Road to recovery Newsletter - May 30, 2009

“Global stocks rose again on Friday, capping their longest winning streak since the start of the financial crisis, as news from Japan and India raised hopes that the global recession might be nearing an end.” David Oakley in London, Mure Dickie in Tokyo and Amy Kazmin in New Delhi.

Recovery hopes lift global stocks - Longest winning streak since crisis By David Oakley in London, Mure Dickie in Tokyo and Amy Kazmin in New Delhi. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 29 2009 19:45 | Last updated: May 29 2009 22:21 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9725adce-4c7c-11de-a6c5-00144feabdc0.html

US hopes of ‘green shoots’ lift confidence - House prices remain in free-fall By Sarah O’Connor in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 26 2009 15:18 | Last updated: May 26 2009 15:18. US consumer confidence has surged to its highest level since September last year, giving stock markets a fillip on both sides of the Atlantic. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/01e7bf52-49fe-11de-8e7e-00144feabdc0.html

India’s GDP grows faster than expected By Amy Kazmin in New Delhi. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 29 2009 06:49 | Last updated: May 29 2009 13:09 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5cbe61a2-4c14-11de-a6c5-00144feabdc0.html

Opec bets on recovery to boost price By Javier Blas in Vienna. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 08:31 | Last updated: May 28 2009 18:06. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries delivered on Thursday its most optimistic message about the global economy and the oil market since the start of the financial crisis last summer triggered a precipitous fall in prices from a record $150 a barrel to $30. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7c3b46ee-4b56-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html

Recovery not as easy as U, V, W - If I consult my shorthand notebook I find that the economic rebound will be ‘bank-shaped By Gillian Tett. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 20:09 | Last updated: May 28 2009 20:09. Are you expecting a “V” shaped recovery this summer? Or do you anticipate a scenario more like a “U” or a “W”? That is the question I have been asked repeatedly this month, as the debate about “green shoots” roars on. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/303ab4a8-4bb2-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html

Eurozone economic sentiment improves By Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt and Bertrand Benoit in Berlin. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 11:02 | Last updated: May 28 2009 11:55. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c7e58f14-4b6a-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html


International

N Korea stages nuclear test - Security Council to meet. By Christian Oliver in Seoul, Fiona Harvey in Copenhagen, and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 25 2009 04:13 | Last updated: May 25 2009 11:46 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e61fdbee-48d9-11de-8870-00144feabdc0.html

New York Times Editorial:The Test Ban Treaty. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2009. Nearly 17 years ago, after more than 1,000 explosions, the United States conducted its last underground nuclear test. President George H. W. Bush, following Russia and France, announced a voluntary moratorium and the other major nuclear powers — Britain and China — made the same pledge with more or less enthusiasm. Since then, 180 countries have signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/opinion/25mon1.html?th&emc=th

Financial Times Editorial Comment: De-fang Pyongyang. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 26 2009 19:57 | Last updated: May 26 2009 19:57. The nuclear club is getting less exclusive by the day. Admittedly, North Korea is not a fully paid-up member yet. In spite of its Hiroshima-sized blast this week, it has not yet demonstrated it can make a warhead sufficiently small to mount on a long-range missile. But that day cannot be far off. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a5b221f8-4a22-11de-8e7e-00144feabdc0.html

US weighs options to tackle N Korea - Obama expected to push for tough UN action By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 26 2009 18:48 | Last updated: May 26 2009 18:48 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16fb8932-4a1c-11de-8e7e-00144feabdc0.html

In Defiance, North Korea Is Said to Test More Missiles By CHOE SANG-HUN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/world/asia/27korea.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

North Korea Threatens Military Strikes on South By CHOE SANG-HUN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/asia/28korea.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

South Korea and U.S. Raise Military Alert Level By CHOE SANG-HUN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/world/asia/29korea.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Gates signals tougher approach to N Korea - US will hold Pyongyang ‘fully accountable’ for nuclear programme By Demetri Sevastopulo in Singapore. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 30 2009 12:46 | Last updated: May 30 2009 12:46 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f2f170ba-4d0e-11de-b475-00144feabdc0.html

Eurozone inflation falls to zero By Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 29 2009 11:16 | Last updated: May 29 2009 11:16 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f432a184-4c36-11de-a6c5-00144feabdc0.html


China

China stuck in ‘dollar trap’ - Purchases of US bonds at record high By Jamil Anderlini in Beijing. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 24 2009 23:30 | Last updated: May 24 2009 23:30. China’s official foreign exchange manager is still buying record amounts of US government bonds, in spite of Beijing’s increasingly vocal fear of a dollar collapse, according to officials and analysts. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5b47c8f8-488c-11de-8870-00144feabdc0.html


Mess-o-potamia

Iran blocks Facebook as election looms By Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Isfahan. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 24 2009 20:23 | Last updated: May 24 2009 20:23. Iran has blocked access to Facebook after thousands of young supporters of Mir- Hossein Moussavi, a leading presidential hopeful, began using the social networking internet site to promote his campaign. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d583c956-488b-11de-8870-00144feabdc0.html

Iran Said to Execute Three Over Mosque Bombing. Copyright By REUTERS. Published: May 30, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/05/30/world/news-us-iran-explosion.html?ref=global-home

US military chief hints at softer Iran stance - 3-year timeframe envisaged on bomb By Krishna Guha in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 24 2009 20:23 | Last updated: May 24 2009 20:23 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6877b51a-4896-11de-8870-00144feabdc0.html

For Displaced Iraqis, 'No Life' - Camp Residents in Kurdish No Man's Land Are Left Without Aid By Nada Bakri. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, May 24, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/23/AR2009052301786.html?hpid=topnews

Fate of Iraqis Gone Missing Haunts Those Left Behind By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS and SUADAD AL-SALHY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2009. During the worst of Iraq’s sectarian violence three years ago, Anam Diham’s 13-year-old son went out to buy vegetables one afternoon. He never returned. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/world/middleeast/25missing.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

U.S. Soldier and 11 Iraqis Die in Attacks By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 29, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/world/middleeast/30iraq.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Fatal blast rocks Pakistan’s second city - Suicide attack in Lahore kills at least 35 By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 27 2009 07:18 | Last updated: May 27 2009 12:20 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8a059bf2-4a85-11de-87c2-00144feabdc0.html

Fresh bomb attacks strike Peshawar By Farhan Bokhari in Peshawar and news agencies. Published: May 28 2009 09:02 | Last updated: May 28 2009 16:31. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0f37a024-4b5b-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html

Israel clears outposts after US pressure By Tobias Buck in Jerusalem and Reuters in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 03:00 | Last updated: May 28 2009 08:15 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/67890704-4b1f-11de-87c2-00144feabdc0.html

Israel defies US demand on settlements By Daniel Dombey in Washington and Tobias Buck in Jerusalem. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 19:17 | Last updated: May 29 2009 00:28. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/17086516-4bb2-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html

Obama Pushes Israel On Settlement Issue - Palestinians Also Urged to Boost Security By Glenn Kessler. Copyright by The Washington Post
Friday, May 29, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/28/AR2009052803771.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

National

Sotomayor nominated for Supreme Court - Obama picks first Hispanic nominee By Andrew Ward and Edward Luce in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 26 2009 14:16 | Last updated: May 26 2009 17:18 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9ac79c4a-49f6-11de-8e7e-00144feabdc0.html

Obama Hails Sotomayor as ‘Inspiring’ By PETER BAKER and JEFF ZELENY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/us/politics/27court.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

For Sotomayor, Humble Beginnings to High Court Pick By Keith B. Richburg. Copyright by The Washington Post. Tuesday, May 26, 2009; 2:32 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052600914.html?hpid=topnews

New York Times Editorial: The New Justice. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2009. President Obama seems to have made an inspired choice in picking Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. She has an impressive judicial record, a stellar academic background and a compelling life story. Judge Sotomayor would also be a trailblazing figure in the mold of Thurgood Marshall, becoming the first member of the nation’s large and growing but still under-represented Hispanic population to serve on the court. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/opinion/27wed1.html?th&emc=th

Washington Post Editorial: The President's Pick. Kudos, and some questions, for Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, May 27, 2009. THERE IS MUCH to admire in the achievements of Sonia Sotomayor, the New York judge tapped by President Obama to fill a Supreme Court vacancy created by the impending retirement of Justice David H. Souter. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052602846.html

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Obama sidesteps the culture wars. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 27 2009 19:22 | Last updated: May 27 2009 19:22. The extent to which the US relies on its courts to settle the most contested questions – segregation, abortion and the rights of individuals against the state – means that Barack Obama’s first Supreme Court nomination marks a defining moment for his presidency. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1ab5858e-4ae7-11de-87c2-00144feabdc0.html

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Sotomayor's life story matters. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. May 27, 2009. The extent to which the US relies on its courts to settle the most contested questions – segregation, abortion and the rights of individuals against the state – means that Barack Obama’s first Supreme Court nomination marks a defining moment for his presidency. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1593299,CST-EDT-edit27b.article

Some Republicans rebuke Limbaugh, Gingrich on Sotomayor criticism - Accusations that the Latina Supreme Court nominee is racist can only hurt the party, say GOP members who advocate a more civil debate. By Janet Hook. Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times. May 30, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-sotomayor30-2009may30,0,442813.story

Right goes berserk over Judge Sonia By Clarence Page. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 28, 2009. Are they serious? It is hilarious to see how quickly the same folks who accuse liberals of shouting “racist” too much jump -- Leap! -- at any chance to return the disfavor. http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/pagespage/2009/05/right-goes-berserk-over-judge-sonia.html

Sotomayor’s Focus on Race Issues May Be Hurdle By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 29, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/us/politics/30affirm.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Alito: Have to Consider Life Experiences when Ruling Cases http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfyZWnQVnQ


GOP Bashing

Guantánamo Closing Hands Republicans a Wedge Issue By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2009. If there was one thing both presidential candidates agreed on last fall, it was the need to close the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. But almost as soon as President Obama took office and ordered the camp shuttered within a year, Congressional Republicans — including his former opponent, Senator John McCain of Arizona — saw a singular political opportunity. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/us/politics/24gitmo.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Analysis: Powell flap gets GOP to ask 'What kind of party are we?' By John Helton. Copyright by CNN News. May 26, 2009. Colin Powell stirred up the Republican Party's very public internal debate about the direction of the party and asserted it's losing because it doesn't appeal to moderates like him. The Republican Party is losing "men, woman, white, blacks and Hispanics," says Colin Powell. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/25/colin.powell.moderate.voice/index.html

Still a Republican, Powell Urges Party to Become More Inclusive By Karen DeYoung. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, May 24, 2009; 12:59 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/24/AR2009052400863.html?hpid=topnews

How Is Cheney Wrong? Let Me Count the Ways By Ruth Marcus. Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, May 27, 2009; 5:52 PM. Some people think we're paying too much attention to former Vice President Dick Cheney. I think we may be paying too little. As bracing as last week's Obama-Cheney face-off was, the inevitable focus was on the current president, not the former vice. And for those of us who are relieved he's out of office, there's a tendency to treat Cheney with "there he goes again" ennui. Yet Cheney's speech at the American Enterprise Institute was so chockfull of faulty arguments and rank misrepresentations that it's worth taking the time to review them, in their multiple incarnations. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052702961.html

SNL's Dick Cheney: 'A legacy to protect' http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/05/snls_dick_cheney_a_legacy_to_p.html

New York Times Editorial: KBR Does It Again. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2009. Far from suffering for its shoddy military contracting in Iraq, Congressional investigators have found that KBR Inc. was awarded $83 million in performance bonuses. Even worse, more than half came after Pentagon investigators linked faulty KBR wiring to the electrocution of four soldiers intent on relaxation. One soldier died taking a shower and another in a swimming pool. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/opinion/24sun3.html?ref=global

Chicagoland

Chicago Sun Times Editorial: Why isn't Quinn fighting as ethics reforms die? Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times. May 28, 2009 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1595902,CST-EDT-edit28a.article

I'm a reformer . . . get me out of here! BY CAROL MARIN. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. May 24, 2009. Prime time producers at NBC are missing the boat. They should be camped out in Springfield next week, home of the Illinois Legislature, plotting their next pilot. http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1588368,CST-EDT-carol24.article

Chicago Sun Times Editorial: Sure, stick it to Blago, but pass reform first. Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times. May 26, 2009. Good to know our boys and girls in Springfield can spring into action when it counts. Look no further than the bill the state Legislature passed last week to go after any money disgraced former Gov. Blagojevich makes from his notoriety if he's convicted. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1590816,CST-EDT-edit26a.article

Chicago Tribune Editorial - No tax hike before reform. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 29, 2009. Chicago Democrats who run the Illinois legislature evidently know they're heading down a bad road. Their attempt to engineer a huge income tax increase, even as they fuss and fume over citizens' demands for a reformed political culture, has marooned them. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-0529edit1may29,0,7102322.story

Kennedy ups the stakes in Senate race BY LAURA WASHINGTON. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. May 25, 2009. The price of poker in the 2010 Illinois Democratic U.S. Senate primary just went up. Chris Kennedy's anticipated jump into the fray has seriously raised the ante. Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' $1.1 million piggy bank won't come close to covering the table stakes. Roland Burris, the current Senate seat holder, has stashed away $845, according to his most recent quarterly report. That won't even cover another line on his tombstone. Unfortunately for Burris, his ego dwarfs his bank account. http://www.suntimes.com/news/washington/1589802,CST-EDT-laura25.article

Burris-Blagojevich Ties Come to Life in Transcript By MONICA DAVEY and KAREN ANN CULLOTTA. Copyright by the New York Times. Published: May 26, 2009. A transcript of a secretly recorded telephone call released on Tuesday revealed the degree to which Roland W. Burris aggressively and openly pursued an appointment to the United States Senate with those close to Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois, who went on to appoint Mr. Burris last year before he was removed from the job. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/us/politics/27burris.html?th&emc=th

Chicago Tribune Editorial - Ending 'pay to play'. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 29, 2009. With so many important anti-corruption reforms faltering in Springfield, you may have missed one that didn't. That would be a sweeping overhaul of the state's purchasing system, the heart of corrupt pay-to-play politics. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-0529edit2may29,0,7495539.story

Ald. Carothers, developer accused of corruption By Jeff Coen. Copyright by The Chicago Tribune. May 28, 2009 3:17 PM. Isaac Carothers (29th), a staunch ally of Mayor Richard Daley, was indicted today on charges he accepted about $40,000 in improvements to his residence as well as meals and tickets to sporting events in exchange for backing a major project by a developer. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/05/us-indictment-of-elected-official-expected.html?track=email-alert-breakingnews

Chicago Sun Times Editorial: Demand city end political hiring. Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times. May 26, 2009. For four years, a federal monitor has overseen the City of Chicago's hiring practices, dutifully reporting significant good news and far too much bad news. Her most recent report, in March, accused the city of backsliding in its efforts to reform its practices. Clout, she suggested, still influences a supposedly clout-free hiring process http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1590817,CST-EDT-edit26b.article

Chicago parking meltdown: Malfunctioning machines send drivers, ticket writers and lease firm officials scrambling - Parking box meltdown sends motorists, cops and leasing company into scramble mode By Dan Mihalopoulos and Hal Dardick. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 28, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-parking-meters-broken-28may28,0,4070412.story

Chicago Sun Times Editorial: Throw out U. of I.'s clout admission list. Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times. May 30, 2009 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1599184,CST-EDT-edit31.article

Feds investigate city pension investments in firm tied to Daley nephew By Dan Mihalopoulos and Steve Mills. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 30, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-daley-nephew-pension-30may30,0,5092601.story

Medical marijuana pilot gets OK from state Senate By Monique Garcia and Rick Pearson. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 28, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-illinois-medical-marijuana-2may28,0,3378342.story


Your Lack of Money

Exploding debt threatens America - S&P’s sovereign rating outlook for the UK is also a wake-up call for a US government with spiralling borrowings By John Taylor. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 26 2009 20:48 | Last updated: May 26 2009 20:48 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/71520770-4a2c-11de-8e7e-00144feabdc0.html

US economy contracts by 5.7% - Corporate profits surge in first quarter By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 29 2009 14:20 | Last updated: May 29 2009 14:20 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c50aaf66-4c48-11de-a6c5-00144feabdc0.html

GM and Magna reach deal on Opel - Germany to provide financial backing By Bertrand Benoit in Berlin and John Reed in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 29 2009 15:49 | Last updated: May 30 2009 10:34 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6efc6ae6-4c5d-11de-a6c5-00144feabdc0.html

New G.M. Plan Gets Support From Key Bondholders By MICHAEL J. de la MERCED and MICHELINE MAYNARD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/business/29auto.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Toyota knocked as suppliers’ top customer - Car parts makers pressed to lower prices By Bernard Simon in Toronto. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 25 2009 03:38 | Last updated: May 25 2009 03:38. Toyota is no longer the darling of North American car parts makers, according to an annual survey of relations between vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/740b9064-4886-11de-8870-00144feabdc0.html

Visteon files for bankruptcy protection - Former Ford supplier goes into Chapter 11 By John Reed, Motor Industry Correspondent. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 07:19 | Last updated: May 28 2009 07:19 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bd756ca0-4b4e-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html

Southwest to let small pets fly in cabin for $75 - Southwest also plans to outfit its airport terminals with areas where animals can relieve themselves. By Julie Johsson. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. 8:39 AM CDT, May 29, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-southwest-airlines-pets-fly-for-75-may29,0,5143062.story

UK rules help Virgin Atlantic profit By Kevin Done and Philip Stafford. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 26 2009 09:19 | Last updated: May 26 2009 20:41. Virgin Atlantic, the UK long-haul airline controlled by Sir Richard Branson, said its pre-tax profits had almost doubled last year – but the results were helped by its status as a private company and the rules under which it reports its accounts. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c1d79142-49c8-11de-8e7e-00144feabdc0.html




Commodities

U.S. Weighs Single Agency to Regulate Banking Industry - Plan Is Key Facet of Sweeping Overhaul By Binyamin Appelbaum and Zachary A. Goldfarb. Copyright by The Washington Post . Thursday, May 28, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052703654.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Saudi minister sees oil demand rising - Naimi: world can cope with $75-$80 oil By Javier Blas in Vienna. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 27 2009 09:02 | Last updated: May 27 2009 11:33. Global oil demand is picking up, supported by higher consumption in China, driving oil prices higher, Ali Naimi, Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, said on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s Opec meeting in Vienna. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0327ac08-4a92-11de-87c2-00144feabdc0.html

Rise in taxes on US petrol ‘not feasible’ - US energy secretary alters stance on fuel policy By Carola Hoyos, Fiona Harvey and Clive Cookson in London. Published: May 27 2009 22:29 | Last updated: May 28 2009 00:44. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Steven Chu, US secretary of energy, on Wednesday said that it would not be politically feasible for the country to lower its reliance on oil by raising petrol prices to Europe’s levels through higher taxes or regulation. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9f4df87e-4b02-11de-87c2-00144feabdc0.html

Oil prices hit six-month high - On course for biggest monthly gain in 10 years By Javier Blas in Vienna. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 29 2009 11:35 | Last updated: May 29 2009 11:35 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/052adb00-4c37-11de-a6c5-00144feabdc0.html



Housing

Job Losses Push Safer Mortgages to Foreclosure By PETER S. GOODMAN and JACK HEALY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 24, 2009. As job losses rise, growing numbers of American homeowners with once solid credit are falling behind on their mortgages, amplifying a wave of foreclosures. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/business/economy/25foreclose.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

New home sales and prices tick up in April - US jobless claims ease while durable goods orders rise By Alan Rappeport in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 14:30 | Last updated: May 28 2009 16:49 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ff5053f2-4b7f-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html

Mortgage rates spike on higher yields on Treasuries By Michael Oneal. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. 9:47 AM CDT, May 28, 2009. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mortgage-rates-may28,0,148534.story

Amid Housing Bust, Phoenix Begins a New Frenzy By DAVID STREITFELD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2009. Every weekday morning, Lou Jarvis drives the sun-baked suburban streets looking for investment gold: a family that will lose its house in a foreclosure auction within a few hours. If the property looks promising, Mr. Jarvis puts in a bid on behalf of any of his dozens of clients eager to become landlords. When he wins, he offers to let the family stay in the house and rent for much less than their mortgage payment. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/business/24phoenix.html?th&emc=th


GLBT

La Cage aux Democrats By FRANK RICH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2009. THE most potent word in our new president’s lexicon — change — has been heard much less since his inspiring campaign gave way to the hard realities of governing. But on Tuesday night, the irresistible Obama brand made an unexpected and pointed cameo appearance on America’s most popular television show, “American Idol.” In the talent competition’s climactic faceoff, the song picked for one of the two finalists, Adam Lambert, was Sam Cooke’s soul classic, “A Change Is Gonna Come.” This is increasingly the live-and-let-live society we inhabit — particularly younger America. In a Times/CBS News poll in April, 57 percent of those under 40 supported same-sex marriage. The approval figure for all ages (42 percent) has nearly doubled in just five years. On Tuesday the California Supreme Court will render its opinion on that state’s pox on gay marriage, Proposition 8. Since Prop 8 passed last fall, four states have legalized gay marriage and New Hampshire is about to. This rapid change has been greeted not by a backlash, but by a national shrug — just as a seemingly gay “American Idol” victory most likely would have been. And yet the changes aren’t coming as fast as many gay Americans would like, and as our Bill of Rights would demand. Especially in Washington. Despite Barack Obama’s pledges as a candidate and president, there is no discernible movement on repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy or the Defense of Marriage Act. Both seem more cruelly discriminatory by the day. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/opinion/24rich.html?th&emc=th

California Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage By JOHN SCHWARTZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/us/27marriage.html?ref=global-home

New York Times Editorial: A Setback for Equality Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 26, 2009. The California Supreme Court got it terribly wrong Tuesday. It upheld Proposition 8, a state constitutional change on last fall’s ballot intended to prohibit marriage by couples of the same sex. In addition to denying basic fairness to gay people, the court’s 6-to-1 ruling sets an unfortunate legal precedent that could allow the existing rights of any targeted minority to be diminished using the Election Day initiative process. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/opinion/27wed2.html?th&emc=th

Washington Post Editorial: Proposition 8 Stands. California's highest court rules that the voters have the right to be wrong. Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, May 27, 2009. THE JUDGES of the California Supreme Court ruled yesterday that they can be overruled by the people of their state. That's the import of their 6 to 1 decision upholding Proposition 8, which bars same-sex marriage. They're probably right on the law, but the outcome is wrong as a matter of fairness, and our guess is that the people of California will reconsider before too long. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052602800.html

After California ruling, will more states favor same-sex marriage? By Ed Hornick. Copyright by CNN News. May 26, 2009. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- While California's Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a ban on same-sex marriages that voters voters passed in November, the fight will undoubtedly go forward. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/same.sex.states/index.html

Bush v. Gore Foes Join to Fight Gay Marriage Ban By JESSE McKINLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 27, 2009. SAN FRANCISCO — The David and Ted show is back in business. Eight and a half years after their epic partisan battle over the fate of the 2000 presidential election, the lawyers David Boies and Theodore B. Olson appeared on the same team on Wednesday as co-counsel in a federal lawsuit that has nothing to do with hanging chads, butterfly ballots or Electoral College votes. Their mutual goal: overturning Proposition 8, California’s freshly affirmed ban on same-sex marriage. It is a fight that jolted many gay rights advocates — and irritated more than a few — but that Mr. Boies and Mr. Olson said was important enough to, temporarily at least, set aside their political differences. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/us/28marriage.html?th&emc=th

Diplomats’ Same-Sex Partners to Get Benefits By MARK LANDLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2009. WASHINGTON — The State Department will offer equal benefits and protections to same-sex partners of American diplomats, according to an internal memorandum Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sent last week to an association of gay and lesbian Foreign Service officers. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/us/24benefit.html?th&emc=th

LGBTs upset over possible new alderman by Andrew Davis. Copyright by Windy City Times. 2009-05-27. http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/05/lgbts-upset-over-possible-new-alderman.html




Law

Spain's Judges Cross Borders In Rights Cases - High-Ranking U.S. Officials Among Targets of Inquiries By Craig Whitlock. Copyright by The Washington Post Sunday, May 24, 2009. MADRID -- Spanish judges are boldly declaring their authority to prosecute high-ranking government officials in the United States, China and Israel, among other places, delighting human rights activists but enraging officials in the countries they target and triggering a political backlash in a nation uncomfortable acting as the world's conscience. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/23/AR2009052301795.html?hpid=topnews




Religion

Religious heritage no bar to civil unions BY MARTHA C. NUSSBAUM. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. May 24, 2009. As the Illinois Legislature debates a bill to legalize same-sex civil unions, H.B. 2234, one anxiety often expressed is that the passage of this bill would insult our religious heritage -- signaling the triumph of secular thought, and the sexual revolution, over Judeo-Christian values. How should defenders of the bill respond to this argument? First, it's important to recognize that this is not an issue where religion is on one side, secular thought on another. Religions in America are deeply divided over same-sex unions. My own denomination, Reform Judaism, strongly supports same-sex marriage, as do Conservative and Reconstructionist Judaism, Unitarian Universalism and a number of smaller denominations. http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1588531,CST-EDT-open24.article



Technical

New York Times Editorial: Protecting Electronic Data. Copyright by New York Times. Published: May 24, 2009. In 2005, ChoicePoint, a data broker, gave access to personal information about more than 140,000 people to criminals posing as businesspeople. Since that widely publicized security breach, many states have passed laws protecting consumer information, but Congress still has not come through. Now, the House is considering a bill to require greater security for personal data. Consumers deserve this sort of protection. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/opinion/25mon2.html?th&emc=th

Obama responds to cyber threat - New post to co-ordinate plans By Joseph Menn in San Francisco and Daniel Dombey in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 29 2009 19:43 | Last updated: May 30 2009 00:12. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/510b7792-4c7c-11de-a6c5-00144feabdc0.html

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Revolutionbook. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 27 2009 19:11 | Last updated: May 27 2009 19:11. American schoolchildren still learn “Paul Revere’s Ride”: a piece of dramatic verse recounting the silversmith’s crucial mission at the start of the American War of Independence. Poets writing about future freedom fighters may need to find a word that rhymes with “Facebook”. Iran has reversed a ban, imposed last week, on the social networking site, now a rallying point for opposition supporters. The internet is starting to change politics, even in closed societies. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2352fa28-4ae7-11de-87c2-00144feabdc0.html

Facebook gets $200m from Russian group By David Gelles in San Francisco. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 26 2009 18:01 | Last updated: May 26 2009 18:01 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e18721a0-4a14-11de-8e7e-00144feabdc0.html

Microsoft and Google face off over innovation - Battle for search engine market By Richard Waters in San Francisco and Joseph Menn in Carlsbad, California. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 21:41 | Last updated: May 28 2009 21:41 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9acf4ff2-4bc3-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html

Microsoft’s Search for a Name Ends With a Bing By MIGUEL HELFT. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/technology/internet/29bing.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Dell, Its Quarterly Earnings Down 63%, Predicts Recovery By ASHLEE VANCE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 28, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/technology/companies/29dell.html?th&emc=th

Time Warner to spin off AOL by year-end - Curtain falls on disastrous merger By Kenneth Li Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Published: May 28 2009 13:44 | Last updated: May 28 2009 17:56 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/787039f2-4b83-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html


Medical

Where Life’s Start Is a Deadly Risk By DENISE GRADY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 23, 2009. Death in Birth - Preventable Losses. More than half a million women a year die during pregnancy and in childbirth, largely from problems that can be treated or prevented. This is the first of three articles on efforts to lower the death rate in one African country, Tanzania. BEREGA, Tanzania — The young woman had already been in labor for two days by the time she reached the hospital here. Now two lives were at risk, and there was no choice but to operate and take the baby right away. LEFT BEHIND A father holds his baby after his wife died in childbirth in Moshi. “Too many die, too young,” said a doctor worried about maternal deaths. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/health/24birth.html?th&emc=th



Other

Prince Harry, in His Mother’s Footsteps By RALPH BLUMENTHAL. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: May 29, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/nyregion/30prince.html?th&emc=th


Humor

Jay Leno says good night to late night - Last show monologue thanks all who made the last 17 years possible -- Michael Jackson, Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton ... By Greg Braxton. Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune. May 30, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0530-jay-lenomay30,0,2972333.story

This Cat? Man, He Scratches A Powerful Itch By Garance Franke-Ruta. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, May 24, 2009. Iman Crosson thought he had plenty of time. His spoof video of a rapping Barack Obama was all taped and he just needed to finish the editing, which he planned to wrap up on election night while the votes were being counted. There was just one little glitch. The TV networks called the election at 8 p.m. PST, catching Crosson unprepared. Watching in his Santa Barbara, Calif., apartment, the 27-year-old performer had to scramble. He wanted to post his video as soon as the election was called. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/21/AR2009052104709.html?hpid=topnews

T.I.- Whatever You Like SPOOF! (OBAMA- Whatever I Like) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-yJBsjatW0

T.I. Dead and Gone SPOOF- Barack Obama http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVaiIvcav64

Beyoncé - Single Ladies SPOOF (Barack Obama) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PqI12R8YNU

Jimmy Kimmel Live / Jimmy Plays a Clip of Jewish Jets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvY98WQ5n9g

HOLY FIRE http://iretiredfromnewsletters.blogspot.com/2009/05/holy-fire.html


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