mercoledì 4 agosto 2010

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alt.newz.flux-all

New Bishop Once Blamed Devil for Abuse Lawsuits

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 08:39 PM PDT

A Chicago bishop who once blamed the devil for sexual abuse lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Church and proposed shielding the church from legal damages has been named to lead an Illinois diocese.

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Accused Priest Flees From Law in U.S. and Mexico

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 08:39 PM PDT

For two decades, dozens of children have accused the Rev. Nicolás Aguilar of molesting or brutally raping them. He faces an indictment charging sexual abuse in Los Angeles and at least five formal complaints in Mexico. Yet at 65 he remains at large, still working as a priest in villages here.

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High Fructose Corn Syrup Linked to Liver Scarring

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 08:38 PM PDT

High fructose corn syrup, which is linked to obesity, may also be harmful to the liver, according to Duke University Medical Center research.

"We found that increased consumption of high fructose corn syrup was associated with scarring in the liver, or fibrosis, among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)," said Manal Abdelmalek, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Duke University Medical Center.

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An American Phenomenon: The Widespread Psychiatric Drugging of Infants and Toddlers

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 08:31 PM PDT

The United States has become the psychiatric drugging capital of the world for kids with children being medicated at a younger and younger age. Medicaid records in some states show infants less than a year old on drugs for mental disorders.

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Save on appliances through Puget Sound Energy and Cash for Appliances - SnoValley Star

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 08:28 PM PDT


Save on appliances through Puget Sound Energy and Cash for Appliances
SnoValley Star
... Energy Star qualified model," Rebecca Stillings, energy policy program manager for the Washington state Department of Commerce, said in a news release. ...

and more »

Mossad And The Russian Mafia Plutonium Connection

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 08:28 PM PDT

Scientists at the European Trans-Uranium Institute at Karlsruhe in Germany, tracking the movements of all fissionable material from the former Soviet Unionís nuclear arsenal, have raised suspicions that Mossad has purchased some of the material to allegedly stop it falling into the hands of Islamic and other terror groups.

But there is also the real possibility that Israel has gone into the nuclear black market to buy fissionable material to bolster its own huge nuclear arsenal.

WRH permalink

Obama To Close Bush's Title IX Loophole

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 08:06 PM PDT

Here's some good news:

The Obama administration plans to change the so-called Title IX policy which governs gender equality in sports, eliminating what some women's rights supporters claim is a Bush-administration loophole in compliance, according to a senior White House official.

Before Bush, Title IX had three requirements:

that the proportion of male and female students participating in sports at the university was proportional to the number of male and female students enrolled in the university; that the university was expanding opportunities for women students in athletics; and that the university was meeting the athletic abilities and interests of women students.

After Bush?

In 2005, the Office for Civil Rights amended the policy, declaring that universities could comply with the third requirement if they asked students to complete a survey of their interests. The change also allowed them to equate lack of response with a lack of interest in athletics.

The 2005 rule was never widely implemented, however, because it was opposed by the N.C.A.A., which advised its members to ignore it. Erik Christianson, a spokesman for the N.C.A.A., said the organization would not comment until an official announcement was made.

In other words, the NCAA knew the loosened requirement was bullshit, which is why it advised schools to outright ignore the Bush policy, which made it easier for schools to get around providing equitable resources for women. And now the Obama administration is taking another step to restore the country to its pre-Bush standards.

Vice President Biden announced the change in policy yesterday:

“Making Title IX as strong as possible is a no-brainer,” Biden said this afternoon at an event at George Washington University. “What we’re doing here today will better ensure equal opportunity in athletics, and allow women to realize their potential - so this nation can realize its potential.”

Another example of the Obama administration cleaning up Bush's mess.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard breaking away from reliance on fossil fuels - Foster's Daily Democrat

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 07:47 PM PDT


Portsmouth Naval Shipyard breaking away from reliance on fossil fuels
Foster's Daily Democrat
"The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Energy Task Force (ETF) was established to develop and implement our energy strategy and execution plans," said Hildreth. ...

and more »

Shocking Non-News

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 07:30 PM PDT

No one could have anticipated this ... Eric Cantor (R-VA) on finance reform:

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), speaking to reporters in his Capitol office, said some talk of bipartisanship is a “sought after goal that is never achieved” and that “bicameral cooperation may be just as difficult.”

Seriously, does this kind of thing really need to be reported?

Obama's offshore odyssey - The Daily Deal (subscription)

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 07:20 PM PDT


Obama's offshore odyssey
The Daily Deal (subscription)
Shortly after taking office in 2009, Salazar announced his offshore energy strategy, which included the extension of the comment period on the Bush ...

Today in Congress

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 07:00 PM PDT

In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:

FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010

House Meets At... 10:00 a.m.: Legislative Business
First Vote Predicted... 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Last Vote Predicted... 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

"One Minutes" (10 per side)

Motion to Go to Conference on H.R. 2194 - Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (Rep. Berman – Foreign Affairs) Motion to Instruct Conferees.

Dispose of H.Res. __ - Raising a question of privileges of the House (Rep. Flake – Privileged Resolution)

Postponed Suspension Vote (1 Bill):

  1. H.Res. 1270 - Expressing support for Mathematics Awareness Month (Rep. McMorris Rodgers - Education and Labor)

  • Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.
  • Motions to go to Conference should they become available.
  • Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.

In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:

Convenes: 9:30am

Morning Business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the Majority will control the final 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Denny Chin to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. There will be up to 60 minutes for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Slow day on the floors. That Flake resolution is doubtless another attempt at coaxing the embers of earmark lobbying into open flame. At this point, I've forgotten to even check in on how they're disposing of these things.

On the Senate side, they're finally getting to the end of the list of nominations they had scheduled for consideration this week. So far, nothing's come of the sparks of outrage seen earlier in the week when various Dems sought unanimous consent to move forward on held nominations and forced Republicans to object repeatedly. But the show was important, anyway. It put a name and a face to the holds. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) might have claimed to be objecting on behalf of others, but it hardly matters. He put his name on the line to enforce those holds, so he owns them now.

Speaking of which, here's a special note: Check out the Senate Rules and Administration Committee at 10 am, reviewing the history of the filibuster, from 1789-2008. Geez, whaddya think that's about? You canwatch online and find out.

Full committee schedule appears below.

Cheers and Jeers: Thursday

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 06:59 PM PDT

From the GREAT PLANET OITH...

Ten Things I Pledge to Do Today for the Blue Planet

>> Go into a field full of methane-emitting cows and/or tea partiers and cork them.

>> Turn off my car's ignition after I've parked it in the garage instead of leaving it running in case I need to make a fast getaway.

>> Rent a helicopter (that runs on used cooking oil!) and airdrop thousands of plastic recycle bins over Portland to create awareness of this important issue.

>> Create "teachable moments" throughout the day by pointing at people drinking out of plastic water bottles and yelling into a bullhorn, "Resource-sucking energy whore!!!"

>> Insert Breathe Right nasal strips inside my nostrils so that I actually breathe less.

>> Start a coral reef in the bathtub for eventual relocation to the coast of Australia.

>> Harness solar power by using nothing but the sun and a magnifying glass to light my joint.

>> Combine bicycling and public transportation by attaching a grappling hook to the back of a metro bus and having it tow me and my Schwinn into town.

>> Practice water conservation with two everyday objects: a chamber pot and an open window.

>> And hit myself repeatedly in the face with a two-by-four while blindfolded so I can get a sense of Earth Day from the perspective of a climate-change denier.

How 'bout you?

Cheers and Jeers starts in There's Moreville... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]

Pakistan's PM announces energy policy to tackle crisis - BBC News

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 06:33 PM PDT


BBC News
Pakistan's PM announces energy policy to tackle crisis
BBC News
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has launched a national energy policy to tackle the country's massive power crisis. ...
Loadshedding To Be Cut By 33pc, Assures Gilani A Pakistan News

all 71 news articles »

On Earth Day, DELEG looks at the role Michigan plays in a green economy - MLive.com

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 06:16 PM PDT


MLive.com
On Earth Day, DELEG looks at the role Michigan plays in a green economy
MLive.com
DELEG's role is to align state energy strategy with the most effective and efficient use of Recovery Act funds. Its energy strategy targets five main areas: ...

Abbreviated Pundit Round-Up

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 03:30 PM PDT

Your one stop pundit shop.

Gail Collins on finance reform:

The Republican leadership originally seemed to believe that financial reform could be a replay of health care reform, with a political payoff for total obstruction. They’re discovering that the only real similarity is that both are almost impossible to explain. People love their doctors, but they tend to hate their bankers. Nobody is going to scare voters by predicting that if the Democratic bill passes, they may not be able to keep seeing the same hedge fund manager.

E.J. Dionne, also weighs in on finance reform:

And for the first time in Obama's presidency, Republicans are uncertain as to whether resolute opposition to a Democratic idea is in their political interest. There are strong indications that the GOP would prefer to avoid an all-out confrontation over re-regulating the financial system, and several Republican senators are saying that they would like to negotiate with Democrats. Suddenly, it's Democrats -- and, in particular, the often conflict-averse Obama -- who are relishing a fight.

This raises what might be the essential question for November: Can Democrats finally put the Republicans on the defensive?

Ben Lieberman warns that addressing environmental issues is a job killer in a piece titled, "Earth Day Causes Unemployment." Did I mention he's from the Heritage Foundation?

The Washington Times editorializes on what seems to be their op-ed page theme-of-the-day: screw the environment. Oh, and President Obama is conceited.

Robert J. Samuelson says that:

It's unclear whether the Securities and Exchange Commission can prevail over Goldman Sachs in court. Goldman's legal obligations in this complex and contested transaction are murky. But whatever happens in court, the complaint against Goldman represents a watershed. It challenges a moral transformation on Wall Street that has justified behavior that most people would regard as deceptive or dishonest.  [...]

A court will presumably decide the legal issues. But the moral question is more insistent.

Joan Vennochi notes the pandering campaign for governor in Massachusetts:

Baker, the GOP candidate who hopes to topple Governor Deval Patrick, was once famously described as the smartest man in state government. So far, he isn’t running the smartest campaign.

As a candidate, he seems stiff, unsure, and overly defensive. And, now, Baker is starting to look far too eager to please the Sarah Palin crowd.

Consider the clumsy turnaround he did on a bill that would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of “gender identity or expression.’’ Social conservatives have dubbed it “the bathroom bill,’’ contending it would sanction unisex bathrooms and locker rooms. But Baker, a Harvard-educated wonk, knows better. Harvard Pilgrim, the health insurer he headed until recently, had a similar policy forbidding discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

Yet, pressed by delegates at the Republican state convention, Baker vowed to veto the proposal, which was co-sponsored by his openly gay running mate, state Senate minority leader Richard R. Tisei. Defending himself afterwards, Baker insisted he wasn’t bowing to the scare-mongers.

“I think a guy who supports gay marriage and is pro-choice and has been pretty clear on those and picked a gay fella as his running mate is pretty much not pandering to much of anybody,’’ he said, resting his hand on Tisei’s shoulder.

Think again, Charlie. Treating Tisei like a gay pet rock while abandoning his cause is pandering — very awkward pandering.

Robert Stavins on comprehensive climate and energy legislation:

While states have played an important role in pushing Congress to act, the federal initiative now has to take precedence over state regulations.

John Kass takes a theatrical look at former Illinois Governor Blagojevich's recent court appearance.

Steve Chapman on how immigration crackdowns backfire.

Joe Bageant: There ain't no escape from collapse

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 03:08 PM PDT

I don't think it's possible to 'hang out' until the collapse is over. For starters, it could take 50 years. Or it could take five years. If we knew, more people would probably get off their asses, even in America. But I don't think it will be all at once, or even recognizable at any given moment to techno-hybridized Americans on the ground. For example, most Americans STILL do not recognize the irreversible ecological collapse so well underway. More aware thinkers are calling this 'denial,' but it is not. They are simply experiencing the world they see before them, as honestly as their senses and experience permit. And that ain't much.


Treasury face judicial review over RBS emissions By Julian Oram

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 03:02 PM PDT

Here's a puzzler: what is the UK's biggest contributor to climate change? Did you answer coal? Good guess, but no. Transport? It's a biggy for sure, but not the largest. Farming? A distant fourth.


Belén Fernández “Coffee with Hezbollah” A Review By Mary Rizzo

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 02:23 PM PDT

Before reading the wonderful book by Belén Fernández "Coffee with Hezbollah", I never would have imagined it possible to read about the post-destruction aftermath of Lebanon and smile at the same time. The pretext alone, a hitchhiking trip from Turkey to southern Lebanon simply "feels" dramatic, especially when the memory of Brides on Tour, was still fresh. Would two young, attractive, independent women meet a better fate than the raped and assassinated Pippa Bacca, travelling in the same way, with each new step being not only a test of their own wits and good fortune, but also a constant surrender to trust in a world wracked by its encounter with the ultimate violence?


Book Review: THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF ZIONISM By Israel Shamir

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 02:20 PM PDT

A more accurate title for this book might be" The Psychopathology of Zionism." In the bulk of its 299 pages, Kovel meticulously deconstructs Zionism's deranged psychology, and the reader very soon appreciates that this author's long years of education in psychiatry and psychoanalysis were not spent in vain!


STOP THE WAR COALITION NEWSLETTER No. 1150, 19 April 2010

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 02:16 PM PDT

1) AFGHANISTAN WAR PLANS ARE IN CRISIS 2) PROTEST AT THE PARTY LEADERS' TELEVISION DEBATE 3) YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN 1-2 MINUTES 4) PUBLIC MEETINGS AND DEBATES AROUND THE COUNTRY 5) STOP ISLAMOPHOBIA CONFERENCE 6) PROTEST AT JOE GLENTON'S APPEAL THIS WEDNESDAY 7) HAVE YOU FILM OF 15 FEBUARY 2003 DEMONSTRATION? 8) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT STOP THE WAR OFFICE


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