News

Syria's Assad is hitting Homs with the heaviest mortars in the world (video)

2012-02-23T15:41:00.001-08:00

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2012/0221/Syria-s-Assad-is-hitting-Homs-with-the-heaviest-mortars-in-the-world-video

US downplays Iranian nuclear advancements as 'hype'

2012-02-15T12:23:00.001-08:00

http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=257990

Fwd: Doc Fix

2012-02-15T09:03:00.001-08:00

'Congress has struggled with how much the US should pay doctors who serve Medicare patients ever since the program for seniors was created in 1965. Congress blew through two reimbursement formulas before settling in 1997 on the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), which linked payments for physicians to the rate of growth of the economy.

But health costs are increasing at a faster rate than is the overall economy. As a result, the SGR was $1 billion short of covering the actual costs of caring for Medicare patients by 2003. Ever since, Congress has approved short-term funding, or the so-called doc fix, to fill the gap – often several times in the same year.

Last year Congress passed five emergency doc fixes, including a one-year, $19 billion fix in December to keep physician payments stable through 2011. House Republicans now propose a two-year, $14.9 billion doc fix, expected to keep physician salaries stable plus a 1 percent raise through 2013. It is expected to cost $39 billion. If Congress doesn't act, Medicare payments to doctors will drop 27.4 percent, beginning Jan. 1.'

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/1213/Why-temporary-tax-cuts-never-die-Payroll-tax-and-3-other-examples/The-doc-fix

RE: below two miles of ice...

2012-02-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

The only reason that it is liquid water (I suppose) is that the tremendous pressure changes the state? Or ice simply floats on water?

John Coffey

_____________________________________________
From: Trout, Larry R

‘In the coldest spot on the earth’s coldest continent, Russian scientists have reached a freshwater lake the size of Lake Ontario after spending a decade drilling through more than two miles of solid ice, the scientists said Wednesday…

Lake Vostok, named after the Russian research station above it, is the largest of more than 280 lakes under the miles-thick ice that covers most of the Antarctic continent, and the first one to have a drill bit break through to liquid water from the ice that has kept it sealed off from light and air for somewhere between 15 million and 34 million years.’

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/world/europe/russian-scientists-bore-into-ancient-antarctic-lake.html

Isn’t this how a few horror movies start out.

I just hope we don’t release something our immune systems have never seen before J

Fwd: Venezuela

2012-01-09T16:01:00.001-08:00

'Venezuela's consul general to Miami was expelled today amid accusations that she assisted with a cyberattack - coordinated by Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela - against the US.'

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2012/0109/US-expels-Venezuelan-diplomat-as-Ahmadinejad-makes-Latin-America-tour

Iran starts underground nuclear work, condemns American to die

2012-01-09T08:30:00.001-08:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/us-iran-usa-spy-idUSTRE8080BH20120109

Best places to retire

2011-12-25T20:19:00.001-08:00

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-best-places-retire-2012-070000895.html

Which States Have Cell Phone, Texting While Driving Bans?

2011-12-14T15:48:00.001-08:00

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397646,00.asp

more-than-4000-birds-crash-land-in-parking-lot

2011-12-14T11:26:00.001-08:00

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57343014/more-than-4000-birds-crash-land-in-parking-lot/

Wind storm in Utah

2011-12-02T13:49:00.001-08:00

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/faith/53029513-78/winds-mph-pressure-utah.html.csp

In Utah, about 50,000 customers lost power along the state's 120-mile Wasatch Front as high winds took down power lines, but service was restored to more than half of them by Thursday night.

On Interstate 15, strong gusts blew more than 10 semi-trucks onto their sides, prompting authorities to temporarily close the highway to trucks. Commuter train travel was also interrupted after debris covered the tracks.

Schools closed in Centerville, where a 102-mph gust was reported. Mail delivery and trash pickup were canceled.

Davis County issued a disaster declaration to request state assistance, citing more than $3.5 million in estimated damage to infrastructure.

The Red Cross opened three centers to provide food and aid to people affected by the storm, and opened one overnight shelter in Ogden.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/story/2011-12-02/western-wind-storm-santa-anas-california/51582864/1

A Frosty Reception for Coca-Cola's White Christmas Cans - WSJ.com

2011-12-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204012004577070521211375302.html?mod=WSJ_hp_editorsPicks_3

'Victoria's Secret Fashion Show' shows ratings legs for CBS

2011-11-30T15:44:00.001-08:00

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/11/victorias-secret-fashion-show-shows-ratings-legs-for-cbs-.html

The Associated Press: Britain orders Iran's diplomats to leave UK

2011-11-30T15:40:00.001-08:00

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5idHom8zbKn5jMbKVw9WFI1mSZXuw?docId=b38865562a124a3c9129d16bddd1916c

Google Ends Effort To Make Cheap, Renewable Energy | Fox News

2011-11-23T12:09:00.001-08:00

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/23/google-ends-effort-to-make-cheap-renewable-solar-energy/#ixzz1eY7XGkQR

Bloomberg: Unions hijacked Occupy protest

2011-11-18T11:12:00.001-08:00

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/68687.html#ixzz1e54PR8j4

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Steve Jobs 1955-2011

2011-11-13T16:58:00.001-08:00

http://iphoneappleandsmartphones.blogspot.com/

Unemployment aid hits 7-month low

2011-11-11T07:19:00.001-08:00

http://newssun.suntimes.com/business/8747501-420/unemployment-aid-hits-7-month-low.html

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Fwd: Brilliant Article about Steve Jobs

2011-11-07T23:18:00.001-08:00

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/11/14/111114fa_fact_gladwell?mbid=gnep

Truck ignites, flames spread into Sugar House McDonald’s | The Salt Lake Tribune

2011-10-29T21:05:00.001-07:00

I love walking down to a Mcdonalds 3 blocks from my house. Tonight I
drove by it only to find it boarded up.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52808910-78/fire-truck-building-mccarty.html.csp

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Five ways the European debt crisis could affect the U.S.

2011-10-27T15:39:00.001-07:00

http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/story/2011-10-27/eurozone-crisis-deal/50963370/1

Medicare 2012 premium hike smaller than feared

2011-10-27T15:36:00.001-07:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/27/us-usa-health-medicare-idUSTRE79Q77A20111027

Hormones Linked to Weight Gain After Dieting

2011-10-27T15:35:00.001-07:00

http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Hormones-Linked-to-Weight-Gain-After-Dieting/131qzCrvr5SOgG5wKNrtrD/

Life From Star Dust?

2011-10-27T15:34:00.001-07:00

http://my.auburnjournal.com/detail/191694.html

Could HP bring WebOS back?

2011-10-27T15:33:00.001-07:00

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20126744-94/could-hp-bring-webos-back/

Buy Netflix? A Bull vs. Bear Debate With a Cautionary Tale

2011-10-27T15:32:00.001-07:00

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/buy-netflix-bull-vs-bear-debate-cautionary-tale-145508779.html

Can Perry afford to pass on debates?

2011-10-27T15:30:00.003-07:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/politics/perry-debates/

Occupy Oakland demonstrators continue their march, other anti-Wall Street protests continue

2011-10-27T15:30:00.001-07:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/occupy-oakland-demonstrators-continue-their-march-other-anti-wall-street-protests-continue/2011/10/27/gIQAOC0oMM_story.html

Can Nokia's Lumia line save Windows Phone?

2011-10-27T15:29:00.001-07:00

http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20126591-85/can-nokias-lumia-line-save-windows-phone/

Ilan Grapel: I want to thank the Israeli people

2011-10-27T15:28:00.001-07:00

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=243453

U.N. Votes to Lift Libya No-Fly Zone

2011-10-27T15:26:00.001-07:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203554104577002180552054366.html

When pumpkins attack

2011-10-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/10/when-pumpkins-attack/1?csp=34news

Steve Jobs: Revelations from a tech giant

2011-10-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-20124391/steve-jobs-revelations-from-a-tech-giant/

Salt Lake police make arrest in 1997 cold case murder

2011-10-24T17:55:00.001-07:00

http://www.deseretnews.com/m/article/705393056

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America's Boomtown: North Dakota housing crunch -

2011-10-24T17:54:00.001-07:00

http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/21/pf/america_boomtown_housing/

Why Companies Can't Find the Employees They Need - WSJ.com

2011-10-24T17:53:00.001-07:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204422404576596630897409182.html

Stocks reach highest level since August - latimes.com

2011-10-24T17:51:00.001-07:00

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fiw-markets-20111024,0,4878242.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29

Netflix Lost 800,000 Members With Price Rise and Split Plan

2011-10-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/technology/netflix-lost-800000-members-with-price-rise-and-split-plan.html

Obama Expands Mortgage Aid

2011-10-24T17:47:00.001-07:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203911804576651502457797670.html

Bachmann's ex-NH staff: Campaign was rude, cruel - Boston.com

2011-10-24T17:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/10/24/bachmanns_ex_nh_staff_campaign_was_rude_cruel/

Fwd: non-criminal illegal aliens

2011-10-22T18:46:00.001-07:00

From: larry.r.trout

non-criminal illegal aliens
'The Obama administration soon will begin its systematic review of the approximately 300,000 pending deportation cases, separating "high priority" cases involving criminals it wants to deport from "low priority" cases it will drop, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Congress Wednesday.

The effort marks another point in an evolution of immigration enforcement away from the worksite raids of the Bush administration and towards deportations of illegal immigrants in prisons and jails.

Napolitano said a group of Homeland Security and Justice Department officials will begin a small "pilot" review of immigration cases in "two or three" weeks, and hopes to rapidly expand its efforts.

Under the policy announced last year, federal immigration officials will place the highest priority on deporting illegal immigrants who pose a danger to public safety and national security, while "administratively closing" other cases, taking into consideration a list of factors. Those factors include the person's length of time in the United States, whether the immigrant arrived as a child, served in the military and has a spouse, child or parent who is a U.S. citizen.

DHS officials say the new policy, which gives immigration officials "prosecutorial discretion," is similar to policies of previous administrations, and is a "common sense" approach to immigration enforcement…

Napolitano said the department's focus on criminal illegal immigrants is better than "the ad hoc approach where non-criminal aliens are more likely to be removed than criminals."'

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/19/politics/napolitano-deportation-reviews/?hpt=us_c1

Clinton says U.S. officials have met with Haqqanis

2011-10-21T09:34:00.001-07:00

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE79K0VW20111021?irpc=71

The Austerity Death Trap - The Huffington Post

2011-10-20T16:59:00.001-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/robert-reich/gop-austerity_b_1020681.html

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Great Scot! DMC announces all-electric DeLorean for 2013

2011-10-18T11:38:00.001-07:00

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/dmc-delorean-electric-announced-back-to-the-future/

Salt Lake City teen sets wheelchair wheelie record | The Salt Lake Tribune

2011-10-18T11:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52695549-78/record-wheelchair-team-mcintosh.html.csp

Eliza also competes in Utah chess tournaments.

A New Spending Record

2011-10-18T10:07:00.001-07:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204479504576637513885592874.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

Report: Venezuela's Chavez 'Only Has Two Years To Live' | Fox News

2011-10-17T13:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/17/report-venezuelas-chavez-only-has-two-years-to-live/

Sprint customers line up as it gets 1st iPhone

2011-10-16T08:01:00.001-07:00

http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.rbml?feed_id=0&catid=20120665&videofeed=36

Steve Jobs Memorial Service To Be Held Oct. 16

2011-10-16T07:52:00.001-07:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204002304576631531431248662.html

Rihanna Nude, Talks Stage Sex & Chris Brown

2011-10-15T08:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2011/10/11/rihanna-esquires-sexiest-woman-stage-sex_n_1004715.html

Lindsay Lohan checks in for community service at Red Cross

2011-10-15T08:18:00.001-07:00

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2048942/Lindsay-Lohan-checks-community-service-Red-Cross.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

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Treasury officials: Never saw a loan like Solyndra

2011-10-15T08:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9QCAI2G0.htm

Rick Perry jobs plan: Make rest of America more like Texas

2011-10-15T08:16:00.001-07:00

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/1014/Rick-Perry-jobs-plan-Make-rest-of-America-more-like-Texas

Syria draft constitution 'ready in four months'

2011-10-15T08:15:00.001-07:00

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jUJxg8ZWxYTcITaE-A9e2A59Lilw?docId=CNG.df12618f0e6aa1f07c616c66485fdd46.841

Egypt's military rulers criminalize discrimination

2011-10-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0QF5Fp9TwC_h4Pet_ZpK6wb0_Nw?docId=2d9d4598e8894741958a56a811765fc9

FTL Neutrino Research 'Almost Certainly Wrong'

2011-10-14T14:23:00.001-07:00

http://news.discovery.com/space/faster-than-light-neutrino-theory-almost-certainly-wrong-111012.html

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Fwd: Subprime

2011-10-13T10:25:00.001-07:00

From: larry.r.trout

'Research by Edward Pinto, a former chief credit officer of Fannie has shown that 27 million loans—half of all mortgages in the U.S.—were subprime or otherwise weak by 2008. That is, the loans were made to borrowers with blemished credit, or were loans with no or low down payments, no documentation, or required only interest payments.

Of these, over 70% were held or guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie or some other government agency or government-regulated institution. Thus it is clear where the demand for these deficient mortgages came from.'

'Beginning in 1992, the government required Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to direct a substantial portion of their mortgage financing to borrowers who were at or below the median income in their communities. The original legislative quota was 30%. But the Department of Housing and Urban Development was given authority to adjust it, and through the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations HUD raised the quota to 50% by 2000 and 55% by 2007.'

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203633104576623083437396142.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

'As housing bubbles grow, rising prices suppress delinquencies and defaults. People who could not meet their mortgage obligations could refinance or sell, because their houses were now worth more.

Accordingly, by the mid-2000s, investors had begun to notice that securities based on subprime mortgages were producing the high yields, but not showing the large number of defaults, that are usually associated with subprime loans. This triggered strong investor demand for these securities, causing the growth of the first significant private market for MBS based on subprime and other risky mortgages….

When the bubble deflated in 2007, an unprecedented number of weak mortgages went into default, driving down housing prices throughout the U.S. and throwing Fannie and Freddie into insolvency. Seeing these sudden losses, investors fled from the market for privately issued MBS, and mark-to-market accounting required banks and others to write down the value of their mortgage-backed assets to the distress levels in a market that now had few buyers. This raised questions about the solvency and liquidity of the largest financial institutions and began a period of great investor anxiety.'

Skin transformed into liver cells to treat an inherited disease

2011-10-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

http://m.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/oct/12/skin-liver-cells-inherited-disease?cat=science&type=article

TSA on lookout for big hair and snow globes

2011-10-12T17:31:00.001-07:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/11/opinion/granderson-air-travel-absurdity/?hpt=tr_c2

9 Ways Supermarkets Suck You In - DailyFinance

2011-10-12T17:09:00.001-07:00

http://m.aol.com/dailyfinance/default/articleStory.do?category=main&url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/10/09/9-ways-to-avoid-being-a-supermarket-sucker/&icid=dsk_df_news

NY 'Occupy' Protests Evolved From Magazine Appeal - ABC News

2011-10-12T17:08:00.001-07:00

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=14724840

Why Topeka, Kan., repealed its ban on domestic violence - CSMonitor.com

2011-10-12T17:07:00.001-07:00

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2011/1012/Why-Topeka-Kan.-repealed-its-ban-on-domestic-violence

With guilty plea, underwear bomber cuts short intriguing terror trial - CSMonitor.com

2011-10-12T17:06:00.003-07:00

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2011/1012/With-guilty-plea-underwear-bomber-cuts-short-intriguing-terror-trial

Israel-Hamas Prisoner Swap May Reshape Regional Politics - NYTimes.com

2011-10-12T17:06:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/world/middleeast/israeli-palestinian-prisoner-swap-rattles-regional-politics.html

Republican Candidates in Debate Divide on Economy

2011-10-12T17:01:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/us/politics/republican-candidates-in-debate-divide-on-economy.html?_r=2

Apple to Hold Memorial Service for Steve Jobs

2011-10-12T16:59:00.001-07:00

http://www.pcworld.com/article/241644/apple_to_hold_memorial_service_for_steve_jobs.html

Fwd: 1 life for 1000

2011-10-11T16:40:00.001-07:00

From: larry.r.trout

1 Israeli soldier exchanged for 1000.

Idiots.

'"The deal will happen in two stages -- the first stage the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners, including 315 Palestinian prisoners that have one or many life sentences and the ones who are with high sentences. The second stage will include 550 Palestinian prisoners," he said.

The exchange will also include the release of 27 Palestinian female prisoners, said Meshaal.'

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/11/world/meast/israel-shalit-release/

Christie Endorses Romney Ahead Of GOP Debate

2011-10-11T15:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/11/christie-to-endorse-romney-for-president/

Chocolate lovers have fewer strokes

2011-10-11T14:59:00.001-07:00

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL3E7LB03Q20111011?irpc=932

Steve Jobs' official cause of death released

2011-10-11T14:58:00.001-07:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/steve-jobs/8819428/Steve-Jobs-official-cause-of-death-released.html

E-mails Link Solyndra Investors, Campaign Donors and White House

2011-10-11T13:59:00.001-07:00

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46791

Fwd: Iran assassination plot

2011-10-11T13:51:00.001-07:00

From: larry.r.trout

'FBI and DEA agents have disrupted a plot to commit a "significant terrorist act in the United States" tied to Iran, federal officials told ABC News today.

The officials said the plot included the assassination of the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, Adel Al-Jubeir, with a bomb and subsequent bomb attacks on the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Washington, D.C. Bombings of the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were also discussed, according to the U.S. officials.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in an announcement today that the plan was "conceived, sponsored and was directed from Iran" by a faction of the government and called it a "flagrant" violation of U.S. and international law.

"The U.S. is committed to holding Iran accountable for its actions," Holder said.'

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-iran-tied-terror-plot-washington-dc-disrupted/story?id=14711933