Saturday, July 4, 2009

Y! Alert: The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

Yahoo! Alerts
My Alerts

The latest from The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

William Bradley: Obama's Consequential First 4th: NoKo, AfPak, Iraq, Russia, Palin (Palin?!) Top
In his weekend video/radio address, President Barack Obama discussed the heritage of Independence Day and pushed his economic, energy, and health care agenda. Quite a consequential first 4th of July as president for Barack Obama. Not only did he have 20 of daughter Malia's schoolgirl friends over for a Camp David sleepover in honor of her 11th birthday on the 4th of July -- just wait till her "Independence Day," Dad -- he had a few other things on his plate, as well as the barbeque for military families and the fireworks show. Not counting his inherited worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Those wacky characters in North Korea had threatened to challenge him in two big ways. First, with a ship reportedly carrying contraband weapons technology for sale. And more dramatically, with a threatened test launch of a long-range missile toward Obama's home state of Hawaii on the 4th of July. But fortune, or perhaps the judicious use of presidential pressure, smiled on Obama as the ship turned back and the missile launch to Hawaii did not materialize. On the AfPak crisis, Obama monitored the first big military offensive he's ordered, the Marines in southern Afghanistan, just underway over the last three days, as well as the first big military offensive he's suggested, the Pakistani Army against encroaching Pakistani Taliban, underway for weeks. On the Iraq War, which he opposed from the beginning as a distraction from the attackers of 9/11 and a quagmire-in-the-making, Obama monitored the pullback of US combat forces from Iraq's cities and towns, completed just a few days ago. With Vice President Joe Biden on the scene, On Russia, Obama continued prepping for what may be his most important summit meeting of the year, the Moscow Summit on July 6-8. And received good news about Russian assistance in Afghanistan. Which naturally will come with a price tag. On Sarah Palin. Okay, that's more of a light dessert. But still, at least a mild distraction. Is there a rational political explanation for her behavior? And, more to the point. Does it matter in the least? Two weeks ago, North Korea had a ship at sea carrying contraband weapons technology, in seeming violation of the UN Security Council, and threatened to launch a long-range missile at Hawaii on the 4th of July. Both threats evaporated. ** For weeks, Obama and his team had to monitor the North Korean situation. The threatened long-range missile test launch toward Obama's home state Hawaii on the 4th of July did not, in the end, materialize. But the North Koreans did fire off a number of shorter-range missiles, which can reach targets in South Korea and Japan. Perhaps the North Koreans were dissuaded by Obama moving anti-missile units to Hawaii to shoot down their missile on the off chance it got anywhere near. (Their last two long-range missile tests were failures, with an attempt in the spring to place a satellite in orbit falling far short, and another long-range launch a few years ago getting less than a minute down range.) North Korea also provided some drama by sending a cargo ship, the Kang Nam, apparently carrying missiles, on a voyage to rendezvous with some buyers. Obama ordered a Navy destroyer -- USS John McCain, by coincidence, named for the four-star admiral father and grandfather of his 2008 Republican opponent -- to shadow the North Korean vessel down the China coast. Meanwhile, it was denied entry first by Singapore, then by Burma, and turned around. It wouldn't be hard to dismiss North Korea as a silly nation, intent on comic operate threats and easily stereotyped Stalinist bluster. It certainly has a pattern of acting like an attention-seeking child. But then you consider that it has the fifth-largest military in the world, and could easily overrun South Korea but for the US presence in the region. Incidentally, despite all the provocations, Obama apparently did not make the usual move of ordering an aircraft carrier strike group or two into the waters off the Korean Peninsula. An interesting subtlety, given the other moves that were made. Obama ordered thousands of US Marines into Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan in Operation Strike of the Sword. ** Obama is closely monitoring the first offensive he has ordered involving large numbers of American troops. This is Operation Strike of the Sword, involving more than 4000 US Marines and about 750 Afghan troops, as well as hundreds of British troops. They have moved into the Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, a hotbed of Afghan Taliban activity. They have encountered little resistance, and only one Marine has been killed so far. The Marines will set up a series of bases there and pursue active patrolling with the near-term goal of preventing Taliban disruption of Afghanistan's presidential election in August. Obama has clarified that the overall goal is to deny Afghanistan as a base for Al Qaeda. As distinguished from, say, setting up a 21st century Western-style democracy. There was no bad news on that front today. And given how badly things have gone in Afghanistan in recent years, no bad news counts as arguably good news. ** Vice President Joe Biden celebrated the 4th of July in Iraq with US troops and Iraqi officials. He and the Delaware contingent of National Guard troops - which includes Biden's son, Delaware Attorney General Joe Biden - had a 4th of July party at the late Saddam Hussein's presidential palace. The security handover in the cities from American to Iraqi forces is going well. So far. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev delivered an encomium to a new friendship with America. ** Obama flies to Moscow on Sunday for his major summit with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Obama is engaged in major preparations prior to the Moscow Summit. Word is that the US and Russia have reached tentative agreement on a plan to regularly ship military supplies - and perhaps US troops - across Russia to aid the US effort in Afghanistan. This summit in Moscow from July 6th to July 8th may be Obama's most important. It will be followed by the G-8 summit in Italy. Key issues, which of course will be explained further, involve America's role in NATO expansion and missile defense seemingly aimed at Russia and potential major Russian assistance to America's agenda in Afghanistan, Iran, and the Middle East. Sarah Palin resigning as governor of Alaska in a curious statement. ** Obama and company may also be trying to parse the meaning, if any, of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's sudden decision yesterday to resign from office little more than halfway through her first term. Her statement was, let's say, on the rambling side. I'm being kind. Mostly because Palin bores me. Obama should be so lucky as to face Palin in the 2012 presidential election. I have a Thursday piece, linked below, which sheds some light on the chaos surrounding Palin. Compared to the other matters, Palin is strictly a sideshow. As, actually, I've been saying since she was picked, in a distinctly backfiring move, for the Republican ticket. You can check things during the day on my site, New West Notes ... www.newwestnotes.com. More on Barack Obama
 
Alex Leo: Bon Jovi Throws Impromptu 4th Of July Concert (AUDIO) Top
The 4th of July is a hit or miss holiday. I enjoy the parades and free pass to eat nitrates, but I'm kind of over fireworks (so sad) and therefore need another activity for the evening. That, predictably, turned out to be drinking with friends. We went over to the Blue Parrot in East Hampton for sour margaritas and sweeter conversation when Bon Jovi sauntered in with the editor of "Allure." We gawked as we drank and talked about stealing various parts of his wardrobe until he got up, grabbed one of the guitars off the wall and began playing. After a brief period of tuning he put on an impromptu show that was the highlight of my sad sad life. You see, Bon Jovi was my third grade crush, the love of my young life, and considering I was just dumped, this was an excellent reminder that life has a sense of humor and we live it on its own terms or face peril. He started off with "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" that had the crowd both gaping in amazement and singing aloud at the top of their lungs. He followed up with a short rendition of "Free Bird" before trying to hang up the guitar to massive jeers. He gave in to his now raucous crowd by playing a soft and sweet version of "Dead or Alive," that I may or may not be the person screaming the lyrics along loudly to in the audio below. Enjoy! Who Says You Can't Go Home? Dead or Alive
 
Julie Menin: $10,000 for Donated Eggs: A Price for Science Top
New York has become the first state to allow public money (in this case up to $10,000) to be offered to women who donate their eggs for stem cell research. While the move was heralded by many scientists and advocates, some proponents of stem cell research along with a few bioethicists are siding with conservative groups in questioning the measure. The decision was made by the Empire State Stem Cell Board, which was granted $600,000 million by the state legislature in 2007 to devise an 11 year stem cell research plan for New York. Until now, researchers have had to rely on unwanted donor eggs from fertility clinics, which are often of poor quality and have yielded few results. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/nyregion/26stemcell.html?_r=6&ref=nyregion] As Douglas A. Melton, co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Boston, explained to the Washington Post: "The lack of compensation has meant it's been nearly impossible to get enough eggs." [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062501931.html?hpid=moreheadline] Opponents worry that the new policy could potentially exploit women who are in difficult financial straights. Thomas Berg, a Catholic priest who serves on the Empire State Stem Cell Board's ethics committee, voted against the measure, arguing: "With the economy the way it is, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that when a woman is looking at receiving up to $10,000 to sign up for research project, that's an undue inducement. I think it manipulates women. I think it creates a trafficking in human body parts." [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062501931_2.html?hpid=moreheadlines] I frankly cannot think of a more altruistic action than to donate one's eggs, irrespective of whether there is financial compensation. As it currently stands in the United States, it is nearly impossible to get women to donate their eggs for stem cell research. The lengthy process involves receiving weeks of hormone shots, followed by what can be a painful extraction process. Given that fertility clinics routinely pay women to give their eggs to infertile couples, why shouldn't those wishing to donate their eggs with the equally benevolent goal of eradicating human suffering and pain also be compensated? Furthermore, participants in medical trials are usually compensated. Why shouldn't those who choose to donate eggs for stem cell research also be paid for their time and burden? The reason New York State is even confronted with the issue in the first place is due to the years of political opposition and federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. In 2004, Californians voted to spend $3 billion in public monies on stem cell research, after President Bush restricted federal funding to only provide for research on stem cell lines that were in place by August of 2001. New York followed suit in 2007, with the second biggest state allocation of $600,000 million in public dollars. [http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2004/11/09/stem_cell_vote_blurs_religion_based_politics/] Nurturing advancements in the use of stem cells is crucial, however, we must be careful to ensure that state monies are targeted to the most cutting edge research and one way to do this is to permit compensation for women so that researchers get the best quality eggs. The scientific and political communities in our country should take heed not to repeat the same mistakes that were made in the last several decades with regard to cancer research. Looking back at the history of funding cancer studies is very instructive. Who can forget President Nixon declaring war on cancer in 1971? His National Cancer Act vowed a dramatic reduction in cancer cases and discovery of a cure by 1976. Sadly, this did not occur as cancer death rates have only fallen 5 percent between 1950 and 2005, due in large part, as the New York Times notes, to a lack of cutting edge research. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00EFDD143CF937A15757C0A96F9C8B63] With the evident promise that stem cell research holds to combat diseases like diabetes, Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries, we must do all we can to promote the best and most efficacious research in this field. Relying on poor quality eggs from fertility clinics has clearly not yielded the breakthroughs we need. New York took a step in the right direction.
 
John R. Bohrer: Newark Mayor Helps Bust Drug Deal Outside Holiday BBQ Top
Newark Mayor Cory Booker is famous for his dedication, his drive and his general lack of sleep (the guy frequently whispers sweet nothings to his coffee via Twitter). He's always on. He's a pragmatist's reformer, not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. And he's making a significant dent in Newark's crime rates... a significant and personal dent. There's that time in 2006 when he and his security detail chased down a mugger outside city hall. And today, as Mayor Booker was traveling from block party to block party, he helped bust a drug deal. Booker wrote on his Twitter page : On bbq circuit & observed a drug transaction. Officers I'm with stopped vehicle. Arrested some1 from White House Station for heroin purchase White House Station is a wealthy suburb about half an hour to the west on Route 78. The Mayor continued : Folks buy drugs in Nwk & have no idea how much violence & distruction they contribute 2.This purchase was right in front of bout 12 children From the New York State Senate to Mark Sanford and beyond, so many of our public officials have been disappointing us with their selfishness in the last few weeks. And while there are a lot of good, hardworking politicians who don't go chasing down criminals, Mayor Booker's selfless devotion to Newark still ought to be recognized. The man is three years into his first term, and only recently did he take an extended trip away from the city (and much of it was spent attending meetings for the benefit of Newark). So, thank you, Cory Booker. On behalf of everybody.
 
Fireworks Light Skies Over Hudson As New York Celebrates July 4 Top
New York City's Fourth of July fireworks along the Hudson River lit the sky with a kaleidoscope of fiery colors shooting 1,000 feet into the air. It was the nation's biggest fireworks display, with more than 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploding over a mile-and-a-half of the river. That's the length of 25 city blocks. The extravaganza was moved back to Manhattan's West Side for the first time since the 9/11 terror attacks. Tens of thousands of people lined both sides of river to watch. Among the spectators were Jamalat Bayoumy and his wife, Mosad Mohamad -- food vendors who normally work opposite the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum by the river. They lost about $1,000 in business when police asked to shut down because of the swelling crowds. "This is very nice," Bayoumy says, "but we're losing money in America." But his wife added: "America is free. We have green cards and we dream to become Americans." The fireworks were only one part of the Independence Day festivities. On Brooklyn's Coney Island, the elephants rested after eating 505 hot dog buns in six minutes Friday, winning a competition against three humans who downed 143 buns. It was a sideshow to an iconic Fourth of July event -- Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, won Saturday afternoon by Joey Chestnut, who chomped down a record 68 dogs. The day began with the Statue of Liberty's crown opening to the public for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001. At about 9 a.m., the first huddled masses huffed and puffed their way up the 354 cramped steps to take in the spectacular view of Manhattan. While the recession forced many communities to scale down, or even cancel, their fireworks, "we're a country of survivors and fighters, and we try to make things work," said Gary Souza, whose family-owned, California-based company is staging the New York display as well as hundreds of others across the country -- including the nation's capital. Manhattan's six-lane West Side Highway was closed to traffic so pedestrians could view the fireworks. Across the river, Frank Sinatra's hometown of Hoboken, N.J., had one of the best views, facing the heart of the barge lineup in the Hudson against the Manhattan skyline for "one of the biggest and best shows we've ever put together," said Souza. More on Photo Galleries
 
Lee Stranahan: No, President Obama; We Should NOT Shut Up About Health Care Reform Top
An Open Letter To President Obama From An Uninsured American. Mr. President, According to the Washington Post, you're asking health care reform advocates to stop attacks... In a pre-holiday call with half a dozen top House and Senate Democrats, Obama expressed his concern over advertisements and online campaigns targeting moderate Democrats, whom they criticize for not being fully devoted to "true" health-care reform. I was a supporter of yours in the election and for the first time in your Presidency, I'm totally and completely at a loss trying to understand your words. Like many progressives, I've tried to be patient with disappointments such as your heel dragging on granting equal rights to gay men and women or your continuation of some Bush policies. I have reserved judgment on these issues for two main reasons. First, it's still early in your term and you've done much good. Second and even more important, I felt that the single most important issue today both for my country and for me personally is health care reform. I've tried to put my money where my mouth is. I'm a video producer and a few weeks ago I embarked on a project making as many videos on health care reform as I could. I've produced close to twenty different videos on the subject, which I'll link at the bottom of this post. Most of my videos are, in one way or another, 'attacking' moderate Democrats because as I say in one of the videos, they are the people who represent the biggest threat to real health care reform for reasons both simple and obvious; people like Senator Baucus, Lieberman and the rest receive large amounts of money from the health insurance and drug company lobbyists. This is why I'm so confused by your statement, Mr. President. One of the main reasons I supported you was because I wanted to see real health care reform and another major reason was because you said - over and over - that you would stop the culture of this open corruption created by the influence of lobbyist money. A quick note about the phrase 'real' or 'true' health care reform here as well. Almost all of my videos are strongly in support of The Public Option. That was in deference to your support of it, sir. It's a compromise, however, for real health care reform - namely, a single payer, universal health care system like every single other wealthy industrialized country on the face of the earth has. But progressives have been told over and over that single payer was a pipe dream; a political impossibility. So I fell in line for the more 'realistic' public option. Now that we're seeing the compromise on that compromise, perhaps this was a mistake. Finally, a personal note since this IS a personal issue for people like me and my uninsured friend Bob Cesca, who recently urged you to 'throw down' against the corrupt and spineless politicians who are on the take. I have two kids right around the same age your daughters Sasha and Malia - Jack is 8 and Olivia is 10. My wife Lauren is three months pregnant. We live in a hotel room, Mr. President. None of us are insured. It's a risk I took because the steady job I had working in television no longer paid the bills since the TV network I worked for cut all our overtime a couple of years ago. I was working fulltime in California and couldn't afford insurance. My wife and I both have pre-existing conditions. While I'm struggling to build my video production business, I've taken the time to produce these health care videos because the issue resonates on so many levels for me and nearly everyone I know. I don't mention this for pity but to point out that producing these videos is actually a struggle which is why your words stung, Mr.. President. I believed in you and now I am not quite sure what to believe about you. It's nice that you hug people with cancer, Mr. President but we don't need hugs. Friends of mine, my family and I need the same common sense approach the health insurance that everyone else in the modern world takes for granted. Don't tell us to shut up and not take on the politicians who are paid off my the health insurance lobbyists. Step up and lead, Sir. That what we elected to do. Regards, Lee Stranahan Here's the videos     And here's a previous Huffington Post article I wrote that has another 10 videos in it. More on Joe Lieberman
 
Washington Watch With Roland Martin: New Sunday Show Aimed At Blacks Top
NEW YORK — Roland Martin will anchor a new Sunday public affairs show aimed at a black audience that will debut in September on the TV One network. The "Washington Watch" program aims to tap into a new interest in politics and government due to the election of President Barack Obama, said Johnathan Rodgers, TV One's president and CEO. It debuts Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. EDT, and the show will be repeated each week at 5 p.m. Martin, who is also a CNN commentator, will interview newsmakers and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. April Ryan, White House correspondent for the American Urban Radio Networks, and Robert Traynham, Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Comcast host, will be regular panel members. TV One is in about 48 million homes, a little less than half of the nation's TV homes. Rodgers said it dawned on him when TV One covered last year's Democratic convention and he saw many Black Caucus members trudge up to the network's temporary rooftop studio for interviews: These politicians have few outlets to talk about their issues and people have few places to hear them. "I hope to get smart, intelligent, entertaining conversation," Rodgers said, "but I put this under the public affairs arena. It doesn't have to be a ratings success." Despite the election of the nation's first black president, many of TV One's older viewers _ the network tends to get an older audience than competitor BET _ wonder whether his administration will actively push a civil rights agenda and other issues that interest them, he said. "Barack Obama is truly the American president," Rodgers said. "He is not the white American president or the black American president. He is our president. A number of our viewers might have had a different expectation." Martin said he hoped the show would reflect the state of black America every week. While the show is Washington-based, he said the concerns of people across the country would be reflected. He said he hopes to have viewers participate in the shows by suggesting questions and topics. "We want to be bottom up," he said. "The problems I see right now from so many of these shows is that they are top down _ these are the things that we think are important." Rodgers said he initially wanted the show to first air in the late afternoon or evening, to distinguish it from the crowded field of Sunday morning public affairs shows. But he was advised that premiering "Washington Watch" at that hour during football season would be suicidal.
 
Zhao Danyang, Wu-Mart Advocate, Turns Buffett Lunch Into A Windfall Top
A Chinese businessman named Zhao Danyang paid a record $2.1 million in a charity auction on eBay last year to win a lunch date with one of his heroes: Warren E. Buffett, the so-called Oracle of Omaha. This was a chance to get close to the world's greatest stock picker, Mr. Zhao says, and to pick his brain about investing, the global financial crisis and philanthropy. More on Warren Buffett
 
Palin Facebook Message Slams Media, References "Higher Calling" Top
JUNEAU, Alaska - Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday laid the groundwork to take on a larger, national role after leaving state government, citing a "higher calling" with the aim of uniting the country along conservative lines. A day after surprising even her closest friends by announcing she would step down as Alaska governor more than a year before her term was up, the controversial hockey mom was still keeping details of her future plans under wrap. But in a statement posted on Palin's Facebook account, she suggested that she had bigger plans and a national agenda she planned to push after she resigns at the end of the month. "I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint," she said. Palin also cast herself as a victim and blasted the media, calling the response to her announcement "predictable" and out of touch. "How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country," the statement said. "And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make." Palin's personal spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, confirmed to The Associated Press that the Facebook posting was written by the governor. The abruptness of her announcement and the mystery surrounding her plans has fed widespread speculation. But Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein on Saturday warned legal action may be taken against bloggers and publications that reprint what he calls fraudulent claims. "To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as 'fact' that Governor Palin resigned because she is 'under federal investigation' for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation," Van Flein said in a statement. "This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law." Palin has kept a low profile since her abrupt announcement Friday at a hastily called news conference at her home in suburban Wasilla, outside Anchorage. All of her public communication since then has been on the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, or through statements released by her office. At the same time, Palin informed her spokesman David Murrow early Saturday that someone using the name "exgovsarahpalin" on Twitter was spreading a false rumor that there was to be a party at her suburban home in Wasilla, outside Anchorage. Palin was afraid her home would be mobbed, and security was dispatched, Murrow said. With only a few weeks before she steps down on July 26, and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell takes her place, the governor spent the Fourth of July weekend in the state capital, Juneau, but was only spotted briefly on the sidelines of the city's parade. She had been invited to ride in a convertible, as she did last year, but never told organizers whether she would attend. Juneau parade director Jean Sztuk said officials drew up banners in case Palin showed and was willing to take part. As the last of the parade's clowns and marching bands headed past her, Sztuk gave up on Palin. "What governor wants to be at the end of the parade?" she asked. Her low-profile and vague Internet messages left mounting questions about her plans for the future shrouded in mystery. Will she lay the groundwork for a 2012 presidential bid? Will she find a high-profile place in the private sector, maybe on the speech circuit? Will she drop out of the limelight and focus on her five children? Her constituents, for one, wanted to know, especially in Juneau, where she has struggled to win over residents. "I think she owes it to Alaskans to tell us why," said state Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, the son of Alaska's first governor, Bill Egan. Egan, hosting a 50th anniversary statehood ceremony, said he was disappointed Palin decided not to finish out her term, which was scheduled to end in 2010. "It's sad she abandoned us at this critical time," said Egan, who was appointed by Palin to an open seat on the last day of the legislative session in April, after a protracted battle with Senate Democrats. Palin's departure can't come soon enough for Laurel Carlton, a waitress at the Capital Cafe in the Baranof Hotel, where the city's political movers and shakers meet every morning before walking a few blocks to the Capitol. "I think she has a game plan that's not Alaska, and hasn't been for awhile," Carlton said. She noted Palin has a book deal, and seems headed for the national stage. "If you're really not going to stay and do your job every day, you should leave anyway, and so the sooner the better so somebody can step in and actually do the job," Carlton said. And as far as Carlton is concerned, Palin doesn't need to explain why she's leaving. "We don't care. We just want her gone," she said. Palin, whose popularity in Alaska has waned amid ongoing ethics investigations, gave many reasons for stepping down: She didn't want to be a lame-duck governor; she was tired of the tasteless jokes aimed at her five children, including her son Trig, who has Down syndrome; she felt she could do more in another, still-to-be-defined role. Sen. John McCain didn't rule out a return to politics for his former running mate, saying Saturday he believes "she will continue to play an important leadership role in the Republican Party and our nation." He gave no other details. Even Parnell, who plans to run for re-election after finishing out Palin's term, said he was shocked at first when he learned of his boss' decision. "But then as she began to articulate her reasons, I began to understand better," he said. "And nobody -- unless they've been in her position and understood what she has gone through and dealt with and who she is as a person -- really understands." Here's the complete message, posted at 4:55PM today: * * * * Happy 4th of July from Alaska! On this Independence Day, I am so very proud of all those who have chosen to serve our great nation and I honor their selflessness and the sacrifices of their families, too. If I may, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the last 24 hours and share my thoughts with you. First, I want to thank you for your support and hard work on the values we share. Those values led me to the decision my family and I made. Yesterday, my family and I announced a decision that is in Alaska's best interest and it always feels good to do what is right. We have accomplished more during this one term than most governors do in two - and I am proud of the great team that helped to build these wonderful successes. Energy independence and national security, fiscal restraint, smaller government, and local control have been my priorities and will remain my priorities. For months now, I have consulted with friends and family, and with the Lieutenant Governor, about what is best for our wonderful state. I even made a few administrative changes over that course in time in preparation for yesterday. We have accomplished so much and there's much more to do, but my family and I determined after prayerful consideration that sacrificing my title helps Alaska most. And once I decided not to run for re-election, my decision was that much easier - I've never been one to waste time or resources. Those who know me know this is the right decision and obvious decision at that, including Senator John McCain. I thank him for his kind, insightful comments. The response in the main stream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the "politics of personal destruction". How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it's right for all, including your family. I shared with you yesterday my heartfelt and candid reasons for this change; I've never thought I needed a title before one's name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness! God bless you! And I look forward to making a difference - with you! Sarah More on Sarah Palin
 
Steve McNair Dead Top
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was shot multiple times, including once in the head, and a pistol was discovered near the body of the 20-year-old woman found dead with him Saturday in a downtown condominium. Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron identified the woman as Sahel Kazemi, whom he called a "friend" of McNair's. She had a single gunshot wound to the head. Police said the 36-year-old McNair was found on the sofa in the living room, and Kazemi was very close to him on the floor. Aaron said the gun was not "readily apparent" when police first arrived. Autopsies were planned for Sunday. Aaron said McNair's wife, Mechelle, is "very distraught." "At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved," he said. "Nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no." The bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by McNair's longtime friend Wayne Neeley, who rents the condo with McNair. Aaron said Neeley told authorities he went into the condo, saw McNair on the sofa and Kazemi on the floor but walked first into the kitchen before going back into the living room, where he saw the blood. Neeley then called a friend, who alerted authorities. Police said a witness saw McNair arrive at the condo between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday and that Kazemi's vehicle was already there. Two days ago, Nashville police arrested Kazemi on a DUI charge while driving a 2007 Escalade registered to her and McNair. McNair was in the front seat, but didn't break the law and was allowed to leave by taxi. The arrest affidavit said Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on her breath, but refused a breathalyzer test, saying "she was not drunk, she was high." Police remained at the condo Saturday night after the bodies were removed, but most of the bystanders had gone home. Fred McNair, Steve McNair's oldest brother, said some family members likely will travel to Nashville on Monday to consult with Steve McNair's wife. "It's still kind of hard to believe," Fred McNair said. "He was the greatest person in the world. He gave back to the community. He loved kids and he wanted to be a role model to kids." He said he did not know who Kazemi was. Fred McNair said his brother just finished a football camp for teenagers on June 25 in Hattiesburg, Miss. No funeral arrangements have been made. ___ Associated Press Writer Emily Wagster Pettus in Mount Olive, Miss. contributed to this report.
 
Wiener Winners: Minneapolis Star Tribune's Hot Dog Dressing Contest Gives You The Best Of The Wurst (PICS) Top
We got show-biz dogs: Darth Vader, Harry Potter and Carmen Miranda, plus one that looked alarmingly like Gumby. We got professionals: a dolphin trainer, a pirate and a couple of cowpokes. We got iconic sports dogs: Brett Favre, a Joe Mauer fan and a Gophers basketball player.
 
Brad Balfour: Dancing and Singing Holiday Hosannas Through Movie Musicals Top
Okay... It's the 4th of July and the pressure's on-- Enjoy the holiday and the fireworks. Think of the country's cheer and join family and friends for a beer and a burger. Being the grump you are, all you really want is slip away into a theater and see something... But what...? Rampaging Robots? Iraq War casualties in the making...? Well, there are other alternatives such as celebrating the summer holiday through joy and celebration of cinematic musicals. On the heels (so to speak) of Lincoln Center's 50th Anniversary, The Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates this July 4th weekend with "All Singin' All Dancin' All Weekend!"-- a marathon of American musicals spanning six decades. From young sophisticates Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Top Hat (1935) to Prince dancing away with Apollonia in Purple Rain (1984), this song and dance fest offers lavish costumes, sets and elaborate performances on the big screen--where they are rarely seen-- from Friday, July 3rd through Sunday, July 5th at the Walter Reade Theater. Of the five new 35mm prints specially made for this series three include such classics as The King and I (1956) starring Yul Brynner which garnered him a Best Actor Oscar; Pal Joey (1957) with Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak; and Carol Reed's five-time Oscar winner Oliver! (1968). Tommy! (1975), Ken Russell's cinematic fever dream of The Who's incendiary rock opera; and cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). From the opening film, Gene Kelly's Singin' in the Rain (possibly the greatest musical ever) to his On The Town the series offer old-school classics to rock revisionist takes on the musical like Ken Russell's Tommy (another of the new prints) and Milos Forman's version of Hair. Besides those two top-flight picks, there are some of my faves I hope to see, if not on this occasion, then hopefully next year. Blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell star in Howard Hawks' 1953 hit Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Astaire and Rogers are also in George Stevens' Swing Time (1936); then there's Carmen Miranda in Busby Berkeley's The Gang's All Here plus one of my all-time favorite movies, Bob Fosse's masterpiece Cabaret (1972). [In addition to individual tickets, There are two different passes: a Day Pass (admitting one person to every screening on that day) or a Series Pass (admitting one person to five films in the series).]
 
Anne Hill: How to Start a Dream Group Top
Some friends and I started a dream group on a lark one summer. 16 years later, we are still meeting every week to discuss our dreams. Somewhere along the way we stopped thinking of dreams as our mind's idle chatter, and began to be deeply affected by what we found in these nighttime visions. None of us were experts. We had read one book about starting dream groups, Jeremy Taylor's excellent Where People Fly and Water Runs Uphill . Some of us had knowledge of myths and symbols, a couple of us had a strong spiritual orientation, none of us knew much about psychology. What we did in the beginning could be described as hunt-and-peck dreamwork: every so often we had an insight into a dream, but mostly it took a very long time to find any meaning at all in our dreams. Then an amazing thing happened. Those rare moments of illumination began affecting us so deeply that they changed our life paths. One of us had dreams which spurred her to become a teacher. Another started taking herself seriously as an artist. My dreams guided me to become a dream consultant. Dreams have helped us write novels, deal with family crises, find jobs, make decisions about where to move, avert health emergencies, and much more. After 16 years we all know a great deal about dreams now, and find it hard to imagine life without our precious weekly meetings. Starting a dream group is quite simple and requires no formal training. By following a few simple guidelines, you and 3-4 friends can start your own group and begin to reap some of the benefits of regular dream sharing. 1) Dream groups vary widely in structure and schedule. Once you have a core group of people, decide how often you want to meet. Some groups meet every week for around 2 hours, while others meet once a month for a longer session. With more time you can work on more dreams, but shorter, more frequent meetings give the group a consistency that deepens your work. 2) Decide whether you want to hire someone experienced to lead the group, or go it alone. Many groups pay a dream consultant to sit in with the group once a year and contribute ideas, suggestions, and different points of view. This can provided a much-needed boost of inspiration. 3) Invest in a couple dream books or symbol dictionaries. I have some favorites , but the key is to find what works for you, and not to rely on just one resource. 4) Give your new group a limited lifespan. With just 2-3 months of meetings, you will know whether the group is a good mix of personalities and styles. If conflicts come up, instead of taking all the group's time to address the issues you can simply let the term expire and the group dissolve. Then try again with a new, modified group and see if it is successful. Once you have found the right chemistry, take a chance and make it an ongoing group! 5) Go for open-minded, rather than like-minded, people. Diversity of opinion and belief is beneficial in dreamwork, as it is often the outlying perspective that produces the greatest "aha" moments in a dream. However, make sure that there is mutual respect for opposing viewpoints. Dreams always bring up our shadow prejudices, and with the support of an open-minded group, we can all make great strides in transforming these limiting viewpoints. 6) Have fun. When in doubt, focus on the beauty of a dream . Remember the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh , and before saying anything about another person's dream ask yourself, "Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?" The compassion and awareness we cultivate through working on other people's dreams will come back to us many times over as we consider our own dreams. In the end, that is the real treasure of this simple, yet infinitely complex and rewarding practice. More on The Inner Life
 
Taste Of Chicago 2009, In Pictures (SLIDESHOW) Top
Because some things are better from afar, here's a slideshow of the food, crowds and fun (?) at Taste of Chicago. If you're actually heading to Grant Park for the festivities (or at least the liquid nitrogen-dipped popcornsicle - see last slide), use this map to find your favorite restaurants and the music lineup. And be sure to check The Parking Ticket Geek's handy holiday weekend traffic guide . (All photos by Kate Gardiner and Tim Taliaferro ) More on Travel
 
Colin Powell Cautions Obama On Big Government Top
WASHINGTON — Colin Powell worries that President Barack Obama is trying to tackle too many big issues at one time and he offers this advice: take a hard look at costs and consider the additional red tape that will be created. "The right answer is, `Give me a government that works,'" the former secretary of state said in a television interview to be aired Sunday. "Keep it as small as possible," added Powell, who said he has spoken recently with Obama and stays in touch with him. Powell, a Republican, endorsed Obama last year over the GOP presidential nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain. Obama wants to overhaul the health care system and take on climate change while also helping the country emerge from the recession. "I think one of the cautions that has to be given to the president _ and I've talked to some of his people about this _ is that you can't have so many things on the table that you can't absorb it all. And we can't pay for it all," Powell said. "And I never would have believed that we would have budgets that are running into the multi-trillions of dollars, and we are amassing a huge, huge national debt that, if we don't pay for in our lifetime, our kids and grandkids and great grandchildren will have to pay for it." It's not a new theme for Powell He complained about the government's size and intrusiveness in his 1996 speech to the Republican National Convention. He said then that the nation no longer could afford more entitlements, higher taxes and more bureaucracy. In the interview with CNN's "State of the Union" that is to air Sunday, Powell said he hasn't changed his mind. "Keep it as small as possible. Keep the tax burden on the American people as small as possible, but at the same time, have government that is solving the problems of the people," he said. He said Obama "has to start really taking a very, very hard look at what the cost of all this is. And, how much additional bureaucracy and will it be effective bureaucracy." CNN released excerpts of the interview in advance of the broadcast. More on Barack Obama
 
McCain: Palin To Play Leadership Role Top
Republican Senator John McCain expressed support for his former presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, on Saturday as Washington speculated about why the Alaska governor abruptly announced her resignation. More on Sarah Palin
 
Taste Of Chicago Gun, Knife Arrests Include Teen With Shotgun Top
Six people were arrested on charges of illegally carrying guns and two others face charges of illegally carrying knives at the Taste of Chicago and in Grant Park on Friday, authorities said.
 

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)