Showing posts with label hajj. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hajj. Show all posts

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Decibating the Healthcare Reform Debate, Murdochiating the Internet & More for Thursday, August 6, 2009

You see, the reason we've decided to go on the defensive against Rupert Murdoch's "Internet-pay initiative" is that basically it goes against the Common Good. For example, Mr. Murdoch has signalled that you will have to pay his admittedly Right Wing-ideologue news and webcasts and other media for reading, viewing and use of the same. That seems unfair, when reading today's news we found the following information: Lead-based Consumer Paint Remains A Global Public Health Threat and Marine Pest Species Costing Billions In Damage To Fisheries, Coastal Communities And Infrastructure Are Spreading. Do you really think that you have to pay Mr. Murdoch (whose compensation is already around $ 30,000,000/year) and Fox News Corporation to read such vital and important information?
We think this is the beginning-of-the-end for huge, monopolistic media and corporations that have decided to charge us and you, the public, private monies for vital public information in regards to your health, your money, your well-being and your existence. This goes against any of the concepts that we feel are familiar to those in a democracy. Democratic thought-processes have trained us to think that we have a Right-to-Know (RTK). Of course, we are expanding on the original concept that the public has a right to know of any potential chemical hazards that are in our backyards, our homes and our neighborhoods. You already have a government right to know that much.
Mr. Murdoch and Fox have been given the right to make huge monopolies and media corporations. Now he has decided we should have to pay for the privilege to have access to that monopoly's news and media and output. Some of this is justifiable. Artistic and copyrighted works are protected under law. But, the reading and viewing of RTK material is our right and a right that we should not have to pay for. Yes, we know, this is "loophole, loopy" politics. It is also a wedge to win back your right to information that is rightfully yours. Mr. Murdoch, if successful, will have you paying money, cash and so on for that right - or at least part of it.
If this course of action cannot be undone, we at least think that Fox Corporation should be legally required to provide free, public information vital under the RTK concept. He/they have already been paid for this by being given the right to form excessively large and controlling monopolies. We suggest that if this course of action is taken, some violation of the public trust will have occurred and will continue to occur under these circumstances. The other "news" - Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Bill O'Reilly and the rest - you can pay for - because its not necessary and not covered under any concept of RTK. Of course, this should create a large-type bureaucratic mess that will require Fox News or some agency appointed to oversee them and regulate which news and information can and cannot be free. That will, of course, create a giant headache for Fox and Mr. Murdoch. That's OK, as we've said, they've already been given the privilege of creating this huge monopoly which may prove to be their own Frankenstein's monster. On the plus side, a new huge bureaucracy which decides which news and information has to be paid and which has to be free will create innumerable jobs. Which will ultimately be good for the economy. Hurrah!
Spontaneous Health-Care Protests or Right-Wing Calculation? (MSNBC Countdown)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#32289252

Decibate

http://antizendictionary.blogspot.com/2009/08/decibate.html

Common good

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_good

Making sense of the recession: the cost of food and fuel, and the global impact

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/business/2007/creditcrunch/default.stm

U.S. mulls ‘bad bank’ to aid mortgage giants

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32309615/ns/business-washington_post/

Biggest recession blunders

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1111060

Rule issued to police oil price manipulation

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32314715/ns/business-oil_and_energy/

Russian submarines sighted off East Coast

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/05/russian.submarines/index.html

Russian Submarine K-152 Nerpa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_K-152_Nerpa

Hunger hits Detroit's middle class

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/06/news/economy/detroit_food/index.htm?cnn=yes

Extra £50bn for UK economy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8187360.stm

Clinton threatens Eritrea action

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8186781.stm

Eritrea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrea

Uighur unrest shows China's failures: Dalai Lama

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre57539q-us-tibet-dalailama/

14th Dalai Lama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Dalai_Lama

India to execute 2003 bomb trio

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8186871.stm

Ahmadinejad calls for unity in crisis-torn Iran

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/08/05/iran.ahmadinejad.inauguration/index.html

2009 Iranian Election Protests

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Iranian_election_protests

Iran bans Mecca visits over flu

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8187187.stm

Hajj

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajj

Sustainable Agriculture: Perennial Plants Produce More; Landscape Diversity Creates Habitat For Pest Enemies

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804071358.htm

Sustainable agriculture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_agriculture

Iowa 911 call center is first to accept texts

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32303244/ns/tech_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/


Twitter outage clamps tweets, cause 'unknown'

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32315051/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

Statement from Twitter on denial of service attack

http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/06/statement-from-twitter-on-denial-of-service-attack/

DoS Attack

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial_of_service_attack

Stolen laptop holds Army Guard members' data

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32304147/ns/technology_and_science-security/

Murdoch signals end of free news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8186701.stm

Rupert Murdoch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Murdoch

Foxate or Foxurp

http://antizendictionary.blogspot.com/2009/08/foxate-or-foxurp.html

Murdochiate or Murdurp

http://antizendictionary.blogspot.com/2009/08/murdochiate-or-murdurp.html

Murdochiate / Murdurp: The unfortunate
portmanteau of Murdoch and usurpate/usurp. The usurpation of the "free" internet by ideologues and the "right" to charge fees, funds, and so on for the use/viewing/reading of the news and the internet. (1) The usurpation of any form of media (digital or otherwise) for the purely profit-motivated. (2) The usurpation of any form of media (digital or otherwise) for the profit motive of promoting a Right Wing, conservative or other form of ideology. (3) The usurpation of any form of media (digital or otherwise) for profit and against the Common Good.

common good, conservate, fox, ideologue, internet, m, media, murdoch, murdochiate, murdurp, right wing, usurp

Tax Avoidance & Compensation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Murdoch#Tax_Avoidance

Hollywood Gets Mixed Reviews In History Class, Study Suggests

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090805171112.htm

'Gun giveaway' for Harley customers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8186847.stm

Lead-based Consumer Paint Remains A Global Public Health Threat

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804094641.htm

Lead paint

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_paint

Marine Pest Species Costing Billions In Damage To Fisheries, Coastal Communities And Infrastructure Are Spreading

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090726092331.htm

Thursday, July 23, 2009

More on 'Gating Dr. Gates' & More for Thursday, July 23, 2009

We know we shouldn't be flip, but having viewed TDS too many times, we can't resist. To have kept things interesting (and flip)during Mr. Obama's press conference on health care he just needed to say two words: 'Medical Marijuana'. And the resultant sales tax on the sales of the same would in itself pay for most of healthcare. Of course, most Americans are opposed to legalizing the medicinal use in all 50 states. Which is true, we just can't have half of the population high on medical marijuana half the time - it is just too dangerous. Also, it is too comical. Can you imagine characters like Jay and Silent Bob (from the Kevin Smith movies) on almost every street corner - or storefront - in America. Or worse, Harold and Kumar stereotypes. Or - much worse - Cheech & Chong stereotypes in every college town in America. Gosh, its kind of sad, isn't it? Reducing the nation's health care reform to this kind of ridiculous portrayal. Will the health care reform have to go the way of the medical marijuana sales tax to pay for itself? Probably not. However, the sales tax on beer, wine, liquor, spirits, tobacco, pornography, sugar, fast foods and other pleasures will probably be raised to help pay for the reform. Oh, or raise taxes on the rich to help pay for the reform? Huh? What did you say? You changed your mind to legalizing medical marijuana to pay for the reform? We thought you would give in.
Anyway, regarding the political firestorm growing out of the Gates' arrest (and Obama's outrage), see the links below. Also, see our posting of yesterday (which was published before the press conference...don't worry, our prescience does not make this a 'Blog of Note'...): 'Gating Dr. Gates'.
Oh, and don't panic, but check out the links to the latest on the H1N1 Pandemic. Medical marijuana probably won't be helpful here - except to reduce any levels of panic.
Oh, and check out Arnold wielding a 2-foot knife on the internet.
And the unemployed may have no reason to fear drug testing for medical marijuana, because

Gating Dr. Gates

http://americanpoliticalhandbook.blogspot.com/2009/07/gating-dr-gates-and-more-for-wednesday.html

Obama defends healthcare reforms

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8164177.stm

Obama turns health push into a snoozer

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/23/2005548.aspx

Feds bust mayors, others in huge N.J. graft sweep

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32103250/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

The Ann Arbor News hits the streets for last time

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_re_us/us_ann_arbor_news_goodbye;_ylt=AiYoefTXw.4rJxuFAsBbVhis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlNDVqY21sBHBvcwM3MARzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3Vfc19uZXdzBHNsawN0aGVhbm5hcmJvcm4-

US pessimistic on Iran overtures

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8165265.stm

Iran opposition leader's brother-in-law arrested

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election;_ylt=AkFx_E1qo4XB1hkG0uP8J6ys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFicmtxcWtmBHBvcwM1NgRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3dvcmxkBHNsawNpcmFub3Bwb3NpdGk-

Bin Laden son 'believed killed'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8164763.stm

Saad Bin Laden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saad_Bin_Laden

Mumbai suspect trial to proceed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8164279.stm

Ajmal Qasab

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajmal_Qasab

Wall Street jacks up pay after bailouts

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32099693/ns/business-washington_post/

Schwarzenegger wields knife, touts cuts

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32099641/ns/us_news-life/

Karadzic asks for DNA from graves

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/07/23/karadzic-war-crimes.html

Radovan Karadzic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radovan_Karad%C5%BEi%C4%87

Atleo wins AFN election

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/07/23/afn-national-chief-vote-ballot752.html

Shawn Atleo

http://www.shawnatleo.com/

This Article Will Self-destruct: Tool To Make Online Personal Data Vanish

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721113309.htm

Vanish Paper & Prototype

http://vanish.cs.washington.edu/

New Statistical Tool Identifies Predictable Economic Variables

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721091824.htm

How To Maintain The Integrity And Accessibility Of Research Data

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722120830.htm

Ensuring the Integrity, Accessibility, and Stewardship of Research Data in the Digital Age

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12615

Artificial Noise Saves Energy For Computer Network Providers

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090624093734.htm

RIM warns Mideast customers of spyware

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/07/23/rim-uae-spyware-blackberry.html

B.C. Taser inquiry to issue report

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/23/bc-braidwood023.html

UK space sector 'to double value'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8164776.stm

Tamiflu-resistant swine flu case found in Canada

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090722/ap_on_he_me/cn_canada_swine_flu;_ylt=ApO6b87pQdQjX5BOprQ5Ki.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFkMHNuaTdzBHBvcwMxNTUEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9oZWFsdGgEc2xrA3RhbWlmbHUtcmVzaQ--

Flu infects 100,000 in past week (BBC UK)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8163930.stm

Swine flu fears prompt Hajj curbs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8164535.stm

Hajj

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajj

Biodiesel On The Wing: A 'Green' Process For Biodiesel From Feather Meal

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722110903.htm



Friday, December 5, 2008

Is It Time to Hit the Panic Button?


The editors feel that no amount of editorializing can capture the drama and foreboding in today's links. We wonder, "Is it time to hit the Panic Button as we hunker down in our cement bunker whilst supping on this hellbroth, witches' brew of economic chaos and uncertainty? Is this the next Black Plague?"



533,000 jobs slashed

http://www.yahoo.com/s/997473

Most jobs lost since 1974

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28067433/

US job losses reach 34-year high

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7767326.stm

Biggest Monthly Job Loss In 34 Years

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/05/business/main4649747.shtml

Labor Pains: More Than Half-Million Jobs Lost in November

http://blogs.abcnews.com/moneybeat/2008/12/massive-layoffs.html

Workers' nightmare: 1.9 million jobs vanish

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/05/news/economy/jobs_november/index.htm

One-in-10 in mortgage trouble

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28069420/

Fed Chief: Foreclosures Have to Go

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=6392452

Jobs figures depress oil prices

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7766445.stm

US economy 'weaker in all areas'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7763953.stm

Barney Frank: Bleak jobs report makes auto bailout more urgent

http://www.yahoo.com/s/997466

US carmakers' plea scrutinised

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7766354.stm

Big 3 Grilled on Hill; Bush Pushed by Dems

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6400102&page=1

Detroit bailout drive sputters on Capitol Hill

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre4b10c6-us-autos-bailout/

Auto Bailout May Be Tied To Big 3 Overhaul

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/05/business/main4649832.shtml

CNNMoney:
Auto bailout not just about Detroit

http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/storysupplement/stateautoworkers/index.html

CNNMoney:
$1 trillion rescue: Not so far-fetched

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/05/news/economy/trillion_stimulus/index.htm

U.S. bank holdings have lost billions so far

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28069615/

Cash-needy, some sell body bits

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28040824/

US recession affects Billy the elephant

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/7766331.stm

Muslims delay hajj amid tough economy

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28069327/

Hajj

http://www.performhajj.com/index.php.

Blackwater Guards Could Get 30 Years

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/05/national/main4649532.shtml

Stranded workers in Iraq: We were duped

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/04/iraq.forgotten.workers/index.html

India acknowledges Mumbai attacks revealed security lapses

http://www.yahoo.com/s/997478

Hero Nanny Saved Baby Amid Mumbai Horror

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/05/earlyshow/main4649757.shtml

Bangkok airport resumes operation