Saturday, April 24, 2010

Goldman e-mails: ‘Serious money’ to be made

Image: Goldman Sachs CEO Blankfein

This is another confirmation of how devious the Wall Street crowd is. No wonder people hate guys like Blankfein. They live in another world and consider the rest of us rubes!

Firm boasted about money it was making as housing market collapsed

PHOTO- Goldman Sachs "made more than we lost because of shorts," Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein said in a November 2007 e-mail.

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Can any political party be civil and still get out their message?

The woman who started The Coffee Party, Annabel Park, has discovered that the idea of gathering people together to civilly present an exchange of ideas, is naive. Nevertheless, she means well and keeps trying to make the idea work.

Will she be usurped by her own newly created political party for not being “aggressive enough?”  Read:

The Coffee party Heats Up

Tired of all the Tea Party talk, Annabel Park decided to throw a Coffee Party—and 200,000 people showed up.

The question is whether Park or anyone else can hope to lead a successful movement based on civility instead of combat. There's a reason why pundits keep using the cliché that we're a deeply divided nation: there are intensely partisan minorities on the far right and the far left.”

GUEST OPINION: vote for prop 15

Candidates for office have to raise so much campaign money that they become beholden to the big-spending interests that fund them rather than to the voters who elect them.

But there's an alternative:

Proposition 15’s idea to levy a fee on lobbyists to fund political campaigns is worth a try

Image source

Alaska dog honored for leading troopers to fire

Hero Dog

Step aside Lassie! We have a new dog hero for the 21st Century.

Buddy appears at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, April 23, 2010. The German shepherd was hailed Friday as a hero for guiding Alaska State Troopers through winding back roads to a fire at his owner Ben Heinrichs' workshop on April 4. He received a commendation and a stainless steel dog dish from the troopers. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Read the whole story here.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Archie Comics to unveil gay character in September

Image: Archie Comics cover

Move about keeping world ‘current and inclusive,’ CEO says

Archie Comics issue "Veronica 202" will introduce a new classmate named Kevin Keller, the first gay character in the Archie Comics series. The comic will be available in September 2010.

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Obama slams pending Ariz. immigration law

Gov. faces Saturday deadline; law makes it crime to be in country illegally

Excerpt:

“President Obama on Thursday criticized a pending Arizona law that would make it a state crime to be in the United States legally and requiring anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant to produce identification.”

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Timeline: U.S. immigration policy
Key players in the immigration debate                                                     Photo source

VIDEO: Arizona is being overrun,’ governor says

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Insurer targeted breast cancer patients to cancel

Angela Braly, president and chief executive officer of WellPoint Inc., speaks at the Reuters Health Summit in New York

Government: Software flagged new cases, sought reasons to drop policies

Excerpt:

“During the recent legislative process for the reform law, however, lobbyists for WellPoint and other top insurance companies successfully fought proposed provisions of the legislation. In particular, they complained about rules that would have made it more difficult for the companies to fairly — or unfairly — cancel policyholders.

For example, an early version of the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives would have created a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor and regulate insurance practices like rescission. WellPoint lobbyists pressed for the proposed agency to not be included in the final bill signed into law by the president.

They also helped quash proposed provisions that would have required a third party review of its or any other insurance company's decision to cancel a customer's policy.”

PHOTO ABOVE: Even as WellPoint targeted women with breast cancer and who were pregnant for investigation, it prided itself for having women at the helm such as Angela Braly, president and chief executive officer.

Deadly airborne fungus in Oregon set to spread

Here’s a news item that really creeps me out. Anyone who has ever seen movies like “Outbreak” knows how deadly new strains of anything can be.

This is something to be afraid of. Very afraid. Where’s my gas mask? Time to pull it out and clean it up.

The new, rare strain infects people and animals, researchers warn

Excerpt:

A deadly, airborne new strain of fungus has emerged in Oregon. It has killed nearly one out of four known affected people so far and might also attack animals ranging from dogs to dolphins. And it is likely to spread, researchers now warn.

The new strain known as VGIIc of the fungus Cryptococcus gattii not only targets humans but has also proven capable of infecting dogs, cats, alpacas, sheep and elk. Other strains have even infected porpoises.”

 

Relax and look for the five horses here

optical_illusion_2-vi If you enjoy optical illusions this ought to be right up your alley.

I’m always amazed at how much work the artist has to go through to create something so clever.

Do you see all five horses yet? Relax. You will.

Image source

See more at:

www.extremus.net

Seven Food Products Banned in Europe Still Available in the U.S.

The following list ought to give anyone pause. Are Europeans more concerned about food safety than we are? You decide.

Here’s one:

Food Contact Chemicals
Phthalates and bisphenols in plastic are really beneficial. They help manufacturers create plastic products with the softness and moldability needed to fulfill consumer needs. But when the food contact additives are found in the food and liquids contained by those plastics, trouble starts. Both the U.S. and Europe stringently regulate food contact use of chemicals. However, the standard of approval is different. In Europe, the precautionary principle requires that the suppliers of chemicals prove their additives safe, or they will be banned. Of course, although the E.U. has banned phthalates in toys, both phthalates and bisphenol-A remain approved for food contact uses—subject to strict regulations on their use. Go here to see the rest.

Talk about 420 parties – did you hear about this one?

An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people all exhale ...Estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people exhale marijuana ...

An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people all exhale marijuana smoke as the clock hit 4:20pm during the 4/20 event on Norlin Quad at the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado April 20, 2010.

Source - Most Emailed Photos

Throwing your dog a bone could be deadly

My Pug is very upset with this news this morning:

FDA reminds pet owners to toss bones from meals rather than feed to pets

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” said Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size.”

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Muslim group issues warning to ‘South Park’

This kind of thing gives all Muslims a bad name. This is also a reminder that we have Muslim terrorists living in America who are protected by free speech – a concept they don’t believe in, but hide behind at times like this.

Wait till you read what the group’s spokesman said while defending the threats. It’s chilling.

Site posted photo of murdered filmmaker, details about mansion

A U.S. Muslim group has issued a dire Internet "warning" to creators of the satirical animated TV show "South Park" over a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in a bear outfit.”

Getaways, gifts suck up most of parties’ funds

This is what I wish more people would be aware of. BOTH PARTIES are full of crooks who coddle one another in a self-serving system full of benefits the average American could only dream about.

Dems, GOP spend two-thirds of budget on parties, ‘pampered adventures’

“Both the national Democratic and Republican party committees spend about two-thirds of the money they take in on the care and comfort of committee staffs and on efforts to raise more funds, with lavish spending on limousines, expensive hotels, meals and tips, an analysis of the latest financial disclosure data shows.”

photo source

Burglars break into prison to steal TVs

If this story would have happened here in the good old USofA, this would have been major news. I can see people like Jon Stewart having a great time with the whole idea.

I think it’s a sort of twisted justice and  humorous. The Dutch do things a little different than we do.

Minimum-security prison robbed twice while prisoners were on furloughs

Image source

Bigger Ben! $100 bill gets a makeover

Image: Timothy Geithner, Ben Bernanke, Keith Prewitt with the new design of the $100 bill.

Changes meant to foil fakes. Story  |  Newsweek: Facelifts for Founding Fathers?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Processed meat tied to ovarian cancer risk

My next question is “Does that mean it’s okay for men to eat processed meat? Should there be a separate study now to see if men face a risk of cancer too?

I know that they were looking at Ovarian cancers in the study, but cancer is cancer isn’t it? In men it’s prostate cancer. Now I’m going to worry about why women are warned when men are left wondering!

Study: Those who ate at least 4 servings a week had 18 percent higher risk

Women who eat a lot of processed meats, such as salami and hot dogs, are at a higher risk of ovarian cancer, according to a new Australian study.

At the same time, those who eat a lot of fish have a lower risk of the deadly tumors, Dr. Penny M. Webb of Gynecological Cancers Group at Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues found.”

Racial segregation returns to schools

 Long before president Obama was elected, race relations in this country were deteriorating. Whatever positive gains that were made in the sixties, seventies, and up to the eighties, are being erased by a growing color divide.

When people bring up race problems in politics and programs across the county they are attacked as being agitators. America is angry. Our political process has nearly ground to a halt because of partisan politics that are becoming increasingly violent. People are losing jobs, losing their homes, and losing their patience with our government leaders.

In that backdrop of anger, race has become an increasing issue. The electing of an African-American president has fired up the extremists, racists, and bigots blood. FBI reports show his election has been basically a recruiting poster for racists of all stripes.

Still, when people try to address the problem, as I have in various columns in recent years, they get pounced on and accused of trying to incite trouble. It’s like some people don’t want to acknowledge what’s happening quietly behind the curtain of political correctness. This article will give you just one aspect of why I believe there is a growing racial divide. The reasons are many. For today, here’s one to consider:  

Ruling on racial isolation in Miss. system reflects troubling broader trend

“Last week, a federal judge ruled that a school board policy here in Walthall County has had the effect of creating "racially identifiable" schools in violation of a 1970 federal desegregation order.”

Click for related content:

Ga. school plans its first non-segregated prom
Calif. struggles to desegregate prison inmates

Monday, April 19, 2010

The Biggest Crab in Britain is Huge and Still Growing!

The-biggest-crab-ever-seen-in-BritainThis biggest crab in Britain is huge and it is still growing. They call this thing ‘Crabzilla! 

The ‘Crabzilla’ measures about 10-ft from claw-to-claw and he’s continuing to grow. It was captured by fishermen in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. It was lucky that it hasn’t been eaten, because crabs are considered one of the most expensive delicacies around.

If you wish to see this thing face-to- face, you’ll have to go to the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham where the ‘Crabzilla’ is displayed for visitors.

Source

The National Alliance for Caregiving is Seeking Family Caregivers of Veterans for a New Study

This study will provide an opportunity for family caregivers of Veterans to be heard and to improve services for other caregivers of Veterans now and in the future.

If you are a family caregiver of a Veteran or know of one, and wish to take part in this study, please sign up at:

www.gwsurvey.com/caregiversofveterans.html

The National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit research organization seeking participants for a new study of family caregivers of Veterans who need help with everyday activities. This study is intended to determine how caregivers of these Veterans are coping, and what community and VA services, resources, and programs would support and assist them with their care giving activities.

Caregivers are defined as those relatives, friends, and neighbors providing unpaid assistance to Veterans who need help with everyday activities, including personal care—help with bathing, dressing, or feeding—help with medications and other treatments, transportation to doctors’ appointments, arranging for services, and assisting Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Caregivers of Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other conflicts through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will be included in the study. Veterans are those who have separated or retired from active duty in any branch of the military including the National Guard, and the military Reserves.

The study, funded by United Health Foundation, will collect information through focus groups, telephone interviews, and an Internet survey* of caregivers of Veterans. The National Alliance for Caregiving is recruiting many family caregivers of Veterans from across the United States, and especially caregivers for the focus groups living in or near: San Diego, San Antonio, and Washington, DC.

Cash incentives will be available for study participants and also Veterans who refer them to the study organizers. Information obtained from the focus groups, telephone interviews, and Internet survey will be completely confidential and will not be connected to the individual caregivers participating in the study.  The National Alliance for Caregiving has conducted many national research studies on caregiving, available on www.caregiving.org.

Thank you for considering participating in a study that could make a difference in the lives of caregivers of Veterans. Please contact Kathy Cameron at kathleen56@caregiving.org or 703-585-6607 for more information. Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVtACRgTI7Q  to view a video about the study.

*For caregivers who do not have Internet access, the study sign up form is also available in a paper version to complete and return via regular mail. The Internet survey will also be available as a paper version.

Once called ‘coward,’ he fights for PTSD victims

Image: former Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Pogany

Army tried to prosecute him after he had a breakdown in Iraq

“They call him the angry guy now. Even his friends. And at this moment, on a snowy evening when he should be home, putting his son to bed, Andrew Pogany is, in fact, ticked off.

He sits with a soldier in a law office. The man has brought with him a pile of medical files, and another desperate story: Sent off to war to fight for his country. Diagnosed, now, with post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet the Army, the soldier tells Pogany, is drawing up papers to discharge him in a way that could mean no medical benefits.

The soldier confides he thinks about killing himself. All the time, he says.”

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Nurses: 'with you from birth till the day you die'

By Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 04/18/2010 01:52:52 AM PDT

Hava Phillips, dressed in green scrubs, stood in the blustery Arcata Plaza on the first day of this year's Farmer's Market and collected signatures on a petition to save Humboldt State University's nursing program from elimination.

Next to her, 21-month-old Leo peeked out from behind the safety of his mother's leg and smiled at me. Hava, a second semester student, was born in Humboldt County, moved away, and came back to get her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

How often do high school graduates in Humboldt County have to leave to go elsewhere to get a job? Most of those who stay and go to HSU have trouble finding work here for their chosen vocation. Not nursing students.

Go here to read the rest.

Blog Break Until Presidential Election is Over

I finally hit the wall today. I can't think of what to say about all of the madness going on in this country right now. I'm a writer...