Today's edition of quick hits:
* Big announcement: "U.S. troops in Afghanistan will move into a support role starting this spring, President Barack Obama announced at a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday. 'This war will come to a responsible end,' Obama said."
* Medal of Honor: "An Army sergeant who ignored his battle wounds to take out the enemy, rescue the injured and retrieve the dead during an ambush by 300 fighters in Afghanistan will receive the Medal of Honor, the White House announced Friday."
* President Obama will deliver the State of the Union on Feb. 12, right between his inauguration and the deadline for a debt-ceiling increase.
* 'Epidemic' levels: "Deaths in the current flu season officially crossed the line into 'epidemic' territory Friday, federal health officials said, adding that, on the bright side, there were also early signs that the caseloads could be peaking."
* Mali: "As Islamist fighters scored new gains in northern Mali, French ground forces intervened Friday to help the sagging Malian army, opening a new front in the confrontation between the West and al-Qaeda-allied guerrillas."
* Climate crisis: "A federal advisory panel released a massive draft report Friday saying climate change is already damaging the nation's infrastructure and poses a risk to human health as well as the natural resources supporting Americans' way of life."
* Improved economic news: "There were 3.3 unemployed workers for every posted job opening in November, the lowest ratio in more than four years."
* Smart: "The Japanese government approved emergency stimulus spending of more than $100 billion on Friday, part of an aggressive push by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to kick-start growth in Japan's long-moribund economy."
* Is the Affordable Care Act responsible for some private insurers' premium hikes? Of course not.
* More than a decade later, Fox News' Eric Bolling still doesn't understand that Iraq wasn't involved with the 9/11 attacks. That's just astounding, even for him.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Leave a Comment:
The ACA data point will be glossed over, as long as groups like the Heritage Foundation can publish whatever they like and call them facts.
Why is it that American helps other countries financially and No-other country ever helps America out financially ? Or at least pays the U.S. back at least partially !
That is not true. Japan loves America. They just can not firgure out why we hate ourselves so much. We have so much to hope for in the future. But we still can stab each other in the back to get ahead. very confusing.
Get All of Our soldiers out of Afganistan - Now !
That's a load of horseshyte. You think because you've never held out an actual begging bowl that other countries don't help you financially? Oy vey.
Consider if you will that the rest of the industrialized world pays for most commodities (oil, gold, silver, gas ...) in US dollars. That means that the rest of us subsidize YOUR price at the pump. My country (Canada) sells more oil to you than Saudi Arabia but we do it at bargain basement prices. Plus, you get the VAST majority of your water and hydro-electric power from Canada as well. Also at bargain basement prices. We subsidize the entire northern US ... still not sure why to be honest, but there it is.
So, off your patriotic fantasty high-horse with you m'laddie.
I heard Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick called Mitt Romney, and wanted to borrow Mitts "binders of women" , to find some likely prospects for his TEMP JOB OPENING- US SENATOR..
Preferably outsiders not inside the beltway, nor responsible in any way for the great recession of 2008, the Deficit, the Economy, the bloated military budget, 2 unpaid for wars, etc. (Silence is not an option)etc.. sometimes Experience is not a good thing..
Frankly- this is funny! (Frank-ly- get it? ) LOL
sIGN-UP TO DAY TO ENTER THE GREAT mASSACHUSETTS gOVERNORS "PICK -ONE lOTTERY"- CANT WIN IF YOU DONT PLAY- 90,000 BUCKS UP FOR GRABS. !! ( 6 months of typical Senators Salary of 180,000 or so bucks a year. )
If I win, What color Camaro shall I buy for You Rachel? teehee!! We can tour the countryside, peddling your book. become a pair of "Drifters"...
If I win- /appointed- Im writing my own book- "fear and loathing in the US Senate- 6 months in the belly of the beast" (apologies to HST- for hi-jacking his F&L tag line..)
have a great weekend!!
I just wanted to state on here that I am on the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan through my husband. We have had a family plan for decades. Our benefit monthly premium has gone up $150/month and now our HMO plan has enacted a high deductible in addition to the copays. I found this extremely interesting since this is the first year of the Affordable Health Care Law.
Welcome to Obamacare. I can't wait for the exchanges to kick in. "AFFORDABLE"?
I had a company health care package for most of twenty years. I worked in a union shop. In 2001 my health care package changed dramatically. By 2006, my company was contributing to an HSA plus I was paying $50.00 a week just to keep up. The first $2500.00 was out of my pocket. Health care cost have been growing at ten percent per year for the last ten years at least. If you just noticed , then you are luckily. Can you imagine if your wages had grown at ten percent a year ?
Single payer yesterday!
But... why do you think this has anything whatsoever to do with "Affordable Health Care" vs. "Corporate Greed"?
My money is on the latter, especially since it is well-documented how that is working out, right here on this blog.
If you have any data to indicate that this has anything whatsoever to do with "Affordable Health Care" as opposed to "Corporate Greed seeking increased profits and pointing to the new healthcare plan as a a scapegoat", please, post it!
Thanks.
It sure as crikey isn't about "Obamacare", it's health insurance greed, pure and simple.
Just so you don't think I'm blowing smoke, as a Canadian (living in Toronto) with a household income of $120,000 a year, our monthly healthcare bill (paid to OHIP-Ontario Health Insurance Plan) is about $70 per month, taken directly off hubby's pay. That's for both of us; and we're in our mid-40s and early 50s.
Just sayin' ...
I am on the same plan Pauline and mine went up too. I asked OPM, who is supposed to negotiate these rates, did they seriously negotiate with the cos last yr. The answer was goobly gook.
Anyway, the reason is what it always is, greedy ins cos.
A news blog is sexy where? Actually, a news blog is about one of the most unsexy places to be. You can be one of the most insightful people there a long with others and be treated ungratefully. The news blog will take your ideas and make huge amounts of money with what is there in the news. Than if you dare question hey newscasters who get big fat paychecks what about us. You get ignored or they send their trolls after you saying how dare you ask for some sort of reward. A news blog sexy oh please give me a break. What can be said about it all it is just the same old typical haves and have nots game.
Failed to mention: Jason Leopold receives thousands of FBI files regarding the brother of a Guantanamo Detainee's brother. Stalked literally for more than a decade for bearing the last name only. Damaging files against the FBI which proves all of the allegations made by the brother and more. Quite disturbing actually.
I just pitched my wonderful theory that there has to be an infinite number of near identical Earths in this infinite-infinite universe. And that there is at least one Earth that is identical, but at a very great distance away. Therefore it is not stupid to once in a while look up into the sky and wave to my other me somewhere across the universe and wish him well and know he is waving back to me. My buddy then stated, " I am not waving to myself in the stars and saying hello. I have children and a marriage to think about. " . . . Ouch.
However he did give me a $10.00 donation to my new Church of the Universe, but then ask that I just use it to buy some better TV.
Interesting talk there Pondering and actually I really could get into discussing that stuff easily with you, especially when it comes to Spirituality. But certain things just keep disturbing me like being in poverty and just to come here and give all these answers, especially when you know there is people you would tell it to live in such luxury and you have a crap hole. What is wrong with that picture.
If parallel worlds exist, as some believe,
There, physical laws from our world may mean naught.
We may find lands where mind can aught conceive,
Where matter bends its knee to service thought.
What wonders will we find when we transport
In physical form across the sea of Time,
To other realms where other laws hold court,
Where science, psychic and sorcery may combine?
Trapped in this realm, where stodgy laws hold fast,
Some few view other worlds with open minds,
Recalling roles they led in ages past
And writing down their lives as fictional lines.
Prior incarnations, authors may reveal;
Any world one may imagine may be real.
A glimpse beyond my past, beyond my years,
Unveils the lives of dream’s unfocused eye.
Behind a screen of laughter and of tears,
Forgotten pasts await ‘neath misty sky.
Too long unknown, my dreams about my past
Flutter through my mind on gauzy wing.
My mem’ries in the waking fail to last
Though born of deep subconscious wandering.
Yet you are there, recalled of deepest mind,
A soulmate, brought of fate’s unerring chance,
To lend me sight, though eons leave me blind,
To touch my heart, when it forgot to dance.
Eternity began when we found one another.
Infinity awaits those destined to discover.
The dogma of the righteous would preach doubt,
Constraining us with just one life to live;
Yet karmic lines from other lives reach out,
Connecting us with strands too strong to give.
The Spirit Guides who help us on this earth
May only hint at goals we’ve yet to do.
Unseen, they try to help us find our worth,
As mine help me, in reaching out to you.
Our spirits travel through each life, unknowing,
When we touch those souls we’ve known before.
‘Tis only in the soul that we keep growing;
‘Tis only through the eyes we touch once more.
My sole request to you, I hope to send -
To gaze into your eyes and see a friend.
The basis of our purpose here on Earth
Is to integrate those fears that make us fall,
For in the lack of Fear we find our worth
And touch immortal Light which birthed us all.
For we are all unique, yet part of One.
Our lives from birth to death all interact.
The Source of inner Light, more bright than Sun,
Can touch us each, and give us what we’ve lacked.
We seek to learn, to touch the God in Man,
To advance our inner striving for the Right,
To pass the karmic tests ‘ere birth we plan,
Attaining furtherance on our paths toward Light,
Until the knowledge of All has filled our goals
And purest Love has filled our blessed souls.
The karma in our lives we each create
In everything we think and do and say.
The balance in our souls of Love and Hate
Determines how our future lives will play.
The tests we each decide on before birth
Are challenges that through our lives we face.
The way we face each challenge proves our worth.
Within us each resides the path to grace.
Refrain from judgment, blame or expectation,
Accepting each without conditions set.
Forgive yourself and others without hesitation.
Release yourself from further karmic debt.
When you give mercy, grace and love as free,
These will return and grace your lives to be.
The pious preach that prophets work through Grace;
God’s gift reveals the future to the soul.
I state the mind’s the key to Time and Space,
Through discipline and desire to reach that goal.
To join or leave our flesh, our minds must roam
To wander on paths where Time and Space mean naught;
Where Guides abide and souls may make their home,
Where each of us may fly on wings of thought.
Those psychic gifts a few folk can perform
Are mere extensions of their astral reach.
These powers through belief and practice form,
Which all of us may do, and some may teach.
The physical limits of our flesh restrain;
The full potential our spirits may attain.
Do not believe in dogma in stone and dust
From men who lived and loved in ancient lands.
Do not believe what others claim you must,
For thus you leave your future in their hands.
Do not believe in gurus or the Church,
For their beliefs are based on guilt and greed.
The mirror of your mind, you alone must search,
For you alone can shape the life you lead.
Observe, deduce and ponder what is True,
For Truth consists of that which we conceive.
Awareness comes from what is True for you,
And we can each achieve what we believe.
If your Truth can advance the paths of Man,
Then follow it and live the best you can.
Man’s eye observes the universe expands,
Implying we shall spread through Infinity.
But known existence, through Entropy’s hands,
Gives way at end of time to gravity.
The cosmic masses all will draw together
Within the grip of Universal tides,
Humanity’s homeland shall be lost forever
As the pyres of the Phoenix’ flames arise.
For through the crush of universal destruction
Comes the energy of Light’s own force imbued.
The cyclical collapse brings new Creation,
And cosmic life is once again renewed.
The fabric of the continuum may be torn,
But only so another may be born.
The lives of people drift from day to day,
Believing they must struggle to survive,
Yet you do not require wealth to pray,
Nor bands of gold to help your spirit thrive.
The smiles you share with strangers, you’ll discover,
Gives nourishment to both your soul and theirs.
By reaching out, you touch the lives of others,
And join the mystic web that each life shares.
We’re angels, all, who share our lives together,
In training to achieve a greater goal.
Material things can never last forever;
The wealth we carry lives within the soul.
You give your life expression through your art;
The secret of success is in the heart.
Waves of diamonds tossed on a sea of black
Sparkle and shine upon a distant beach,
Tempt us, taunt us, drive us when we lack,
Always within sight, yet out of reach.
The siren song of stars calls out at night,
Filling our hearts with joyous anticipation.
The unknown draws us deep into inner sight,
Firing and fueling the light of imagination.
The key exists, to reach beyond the stars,
Transcending physical laws which block our way.
In time, we will uncover what is ours,
To explore the astral fields we’ll reach one day.
We must discover the key to flee the Earth,
Or strangle in the wastes of Mankind’s birth.
So there Mr. Russell. We do think and we do are. Thank you very much. Any one one voting in 2013, or 2014, or2015 or.....
Dear David M. Johnston, What are the chords to your tunes? As you should put that to music!! But I will now guess you may go with some drop D tuning or worst open C. bad puppy... good poet.
Dear Deb3596991, you may have gotten it right for the most part. But my place is not a total crap hole. So there. . .you critter. . .
Dear Deb3596991, call me
And you can keep your thought of creating some Universe Church with your donations. You want some church go find one, because we have enough of them already. Let's get down to the real facts of life and truth, not the typical load of crap dished out daily.
Nice poetry Johnston, but some things are just too off balanced in this world and will never be accepted.
There is something not right about Pres Obama presenting the Medal of Honor