Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Cave Editorial | 14 October 2009

First snowfall - October 10, 2009

I look out my windows and see the effects of hard frost - my butterfly bushes still had blossoms when there was snow landing upon them.

October 14, 2009

The Service Berry bush on my patio has the prettiest leaves that are changing color. Service Berry bushes usually grow as thickets and are native to Nebraska and the berries were once gathered by the Native Americans and dried for the winter.

It was said that there is a season and a time for everything. Today, is the time for the updating on this blog to cease.

I will maybe keep my Web Bot Links blog updated, however, it is time to focus exclusively upon myself and those I love.

What is going to be happening within this nation is fast approaching times of great turmoil - as the news from across the globe is likewise in turmoil.

I am leaving behind more than enough links to both science and news sites. Who knows how long the Internet will stay up ... as we know it. The Treasury Bond bubble will be ugly as will the commercial real estate bubble ... the dollar is dead and its like a walking zombie right now.

Those still playing the game of right/left, republican/democrat, gay/against gay, and all the other divisive games made up by the PowersThatBe are beyond my control to awaken ... I have family and friends that will also be among those described as Muckers ... when the proverbial SHTF in the very near future.

If people can't figure out about Banksters in bed with our government with the $Trillion bailouts - how can they figure out that Big Pharma is sleeping in that bed also. My favorite cousin died as a result of their depopulation targeted vaccines.

My prayers are with everyone during the time period that Clif described as EPIC. I am moving swiftly to my 60th birthday and as I've said for decades ... "

Life is not a puzzle to be solved, but an adventure to be experienced
and
I exist within a most miraculous Universe


FDIC.gov | Webcast of Advisory Committee on Community Banking & Webcast FDIC Board Meeting both on Oct 14, 2009

Webcast of Advisory Committee on Community Banking
October 14, 2009
October 15, 2009 is the initial meeting of the committee that provides the FDIC with advice and guidance on a broad range of important policy issues impacting small community banks throughout the country. Webcast of Advisory Committee on Community Banking

FDIC Board Meeting
October 14, 2009
Board of Directors will meet in open session at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. The event will be Webcast live. FDIC Board Meeting

DissendentVoice.org | Thomas Greco’s The End of Money and the Future of Civilization

....Greco is implying that the power of the elite is not only dated but illusory. Thus the way to proceed is not just to oppose them. If they are opposed, they’ll do what they always do, which is to roll out the SWAT teams, the military in the streets, the tear gas, the sound cannon, the concentration camps, the Patriot Acts, the torture chambers, because that is all they know, and it’s what they do best.

The money monopoly translates into a monopoly on violence on an ascending scale. We know that the U.S. sells more weapons abroad than any other nation, and we know that it is war above all that makes the bankers rich.

So let them have their weapons and wars. With all due respect to those brave enough to protest, it’s time for people simply to walk away and set up their own economic and monetary systems as a prelude to a rebirth of humanity as ethical beings in sustainable communities of choice.....

NakedCapitalism.com | Employed Taking Deeper Pay Cuts (Except on Wall Street, of Course) Deflation, anyone?

AmericanThinker.com | Bernanke's bomb

US Department of Homeland | Napolitano Announces $88 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology at Ports of Entry

Release Date: October 14, 2009

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced $88 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) equipment—enhancing border security by expanding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) capabilities to scan commercial traffic for contraband through X-ray and other imaging technologies.

"These cutting-edge technologies will help us better detect threats at our nation's borders while expediting legitimate travel and trade," said Secretary Napolitano. "The Recovery Act has infused critical resources into local economies across the country while strengthening our nation's security."

Secretary Napolitano's announcement today includes eight contracts for NII technologies to provide fixed and mobile detection capabilities for deployment by CBP at and between U.S. ports of entry—part of the nation's layered and interconnected border security network.

As part of the Obama Administration's Southwest Border Initiative announced in March, CBP now screens 100 percent of all rail traffic headed southbound to Mexico using NII equipment.

In awarding ARRA funds, DHS prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS has obligated 63 percent of its ARRA funds through Sept. 30—more than $1.7 billion.

ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, committed more than $3 billion for homeland security projects through DHS and the General Services Administration (GSA). Of the nearly $1 billion allocated to CBP and GSA for port and border security projects, $100 million was dedicated to NII technologies.

To learn more about the DHS Recovery Act projects, visit www.dhs.gov/recovery.

RELATED:

October 13, 2009

Dept of Homeland Security - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | National Situation Update: Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
The major storm system that moved through the West Coast yesterday, especially in northern and central California, will taper off to showers today. The storm brought the second highest rainfall on record for Sacramento. As it moves southward, the storm could bring mudslides and heavy rain - up to 6 inches in the mountains of Santa Barbara and up to 4 inches to the mountains of east of Los Angeles – early today. Areas that were burned in the last couple of years will be the most susceptible to landslides. Later today the rain will diminish to showers over southern California. Steady light rain is forecast over western Oregon and western Washington with thunderstorms and scattered showers possible over the Intermountain West.
South:
The rain that moved eastward from the Mississippi Valley yesterday will move quickly through the Carolinas today bringing rainfall from 1 to 4 inches tonight. Flood Watches are in effect from northeast Texas to northern Georgia and a portion of western South Carolina. Streams and creeks that flooded Monday are now returning to their banks in northern Georgia and western South Carolina. Some strong to severe thunderstorms are possible from central Georgia to northeast Texas this afternoon and evening and along the Gulf Coast on Thursday. Flooding is likely in northern Alabama, northern Georgia and South Carolina.
Northeast:
Rain moving from the southeast should reach parts of Virginia and Maryland by this evening. By Thursday evening rain will spread from the North Carolina and Virginia coasts north to New York City, southern New York state, and southern New England. Heavy rain is forecast for eastern Virginia, eastern Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
Midwest:
Only some passing showers are forecast from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley. To the west of this area a mixture of snow, freezing drizzle and rain is forecast but the precipitation will be light, with only 1 to 2 inches of snow forecast across the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. Ice accumulations, if any, should be light across the western Dakotas and central Nebraska due to temperatures rising above freezing later in the day, causing the ice accumulations to melt.(NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Tsunami Recovery - American Samoa

• FEMA 1859-DR-AS approved on September 29
Federal Response
• Region IX RRCC is now at Level III (AS JFO Support Cell: Logistics, ESFs 7, 12, and 15); reduced staff
• JFO for FEMA-1859-DR-AS fully operational
• IMAT deployed to AS will be released Oct 14
• NRCC is at Watch Steady State; Logistics is on call
• FEMA Logistics continues to coordinate the movement of commodities and generators related to power restoration
Current Situation / Status of Response:
• Ten 500kw Generators arrived yesterday, Oct 13
• 32 confirmed fatalities
• 5 schools were scheduled to re-open on Oct. 13
• 10 villages have received temporary housing materials
• Families are moving back to homes as commodity distribution expands to more villages
• Logistics continues to coordinate the movement of commodities and generators related to power restoration
• Establishing an “air bridge” from Hawaii to procure commercial products
• Identification and assessments of destroyed facilities are on-going; preliminary damage assessments for Public Assistance have been initiated and are on-going (Region IX, JFO, ARC)

California Severe Weather

Region IX:
• Region IX is monitoring the situation
• One LNO deployed to CA State Operations Center
• Heavy rains, high winds, snow and mud and debris are possible, especially in the burned areas
• Two to six inches of rainfall are possible, with up to eight inches possible in the mountains
• Wind gusts of up to 60 to 70 mph are possible
• Numerous power outages reported in northern California due to storm damage to power lines
State/Local Response:
• All State Operations Centers activated
• All Regional EOCs activated; Southern REOC activated 24/7
• Mandatory evacuations are in place for 60 residents in Santa Cruz County (Lockheed Fire burn area)
• Evacuation center opened in Davenport, CA
• 20,000 sandbags pre-positioned in Santa Cruz and Big Sur
• Flood centers have pre-deployed four flood-flight specialists to Santa Cruz and Ventura counties
• CAL Emergency Utilities Association (CEUA) has requested and received mutual aid support from Arizona and Nevada power companies

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific
Remnant Low Patricia

At 2:00 am EDT the center of Remnant Low Patricia was located 15 miles east-southeast of the Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Patricia is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 mph; a turn towards the west is expected later today with a general westward motion expected to continue through dissipation. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts; gradual weakening is expected and Patricia is expected to dissipate in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Area 1
A tropical wave located a few hundred miles west-southwest of Costa Rica is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. Conditions appear favorable for slow development of this system over the next 48 hours as it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. There is a less than 30 percent chance of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday afternoon.

Western Pacific
Tropical Depression 22W
At 11:00 pm EDT the center of Tropical Depression 22W was located 560 miles east-southeast of Guam and Rota. Tropical Depression 22W is moving toward west at 15 mph; a turn towards the west-northwest is expected during the next 24 hours, passing south of the Mariana Islands Thursday night, October 15. Maximum sustained winds are 30 mph; strengthening is expected and Tropical Depression 22W may become a Tropical Storm within the next 24 hours.(NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

The earthquake swarm in the Fox Islands of the Aleutian Islands, approximately 875 miles west-southwest of Anchorage, AK, has continued. The earthquakes have ranged from 2.0 to 6.3 magnitudes at depths between 2.5 to 119.4. There have been no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami advisory was issued. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program).

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, October 13, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (20 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 3
States affected: CA, OR & WA (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 08:28:28 EDT

Asia Times Online | CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN - Dollar dilemma

Many things changed with the bursting of the Wall Street/mortgage finance bubble. For one, our "private"-sector credit mechanism was no longer capable of creating sufficient credit to sustain inflated real estate bubbles or the inflation-distorted bubble economy structure. For two, the US credit system decisively relinquished its status as the most alluring global "asset class". Years of dollar debasement had already worked to sway the inflationary biases away from the US toward energy, gold, commodities and the "emerging" markets and economies. The unfolding post-Wall Street bubble reflation has found - for the first time - the "developing" and commodities worlds supplanting the US as the favored destination for speculative finance. This is big...

Tech-Ticker | The Next Big Bailout? FHA Facing "Cataclysmic" Default Rates

Wall Street Journal | With U.S. debt set to exceed 100% of GDP in 2011, it's no wonder people are looking for alternative ways to preserve wealth

Unprecedented spending, unending fiscal deficits, unconscionable accumulations of government debt: These are the trends that are shaping America's financial future. And since loose monetary policy and a weak U.S. dollar are part of the mix, apparently, it's no wonder people around the world are searching for an alternative form of money in which to calculate and preserve their own wealth....

Trak.in | Former President Clinton hails role of Indian Institutes of Tech in the growth of India and the US at Global Conference in Chicago Saturday

Washington, Oct 13 (IANS) Former US president Bill Clinton has said India has the potential to outgrow China if it makes peace with Pakistan.

This peace between the two countries could lead to a more modern Afghanistan and contribute to a worldwide drawdown of nuclear weapons, he said speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology’s Global Conference 2009 in Chicago Saturday.

Huliq.com | A freak tornado struck Rome yesterday

Rome was struck by extreme weather conditions which spun off a small tornado at 5 pm yesterday afternoon, causing mayhem with rush hour traffic.

Winds clocked at 90kmh, accompanied by heavy downpours, toppled more than 50 trees, killed one 21 year old, and caused an additional 5 injuries, one of whom remains in critical condition.

Meteorologists say the small tornado struck ground’ just a few miles east of the capital’s ring road, in Via di Lunghezzina.

The gale force winds kicked in at around 5 pm. Approximately 30 major roads had to be closed and bus routes and rail lines were temporarily stopped or re-routed away from the storm.

Due to the severity of the winds and rains, and the time of day, traffic jams wreaked havoc with workers trying to get in and out of the capitol.

Much of the damage, and ensuing mayhem was caused by the falling trees.

Storms of this severity are rare in Rome. The last one that was reported was in April 2009. While residents submitted photos and videos of the hail and purported tornado, the "tornado" was not confirmed by weather services.

AP | Interpol seeks visa-free travel for its cops said Interpol Secretary-General Ronald K. Noble

The global police organization Interpol began issuing special passports Tuesday to its senior investigators, aimed at allowing them to enter any of the group's 188 member countries without visas. Pakistan and Ukraine become the first countries to accept the new documents and three more will follow soon, Interpol Secretary-General Ronald K. Noble said during the organization's general assembly here.

RELATED:

Who is Ronald K. Noble - Waco Siege “Enforcer” To Rule Over Global Police Force
Man who both approved and covered-up government slaughter of 76 people, including 20 children, will lead move to establish international model of law enforcement....

Former Presidents Clinton and Bush - The second joint appearance on Feb 4 at TD Ameritrade conference to discuss future of financial services industry

TD Ameritrade announced today that former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will appear together at the TD Ameritrade Institutional 2010 National Conference in Orlando, FL next year.

The conference, which will take place from February 3-6, will bring together investment advisers and other industry professionals to discuss the future of the financial services industry.

Bush and Clinton will appear for the hour-long keynote discussion on February 4, moderated by TD Ameritrade Institutional President Tom Bradley. Bradley said of the appearance: "We are thrilled to be able to bring such distinguished leaders to our national conference and offer advisers a balanced discussion on global issues impacting their business and their clients." This year is expected to attract the largest-ever crowd to the 14-year old conference, which drew more than 1,000 investment advisers last year.

The conference will mark the second time former Presidents Clinton and Bush will appear together at an event, the first being a Toronto forum back in May. That event, which drew 6,000 attendees, was surprisingly amiable, with President Bush even referring to Clinton as his "brother." Bush also joked about ticket prices for the event, which ranged from $200-$2,500, saying "President Clinton and I used to believe in free speech, so thanks very much for coming."

NaturalNews.com | Today's Featured Stories - October 14, 2009


Flu vaccines revealed as the greatest quackery ever pushed in the history of medicine
(NaturalNews) Prepare to have your world rocked. What you're about to read here will leave you astonished, inspired and outraged all at the same time. You're about to be treated to some little-known information demonstrating why seasonal flu vaccines...

Capsaicin could stop a heart attack in progress, scientists find
(NaturalNews) The late, famed herbalist Dr. John Christopher was nicknamed "Dr. Cayenne" because he was constantly recommending the healing powers of cayenne, the substance found in chili peppers that produces a sensation of heat. He especially advocated...

Natural remedies for acne
(NaturalNews) Acne sucks. But you don't need antibiotics or harsh chemicals to treat it. In addition to altering your diet so that you consume fewer acne-producing foods (dairy products and fried foods, mostly), there are some effective natural remedies...

Drinking From Plastic Raises BPA Levels 70 percent
(NaturalNews) Drinking water from plastic bottles made with the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) increases urinary levels of the chemical by nearly 70 percent, according to a study conducted by researchers from Harvard University and the Centers for Disease...

Colloidal Silver is an Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral Miracle
The element silver has long been recognized as a precious metal of significant value. In fact, prior to the early '60s, silver was used to make quarters and dimes because it held its value in weight. Silver is also utilized in a variety of...

Discover How to Fight Food Cravings with These Supplements
It's easy to make the mistake of viewing food cravings as an enemy, but in many cases these urges to eat a particular kind of food can provide specific insight into where your diet may be lacking. Cravings can also point to underlying emotional...

Breast Cancer Prevention: Use a Holistic Approach
You may see a little more pink in the windows of department stores this month as the "pink ribbon" usually becomes the must-have accessory for October. That's because it's breast cancer awareness month- a month where fashionistas and survivors...

New Studies Link Cell Phone Use to Cancer and Other Maladies
The discussion of cell phones and the problems they can cause is nothing new to Natural News readers, of course. Studies have linked cell phone radiation to changes in brain physiology, declines in sperm quality, cancer, and more.1

Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens For Legitimate Government | 13 Oct 2009

Ultimate bunker buster: U.S military speed plans for 13-ton bomb... but deny Iran nuclear standoff is the reason 13 Oct 2009 The U.S. military is speeding up delivery of a colossal bomb designed to destroy hidden weapons bunkers buried underground and shielded by 10,000 pounds of reinforced concrete. Call it Plan B for dealing with Iran, which recently revealed a long-suspected nuclear site deep inside a mountain near the holy city of Qom. The 15-ton behemoth -- called the 'massive ordnance penetrator,' or MOP -- will be the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal and will carry 5,300 pounds of explosives.

US approves 13,000 troops for Afghan war 13 Oct 2009 Washington will send an additional 13,000 US troops to Afghanistan in addition to the 21,000 President Barack Obama announced publicly in March, a report says. The Washington Post reported on Monday the extra troops are primarily support forces, such as engineers, medical personnel, intelligence experts and military police, bringing the total buildup the president has approved to 34,000. "Obama authorized the whole thing. The only thing you saw announced in a press release was the 21,000," a defense official, familiar with the process, told the paper.

Kerry wary of sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan 13 Oct 2009 Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, who will travel to Afghanistan and Pakistan this week, said on Tuesday he was "very wary" of sending more American troops to the region. Minutes after getting off the phone to President Barack Obama about the issue, Kerry said neither of the two extremes -- a nationwide counterinsurgency and nation-building effort in Afghanistan nor "walking away from the place" -- were do-able. [Yeah, can't 'walk away' -- too many US contractors still need to be overpaid to rebuild that which they destroyed. See: The Obusha AfPak Money Pit: Unlike the 'public option,' Congress doesn't ask if funding the Taleban to blow up contractors' bridges will add to the US deficit By Lori Price 03 Oct 2009.]

MDR's Word of the Day 14 Oct 2009 "Nobelity." n. a quality that inheres in a person making him or her a likely recipient of a Nobel prize. Used in a sentence: "Barack Obama must have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize because of his supposed nobelity, as no other explanation can be found." --Michael Rectenwald, Ph.D.

Mission accomplished! Iraq on final stages to sign first oil deals 14 Oct 2009 The Iraqi government is on the final stages of negotiations to sign contracts left from the June energy auction after some giant oil companies agreed on fee terms put earlier by Iraqi Oil Ministry, an Iraqi top oil official said Tuesday. The consortium, made up of the Italian ENI, Occidental Petroleum Corporation of the United States, China Sinopec and Korea Gas Corporation of South Korea, is "qualified to take up the Zubair field and we will finalize the contract," Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told a news conference in Baghdad.

Exxon, Lukoil submit competing bids for Iraq oilfield 13 Oct 2009 Competing consortiums led by US energy giant Exxon Mobil and Russia's Lukoil have submitted bids that meet conditions for a major southern Iraqi oilfield, the country's oil minister said on Tuesday. Both consortiums agreed to be paid 1.9 dollars per additional barrel they extract from West Qurna 1 on top of current production, Hussein al-Shahristani told reporters in Baghdad. Exxon Mobil's consortium is with Anglo-Dutch energy firm Shell, while Lukoil is partnering with ConocoPhillips.

Royal Navy will be allowed back to Iraq 14 Oct 2009 Iraq has passed legislation allowing the return of 100 British naval training personnel who were forced to leave the country earlier this year. The Royal Navy was excluded from Iraq at the end of May, forcing it to move a frigate, an auxiliary ship and crew out of Iraqi waters towards Kuwait after parliament failed to approve a military co-operation agreement with Britain. Trainers who were to help turn Iraq’s navy into a fighting force capable of protecting its oil terminals, also had to leave in what appeared to mark an embarrassing end to Britain’s five year military involvement in the country.

Iraq Allows 100 British Naval Trainers to Return --100 British naval trainers to protect oil terminals 13 Oct 2009 Iraq's parliament Tuesday signed a deal allowing up to 100 British Royal Navy trainers to return to Iraq to help the Iraqi navy protect oil platforms. British troops had withdrawn from southern Iraq to Kuwait after the Iraqi parliament repeatedly failed to pass an agreement that would have allowed some to remain. However, 100 British naval trainers were earmarked to help Iraq protect its southern oil terminals.

Ten killed in Iraq bombings 13 Oct 2009 A spate of bombings across Iraq on Tuesday killed 10 people, including two Iraqi soldiers and the leader of a Sunni Arab militia allied with the United States. Fourteen others were wounded in the attacks in the village of Buhruz, northeast of Baghdad, and the northern oil hub of Kirkuk, security and medical officials said. In the deadliest incident, a suicide bomber exploded a belt-full of explosives in a coffee shop in Buhruz, 15 kilometres south of Baquba in Diyala province, killing eight people and leaving 10 others injured.

Former world court chief joins UK Iraq inquiry 13 Oct 2009 Britain's official inquiry into the war in Iraq has appointed a former president of the International Court of Justice to help advise it on legal issues. The Iraq inquiry committee said Wednesday it had appointed former judge Rosalyn Higgins to assist its investigation. Higgins served as president of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, from 2006 until she stepped down early this year.

Blair should be tried for war crimes, say families of soldiers killed in Iraq 14 Oct 2009 Angry families of British servicemen killed in Iraq told members of the official inquiry into the conflict that Tony Blair must be held accountable for taking the nation to war. Many blamed the former prime minister for the deaths of their loved ones in an "illegal" conflict, and some even called for him to be prosecuted for war crimes. [Don't forget Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Betrayus, Gates, McChrystal, Gonzales, Yoo, and Addington.]

For the sake of my son, why I refused to shake Blair's blood-covered hands 12 Oct 2009 ...Peter Brierley's family and friends were quite shocked to think of him marching up to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, refusing to shake his hand, tearing a couple of strips off him, then turning on his heel and stalking away. Famously the master of self-possession and quick to reach for a snippet of handy phrasemaking, by all accounts Mr Blair was left ashen and speechless by the encounter with the straight-talking 59-year-old from Batley. Mr Brierley had often thought about what he might say if he ever came eyeball-to-eyeball with the man who took the country into the war in which his 28-year-old son Shaun died, but when the meeting came, it was not how he would ever have planned it.

Iraq vets exposed to deadly chemical asked to get exam 13 Oct 2009 Six years after nearly 1,200 U.S. soldiers in Iraq were potentially exposed [by KBR] to a sometimes deadly chemical [sodium dichromate] linked to cancer, the military and Veterans Affairs Department have been tracking them down and asking them to get a medical exam. The troops were protecting or in the area of workers hired by a subsidiary of the contractor, KBR Inc., based in Houston, to rebuild the Iraqi water treatment plant Qarmat Ali near Basra, Iraq.

Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to let soldiers speak to tribunal 13 Oct 2009 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted Israel will not cooperate with an international war-crimes tribunal, set up to investigate the army assault on militants in the Gaza Strip ten months ago. The PM has told the Knesset that he would never allow soldiers and war-time leaders to go before the UN war crimes panel.

NORAD Exercise Planned for East Coast, New England 13 Oct 2009 The Continental United States NORAD Region, a geographical component of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, will conduct a three-day homeland defense exercise, Falcon Dart, beginning Oct. 14 along the eastern seaboard and in New England. This exercise is designed to train CONRs intercept and identification operations and will involve fighters out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., Jacksonville ANG, Fla., Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., and aircraft from other federal agencies.

Army considers middle-school JROTC program 12 Oct 2009 The U.S. Army wants middle school students. The Wichita school district in south-central Kansas is one of a few nationwide offering middle school programs based on the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps curriculum. Top Army officials are studying its programs to see if they could be a model for others nationwide. The Army is collaborating with the National Association of School Boards to develop a so-called JROTC-plus program that would use the high school JROTC curriculum as a basis for a middle school program, Army JROTC director Col. John Vanderbleek said.

Gag on Guardian reporting MP's Trafigura question lifted --The question from Paul Farrelly MP which was subject to a gagging order related to the Trafigura toxic waste scandal 13 Oct 2009 The existence of a previously secret injunction against the media by oil traders Trafigura can now be revealed. Within the past hour Trafigura's legal firm, Carter-Ruck, has withdrawn its opposition to the Guardian reporting proceedings in parliament that revealed its existence. Labour MP Paul Farrelly put down a question yesterday to the justice secretary, Jack Straw. It asked about the injunction obtained by "Trafigura and Carter-Ruck solicitors on 11 September 2009 on the publication of the Minton Report on the alleged dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast, commissioned by Trafigura".

Guardian gagged from reporting parliament 12 Oct 2009 The Guardian has been prevented from reporting parliamentary proceedings on legal grounds which appear to call into question privileges guaranteeing free speech established under the 1688 Bill of Rights. Today's published Commons order papers contain a question to be answered by a minister later this week. The Guardian is prevented from identifying the MP who has asked the question, what the question is, which minister might answer it, or where the question is to be found. The Guardian is also forbidden from telling its readers why the paper is prevented – for the first time in memory – from reporting parliament. Legal obstacles, which cannot be identified, involve proceedings, which cannot be mentioned, on behalf of a client who must remain secret.

Secret Service Investigates Swastika, Obama Name Carved Into Golf Course 13 Oct 2009 (MA) Police along with the Secret Service are investigating after a local country club discovered a symbol resembling a swastika carved into the green. Lakeville County Club workers discovered the vandalism early Monday morning. Carved into the green on the 18th hole was a swastika look-a-like next to President Barack Obama's name.

The looming threat of terror that comes from the far right --The threat comes not from jihadis but 'neo-Nazis' out to kill black people, Jews and gays By Johann Hari 14 Oct 2009 Britain is facing the real risk today of a bombing campaign that targets random civilians for death – but it is being virtually ignored. When its supporters step closer every day to mass murder, nobody notices. When its perpetrators are caught, there is (at best) a little flick of information in News in Brief... The campaign I am talking about is not being planned by jihadis or fringe Irish nationalists but by white "neo-Nazis" who want to murder Asians, black people, Jews and gays in the bizarre belief it will trigger a "race war".

Mandatory Flu Vaccination for N.Y. Health Workers Is Criticized --Regulation affects 500,000 health care workers and volunteers statewide 14 Oct 2009 The New York Civil Liberties Union demanded on Tuesday that the state health commissioner withdraw a new regulation requiring hundreds of thousands of health care workers to get both seasonal and swine flu vaccinations. In testimony before several State Assembly committees in Lower Manhattan, Donna Lieberman, executive director of the civil liberties union, said that the requirement violated the constitutional right of health care workers to control their bodies and their medical treatment.

Maine Lawmaker Looks to Ban Vaccine Mandates 13 Oct 2009 In an effort to make sure you decide whether or not you or your children get a flu shot, state representative Doug Thomas has introduced a bill that would forbid mandatory vaccinations. Maine's top health official Dr. Dora Anne Mills says she's surprised by the bill adding that there is no current statute in Maine requiring mandatory vaccines, therefore she says there's no reason to codify the law. Rep. Thomas is standing behind his bill. [Petition against mandatory vaccines -6150 signatures]

'The mandate was irrational and are not going along with it.' Nurses to protest forced flu shots 13 Oct 2009 (NY) Four Albany Medical Center Hospital emergency room nurses are in the process of filing a lawsuit against the state for mandating all hospital workers get vaccinated with the H1N1 flu shot and seasonal flu shot by November. To gain support on the issue, the nurses have organized a rally for Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Capitol’s East Park, said Terry Kindlon, the nurses’ attorney.

NW Ind. work-release center locked down over flu 13 Oct 2009 Officials in northwestern Indiana's Lake County confined about 160 inmates at a work-release center after one inmate was hospitalized with severe flu symptoms. Lake County Community Corrections director Kellie Bittorf says the illness wasn't immediately confirmed as swine flu but that the staff was taking 'necessary' precautions. Inmates serving their sentences in the Crown Point center have been barred from leaving for work or receiving visitors since Saturday.

Boy, 6, Faces Reform School for Carrying Camping Utensil to School 13 Oct 2009 A Delaware mother whose 6-year-old son was suspended for 45 days for carrying a camping utensil to school is speaking out against the suspension and saying he should not have to face reform school as a consequence. Debbie Christie's son Zachary, a first-grader at Downes Elementary School in Newark, Del., was suspended for carrying a camping utensil that contained a spoon, fork, bottle opener and knife to school.

Senate Panel Clears Health Bill With One G.O.P. Vote 14 Oct 2009 The Senate Finance Committee voted on Tuesday to approve legislation that would reshape the American health care system and provide subsidies to help millions of people [forced to] buy [overpriced] insurance, as Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, joined all 13 Democrats on the panel in support of the landmark bill. The vote was 14 to 9, with all of the other Republicans opposed.

Health insurance lobby attacks reforms 12 Oct 2009 The White House and the health insurance industry on Monday descended into open conflict on the eve of a critical Senate vote that could determine the fortunes of Barack Obama’s healthcare reform plans. Supporters of President Obama accused the health insurance industry of attempted "sabotage" after it issued a report by PwC, which estimated that premiums would rise much faster under the proposed 'reforms' than they would have done otherwise.

Previous lead stories: German soldiers to get different flu vaccine than civil population: Report 12 Oct 2009 The armed forces, according to a newspaper report, has ordered a different vaccine against the swine influenza for Germany's 250,000 soldiers. The vaccine is different than the serum which will be used to inoculate the civil population as a protection against the swine flu. The more acceptable vaccine for the soldiers contains neither controversial additives nor mercury-containing preservatives, reports the Bielefelder 'Westphalian's sheet,' according to armed forces circles. It concerns the Serum Celvapan from the pharmaceutical manufacturer Baxter. [Note: Above is a rough translation of the German article. Also, see: Baxter working on vaccine to stop swine flu, though admitted sending live pandemic flu viruses to subcontractor By Lori Price 26 Apr 2009.]

Mass. House approves bill allowing quarantines --Senate version includes placing restrictions on right to public assembly, allowing arrest of individuals without warrant, mandatory vaccinations, and isolation orders issued to anyone who refused to be vaccinated 08 Oct 2009 Public health officials would have the power to isolate individuals and order quarantines to contain the outbreak of serious contagious diseases under a bill approved by the Massachusetts House [113-36] on Thursday. One of the most contentious parts of the bill would give public health officials the authority to force individuals or groups into isolation or quarantine when there is "reasonable cause to believe that a disease or condition dangerous to the public health exists or may exist or that there is an immediate risk of an outbreak."

'There are still a few good apples in there but there's been a few bad ones and we've got a rotten barrel.' Ex-officer alleges 'hundreds of' Iraq cover-ups 11 Oct 2009 British soldiers in Iraq were involved in hundreds of incidents in which civilians died or were seriously injured but which were covered up or inadequately investigated, a former military police officer claimed today. "If you were to look back at all the serious allegations arising out of operations in Iraq, there's a catalogue of blunders, mistakes, ineptitude and the course of investigations being bent to serve the real or perceived interests of the chain of command of the army," the ex-officer said. He said he had "absolutely no trust and confidence in anyone in the army who is saying that the number of incidents are low". He continued: "The documentary evidence that I have seen suggests that there were hundreds of incidents over the last six or seven years and that it's of great concern that among those hundreds there will have been undoubtedly some very suspicious deaths and serious injuries that were never properly investigated."

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

yonhapnews.co.kr | Former US President George W Bush - Asia to take center stage in future global economy

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- Asia will emerge as a "powerful" growth engine for the future world economy as its center shifts from the Atlantic to the Pacific, former U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday.

"Thanks to wise economic policies, South Korea has posted two consecutive quarters of positive growth. China's growth remains strong. Singapore and Vietnam posted strong economic growth in their recent quarterly report," Bush said in his keynote speech at the World Knowledge Forum.

"The Asian economies are going to be powerful engines of growth for the future. The U.S. and Europe are taking steps to get out of the economic difficulties that we're in and we hope they work," he said.

A recent report from the International Monetary Fund suggested that emerging Asian countries, in comparison to industrialized nations, will stage a swift recovery from the worst global downturn in more than a decade.

The IMF predicted that South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 4.5 percent in 2014, the third-highest among 33 major advanced countries reviewed by the Washington-based lending organization.

The former president underscored that the center of the global economic stage has shifted "from the Atlantic to the Pacific."

"That's one reason why the decision to broaden the (consulting) group from the G-8 to the G-20 was an easy decision."

"It made imminent sense to make sure that China, South Korea, Indonesia and Australia were at the table when the world leaders came to discuss how best to resolve the economic crisis that we are in," Bush said.

On the North Korean nuclear issue, the former president said the six-party talks are "the best way" to bring peace on the Korean Peninsula, calling for involved parties to be united despite likely efforts by the North to undermine the multilateral framework.

"The president of North Korea will no doubt test the system, no doubt try to find weaknesses," said Bush, whose eight years in the White House were marked by on-and-off negotiations with Pyongyang to end the communist regime's nuclear development with other members of the six-party talks -- South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.

Bush was referring to Kim Jong-il, who is actually not the president of North Korea but assumes the country's top post as chairman of the National Defense Commission.

"I'm confident that the issue can be resolved peacefully, when China, Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States speak in one voice, to say that there is a better way forward," Bush said.

North Korea is boycotting the six-party negotiations in protest of U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests earlier this year, although Kim recently expressed his willingness to return to dialogue on the condition that expected bilateral talks with the U.S. produce results.

RELATED:

Bush urges unity to pressure NKorea on nukes

SEOUL — Former US president George W. Bush Wednesday urged nations negotiating with North Korea to stay united to pressure the communist state into abandoning its nuclear ambitions.

Bush told a Seoul forum that Pyongyang is undoubtedly testing the six-nation negotiating process and the other members must not give in.

"I believe that the best way to bring peace to the Korean peninsula is multilateral diplomacy through the six-party talks," Bush said in a keynote speech to the World Knowledge Forum.

"The president of North Korea will, no doubt, test the system, and, no doubt, try to find weaknesses," he said, referring to leader Kim Jong-Il who is not in fact president.

"I'm confident the issue can be resolved peacefully when China, (South) Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States speak with one voice to say that there is a better way forward."

Early in his term Bush took a hardline stance with the North and famously labelled it part of an "axis of evil" in 2002.

But the following year he agreed to the creation of the six-party forum, designed to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programmes in exchange for economic aid and major security and diplomatic benefits.

The latest six-party talks last December ended in stalemate and the North quit the forum in April. But Bush reiterated his faith in it as the best approach.

North Korea said last week it was willing to return to the six-party process, but only if it can first make progress in separate bilateral talks with the United States.


Karachi, Pakistan

(Rehan Khan / EPA / October 12, 2009)
Muhammad Zahid weeps as he offers his two children, Hamna and Jawwad, for sale in Karachi, Pakistan. Zahid has been jobless for four years, and it is not uncommon for the country's poor to sell children or organs.

MercuryNews.com | Strongest October storm in 47 years in Bay Area today, forcing evacuations and causing power outages to thousands

RELATED:

Storm weakens but rains are on their way as mountain areas prepare for slides

Los Angeles Times - ‎4 hours ago‎
"Flash flooding and debris flows will be a particular threat in and below the recent burn areas." The powerful winter storm battered Northern California ...

San Francisco unemployment hits record 10.1%

San Francisco's unemployment rate rose to a record 10.1 percent with little sign of job recovery, according to the most recent economic update from city ...

RELATED:
MORE>>>

Radio Netherland Worldwide | Bright meteor sighted in the Dutch night sky

Published on13 October 2009 - 10:16pm


Many people in the Netherlands witnessed a fireball in the heavens at around seven o'clock on Tuesday evening. Astronomer Theo Jurriens from Groningen University has confirmed that it was an extremely bright meteor which broke into three pieces after hitting the atmosphere.

He says he received about 100 reports of sightings of the meteor from people throughout the country. The KNMI national weather centre also received a large number of calls reporting the event.

RELATED:

Space.com | June 10, 2009 - Incoming space rocks now classified by military

Lakeland, Florida | Holes in the bottom of Peace River - water is going down the holes instead of flowing downriver

Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 8:22 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 8:22 p.m.

During the 2000-01 drought, a few of us wandered around the riverbed of the Peace River to see whether we could find any more places where the river was flowing into a hole in the ground.

These sinkholes, chasms and other holes are known technically as "karst features," a geological term in use since the late 19th century to describe areas where rock is dissolved by water, creating conduits between and within surface and underground geology.

The latest news about these holes in the bottom of the Peace River is that scientists at the U.S. Geologic Survey office in Tampa have figured out how much water is going down the holes instead of flowing downriver as it once did.

The five-year, $926,000 study was funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The study, conducted by Patricia Metz and Bill Lewelling, concluded that an average of 11 million gallons a day disappears into the ground along a two-mile stretch of the river between Bartow and Homeland.

These losses contribute to the common dry season phenomenon in the past 30 years in which little or no water flows down this portion of the river. FULL STORY

Military.com | Many Vets Can't Cash GI Bill Checks

In response to the hardships caused by delays in delivering GI Bill benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs began issuing advance educational benefit payments to veteran-students in the form of US Bank business checks. These emergency checks are being issued in amounts up to $3,000 for veteran-students who have applied for GI Bill benefits and who have not yet received their VA payment. VA's 57 regional offices began issuing these checks to eligible Veteran-students across the country on Friday, October 2, 2009. Unfortunately, many veterans have found it nearly impossible to cash the VA checks. To help with this latest snag, the VA has established a special customer service call-in number (1-800-827-2166) for banks to verify the validity of any US Bank check brought to them by a veteran. Banks calling these numbers will be connected directly to a VA employee who can access to all necessary information to verify who the check was issued to, the check number and dollar amount of the check, and whether the check was previously cashed or not.

To learn more, read the blog post on the Military Education Blog.

Benzinga.com | Largest Gold Reserves by Country

Of course America does not believe in foreign reserves - so the last column is a big fat "Not Applicable". Far better to spend over your means indefinitely than to have national savings; let the rest of the world save for us.... we excel at the spending part.....

Top 15 $ Value of % of Country Reserves Reserves United States $298.4 N/A Germany $125.0 69.2% International Monetary Fund $118.0 N/A Italy $89.9 66.6% France $89.7 70.6% China $38.7 1.9% Switzerland $38.2 29.1% Japan $28.1 2.3% Netherlands $22.5 59.6% Russia $20.9 4.3% European Central Bank $18.4 18.8% Taiwan $15.5 3.9% Portugal $14.0 90.9% India $13.1 4.0% Venezuela $13.1 36.1%

FULL STORY

CNet.com | Defense Contractor Boeing said its Chemical Laser gunship hits moving ground target

The Advanced Tactical Laser in an undated flight over Albuquerque, N.M. Credit: Ed Turner, Boeing

Boeing continues to carve notches in its directed-energy bandolier. The defense contractor said Tuesday that its Advanced Tactical Laser aircraft in mid-September fired from the air and hit a vehicle moving on the ground. That bull's-eye marks the first time the modified C-130H has used its onboard chemical laser to strike a moving target....

RELATED:

The Boeing Company is a major aerospace and defense corporation, founded by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Its international headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois,[2] since 2001. Boeing is the largest global aircraft manufacturer by revenue, orders and deliveries, and the second largest aerospace and defense contractor in the world.[3] Boeing is the largest exporter by value in the United States.[4] Its stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

On August 11, 2006, Boeing announced an agreement to form a joint-venture with the large Russian titanium producer, VSMPO-Avisma for the machining of titanium forgings.[27] On December 27, 2007 Boeing and VSMPO-Avisma created a joint venture Ural Boeing Manufacturing and signed a contract on titanium products deliveries until 2015, with Boeing planning to invest 27 billion dollars in Russia over the next 30 years......


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

October 13th, 2009

New GAO Report (PDFs)
Source: Government Accountability Office
13 October 2009
1. Tax Gap: Limiting Sole Proprietor Loss Deductions Could Improve Compliance but Would Also Limit Some Legitimate Losses
Highlights ||| Full Report

Abortion and Unintended Pregnancy Decline Worldwide as Contraceptive Use Increases
Source: Guttmacher Institute

Increases in global contraceptive use have contributed to a decrease in the number of unintended pregnancies and, in turn, a decline in the number of abortions, which fell from an estimated 45.5 million procedures in 1995 to 41.6 million in 2003. While both the developed and the developing world experienced these positive trends, developed regions saw the greatest progress. Within the developing world, improvement varied widely, with Africa lagging behind other regions, according to “Abortion Worldwide: A Decade of Uneven Progress,” a major new Guttmacher Institute report released today.

The decline in worldwide abortion occurred alongside a global trend toward liberalizing abortion laws. Nineteen countries have significantly reduced restrictions in their abortion laws since 1997, while only three countries have substantially increased legal restrictions. Despite these trends, 40% of the world’s women live in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws, virtually all of them in the developing world. In Africa, 92% of reproductive-age women live under highly restrictive abortion laws, and in Latin America, 97% do so. These proportions have not changed markedly over the past decade.

The report finds that while the incidence of abortion is closely related to that of unintended pregnancy, it does not correlate with abortion’s legal status. Indeed, abortion occurs at roughly equal rates in regions where it is broadly legal and in regions where it is highly restricted. The key difference is safety—illegal, clandestine abortions cause significant harm to women, especially in developing countries.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.5 MB)

Report Documents the Risks of Giant Invasive Snakes in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Five giant non-native snake species would pose high risks to the health of ecosystems in the United States should they become established here, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report released today.

The USGS report details the risks of nine non-native boa, anaconda and python species that are invasive or potentially invasive in the United States. Because all nine species share characteristics associated with greater risks, none was found to be a low ecological risk. Two of these species are documented as reproducing in the wild in South Florida, with population estimates for Burmese pythons in the tens of thousands.

Based on the biology and known natural history of the giant constrictors, individuals of some species may also pose a small risk to people, although most snakes would not be large enough to consider a person as suitable prey. Mature individuals of the largest species—Burmese, reticulated, and northern and southern African pythons—have been documented as attacking and killing people in the wild in their native range, though such unprovoked attacks appear to be quite rare, the report authors wrote. The snake most associated with unprovoked human fatalities in the wild is the reticulated python. The situation with human risk is similar to that experienced with alligators: attacks in the wild are improbable but possible.

+ Giant Constrictors: Biological and Management Profiles and an Establishment Risk Assessment for Nine Large Species of Pythons, Anacondas, and the Boa Constrictor
+ Research on introduced Florida snakes
+ What parts of the US mainland are climatically suitable for invasive alien pythons spreading from Everglades National Park?
+ Large Constrictor Snakes Frequently Asked Questions (PDF; 24 KB)

2009 Business Travel Awards
Source: Condé Nast Traveler

The twelfth annual business-travel survey couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. When better to take the pulse of business travelers than during an economic slowdown? And the results deliver some encouraging insights, as well as a few predictable ones: Compared with a year ago, 36 percent of our readers are booking less expensive hotels; 44 percent are spending more time shopping for lower fares; and more than 50 percent report that their companies have reduced the number of employees who hit the road. But that’s only half the story. Yes, 43 percent have reduced business-travel spending—but 12 percent have increased it. And one-fifth believe that their spending will return to pre-recession levels in a year or less. In the following pages, we present the best business-travel experiences, as judged by the people who know them best. Plus, a selection of new accessories and gadgets—for efficiency and fun.

Ranks U.S. airports, international airports, U.S. hotel chains, international hotel chains, transpacific routes/business class, transatlantic routes/business class, U.S. routes/business and first class, U.S. routes/single-class service.

Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2007-08 – First Look
Source: National Center for Education Statistics

This report presents findings on the numbers and types of public elementary and secondary schools in the United States and the territories in the 2007-08 school year, using data from the Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey of the Common Core of Data (CCD) survey system.

+ Full Report (PDF; 321 KB)

Potential Impact of Health Reform on the Cost of Private Health Insurance Coverage (PDF; 582 KB)
Source: America’s Health Insurance Plans/PricewaterhouseCoopers

Key Findings
+ Health reform could have a significant impact on the cost of private health insurance
coverage.
+ There are four provisions included in the Senate Finance Committee proposal that could
increase private health insurance premiums above the levels projected under current law:

  • Insurance market reforms coupled with a weak coverage requirement,
  • A new tax on high-cost health care plans,
  • Cost-shifting as a result of cuts to Medicare, and
  • New taxes on several health care sectors.

+ The overall impact of these provisions will be to increase the cost of private insurance
coverage for individuals, families, and businesses above what these costs would be in
the absence of reform.
+ On average, the cost of private health insurance coverage will increase:

  • 26 percent between 2009 and 2013 under the current system and by 40 percent
    during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.
  • 50 percent between 2009 and 2016 under the current system and by 73 percent
    during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.
  • 79 percent between 2009 and 2019 under the current system and by 111 percent
    during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.

2009 Tribalization of Business Study
Source: Deloitte Development LLC

Deloitte LLP’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) practice has recently released the results of the 2009 Tribalization of Business Study, which evaluates the perceived potential of online communities* and identifies how enterprises believe they may better leverage them. Conducted in conjunction with Beeline Labs and the Society for New Communications Research, this second edition of the Tribalization of Business Study measured the responses of more than 400 companies including Fortune 100 organizations which have created and maintain online communities today.

Survey results indicate that while enterprises are effectively using online tools to engage with customers, partners, and employees for brand discussion and idea generation, organizations are continuing to struggle with harnessing social media’s full potential. Firms of Deloitte LLP are meeting with clients to share these insights and strategize on how they can help their businesses use these potent business tools.

+ Highlights (PDF; 222 KB)
+ 2009 Tribalization of Business Study Highlights Flipbook (PDF; 134 KB)

Postsecondary Institutions and Price of Attendance in the United States: Fall 2008 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2007-08, and 12-Month Enrollment 2007-08
Source: National Center for Education Statistics

This First Look presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2008 data collection, which included three survey components: Institutional Characteristics for the 2008-09 academic year, Completions covering the period July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008. and data on 12-Month Enrollment for the 2007-08 academic year. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.1 MB)

United Nations Criminal Justice Standards for United Nations Police (PDF; 681 KB)
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)

Building peace requires more than simply bringing an end to armed conflict; it also requires strengthening the rule of law. The international standards and norms summarized in the present handbook can assist in this critical process. The handbook summarizes the inter- national human rights and criminal justice principles that United Nations police personnel must know, abide by and promote when deployed in peacekeeping operations and special political missions. As such, it is designed to serve a dual purpose. Firstly, it is a code of conduct for police operating under the United Nations flag. Secondly, it is a reference source to help national authorities to improve policing.

Hat tip: UN Pulse

The Cost of Failure to Enact Health Reform: Implications for States
Source: Urban Institute

This paper used the Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model to examine the impact on insurance coverage in government, employer, and family spending in all 50 states in absence of reform. In all states employer sponsored insurance would fall, and Medicaid enrollment and the number of uninsured would increase. Employer spending would increase despite drops in coverage. Government spending for public health insurance programs and for financing of uncompensated care would increase. The results differ among states depending on the distribution of employees by firm size and wage levels, the breadth of coverage in public programs and projected population growth.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.8 MB)

Variation in Insurance Coverage Across Congressional Districts: New Estimates from 2008
Source: Urban Institute

New data on health insurance coverage from the American Community Survey show extensive variation in rates of private and public coverage and uninsurance across congressional districts in the United States. Rates of private coverage are lowest in districts that have higher poverty rates which tend to be concentrated in the South and West and uninsurance remains most serious in districts with low rates of private coverage. This analysis identifies the districts in which residents would have the most to gain from health reforms that are designed to increase health insurance coverage toward a higher and more uniform national standard.

+ Full Report (PDF; 640 KB)

Health and wellbeing at work in the United Kingdom
Source: RAND Corporation

In 2009, the Work Foundation led a partnership with RAND Europe and Aston Business School undertaking the research and analysis to support the Boorman review. RAND Europe led the study on whether health workplace interventions could be useful to mitigate health risk factors and to reduce the work-related costs associated with poor health and wellbeing in British workplaces and the NHS in England. This report, prepared for the Department of Health, presents the main findings of the research.

Upgrading Britain’s nuclear deterrent: from V-Bombers to Trident replacement
Source: History and Policy
Executive Summary:

The debate taking place over the replacement of the Trident nuclear submarines involves the same complex interplay of elements which characterised previous discussions about upgrading Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

These elements are strategic, technological, diplomatic and political in nature, and stretch back to the replacement of the V-Bombers in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Strategic arguments have continually stressed the ‘unknowable’ threats Britain might face in the future, and the need for an independent deterrent in case alliances collapse.

Technological advances forced the abandonment of any specifically ‘British’ weapons system during the Cold War and have continued to severely constrain the options available.

Diplomatic concerns have stressed the ‘value’ provided by the deterrent in bolstering British influence.

The domestic political context can play a pivotal role in shaping nuclear decision-making and it is not inconceivable that the current economic constraints could de-rail current government proposals.

Overall, the fear of risks to prestige and of military and strategic uncertainty over the long-term future have triumphed over concrete criticisms, resulting in repeated upgrades by the governments of the day: triumph of the much-derided ‘precautionary principle’

A recent report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), however, has criticised Britain’s reliance on a United States-derived nuclear deterrent, stressing the need to explore alternatives such as the European dimension and emphasising the non-nuclear threats to Britain’s security- the emergence of the recognition of competing precautionary principles.

How Well Does Your State Constitution Protect Individual Rights, Limited Government?
Source: Goldwater Institute

In “50 Bright Stars: An Assessment of Each State’s Constitutional Commitment to Limited Government” Goldwater Institute constitutional policy director Nick Dranias assessed and ranked the strength of limited government provisions of each state constitution as currently interpreted in recent court decisions and the quality and philosophy of each state’s judiciary.

He found that 48 states currently offer a better environment for securing limited government in state courts than do federal courts under the U.S. Constitution. Only Massachusetts and West Virginia fall below the federal baseline. Arizona ranked third in the country, close behind Minnesota, which tied Michigan and Ohio for first place.

+ Full Report

Opening a Farmers Market on Federal Property: A Guide for Market Operators and Building Managers (PDF; 262 KB)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration
From press release:

The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service today released “Opening a Farmers Market on Federal Property: A Guide for Market Operators and Building Managers.” The publication was jointly published by the Urban Development/Good Neighbor Program of General Services Administration, which administers most federal buildings.

This publication discusses the issues involved in locating a farmers market on federal property: security, insurance needs, parking, the use of utilities and amenities, and all the other things you need to consider. It tells who to contact for information, points to some helpful government Web sites and offices, and offers case studies of successful farmers markets on public property.

Federal properties may be good places for farmers markets, because they can boost traffic, since many federal buildings are prominently positioned in central business districts. Sites in buildings, on grounds or in parking lots are frequently available for minimal or no cost.