Federal regulators responsible for oversight of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico allowed industry officials several years ago to fill in their own inspection reports in pencil — and then turned them over to the regulators, who traced over them in pen before submitting the reports to the agency, according to an inspector general’s report to be released this week. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/us/25mms.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1274799663-i+9+HIWcIvwKeNFqDVuYWw

In the wake of Deepwater, let's put the environment first - Drill, baby, drill' is a pretty good indication of where the national ethos had drifted. By Eugene Robinson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, May 28, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/27/AR2010052704153.html

Expert Is Confident About Sealing Oil Well By HENRY FOUNTAIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2010. Pat Campbell never met a well he couldn’t kill. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/us/25well.html?th&emc=th

‘Top Kill’ Effort Seems to Be Working, U.S. Says Cautiously By CLIFFORD KRAUSS and JOHN M. BRODER. Copyright by The The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28spill.html?hp

Obama orders halt to deep-water drilling in the Gulf By Michael D. Shear and Scott Wilson. Copyright by The Washington Post . Thursday, May 27, 2010; 2:18 PM. President Obama ordered a halt Thursday to drilling operations at all 33 exploratory deep-water rigs in the Gulf of Mexico for as long as six months, one of several new restrictions on offshore drilling he announced at a news conference. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/27/AR2010052701172.html?hpid=topnews

Despite Leak, Louisiana Is Still Devoted to Oil By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 22, 2010. In some parts of the country, the sight of oil drifting toward the Louisiana coast, oozing into the fragile marshlands and bringing large parts of the state’s economy to a halt, has prompted calls to stop offshore drilling indefinitely, if not altogether. Here, in the middle of things, those calls are few. Here, in fact, the unfolding disaster is not even prompting a reconsideration of the 75th annual Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/us/23drill.html?th&emc=th

Up to 14 hurricanes, 7 of them major, predicted for Atlantic this season By Michael E. Ruane. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, May 27, 2010; 11:39 AM. Federal weather forecasters Thursday predicted an "active to extremely active" Atlantic hurricane season this year, with as many as 14 hurricanes, seven of them major. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/27/AR2010052701390.html?hpid=topnews



International


“Germany’s commitment to the European Union has been central to its postwar rehabilitation and its economic success. For years, Germany played the role in Europe that America so frequently plays globally — the locomotive whose dynamism and demand helps turn around recessions before they deepen into depressions. Now, at the worst possible moment, Germany is turning to nationalist illusions. Europe’s past economic successes are now viewed as German successes. Europe’s current deep problems are everyone else’s except Germany’s. That is neither realistic nor sustainable. But German politicians and commentators are callously and self-destructively feeding these ideas.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Germany vs. Europe. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/opinion/27thu1.html?ref=opinion

Bond issues stall as euro crisis bites By David Oakley in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 23 2010 22:03 | Last updated: May 23 2010 22:03. Company and financial bond issuance has collapsed in Europe in recent weeks because of worries over the eurozone’s public debt problems and the unco-ordinated political response to the single currency’s gravest crisis in its 11-year existence. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/bond-issues-stall-as-euro-crisis-bites.html

Euro’s fall deals new hit to risk appetite By Jamie Chisholm. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010 Published: May 24 2010 08:34 | Last updated: May 24 2010 13:24. Monday 13:15 BST. A sudden drop in the euro has whipped the rug from under European markets, reversing an early tentative advance for stocks as traders are once again fretting about the fragility of the eurozone economy. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/euros-fall-deals-new-hit-to-risk.html

One false move in Europe could set off global chain reaction By Howard Schneider and Neil Irwin. Copyright by The Washington Post . Monday, May 24, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/23/AR2010052304170.html?hpid=topnews

Merkel has joined Thatcher in Europe’s corner shop By Philip Stephens. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 27 2010 22:25 | Last updated: May 27 2010 22:25. Angela Merkel has begun to sound awfully like Margaret Thatcher. Germany has caught the British disease. If the affliction keeps hold, Europe is doomed. The European Union has learnt to live with Britain’s bean-counting. It will not survive a German decision to play the same zero-sum game. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/merkel-has-joined-thatcher-in-europes.html

In Europe, Britain May Face Largest Debt Hurdle By LANDON THOMAS Jr.. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2010. As governments from Greece to Portugal to Spain try to sell markets on their budget-cutting zeal, the country that may face the biggest hurdle is Britain. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/business/global/25debt.html?hpw

Earnings blow for Italy and Portugal By Richard Milne in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 23 2010 22:34 | Last updated: May 23 2010 22:34. Italian and Portuguese companies have performed significantly worse than expected in the first-quarter earnings season as problems with public finances and lack of competitiveness take a toll on corporate profitability. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/earnings-blow-for-italy-and-portugal.html

Spain News Sends Stocks Into Decline By CHRISTINE HAUSER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2010. If the American markets ever needed a reminder of how volatile Europe has made them this month, they got it on Friday. Right after lunch, the Fitch ratings firm announced that it had downgraded Spain’s credit rating by one notch, sending indexes on a swift decline of more than 1 percent. It was a stunning reversal in a day that had been in holiday mode, trading quietly lower at the start of a three-day weekend. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/business/29markets.html?hpw

Japan Relents on U.S. Base on Okinawa By MARTIN FACKLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2010. Reneging on a prominent campaign promise, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told outraged residents of Okinawa on Sunday that an American air base would be moved only to the north side of the island rather than off the island. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/world/asia/24japan.html?hpw

Unrest Continues in Jamaica After Police Raid on Gang Leader By MARC LACEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 25, 2010. Fierce fighting between Jamaican security forces and gunmen attempting to protect a powerful gang leader extended into a third day Tuesday in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, and a twisted political system in which Jamaican politicians and crime bosses team up to share power was laid bare. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/world/americas/26jamaica.html?hp



China


“There is only one country with any chance of getting through to North Korea. That is China, the North’s major supplier of aid, food and oil. As tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to spiral — frighteningly — upward, China is refusing to get involved.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: While China Stands By Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010 . There is only one country with any chance of getting through to North Korea. That is China, the North’s major supplier of aid, food and oil. As tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to spiral — frighteningly — upward, China is refusing to get involved. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/opinion/28fri3.html?th&emc=th

U.S. Pledges to Help South Korea in Bid for U.N. Action By CHOE SANG-HUN and MARK LANDLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2010. With political and military tension increasing daily on the Korean Peninsula, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that Washington would stand beside Seoul as it seeks redress at the United Nations Security Council over North Korea’s apparent sinking of a South Korean warship. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/world/asia/27diplo.html?hp

Chinese Premier Vows to Be Impartial on N. Korea By CHOE SANG-HUN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2010. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China promised on Friday that Beijing “will not protect anyone” once it has concluded who was responsible for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/world/asia/29korea.html?hpw

Alarm rises as N Korea threatens attack By Song Jung-a in Seoul. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 27 2010 10:12 | Last updated: May 27 2010 18:13. North Korea threatened to scrap all military assurance agreements with South Korea on Thursday and warned of an immediate attack should Seoul intrude on the disputed maritime border, further raising tensions on the peninsula. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/alarm-rises-as-n-korea-threatens-attack.html

Strike in China Highlights Gap in Workers’ Pay By KEITH BRADSHER and DAVID BARBOZA. Copyright by Reuters. Published: May 28, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/business/global/29honda.html?hp

The U.S. and China -- mutually beneficial economic partners By Xie Xuren. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, May 23, 2010. The U.S.-China strategic and economic dialogue in Beijing this week will have a major bearing on the sustainable and healthy development of our economic relationship. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052103217.html




Mess-o-potamia

Options studied for a possible Pakistan strike By Greg Miller. Copyright by The Washington Post . Saturday, May 29, 2010. The U.S. military is reviewing options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan in the event that a successful attack on American soil is traced to the country's tribal areas, according to senior military officials. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052804854.html?hpid=topnews

Militants attack mosques in Pakistan; dozens killed By Rizwan Mohammed and Karin Brulliard. Copyright by The Washington Post . Friday, May 28, 2010; 11:55 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052800686.html?hpid=topnews



National


“DEFENSE SECRETARY Robert M. Gates spent his first two years focused on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in each case backing a "surge" to turn around U.S. fortunes. Now, with his time in office probably dwindling, he's taken on a final mission: reforming Pentagon spending so that the United States will be able to maintain its military forces in an era of fiscal austerity. Though the outcome of a war isn't at stake, it's crucial that Mr. Gates succeed. The secretary's campaign is motivated by some simple math. Maintaining the current number of Army divisions, Navy ships and Air Force wings -- which Mr. Gates rightly believes is essential at a time of growing international insecurity -- requires spending increases of 2 to 3 percent each year in real terms. While the Pentagon is budgeted for modest growth through 2015, it can hardly count on that continuing when Congress will be -- or should be -- trying to reduce or eliminate the dangerous structural gap between federal revenue and spending.” Washington Post Editorial

Washington Post Editorial: Defense Secretary Gates's war of necessity against wasteful spending. Copyright by The Washington Post . Wednesday, May 26, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052504695.html

California Puts Vote Overhaul on the Ballot By JESSE McKINLEY. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: May 26, 2010. In another indication of how frustrated voters have grown with politics as usual, California — home of initiative-happy democracy — is considering a radical overhaul. On June 8, voters will decide the fate of a ballot measure that would replace traditional primaries in state and Congressional elections with, effectively, two rounds of voting. All candidates would run in the first round, and the top two vote-getters — regardless of party affiliation, or unaffiliation — would then face each other in the general election. Voters’ ultimate choice could be two Republicans or two Democrats, or two candidates with high name recognition, or deep pockets, or populist appeal. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/us/politics/27prop14.html?hpw

U.S. Crime Rates Fell in ’09 Despite Sour Economy By CHARLIE SAVAGE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2010. Despite turmoil in the economy and high unemployment, crime rates fell significantly across the United States in 2009, according to a report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/us/25crime.html?hp



Chicagoland

Daley rules out property tax increase next year - Decision stirs questions over how city will balance its books By John Byrne and Hal Dardick. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 6:14 p.m. CDT, May 25, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-daley-property-tax-0526-20100525,0,5629125.story



GOP Bashing


Teabaggers Untie - perhaps you should consider going back to school! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZoq3gPTgnE

Rand Paul's Libertarian La-La Land - Rand Paul can't hide from his loopy beliefs about civil rights, oil spills and mine disasters. By Eugene Robinson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, May 25, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/24/AR2010052402991.html

The Principles of Rand Paul By ROSS DOUTHAT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2010. No ideology survives the collision with real-world politics perfectly intact. General principles have to bend to accommodate the complexities of history, and justice is sometimes better served by compromise than by zealous intellectual consistency. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/opinion/24douthat.html?th&emc=th

The Strange World of Rand Paul By David Mixner. Copyright By David Mixne. May 20 2010 http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/05/the-strange-world-of-rand-paul.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

The GOP: The Appropriations Party? By Marc A. Thiessen. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, May 24, 2010 . The rise of the Tea Party movement, the defeat of Bob Bennett, the victory of Rand Paul -- all these have all been driven by a popular backlash against runaway spending in Washington. The Republican Party's hopes of retaking Congress rest on its ability to convince conservative and independent voters that the GOP will restore fiscal discipline if trusted with power this fall. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/24/AR2010052402100.html

Republicans clash over California nomination By Matthew Garrahan in Los Angeles. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 23 2010 18:09 | Last updated: May 23 2010 18:09. In a political season marked by voter hostility towards Wall Street and Washington, Meg Whitman may wish she had chosen a different year to run for governor of California. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/republicans-clash-over-california.html

Fox host Van Susteren asks blog readers to gauge her intelligence By Michael Calderone. Copyright by Yahoo! News. Fri May 28, 6:00 pm ET... Perhaps expecting fans to rally around her, Van Susteren polled the audience as to who's dumber: Van Susteren or the guy watching a show he doesn't like. As of this writing, after more than 12,000 votes, the results aren't in the host's favor: 67 percent of respondents say Van Susteren is dumber. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_en2308

Real Time With Bill Maher New Rules 5/21/10 http://realtimewithbillmaher.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-rules-52110.html

The Palin Brand - Timothy Egan on American politics and life, as seen from the West By TIMOTHY EGAN. Copyright by The Associated Press. May 26, 2010, 9:00 PM. In the midst of one of the most precipitous political crashes in the Mountain West, Sarah Palin made a mad dash into Boise on Friday, urging the election of a man who had plagiarized his campaign speech from Barack Obama, had been rebuked by the military for misusing the Marine uniform and had called the American territory of Puerto Rico a separate country. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/the-palin-brand/?ref=opinion

Sarah Palin's fact-free commentary on Paul and BP By Ruth Marcus. Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, May 26, 2010. Has Sarah Palin learned anything since she was plucked from obscurity almost two years ago? Not that I can tell. It was not Palin's fault that she was woefully unprepared to be the Republican vice presidential nominee. For that one, blame the petulant, impetuous John McCain. But Palin has had ample time now, outside the crash course of a presidential campaign, to develop and exhibit some understanding of the issues. Her learning curve, from all the available evidence, is a flat line. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052503970.html



Health Care


Rising maternal mortality rate causes alarm, calls for action - The U.S. rate nearly doubled in a decade and is higher than in 40 other industrialized countries. Experts cite numerous possible reasons and steps that could be taken. By Shari Roan and Lisa Girion. Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times. May 22, 2010 | 3:19 p.m. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-maternal-deaths-20100523,0,3029743,full.story

British Medical Council Bars Doctor Who Linked Vaccine With Autism By JOHN F. BURNS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2010. A doctor whose research and public statements caused widespread alarm that a common childhood vaccine could cause autism was banned on Monday from practicing medicine in his native Britain for ethical lapses, including conducting invasive medical procedures on children that they did not need. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/policy/25autism.html?th&emc=th

F.D.A. Weighs Penalties in Drug Recall By NATASHA SINGER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010. The Johnson & Johnson unit that recalled millions of bottles of liquid children’s Tylenol and other pediatric medicines last month may face criminal penalties, product seizures or other sanctions, an official from the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/business/28drug.html?th&emc=th

In Ultrasound, Abortion Fight Has New Front By KEVIN SACK. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010... Laura, who asked that her last name not be used, had come to the New Woman All Women Health Care clinic in Birmingham with her mind set on having an abortion. And she felt that seeing the image of her bean-size fetus would only unleash her already hormonal emotions, without changing her mind. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/health/policy/28ultrasound.html?th&emc=th



Health Care Reform


“Few Americans know what a “medical loss ratio” is, but a fierce struggle over how to calculate it under the new health care reform law will determine how much insurers must spend on patient care and how much they can retain for administration and profits. This is but one of many battles that will emerge as federal and state regulators develop regulations to implement reform. The new law requires health insurers, starting in 2011, to spend at least 80 to 85 percent of the premiums they collect on medical services or activities that improve the quality of care. (That percentage is the medical loss ratio.) The remainder can be allocated to profits or administrative activities that do not directly benefit patients, such as marketing, overhead and salaries.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: The Gaming Begins - The battle over how to calculate medical loss ratios is one of many that will emerge as regulators implement reform Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/opinion/24mon2.html?th&emc=th

DOCTOR AND PATIENT - Who Pays for Medical Complications? By PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D. Published: May 27, 2010... What Dr. Fry and his co-investigators propose is that C.M.S. and other insurers adopt a warranty policy of payment. The warranty would be an all-inclusive upfront payment that would take into account the probability of having a complication, as well as the patient’s prior condition; and it would be standardized according to what the best quality hospitals pay for the same diagnosis, procedure and complications. “We have the mathematical ability to look at large populations and predict the rate of these complications,” Dr. Fry noted. “Our payment systems need to recognize that.” When doctors and hospitals rack up more costs than are covered by the payment, they lose money. “Physicians and hospitals will then have a real incentive for quality.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/health/views/27chen.html?hpw

High-Tech Alternatives to High-Cost Care By STEVE LOHR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 21, 2010. MENTION health care reform and the image that instantly comes to mind is a big government program. But there is another broad transformation in health care under way, a powerful force for decentralized innovation. It is fueled in good part by technology — low-cost computing devices, digital sensors and the Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/business/23unboxed.html?th&emc=th




The Economy


Calming Words From China Push Shares Higher By DAVID JOLLY and CHRISTINE HAUSER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010. Stocks in the United States rose Thursday as investors looked past new economic numbers and instead focused on buying opportunities and a reassuring report on European debt. Thursday’s rise was broad-based, with energy, technology, financial and materials shares all substantially higher. Citibank shares were up 4 percent a day after the Treasury announced that it had sold 1.5 billion shares of Citigroup, or about a fifth of its holdings, at a profit of $1.3 billion. Most Citibank rivals were up at least 3 percent. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/business/28markets.html?hp

First-Quarter U.S. Growth Revised Slightly Lower By CHRISTINE HAUSER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010. The United States economy expanded at a slower rate in the first quarter than originally estimated, the Commerce Department reported Thursday, partly because of a slight decrease in the pace of consumer spending. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/business/economy/28econ.html?adxnnl=1&hpw=&adxnnlx=1274986945-yCEOCp5FBvu66hN+Dn5k6w

Monumental job losses in America By Clive Crook. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 23 2010 20:51 | Last updated: May 23 2010. Unemployment in the US is high not just by its own past standards but by international standards, too, which is doubly strange. Figures also show a startling rise in long-term unemployment, to levels previously associated with Europe’s broken labour markets. 20:51. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/monumental-job-losses-in-america.html




Your Money

US consumer savings jump to highest level since January By Simone Baribeau in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 28 2010 15:00 | Last updated: May 28 2010 15:31. Consumer spending stagnated in April as workers kept a tighter grip on their wallets and sought to rebuild their savings. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/us-consumer-savings-jump-to-highest.html

House approves $93 billion jobless benefits package By Lori Montgomery. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, May 28, 2010; 2:31 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052800361.html?wpisrc=nl_polalert


Commodities


Dollar’s rise to hit global US groups By Greg Farrell in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 23 2010 21:45 | Last updated: May 23 2010 21:45. The dollar’s continued rise against the euro and other main currencies could take its toll on the earnings of US-based multinationals such as McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, in spite of efforts to blunt the effects through hedging. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/dollars-rise-to-hit-global-us-groups.html

Commodities surge after warning on hurricane season By Gregory Meyer in New York Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 27 2010 19:28 | Last updated: May 27 2010 19:28. Oil and natural gas prices surged on Thursday as the US government said this year’s hurricane season could rank among the most active to date, comparable to years that brought such devastating storms as 2005’s Katrina and Rita. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ccceb032-69b9-11df-8432-00144feab49a.html


Housing


US house prices decline continues - Detroit and Chicago hardest-hit cities By Simone Baribeau in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 25 2010 15:17 | Last updated: May 25 2010 15:17. The US housing market continued its decline in March as the impending end of the homebuyer tax credit further pressured prices. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/us-house-prices-decline-continues.html

Housing prices still going nowhere - Neither are potential homebuyers, who are staying put, keeping market flat. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. May 24, 2010. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/feed/ct-biz-0524-burns--20100524,0,2720340,full.story


Entertainment


‘Lost’ Watch: Embracing the White Light By MIKE HALE. Copyright by The New York Times. May 24, 2010, 12:42 AM http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/lost-watch-embracing-the-white-light/?hp

As Lee DeWyze wins a sleepy season, where does 'Idol' go without Simon? By Maureen Ryan. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. May 26, 2010 http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/05/american-idol-lee-dewyze-crystal-bowersox.html

Live ‘Glee’ Favors Exuberance Over Plot By JON PARELES. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 29, 2010. Perky to the max, the television phenomenon “Glee” shed its plotlines and flaunted its young troupers’ gusto and its karaoke repertory for “Glee Live! In Concert” on Friday night, starting a sold-out three-night stand at Radio City Music Hall that completes a four-city tour. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/arts/music/29glee.html?hp



Travel


Demand erupts for trip insurance - Iceland volcano points up its value — if you know what you need and what you're getting By Eileen Ambrose. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. May 23, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sc-cons-save-0523-20100506,0,1028708.story

Summer travelers may discover a world of pain - Demand for air travel appears likely to far outstrip the available supply of airline seats By Julie Johnsson. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 9:45 p.m. CDT, May 27, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-biz-0527-summer-travel--20100527,0,2006327,full.story

Airlines to charge more for summer travel - Major carriers adding $10 to $30 per seat on most days By Hugo Martin. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 6:00 p.m. CDT, May 25, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/feed/sc-biz-0526-fees--20100525,0,1026708,full.story

Thousands hit by fresh BA strike By Gill Plimmer. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 24 2010 12:29 | Last updated: May 24 2010 12:29. Thousands of British Airways passengers faced disruption to their travel plans on Monday after 1,200 cabin crew began a five-day strike. Talks to resolve the dispute over the weekend ended in acrimony with both the company and leaders of the Unite union blaming each other for the failure to come to a deal. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/violence-spreads-in-thailand-after_24.html

36 Hours in Genoa, Italy By JEREMY W. PETERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 30, 2010 http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/travel/30hours.html?hpw

Michigan's coast is best by bicycle -Though roads are seldom more than a means to get someplace, the cavernous, 21-mile-long Tunnel of Trees along Lake Michigan is a journey to be savored, especially by bicycle. By Tim Jones. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. May 23, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-trav-0523-biking-michigan-coast-20100523,0,4077108,full.story


Religion


Sister Margaret’s Choice By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2010. We finally have a case where the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy is responding forcefully and speedily to allegations of wrongdoing. But the target isn’t a pedophile priest. Rather, it’s a nun who helped save a woman’s life. Doctors describe her as saintly. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/opinion/27kristof.html?ref=opinion




Legal


Supreme Court rules for black Chicago firefighters. Copyright © 2010, Tribune Interactive. 10:50 a.m. CDT, May 24, 2010. The Supreme Court dealt a potentially costly defeat to the city of Chicago Monday, reinstating a discrimination ruling in favor of 6,000 black applicants for firefighting jobs in the 1990s. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sc-dc-chicago-firefighters-20100524,0,3414845.story

Justices Rule Against N.F.L. in Antitrust Case By KEN BELSON. Copyright by The New york Times. Published: May 24, 2010. The Supreme Court said on Monday that the N.F.L. is an “unincorporated association of 32 separately owned professional football teams,” not a single business, for the purposes of selling branded jerseys and caps. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/sports/football/25needle.html?hp

Goldman seeks settlement with SEC By John Gapper and Francesco Guerrera in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 28 2010 00:11 | Last updated: May 28 2010 00:11. Goldman Sachs is hoping to avoid the Securities and Exchange Commission’s charge of fraud by reaching a settlement on a lesser offence and agreeing to a fine of hundreds of millions of dollars, according to people familiar with the bank’s negotiating position. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/goldman-seeks-settlement-with-sec.html

Toyota took cost-cutting approach on lurching Lexus models, records show - The automaker struggled to diagnose performance problems with the 2002-06 ES models and limited the scope of repairs, company records show. By Ken Bensinger and Ralph Vartabedian. Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Time. May 23, 2010. Five months before the new 2002 Lexus ES hit showroom floors, the company's U.S. engineers sent a test report to Toyota City in Japan: The luxury sedan shifted gears so roughly that it was "not acceptable for production." http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/la-fi-lexus-20100523,0,4316134,full.story


Immigration


Bill Maher's final new rule on 5-07-10- illegal immigration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_fwNN_Pyyw

“EVEN DRACONIAN measures like the one adopted in Arizona are not going to make 11 million immigrants already illegally here in this country magically disappear, let alone address this country's dysfunctional immigration system. Neither is President Obama's decision, announced this week, to deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, a move that appears motivated at least as much by election-year political anxiety as by genuine security concerns. After all, illegal cross-border entries are down significantly in the past two years, and so is violent crime in border states, as the administration itself has noted.” Washington Post Editorial

Washington Post Editorial: Inaction trumps problem-solving when immigration is involved. Copyright by The Washington Post . Thursday, May 27, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/26/AR2010052604901.html

New York Times Editorial: Trenton Gets It Right. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 21, 2010. A coalition of community groups in Trenton is issuing photo identification cards to illegal immigrants. The cards are not government IDs, though they are accepted by many check-cashing companies, libraries, stores, and medical clinics, and at public parks and pools. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/opinion/23sun3.html?th&emc=th

A Potential Obama Ally Becomes an Outspoken Foe on Immigration By JULIA PRESTON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2010.. But instead of a favorite ally, Mr. Gutierrez has become a noisy, needling outsider — and not just in the halls of Congress. Saying he was fed up with the president not leading an overhaul of immigration laws, Mr. Gutierrez was arrested along with more than 30 other protesters on May 1 after a sit-in in front of the White House. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/us/politics/29gutierrez.html?hpw

Obama to Send Up to 1,200 Troops to Border By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: May 25, 2010. resident Obama will send up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the Southwest border and seek increased spending on law enforcement there to combat drug smuggling after demands from Republican and Democratic lawmakers that border security be tightened. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/us/26border.html?hpw

Gutierrez: Gays are in immigration bill by John Fenoglio. Copyright by The Windy City Times. 2010-05-26 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=26660


GLBT


“IF ALL GOES according to plan, we could be writing the obituary of "don't ask, don't tell" by the end of the week. The House and Senate are poised to cast votes that would end the ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military, while leaving the timetable for implementing new rules up to the Pentagon. This is not the optimal way to end this reprehensible policy. But there has never been a better opportunity to nullify a law that has forced more than 14,000 service members out of the military since 1994.” Washington Post Editorial

Washington Post Editorial: Congress has a good chance to end 'don't ask, don't tell' Copyright by The Washington Post . Wednesday, May 26, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052504693.html

New York Times Editorial: A Stronger Military. Copyright by The New York Times . Published: May 25, 2010. After months of unnecessary hand-wringing and delay, the White House and Congressional leaders appear to have reached an agreement on ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that forced thousands of gay and lesbian service members to stay in the closet in order to serve their country. Although the agreement would postpone full repeal for a few months to await a Pentagon study on implementing the change, finally it creates a path to the full integration of the military. That is not just a matter of justice. It would make the military stronger. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/opinion/26wed1.html?ref=opinion

Chicago Sun Times Editorial: Repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times. May 26, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/2315654,CST-EDT-edit26c.article

House Votes to Allow Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Law By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and CARL HULSE. Copyright by The New York Times
Published: May 27, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/politics/28tell.html?th&emc=th

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pull Your Punches By TOBIN HARSHAW. Copyright by The New York Times. May 28, 2010, 6:00 PM. The Thread is an in-depth look at how major news and controversies are being debated across the online spectrum. It’s been a good week, perhaps too good of a week, for disclosure and transparency. The blogosphere has brought us more than we ever wanted to know about the telephony habits of a South Carolina legislator; we discovered that, in one case, the White House’s efforts to provide employment amid a recession has gotten both the current and a former president into trouble; and we learned that we’re all going get a peek over the fence and into the lives of Wasilla, Alaska’s, most famous resident. There are times when more feels like less … http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/dont-ask-dont-tell-dont-pull-your-punches/?hp

Obama heckled again over 'don't ask, don't tell' By Holly Bailey . Copyright by Yahoo! News. May 26, 2010. A gay rights activist heckled President Obama at a San Francisco fundraiser Tuesday night, urging Obama to "move faster" on a proposed repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl2254

LGBT National Legislation: The Good, Bad and Ugly By David Mixner. Copyright by David Mixner. May 19 2010 http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/05/lgbt-national-legislation-the-good-bad-and-ugly.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

Portugal legalizes same-sex marriage by Rex Wockner. Copyright by Rex Wockner. 2010-05-26 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=26669

Gutierrez: Gays are in immigration bill by John Fenoglio. Copyright by The Windy City Times. 2010-05-26 http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=26660




Technology


“So far, most people have been inclined to trust internet companies with their personal information but these incidents demonstrate that it may not be wise. There is no such thing as a free lunch and nor is there a free online social network.” Financial Times Editorial Comment

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Facebook privacy must be watched. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 27 2010 19:35 | Last updated: May 27 2010 19:35. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/financial-times-editorial-comment_28.html

From Facebook, answering privacy concerns with new settings By Mark Zuckerberg. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, May 24, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/23/AR2010052303828.html

Facebook founder Zuckerberg's not-quite-apology By Rob Pegoraro. Copyright by The Washington Post. May 24, 2010; 12:04 PM ET http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2010/05/facebook_founder_zuckerbergs_n.html?hpid=topnews

Rivals Seize on Troubles of Facebook By JENNA WORTHAM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/technology/24social.html?th&emc=th

Sure, It’s Big. But Is That Bad? By BRAD STONE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 21, 2010. IN the 1990s, Gary Reback, a Silicon Valley lawyer, almost single-handedly brought the antitrust weight of the federal government down on that era’s high-tech heavyweight, Microsoft. Now Mr. Reback contends there is a dangerous new monopolist in the catbird seat: the search giant Google. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/technology/23goog.html?th&emc=th

Google attacked in Australia over privacy By Peter Smith in Sydney. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: May 25 2010 13:21 | Last updated: May 25 2010 14:17. Google has hit back at an Australian politician who attacked the US technology group for being responsible for “probably the single biggest breach in the history of privacy”. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/google-attacked-in-australia-over.html

Google Balks at Turning Over Private Internet Data to Regulators By KEVIN J. O'BRIEN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2010. Google has balked at requests from regulators to surrender Internet data and fragments of e-mail messages that it collected from unsecured home wireless networks, saying it needed time to resolve legal issues. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/technology/28google.html?th&emc=th

New King of Technology: Apple Overtakes Microsoft By MIGUEL HELFT and ASHLEE VANCE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2010. Apple, the maker of iPods, iPhones and iPads, overtook Microsoft, the computer software giant, on Wednesday to become the world’s most valuable technology company. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/technology/27apple.html?emc=na

Analyst says Apple is ramping up production to be able to make 2.5M iPads per month by summer Copyright By The Associated Press. 2:16 p.m. CDT, May 25, 2010. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-apple-supply-chain-analyst-note,0,5638927.story

Apple price target hiked to $325 at BofA Merrill. Copyright by Market Watch. May 28, 2010, 8:56 a.m. EDT http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-price-target-hiked-to-325-at-bofa-merrill-2010-05-28

Apple’s iPad makes its international debut By Tim Bradshaw in London, Mark Mulligan in Madrid, Giulia Segreti in Rome, Robin Harding in Tokyo and Peter Smith in Sydney. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Apple’s iPad made its international debut on Friday, with buyers storming shops – including Japanese fans dressed up as iPads in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district – to be among the first outside the US to snap up the long-awaited tablet PC. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2010/05/apples-ipad-makes-its-international.html


Education

“The social conservatives who dominate the Texas State Board of Education backed down last week from a few of their most outrageous efforts to tilt the state’s social studies curriculum. They dropped a proposal that President Obama be referred to as “Barack Hussein Obama” and lost in their efforts to rename the “slave trade” the “Atlantic triangular trade,” a clear attempt to downplay slavery’s horror and spread the blame. The changes they did force into the standards for such subjects as history, government and economics were bad enough and bear no relationship to neutral pedagogy. The original curriculum standards were drawn up by teams of teachers and scholars who spent nearly a year on the huge undertaking. The board eagerly exercised its power to amend those requirements.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Politicized Curriculum in Texas. Copyright by New York Times. Published: May 25, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/opinion/26wed4.html?ref=opinion

Beyond Protests: Students Making the Pieces of a Different Society By Saskia Sassen. Copyright by The Huffington Post. Posted: May 22, 2010 05:37 PM. Students in Iran, in Greece, in Puerto Rico -- all have shown a noticeable endurance to fight on for weeks against governments which are threatening their basic rights. Even more important, in this struggle they are not only protesting but developing the elements for alternative politics and social settings. The Puerto Rican students who have occupied the campus of the Unviersidad de Puerto Rico for weeks, surrounded by armed forces, are doing urban agriculture, collective cooking, environmentally sustainable practices, art, music... in brief, they are striving to build the elements of a different society. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/saskia-sassen/beyond-protests-students_b_586138.html



Other

Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson 'devastated' after tabloid newspaper records her in bribe sting By JILL LAWLESS. Copyright 2010 Associated Press. 7:27 p.m. CDT, May 23, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-ap-eu-britain-royal-sting,0,338495.story

KLM Economy Comfort Product with Ramana at Manchester Airport T2 http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=6NPF0A_vGC4



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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.carlostmock.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32&osCsid=a0b517e687814469f8153c5070d69f99



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