Friday, February 27, 2009

Y! Alert: The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

Yahoo! Alerts
My Alerts

The latest from The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

Naazish YarKhan: Journalist Calls on News Media to Stop Giving it Away for Free - UnPlug News Sites for a Week, Starting July 4 Top
Where does breaking news and the facts behind them come from? Mind you, it's not just opinions I'm asking about, or 'news' dished out by "cut and paste" artists! Whom do whistleblowers depend on? How do we keep our politicians in check ? Who do we depend on to look behind the cover-ups and to dig deeper on a news story ? Who are the people who make sure they're getting the facts straight? Journalists and News Organizations -- that's who, even if they aren't a 100% unbiased! If the current chaos is any indication, newspapers are a dying breed. But wait, isn't the 'net here to step in and take over? After all, I haven't subscribed to an actual newspaper in forever and get all my news online and from NPR. Whether we get our news from the net or the papers or TV, journalist T. J. Sullivan says if you want facts and hard investigative reporting, it's time to save journalists and news-gathering organizations, even if not the medium of paper. No matter where you get to know of it finally, chances are a story began as a newspaper story. Towards that end, Sullivan has begun an online petition , that asks news organizations to plug their virtual freebies for one week in July this year, so that readers understand just how valuable news-gathering is, especially to a democracy. "I hope the goal of the petition is realized, that newspapers and The Associated Press actually unplug their Web sites for one week starting July 4, 2009," he says. According to Sullivan, unless all American newspapers and The Associated Press, switch to a pay-for mode even online, newspapers and with it democracy, will begin to fold. Why do you care so much about the current state of the newspaper industry, and why does its health impact the rest of us? T.J.: "I've been a journalist for more than 20 years, 15 years of which I spent working full-time as a reporter at daily newspapers. I've covered government at every level, and just about everything else you might imagine. All told, I've worked on the staffs of four newspapers in three western American states and, during that time, I was fortunate enough to have my work recognized many times, a list of honors that includes the Sigma Delta Chi Award, the second oldest national journalism awards program in the US after the Pulitzer Prize. I began this petition for the same reason I became a journalist, because I'm incapable of remaining idle as bullies, crooks or fools seek to obfuscate people with lies and misinformation." Can volunteer bloggers fill the shoes of trained journalists or is that like saying an X-Ray technician can replace the physician? T.J: "Professionally staffed and ethically bound newspapers help to keep government honest at every level. And yes, readers and bloggers must in turn help to keep their local newspapers honest. But, some people have gone so far as to assert that newspapers can be easily replaced by volunteer bloggers, which is as ludicrous at the local level as it is at the international level. Again, this isn't just about covering D.C., or wars and conflicts abroad. It's about reporting on local politics, where the scoundrels involved are just as skilled as anybody in D.C. when it comes to using bully tactics to get their way. Playing reporter isn't just some game. The injustices exposed by journalists in even the smallest markets can cost crooks big money, and retaliation is often carried out against reporters in a variety of ways. Lets also not forget that in some countries reporters are murdered for publishing the truth. This is a real profession. This is serious work. What volunteer blogger covering the local city council is going to risk his or her family's well-being to pursue a story against the wishes of some scandalous corporate entity capable of financing an entirely baseless libel lawsuit simply to silence a critic? These things happen more than most people realize. Hence the petition . " If saving news-gathering is your intention, can't TV and Radio fill the void that maybe left with the demise of papers? T.J: "The fact is, newspapers as news-gathering organizations produce the bulk of reporting in the United States. They're in towns large and small from coast to coast and border to border, in Alaska and in Hawaii. They cover places so small the places aren't even officially designated as towns. Without a doubt, newspapers in the US outnumber radio and television news programs many times over. Newspapers cover markets that the TV cameras rarely visit except in response to some great tragedy, or very special event. And radio news, by nature of its medium, is often so busy being reactive to the events of the day that, on the whole, it produces little in terms of enterprise or investigative reporting. There are, of course, exceptions like National Public Radio , but even they've experienced drastic staff reductions in the past few months. Yes, television and radio news reporters break plenty of stories. No doubt about it. Let's hope we never lose the CBS program 60 Minutes . But, besides that, television and radio reporters follow newspaper reports far more often than newspapers follow TV and radio reports. TV and radio lack both the resources and the air time to do the job of newspapers. Three-minute news reports can't hope to adequately communicate the complexities of our most serious issues. I hope this petition , at the very least, results in more people becoming informed about the news-gathering and news-delivery processes. They need to realize that the work of newspaper reporters and newspaper photographers often ends up being regurgitated on the Internet and through The Associated Press. People need to know that, even though all the bylines are hacked off, there's still a publication out there that employed the people it took to produce those news reports. Do you feel this particular disconnect is a side effect of the Internet? T.J: "Definitely. Back in the early 1990s, for example, when readers in New York City purchased copies of The New York Times to get the news, they knew the source of what they were reading because they had to purchase it. And even then, they sometimes mistook Associated Press stories produced by other newspapers as New York Times copy simply because it appeared in The New York Times . On the Internet the situation is worse. Once online news is stripped of its brand and repackaged by countless unassociated providers, the public perceives the product as being free. It's devalued. It's similar to the way so many people perceive water. As long as it's running out the tap, who cares where it came from, or who produced it? The Internet most certainly represents the present and future of newspapers. No question about it. But there won't be a future if Americans in and outside of the journalism industry fail to recognize the problem for what it is and begin working together towards a solution. I make no apologies for how the newspaper owners have botched this whole thing. Much as it would make me feel good to point fingers and say, 'You shouldn't have done this,' now is not the time. Right now the industry as a whole needs to work with everyone else to find a way to make these news organizations economically viable while remaining entirely independent of government. What's a possible solution? T.J,: Maybe the answer is a pay-to-access system, as suggested in Time magazine this week by its former managing editor, Walter Isaacson. Maybe there's a way to do what US comedian and commentator Jon Stewart recently suggested, to mimic a music industry model in which radio stations (or, in this case, blogs and aggregate news sites) pay a royalty per spin for each song played (substitute "spins" with "clicks" on hyperlinks to newspaper stories). That sounds promising, but I don't have any idea how to make it work. I don't claim to have the answer to the industry's woes, nor do I clam to know as much about the industry as Mr. Isaacson. I'm just a writer. But I know enough to realize that without professionally staffed and ethically bound newspapers, America's democracy will suffer. The Fourth Estate is a vital component of our system of government and it must not be allowed to be diminished as a result of ignorance or apathy." As of Feb. 25 the petition has been written up by nearly 50 different Web and print publications. The YouTube video explaining its intent has been viewed more than 2,400 times. Yet, the petition has fewer than 210 signatures. Further, are newspapers biting at the bait? T.J: "I understood from the onset that this was going to be a hard sell. Journalists, by nature, avoid signing petitions at all costs. It's part of the journalistic code of ethics, to avoid the appearance of impropriety, to not take sides, especially when they stand to personally benefit from the outcome. Americans need to be encouraged to care, or at least understand why they should care. They need to realize what they stand to lose before it's gone and be made aware of the colossal domino effect that the loss of newspapers is having on both democracy and every other type of news-gathering organization -- TV, radio, wire services, etc... I wish I could show you some of the e-mails I'm getting, but as the senders did not intend them to be published, it wouldn't be right to share them. Most of the notes express support for the effort. Of those that express opposition, however, many also demonstrate a basic misunderstanding of our system of government, as well as a penchant for ad hominem attacks. Much of this is also apparent in the responses to the petition that have been posted in the Blogosphere. The variations are extreme. Web sites that write for the American journalism industry seem to get it. They understand that this situation is dire. But many of those outside the journalism industry, the sites that write for a more general audience, don't seem to have a clue. For example, one such response can be found at Wonkette. First off, this particular blogger mischaracterizes the petition effort as being about saving newsprint when, in fact, it's about saving news-gathering organizations, not the medium of paper. Let's be clear on that point. This is not about saving paper. After that, the blogger goes on to state that newspaper journalism is a "profession of over-educated, overpaid typists" who during the past eight years conspired to look the other way "while actual murdering criminals ran the White House." Much as such vitriol might get a laugh or two, it echos an alarming level of ignorance about the news-gathering process, and democracy. The entire argument ignores the enormity of the crisis, and thereby exacerbates it. I understand how good it might feel to play a game of shoot the messenger, but it accomplishes nothing. Besides that, the issue at hand is about far more than the few newspapers that can afford to cover Washington, D.C. The fact is that most American newspapers are located in small-to-medium-sized markets where they fulfill vital roles in their communities, the most important of which is covering local government, everything from PTA meetings on up to city councils and state legislatures. " As a DuPage County resident, I know only too well what T.J. Sullivan speaks of. Local elections to the College of DuPage board , in recent days, has been rocked by scandal and allegations of corruption and power grabs. I've signed the petition , because yes, while free news is great, it's even better to actually be informed, educated citizens rather than being a people used to half-baked pies.
 
Iberiabank Gives Back TARP Funds Top
Iberiabank is giving back its TARP funds, one of the first banks to do so. The bank had accessed nearly $91 million via the government's Capital Purchase Program. "The Capital Purchase Program under TARP has assisted in the effort to provide stability to the financial services industry during this period of unprecedented uncertainty. When we decided to accept funds under this program, we believe we were the type of healthy bank that could employ the funds in the manner consistent with the goals initially set out by Congress and the Treasury in supporting the expansion of credit to the markets we serve. We believe recent actions, interpretations, and commentary regarding various aspects of the program places our Company at an unacceptable competitive disadvantage. Our Board of Directors has determined that continued participation in this program is no longer in the best interest of our Company and its shareholders. Our Company occupies a unique position of strength, growth, and opportunity relative to other participants in the financial services industry. We are pleased to be able to redeem the Treasury's investment in our Company."
 
Ali al-Marri, Alleged Al-Qaida Agent, Indicted In Illinois Federal Court Top
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment against alleged al-Qaida sleeper agent Ali al-Marri, as the Obama administration considers a new strategy for handling terror suspects. Al-Marri has been held in a Navy brig outside Charleston, S.C. for more than 5 years since President George W. Bush declared him an enemy combatant. He will now be transferred to Illinois to face trial in a civilian court on charges of providing material support to terrorism. Before the indictment, the Al-Marri case was headed to the Supreme Court. The court is considering whether the president has the authority to order the arrest of terror suspects in the United States and hold them indefinitely without bringing charges. More on Terrorism
 
Max Mutchnick: My Daughters Have No Mother Top
Some of you were annoyed. You didn't like that I referred to my daughters' surrogate as an oven. Truly I meant no disrespect. I love and admire the generous soul that carried my daughters for thirty-seven weeks. She went into labor as I sat in a theatre watching a preview of "9 to 5: The Musical." I always wondered if she went into labor because she had sympathy pains for me. I have friends involved so I'll keep my review simple: Cute... with kinks. Mostly it brought back my repressed desire to own a silk work kimono like the one Lily Tomlin wore in the movie version. Honey, I'm leaving for the office. Just gonna pour myself a cup of ambition, grab my purple work kimono and I'm out the door... But I digress. Back to the oven, I mean, the surrogate. Here's what it's all about: It takes a village to make a gaybie (not my word). When a gay man realizes he wants to have a child, it forces him to face his own queerness, in the true sense of the word. And it's contrary to his life-long mantra: "I'm normal. I'm just like everyone else." So like it or not, it's back to the village. You're going to need everyone; especially the villagers with vaginas. You'll also need: money, support systems, time, lawyers, fertility specialists, location and cashmere (don't ask). Homosexuals are not as fortunate as our heterosexual counterparts. We certainly don't have the luck on our side like, say, a Jamie Lynn Spears or a Palin daughter. Making children the gay way is like building a yacht. Somewhere along the line I started to feel guilty or less than. As a result, I built up some defenses. You must want it so badly that you literally have to reach out your hand to virtual strangers for assistance. Of course they become real in the fullness of time, but when you're introduced at a Marie Callender's to the woman that's going to carry your children, it's impossible to think: You're mommy. So with key players, I found myself doing this thing I call, "distance regulating." So much intimacy. So much vulnerability. So much need from others. I must save myself the only way I know how. Nicknames. Less eye-contact. Jokey banter. Let's keep it light... because it's so not light . And then there's the egg donor. You never even get to meet her. It's hitting me now. My daughters have no mother. So listen to this part. You log onto a secured website. (Octomom, if you're reading this, please skip to the next paragraph) Page after page of girls - not women, girls. A headshot, a small video testimonial and an extensive medical history. That's all you get. Fifty percent of my babies' DNA would be purchased online. Something about it depressed me. I must distance regulate. Want a mom? She's three clicks away! We quickly learned about the dearth of desirable donors. They're like diamonds; it's all good on the surface, but when you take a loop to them, the difference between a flawless stone and an included one seems small, but looms large. Take the "Diamond" out of Lou Diamond Phillips and you're just stuck with a guy called, Lou Phillips. (That almost makes sense). I learned everything I know about diamonds from Suzanne Pleshette, may she rest in peace. She wore ten carats on her finger to work everyday. A gift from a man, she told me. Wow, that's quite a ring, Suzanne. It's a piece of shit. You couldn't even cut the cheese with it. A zircon costs more. So if and when you see a donor you like, it's a BUY NOW situation. Turn your head for a second and donors get scooped up by other gay couples competing from the same pool. We decided to go with V139K2 (not her real name). There was something very exciting and scary about it once the decision was made. We'll never know her. Our daughters will never kiss her. She is everything...and nothing. Oh my god, my daughters have no mother! See that's what it is. I have to call our surrogate an oven because I can't call her their mother and I can't call V139K2 (not her real name) their mother. And it drives me crazy. I can't tell you how it drives me crazy. But this is what saves me... Here's a list of what they do have: --doting grandparents --lots of cousins --fifty gay uncles --two gay aunts --clean sheets --bubble baths --kisses from morning 'til night --walks in the park --laughter --dogs that lick their feet --And two adoring fathers. And that's enough. And that's our family. And that's everything. More on Gay Marriage
 
The Sunlight Foundation: Sign the Petition to ReadTheBill.org Top
If you knew where to look, you might have been able to find the massive FY 09 Omnibus Appropriations bill that was passed by the House yesterday. (Check here .) It was posted online for about 48 hours before it was debated. But is that really enough time for consideration of a bill that the House passed -- spending some $410 billion of our money? And here's the rub: It's hard to imagine but posting it online for 48 hours was actually good news. Because the bad news is that doesn't always happen. The $789 billion Stimulus Bill , various Bailout Bills , bills restricting civil rights, bills expanding government surveillance of U.S. citizens and bills establishing safety requirements for medical devices all have been rushed through Congress in a matter of hours. Bottom line: Members of Congress vote without really knowing what they are voting on. Members of the public rarely have an opportunity for meaningful input into pending legislation. Today, the Sunlight Foundation announces an initiative to make sure everyone has the chance to Read the Bill. ReadtheBill.org calls for legislation to be publicly available online for 72 hours before debate begins. Check it out, and sign the petition demanding your representatives Read the Bill . ReadtheBill.org is an effort to create a more transparent government by bringing together a bipartisan collection of individuals and groups, luminaries and every day people to support and promote this commonsense idea. Instituting a 72 Hour Rule will give lawmakers and citizens alike an opportunity to consider and debate bills with full knowledge and consideration of the implications of the legislation, and with considered feedback from the public. It will also do away with the disparity and uncertainty that makes some bills available while others are cloaked in secrecy. We like to think it might result in better legislation. The founding fathers intended that the United States Congress be the most deliberative body of its kind. But it is axiomatic that a bill that no one has read cannot be meaningfully discussed or debated in Congress. The founding fathers also created a representative democracy. And so it follows that our elected legislators can't adequately represent their constituents' views if their constituents don't have the chance to weigh in on a bill because they have never seen it. ReadTheBill.org is nothing short of an effort to give Congress the chance to be a truly deliberative and representative democratic institution. More on Stimulus Package
 
Headline Of The Day Top
Don't you just love headline humor? The "New York Post" is like a tiny gift every morning full of ridiculous (and usually mean-spirited) puns, and scrolling through and rss feed full of original headlines before an editor has gotten their hands on them is always a treat. Fortunately, this one is both earnest and still up... (AP via Yahoo!) More on LOL
 
Presented By: Top
 
Aaron Schock, "Hottest Freshman," Talks Doogie Howser And Dating On "Today Show" (VIDEO) Top
A star is born! Since our readers voted 27-year-old Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) the Hottest Freshman in Congress , he has blogged for us , flown with President Obama on Air Force One, been stalked by TMZ , and, now, featured on "The Today Show." See Friday morning's segment below. WATCH: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy More on Video On HuffPost
 
Netanyahu Fails To Convince Livni To Form Unity Coalition Top
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu failed to persuade his centrist rival, Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni, to join him in a broad coalition Friday, increasing the likelihood that the next government will be a narrow alliance of right-wing and hard-line religious parties opposed to substantial concessions for peace. More on Israel
 
Jamie Court: Will Facebook's Experiment With Democracy Spread? Top
Facebook has taken the unusual step of allowing 30% of its members to decide privacy policies.  CBS News and CNET's Larry Magid and I talked the change over in t his interview late last night . The jujitsu by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerman is no doubt meant to counter a recent populist revolt against a change in Facebook's fine print that seemed to suggest Facebook owned user profile data even after a user deleted their account. The backlash killed the policy, and Facebook obviously realized it had tapped a powerful populist force. The bottom line is that with 175 million members it will take 30%, or 53 million,  to change a privacy policy on the site. It's hard to get 53 million people to vote on anything, let alone vote the same way. So Facebook's new Populism 2.0 approach may be more appearance than substance, as Magid and I discuss. One thing's for sure, though, Facebook won't be able to control the populism it unleashes, and it will have to continue to be receptive to members.  The big question is whether companies like Google will be forced to embrace this new populism. Would Google agree to let a certain percentage of its members dictate privacy policies at the company? If so, Google would no dout have to put an "anonymize me" button on its search engine and other products, as we have called for.  Is Google 2.0 enough to take the Facebook challenge? How about My Space, or MSN, or Twitter. Will they give users a vote over their privacy controls? It's a powerful proposition...stay tuned. More on Facebook
 
UN Racism Conference: US Pulling Out Top
White House aides told Jewish leaders on a conference call today that the United States will boycott the United Nations' World Conference on Racism over hostility to Israel in draft documents prepared for the April conference. More on Israel
 
Barbara Coombs Lee: Assisted Suicide Cases Highlight Public Support for Physician Aid in Dying Top
Media outlets from coast to coast and even abroad are covering Wednesday's arrest of leaders of Final Exit Network, (FEN) an organization that helps people die. An eight month investigation led to a sting operation that caught 2 people in Georgia telling an undercover agent how his death would be accomplished. Two arrests followed quickly in Baltimore and more are sure to come. The investigation continues across seven states. Please take a moment today to let your local news media know how important it is for terminally ill individuals to have legal options at the end of life. Compassion & Choices has no affiliation with FEN. But as the nation's largest advocacy organization for end-of-life choice, we are fielding lots of calls. " Does your organization condemn the conduct of Final Exit Network ?" That's the first question. Let's be clear. The policies on end-of-life decisions in every state except Oregon, Washington and Montana are merciless and irrational. Dying patients are abandoned to their agonies and any talk of assistance in their dying occurs in hushed, confused tones. A decent society must do better. If there's any condemnation dished out, let it be directed toward lawmakers who turn their backs on the prolonged suffering of patients who battle cancer for years and finally beg for assurance of a peaceful end. Last year I heard a California lawmaker tell Tom McDonald, dying of cancer and pleading for passage of a death with dignity bill, that he could just put a gun to his head if his suffering became unbearable. Shame on any elected official who chooses violence over compassion. Lawmakers' inaction led to citizen initiatives for Death with Dignity laws in Oregon and Washington to define a medical practice of aid in dying, lay out guidelines and set up regulatory oversight. The citizens had to adopt rational, merciful laws to legalize aid in dying because lawmakers weren't up to the task. Assisting a suicide is still a felony in Oregon and Washington. Opponents of choice try to blur this distinction and media complies by calling everything "assisted suicide." But the difference between assisted suicide and aid in dying tracks public opinion on the subject. Opinions about any kind of assistance in dying falls into three categories: Never ... Always ... and "sometimes." To the "never" school FEN's mission is appalling and criminal. In this line of thinking no one has the right to choose the time and manner of dying and helping is always wrong. About 25% of Americans think this way. The "always" school see FEN's mission as heroic, whether their clients are terminally ill or not. The belief is humans hold sovereign rights over their own bodies, and suffering of any kind is reason enough to receive assistance in dying. This probably accounts for another 20% of public opinion. Most people's views bridge the gap between these two groups. Most believe that sometimes a chosen death is merciful and necessary should be legal. They know every dying person will be comforted knowing the choice is available if they should need it. Most never do need it. That's where my organization, Compassion & Choices, is. We passionately believe aid in dying should be one option among many others in good end-of-life care. Depending on the poll, as much as 74% of Americans , and an increasing number of medical professionals and associations, agree with the principles behind the law in Oregon and Washington. A recent court ruling in Montana adopts the same parameters. Patients stuck in a prolonged, miserable dying process deserve help from their doctor. The legal practice known as "aid in dying" is limited to mentally competent, terminally ill adults. The term "aid in dying" says it all --- Americans favor "aid" for dying, suffering patients making a reasoned decision about when and where they will die. That said, assisting a mentally ill or chronically ill person to die does not enjoy the support of most Americans. This is where FEN may have exceeded the nation's tolerance for civil disobedience. Assisting a healthy person, or a mentally ill person to commit suicide is as illegal in Oregon and Washington as it is in Georgia or Arizona. The upcoming FEN trials will be a clarifying experience for America. They will highlight the circumstances under which assistance in dying is socially acceptable, and those where it is socially unacceptable. And hopefully, it will spur lawmakers to ratify that distinction and pass compassionate, sensible laws in every state.
 
Michael Steele Sends 'Slum Love' To Jindal Top
Ben Smith has the transcript of an utterly flabbergasting conversation between RNC Chair Michael Steele and ABC Radio Host Curtis Sliwa, who continually attempted to get Michael Steele to reveal his "hip-hop" skillz. The whole thing is terribly uncomfortable, because...well...it's Michael Steele talking about hip-hop, for starters. But this part, involving Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and the film Slumdog Millionaire ...well, words fail. SLIWA: Now, using a little bit of that street terminology, are you giving him any Slum love, Michael? STEELE: (laughter) SLIWA: Because he is -- when guys look at him and young women look at him -- they say oh, that's the slumdog millionaire, governor. So, give me some slum love. STEELE: I love it. (inaudible) ... some slum love out to my buddy. Gov. Bobby Jindal is doing a friggin' awesome job in his state. He's really turned around on some core principles -- like hey, government ought not be corrupt. The good stuff ... the easy stuff. Gads. Anyway, check out Smith's rundown for some more highlights, including a discussion of "getting in the real," DMX's current state of awareness, and "full body bulletproof condoms." A question: what was so wrong with those other RNC chair contenders, again? Were they, also, working to debase us, culturally? More on Slumdog Millionaire
 
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brendan DeMelle: Unearthed: The News Without the Chaff Top
This recurring blog series features a collection of recent news stories about threats to public health, our democracy and the planet which are ignored or underreported by the handful of corporate mainstream media conglomerates, TV pundits, and radio shock jocks who've turned the "news" into little more than an entertainment and product placement opportunity and let down the American public. Investor Groups Single Out Corporate Climate Laggards A coalition of green investor groups are calling out nine companies for their role as "Climate Laggards," responsible for delaying or obstructing efforts to fight global warming pollution, and keeping their shareholders in the dark. ExxonMobil tops the list for its decade-long effort to deceive and confuse the public about the urgent threat of man-made climate change. Other companies from carbon-polluting industries that made the list include Southern Company (coal-fired electric utility) Massey Energy and Consol Energy (coal mining industry), and oil and gas companies including Ultra Petroleum, Chevron and Canadian Natural Resources. Auto giant General Motors and homebuilder Standard Pacific round out the list. The list was compiled by environmental investor group Ceres, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and several other investment funds and groups focused on corporate responsibility and the environment. The nine companies were singled out for their failure to respond to shareholder requests for information and action on the environmental impacts of company operations. All of the selected companies lag behind their competitors in rising to meet the climate crisis, have poor or nonexistent records of communicating with investors on climate issues, and weak or nonexistent disclosure of other environmental impacts. "They haven't done anything, they're not responsive to investors, and they're lagging their peers," commented Ceres president Mindy Lubber during the unveiling of the list of laggards. "The writing is clearly on the wall: The low-carbon global economy is coming and companies need to be ready." Green Companies Do Better During Economic Downturn A new study by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney indicates that companies with "true commitment to sustainability" outperform industry peers in the financial markets, and have greater resilience to recession, confirming what other studies have indicated for years. Data on the market performance of companies that embrace sustainability as fundamental to their business strategy show that in 16 of 18 industries reviewed, businesses deemed "sustainability focused" outperformed industry peers and were "well protected from value erosion," the study said. According to the study, investors are more likely to "reward 'true' sustainability focused companies" that prioritize "long-term health rather than short-term gains," and demonstrate "strong corporate governance, sound risk management practices (and) a history of investing in green innovations." U.S. Announces Support for Global Treaty on Mercury Use In a complete shift from Bush administration policy, the United States has expressed support for a legally-binding international treaty to ban the use of toxic mercury which threatens the environment and public health globally. The Bush administration favored a voluntary approach to mercury, a heavy metal known to damage the human brain, liver and nervous system. Of the 6,000 tons of mercury pollution dumped into the global environment each year, one third - 2,000 tons - comes from coal burned for electricity and heat. Daniel Reifsnyder, the new deputy assistant secretary of state for environment and sustainable development, said in announcing the policy shift that, "Neither the United States, nor any other country, can achieve sufficient reductions of mercury risks to protect the health of its citizens without serious cooperation internationally to reduce global mercury emissions." Biotech Giants Are Interfering in GMO Crop Science Research Biotechnology companies are undermining academic scientists' ability to research the effectiveness and environmental impacts of the industry's genetically modified crops, according to a complaint issued by a group of university scientists. "No truly independent research can be legally conducted on many critical questions," the scientists wrote in a statement submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency. The lack of independent study of GMO crops continues to call into question the health and environmental consequences of blindly using these crops. Anyone who purchases genetically engineered seeds has to sign an agreement that prohibits growing the crops for research purposes, so university scientists cannot study genetically engineered crops unless they get permission from the seed companies. But scientists say that permission is often denied or the company insists on reviewing any findings before they can be published, effectively eliminating the possibility of independent study of GMO crops. "If a company can control the research that appears in the public domain, they can reduce the potential negatives that can come out of any research," said Ken Ostlie, one of the scientists who signed the statement. The scientists claim that the companies' secrecy agreements have "unduly limited" the data being provided to government regulators who assess the safety of GMO crops. The companies "have the potential to launder the data, the information that is submitted to E.P.A.," said Cornell professor Elson J. Shields. Blackwater Renames Itself Xe In Attempt to Shed Negative Image In a tobacco-industry inspired move to try to shake its battered reputation, Blackwater Worldwide is renaming its family of two dozen businesses Xe, pronounced like the letter "z." Blackwater's company brand was severely damaged by deadly incidents involving its mercenaries in Iraq, the worst of which left a dozen Iraqi civilians dead. The rebranding move is reminiscent of tobacco giant Philip Morris, which renamed its parent company Altria after being convicted of a 50-year conspiracy to cover up the link between smoking and cancer. The Religious Right Wants a New Name Too A recent article in Christianity Today reveals that leaders of the Religious Right don't want to be called the 'Religious Right' anymore because the term has become too pejorative. Unlike in the term's hey-day, when Jerry Falwell, cofounder of the Moral Majority, self-applied the 'Religious Right' label proudly, right-wing religious conservatives now feel the term is equated with extremism, according to John Green, senior fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. "Terminology is fraught with peril," Green said. "People associated it with a hard-edge politics and intolerance. Very few people to whom that term now would apply would use that term." Gary Schneeberger, vice president of media and public relations for Focus on the Family, says the phrase 'socially conservative evangelicals' is "certainly the way" to label right wing fundamentalists. Critics across the blogosphere were quick to jump on the notion. "If the phrase 'Religious Right' has negative connotations, it probably stems primarily from the fact that the people who have traditionally represented the Religious Right have caused it to, you know, have negative connotations," noted Right Wing Watch. Santorum Says the Qur'an was Written in 'Islamic' Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum delivered a lecture on Islam at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during which he argued that the American public knows too little about the Islamic faith. Demonstrating his point, he asked the audience of students whether they knew the difference between Sunnis and Shias. Only three audience members raised their hands. According to local news coverage , "Santorum said this proved his point - America has been at war with Islam for seven years and doesn't know the two branches." Santorum then argued that Middle Easterners reject democratic American ideals because Muslims' religious views cannot be changed or altered. "A democracy could not exist because Mohammed already made the perfect law," Santorum said. "The Quran is perfect just the way it is, that's why it is only written in Islamic." Islam is a religion, not a language. The Qur'an is originally written in Arabic. "I talk to college students because I can have an intellectual conversation, and they usually don't agree with me," Santorum said. "I like to state my case (to students) and let them decide who to believe." Santorum "said he believes that Muslims are America's enemy because they read their religion literally and apply it to real life, instead of in historical context." Santorum received two standing ovations from the crowd during the speech. Alan Keyes calls Obama "a radical communist" who will ruin America Three-time Republican presidential contender Alan Keyes told a Nebraska reporter that President Barack Obama is "a radical communist" who "is going to destroy this country." Although he claimed he was putting politics aside during his time at a fundraiser for a Christian women's support group, Keyes talked about more than just his pro-life beliefs, stating that he doubts President Obama is a U.S citizen and therefore refuses to acknowledge Obama's presidency. At one point Keyes interrupted the reporter to ridicule him, stating that "the person who you call President Obama" is "an alleged usurper... who is occupying that office without Constitutional warrant to do so." "Obama is a radical communist and I think it is becoming clear. That is what I told people in Illinois and now everybody realizes it's coming true. He is going to destroy this country and we are either going to stop him or the United States of America is going to cease to exist," said Keyes , who lost to Obama in the 2004 U.S. Senate race in Illinois. More on Sustainable Development
 
Jindal Made Up Story About His Role In Katrina Top
Looks like the game is up. Remember that story Bobby Jindal told in his big speech Tuesday night -- about how during Katrina, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a local sheriff who was battling government red tape to try to rescue stranded victims? More on Bobby Jindal
 
Michelle Obama Official Portrait Released (PHOTO) Top
The White House has released the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. It was taken in the Blue Room of the White House. Scroll down to see it in full. See Michelle Obama's official White House page . See Barack Obama's official portrait . More on Michelle Obama
 
Gingrich Claims "Disastrous" Bush-Obama Continuity Top
It has been fascinating to watch as conservatives at the Conservative Political Action Conference have run from, if not openly exhibited disdain for, the legacy of George W. Bush. But during his speech on Friday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took the notion a step further, actually castigating Barack Obama as an extension of Bush policies in the worst possible ways. There is "a Bush-Obama continuity in economic policy, which is frankly a disaster for this country and cannot work," said Gingrich, to an adulatory crowd. Earlier he said that the county had just been forced to swallow a "Bush-Obama big spending program that was bi-partisan in its nature." Last year, he went on "the Bush -Obama plan had a stimulus package which failed, they came back with a housing package, which failed. They then had a 700 billion Wall Street plan which failed." In that vein, Obama's Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, "was part of the Bush group." "We had big spending under Bush and now we have big spending under Obama," he concluded. "And so now we have two failures." The idea that the GOP is sour on Bush is nothing new. And, as mentioned above, it has been an open component of the CPAC conference. But the idea that one of the conservative movement's most prominent members would badger the current White House occupant by comparing him to a two-term Republican president, says wonders about just how angered and disillusioned the conservative crowd is with the current state of governance.
 
Presented By: Top
 
Ariston Anderson: Fashion Week makeup is all about color Top
Last week Pop Beauty and Fashion Indie hosted a grand finale to Fashion Week at New York's hot new nightclub Citrine . Pop Beauty founder Sara Strand is a Swedish-born singer who learned all about make-up while touring Europe, and has translated that stage look into a ready-to-wear look. She believes in the musicality of color, and preaches that a little color can go a long way in making your face pop. Sara performed for the first time in the U.S., singing some Louisiana-inspired tunes in her signature sultry voice. Guests sipped on POP-tinis and enjoyed free makeup touches while DJ Josh Madden kept the party going. We caught up with Sara to ask what trends she's hoping to see for fall makeup. Huffington Post: What's popular in makeup now? Sara Strand: Well what I can see, which is obviously a great pleasure of mine, is that there is a lot of color coming back, which is something that I've been campaigning for, almost for ten years now. So that's always a great thing. HP: What are the trends we can expect for the Fall season? SS: Some of the trends I feel is to beautify again, rather than to slap it on. Which is always a good way of going back to basics, and then from there you can start applying lots of color. HP: Any specific color palettes for Fall? SS: If we're going to do color, I feel that we're going to go back to real deep aquas rather than just blacks and browns, and just playing with nudes on top of that. I think that's going to look amazing on eyes. But I think everything should play. For trends, it's like, so what. Find out what works for you. HP: Are there any tips that you should keep in mind when applying color? Is less more? SS: I think punches of color work really well. I mean, I'm a bit of a circus person so I like to layer it on. But I think that just for every day, a touch of color makes all the difference. If you just do brown, you could end up just looking tired. So if you just add a little bit of a blue or a green, it actually lifts your face. HP: What are the five essentials that every woman needs in her beauty bag? SS: You have to definitely have a great foundation, you need a good concealer, a blush is a must for me, and an eyelash curler--I guess that's a tool. Are we on four? Ok, forget about the eyelash curler. Let's just do an eyeshadow and a lipgloss. You'll survive. But I need at least about five more, and then I'm happy and I'm good. HP: Women buy more lipstick during a recession to boost their mood. Do you see that trend? SS: Yeah and I think women are interested in exploring. I mean what Pop is about, it's about bringing the really high-end to the high-street. We want to bridge that gap. So I think in the recession like this, it's perfect for women out there. We still want to get a treat for ourselves and something that's fun, but we don't want to spend thousands of dollars. So it's the perfect brand. HP: And what about going on a job interview? What should a woman wear on her face? SS: I would wear more "no make-up" make-up for a job interview, but I would still explore in the sense of instead of wearing a black liner, I would wear a deep green, a musk green, or a deep aqua, because it looks fresher and you want to look awake and ready for the job. So that's better. HP: How do you do pops of color age-appropriately? SS: I don't believe in age! HP: So a woman in her 50s can still wear the deep aquas? SS: She should more than anyone. Women who are actually maturing need more color. See what happens is women who are young, you have more color in your lips, and you just have more color in general. So you definitely need to explore more as you age. HP: And how important is it to use natural ingredients in your line? SS: I think it's important to use it when we can. We always use it when we can. And there's a lot of research that goes into finding the right ingredients, but we still want to make it affordable. So we incorporate the two as much as we can.
 
What To Do With Your Old VCR (VIDEO) Top
Have you ever wondered what to do with your old VCR? If so, the guys at Gag Films have the answer: Hack it to find goodies inside. It's kind of like stripping an old car of it's useful parts before throwing out the shell, but much much cooler. WATCH: (via The Daily What) More on Funny Videos
 
Newspaper Editors Cancel Convention For First Time Since World War II Top
NEW YORK In yet another sad sign of the times, The American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) today announced it has canceled its 2009 convention. The last time it called off its annual assembly was during World War II. Plans to hold the convention in Chicago, April 26-29, were well under way, but president Charlotte Hall said in a statement that ASNE's leadership had "concluded that the challenges editors face at their newspapers demand their full attention." Hall said that it had become clear that member attendance would have been significantly lower than normal because of the stress within the industry.
 
Phil Ramone and Danielle Evin: Dog Ears Music: Volume Sixty-One Top
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Austin, Texas-based funk-rock soul octette Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are Black Joe Lewis, Sugarfoot Watkins, Big Show Varley, Wild Bill, Rooster Andrews, Slyder, McKnight (a.k.a. The Night Train), Zach Erlich, and Sleepy Ramirez. Listening to this group is like spending time in an unfiltered sonic time machine, but with brand spankin' new shoes. The title "Bitch, I Love You," from their 2009 EP Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, has all the right ingredients. Full-length CD available March 17. Currently touring. Buy : iTunes Genre : Funk/Soul Artist : Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Song : Bitch, I Love You Album : Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Tour : Visit Dakota Staton Jazz singer Dakota Staton was born in Pittsburgh in 1930, into a musical home. She attended Pittsburgh's Filion School of Music and started performing professionally on the nightclub circuit by her late teens. In 1957, Capital Records hit with Staton's debut, The Late, Late Show . By 1959, she wed trumpeter Talib Dawud and divorced a few years later. Her collaborations include the Sid Feller Orchestra, Nelson Riddle, and George Shearing. Staton passed away in 2007, leaving behind over two dozen albums. The velvet thread in her voice engages so easily; reminisce with "Don't Explain," from Great Ladies of Song: Spotlight Dakota Staton . Buy : iTunes Genre : Jazz Artist : Dakota Staton Song : Don't Explain Album : Great Ladies of Song: Spotlight Dakota Staton Yundi Li Classical pianist Yundi Li was born in Chongquing, China in 1982. At the age of 3, his obsession with music began. At 4, he took up piano and never looked back. By 12, Li was accepted to the prestigious Sichuan Music Academy, and a year later the family relocated to Southern China for Yundi to advance his music education at the School of Arts in Shenzhen. By the age of 13, Li won the Stravinsky Competition, first prize at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in the U.S., and third place at the Franz Liszt Piano Competition in the Netherlands. In 2000, at 18, he was awarded first prize at the Frederic Chopin Competition in Warsaw. Li's performance of Chopin's "Nocturne No. 5 in F Sharp, Op. 15 No. 2," from the album Yundi Li: Chopin, floats in the clouds... Buy : iTunes Genre : Classical Artist : Yundi Li Song : Nocturne No. 5 in F Sharp, Op. 15 No.2 Album : Yundi Li: Chopin The Music The Music is the Leeds, England-based rock quintette of Robert Harvey (guitar, vocals), Adam Nutter (guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass), and Phil Jordan (drums). The Music was founded by high school mates in 1999. Their sound is complete energy, free of chains. The title "Getaway," from their 2002 album The Music , is a turn-it-up, top-down, but-drive-carefully joy ride. Currently touring. Buy : iTunes Genre : Rock Artist : The Music Song : Getaway Album : The Music Tour : Visit Floyd Dixon Jump blues originator Floyd Dixon was born Jay Riggins Jr. in Marshall, Texas, on February 8, 1929. As a boy, Jay taught himself piano. By 1942, the Dixon family moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as golf caddie, studied hotel management, and seriously considered a career in football. But with music so entrenched in his spirit, he took the artist's road. In 1948, thanks to bandleader Johnny Otis, Dixon recorded his first side, "Houston Jump." By 1949, he enjoyed a regional hit with "Dallas Blues." This hotshot's handshake was a gospel-blues-bayou-swing fest on the eve of rock 'n' roll. Dixon was also a deep influence on the great Ray Charles. Collaborations include Leiber & Stoller, Robert Cray, Ruth Brown, and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers. Accolades include the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's 1993 Pioneer Career Achievement Award. Dixon passed away in 2006. Remember him with the 1950s recording "Please Don't Go," from the Chess Blues (Box Set) collection. Buy : iTunes Genre : Blues Artist : Floyd Dixon Song : Please Don't Go Album : The Chess Blues (Box Set) Black Flag Hardcore unit Black Flag, one of the most influential punk bands, was founded in Hermosa Beach, California, in 1977 by guitarist /songwriter Greg Ginn, who was soon joined by Dez Cadena (guitar), Chuck Dukowski (bass), and Robo (drums). During their feverish heyday, the band enlisted the charismatic raconteur/lead singer Henry Rollins. In its complete abandon, Black Flag's sound is an organized chaos of passion, blood, and guts. The title "I Don't Care," from the 1983 release Everything Went Black, is a great way to get started on these mercurial gentlemen. *Warning: Slightly NSFW Language* Buy : iTunes Genre : Punk Rock Artist : Black Flag Song : I Don't Care Album : Everything Went Black
 
Government GDP Estimate 6% Higher Than Private Forecasters Top
Here (in red) are the growth forecasts used to put out the new Obama administration budget, followed by the consensus forecast of a panel of "Blue Chip" private forecasters (in blue, naturally)... More on Economy
 
Harry Moroz: Tracy Morgan, Glenn Beck, and Marauding Motorcycle Gangs Top
Last night's episode of 30 Rock featured Tracy Morgan's character obliviously fanning the flames of a financial meltdown in Asia as a guest on Larry King Live . As he warns that the ensuing financial crisis will remake the cushy, urban paradise New York of the 2000s into the crime-ridden urban hellhole of the 1970s (think The Warriors ), Kenneth the Page is tagged and Liz Lemon blackmailed by a loathsome cabbie. New York City seems to collapse as banks fail, the Asian markets crash, and Jack Donaghue forsakes his buxom love, played by Selma Hayek, to save his collapsing media network. The episode reminded me, interestingly enough, of a segment, which Josh Marshall recently flagged , on Glenn Beck's aptly titled War Room , a show which carefully warns its viewers that: The views expressed in this program are not predictions of what will happen, but what could happen. In other words, Beck and his guests (temporarily) remove their soothsayer hats and traffic in the simple hypotheses of mere mortals. (We would learn nothing more of a North American Union between the Southwest and Mexico on this day!) After all, one of Beck's guests, Gerald Celente of the Trends Research Institute , really does fancy himself a clairvoyant, having predicted the 2001 recession, the real estate fizz, and, of course, the increase in Halloween retailing in 1989. The New York Post likens him to Nostradamus and, at least according to his website, lots of MSM sources dig his work (though the NYT promotional quote on the Trends Institute website seems a bit lackluster compared to the Post 's: "Mr. Celente tracks the world's social, economic and business trends for corporate clients."). On the program, Beck and his guests "gamed out" possible scenarios in which the American public feels increasingly disenfranchised and militaristic, scenarios that Beck called mere "bedtime stories" compared to what could actually happen. Evidently, such feelings would be the result of tax rates of "80, 90, perhaps even 95 percent" that would be needed to pay for recent bank bailouts and fiscal stimulus, according to the WSJ 's Stephen Moore, also a guest. In such an environment, Mr. Celente's predictions were grim: The cities are going to look like Dodge City. They're going to be uncontrollable. You're going to have gangs in control, motorcycle marauders. You're not going to have enough police or federales , just like Mexico, to control the situation. And in a previous scenario involving high unemployment in which "Government and unions (!) control most of the business", Celente warned that: New York City looks like Mexico City. If you have money or they think you're going to have money, you're going to be a target for a kidnapping. We're going to see major cities look like Calcutta. There is going to be the homeless, panhandlers, hookers. On 30 Rock , we find out that Tracy Morgan's rant - surprise! - has no effect on the U.S. economy or on New York. I presume that Beck and Celente's comments will be similarly ignored. But the identification of U.S. cities as the eventual signposts of economic decline is retrograde, returning to the myth of urban decline that in the last 40 or so years Republican presidents have employed to ignore cities and Democrats have used to (attempt to) assist them. Of course in a time of economic decline one would expect an increase in crime and homelessness. Yet, in recent years cities have been centers of economic growth and, indeed, of innovative policymaking to confront the significant economic , health , housing , and climate issues that have been ignored by the federal government. Celente's comments reflect concern about a breakdown of the rule of law and he identifies urban areas as the places where such a breakdown is most evident. Would motorcycle gangs terrorizing the soon-to-be car-less zones in Times Square be scarier than motorcycle gangs riding through, say, Nebraska? Certainly. Yet are the experiences of Ciudad Juarez (where, dare I say, the illegalization of drugs in the United States is disrupting the rule of law) equivalent to those of cities in the United States where, yes, inequality remains a problem but where the rule of law has worked to create prosperity that radiates outward from central cities to entire metros? The economic decline will surely hurt urban areas, but cities are in fact the very places that contain the people - not to mention the jobs - that will spur economic recovery. More on 30 Rock
 
Fox News Widens Lead In First Month Of Obama Administration Top
The first weeks of the Obama presidency were remarkably popular ones for the Fox News Channel. Fox News ranked No. 3 among all cable networks in prime time for the month of February, according to Nielsen Media Research. The network averaged 2.4 million viewers in prime time, up 28 percent from the same month last year. The February ratings, released this week, represented a stark widening of the gap between Fox News and the nation's other cable news channels. At times last year, heightened interest in the presidential election placed Fox News and CNN in stiff competition for viewers, especially those viewers in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic. (The networks sell much of their advertising time using ratings for that demographic.) Also last year, the historically third-place MSNBC became more competitive than ever before. More on Fox News
 
Yoani Sanchez: Byte by Byte, Post by Post, Learning from Andrew Sullivan and Undermining the Dictatorship Top
Six places from Andrew Sullivan In the list of the 25 Best Blogs of 2009, drawn up by Time Magazine and CNN , there are several elements that fill me with pride. Generacion Y is the only blog on the list in Spanish, the same language that some believe incapable of adapting to the pace of technology and modernity. I am, among the other twenty-four bloggers, the one with the fewest hours of access to the internet--of this I have no doubt. To make matters worse, I work under the peculiar condition of creating a blog I cannot see, the fault of the wicked filters imposed by censorship. Andrew Sullivan, who has become a guru for those of us on the Blogger Journey, is in fifth place with his blog, The Daily Dish . He doesn't imagine that every week a group of Cubans evoke his article, Why I Blog , taking his work as a compass. After nearly two months of these weekly meetings we know, at least, that the route to begin to comment does not travel backwards, that the wall of control can be knocked down in one go, or undermined byte by byte, post by post. Yoani's Blog, Generation Y , was just named one of the 25 Best Blogs of 2009 by Time Magazine . It can be read in English Translation here . More on Cuba
 
Dobson Resigns As Chairman Of Focus On The Family Top
DENVER — Conservative evangelical leader James Dobson has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family but will continue to play a prominent role at the organization he founded more than three decades ago, The Associated Press has learned. Dobson notified the board of his decision Wednesday, and the 950 employees of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based ministry were informed Friday morning at a weekly worship service, said Jim Daly, the group's president and chief executive officer. Dobson, 72, will continue to host Focus on the Family's flagship radio program, write a monthly newsletter and speak out on moral issues, Daly said. Dobson's resignation as board chairman "lessens his administrative burden" and is the latest step in a succession plan, the group said. Dobson began relinquishing control six years ago by stepping down as president and CEO. "One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority," Dobson said in a statement. "... Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do." While Focus on the Family emphasizes that it devotes most of its resources to offering parenting and marriage advice, it is best known for promoting conservative moral stands in politics. Dobson, a child psychologist and author, has gotten more involved in politics in recent years. He endorsed Republican John McCain last year after initially saying he would not, and also sharply criticized Democratic candidate Barack Obama. On political matters, Dobson "will continue to speak out as he always has _ a private citizen and not a representative of the organization he founded," said Gary Schneeberger, a Focus on the Family spokesman. He said the nonprofit ministry and Focus on the Family Action _ an affiliate set up under a different section of the tax code that permits more political activity _ will continue to be active on public policy. Dobson has a devoted following. His radio broadcast reaches an estimated 1.5 million U.S. listeners daily. Yet critics say his influence is waning, pointing to evangelicals pushing to broaden the movement's agenda beyond abortion, gay marriage and other issues Dobson views as most vital. "In the short term, in the near term, Dr. Dobson will stay committed to the issues close to his heart," Daly said in an interview. "He'll continue to speak out on those topics." Daly said there is no timetable for Dobson to leave the radio program, and the group will "look for the next voice for the next generation" while Dobson remains on the air. That will likely mean not one person behind the microphone but several speaking on their respective areas of expertise, Daly said. The organization, anticipating a post-Dobson era, for several years has tried out different voices on the broadcast and in giving media interviews on hot-button social issues. At the same time, Focus officials have acknowledged difficulties in raising money from younger families critical to its future. The economy also has hurt. Last fall Focus on the Family eliminated more than 200 staff positions, its largest employee cutbacks ever. Daly said the group is now "right on track" with a revised annual budget of $138 million. Dobson's wife, Shirley, also resigned from the Focus board. The new board chairman is retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Patrick P. Caruana, a longtime board member and a former executive with defense contractor Northrup Grumman. "I don't see any dramatic departure from what Focus stands for," Caruana said of Dobson's leaving the board. "There are obviously younger people the ministry would like to reach, and we're on track to do that." On the Net: http://www.family.org
 
Mark Nickolas: While Aides Can't Find Work, Bush Charging $150,000 For Speeches Top
Interesting juxtaposition for the recently departed Bush Administration. First, it seems that despite being one of the most unpopular -- and already one of the worst -- presidents in our history, former President George W. Bush is seeking a $150,000 fee per speech as well as well as private or first-class transportation for his party of four. Mind you, I have no problem with Bush making the money, I'm just a little suspicious that he's going to get many takers: President George W. Bush may have left office with a historically bad 22% approval rating, but he's still eager to impart his wisdom - for $150,000 a speech. The former president will charge that hefty fee per pep talk - plus first-class or private jet transport for four - when he hits the lecture circuit next month with stopovers in Canada, the U.S. and other spots around the globe, sources told The News. ...His first speech will be March 17 in Calgary, Alberta. The Canadian event is being promoted as "A conversation with George W. Bush," but is closed to the press. Meanwhile, Bush's former aides aren't finding the same gravy train, as just a fraction have found work so far: The jobless rate is hanging high -- for many of the roughly 3,000 political appointees who served President George W. Bush. Finding work has proved a far tougher task than those appointees expected. "This is not a great time for anyone to be job hunting, including numerous former political appointees," said Carlos M. Gutierrez, Mr. Bush's commerce secretary. Previously chief executive of cereal maker Kellogg Co., he hopes to run a company again because "I have a lot of energy." Only 25% to 30% of ex-Bush officials seeking full-time jobs have succeeded, estimated Eric Vautour, a Washington recruiter at Russell Reynolds Associates Inc. That "is much, much worse" than when Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton left the White House, he said. At least half those presidents' senior staffers landed employment within a month after the administration ended, Mr. Vautour recalled. That must be why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has demanded that Senate Republican staffing remain at last year's levels -- causing a 10% increase in their budget for "congressional operations" -- despite the fact that the GOP lost 20 percent of their caucus in the November election, and should require a whole lot less staffing. But then, according to RNC Chairman Michael Steele , those aren't real jobs after all since they're government jobs. They don't count. Mark Nickolas is the Managing Editor of Political Base , and this story was from his original post, " While Aides Can't Find Work, Bush Charging $150,000 For Speeches ."   More on Michael Steele
 
Presented By: Top
 
Andy Borowitz: CIA Following Bin Laden on Twitter Top
In what some are calling a breakthrough in the hunt for the world's most wanted man, the Central Intelligence Agency revealed today that it is following Osama bin Laden on Twitter. The decision to track Mr. bin Laden's movements, moods, and musical tastes came late last week after the agency discovered he was using the popular social networking utility. "We thought we were detecting an increase in chatter from Osama bin Laden," CIA chief Leon Panetta told reporters today. "What it turned out to be was an increase in tweets." Mr. Panetta said the agency's success in tracking Mr. bin Laden via Twitter would depend on its ability to decode a series of seemingly indecipherable messages. "So far he is tweeting in code, using such terms as LOL and OMFG," Mr. Panetta said. "At this point we have no idea what he is trying to say." The spy chief said that Mr. bin Laden's Twitter usage seems to peak between the hours of 8 and 9 PM on Mondays: "This may simply be a coincidence, but that's when 'Gossip Girl' is on." Elsewhere, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said that if he is injured at any point during his marriage to Gisele Bundchen, Matt Cassel will go in for him. Andy Borowitz is a comedian and writer whose work appears in The New Yorker and The New York Times , and at his award-winning humor site, BorowitzReport.com . He is performing at the 92nd St. Y on April 30 at 8 PM with special guests Judy Gold, Hendrik Hertzberg, and Jonathan Alter. For tickets, go to 92y.org . More on Twitter
 
Ann Wright: Can Gaza Be Rebuilt Through Tunnels? The Blockade Continues--No Supplies, No Rebuilding Top
How do you rebuild 5,000 homes, businesses and government buildings when the only way supplies come into the prison called Gaza is through tunnels? Will the steel I-beams for roofs bend 90 degrees to go through the tunnels from Egypt? Will the tons of cement, lumber, roofing materials, nails, dry wall and paint be hauled by hand, load after load, 70 feet underground, through a tunnel 500 to 900 feet long and then pulled up a 70 foot hole and put into waiting truck in Gaza? The gates to Gaza slammed shut again on Thursday, February 5, the day our three person group departed Gaza, having been allowed in for only 48 hours. The Egyptian government closed the border crossing into Gaza continuing the sixteen month international blockade and siege. The crossing had been briefly open to allow medical and humanitarian supplies into Gaza following the devastating 22 day attack by the Israeli military. The attacks killed 1,330 Palestinians and injured over 5,500. The Israeli government said the attacks were to punish Hamas and other groups for firing unguided rockets into Israeli, rockets that over the past two years have killed about 25 Israelis. Most international observers have called the Israeli response to the rocket attacks disproportionate and collective punishment, elements of war crimes. Today, seventeen days after the gates swung closed on Gaza, they remain firmly locked. Ceasefire talks in Cairo between the Israeli government and Hamas are stalled. Opening the border with Egypt is a contentious point in the ceasefire negotiations. For the people of Gaza, rebuilding their homes, businesses, factories is on hold. Over 5,000 homes and apartment buildings were destroyed and hundreds of government buildings, including the Parliament building, were smashed. Building supplies, cement, wood, nails, glass will have to be brought in from outside Gaza. Two cement factories in northern Gaza were completely destroyed by Israeli bombs. Prime Minister Olmert's spokesperson Mark Regev said reconstruction supplies like steel and cement can be used by Hamas to build more bunkers and rockets. Dissension in the Palestinian ranks between Fatah and Hamas continues, even after the brutal Israeli attack on Gaza. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad wants aid (perhaps as high as $2 billion) for rebuilding Gaza to be s ent directly to each homeowner in Gaza, allowing donors to avoid the elected Hamas government. The U.S., Israeli and other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, and do not want international aid in Gaza administered by Hamas, even though the people of Gaza elected the Hamas government. On March 2, an international donor conference will be held in Egypt to discuss the costs of rebuilding Gaza. Who Profits from War and Occupation? Building supplies will have to be brought from outside Gaza. Israel controls 90 percent of the land borders to Gaza-the northern and eastern borders and 100 percent of the ocean on the west side of Gaza. Egypt controls the southern border with Gaza. The Israelis who bombed Gaza will be the primary financial beneficiaries of the rebuilding of Gaza. They bombed it and now will sell construction materials to rebuild what they have bombed, exactly like the United States has done in Iraq. Egyptians too will benefit financially from the reconstruction-high priced small construction materials that will fit into the tunnels are no doubt have been transiting through the tunnels for the past 6 weeks. Israeli women had created a website detailing who profits from occupation. No doubt a second website is under construction that will track which Israeli, Egyptian and American companies will benefit from the bombing of Gaza. Prisoner Exchanges as a Part of the Ceasefire Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his security cabinet said this week that no border crossings will be open until the Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit is returned to Israel. Schalit was captured by Hamas in 2006 in an Israeli cross border raid into Gaza. Hamas has demanded the release of up to 1,400 Palestinian soldiers in exchange for Shalit. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Hamas "had no objection" to Shalit's release if Israel would release 1,400 of 11,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, including Parliamentarians elected in Gaza in 2006. In the past, Israel has agreed to exchanges of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners for a few captured troops or their bodies. But Israeli and Palestinian officials had not agreed where the released prisoners would be sent after the swap. Israeli wants the prisoners expelled out of the country and Hamas wants them returned to their homes in Gaza or the West Bank. "Open the Borders" International Delegation to Gaza On March 5, I will be part of a 30-member international delegation that will travel to the Gaza border with Egypt in solidarity with the women of Gaza for International Women's Day. Israeli women will be at the Israeli border crossing into Gaza. Groups all over the world will join in with pressure on the Israeli, Egyptian and American governments to open the border to Gaza and let the people of Gaza rebuild their lives. For more information about the international delegation, click here . More on Palestinian Territories
 
Coke: Obama Administration's Drink Of Choice Top
In apparent homage to the new President, PepsiCo has plastered the sides of buses and bus stops in the nation's capital with slogans like "Yes You Can," "Optimismmmm" and "Hope." In each poster, the letter "O" is inscribed with the redesigned Pepsi logo, a red, white and blue sphere that echoes the rising sun image used by the Obama campaign.
 
Christine Huang: Twipple: Twitter To Be Kind Top
This article originally appeared on PSFK.com . As Twitter quickly becomes a household name, some are finding uses for the microblogging tool that go beyond work and play . One of of the most thoughtful we've seen is Twipple - twittering + random acts of kindness. As the twitter page explains, "a twipple is a random act of kindness via twitter. We post 1 twipple per 100 sign ups. So please sign up and tell your friends. twipple ideas also welcomed!" We asked Twipple creator and PSFK friend Floyd Hayes to share a bit more about 'the twipple effect'. First: what is twipple? A twipple is a Tweet combined with random acts of public kindness, Flash Mobs and a dose of silliness. Unlike normal flash mobs, participants perform the action right there and then as opposed to converging in a large group at a specified time and location. Adrants called it a "feel good meme" which I love! How did twipple start? I'd been following flash mobs for years and at the same time getting into the concept of 'socially useful marketing'. I'd commented on PSFK a few times asking why flash mobs, although great fun and an interesting modern phenomena, couldn't be more socially useful. Which led me to think about random acts of kindness. This concept has been around since 1982, reportedly coined by peace activist Anne Herbert. So, it occurred to me it may be interesting to revisit the Random Acts idea but through the modern lens of twitter. The name came from the combination of the word 'twitter' and the word 'ripple' as in 'ripple effect.' I started the project on Feb 1 2009. Twitter is free and easy and I wanted to learn more about how it worked, how people networked through it, how information flowed, the etiquette and so on. What do you hope to achieve with the project? I had no big goal in mind. I call these kind of personal experiments 'Information Toys' - information-based ideas I can play with and learn from. In this instance I was taken by the idea of people being inspired through twitter to do socially useful and fun public acts. In my heart of heart I would like thousands of people doing twipples and importantly, putting forward their own twipple suggestions. I don't want to be some sort of benign twitter puppet master! I'd like it to take on a life of is own really. If anything, I would be happy if it just makes people think for one second about how we behave socially in groups and how this wonderful technology at our disposal can be used for positive purposes beyond marketing or aimless goofiness (although I'm a fan of both of those things too!) How do small gestures (like individual twipples) turn into big change? ... to read more, visit PSFK.com . More on Twitter
 
Keith Thomson: The Mossad's Plan to Stop Iran Top
Sometimes the Mossad seems like the intelligence community's answer to Hogwarts. The agency's tactics detailed herein are not secret, certainly not to the Iranians--Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security plays the same game the world over, including in the United States . The Mossad simply plays better. Almost unbelievable so. Recently, one of my sources, who has extensive and relevant experience as a CIA operations officer, was marveling at the Israeli 2007 air strike against Syria: "Israeli jets took off from Tel Aviv, flew all the way across Syria, and dropped bombs, destroying Syria's entire 'secret' nuclear cache. Then they flew all the way home, and the entire mission went undetected by Syrian radar that was state-of-the-art Russian technology. Somehow they caught the Syrians completely off-guard!" To execute the attack, the Mossad first had to get wind of the shipment of nuclear materiel (possibly from North Korea), ascertain its hiding place, then disable Syria's myriad air defense installations. The effort on the whole, according to my source, "pushed the known boundaries of intelligence gathering capability." The downside is the lesson given to the Iranians. They're wise to the radar trick now. "Also, while the Syrians had just one nuclear installation, in Iran now they have a gazillion of them, and they're all over the place." No wonder Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called the Iranian nuclear effort an "existential threat." I asked my source: What's being done to thwart Iran? Answer: Penetration of the Iranian nuclear apparatus at the highest levels. The basic precepts are as old as Sun-Tzu. The CIA is trying. The Mossad is more successful. Q: Does the Mossad use its own operatives or foreign agents? A: Agents--Iranian nationals who work in Iran in a capacity that enables them to travel around the country at will. Q: Why is traveling around the country important? A: Your objective is to take pictures, map the nuclear sites, find out how deeply beneath the ground the sites are buried--so you know what sort of bunker buster bomb is needed. Also trucks and trains are also important because they're necessary to supply facilities engaged in manufacturing weapons-grade uranium; a lot of times materials going in and out will tell a lot about what is going on inside... Essentially, you're casing Iran. Q: In preparation for an air raid? A: Yes. Satellites will give you a lot of that, but visits can be very, very valuable. Your agents talk to people in the towns near the sites, they talk to the guards in the barracks--you can glean a lot of information from elicitation and observation. Also you want to know the population areas--the Israelis are concerned about collateral damage. Q: How does the Mossad recruit Iranian agents? A: The recruitment of an Iranian source by a Mossad officer admitting to be Israeli is very, very difficult. The best method is using a false flag--going by a different nationality. Perhaps you use a Persian-looking guy who is fluent in Farsi to pose as an Iranian. Or your officer poses as an officer of one of the intelligence services with whom Iran has good relationships, like the French. Or maybe you recruit an actual Frenchman to serve as your principal agent, and he in turn recruits the Iranian. The question is: What is your Iranian traveling-salesman type receptive to? Q: Money? Blackmail? Honey traps? A: For an asset like that, usually it's money. Q: How much? A: For a low-level guy in that part of the world, $1000 a month in an escrow account outside of Iran is a lot of money. Also he'll probably need an ideological tweak--he needs to justify why he's spying, so he doesn't think of himself as a venal bastard. Maybe it's about world peace--in which case you assess what your potential source likes or doesn't like about what Iran is doing. Maybe he doesn't like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. So you pose as a faction trying to get Ahmadinejad out of office. Sometimes you even get someone who loves the USA--Iran used to be our great ally pre-Jimmy Carter. The Iranians danced in the streets and wore lipstick and, all of the sudden, the Ayatollah came in and changed all that. Your fifty or sixty-year-old source remembers those times and often would like to go back. Q: What about the reports that the Mossad is sending letter-bombs and anthrax-tainted mail to scientists involved in Iran's nuclear program? A: Very doubtful. The Israelis are not interested in spreading anthrax. It's too dirty, too "terrorist." They prefer to strike surgically. Q: Is there any rumint [blend of rumor and intelligence] on the prospective outcome? A: The Israelis can't permit Iran to get a bomb. They can't allow another Holocaust. Without US help, it seems like they have no chance. Historically, though, they've shown a propensity to pull a rabbit out of the hat. More on Syria
 
2012 GOP Ticket: Bobby Jindal And Kenneth The Page Top
So first Bobby Jindal gave the Republican response to President Obama's speech on Tuesday and sounded EXACTLY like Kenneth the page from "30 Rock" . Then Jack McBrayer (aka Kenneth Parcell aka Kenneth the Page) responded to the comparison on a test show for "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." And now an enterprising t-shirt salesman has created the site "Bobby Kenneth 2012" that serves as the first official platform for a complete 2012 GOP ticket. The site offers the teams "official" views on healthcare: "We believe all Americans should be able to pay for the best medical care they can afford or, conversely, barter for health care on a moonshine-for-leeches-type system." And promoting a bird-ownership society: "Since we were coming up on our pappy's knee, we've known that the anxious twitter of the family bird was the best way to know when demons were afoot." The site also offers a volcano-monitoring game that doesn't work, because as we all know now, volcano monitoring is stupid. And t-shirts with "30 Rock" slogans like "we want to go there" with a picture of the White House. Check it out. (Big ups to Jason Linkins for finding this. That's a thing, right?) More on Bobby Jindal
 
Jim Carrey And Jake Gyllenhaal To Sing And Dance In "Damn Yankees" Top
New Line Cinema is playing ball with Jim Carrey and Jake Gyllenhaal on "Damn Yankees," attaching both actors to star in a contemporized film transfer of the classic musical. Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel are set to write the script. The musical is being produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the duo behind New Line's musical "Hairspray"; a sequel to that film is in the works.
 
Iraqis Welcome Obama Troop Withdrawal (VIDEO) Top
Residents of Baghdad say the departure of most U.S. troops next year is welcome, although some wonder if the country's military is ready to offer protection. More on War Wire
 
Holocaust Bishop's Apology Rejected By Vatican, Germany Considers Arrest Warrant Top
The Vatican has rejected the apology of Bishop Richard Williamson who has made headlines for his controversial remarks concerning the Holocaust, reports AP. The Vatican said Friday that the apology issued by an ultraconservative bishop who denied the Holocaust was not good enough to admit him into the Catholic Church as a clergyman. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said Bishop Richard Williamson's statement "doesn't appear to respect the conditions" the Vatican set out for him. In an interview broadcast last month on Swedish state TV, Williamson denied 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust, saying 200,000 or 300,000 were murdered. He said none were gassed. Williamson apologized for his remarks on Thursday, saying he would never have made them if he had known "the full harm and hurt to which they would give rise." But he did not say his comments had been erroneous, nor that he no longer believed them. In related news, Germany is considering issuing an arrest warrant for the bishop as it is illegal to deny the Holocaust in their country. AP reports : Germany may issue an arrest warrant on hate crime charges against the British Holocaust-denying Catholic bishop Richard Williamson, the justice minister said today. It is illegal to deny the Holocaust in Germany and several other EU countries. Brigitte Zypries said officials were considering issuing an EU-wide warrant because the ultra-conservative clergyman denied the Nazi's killed six million Jews in a television interview that was recorded in Germany. Brigitte Zypries said officials were considering issuing an EU-wide warrant because the ultra-conservative clergyman denied the Nazi's killed six million Jews in a television interview that was recorded in Germany. A German investigation into his remarks was already under way, she said. "Germany could issue a European arrest warrant," she said. A new set of EU guidelines to toughen national anti-racism and hate crime laws was passed in 2007. They will commit all 27 EU countries to impose criminal sanctions against people or groups that publicly incite violence or hatred against other groups or persons based on race, colour, religion, descent or ethnic origin. The guidelines also recommend EU nations impose prison sentences of up to three years for those convicted of denying genocide, such as the mass killing of Jews during the Second World War and the 1990s massacre in Rwanda. More on Pope
 
The GOP's Next Anti-Pork Rallying Cry: Blueberries! Top
The next anti-pork rallying cry for the GOP is coming in the form of small, purple fruit. On Friday, Minority Leader John Boehner attacked the omnibus spending bill currently heading through Congress by honing in one particularly odd-sounding earmark: federal money for "blueberry research." "They had money in this bill for blueberry research, a nature center, a whole bunch of other beautification projects," said the Ohio Republican, but "they couldn't find money to continue the D.C. scholarship program." Absurdity was the effect that Boehner was hoping for, and the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference ate it up (not literally). But there was, as usual, another side to story: without the money, experts say, the blueberry industry could fall by the wayside; hundreds if not thousands of jobs could be at risk, and the U.S. government could deny itself serious advancements in medicine and cancer research. Overall, the total cost of blueberry expenditure (in the form of four separate earmarks) in the omnibus -- roughly $940,000 -- is a drop in the bucket when looking at the total cost -- $410 billion -- of the entire package. And some of the co-sponsors of those earmarks include members of Boehner's own party: Sens. Saxby Chambliss, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Reps. Jack Kingston and Frank LoBiondo. Indeed, lawmakers in states like New Jersey, Michigan, Maine and Georgia, insist that blueberries and cranberries are major economic engines in their states, impacting hundreds if not thousands of jobs. "Maine is the number one producer of wild blueberries in the world," said Rep. Mike Michaud, D-ME. "In fact, the total economic impact on our state is $250 million per year, and the industry supports 2,540 jobs -- many of which are in the most economically challenged areas of our state." Moreover, much of the money, as Michaud notes, is aimed at minimizing reliance on pesticides and integrating crop management programs, both of which can mean healthier food. The same holds true in other states. "What we are trying to do is breed blueberries that have a resistance to diseases," said Dr. Nick Vorsa, of the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. "This funding is actually critical to keep that research growing." But the loftiest benefits of investing in blueberry research are the far-reaching medical benefits that it can help uncover. Some of the research will be geared towards advancing and understanding the ways in which antioxidants are beneficial in the prevention of cancer and heart disease. Asked if he thought the additional funding for his lab -- however minimal -- could help uncover measures to more effectively combat ovarian cancer, Vorsa's replied "absolutely."
 
Presented By: Top
 
David Wild: Scott Walker vs. Jonas Brothers: Compare and Contrast Top
This weekend at the box-office, there's gonna be a cinematic showdown: In one much smaller, art house corner, there's Scott Walker: 30 Century Man , a fascinating and subtle exploration of an enduring musical enigma. Walker (born Noel Scott Engel) is a recovering youth sensation, formerly of Walker Brothers fame, and currently perhaps one of the most daring avant-garde artists to ever emerge from our pop music world. With longtime Scott Walker admirer David Bowie serving as executive producer as well as one on-camera observer, director Stephen Kijack has done a fine job of giving us some actual insight into a compelling and heretofore mysterious cult figure who's long been worthy of our wonder. In the other, much easier-to-find corner in a theater near you, we have Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience . Personally, I quite like my Jersey homeboys -- and can only imagine how great Kevin, Joe and Nick (unlike the Walkers, actual brothers -- advantage Jonas!) will look given a whole extra dimension. If I can get my young sons to come along with me for cover, I'll definitely check these brothers out this weekend. Scott Walker vs. Jonas Brothers. America, the lines are now drawn and the choice is yours. But isn't it time that we stop this feud before someone's feelings get hurt? Do we really have to pick just one? You can read more from Ken at kenlevine.blogspot.com
 
Mike Tidwell: Family Income and Climate Security: We Can Have Both Top
Which one can crash faster: the American economy or the planet's fragile atmosphere? It almost seems like a cruel race these days. Thankfully, one Congressional response could help solve global warming while putting serious dollars in the pockets of hurting Americans. And by dollars I don't mean distant energy-efficiency savings or the vague promise of avoided oil wars. I'm talking about actual monthly wire transfers right now to real American families while the climate heals. Washington is awash in creativity these days when it comes to the long-ignored problem of global warming. Legislative proposals include everything from a "cap and trade" approach to a carbon tax to a regime to "cap and invest" in green energy. But only one idea, in my view, meets the critical requirements of fairness, rapid climate results, and guaranteed voter appeal. That idea is the so-called "cap and dividend" concept. Already, the idea of giving carbon dividends to U.S. citizens is supported by a wide spectrum of leaders, including Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), New York mayor Michael Bloomberg (independent), and former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich. Why? The economy, for starters. After the Wall Street collapse, Americans want policy clarity and fairness in the face of falling incomes. Unfortunately, many of the "cap-and-trade" approaches would cap greenhouse gas emissions while creating tradable carbon "allowances" for companies under rules that tend to be complicated and uneven in their societal benefits. Are voters really ready for "carbon derivatives" handled by expert traders in a system few can understand? A cap-and-dividend system, on the other hand, would boldly and directly move energy markets toward clean fuels while generating billions of dollars in monthly dividend checks shared equally by all American families -- guaranteed. Impossible? Not at all. That's because this approach begins by asking the right question: Who owns the sky? The government? Corporations? No, we all share equally in the benefits and potential hazards associated with our one-and-only atmosphere. So if any company wants to put harmful pollution into the sky, then it must first pay the equivalent of a land-fill -- or "sky-fill" -- charge. That money must then go back directly to every man, woman, and child in America. Simplicity is the key. A bill being introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) would create a national dividends plan by establishing an "upstream" cap for carbon fuels. This means only companies who first introduce carbon into the economy would have to purchase a sky-fill permit. This differs from most "cap and trade" approaches which use complex regulations to monitor end-point emissions at every smokestack and tailpipe in America. A dividends approach, on the other had, would monitor only the "point of first sale" and would affect only a few hundred companies. When the raw oil, coal or natural gas is mined or offloaded from a tanker, a permit is required before it can be sent to wholesale markets and up through the national energy food chain. All carbon permits used for this purpose would be auctioned by the government and the revenue sent directly to the U.S. Treasury. These permits would, by design, cause carbon-based fuels to rise in price, including gasoline, coal-fired electricity, and natural gas. The resulting "price signal" would effectively push markets toward a rapid embrace of wind energy, solar power, energy-efficient appliances, cars, etc. But during the transition, as carbon fuels rise before 100 mpg cars hit the market, average Americans will see an increase in their aggregate energy bill. That's where the dividend comes in. The hundreds of billions of dollars raised by the upstream carbon cap each month would be evenly divided and transferred by check or electronic wire to every American with a social security number. A struggling single mom with three kids would get the same amount as the wealthy mansion owner. The carbon cap would start small and then ramp up per our climate needs. As for dividends, the initial sum would probably be around $80 per month per family member, or nearly $1000 per adult annually. That's more than enough to guarantee that 60 percent of all Americans - i.e. nearly everyone at lower- and middle-income levels -- will financially gain from this system. I repeat: They will have more net dollars to spend each year despite changing energy prices. Wealthier Americans who typically use more energy per capita can gain too by simply accelerating their own efficiency improvements at home. Incentives abound at every turn under this system. Thankfully, President Obama himself has already endorsed most features of a cap-and-dividend approach. During the campaign he said all carbon permits must be auctioned under any climate plan, and that "a huge chunk" of the revenue returned to all Americans. He also promised to never raise middle-class taxes, something that most cap-and-trade proposals actually achieve by capping carbon and not returning most of the money to voters. The Van Hollen bill would give back no less than 90 percent of the money while using the rest mostly to re-train and assist coal miners, oil drillers and other workers adversely impacted by the nation's transition to clean energy. But the clincher for this approach is the great politics. We need to solve the climate crisis, yes, but we can't do it without popular support, without voters picking up the phone and telling Congress to do the right thing. The dividend policy unifies many environmentalists, fiscal conservatives, and champions of energy security. And it will make the phones ring in Congress. Simply put, it's rare that voters get to do the right thing and see immediate rewards for their household budgets. That's why a cap-and-dividend bill is the right approach for solving the climate crisis in 2009. Mike Tidwell is director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network
 
Jennifer Hudson Breaks Silence To Oprah Top
CHICAGO — Jennifer Hudson says she's glad to be back performing and it's "like therapy" for her. The Oscar- and Grammy-winning performer made the remarks on a live episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that aired Friday. Hudson says she's "in a very good place," but didn't make a direct reference to the October slayings in Chicago of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. Hudson performed her latest single, "If This Isn't Love." She says accepting the Grammy from Whitney Houston "almost surpassed" winning the award for best R&B album. ___ On the Net: http://www.oprah.com More on Oprah
 
Obama's Courtesy Call To George W. Bush On His Iraq Plan Top
Before announcing his plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq, President Obama made an intriguing courtesy call on Friday morning: to former president George W. Bush, who began the war that Obama has so vehemently opposed. White House officials did not elaborate on the call, which Obama placed from a holding room at Camp Lejeune just moments before he gave his long-awaited speech. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said Obama made the call "as a courtesy" to the former president. More on Barack Obama
 
Video: GOP Leaders Taking Cues From Rush Limbaugh Top
The progressive group Americans United For Change is certainly not the first to attempt to paint GOP opposition to the Obama administration as a set of directives that come straight from the mouth of Rush Limbaugh. But they're certainly making one of the more direct attempts, in a video released yesterday. [WATCH] According to Brad Woodhouse, the President for AUFC, the ad will be appearing "on national cable and in the Washington, DC market -- including some Sunday shows - thru the early part of next week." Woodhouse lays out the thinking behind the ad thusly: Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party. He says jump and Eric Cantor and other Republican leaders say how high. Limbaugh is better known among Republicans than any of the Republicans Leaders in Congress and when he speaks they listen and follow just as they did in opposing en masse President Obama's recovery package. If you look at the polls which came out earlier this week - Rush Limbaugh led Republicans off a political cliff on the recovery package - and now they are - at his instruction - lining up to oppose the Obama budget and the rest of his agenda hoping - as Limbaugh does - that Obama fails. Of course - the vast majority of Americans want Obama to succeed and they know if he fails America fails. Republicans have adopted this strategy and this ad and a bunch of other stuff our side in planning is gonna make them own it and Limbaugh. That overall point of view has the potential to gain traction as a core part of the Democratic Party message, as Woodhouse will be leaving his post at Americans United For Change to take over as Communications and Research Director of the Democratic National Committee. More on Video On HuffPost
 
Obama May Overturn Bush 'Conscience Rule' On Abortions Top
Taking another step into the abortion debate, the Obama administration today will move to rescind a controversial rule that allows healthcare workers to deny abortion counseling or other family planning services if doing so would violate their moral beliefs, according to administration officials.
 
Chris Willman: Jonas Haters, You Have Nothing to Fear But JoBro-Phobia Itself Top
You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows, to quote one 1960s teen idol of some renown. And as I use my friends' Facebook status updates and Twitter feeds as my gage to forecast the national mood, I can't help but noticing the sense of dread and anxiety creeping into everyone's comments these last few days--an overwhelming sense that hard times are ahead, that things are going to get worse before they're going to get better, and that difficult, almost unfathomable sacrifices will have to be made. Whether it's expressed as gallows humor or in the language of real depression, you can feel folks shutting down in anticipation of the spirit-wrecking desolation they assume to be nigh. There can be no doubt about it: People are really, really not looking forward to taking their kids to the Jonas Brothers' 3D movie this week. So, like Obama standing before the Congress, let me unwrap the noose from around your neck and extend a message of hope. Which is this: If all you proud parental kvetchers can just get over yourselves , you may find that both the Jonases and their concert movie are pretty good. No, better than that: The dreaded trio are, in fact, perfectly aces as a rock & roll band, and the film's a depth-of-field redoubling blast. It does occur to me that there is a history of people being sent to electroshock for saner talk, and that a teen-pop prophet is without honor in his own land. I would only urge you to open your ears and heart and realize what the men don't know, but the little girls understand: that well-crafted power-pop is well-crafted power-pop, regardless of the cheekbones and Disney contracts of the bearer. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Experience kicks off with a staged sequence that will strike many chaperones of a certain age as nothing less than sacrilege. Under the main titles, we see the JoBros, trapped in a midtown traffic bottleneck on their way to a GMA appearance, escape from the sun roof of their limo and make a run for a nearby helicopter, pursued through the Manhattan streets by dozens of ravenous girls. There may be a little bit of Dawn of the Dead in there, but mostly it is a blatant homage to the famous kickoff to A Hard Day's Night , which found the Fabs similarly on the run from throngs of girls young enough to possibly not know what to do if they caught them. This should , of course, be taken as a playful nod to history and not the Jonases actually believing they're really in the same Beatleleague as their forebears in tween hysteria. And it's not as if we few, proud adult defenders believe they're three years away from making their Sgt. Pepper . The group's unofficial leader, principal songwriter and multi-instrumentalist MVP, Nick, is still a tender 16, so maybe we should give them at least seven or eight years before expecting them to come up with Side 2 of Abbey Road . But what they are coming up with is bloody impressive, and not just for their age. Listen to the dozen-plus songs performed in this concert movie (and it is a concert movie, not a pseudo-documentary, a few backstage bits aside) and you'll hear unpretentiously propulsive rockers like "Pushin' Me Away" that could have been hits even in the more demanding late '60s. In fact, if many of the Jonas Brothers' songs appeared in a vintage compilation like Nuggets , the celebrated garage-rock collection that is a staple in every rock critic's household, the rock intelligentsia would have collective dry-mouth from slobbering over these newly discovered gems. Their music, especially the tunes from their third and by far best studio album, last year's A Little Bit Longer , are very much in the tradition of power-pop favorites like Cheap Trick and the Dwight Twilley Band. But there's a little bit of a problem. The Los Angeles Times review of the new film, which couldn't be bothered to definitely distinguish which brother is which, found the tuneage "mostly sounding like a modernized iteration of the glam-pop style of Cheap Trick or Redd Kross but minus the rust-belt roots or ironic self-regard." Sounds like a resounding endorsement to me, though the critic in question meant it as a slam. I loved Cheap Trick in the late '70s for the same reasons everybody else did: as a chance to recapture some of the glorious pop influences of the early Beatles, but with a wink that made it all okay, which came mostly in the form of Rick Nielsen's and Bun E. Carlos' hilarious utterly preposterous physical appearances. But two decades on, do we really require "ironic self-regard" as a prerequisite for enjoying the timeless virtues of nitty-gritty riffs, soaring hooks, clever bridges, and reasonably articulated puppy lust? Even if the purveyors are preternaturally talented, or at least largely self-made, teens? We once bought the earnest, adolescent glee of "Can't Buy Me Love" without forcing the song to pass some archness bar; perhaps it's not a nullification of everything we've learned about the world since to embrace it again. I realize these kinds of statements are credibility killers, and any caveats about how I'm looking forward to the Leonard Cohen tour at least as much as the JoBros' may fall on dubious ears. So be a groan-up if you must, but if you have children with any kind of musical aspiration, perhaps you could find better targets for your scorn than kids who write their own songs (only a few of their recent numbers even credit a cowriter) and--urban myths to the contrary--play instruments. Proficiency may not be the reason your daughters are getting the vapors, and auteurism is hardly a requirement for great pop music, but the element of actual aptitude is a nice Jonas bonus, crucial swooniness notwithstanding. Do not give in to despondency, then, wary chaperones: You have nothing to fear but JoBro-phobia itself. And an imposing 3D eyebrow or sideburn or two.
 
Brian Williams On The Daily Show: America In "Titanic Struggle," Not So Bad He Needs To Twitter About It Top
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, speaking to Jon Stewart of the Daily Show last night, characterized the nation as being gripped in a "titanic struggle" the likes of which we haven't seen since "the big man," Franklin Delano Roosevelt. "We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow," Williams said, "We don't know how bad this is." He did not rise to Stewart's baited suggestion that everyone withdraw their money from the banks "at midnight," however, saying: "John, I'm suggesting nothing of the sort." That's too bad, because it would have been an excellent way to create synergy with last night's "Tracy Jordan freaks out America" episode of 30 Rock . Oh, and gird yourself: Brian Williams does not Twitter. And that's okay. He's got a "teevee show." Things will be okay. They really, really will. I promise you. [WATCH] The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M - Th 11p / 10c Brian Williams Daily Show Full Episodes Important Things With Demetri Martin Political Humor Joke of the Day [MISSED CHANCE AT SYNERGY] More on Video On HuffPost
 

CREATE MORE ALERTS:

Auctions - Find out when new auctions are posted

Horoscopes - Receive your daily horoscope

Music - Get the newest Album Releases, Playlists and more

News - Only the news you want, delivered!

Stocks - Stay connected to the market with price quotes and more

Weather - Get today's weather conditions




You received this email because you subscribed to Yahoo! Alerts. Use this link to unsubscribe from this alert. To change your communications preferences for other Yahoo! business lines, please visit your Marketing Preferences. To learn more about Yahoo!'s use of personal information, including the use of web beacons in HTML-based email, please read our Privacy Policy. Yahoo! is located at 701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)