Newsletter - May 16, 2009

International

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Talk to Russia, remember Georgia. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 10 2009 19:36 | Last updated: May 10 2009 19:36. When even Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s combative envoy to Nato, has something nice to say, it is fair to speak of improvements in relations between Moscow and the west. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/50f701a4-3d90-11de-a85e-00144feabdc0.html

Falling Gas Prices Deny Russia a Lever of Power By ANDREW E. KRAMER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/world/europe/16gazprom.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Downturn bottomed out, Trichet signals By Chris Giles and Daniel Pimlott in London and Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 11 2009 14:35 | Last updated: May 11 2009 20:36 Jean-Claude Trichet signalled on Monday that the global downturn had bottomed out with some large economies already able to put the recession behind them and look forward to renewed growth. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/03d19fd6-3e2d-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

Eurozone industrial output plunges By Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 11:50 | Last updated: May 13 2009 11:50 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cc739514-3fa6-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

German economy shrinks 3.8% By Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 15 2009 08:15 | Last updated: May 15 2009 10:42 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/559213f8-411d-11de-bdb7-00144feabdc0.html

Congress alliance wins Indian election - Emphatic victory gives Singh second term By James Lamont in New Delhi. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 16 2009 05:56 | Last updated: May 16 2009 17:44. The Congress Party on Saturday claimed an emphatic victory in India’s parliamentary elections as voters backed secular leadership over communal politics and the continued premiership of Manmohan Singh. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2b16c9c2-41d4-11de-bdb7-00144feabdc0.html



China

Chinese exports fall sharply By Jamil Anderlini in Beijing. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 05:31 | Last updated: May 12 2009 05:31. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16a8da60-3eab-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

China Outpaces U.S. in Cleaner Coal-Fired Plants By KEITH BRADSHER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 10, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/world/asia/11coal.html?th&emc=th

China’s factory output slows in April By Jamil Anderlini in Beijing. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 05:51 | Last updated: May 13 2009 05:51 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4dad5db8-3f75-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

Hong Kong suffers record contraction By Xi Chen and Reuters in Hong Kong. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 15 2009 14:40 | Last updated: May 15 2009 14:40 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d3bff08c-4141-11de-bdb7-00144feabdc0.html

China’s Heart of Gold By VICTOR ZHIKAI GAO. Copyright By The New York Times. Published: May 13, 2009... No one knows for sure when the tide started to turn, or the exact moment when American gold started its slow but seemingly irreversible loss of luster. But now, many shops in China no longer accept dollar-based credit cards issued by foreign banks (the customer pays in dollars, but the shopkeeper is paid in renminbi) and foreigners cannot convert American dollars into renminbi beyond a given quota...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/opinion/14Gao.html?th&emc=th

Mess-o-potamia

A Single-Minded Focus on Dual Wars - Defense Secretary Is Reorienting the Military to Meet U.S. Troops' Needs Now By Greg Jaffe. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, May 15, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/14/AR2009051404450.html?hpid=topnews

US soldier in Iraq shoots dead five comrades © Reuters Limited. May 12, 2009. A US soldier shot dead five fellow soldiers at a military clinic in Baghdad on Monday in an incident that the top US military officer suggested may have been triggered by stress. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c10c3148-3e8b-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

US replaces Afghan conflict commander By James Blitz in London and Andrew Ward in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 11 2009 21:12 | Last updated: May 12 2009 00:23 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce9c689e-3e65-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

US replaces Afghan conflict commander By James Blitz in London and Andrew Ward in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 11 2009 21:12 | Last updated: May 12 2009 00:23 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce9c689e-3e65-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

Financial Times Editorial Comment: To beat the Taliban. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 19:31 | Last updated: May 12 2009 19:31. The fighting in Pakistan’s Swat valley, where the army is violently displacing jihadi extremists with whom both the government and the military had only last month signed a treaty, does not yet amount to the firm and clear strategy needed to defeat the Taliban. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/34786118-3f1f-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

Pakistan Says It Is Stepping Up Attack By SALMAN MASOOD and ALAN COWELL. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/asia/13pstan.html?ref=global-home

Pakistan allows civilians to flee Swat © Reuters Limited. May 15, 2009 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e163b720-4117-11de-bdb7-00144feabdc0.html

In a First, U.S. Provides Pakistan With Drone Data By ERIC SCHMITT and MARK MAZZETTI. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/world/asia/14drone.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Afghan villagers get payments for battle that killed civilians - A government commission concluded that 140 civilians died, more than twice the figure cited by the United States. By Laura King. Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times. 6:29 AM CDT, May 12, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-afghan-civilians13-2009may13,0,5733997.story

Taboo broken in US Middle East offensive By Harvey Morris in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 10 2009 19:16 | Last updated: May 11 2009 09:42. A period of high-level diplomacy on the Middle East opens in New York on Monday, promising further insights into an emerging strategy from Barack Obama’s administration that is already raising concerns among Israel’s supporters. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/194f533a-3d8d-11de-a85e-00144feabdc0.html

Parks Fortify Israel’s Claim to Jerusalem By ETHAN BRONNER and ISABEL KERSHNER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 9, 2009. Israel is quietly carrying out a $100 million, multiyear development plan in some of the most significant religious and national heritage sites just outside the walled Old City here as part of an effort to strengthen the status of Jerusalem as its capital. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/world/middleeast/10jerusalem.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

A Middle East peace plan puts Netanyahu on the spot By Philip Stephens. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 14 2009 20:11 | Last updated: May 14 2009 20:11. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/055f56a2-40b9-11de-8f18-00144feabdc0.html

Hizbollah confirms broad aid for Hamas By Anna Fifield in Beirut. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 13:50 | Last updated: May 12 2009 13:50 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1ee8637e-3eee-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

Iranian-American journalist freed By Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 11 2009 14:14 | Last updated: May 11 2009 15:16 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c7035c1c-3e2b-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

Journalist’s Release Shows Divide Among Iran’s Leaders By NAZILA FATHI and MARK LANDLER. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: May 12, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/middleeast/13iran.html?_r=1&ref=global-home


National

MEMO FROM CAIRO - Egypt to Be Center Stage in Obama’s Address to Arabs By MICHAEL SLACKMAN. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: May 11, 2009 http://www.nighties.com/2009/05/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html?hpw

US backs new approach to Doha negotiations By Frances Williams in Geneva. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 23:41 | Last updated: May 13 2009 23:41 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c8916980-3fce-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

Financial Times Editorial Comment: US returns to its trust-busting roots. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 19:45 | Last updated: May 12 2009 19:45. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4132661a-3f1f-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

White House Plans to Reverse Bush Antitrust Rules By Cecilia Kang. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, May 11, 2009; 11:08 AM. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051101189.html?hpid=topnews

Obama Planning to Keep Tribunals for Detainees By PETER BAKER and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/politics/15gitmo.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Obama does U-turn on detainee abuse photos By Demetri Sevastopulo and Andrew Ward in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 19:04 | Last updated: May 13 2009 22:33 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/781afd0e-3fe7-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

The Nation's Embracing, and Embraceable, Arms By Sally Quinn. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, May 10, 2009. "May I change the subject," said a prominent Washington theologian at a recent dinner. The conversation had been high-minded -- religion, philosophy, the nature of evil. "I'd like to talk about Michelle Obama's arms," he said. He is a big fan of those arms. We then began a discussion about the significance of the first lady's arms. Actually, it turned out to be equally serious. Michelle Obama's arms, we determined, were transformational. Her arms are representative of a new kind of woman: young, strong, vigorous, intelligent, accomplished, sexual, powerful, embracing and, most of all, loving. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/07/AR2009050704538.html?hpid=artslot

Utah Governor to Become Ambassador to China By JEFF ZELENY. Copyright by The New York Times. May 16, 2009 http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/utah-governor-to-become-ambassador-to-china/?ref=global-home

Obama Taps NYC Health Commissioner to Head CDC By Debbi Wilgoren and Michael Shear. Copyright by The Washington Post. Friday, May 15, 2009; 9:11 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/15/AR2009051500295.html?hpid=topnews

Hispanics See Stars Aligned on High Court - For President, Diversity Is One Of Many Factors By Robert Barnes and Michael D. Shear. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, May 12, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051103503.html?hpid=topnew

Despite rate rise, cost-cutting, Postal Service could run out of money by year's end. RANDOLPH E. SCHMID. Copyright 2009 Associated Press. 10:04 AM CDT, May 11, 2009. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-postal-rates,0,2549494.story

Obama’s Notre Dame Visit Draws Catholic Backing By DALIA SUSSMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. May 15, 2009, 3:01 PM. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/obamas-notre-dame-visit-draws-catholic-backing/?scp=1&sq=notre%20dame%20obama&st=Search

May 12, 2009: Arizona State Snubs Obama http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=227327&title=Arizona-State-Snubs-Obama

Pelosi Acknowledges She Was Told of Waterboarding in 2003 By CARL HULSE AND BRIAN KNOWLTON. Copyright by The New York Times. May 14, 2009, 12:33 PM http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/pelosi-cia-misled-congress-over-waterboarding/?scp=2&sq=nancy%20pelosi&st=cse

C.I.A. Director Takes a Shot at Pelosi By KATE PHILLIPS. Copyright by The new York Times. May 15, 2009, 3:30 PM http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/cia-director-takes-a-shot-at-pelosi/?scp=6&sq=nancy%20pelosi&st=cse

May 12, 2009: Waffle House http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=227326&title=Waffle-House



GOP Whacking

Republican war of words highlights lack of fresh talent By Andrew Ward in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 14 2009 19:37 | Last updated: May 14 2009 19:37. It is a family feud so fierce that even the 97-year-old matriarch has become involved. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d253e3d6-40b3-11de-8f18-00144feabdc0.html

Huckabee warns GOP could become 'irrelevant' - Huckabee says the GOP must not lose social conservatives. By Alexander Mooney. Copyright by CNN News. May 8, 2009. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/08/huckabee-warns-gop-could-become-irrelevant/#more-50980

Romney camp hits back at Steele for Mormonism comments By Peter Hamby. Copyright by CNN News. May 12, 2009. In an unusual move for the person tasked with being his party's top cheerleader, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is shining a light on the political vulnerabilities of one of the GOP's top figures and a likely frontrunner for the 2012 Republican nomination — former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Now Romney's team is hitting back. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/12/romney-camp-hits-back-at-steele-for-mormonism-comments-2/#more-51302

Gaps Appear in G.O.P. Solidarity By CARL HULSE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 9, 2009. After being stingy with their support in the early days of the Obama administration, significant numbers of House Republicans have begun breaking from their party leaders and voting for legislation moving through the Democratic-led Congress. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/politics/10vote.html?th&emc=th

Is Rush Limbaugh the GOP's voice? - Does anybody take him seriously? Yes and no by Clarence Page. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 13, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped0513pagemay13,0,5528249.column

Obama Delivers the Zingers at Journalists' Dinner By Richard Leiby. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, May 10, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/09/AR2009050902802.html?hpid=topnews

Wanda Sykes: 'Too much?' by Mark Silva. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. Posted May 11, 2009 8:15 AM http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/05/wanda_sykes_too_much.html

Why Is That Man Smiling? By Kathleen Parker. Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, May 13, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/12/AR2009051202878.html

May 11, 2009: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=226621&title=Guess-Who%27s-Coming-to-Dinner; May 11, 2009: Wanda Sykes' Jokes http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=226621&title=Guess-Who%27s-Coming-to-Dinner http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=226622&title=Wanda-Sykes%27-Jokes

As Cheney Seizes Spotlight, Many Republicans Wince By Dan Balz. Copyright by The Washington Post. Do I think Sykes was a monument to hilarity? No, but she was funny much of the time. Do I think her now-infamous Rush Limbaugh jokes were over the top? Yeah. That's a comedian for you. Do I think her performance -- and Obama's apparent amusement -- marks the decline of civilization? This is hardly a new development. I do think we take ourselves far too seriously -- and literally. Thursday, May 14, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051303789.html?hpid=topnews

The Old Faithful of Nonsense By Eugene Robinson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, May 12, 2009. Can't we send Dick Cheney back to Wyoming? Shouldn't we chip in and buy him a home where the buffalo roam and there's always room for one more crazy old coot down at the general store? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051102670.html

Chastise Cheney By CHARLES M. BLOW. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 16, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/opinion/16blow.html?th&emc=th

Simplicity of GOP: We are what we are By Garrison Keillor. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 13, 2009. Only one out of five Americans is willing to describe himself or herself as a Republican these days, and frankly I am tempted to become one of them. For the variety, and because they need me and because when I heard former Vice President Dick Cheney talk about the meaning of Republicanism the other day -- "We are what we are," he said -- I felt drawn to the simplicity and dignity of that. And I have never been a Republican, just as I've never been to South America, and that makes it tempting. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped0513keillormay13,0,4676396.column

May 11, 2009: Excuse Me Your Dick Is Out http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=226623&title=Excuse-Me-Your-Dick-Is-Out

Former Official: Treatment of Terror Suspects a 'Collective Failure' By Carrie Johnson. Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, May 13, 2009; 11:33 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051301281.html?hpid=topnews


Chicagoland

Illinois after Blagojevich: Pat Quinn's first 100 days - Governor has made some gains, but honeymoon with lawmakers may be ending By Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 10, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-quinn-100-days-10may10,0,7388361.story

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Stroger in denial. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 12, 2009. Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has vetoed a 12-3 vote of the County Board to repeal his beloved sales-tax increase. Deep down, he says, he supports killing the full tax increase. But not now, and not even on a set schedule. No, he wants to roll back the tax "as funds become available." http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0512edit1may12,0,2551266.story

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Stroger and the IRS. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 14, 2009... A cynic would say Stroger wants to keep collecting your money for the government he refuses to reform at the very moment he allegedly hasn't paid taxes he owes.... http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0514edit2may14,0,4517351.story

IRS slaps lien on Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's home for unpaid income taxes by Hal Dardick and Dan P. Blake. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 13, 2009 http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/05/irs-slaps-lien-on-cook-county-board-president-todd-strogers-home-for-unpaid-income-taxes.html

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Poisoning public trust. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 10, 2009. When it comes to treating citizens as chumps, it's hard to top what has happened in south suburban Crestwood. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0510edit1may10,0,978398.story

Burglars are 'crossing the line' and breaking into homes in Berrien County, Michigan Posted: 6:31 PM May 11, 2009. Last Updated: 6:40 PM May 11, 2009. Reporter: Alana Greenfogel: Alana.Greenfogel@WNDU.com. Copyright by WNDU.com http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/44744607.html





Your Lack of Money

US trade gap widens in March By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 14:18 | Last updated: May 12 2009 14:18. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f1571280-3e6a-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

US prices fall most since 1955 By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 15 2009 14:15 | Last updated: May 15 2009 15:59 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/854d81ce-40c1-11de-8f18-00144feabdc0.html

Prices Fall To Match A New Frugality - Retailers Respond To Shopping Habits Forged in Recession By Ylan Q. Mui. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, May 12, 2009. he nation's retailers have begun to embrace the new cost-conscious consumer, developing products they can sell at lower prices without driving themselves out of business in the post-splurge era. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051103607.html?hpid=topnews

Jump in Food Costs Drives Up Prices By JACK HEALY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/business/economy/15econ.html?hp

Unemployment claims report sours Wall St mood By Kiran Stacey in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 14 2009 13:58 | Last updated: May 14 2009 13:58. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2610393c-3ffd-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

US retail sales 0.4% fall in April By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 14:24 | Last updated: May 13 2009 15:35 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3cc20202-3f38-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

Wal-Mart earnings meet expectations By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 14 2009 13:15 | Last updated: May 14 2009 13:15. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bc4d77cc-407d-11de-8f18-00144feabdc0.html

Sony sees signs of recovery By Robin Harding in Tokyo. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 14 2009 08:21 | Last updated: May 14 2009 08:21 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9f767bd4-4051-11de-8f18-00144feabdc0.html

US banks swamped as refi fever takes hold By Greg Farrell and Saskia Scholtes in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 19:44 | Last updated: May 13 2009 19:44. The rush of US homeowners to refinance mortgages at lower rates is creating a boom in the home lending business, prompting banks to hire thousands of new employees and put them to work on extra shifts to process mountains of paper. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/285792b6-3fea-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

Geithner says financial system healing By Sarah O’Connor in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 15:07 | Last updated: May 13 2009 15:07 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/eac791ea-3fc5-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

Banks raise $7.5bn to repay Tarp funds By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 11 2009 14:16 | Last updated: May 11 2009 15:02 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/501b4b9a-3e2c-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

BofA raises $7.3bn from CCB stake By Sundeep Tucker in Hong Kong. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 09:12 | Last updated: May 12 2009 11:58 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dfb8025e-3eca-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

Money market rates fall to pre-Lehman levels By David Oakley, Capital Markets Correspondent. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 12:16 | Last updated: May 13 2009 12:16. Key money market rates have fallen below levels seen before Lehman Brothers collapsed in September as confidence tentatively returns. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b2ed1204-3fa2-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Shareholder duties. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 10 2009 19:33 | Last updated: May 10 2009 19:33. Shareholders do not hibernate; they aestivate. When things are hot, they go to sleep. It is when winter sets in that they wake up. The current economic chill has spurred shareholders into action. It would be a shame if spring, when it arrives, lulls them back into slumber. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4bdeb234-3d90-11de-a85e-00144feabdc0.html

Temasek sells entire stake in BofA - Move brings end to unprofitable investment By John Burton in Singapore. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 15 2009 04:47 | Last updated: May 15 2009 19:18. Temasek Holdings, the Singapore state investment company, has pulled out of its investment in Bank of America, selling its 3.8 per cent stake in the US group. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e8496f42-4100-11de-8f18-00144feabdc0.html

Banks Brace for Credit Card Write-Offs By ERIC DASH and ANDREW MARTIN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 10, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/business/11credit.html?th&emc=th

New York Times Editorial: New Rules for Derivatives. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 14, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/opinion/15fri1.html?th&emc=th

Regulator expects bank chiefs to lose jobs By Francesco Guerrera and Nicole Bullock in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 16 2009 00:10 | Last updated: May 16 2009 00:10. A US regulator on Friday predicted that chief executives and directors of some of the banks that underwent the stress tests could lose their jobs, in another sign of the government’s desire to have a say in the running of bailed-out companies. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/87c87fce-419f-11de-bdb7-00144feabdc0.html

Citi directors face growing pressure to resign By  Francesco Guerrera  in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 22:30 | Last updated: May 12 2009 22:30. Citigroup came under growing pressure to overhaul its board on Tuesday after it revealed that two long-serving directors survived a shareholder vote largely thanks to a balloting rule that is due to be scrapped. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fa5d5752-3f39-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

In-house fraud cases surge By Robert Cookson in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 10 2009 23:30 | Last updated: May 10 2009 23:30. Fraud committed against companies by their own employees has surged this year, new data suggest, providing fresh evidence that the recession is fuelling a rise in crime. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5a0e284e-3da4-11de-a85e-00144feabdc0.html

Chrysler Plans to Shut One Quarter of Its U.S. Dealers By NICK BUNKLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 14, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/business/15dealers.html?hp

No renewal for 1,100 GM dealers By Bernard Simon in Toronto. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 15 2009 17:33 | Last updated: May 15 2009 17:43 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/65b0890e-416d-11de-bdb7-00144feabdc0.html

BT cuts dividend and 15,000 jobs By Philip Stafford. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 14 2009 07:43 | Last updated: May 14 2009 14:15 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ccc4e94e-404d-11de-8f18-00144feabdc0.html




Commodities

Opec lifts output for first time since July By Carola Hoyos, Chief energy correspondent. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 13:49 | Last updated: May 13 2009 13:49 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f9925cce-3fb5-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

Oil surges to six month high above $60 By Chris Flood and Javier Blas. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 12:12 | Last updated: May 12 2009 14:17 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f257ac62-3edd-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

De Beers woos safe-haven investors - Diamond miner goes head to head with gold By Tom Burgis in Johannesburg. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 15 2009 22:23 | Last updated: May 15 2009 22:23. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f1525262-4172-11de-bdb7-00144feabdc0.html

Russia Stockpiles Diamonds, Awaiting the Return of Demand By ANDREW E. KRAMER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 11, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/business/global/12diamonds.html?hpw

Dollar rebounds as equities falter By Peter Garnham. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 11 2009 11:11 | Last updated: May 11 2009 11:11. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b2cd9980-3e0b-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html


Housing

Slow Start to U.S. Plan for Modifying Mortgages By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 13, 2009. The Obama administration’s plan to help millions of troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure by reducing the size of their mortgage payments is just getting off the ground. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/business/14mortgage.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Despite Housing Bust, Homeownership Among Immigrants Remains Steady By Alejandro Lazo. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, May 12, 2009; 11:05 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/12/AR2009051201208.html?hpid=topnews


GLBT

New Hampshire Pact Near on Same-Sex Marriage By ABBY GOODNOUGH. Published: May 14, 2009. Copyright by The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/15marriage.html?scp=2&sq=new%20hampshire%20gay%20marriage&st=Search

N.Y. Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill By JEREMY W. PETERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/nyregion/13marriage.html?th&emc=th

Is My Marriage Gay? By JENNIFER FINNEY BOYLAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 11, 2009. Deirdre Finney and I were wed in 1988 at the National Cathedral in Washington. In 2000, I started the long and complex process of changing from male to female. Deedie stood by me, deciding that her life was better with me than without me. Maybe she was crazy for doing so; lots of people have generously offered her this unsolicited opinion over the years. But what she would tell you, were you to ask, is that the things that she loved in me have mostly remained the same, and that our marriage, in the end, is about a lot more than what genders we are, or were. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/opinion/12boylan.html?ref=global

The Beauty of Chicken Cutlets By Tara Parker Pope. May 4, 2009, 11:27 AM. Copyright by The ssociated Press. Miss California Carrie Prejean, left, answering a question about same-sex marriage during the Miss USA pageant.
The controversy surrounding Miss California, Carrie Prejean, continues, with state pageant officials admitting that they paid for her surgical breast enhancement. And in an odd twist, pageant officials also offered a glimpse into other ways a pageant contestant might alter her body shape, including the use of “chicken cutlets.” http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/the-beauty-of-chicken-cutlets/?scp=4&sq=miss%20california%20nude%20photois&st=cse

Miss California USA pageant is rocked on its high heels - Miss California USA organizers say Carrie Prejean hijacked the event to spread her views on marriage. By Carla Hall. Copyright by The Los Angeles Times. May 12, 2009 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-misscalifornia12-2009may12,0,3322958.story

Trump says Miss California USA can keep her crown despite uproar By Carla Hall. Copyright by The Los Angeles Times. May 13, 2009 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-miss-california13-2009may13,0,1541974.story

May 12, 2009: The Pageant of the Christ http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=227325&title=The-Pageant-of-the-Christ

Keith Olbermann's WTF!?! Moment: Carrie Prejean [Miss California] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwkTAzcToic

Obama responds to lesbian soldier's letter by TRACY BAIM. Copyright by The Windy City Times. May 13, 2009. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=21121

White House says 'don't ask' policy on gays in military is in early stages of review. Copyright 2009 Associated Press. 10:48 AM CDT, May 10, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-military-gays,0,7584212.story

May 14, 2009: Moral Kombat;: Dan Choi Is Gay http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=227351&title=Moral-Kombat; http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=227352&title=Dan-Choi-Is-Gay

Roman Catholic archbishop who stepped down in disgrace reveals in memoir that he's gay By RACHEL ZOLL. Copyright 2009 Associated Press. 6:12 AM CDT, May 12, 2009. A Roman Catholic archbishop who resigned in 2002 over a sex and financial scandal involving a man describes his struggles with being gay in an upcoming memoir about his decades serving the church. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-rel-gay-archbishop,0,1037554.story

Arrests at Moscow gay parade ahead of Eurovision Song Contest. Copyright by CNN News. May 16, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/05/16/russia.gay.march.eurovision/index.html

'Crack mayor?' Well, excu-u-use me! By Clarence Paige. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 13, 2009. Whoa! I just got off the phone with Marion Barry. He is royally ticked at my earlier blog post. You know, the one headlined "'Crack mayor' sniffs at gay marriage." He didn't like the headline. http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/pagespage/2009/05/crack-mayor-well-excuuuse-me.html


Immigration

Mexican Data Say Migration to U.S. Has Plummeted By JULIA PRESTON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 14, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/15immig.html?_r=1&th&emc=th


Technical

Facebook sets tone in Iran’s electoral contest By Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 00:52 | Last updated: May 13 2009 00:52. As they struggle to compete against an Iranian president who enjoys the support of a powerful state apparatus, leading candidates in June’s election are resorting to Facebook to spread their messages. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/da46ad4e-3f19-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

Under Pressure, Craigslist to Remove ‘Erotic’ Ads By BRAD STONE. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: May 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/technology/companies/14craigslist.html?th&emc=th

Europe Fines Intel a Record $1.45 Billion in Antitrust Case By JAMES KANTER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 13, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/business/global/14compete.html?_r=1&hp

A Ruling Against Intel, Unlikely to Drag It Down By ASHLEE VANCE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 13, 2009. European regulators have spent close to nine years investigating whether Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, illegally hampered competitors in its dealings with computer makers and retailers. And on Wednesday, they finally reached a conclusion, punishing Intel with a record fine of 1.06 billion euros ($1.45 billion) for abusing its dominant position in the computer chip market. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/technology/business-computing/14chip.html?th&emc=th

AirTran to have Wi-Fi on all flights this summer By Julie Johnsson. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. 8:42 AM CDT, May 12, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-air-tran-wireless-internet-may12,0,5545703.story

Data, Not Design, Is King in the Age of Google By MIGUEL HELFT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 9, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/business/10ping.html?th&emc=th

The Twitter Guys By JAMIE DIAMOND. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 8, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/fashion/10nite.html?th&emc=th


Medical

New York Times Editorial: Reminders on Health Reform. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 12, 2009. Lawmakers who were paying attention got two powerful reminders this week of the critical need for them to pass the strongest possible reforms to bring down health costs and cover the unconscionable number of Americans — more than 45 million — who remain uninsured. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/opinion/13wed1.html?th&emc=th

Obama hails plan to cut healthcare bill By Andrew Ward in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 11 2009 18:08 | Last updated: May 11 2009 23:50. Barack Obama on Monday welcomed proposals by the US healthcare industry to reduce costs by $2,000bn during the next 10 years, as efforts to overhaul the health system gathered pace in Washington. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/27b0d234-3e4e-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

Obama says House eyes July healthcare bill. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 13 2009 15:52 | Last updated: May 13 2009 15:52 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/778340be-3fcd-11de-9ced-00144feabdc0.html

Recession Drains Social Security and Medicare By ROBERT PEAR. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 12, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/us/politics/13health.html?th&emc=th

FDA warns Cheerios over health claims By Jonathan Birchall in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 23:52 | Last updated: May 12 2009 23:52 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cfec4710-3f45-11de-ae4f-00144feabdc0.html

Chicago Tribune Editorial: Birth control for guys. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 10, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0510edit2may10,0,1371615.story

Cancer Patients Challenge the Patenting of a Gene By JOHN SCHWARTZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 12, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/health/13patent.html?th&emc=th


Other

Blackhawks beat Vancouver Canucks 7-5, advance to conference finals - Kane notches hat trick as Hawks whip Luongo, send Canucks on summer vacation By Chris Kuc. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 12, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/chi-12-blackhawks-canucks-chicagmay12,0,828062.story

Geffen sets sights on New York Times By Matthew Garrahan in Los Angeles and Kenneth Li and Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 12 2009 00:33 | Last updated: May 12 2009 00:33. David Geffen, the former record executive who made an offer for the Los Angeles Times two years ago, now wants to buy the New York Times, according to people close to the situation. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c35770aa-3e83-11de-9a6c-00144feabdc0.html

American Airlines revamps frequent-flier program - Finding flights, booking one-way or multicity travel, to be easier with new AAdvantage, officials say By Julie Johnsson. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 11, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-frequent-flier-aa-0511-may11,0,4213971.story

Father Cutié's Indulgences BY DAVID WATERS. Copyright by The Washington Post. MAY 8, 2009; 3:24 PM ET. A few days before he was caught indulging himself with an attractive woman on a South Florida beach, the now-dismissed Rev. Albert Cutié told a TV interviewer that he thinks all Catholic priests should have the option to marry. "If they want to discipline me, let them discipline me, but I think the option would be better and healthier." A good point, Father, even in retrospect. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/05/father_curies_indulgences.html?hpid=talkbox1



Humor

Saturday Night Live - Digital Short: Motherlover - Video - NBC.com (R Rated) http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-motherlover-uncensored/1103443/

The Bar Jar http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/05/bar-jar.html

Charlie Brooker on the American News Media. Funny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aEk864YrKw


New! Carlos now has an online store. Order your books directly from Carlos and have them signed and dedicated.http://www.carlostmock.com/catalog/



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