SteveQuayle.com | Hot Headlines - Septembe 29, 2009

Questions Swirling Around Jail Deal Ominous Growth of Paramilitarism in American Police Depts.
American Police Force Organization - Official Website
Obama's Hit List - The Globe
Obama’s Population Control Czar
Secession Movement Moves Beyond Texas
Merck Employees had "Hit List" of Doctors They Sought to "Neutralize", Court Documents Reveal
WHO Admits No Deadly Mutation of Swine Flu
Study Prompts Provinces to Rethink Flu Plan
The Destroyers Who Control Congress, the White House & Media
Pittsburgh and the Thousand Points of Light -- Part 1
Outstanding Debt, GDP and Income Who Are They Fooling – video
Volcker Says China’s Rise Highlights Relative U.S. Decline
Don't Bank on Your Home as an ATM
Fears Over 'Internal' Terror Bomb
Doomsday is Coming to America
Child Sacrifice and Ritual Murders Rise in Uganda as Famine Looms
Asteroid Attack: Putting Earth's Defences to the Test
Quantum Entanglement Visible to the Naked Eye
Surrogates: Humanity Distanced from Civility by Technology

StraitsTimes.com | Asian Development Bank (ADB) wants 'Asian' currency

HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Some unusual sea changes seen in Hawaii

Updated at 5:21 p.m., Tuesday, September 29, 2009 A major earthquake near Samoa this morning did not significantly affect the ocean waters around Hawaii, public safety officials said.

But a series of minor, out-of-the-ordinary sea changes began about 2 p.m., said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported sea level changes across the state ranging from a few inches at Mokuoloe, Oahu, and Kaumalapau, Lanai, to 1.2 feet in Kahului, Maui.

Cheplic said employees of the city's Ocean Safety Division, made up of city lifeguards, reported seeing the water level drop as much as two or three feet and rise by the same amount about 90 to 120 seconds later.

The unusual rise and fall of water levels was noticed at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki and Kewalo Basin, and to a lesser extent at Haleiwa Boat Harbor, Cheplic said.

"You could see it with the bare eye, but if you weren't looking for it, you probably would not have noticed," Cheplic said.

At Pier 38 the water level rose and fell and rose and fell about 18 inches in a 15-minute period.

Gary and Amy Lee of Kent, Wash., had just finished their lunch by the water's edge and watched with fascination from 2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. as the water level suddenly rose and fell, compared to the docks.

"Look at that," Gary said. "It's definitely changing."

AntiWar.com | General Electric On the Anti-Iran Bandwagon

In another ominous sign in the run-up to war with Iran, General Electric announced earlier this month that it was jumping on the bandwagon of hawkish non-profit “American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc.” (ACANI) signing a pledge to never conduct business in the nation and also pledging not to do business with anyone who owns any property inside Iran unless that property has been abandoned. Full Story

Palestine Telegraph | Depleted Uranium and Fraudulent Science

Uranium munitions were introduced into combat during the first Gulf War in Iraq in 1991. Since that time, evidence has confirmed that the United States deployed uranium weapons is Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and again in Iraq starting in 2003. Credible evidence also exists that the Israeli military used uranium weapons in Lebanon (Busby and Williams). The jury is still out as to whether or not these weapons were fielded in Gaza. Full Story

NYTimes.com | Investment Banking - Goldman’s Bane Assails Firm on Lobbying Effort

It is no surprise that Goldman Sachs has been lobbying Congress hard over the past few months as Washington debates new rules to curb financial speculation. ...

Lakota Medicine Man | POOREST place in AMERICA (YouTube)

Animals and people are freezing and starving. The dogs and/or coyotes run in packs and resort to eating each other. Warning very graphic.

New Zealand | Reports up to 40 dead after quake, tsunami hit Samoa

A main road in the downtown area of Fagatogo, is seen flooded by water from a tsunami located in the main town area in American Samoa on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Towering tsunami waves spawned by a powerful earthquake swept ashore on Samoa and American Samoa early Tuesday, flattening villages, killing at least 34 people and leaving dozens of workers missing at devastated National Park Service facilities. (AP Photo/Fili Sagapolutele]

Sinalei resort in the Siumu Samoa was damaged. Photo/Lorianne

A boat from Malaloa Marina is seen on the edge of the main highway in the village of Fagatogo, in American Samoa on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Towering tsunami waves spawned by a powerful earthquake swept ashore on Samoa and American Samoa early Tuesday, flattening villages, killing at least 34 people and leaving dozens of workers missing at devastated National Park Service facilities. (AP Photo/Fili Sagapolutele]

British Columbia cull led to hybrid 'monster wolves,' study shows

A Pacific coastal wolf at Pacific Rim national park. The B.C. government's Vancouver Island wolf extermination program allowed 'monster' hybrids to take over the region, a team of scientists said.Photograph by: Chris Darimont/Raincoast.org, Canwest News Service

VANCOUVER — The B.C. government's Vancouver Island wolf extermination program allowed "monster" hybrids to take over the region, a team of scientists said.

From the 1920s until the 1970s, provincial officials tried to rid Vancouver Island of wolves so sport hunters would find it easier to hunt black-tailed deer, the wolves' principal prey.

So when a few hardy wolves swam across from the northern B.C. mainland in the early 1980s, some were unable to find mates.

Instead, they mated with stray dogs.

The result, according to researchers from the University of Sweden, the Smithsonian Institution and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, was something never documented before in the wild: animals that were neither wolves nor dogs. Full Story

Kawther.info | Malformed Babies Resulting From Israeli Banned Weapons - phosphor and uranium in the middle of populated areas

Links to Clif High Web Bot's September 29th interview on CPN Live

Here is todays interview with Tom Brush on CPN Live.

For direct download: (Right-click on link and select "Save link/target as...)
http://stashbox.org/646954/2009.9-29_Clif.High.on.CPN-live.mp3

For playing or downloading;
http://www.divshare.com/download/8697385-f9d
NOTE: You need to have flash enabled on your browser in order to play the mp3s.
Click to play

And the old standby;
http://rapidshare.com/files/286685096/2009.9-29_Clif.High.on.CPN-live.mp3

4.1 magnitude earthquake hits New Mexico - 16 WSW from Raton, NM 100 mi S from Pueblo, Colorado - Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 at 04:54 PM at epicenter

Magnitude	4.1
Date-Time	Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 22:54:07 UTC Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 04:54:07 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	36.825°N, 104.720°W
Depth	5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region	NEW MEXICO
Distances	26 km (16 miles) WSW (252°) from Raton, NM 36 km (22 miles) NNW (334°) from Maxwell, NM 37 km (23 miles) SSW (194°) from Cokedale, CO 161 km (100 miles) S (183°) from Pueblo, CO 323 km (201 miles) S (176°) from Denver, CO

Real-time Magnetosphere Simulation | Tuesday evenings magnetsophere continues to look more than interesting - September 29, 2009 6:30pm CDT

USGS now showing TWO 8.0 mag quakes in Samoa Island Region - 4 seconds apart - September 29, 2009

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Maps/10/190_-15.php
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Maps/10/190_-15_eqs.php

Earthquake List for 10-degree Map Centered at 15°S, 170°W

Update time = Tue Sep 29 22:15:38 UTC 2009

Here is a list of the earthquakes located by the USGS and contributing networks for the 10-degree Map Centered at 15°S, 170°W. Most recent events are at the top. (Some early events may be obscured by later ones on the map.) Click on the date portion of an earthquake record in the list below for more information.

	MAG	UTC DATE-TIME y/m/d h:m:s	LAT deg	LON deg	DEPTH km	Region
MAP	4.9	2009/09/29 21:51:00	-16.174	-172.533	10.0	SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
MAP	5.0	2009/09/29 21:28:56	-17.205	-173.002	10.0	TONGA
MAP	5.2	2009/09/29 18:57:58	-16.067	-173.125	10.0	TONGA
MAP	5.0	2009/09/29 18:46:02	-14.953	-173.329	10.0	SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
MAP	5.4	2009/09/29 18:40:11	-15.347	-173.296	10.0	TONGA
MAP	5.1	2009/09/29 18:34:29	-14.871	-172.493	10.0	SAMOA ISLANDS
MAP	5.0	2009/09/29 18:29:26	-15.948	-173.231	10.0	TONGA
MAP	5.8	2009/09/29 18:21:42	-16.197	-173.069	10.0	TONGA
MAP	5.6	2009/09/29 18:08:22	-15.467	-172.092	10.0	SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
MAP	8.0	2009/09/29 17:48:15	-15.300	-171.000	33.0	SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
MAP	8.0	2009/09/29 17:48:11	-15.558	-172.073	18.0	SAMOA ISLANDS REGION

UPI | Security Industry Headlines - September 29, 2009

Singapore seeks F-16 training

SINGAPORE, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Singapore's air force is considering training F-16 pilots in the United States.

USAF B-52s to get new secure telecom system

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The B-52 aircraft deployed as part of the U.S. Air Force fleet are to be equipped with secure Extremely High Frequency Communication Systems to enable them to remain in contact with other elements of the military in space, in the air and on the ground.

Take off, landing improved for C-13

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Semi-prepared runway operations testing by the U.S. Air Force found upgrades to the C-17 Globemaster improved take off and landing efficiency by 65 percent.

Alliant Techsystems backs missile defense

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Strap-on boosters manufactured by Alliant Techsystems provided augmented thrust for the launch of the Delta II rocket for the U.S. ballistic defense system.

Oshkosh contracted for MRAP suspension

OSHKOSH, Wis., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department placed orders worth $24 million with Oshkosh Corp. for its TAK-4 suspension system for mine-resistance ambush protected vehicles.

Army orders booby trap simulators

ROCK ISLAND, Ill., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army contracted Bulova Technologies Group for the production and delivery of a series of booby trap simulators to support training missions.

U.S., Iraqi air forces prep for withdrawal

AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. and Iraqi air force generals made their first joint visit to the Ali air base near An Nasiriyah as part of the effort to withdrawal American combat troops.

General Dynamics supports mobile outposts

FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps awarded a division of General Dynamics with an $86.2 million contract to support networks for mobile combat operations centers.

Army orders 48 mine clearance vehicles

LADSON, S.C., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The tank and armaments division of the U.S. Army ordered 48 mine protected clearance vehicles from Force Protection Inc. in South Carolina.

Pentagon eyes ultra-long-range blimp

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense said it plans to deploy an ultra-long-endurance unmanned surveillance airship to Afghanistan by 2011.

Afghans train on Mi-35 gunship

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. and Czech military officials praised Afghan pilots for their completion of the initial training program for the Mi-35 helicopter gunship.

Turkey test its first attack helicopter

MILAN, Italy, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Turkish defense officials praised the maiden voyage of the first Turkish attack helicopter during its test flight at an airfield in Milan, Italy.

Rudd government criticizes sub builder

CANBERRA, Australia, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The government is seriously concerned about the company that intends to play a vital role in planning and building Australia's new submarines, a newspaper reports.

French arms sales boost 13 percent

PARIS, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- French arms sales shot up by 13 percent over the previous year as orders for the A330 air tanker and helicopters spiked exports, a parliamentary report said Monday.

Brazil favors developing nuclear weapons for 'respectability'

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar says he favors Brazil developing nuclear weapons as a deterrent against any foreign aggressor's attempt to capture its offshore oil fields -- but also to win international respectability.

BEIJING, Sept 29 (Reuters) | SCENARIOS-What will come of the China derivatives tussle?

Bloomberg.com | 8.0 Magnitude Pacific Quake Prompts Tsunami Warning as Samoans Flee

Sept. 30 (Bloomberg) -- A magnitude-8.0 earthquake roiled a swath of the South Pacific today, triggering tsunami warnings for 20 island nations and prompting Samoans to flee coastal villages for higher ground.

A 5-foot (1.5-meter) tsunami was reported at Pago Pago, American Samoa, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Homes in some villages on the southern coast of the Samoan island of Upolu were washed away, Radio New Zealand reported. Some people on that coast may have been swept to sea, Television New Zealand reported, citing its Apia-based film crew.

The quake struck shortly before 7 a.m. local time about 122 miles (196 kilometers) southwest of Apia, the capital of the independent island of Samoa, at a depth of about 22 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said warnings for tsunami activity were posted for Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga, the Cook Islands and 16 other nations.

“Our house has already been taken by the tsunami,” Theresa Falele Dussey told Radio New Zealand from hills above Apia, where people took shelter. “Some of the houses and cars next to our village have already been taken by tsunami as well.”

New Zealand civil defense officials warned local authorities in coastal areas to prepare for a tsunami. A wave may be about 1 meter high if it reaches here, Civil Defense Minister John Carter said on a television broadcast.

‘Crying and Screaming’

The tsunami was projected to reach Tonga and Fiji about 9 a.m. local time, according to the Pacific warning center. It is expected to reach the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island about 9:45 a.m. local time.

Residents of Samoa, shocked by the strength of the jolt, heeded warnings of local police and moved inland, Radio New Zealand’s Samoa correspondent, Tipi Autagavaia, said on a broadcast.

“My kids were preparing to go to school and were all crying and screaming,” he said in the broadcast. “It was a big, big shock to most people, because it is the first time they have experienced such a very strong earthquake.”

The magnitude of the quake was revised higher from an initial reading of 7.9, the USGS said. The quake was followed by two 5.6 temblors, one in the Samoa Islands region and one near the Cook Islands, the USGS said.

Cave's Headlines | September 29, 2009

AboveTopSecret.com | Breaking News: Brazil Declassifies New Set UFO Secrets Documents
The recent disclosure is particularly powerful because it contains dozens of reports of UFOs on May 19, 1986, considered the “Official UFO Night in Brazil”, when 21 spherical objects, estimated 100 meters in diameter – according to military sources – were detected by radars and spotted by civilian pilots, and literally jammed air traffic over the major Brazilian Airports, such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Then, several Mirage and F5 jets were scrambled to pursue them.

News Updates from Citizens For Legitimate Government | 29 Sep 2009

Breaking: Senate Finance Committee rejects public health insurance option amendment on 8-15 vote

'We're not lab rats' Protesters rally against swine flu vaccine 29 Sep 2009 A few hundred health-care workers and concerned citizens are protesting at the state Capitol today against mandatory swine flu vaccinations. Nurses from the Poughkeepsie area, Rochester region and other parts of New York said they don’t think they should be forced to get a vaccine that has been fast-tracked and that they don’t believe has been tested appropriately as a condition of keeping their jobs. Many protesters are carrying home-made signs with sayings, "We’re not lab rats" and "No flu shot, no job?" [Petition against mandatory vaccines -- 5600 signatures -- add yours!]

Province may suspend flu shots after vaccine's safety questioned 28 Sep 2009 B.C. might suspend the seasonal flu shots as early as today, in the wake of a Canadian study that suggests people who get the flu vaccine are twice as likely to contract the H1N1 virus. Several news outlets reported the preliminary findings of the study, which is still under peer review. Researchers found that those who received the seasonal flu vaccine in the past were more likely to catch H1N1.

Dozens Under Quarantine At Naval Academy --Officer: Number of midshipmen in isolation at one time has ranged from a few dozen to 75 on Friday 29 Sep 2009 (MD) The Naval Academy is quarantining midshipmen with flu-like symptoms aiming to slow the spread of swine flu. Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said Tuesday that 170 midshipmen have been isolated this fall, but only seven confirmed cases of swine flu. As of Monday night there were 33 midshipmen in an isolation ward converted from an existing athletic facility in the academy's dormitory.

Bomb plot suspect pleads not guilty in NY court 29 Sep 2009 The man at the center of a U.S. anti-terrorism probe pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to conspiring to set off a bomb in the United States, and a federal judge ordered him held without bail. Najibullah Zazi, a Colorado airport shuttle driver and a legal U.S. resident born in Afghanistan, has been indicted by a grand jury on a charge of conspiracy use weapons of mass destruction. "I'd like to stop this rush to judgment because what I have seen so far does not amount to a conspiracy," defense attorney J. Michael Dowling told reporters outside the courthouse.

Docuticker.com | Daily update of new reports from government agencies, ngo’s, think tanks, and other groups.

September 29th, 2009

The Impact of Fuel Price on Large Jet Operating Cost and Scale Economies
Source: University of California Transportation Center

The uncertainty surrounding future fuel prices creates fleet planning challenges. Fuel prices are uncertain due to two main sources: fuel price fluctuations and environmental concern, particularly relating to Greenhouse Gases. As the production decisions for aircraft and the adoption of certain aircraft by airlines are long-term decisions, understanding how jet aircraft operating costs change with fuel price will lead to aircraft adoption decisions which are economically viable. This study uses a well-established aviation operating cost modeling technique to capture the effect of aircraft size and fuel prices on large jet operating costs. It is found that economies of aircraft size exist yet attenuate for aircraft sizes larger than the average. It is further found that as fuel price increases, economies of aircraft operating cost due to size attenuate. To understand what these effects have on aircraft operating cost, operating cost for different aircraft sizes and stage lengths are generated for a range of fuel price scenarios.

+ Full Paper (PDF; 382 KB)

Posted in Air travel, Business and economics, Climate Change/Global Warming, Energy, Environment |

Measuring Labour Markets in Canada and the United States: 2009 Edition
Source: Fraser Institute

Measuring Labour Markets in Canada and the United States: 2009 Report is the fifth installment in our ongoing research to assess the performance of labour markets and explain why results differ among jurisdictions. This study provides a series of specific evaluations as well as a comprehensive measure of labour market performance. Indicators of labour performance such as job creation, unemployment, and productivity are used to assess Canadian provincial and US state labour market performance. This study also examines those characteristics and regulations of the labour market that have been shown to affect its performance.

+ Full Document (PDF; 2.9 MB)

Posted in Business and economics, Canada, Labor |

The Economics of Agricultural and Wildlife Smuggling
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

The United States bans imports of certain agricultural and wildlife goods that can carry pathogens or diseases or whose harvest can threaten wildlife stocks or endanger species. Despite these bans, contraband is regularly uncovered in inspections of cargo containers and in domestic markets. This study characterizes the economic factors affecting agricultural and wildlife smuggling by drawing on inspection and interdiction data from USDA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and existing economic literature. Findings reveal that agricultural and wildlife smuggling primarily include luxury goods, ethnic foods, and specialty goods, such as traditional medicines. Incidents of detected smuggling are disproportionately higher for agricultural goods originating in China and for wildlife goods originating in Mexico. Fragmentary data show that approximately 1 percent of all commercial wildlife shipments to the United States and 0.40 percent of all U.S. wildlife imports by value are refused entry and suspected of being smuggled.

+ Summary (PDF; 407 KB)
+ Full Report (PDF; 845 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Crime, Food and agriculture, International, Veterinary Medicine/Animal Welfare |

Pew Finds Increasing Bank Capital Requirements May Help Stabilize Financial Markets Without Substantially Impacting Lending
Source: Pew Financial Reform Project

Higher capital requirements on the U.S. banking industry likely have less of an impact on bank lending than has been asserted, according to the findings of a new study released by Pew’s Financial Reform Project.

Bank capital is the cushion of extra assets that a bank must hold to protect against loans that go bad or investments that fail. There is a strong consensus among financial experts and policymakers that the banking system needs considerably more capital than the four percent to eight percent of total assets they typically have now.

The new report, “Quantifying the Effects on Lending of Increased Capital Requirements,” shows that higher bank capital requirements would likely have much less effect on lending than many analysts have predicted. For example, if capital requirements rose on average from six percent to ten percent, loan rates on a typical bank loan might rise by only 0.2 percentage points, assuming modest tightening of loan terms or by 0.25 percentage points, assuming no changes in the terms.

+ Full Report

Posted in Business and economics |

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction; Facts for Families and Friends
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (HHS)

This short booklet provides basic information about medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. It describes medication options, the proper use of the medications, and common side effects. It also explains how medication fits into the overall recovery process. The booklet is for families and friends of patients entering medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.

+ Full Document (PDF; 1.4 MB)

Posted in Mental health and substance abuse, Prescription drugs |

The American Religious Identification Survey 2008
Source: American Religious Identification Survey (Trinity College)

The ARIS 2008 survey was carried out during February-November 2008 and collected answers from 54,461 respondents who were questioned in English or Spanish.

The American population self-identifies as predominantly Christian but Americans are slowly becoming less Christian.

+ 86% of American adults identified as Christians in 1990 and 76% in 2008.

+ The historic Mainline churches and denominations have experienced the steepest declines while the non- denominational Christian identity has been trending upward particularly since 2001.

+ The challenge to Christianity in the U.S. does not come from other religions but rather from a rejection of all forms of organized religion.

+ 34% of American adults considered themselves “Born Again or Evangelical Christians” in 2008.

+ The U. S. population continues to show signs of becoming less religious, with one out of every five Americans failing to indicate a religious identity in 2008.

* The “Nones” (no stated religious preference, atheist, or agnostic) continue to grow, though at a much slower pace than in the 1990s, from 8.2% in 1990, to 14.1% in 2001, to 15.0% in 2008.

* Asian Americans are substantially more likely to indicate no religious identity than other racial or ethnic groups.

+ One sign of the lack of attachment of Americans to religion is that 27% do not expect a religious funeral at their death.

+ Based on their stated beliefs rather than their religious identification in 2008, 70% of Americans believe in a personal God, roughly 12% of Americans are atheist (no God) or agnostic (unknowable or unsure), and another 12% are deistic (a higher power but no personal God).

America’s religious geography has been transformed since 1990. Religious switching along with Hispanic immigration has significantly changed the religious profile of some states and regions. Between 1990 and 2008, the Catholic population proportion of the New England states fell from 50% to 36% and in New York it fell from 44% to 37%, while it rose in California from 29% to 37% and in Texas from 23% to 32%.

Overall the 1990-2008 ARIS time series shows that changes in religious self-identification in the first decade of the 21st century have been moderate in comparison to the 1990s, which was a period of significant shifts in the religious composition of the United States.

+ Full Report (PDF; 842 KB)

Posted in Religion and spirituality |

FEMA Disaster Housing: From Sheltering to Permanent Housing (PDF; 416 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service

For over three decades the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided temporary housing assistance to eligible victims of natural disasters. FEMA has responded to more than a thousand disaster and emergency events over this period, employing a number of options for meeting the needs of people who have lost their primary housing as a result of a disaster declared by the President. The cycle of help from sheltering provided by local organizations in the immediate aftermath, to the eventual repair and rebuilding or replacement of private homes and rental units, is the focus of this report.

Because of the historic nature of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, much of FEMA’s work has been defined and measured by its response to that event. Katrina was an outlier in scope and not representative of disasters declared, on almost a weekly basis, over the last 30 years. But Katrina highlighted the gaps in FEMA’s housing authorities, raised questions regarding the agency’s leadership in exercising existing authorities, and provoked an examination of the flexibility, or lack thereof, in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and its implementing regulations.

The congressional response to Katrina increased FEMA’s authority and ability to address many housing issues in the post-disaster environment. Further, subsequent analysis of the Katrina response has also directed attention to the authorities of other federal agencies charged with federal housing responsibilities.

In the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, P.L. 109-295, enacted in October of 2006, Congress directed FEMA to prepare a National Disaster Housing Strategy. While FEMA was directed to deliver the strategy within nine months, a final version was not delivered to Congress until January 16, 2009. The final product contains a comprehensive summary of previous disaster housing policy and highlights innovative approaches taken at the state and local level, by both governmental and non-governmental organizations responding to disaster housing needs.

The Obama Administration, and the 111th Congress, have the opportunity to review and, if inclined, adjust the strategy and consider other alternatives discussed in the report. Congress may also wish to exercise oversight over the implementation of the strategy and to suggest, through legislation, the future direction of the federal disaster housing mission. This report reviews standard disaster housing procedures as well as options that could be taken to improve disaster housing including increased FEMA/HUD cooperation, the use of the case management authority, the repair and renovation of private rental housing units, and the use of alternative manufactured housing. It will be updated as warranted by events and legislative action.

Posted in Congressional Research Service, Government and politics, Housing and real estate, Natural Disasters |

Hispanics, Health Insurance and Health Care Access
Source: Pew Hispanic Center

Six-in-ten Hispanic adults living in the United States who are not citizens or legal permanent residents lack health insurance. The share of uninsured among this group (60%) is much higher than the share of uninsured among Latino adults who are legal permanent residents or citizens (28%), or among the adult population of the United States (17%).

Hispanic adults who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents tend to be younger and healthier than the adult U.S. population and are less likely than other groups to have a regular health care provider. Just 57% say there is a place they usually go when they are sick or need advice about their health, compared with 76% of Latino adults who are citizens or legal permanent residents and 83% of the adult U.S. population.

Four-in-ten (41%) non-citizen, non-legal permanent resident Hispanic adults state that their usual provider is a community clinic or health center. Some 15% of Latino adults who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents report that they use private doctors, hospital outpatient facilities, or health maintenance organizations when they are sick or need advice about their health.

+ Full Report (PDF; 155 KB)

Posted in Ethnic, Health and healthcare, Health insurance, Social and cultural issues

Report on Senior Executive Pay and Performance Appraisal System for Fiscal Year 2008
Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management
From Memorandum:

This report includes the ratings, pay, and awards data for the fifth year of the pay and performance appraisal system for Federal executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES).

We expect agencies to continue to improve and refine their executive pay and performance appraisal systems.

Posted in Government and politics, Labor

Audit of Veterans Benefits Administration’s Control of Veterans’ Claims Folders (PDF; 188 KB)
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this audit to evaluate the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) control of veterans’ claims folders. The objective for the audit was to determine if VBA had adequate procedures in place to locate veterans’ claims folders effectively. VBA’s control of veterans’ claims folders, which contain personally identifiable information, was not effective because VBA managers did not track the number of lost or rebuilt folders, consistently enforce Control of Veterans Records System (COVERS) policies, and establish effective search procedures for missing claims folders. As of February 20, 2009, VBA had assigned about 4.2 million claims folders to regional offices for benefit claims processing and safeguarding. We projected the claims folders for an estimated 437,000 (10 percent) veterans were not at the location shown in COVERS. Claims folders for approximately 296,000 (7 percent) veterans were at locations different from that shown in COVERS (misplaced). Misplaced claims folders can cause unnecessary claim processing delays and increases the likelihood that folders will be lost. Claims folders for approximately 141,000 (3 percent) veterans were lost. Lost claims folders place additional burdens on the veterans and reduce the time regional office personnel have to spend processing claims. The Under Secretary for Benefits agreed with our findings and recommendations and made acceptable plans to implement appropriate actions.

Posted in Privacy and security, Veterans

New GAO Reports and Correspondences (PDFs)
Source: Government Accountability Office
28 September 2009
+ Reports
1. Emergency Communications: National Communications System Provides Programs for Priority Calling, but Planning for New Initiatives and Performance Measurement Could Be Strengthened
2. Homeland Security: Actions Needed to Improve Security Practices at National Icons and Parks
3. Medicare Physician Services: Utilization Trends Indicate Sustained Beneficiary Access with High and Growing Levels of Service in Some Areas of the Nation
4. Nursing Homes: CMS’s Special Focus Facility Methodology Should Better Target the Most Poorly Performing Homes, Which Tended to Be Chain Affiliated and For-Profit
5. Democracy Assistance: U.S. Agencies Take Steps to Coordinate International Programs but Lack Information on Some U.S.-funded Activities
6. International Food Assistance: USAID Is Taking Actions to Improve Monitoring and Evaluation of Nonemergency Food Aid, but Weaknesses in Planning Could Impede Efforts
–
+ Correspondences
1. Defense Acquisitions: Department of Defense Needs a Unified Strategy for Balancing Investments in Tactical Wheeled Vehicles
2. Defense Acquisitions: Army Aviation Modernization Has Benefited from Increased Funding but Several Challenges Need to Be Addressed

Posted in GAO, Government and politics

Nonprofit Pay In 2008
Source: NPR (from the Chronicle of Philanthropy)

The Chronicle of Philanthropy surveyed 325 of the nation’s biggest charities and foundations on the compensation of their top executives for 2008, the first year of the recession.

The issue is of special interest to many donors, who are increasingly concerned about how their money is being spent and why some nonprofit executives seem to be making so much money.

Note: Other nonprofit organizations may pay their executive more than the executives listed here. The figures included here are based on 2008 or the latest tax returns and may include payments made in 2007.

Complete story and data available at Chronicle of Philanthropy to subscribers.

Posted in Business and economics, Labor, Lists & Rankings, Nonprofits

Kitchen Table Economics: The Power of the Female Consumer
Source: Fleishman-Hillard

In an effort to shed some light on the American woman and how to reach her, Fleishman-Hillard, in conjunction with The Harrison Group, conducted a pre- and post-economic meltdown survey, “Women, Power & Money — The Shift to the Female Driven Economy.” The objective? To define the female consumer’s role in purchasing decisions, her influence on the economy and what it means to marketers. Central to the eye-opening results was a clear revelation that this “new world of women calls for a new world of communication.”

+ Full Report (PDF; 493 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Consumer issues, Gender and sexuality

Unemployment Insurance for the Great Recession
Source: The Brookings Institution

Since December 2007 the U.S. unemployment rate has nearly doubled and the number of payroll jobs has fallen by 6.9 million, or 5%. The severity of the current recession makes it very hard for laid off workers to find new jobs. This has clear implications for the design of unemployment programs. For typical American workers the most important protection they receive when laid off is provided by unemployment insurance (UI). The regular UI program provides up to 26 weeks of benefits.

When unemployment is high and job finding is hard, many UI claimants exhaust their regular benefits. In the worst month following the 1981-82 recession, 41% of UI claimants exhausted their regular state UI benefits. In July of this year, nearly 51% of UI claimants exhausted their regular benefits. This is the highest rate of benefit exhaustion on record. It is a painful indicator of the difficulty of finding a job in the current economy. In view of the fact that the unemployment rate is still climbing and the number of payroll jobs is shrinking, the exhaustion rate is likely to continue rising in the coming months.

On both humanitarian and economic grounds it makes sense to provide longer duration benefits to laid-off workers when the unemployment rate is high. Because unemployed workers need more time to find work in weak labor markets, there is a compelling equity argument for offering insurance over longer spells of job search. In addition, the counter-cyclical effectiveness of unemployment compensation is reduced when a large percentage of laid-off workers is dropped from the rolls as a result of benefit exhaustion.

+ Full testimony (PDF; 88 KB) by Gary Burtless, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance

Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics, Labor

Parliamentary allowances, salaries of office and entitlements
Source: Parliamentary Library of Australia

This background note provides relevant data, hyperlinks and documents on the remuneration of Australian federal parliamentarians.

Posted in Australia and New Zealand, Government and politics

NYPost.com | The secret to Goldman Sachs' good fortune

SO, is this how Goldman Sachs does it?

"It," of course, is making gobs of money even when nobody else on Wall Street can.

And those profits then go into outrageous bonuses to employees, which cause rancor on Capitol Hill and on Main Street.

You've heard the old saying, "it's not what you know, but who you know."

Goldman Sachs knows lots of important people. That fact is indisputable, mainly because former Goldman employees are scattered around the country, and the globe, in important, decision-making financial positions.

But I'd like to make an addendum to that old saying, which I'll explore for you today: Who you know is only important if you can get them on the phone anytime you want.Today's column is about Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008.

It's also about the unparalleled access that Goldman Sachs had to Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, whose mission -- according to his own words -- was to bring Wall Street and market regulators (not to mention decision makers) together, so that they were "seeing the same issues, the same problems and working toward the same solutions." On Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 -- the day before the one I am writing about -- the stock market performed horribly.

By the end of the session the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 449 points as investors worried about the nation's financial system. The next morning, Sept. 18, Paulson placed his first call of the day at 6:55 a.m., to Lloyd Blankfein, who succeeded Paulson as CEO of Goldman. It's unclear whether the two connected because Blankfein called Paulson minutes later.

And then Blankfein placed another call to Paulson at 7:05 a.m. for what looks like a 10-minute conversation.

After that Paulson called Christopher Cox, Securities & Exchange Commission Chairman twice; British Chancellor Ali

SO, is this how Goldman Sachs does it?

"It," of course, is making gobs of money even when nobody else on Wall Street can.

And those profits then go into outrageous bonuses to employees, which cause rancor on Capitol Hill and on Main Street.

You've heard the old saying, "it's not what you know, but who you know."

Goldman Sachs knows lots of important people. That fact is indisputable, mainly because former Goldman employees are scattered around the country, and the globe, in important, decision-making financial positions.

But I'd like to make an addendum to that old saying, which I'll explore for you today: Who you know is only important if you can get them on the phone anytime you want. Today's column is about Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008.

It's also about the unparalleled access that Goldman Sachs had to Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, whose mission -- according to his own words -- was to bring Wall Street and market regulators (not to mention decision makers) together, so that they were "seeing the same issues, the same problems and working toward the same solutions." On Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 -- the day before the one I am writing about -- the stock market performed horribly.

By the end of the session the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 449 points as investors worried about the nation's financial system. The next morning, Sept. 18, Paulson placed his first call of the day at 6:55 a.m., to Lloyd Blankfein, who succeeded Paulson as CEO of Goldman. It's unclear whether the two connected because Blankfein called Paulson minutes later.

And then Blankfein placed another call to Paulson at 7:05 a.m. for what looks like a 10-minute conversation.

After that Paulson called Christopher Cox, Securities & Exchange Commission Chairman twice; British Chancellor Alistair Darling and New York Federal ReserveTim Geithner two times. head (and now Treasury Secretary)

Then Paulson took another call from Goldman's Blankfein.

It wasn't even 9 a.m. yet -- 30 minutes before the stock market was to open -- and Paulson and Blankfein had already exchanged three phone calls.

This wasn't particularly unusual.

stair Darling and New York Federal Reserve head (and now Treasury Secretary) Tim Geithner two times.

Then Paulson took another call from Goldman's Blankfein.

It wasn't even 9 a.m. yet -- 30 minutes before the stock market was to open -- and Paulson and Blankfein had already exchanged three phone calls.

This wasn't particularly unusual. FULL STORY

SeekingAlpha.com | FDIC's Creative Financing Ideas Are a Red Flag

Wild UFO Activity Reports for September 28th 2009 / Sacramento UFO Examiner captures more UFOs

HONG KONG (Reuters) | CIC invests $2 billion in Goldman fund, others: sources

China Investment Corp, the $200 billion sovereign fund, is set to pour a total of $2 billion into three U.S. distressed asset-focused funds, including one managed by Goldman Sachs....

Geology.com | News - September 29, 2009

Fracturing Rock to Make Geothermal More Productive Posted: 28 Sep 2009 11:11 PM PDT University of Utah researchers will use a method similar “hydraulic fracturing” done by the natural gas industry to stimulate the yield of a geothermal well at a US Geothermal, Inc site near Malta, Idaho. Increasing the number of fractures in the rock should enhance its ability to deliver steam.

Blue-Green Algae Problems Increasing Posted: 28 Sep 2009 10:58 PM PDT More and more people are building homes next to natural or man-made water bodies. When nutrient levels and other conditions are right these lakes and canals can host heavy blooms of blue-green algae. These can result in objectionable odors and illness or death of people and animals that come in contact with [...]

Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Subsidies Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:55 PM PDT Public Radio International reports on President Obama’s comments at the recent G20 Economic Summit on fighting climate change by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies that contribute to global warming.

Gas Shale in the Baltic Basin (Poland) Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:53 PM PDT Conoco plans to develop up to one million acres of gas shale in the Baltic Basin of northern Poland. The gas shales there are located near growing demand areas of the European Union.

Measuring the Speed of a Glacier Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:51 PM PDT Researchers are monitoring the speed of Greenland’s Helheim Glacier and other glaciers using GPS receivers. They don’t move at a steady rate of speed but instead accelerate abruptly and slow down. These dynamics of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have not been entered into sea level rise calculations.

Alternative Energy Projects Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:45 PM PDT Seattle PI has a big list of alternative energy projects from the western United States.

Gotthard Base Tunnel (World’s Longest Tunnel) Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:16 PM PDT When completed the Gotthard Base Tunnel will be the longest in the world with a length of over 35 miles. It will provide high speed rail beneath the Swiss Alps and will replace the long switchback routes that slowly climb over the mountains. New tunneling technology enabled a breakthrough of the first tube [...]

Hundreds of New Underground Species Discovered Posted: 28 Sep 2009 07:08 PM PDT Scientists have found over 800 new species living underground in Australia’s caves and micro-caverns. Many of them do not have eyes or pigment.