The Toyota Crisis III Newsletter - February 11, 2010

The Toyota Crisis III Newsletter - February 11, 2010

“Toyota Motor Corp. is a global company that symbolizes Japan’s manufacturing might. But now, consumer confidence in the safety of Toyota cars, the very foundation of the company’s international competitiveness, is being badly shaken. Problems with accelerator pedals in popular models in North American and European markets have forced the company to recall millions of vehicles worldwide and suspend production and sales of several models in the United States. These developments have begun to make customers feel less secure about the quality and safety of Toyota’s products. The rapid succession of recalls has tarnished the carmaker’s image, which was cultivated through years of steady effort. The blame for Toyota’s safety woes should fall on the company’s management.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Toyota's Recall Woes. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/opinion/09iht-edtoyota.html?ref=global

Toyota Has Pattern of Slow Response on Safety Issues By JAMES KANTER, MICHELINE MAYNARD and HIROKO TABUCHI. Copyright by The Associated Press. Published: February 6, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/global/07toyota.html?th&emc=th

In Move to Contain Crisis, Toyota Details Hybrid Recall By HIROKO TABUCHI. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/business/global/10recall.html?ref=global-home

Toyota Is Expected to Add 2010 Prius to Recalls By HIROKO TABUCHI. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 7, 2010. TOKYO — Toyota plans to recall at least 311,000 of its 2010 Prius hybrid models after receiving a flurry of complaints about the vehicle’s brakes, a person briefed on the decision said late Sunday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/business/global/08recall.html?th&emc=th

Toyota Prius, Lexus hybrid owners advised to monitor brakes - NHTSA also reviewing complaints about steering problems in some Corollas By Jerry Hirsch. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 9, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sc-biz-0210-toyota--20100209,0,3651435.story

Toyota owners wonder what comes next as values drop - Kelley Blue Book has downgraded its assessments of recalled Toyotas and sellers are finding interest has dried up, even for cars not recalled By Julie Wernau and Kiah Haslett. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 10, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0211-toyota-value--20100210,0,7143375.story

Honda Adds 437, 000 Cars to Recall. Copyright By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Published: February 9, 2010. TOKYO (AP) -- Honda Motor Co. is adding 437,000 vehicles to its 15-month old global recall for faulty airbags in the latest quality problem to hit a Japanese automaker. The company will replace the driver's side air bag inflator on the cars because they can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator to rupture and injure or kill the driver. Japan's No. 2 automaker originally announced the recall to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in November 2008 and the total of number vehicles recalled since then is approaching 1 million. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/09/business/AP-AS-Japan-Honda-Recall.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

With Toyota in Trouble (and also Honda), Rivals Gain By NICK BUNKLEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010. ETROIT — With Toyota stumbling as it recalls more than eight million vehicles for problems, its rivals are seeing a rare opportunity to take back some market share. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/business/11toyota.html?ref=global-home

Safety Agency Scrutinized as Toyota Recall Grows By ERIC LICHTBLAU and BILL VLASIC. COPYRIGHT BY THE Associated Press. Published: February 9, 2010. In November, top auto safety officials made an unusual request of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. After reviewing complaints about Toyota vehicles, the regulators said they believed the automaker was stalling their inquiries and wanted to go to Japan to stress just how serious their concerns had become. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/business/10safety.html?th&emc=th




International


“The European Union does not handle every crisis well, but it has at times shown a remarkable ability to grit its teeth and stay on course. Reading the euro’s doom in the entrails of market jitters or hectic meetings over Greece’s fiscal woes is mistaken. The euro will survive, and the spectre of a Greek default may even reignite a long-stalled drive towards greater co-operation.” Financial Times Editorial Comment

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Europe decides what union means. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 10 2010 20:06 | Last updated: February 10 2010 20:06 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/64d6c0ba-167a-11df-bf44-00144feab49a.html

Europe Agrees to Aid Greece, but Is Unsure of How to Help By STEPHEN CASTLE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/business/global/11union.html?hpw

European Central Bank in a Squeeze By JACK EWING. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/business/global/08euroecon.html?th&emc=th

Stocks Rally on Hopes of Greek Bailout By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/business/10markets.html?ref=global-home

Greek Civil Servants Strike Over Austerity Measures By DAN BILEFSKY and NIKI KITSANTONIS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/world/europe/11greece.html?ref=global-home

Europeans Discuss Aid for Greek Debt By JACK EWING and DAVID JOLLY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/business/global/10iht-portugal.html?hpwb

Financial Times Editorial Comment: A breakthrough in Northern Ireland. Copyright by The Financial Times. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 7 2010 17:48 | Last updated: February 7 2010 17:48 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5577d0dc-140e-11df-8847-00144feab49a.html

Japanese Split on Exposing Secret Pacts With U.S. By MARTIN FACKLER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010. TOKYO — They were Tokyo’s worst-kept diplomatic secrets: clandestine cold war era agreements with Washington that obligated Japan to shoulder the costs of United States bases and allow nuclear-armed American ships to sail into Japanese ports. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/world/asia/09japan.html?th&emc=th



China


U.S.-China growing pains By Fareed Zakaria. Copyright by The Washington Post. Monday, February 8, 2010. Despite the recent squall in U.S.-Chinese relations, both countries have powerful reasons to cooperate with one another. These have grown over the past two decades, a progression that both countries seem to recognize. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020701896.html

China Overtakes Germany as Top Exporter By JUDY DEMPSEY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/business/global/10export.html?hpw

After Buying Spree, China Owns Stakes in Top U.S. Firms By DAVID BARBOZA and KEITH BRADSHER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010. SHANGHAI — Flush with cash despite the global economic downturn, China’s sovereign wealth fund quietly snapped up more than $9 billion worth of shares last year in some of the biggest American corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/business/global/09invest.html?hpw



Mess-o-potamia


“Over the last four years, the United Nations Security Council has repeatedly demanded that Iran stop producing nuclear fuel. Iran is still churning out enriched uranium and has now told United Nations inspectors that it is raising the level of enrichment — moving slightly closer to bomb-grade quality. President Obama was right to offer to negotiate with Tehran. Washington and its allies were right to look for possible compromises even after Tehran was caught — again — hiding an enrichment plant. Enough is enough. Iran needs to understand that its nuclear ambition comes with a very high cost.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Time’s Up. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/opinion/10wed2.html?th&emc=th

Technical setbacks cause Iran to falter in push to enrich uranium, report says By Joby Warrick and Glenn Kessler. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, February 11, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021003988.html?hpid=topnews

Small Step in Iran’s Nuclear Effort Suggests Ambitions for a Weapon, Experts Say By WILLIAM J. BROAD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/world/middleeast/10iran.html?th&emc=th

U.S. Eyes New Sanctions Over Iran Nuclear Program By HELENE COOPER and MARK LANDLER. COPYRIGHT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. Published: February 9, 2010. WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is working on a series of sanctions that would take aim at the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran, publicly singling out the organization’s vast array of companies, banks and other entities in an effort to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/world/middleeast/10sanctions.html?th&emc=th

Iran Moving to Silence Dissent With Arrests, Analysts Say By MICHAEL SLACKMAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/world/middleeast/10arrests.html?ref=global-home

In Northern Iraq, a Vote Seems Likely to Split By STEVEN LEE MYERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010. QARAQOSH, Iraq — There was a hope, not long ago, that democracy would mean peace and stability for Nineveh, a place where cultures and armies have clashed since biblical times. Instead, democracy is hardening divisions — of people, of resources, of land — in ways that threaten the future of Iraq itself. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/world/middleeast/09nineveh.html?th&emc=th

Avalanches Kill Dozens on Mountain Highway in Afghanistan By ROD NORDLAND. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/world/asia/10avalanche.html?hpw



National


“Two-thirds of Americans are "dissatisfied" or downright "angry" about the way the federal government is working, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. On average, the public estimates that 53 cents of every tax dollar they send to Washington is "wasted." Despite the disapproval of government, few Americans say they know much about the "tea party" movement, which emerged last year and attracted voters angry at a government they thought was spending recklessly and overstepping its constitutional powers. And the new poll shows that the political standing of former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who was the keynote speaker last week at the first National Tea Party Convention, has deteriorated significantly.” Jon Cohen and Philip Rucker.

Poll finds most Americans are unhappy with government By Jon Cohen and Philip Rucker. Copyright by The Washington Post. Thursday, February 11, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021004708.html?hpid=topnews

How to Get Our Democracy Back - If You Want Change, You Have to Change Congress By Lawrence Lessig. Copyright by The Nation. February 22, 2010 http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100222/lessig

What Obama could learn from Bush By Ezra Klein. COPYRIGHT BY THE WASHINGTON POST. February 10, 2010; 12:10 PM ET. Last night, Craig Becker's nomination to the National Labor Relations Board was approved, with 52 senators voting in favor of Becker and 33 voting against him. Wait, sorry, I got that wrong. It was rejected with 52 senators voting in favor of Becker and 33 voting against. How? Well, the filibuster, grasshopper. This led some lions of the Senate to take aim at the practice. "I think [the filibuster] will either fall of its own weight -- it should fall of its own weight -- or it will fall after some massive conflict on the floor," Carl Levin told the Huffington Post. "The reason the filibuster rule has been supported all these years is people have used it responsibly," Pat Leahy said. "This is unprecedented." But the big news is that Barack Obama is finally threatening some recess appointments. Unlike on legislation, the president is not powerless before obstruction of his nominees. He, like most every president before him, can invoke his constitutional right to appoint during a congressional recess. By this point in his term, George W. Bush had recess appointed 10 nominees, including one to the National Labor Relations Board in August of his first year. We're in February of Obama's second, he has more than twice as many nominees held up as Bush did, and he's only threatening his first recess appointment http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/what_obama_could_learn_from_bu.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

Get to Work, Democrats By GARRISON KEILLOR. Copyright by Tribune Media Services. Published: February 10, 2010. It is a large moment for America’s Democrats, learning to stick with a good man through a rough period when the people who crave disillusionment have become disillusioned. It’s like a winter vacation in the Caribbean when it rains buckets and you eat some bad shellfish and a shrieky teenager says you’ve ruined her life forever. You smile, take a shower and organize a volleyball game. You have to work at it. It’s work. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/opinion/11iht-edkeillor.html?hpw

The Article That Has All Of Washington Buzzing! By David Mixner. Copyright by By David Mixner. Feb 9 2010 http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/02/the-article-that-has-all-of-washington-buzzing.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29 Read the original article: A fearsome foursome at: http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/fearsome-foursome.html

Rep. John Murtha dies at 77. Monday, February 08, 2010 By Dennis Roddy and Daniel Malloy. Copyright by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Mr. Murtha was first hospitalized with gallbladder problems in December. He had surgery Jan. 28 at the National Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md. He went home, but was hospitalized two days later when complications developed. According to a source close to Mr. Murtha -- confirming a report in Politico -- doctors inadvertently cut Mr. Murtha's intestine during the laparoscopic surgery, causing an infection. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10039/1034401-100.stm

New York Senate Expels Monserrate Over Assault By JEREMY W. PETERS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010. ALBANY — The State Senate on Tuesday expelled a senator convicted of domestic assault, the first time in nearly a century that the Legislature has forced a member from office. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/nyregion/10hiram.html?hpw


Doctor Is Charged in Death of Jackson By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010. LOS ANGELES — Nearly eight months after Michael Jackson died, his personal physician was charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter for providing him with a powerful anesthetic that was ruled a primary factor in his death. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/us/09jackson.html?th&emc=th

Desperate Search for Victims of Explosion in Connecticut By RAY RIVERA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 7, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/nyregion/08victims.html?th&emc=th


Chicagoland


Mild earthquake rattles Chicago area. February 10, 2010 11:20 AM. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. A mild earthquake shook northern Illinois this morning. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.8-magnitude quake at 3:59:33 a.m. centered in a farm field on Plank Road in Elgin near Hampshire and 3.1 miles underground. Initially, it had reported the magnitude as 4.3 with an epicenter about 5.5 miles east of Sycamore. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/quake-like-tremors-reported-in-western-suburbs.html

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial; County must reform property tax system. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. February 11, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/2041610,CST-EDT-edit11a.article

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial; Beyond doomsday: End most of CTA's free rides. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. February 10, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/2038735,CST-EDT-edit10a.article

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial; Common sense on Asian carp. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. February 10, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/2038732,CST-EDT-edit10b.article

United, American threaten to call off O'Hare expansion talks By Julie Johnsson and John Hilkevitch. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 10:22 a.m. CST, February 10, 2010. An elusive deal on funding the final new runways at O'Hare International Airport finally appeared to be close at hand after years of negotiations, until city officials undermined the agreement, airline officials said Tuesday. Representatives of United and American airlines said city aviation officials caught the carriers off-guard with demands that they consider unreasonable: They planned to hike O'Hare rents and landing fees by millions of dollars, despite the recession and a struggling airline industry. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-ohare-feb09,0,780656.story

Giannoulias lost 18 pounds in campaign, can gain credibility with jobs mantra BY LAURA WASHINGTON. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. February 8, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/2034938,CST-EDT-laura08.article

Cohen quits race for lieutenant governor - Mounting pressure over scandalous past forces him to drop out By Kristen Schorsch. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2010. Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Scott Lee Cohen, a Chicago pawnbroker whose surprise primary win last week was followed by scandalous revelations about his troubled past with a prostitute ex-girlfriend, said Sunday night he would quit as nominee. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-madigan-cohen-criticism-20100207,0,3284935,full.story

Chicago wins cemetery land for new O'Hare runway - Relocation of about 1,200 graves could begin within weeks By Art Barnum. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 8, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/ct-met-0209-ohare-cemetery-20100208,0,7097406.story




Health Care


Revising Book on Disorders of the Mind By BENEDICT CAREY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010. Far fewer children would get a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. “Binge eating disorder” and “hypersexuality” might become part of the everyday language. And the way many mental disorders are diagnosed and treated would be sharply revised. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/health/10psych.html?th&emc=th

F.D.A. to Increase Oversight of Medical Radiation By WALT BOGDANICH and REBECCA R. RUIZ. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010. The federal Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it would take steps to more stringently regulate three of the most potent forms of medical radiation, including increasingly popular CT scans, some of which deliver the radiation equivalent of 400 chest X-rays. The government is focusing on overradiation by CT scans. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/health/policy/10radiation.html?th&emc=th

Once a cesarean section, always a C-section? By Julie Deardroff. Copyright 2010 Chicago Tribune. February 10, 2010. Once a woman has delivered three or more babies by cesarean section -- a surgical cut in the mother's abdominal wall and uterus -- doctors rarely encourage a subsequent vaginal birth. http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2010/02/once-a-cesarean-section-always-a-csection-.html

First lady launches 'Let's Move' campaign aimed at childhood obesity By Katherine Skiba. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. 1:05 p.m. CST, February 9, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-lets-move-campaign-story,0,1711146.story

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial; Hospital-caused infections can, should be prevented. Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times. February 8, 2010 http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/2034930,CST-EDT-edit08b.article

Presurgical breast MRI increases mastectomy rate By Kate Madden Yee. Copyright by AuntMinnie.com. February 4, 2010 http://www.auntminnie.com/print/print.asp?sec=sup⊂=wom&pag=dis&ItemId=89345&printpage=true

Nurse to Stand Trial for Reporting Doctor By KEVIN SACK. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 6, 2010. KERMIT, Tex. — It occurred to Anne Mitchell as she was writing the letter that she might lose her job, which is why she chose not to sign it. But it was beyond her conception that she would be indicted and threatened with 10 years in prison for doing what she knew a nurse must: inform state regulators that a doctor at her rural hospital was practicing bad medicine. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/07nurses.html

New York Times Editorial: Abstinence Education Done Right. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 7, 2010. The ongoing debate over sex education has been rekindled by a provocative new study suggesting that teaching abstinence can delay the start of sexual activity among inner-city youngsters — if it is freed from the moralistic overtones and ideological restrictions that were the hallmark of abstinence-only programs under the Bush administration. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon1.html?th&emc=th

Muffle that snore - How do you stop snoring if it's not related to sleep apnea? Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0203-mayo-snoring-20100203,0,1614233.story



Health Care Reform


Americans still want health-care reform By Ezra Klein. COPYRIGHT BY THE WASHINGTON POST. February 10, 2010; 10:38 AM ET. So, 63 percent of Americans -- that's enough to break a filibuster, you know -- think Congress should keep on trying to pass a comprehensive health-care plan. It turns out that "even Republicans are critical of their congressional leadership, with 44 percent seeing them as doing too little to strike deals with Obama." Only 13 percent of Democrats say Obama has been too slow to strike deals with Republicans. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/americans_still_want_health-ca.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

Ronnie Polaneczky: Parents suing to force insurance firm to cover their ailing son's therapy needs By Ronnie Polaneczky. COPYRIGHT BY THE Philadelphia Daily News. Feb. 9, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/business/personal_finance/20100209_Ronnie_Polaneczky__Parents_suing_to_force_insurance_firm_to_cover_their_ailing_son_s_therapy_needs.html

Obama Plans Bipartisan Summit on Health Care By JEFF ZELENY. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 7, 2010. WASHINGTON — President Obama said Sunday that he would convene a half-day bipartisan health care session at the White House to be televised live this month, a high-profile gambit that will allow Americans to watch as Democrats and Republicans try to break their political impasse. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08webobama.html?th&emc=th

On Health Bill, G.O.P.’s Road Is a New Map By ROBERT PEAR and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010. WASHINGTON — When Republicans take President Obama up on his invitation to hash out their differences over health care this month, they will carry with them a fairly well-developed set of ideas intended to make health insurance more widely available and affordable, by emphasizing tax incentives and state innovations, with no new federal mandates and only a modest expansion of the federal safety net. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/health/policy/09health.html?th&emc=th

Bills Stalled, Hospitals Fear Rising Unpaid Care By REED ABELSON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/health/policy/09hospital.html?th&emc=th



GOP Bashing


“It’s nonsense, of course, but effective. The be-very-afraid approach helped former President George W. Bush ram laws through Congress that chipped away at Americans’ rights. He used it to get re-elected in 2004. Now the Republicans are playing the fear card for the fall elections. The most recent target is the Obama administration’s handling of the failed Christmas Day bomber, particularly its decision (an absolutely correct one) to have the F.B.I. arrest and interrogate the suspect and file federal terrorism charges rather than throw him into a military prison where the Republicans seem to expect that he would be given no rights, questioned and held without charges. Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, suggested — without any evidence — that vital intelligence was lost by that approach. Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, told Politico that he wants to block financing for civilian trials of terrorism suspects so Republicans can brag about it this fall. He said “the core question is whether the attorney general of the United States ought to be in charge of the war on terror.” As Mr. McConnell should know perfectly well, that is not the question at all, core or otherwise. The Obama administration has embraced the idea of using military tribunals for some terrorism suspects. The Christmas bombing suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was arrested in the United States. The American justice system does not allow people arrested in the United States for serious offenses to be detained and held without access to an attorney. It is good that the administration is pushing back.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: The Politics of Fear. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 9, 2010. An election is coming, so the Republicans are trying to scare Americans by making it appear as if the Democrats don’t care about catching or punishing terrorists. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/opinion/10wed1.html?th&emc=th

US attacks UK court over torture claim case By Daniel Dombey in Washington and James Blitz in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 10 2010 21:46 | Last updated: February 11 2010 00:35. The White House has criticised a British court decision to publish secret information about allegations of torture by US officials, stating that the move “will complicate the confidentiality of the intelligence sharing relationship between the UK and US”. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/us-attacks-uk-court-over-torture-claim.html

Republicans mail another 'Census' form By Ed O'Keefe. Copyright by The Washington Post. February 10, 2010; 11:55 AM ET. The National Republican Congressional Committee has sent supporters a mailer with the word "Census" featured prominently throughout the document. Democrats, senior citizen groups, public opinion researchers -- even a former Republican-appointed Census director -- recently criticized a similar mailing by the Republican National Committee, arguing it could confuse elderly Americans on the lookout for the government's decennial census questionnaires. The U.S. Census Bureau will mail the decennial forms next month. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/02/republicans_mail_another_censu.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

Republicans and the politics of No By Clive Crook. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. The change in the Republican party’s prospects has been astonishing. A year ago, analysts were talking of a new Democratic hegemony. Republicans, shut out of the White House and consigned to a minority in Congress, were in disarray. They looked helpless and on the edge of civil war. Published: February 7 2010 17:38 | Last updated: February 7 2010 17:38. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/republicans-and-politics-of-no.html

Let Them Filibuster by David Mixner. Copyright by David Mixner. Feb 5 2010. Brown Well, it is party time for Republicans in Washington, D.C as newly elected Senator Scott Brown takes his seat in the Senate. The GOP is thrilled to have who they call "Senator 41" to block progressive Democratic legislation. Evidently part of the celebration is that no longer do they believe being a majority is sufficient to pass legislation. They clearly have lost ability to count and should get some good math tutors. By using the age old tactic of bringing the business of the nation to a stand still by filibustering, they now can make a majority 60 votes out of 100 instead of 50 as intended by the Constitution of the United States. http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/02/let-them-filibuster.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow: Hope for GOP good faith? '...like trying to teach your dog to drive...' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXZg2cS99b0

From Right of Radio Dial, a Challenge to McCain By JENNIFER STEINHAUER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010. PHOENIX — J. D. Hayworth is a large man, and to compensate for his indulgences, he hits the elliptical trainer every morning at 4, zipping along to an incongruous soundtrack of Elvis Costello, Frank Sinatra and old advertising jingles. Until recently, he would then repair to a local radio station, where he would spend the better part of the day denouncing, in no particular order, illegal immigrants, all things Barack Obama, those who are insufficiently patriotic and, his favorite mark, one John McCain, the senior senator from Arizona. Now, Mr. Hayworth, a former Republican congressman, is preparing to expand his political appetite for Mr. McCain by formally announcing next week what everyone in this state has known for months: his challenge to the senator in the Republican primary in August. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/us/politics/09arizona.html?th&emc=th

“For Republicans, the hope must be to absorb the movement and its energy – as Mrs Palin said the party should – without being carried too far to the right. At best, this might be difficult, especially if the movement starts to press for Republican candidates in its own image. Much worse will be if Mrs Palin co-opts the movement as a base of her own, in preparation for a presidential run. In that event, the Republicans will have more than Mr Obama to contend with this year.” Financial Times Editorial Comment

Financial Times Editorial Comment: Palin’s brewhaha. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 9 2010 22:53 | Last updated: February 9 2010 22:53. The Republican establishment has mixed feelings about the Tea Party movement, and is right to. This populist insurgency is one of the least predictable factors in US politics. Is it a supporting faction of the Republican party or a third force? Will it drive Republicans to a strong showing in November’s mid-term elections or split the opposition to Mr Obama and come to the Democrats’ rescue? http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/financial-times-editorial-comment_10.html

Palin exposes the partyers By Steve Chapman. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 10, 2010.... I'm glad it was she and not I who first used the word "absurd" in relation to a possible Palin bid for the White House. Because if her speech made anything clear, it's that the shallow, ill-informed, truth-twisting demagogue seen in the 2008 presidential campaign is all she is and all she wants to be. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-chapman-0211-20100210,0,5133546.story

Be not afraid of Palin By Clarence Page. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 9, 2010. Sarah Palin's conservative fans ask me why "the liberal media" are "so afraid" of the former governor of Alaska. I, for one, am unafraid. And I am delighted that the former Republican vice presidential candidate refuses to rule out running for the presidency. I am also relieved that, so far, she does not appear to have a ghost's chance of winning. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-0210-page-20100209,0,7042088.column

The folly of Palin's high-priced 'populism' By Katrina vanden Heuvel. COPYRIGHT BHY THE WASHINGTON POST. Tuesday, February 9, 2010; 10:34 AM. Ironically, this doesn't seem to bother Sarah Palin. Faced with a choice between subsidizing the banks and poor kids, she went with the banks, warning the Tea Party activists that the Obama administration is "taking over" everything, including "health care, student loans." With views like that, she won't have any trouble getting speaking gigs at $100,000 a shot. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/09/AR2010020901227.html

Gibbs mocks Sarah Palin's palm-writing at briefing. Copyright by The Washington Post. February 9, 2010. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs flashed a left palm with notes written on it at the news briefing Tuesday, an apparent mocking reference to former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's use of her hand as notepad during the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/02/robert-gibbs-mocks-sarah-palin.html?hpid=topnews

February 8, 2010: Sarah Palin Uses a Hand-O-Prompter http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/264042/february-08-2010/sarah-palin-uses-a-hand-o-prompter

February 8, 2010: AmeriGasm http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-8-2010/amerigasm

Rahm Emanuel Views: 47,028The White House Chief of Staff offers his apology. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/rahm-emanuel/1199682/

February 9, 2010: Crisis America: America in Crisis: Day 5 http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-9-2010/crisis-america--america-in-crisis--day-5

Pawnbroker slammed, power broker skates BY John Kass. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2010. While political Illinois lusts after every twist in the adventures of the Democratic Pawnbroker and the Hooker, a story surfaced about the Republican campaign for governor that is just as revealing. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-met-kass-0207_2-20100205,0,1416482,full.column

Brennan: GOP was briefed on Xmas bomber arrest By MIKE ALLEN & EAMON JAVERS. Copyright by Politico.com. Updated: 2/7/10 1:10 PM EST. White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan revealed Sunday that he briefed four Republican congressional leaders on Christmas night about the arrest and subsequent handling of the suspect in the attempted airplane bombing. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32632.html

New York Times Editorial: The Truth About the Deficit. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 6, 2010. When the White House released its new budget last week, including more spending to create desperately needed jobs, Republican leaders in Congress denounced President Obama for driving up the deficit and demanded that the Democrats halt their “reckless” ways. The deficit numbers — a projected $1.3 trillion in fiscal 2011 alone — are breathtaking. What is even more breathtaking is the Republicans’ cynical refusal to acknowledge that the country would never have gotten into so deep a hole if President George W. Bush and the Republican-led Congress had not spent years slashing taxes — mainly on the wealthy — and spending with far too little restraint. Unfortunately, the problem does not stop there. The Republican amnesia and posturing are playing well on the hustings, where Americans are deeply anxious about the economy and fearful of losing their jobs and homes. Far too many Democratic lawmakers are losing their nerve. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/opinion/07sun1.html?th&emc=th

February 9, 2010: RNC Meeting in Hawaii http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-9-2010/rnc-meeting-in-hawaii
What Bill O'Reilly edited out of his interviews with Jon Stewart: Total evisceration! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FFRSzH0HVo




The Economy


US trade deficit widens in December By Simone Baribeau in Washington. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 10 2010 15:42 | Last updated: February 10 2010 15:42. Oil demand drove the US trade deficit to its highest level in a year, the commerce department reported on Wednesday. The trade gap widened, by $3.8bn from November, to $40.2bn in December. Petroleum imports jumped by $2.6bn as oil imports rose by 9 per cent and prices rose by 1 per cent on the month. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/us-trade-deficit-widens-in-december.html

Bernanke’s How-To on Rate Increase Lacks a When By SEWELL CHAN. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010. WASHINGTON — “At some point.” “At the appropriate time.” “When the time comes.” On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve’s chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, outlined a strategy — but not a timetable — for scaling back the extraordinary measures it began taking in 2007 to prop up the economy as financial markets teetered on collapse. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/business/economy/11fed.html?ref=global-home

BofA and Citi warned over credit ratings By Francesco Guerrera and Nicole Bullock in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 9 2010 20:26 | Last updated: February 9 2010 20:26. The planned overhaul of US financial rules prompted Standard & Poor’s to warn on Tuesday it might downgrade the credit ratings of Citigroup and Bank of America on concerns that the shake-up would make it less likely that the banks would be bailed out by US taxpayers if they ran into trouble again. The move came in spite of S&P admitting that Citi and BofA, two of the world’s largest lenders, had bolstered their balance sheets with fresh capital and improved performance in recent months. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/bofa-and-citi-warned-over-credit.html

UBS cuts bonuses after missing profit targets By Haig Simonian in Zurich and Megan Murphy in London. Copyright The Financial Times Limited. Published: February 10 2010 18:47. February 10 2010 18:47. UBS, one of the banks hardest hit by the financial crisis, will not award senior staff SFr300m ($281m) in cash bonuses after failing to hit internal profit targets – a stark sign of how pay reforms are hitting bankers’ wallets. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/ubs-cuts-bonuses-after-missing-profit.html




Your Money


“More Americans are going hungry in hard times and are increasingly dependent on private charity, according to a new study by Feeding America, a national network of food banks. The study found that 37 million people — roughly one in eight Americans — had sought emergency food assistance from the network last year, a 46 percent increase from 2006.” New York Times Editorial

New York Times Editorial: Hungry in America. Copyright by The new York Times. Published: February 9, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/opinion/10wed4.html?th&emc=th

Living on the Edge By Barry Yeoman. Copyright by The AARP Magazine. February & March 2010. Millions of older Americans don't have enough money to put food on the table, but the government doesn't count them as "poor." How did this happen—and what's being done about it? http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/living-on-the-edge.html

Once Stigmatized, Food Stamps Find Acceptance By JASON DEPARLE and ROBERT GEBELOFF. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/11foodstamps.html?th&emc=th

Roth Mania! By Lynn Brenner. Copyright by The AARP Magazine. March & April 2010. Should you convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA? New tax breaks make this appealing—but only if you answer yes to our three key questions http://www.aarpmagazine.org/money/roth-mania.html



Housing


Washington Post Editorial: Mortgage giants GSEs in limbo: In housing, a dangerous policy vacuum grows. Copyright by The Washington Post. Sunday, February 7, 2010. THERE IS NO END in sight to the federal bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Obama's fiscal 2011 budget proposal said as much in a few phrases that promised nothing more definitive than continued "monitoring" of the two mortgage giants, which have been operating since mid-2008 in the legal and organizational limbo known as government "conservatorship." The administration had said its plans for definitive reform could be expected "at the time of the budget," not in the budget itself, so technically this doesn't count as a broken promise or a blown deadline. Still, as the two agencies' chief regulator, Edward J. DeMarco, gently reminded congressional leaders on Tuesday, conservatorship was intended as a "timeout" during which policymakers could reinvent the entities. With an election year upon us, that timeout is looking more and more like a cop-out. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602536.html

Lake Forest searching for affordable housing solution By Sharon Stangenes. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/advice/ct-mre-0131-lake-forest-affordable-restat20100203,0,5414664.story


Commodities

Government by Goldman Sachs http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/674.html


Travel


Don't let Euro taxis unload your money BY Rick Steves. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sc-trav-0202-steves-20100204,0,2587890.story

FAA eyes hefty fines for American. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. Published on February 10, 2010 12:35 PM. American Airlines could face a fine in the ballpark of $10 million for safety violations involving wiring in its large MD-80 fleet, according to a government official familiar with the nearly completed federal investigation. http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/02/sources-faa-eyes-hefty-fines-for-american.html

When airlines offer to waive fees to rebook flights due to weather, know the rules By HARRY R. WEBER. Copyright 2010 Associated Press. 1:54 p.m. CST, February 10, 2010. ATLANTA (AP) — A snowstorm is heading for Washington, D.C., and you've got a flight scheduled to see the monuments, do some shopping in trendy Georgetown and visit relatives in the suburbs. Your departing airline tells you it will waive its fee if you choose to proactively rebook a flight that has yet to be canceled. You're all set. Right? Not necessarily.. http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sns-ap-us-travel-flight-plan-weather-waivers,0,7364719.story

American Airlines to begin charging $8 for pillow and blanket on some flights. Copyright 2010 Associated Press. 8:28 a.m. CST, February 9, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-ap-travel-pillow-blanket-charge-story,0,3693527.story

American to start charging $50 for standby. Copyright 2010 Associated Press. Published on February 10, 2010 12:25 PM http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/02/american-to-start-charging-50-for-standby.html

JAL stays in alliance with American By Julie Johnsson. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 8, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0208-american-airlines-jal--20100207,0,4969187.story




GLBT


Smoke the Bigots Out of the Closet By FRANK RICH. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 6, 2010. A funny thing happened after Adm. Mike Mullen called for gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military: A curious silence befell much of the right. If this were a Sherlock Holmes story, it would be the case of the attack dogs that did not bark. John McCain, commandeering the spotlight as usual, did fulminate against the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” But the press focus on McCain, the crazy man in Washington’s attic, was misleading. His yapping was an exception, not the rule. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/opinion/07rich.html?th&emc=th

DADT: They Are Killing Us Softly With Their Song By David Mixner. Copyright By David Mixner. Feb 3 2010. One is tempted to cheer any progress on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) since the obscene policy has destroyed nearly 14,000 military careers over the last 17 years. Watching Defense Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mullen personally come out for allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military was moving and amazing. In fact, if you listen to their softly purred words of support and the resultant press, you would think DADT would be over any day now. Over and over again in a direct, concise manner they proclaimed their opposition to the policy. The press captured each sentence and repeated it like a song to all who would listen. http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/02/dadt-they-are-killing-us-softly-with-their-song.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

More tolerance for gay troops as end of 'don't ask, don't tell' is debated - Soldiers gather before a midnight patrol in Baghdad last fall. One of the soldiers in the patrol is a gay specialist whose sexual orientation became known to most of his comrades during their yearlong deployment to Iraq. By Ernesto Londoño Copyright by The Washington Post. Wednesday, February 10, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/09/AR2010020903505.html?wpisrc=nl_politics

Judge in Prop 8 trial outed. Copyright by The Windy City Times. News update Feb. 7, 2010. The San Francisco Chronicle has outed Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who is overseeing the Prop 8 same-sex marriage trial in California. Testimony has ended in the case, and final arguments from both sides are expected soon. According to the Chronicle, the fact that Walker, an Illinois native, is gay is actually an open secret and is widely considered to be a non-issue. http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=25023

Close The Gay ATM Machine To DNC! By David Mixner. Copyright by By David Mixner. Feb 4 2010. Party democrat As if we needed more reasons not to give to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Ben Smith of Politico.com gave us yet another one. Turns out the DNC recently gave Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) over $500,000 to pay for ads for his re-election. Nelson stands against the LGBT community at every opportunity. Not only that, but he was also a major reason we are in the current health care situation. We don't need to be financing Democrats who act like Republicans. Why in the world would we give money to the DNC so it frees up their funds to give to Blue Dog Democrats? Don't budge and continue to only give money directly to candidates who are for full equality including marriage equality. http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/02/-close-the-gay-atm-machine-to-dnc.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29

Dispute over gays boils over in Oak Park schools By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 7, 2010 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-0207-gay-in-oak-park-20100205,0,1456599.story

GARCIA SAYS LGBTS “SCREWED” IF QUINN LOSES by Gary Barlow. Copyright by Gay Chicago Magazine. February 11-17, 2010. CHICAGO – While Democrats went into this past weekend trying to sort out their Scott Lee Cohen problem, Republicans were still waiting to find out if their gubernatorial nominee is Bill Brady or Kirk Dillard. Either way, said the state’s top LGBT lobbyist, “We’re screwed.” http://www.gaychicagomagazine.com/news/chicago.shtml

Hawaii nixes same-sex civil unions bill. Copyright by The Chicago Free Press. Published: February 4, 2010 http://dev.chicagofreepress.com/2010/02/04/nation-world-report-hawaii-nixes-same-sex-civil-unions-bill/



Weather


Climate Fight Is Heating Up in Deep Freeze By JOHN M. BRODER. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010. WASHINGTON — As millions of people along the East Coast hole up in their snowbound homes, the two sides in the climate-change debate are seizing on the mounting drifts to bolster their arguments. Skeptics of global warming are using the record-setting snows to mock those who warn of dangerous human-driven climate change — this looks more like global cooling, they taunt. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/science/earth/11climate.html?hpw

Mayors Grow Attuned to the Politics of Snow Removal By SEWELL CHAN and LIZ ROBBINS. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010. WASHINGTON — Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, whose city has been overwhelmed by record snowfall, knows the clock is ticking. While residents have been relatively understanding — so far — about delays in plowing roads and clearing sidewalks, he recognizes the perils for politicians who do not get their cities cleaned up quickly. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/11district.html?hpw

Storm Batters East, Closing Schools and Halting Flights By JAMES BARRON. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010. The second blustery snowstorm to sweep across the Northeast in less than a week swaggered into the New York area on Wednesday morning, closing schools, courts and the United Nations and playing havoc with the rhythms and routines of everyone who did not simply stay home. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/nyregion/11snow.html?th&emc=th


Religion


Bishops change feeding tube guidelines - Directive says food and water must be given to patients in persistent vegetative state By Judith Graham. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 8, 2010. If ever Carol Gaetjens becomes unconscious with no hope of awakening, even if she could live for years in that state, she says she wants her loved ones to discontinue all forms of artificial life support... What happens, for example, if a patient's advance directive, which expresses that individual's end-of-life wishes, conflicts with a Catholic medical center's religious obligations? http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-catholic-hospitals-20100208,0,2859597,full.story


Technology


Apple move to sell US TV shows for $1 By Kenneth Li in New York. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 10 2010 23:00 | Last updated: February 10 2010 23:00 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/14856f08-168e-11df-bf44-00144feab49a.html

Google to Offer Super-Fast Net Service By BRAD STONE. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 10, 2010. SAN FRANCISCO — Google says it plans to get into the Internet access business. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/technology/companies/11google.html?hpw

Google Broadband Does Not Compute By Matt Phillips. Copyright by The Wall Street Journal. February 10, 2010, 6:00 PM ET http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2010/02/10/google-broadband-does-not-compute/?mod=yahoo_hs

Google’s Buzz to take on Facebook By Richard Waters in Mountain View, California. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. Published: February 9 2010 20:42 | Last updated: February 9 2010 21:44. Google has mounted its most ambitious assault on the booming social networking business in an attempt to win back ground lost to fast-growing Facebook. The group said on Tuesday it hoped to use its core search engine technology to sift the flood of social media and filter out distracting or irrelevant information for users of Google Buzz, its latest service. http://newsletter91507.blogspot.com/2010/02/googles-buzz-to-take-on-facebook.html

As Data Flows In, the Dollars Flow Out By JENNA WORTHAM. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 8, 2010. John Anderson and Sharon Rapoport estimate they spend $400 a month, or close to $5,000 a year, keeping their family of four entertained at home. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/technology/09spend.html?th&emc=th

IPad likely to be popular among business travelers and the middle-age By John Boudreau. Copyright by Mercurynews.com. 02/06/2010 04:07:06 AM PST. Its iPods and iPhones wooed the young and tech savvy. But with its iPad, Apple may reach a new demographic: the middle-aged. http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_14336772?nclick_check=1


Entertainment


Should Super Bowl ads address morality? by Manya Brachear. Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune. February 04, 2010. With a team dubbed “Saints” playing in Super Bowl XLIV, should the messages we watch during the commercial breaks address issues of morality and saintliness? That’s the battle brewing on the sidelines of the National Football League’s championship this year after CBS sold 30 seconds to Focus on the Family for an ad opposing abortion rights; and denied air time to ManCrunch.com, a gay dating site. http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2010/02/should-super-bowl-ads-address-morality.html#more

Saints 31, Colts 17 - Champs? The Saints, Dat’s Who By JUDY BATTISTA. Copyright by The New York Times. Published: February 7, 2010. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The New Orleans Saints almost left when their city flooded and their stadium had been turned into a shelter, a disaster seeming to provide the perfect escape route for a team in search of a better stadium and a bigger market. Displaced and disheartened, the Saints haltingly returned to a repaired Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. And a team so awful that its fans used to wear bags on their heads came to symbolize and be embraced by a battered but rebuilding community. On Sunday, with a quarterback who had hitched his career to resurrecting the Saints and with a team that played nearly flawlessly, the Saints gave New Orleans a reason to do what it does better than any other American city: celebrate. In the franchise’s first Super Bowl, the Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, sending New Orleanians into the streets for a party. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/sports/football/08super.html?th&emc=th



Other



Where Conversation Goes From Here By David Dudley. Copyright by The AARP Magazine. March & April 2010. We tweet, we text, we e-mail. Everybody's chatting, but is anybody listening? Why America needs to revive the vanishing art of conversation. We need to talk. http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/where_conversation_goes.html



Humor


February 9, 2010: Alpha Dog of the Week - Markus Bestin http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/264058/february-09-2010/alpha-dog-of-the-week---markus-bestin

Clothing Drive http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1125919467?bctid=63259762001

Amazing X-box commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lej6MAmjU8w&feature=related


my cast is off. I’m wearing a bracer and continue with ultrasonic stimulation for bone regeneration and physical therapy.. feeling much better, although only have about 30^ of my left hand use. getting better every day. Thanks to all who prayed and helped take care of me.

Ps. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, just go to my website: www.carlostmock.com and go the the subscription link. It will appear in your email every week.



In Pride (orgullo),


Carlos T. Mock, MD
www.carlostmock.com
Author: Borrowing Time: A Latino Sexual Odyssey - Floricanto Press 2003.
Nominated for a Stonewall Award by the American Library Association GLBT
Round Table.
Author: The Mosaic Virus – Floricanto Press 2007.  Nominated for a Stonewall Award by the American Library Association GLBT Round Table, and a Lammie from The Lambda Literary Foundation
Author: Author: Papi Chulo – Floricanto Press 2007.  Nominated for a Stonewall Award by the American Library Association GLBT Round Table, and a Lammie from The Lambda Literary Foundation
Author: Cuba Libre, “Mentirita” The book is out. you can buy it at: http://www.carlostmock.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32&osCsid=a0b517e687814469f8153c5070d69f99

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