The Brits take on the 2010 elections. It speaks very poorly of the will of the electorate.

...1. North Dakota (click title to entry - thank you). John Hoeven is more than 40 points up against a bloke called Tracy in this very conservative state. The Republican candidate would probably still win if he was found dead in bed with an underage girl and a large amount of cocaine between now and polling day. Republican pick-up....

It is that kind of perspective that dominates a lot of conservative races in the USA.  The electorate is so tainted with their own ideas of what they want in DC there is no room for reason.

In Alaska, there is an election whereby the Republican candidates are either tainted with hate for Democrats without respect for the citizens enough to submit to interviews or the electorate was taken for granted and didn't believe she had a care to secure her re-election.  The ONLY candidate that actually has honored the voter with consistent messages of what is best for Alaska and is running against all odds at willing is the Democrat, McAdams.  He has run a sincere and clean campaign and never once wavered from his commitment to the electorate of Alaska, yet not enough people are putting their trust in him regardless of his loyalty, transparency and unwavering campaign.  It is that type of phenomena that works against the best interest of the country and every American should be concerned about it.

Scott McAdams has received an endorsement in the Anchorage Daily News.  This is NOT my imagination running away with me.

Scott McAdams: He's good for Alaska (click here)

By VIC FISCHER

Published: October 24th, 2010 05:06 PM
Last Modified: October 24th, 2010 05:06 PM

Because I was elected at a young age to be a delegate to Alaska's Constitutional Convention, I've outlived most of our state's founders, leaving me with the responsibility of passing on to today's voters some of the values I carry from those days.

My friends were Democrats and Republicans. I include Democrats Bill Egan, Ernest Gruening and Bob Bartlett, as well as Republicans Wally Hickel, Bob Atwood and Jay Hammond. And Ted Stevens too.

In this year's election for U.S. Senate, there is one thing that's been said that I think all these men would agree with: It's about Alaska. That's Scott McAdams' slogan, his belief and his life story, and I support him. Here's why....

Ever hear of a Liberal Republican?

Jacob Javits, a New York Senator from 1957 to 1981.  He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and there is a convention center in New York City named after him.

He was regarded as a good legislator, first in the US House and later in the US Senate.

He felt any political party should reflect the true diversity of the USA.

Senator Javits is for real.  He was a staunch liberal while being a member of the Republican Party.  The Republican Party somewhere along the way lost its sense of belonging to the people and serve a plutocratic base.  

Senator Javits was a lawyer that always had a profession to fall back on should he not be successful politically, but, he was never unsuccessful in anything he tried in life.

The only reason Harry Reid is having problems is because after the 2008 elections he was demonized by the Murdoch Media Circus.

Then there is Harry Reid.  A devout Christian with enough understanding of life to know how to make decisions for citizens that acts in their best interest.

His career speaks for itself and the only problem Harry has is that his soft spoken personality is adverse to today's political scene.  I find him more conservative than most Democrats.  That is why he was elected first to Minority leader in 2005 and then Majority leader.  It was because he was able to work with Republicans better than some others.  

He is a good guy with a long history in government.  After he became a lawyer from George Washington University Law School he worked as a JD with the US Capitol Police.  At the age of 30 he began his political career wining in a race where he was placed as Lt. Governor.  He served until 1981, then became a US House Representative in 1983, and then a US Senator in 1987.  I like Harry Reid.  He is sincerely trying to act in the best interest of the people of his state as well as the country and he has been a good friend to the President. With the country facing monumental problems, I rather have faith in a leader that knows the ropes and has been through enough to make good decisions.


 Don't you find Sharon Angle a bit odd.  She has a horrible voting record in the Nevada State Legislature.  She frequently voted "No" to everyone else's "Yes."  Her nickname was "41 to Angle."  That should send up warning flags everywhere.  She has done some fairly bizarre things.  She was the only NO vote on a tax abatement sincerely needed to improve the quality of life to Nevada's citizens.  She stated she could not vote against her oath of office which requires taxes to be equitable.  The problem for her was that the commercial properties were to be taxed at 8% while the residential properties were to be taxed at 3%.  It doesn't sound as though she can discern the difference in incomes and vulnerabilities very well.  She should have debated the issue with her peers and come to a clear understanding that her oath does not preclude her from voting for the best interest of citizens SHE WAS TO SERVE.  She is favored by the Tea Party because she is intractable in her commitment to 'words' and 'promises' even if in a professional sense it is better for all that she act differently.  She has never served at the Federal level and has absolutely no experience in the foreign arena.  She is a Southern Christian with an intractable personality.  She is not a sincere decision maker, she is frequently alone in her ideas of what is best.  I think she is very risky as a candidate.

Small Businessman vs Real Estate Developer

Michael Arcuri is a New York born and breed Democrat.  He is seeking a return to the US House of Representatives.  It isn't as though he needs the power of his seat.  He attended SUNY and graduated from New York Law School and entered private practice in 1985.  Arcuri is a better choice for the USA House because he has no reason to there other than to serve the people of his district.  He can return to private practice if he cares to, but, his opponent is an entirely different matter.

This is a return visit for Hanna.  He failed to be elected in 2008, so he wants to try again to gain power at the federal level.  He has never served in government before.

Hanna is a mall builder.  He is going to go to Washington to appropriate monies to increase construction of commercial properties in New York State.  The construction industry is slowed because of the Real Estate bubble and he is out to manipulate the government to throw more money at his failing businesses.

...In addition to (click here) serving as Owner and President of Hanna Construction, Hanna is a partner in the Gabriel Group, LLC, which has owned and operated Forge Hill Estates in Ilion, NY, one of the premier apartment complexes in the Mohawk Valley, since 1992....

Michigan Governor's Race - An obvious choice between Wall Street and Main Street.

MAIN STREET

...Bernero, a former state lawmaker, has been Lansing's mayor since 2006. He was born and raised in Pontiac....(click here)

 WALL STREET

He sold a perfectly good company to a Wall Street company, made millions and never thought twice about removing jobs from Michigan's economy.  That doesn't sound like a person 'fit' to be Governor to me.

"The Can Do Kids"

After attending graduated from college with a BA in Economics, worked as a stockbroker for three years after her marriage in 1962 while her husband attended law school.

She worked as a journalist.  Palin was educated as a journalist, but, never read newspapers.  Her first successful run for office was at a member of the Marin Board of Supervisors and was the first woman president in her six year term.  While she served in government her spouse was a Worker Compensation Lawyer accepting many cases referred to him by unions.  His practice surrounded the working person.  It was in 1982 she was elected to the US House of Representatives where she served for five terms.  She must be doing something right.  in 1992, Senator Alan Cranston retired and she ran for his seat and won.  She was the first woman to serve as the Chair for the Envronment and Public Works Committee.  But that was enough for Boxer.  She was also selected as the Chair for the Select Committee on Ethics.  She was the ONLY Chair to precide over two committees at the same time.

Barbara Boxer has a very long HISTORY, both on a professional level and personal level of serving people.  It is in her DNA so to speak.  There is a wrong way and a right way to vote.  Please think before you cast your ballot in November.

Wall Street NOT Main Street

From a real estate receptionist to broker, to English teacher in Italy, to management trainee for AT&T on to Senior Vice President of their hardware and systems division, to assistant to the Lucent Chief Executive to formulate the companies stock offering at inception, rising to President of the global services division, and on to CEO of HP.  

Basically, she rode the 'Tech Bubble' until it burst.  Thereafter, she wasn't successful.  She caused enormous in-fighting in HP and brought about a merger that most see as a desperate effort to stem a failing HP.  The merger with Compaq created the largest personal computer manufacturer in regard to numbers shipped, but, that was due to a merger of two huge entities, it was a simple task.  She cost the general economy plenty of jobs with that merger and didn't really do anything to expand the market share so much as simply absorbed the two that already existed.  From that stand point she saved 'the name' HP.  Three years after the Tech Bubble collapsed she was unsuccessful in improving HP and she was forced to resign by the Board.

She has no proven record of success, except, for her ability to ride the Bubble until it burst.  Heck, anyone can do that.

Sarah Palin isn't quite the woman Christine O'Donnel is, however, she is very rough around the edges.

She is basically unsuccessful in her own life.  She was successful while a mayor in Wasilla, but, that was in support of the local culture.  When she ran for Vice President, she didn't even read newspapers one would expect from a potential Vice President.  She is unable to formulate real solutions for the real world, but, simply spouts rhetorical statements that align with voter focus.

She really creates her own reality to justify her life.  She has no real answers for the USA.  She lies along with most of the other Republicans in that the Bailout is President Obama's problem when in fact it occurred due to the irresponsible policies of Bush and the Republicans in deregulation of the banking industry.

Sarah Palin validates herself in the fact she is loved by many.  That isn't being a responsible representative to the people, that is being a Superstar.  She was unable to overcome her own inadequacies during her run for Vice President in 2008 so that she could still be an Alaskan governor.  She left after two years to pursue a chance at being her own millionaire or billionaire bring along her daughter and whomever else happens to be aligned with her success as a king maker.  

I don't believe she is dangerous as she continues to be unsuccessful.  I don't see her changing either.  She has molded herself into a corner and if she leaves that corner she loses her 'successful following.'  We are all familiar with devotees.  Well, Sarah has hers.  

Recently she stated, that if the GOP implodes than so be it.  Fine.  But she also stated, '...we believe in common sense and the individual.'  Yet, when it comes to her rhetoric she carries the flag of the Plutocratic Republicans.  She is believed to be more Libertarian than Republican in some circles and that will continue simply because she attracts those that see their world differently.  She has that effect on people that seek wealth over country.  She appears to be where many believe their best interests lie, but, that is only because so much of what is 'different' is actually 'unsophisticated.'  

But, to go back to 'the individual.'  That is a Democratic message.  The Burger Court.  So, Sarah is very confused.  She is not mired in policy, so much as 'fluid rhetoric.'  A candidate that is a problem solver has answers.  She doesn't have answers, she has rhetoric and theory.  

One of the issues that besets the USA with these candidates is that they don't follow The Rule of Law, they follow Their Beliefs about life and law.  There is a huge credibility gap with them.  They are UNABLE to separate themselves from policy that works for everyone.  They can't lead.  They are simply put, hapless.

..."The momentum is with us (click title to entry - thank you)  but now is not the time to let up. Now is the time where we dig deep," Palin told a crowd of Florida Republicans at an RNC fundraising rally in Orlando. "It ain't over till it's over. These last 10 days we can't be thinking that we got it in the bag, we can't get cocky about this yet."

In addition to key GOP fundraisers, Palin was joined by Republican candidates including Tea Party favorite, Senate candidate Marco Rubio.

"We've got to keep on working extremely hard. We've got to leave the dancing to the stars," Palin said, referencing her daughter Bristol, a contestant on Dancing With The Stars. "Soon we'll all be dancing, we'll all be celebrating."...
I understand all those words, but, they do not include policy statements and why that policy would work for the USA. 

Anti-Establsihment. I heard that description of Republcans today. Huh?

 Anti-Establishment candidate is a matter of pursuing an opposite policy. 

Okay.  But, opposite to what?  Because if it is opposite to Barak Obama that might be true, but, if it is in opposition to Wall Street to benefit Main Street that is absolutely not true.  

In the sincerest sense of the word, the Republicans are NOT Anti-Establishment, they are Pro-Establishment.

So, when any Republican states he is anti-establishment that isn't true.  They are anti-Democrat, but, not anti-establishment.  Not even close. 

Their platform is based in promoting plutocratic ideals.  That is not anti-establishment, that is about as establishment to the highest degree it gets.

Their social platform excludes civil rights for all Americans.  It impinges on liberty and limits 'the individual' to submit to establishment principles of Christian Fundamentalists.

"I'm you?" I don't think so. No joke, the woman is in her own orbit. I am not laughing.

 I've seen this before, but, never in my wildest imagination did I ever believe I would see such profound disconnect from mainstream society that reaches all the way to the USA Senate.

Let's get one thing straight, no psychiatrist is going to certify this woman.  Why?  Because she lives in a world created for her by her faith.  She is basically unsophisticated.  She is profoundly the person she presents herself to be.  She is a deeply devoted Christian without any recognition of the world greater than herself.

She is credulous when it comes to her faith.  She wavers in her belief of the Constitution and only follows aspects of it because her faith allows her to.  She is unsuccessful in her life because the 'belief system' she hold at the 'core' of her intelligence is based in faith rather than fact.  It is unusual for people that are educated to actually adhere so tightly to faithful beliefs without accepting the real world on its terms but it happens.  In communities across this country there are people that do not accept the reality of their life unless it is completely immersed in their own belief system.  

This is the reason why Roman Catholic legislators argue with the Pope or Bishops or Cardinals.  The legislators understand the USA is not composed of Christian Fundamentalists or Roman Catholic.  The USA is a melting pot that honors the separation of church an state.  But, for someone like Christine O'Donnell the reality of life is based in faith and not real world facts.  She doesn't accept the reality the law dictates unless it aligns with HER 'core belief system.'  It is why the Pope could never be President.  He is unable to move outside his core beliefs to allow 'the facts about reality' to exist even though he sees them as invalid.

In most psychiatric circles she would be regarded as being 'in her own orbit.'  Literally.  People that are engaged in that doctrine usually seek a profession such as the Catholic church provides in the way of a Priest or Nun or in other faiths as a minister.  The USA Constitution and the freedoms it applies to its citizens is alien to her.  She is unsuccessful in life except where people remain confused to her 'core beliefs.'  She is NOT you, nor does she understand YOU.  She isn't well balanced.  Sorry.  It is just the truth.  She may be certifiable and be eligible for Social Security Disability if she is unable to rise above her own limitations.

In her most recent debate, it was completely obvious the USA's Constitution is not safe in her care taking, but, indeed under threat.

Christine O'Donnel is 'contracted' into her own understandings of reality.  She will not permit any 'worldly' values to infiltrate

"...In documents filed (click title to entry - thank you) in response to O’Donnell’s complaint, the Institute enumerated several reasons why O’Donnell was fired. The group accused her of not following her supervisor’s instructions, failing to complete assignments and “repeated insubordination,” among other things. The Institute said that she continued to moonlight promoting Mel Gibson’s controversial film “The Passion of the Christ” “even though she was directed not to because it was not part of” the Institute’s mission...."

It's Sunday Night.

"Tea for Two" sung by Doris Day

Oh honey
Picture me upon your knee,
With tea for two and two for tea,
Just me for you and you for me, alone!
Nobody near us, to see us or hear us,
No friends or relations
on weekend vacations
We won't have it known, dear,
That we own a telephone, dear.

Day will break and I'm gonna wake
and start to bake a sugar cake
for you to take for all the boys to see.
We will raise a family,
a boy for you , and a girl for me,
Can't you see how happy we will be.

(Picture you upon my knee)
(tea for two and two for tea)
(me for you and you for me, alone!)
(Nobody near us, to see us or hear us,)
(No friends or relations on weekend vacations)
(We won't have it known, dear,)
(That we own a telephone,)
(dear.)

Day will break and I'm gonna wake
and start to bake a sugar cake
for you to take for all the boys to see.
We will raise a family,
a boy for you, and a girl for me,
Oh can't you see how happy we will be.
(How happy we will be)

The military can't deny overwhelming evidence within their own documents to the tragedy of Iraq.

"...Its founder, Julian Assange,(click title to entry - thank you) said the records showed there had been "a bloodbath on every corner" and provided evidence of war crimes.

"We hope to correct some of that attack on the truth that occurred before the war, during the war and which has continued on since the war officially concluded," he told a news conference in London.

But the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm Mike Mullen, strongly condemned the disclosure of classified information...."

It might be a fabrication or occassional incident if there were few reports of violence within Iraq, but, to have document after document explain the deaths and brutality of citizens of that country can't be denied.

I understand why Admiral Mullen condemns the publication of these reports as they only escalate the civil war that has existed since March, 2003.  No doubt the citizens of Iraq are less safe today because of the leak of these document, however, there is much to be investigated in regard to the prolonged war that was used for political capital by the Republican Executive Branch and Congress in the USA.  

Somehow I believe the world is never going to be the same when all is said and done here.  Dangerous people that abuse power can't be ignored.

I am very worried about my country and I'll discuss it more tomorrow evening. 

Until then...

October is National Bullying Prevention Month.

 The book cited here costs $7.00 through Amazon (click title to entry - thank you) and a "Look Inside" (click here) can be viewed at the Amazon website.

Join the movement and unite against bullying! (click here)

MINNEAPOLIS: October is PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month, a project of PACER Center. It’s a time when communities nationwide can unite to raise awareness of bullying prevention by using resources at Pacer.org/bullying. 

“To make a significant impact on bullying, we need people across the country to take action and join the movement,” said Julie Hertzog, director PACER's National Center for Bullying Prevention which sponsors the event. “There are 160,000 children staying home from school each day for fear of bullying, but working together, we can make a difference.”

Everyone can find a way to join the cause at PACER.org/bullying. Students, educators, families, and organizations can use the free, creative resources at the site to address bullying and help create a culture that no longer accepts bullying....

NASA should consider Cadavers (without embalming fluid) as an initial step.

If approved, (click title to entry - thank you) a proposed experiment would expose squirrel monkeys to radiation in an attempt to help determine safe levels of exposure for astronauts on lengthy missions.

This is an interesting development in the NASA Space Program and it makes complete sense.

I respect PETA.  They have helped in many instances with conservation and protections of animals.  They have had questionable members at times and their views can be extreme, especially when animals are considered disposable to research.

I also respect NASA.  A couple of years ago I heard a member of the staff at the Goddard Space Center speak at a university about the ability of humans to travel beyond the gravity of Earth.  It wasn't as though NASA could not build a spacecraft to break Earth's gravity.  The concern was the 'solar wind' beyond the protections of Earth's gravity and magnetic field.  He was very specific to state, any 'human travel' beyond the protections of Earth's own 'fields' was very questionable.  The problem to this Goddard scientist was the ability of spacecraft to actually protect humans 'enough' not to have them die of radiation exposure.

Any space travel to Mars would take years and beyond Mars could take a lifetime.  All to often we think of space travel as it appears in the movies or on television without the benefit of real facts and experiences about that space travel.  NASA knows all to well that one bad experience taints the program and they dearly don't want to simply try human travel without some knowledge to the outcomes. 

NASA has relied on primates in all their programs.  Chimps were of the first occupants in the Gemini program.  Russia did the same thing.  If these experiments were taking place in Russia there would be no doubt about the program going forward.

This is probably necessary.  The only other possibility is to send cadavers in experimental vehicles and bring them back.  That would give some indication to human exposure, but, absolutely no indication to the effects on living organisms.  The cadavers could be applied to this experiment, however, it would not provide long term effects or show the benefit of a circulating vasculature.  Certainly high levels of radiation, the type found in 'outer space' could cook the blood and end life.  So, the investigation to this is understandable.

The Mars Program has been canceled by the Obama Administration.  This may be a sincere reason why and NASA needs to prove certain facts before receiving his endorsements or funding.  Given this focus, the cancellation of the program is completely understandable.  Literally, the USA could be investing billions upon billions only to find out their first Mars shot ends up with fried occupants that could never find their way home again.

Scientists one step closer to universal flu vaccine (click title to entry - thank you)

Pandemic vaccines: promises and pitfalls (click here)

Robert Booy, Lorena E Brown, Gary S Grohmann and C Raina MacIntyre

...Researchers at Scripps Research Institute  in la Jolla, California, teamed up with Peter Palese and colleagues at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York to test a protein that works against viruses from every flu family that attacks people.

These included three pandemic viruses (H1, H2 and H3), three others that attack occasionally (H6, H9 and H7), and the H5N1 bird flu from 2004 - albeit modified to make it less deadly.

Mice were injected with this protein twice, three weeks apart, to allow their immunity to develop. Two weeks after the second injection each mouse was exposed to one type of live flu virus, as were unvaccinated mice, reports New Scientist....

Will a common protein eventually be the end of viral deaths?

...Flu can kill in other ways, too, (click here) from rendering you vulnerable to bacterial infections to triggering heart attacks. Of course, most flu strains, including (so far) the 2009 pandemic virus, cause only mild symptoms in the vast majority of people. But with 10 to 20 per cent of people worldwide getting flu every year, that still adds up to a huge burden of illness - and even in a good year some half a million die....

Mind your H’s and N’s: How is the flu named and what can it mean for who’s at risk? (click here)

by Sarah V. White
Oct 21, 2010

...The most significant proteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, direct the flu naming system, she said.   

“Flu viruses are typed based on these surface proteins,” Strek said.  “H1N1, for example, expresses hemagglutinin 1 and neuraminidase 1.”...



Thursday 21 October 2010

Bird flu education brings mixed results  (click here)

Training scheme shows signs of success, but risky habits prove hard to quash in cities 

People who witness avian flu outbreaks in animals near them fear the disease less than those with no experience of it, and this may affect their exposure to poultry, according to a review of education campaigns for backyard farmers in Laos.

“We report a paradoxical relationship between unsafe behaviours and risk perception in urban areas,” write Hubert Barennes of the French speaking Institute for Tropical Medicine in Vientiane, Laos, and colleagues.

The findings, published online this week in BMC Infectious Diseases, also suggest that some important risk messages get forgotten. “Washing hands and other hygiene advice, messages given during the highly pathogenic avian influenza educational campaign, were not recalled.”...

...A disease (click here) that might have been highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) killed poultry across much of the United States in 1872 and closely followed a nationwide outbreak of influenza in horses, according to a historical analysis by researchers from the National Institutes of Health....

When is it in ones best interest to self destruct? When it nets $2 million US.

FOX News brought this on and Mr. Williams is happy for it.  This is probably nothing anyone will read anywhere else because it takes conspiracy theory in a different direction, but, Juan Williams didn't know he was self destructing when he stated the bigoted comment about Muslims?  He certainly showed that people of color can hate just as well as anyone else.  Certainly are fearful, biased and controlling as anyone of this peers.  I guess the folks at the Murdoch Miracle ? may ? sincerely believe what they say.

Murdoch's philosophy is 'kick 'em when they are up and kick 'em when they are down regardless of where they are and what they are doing at the time.  The philosophy came home to roost.  Basically, Murdoch's media services holds everyone responsible for their own behavior 24-7 regardless of circumstances.  In that, is the realization that 'What Juan said is what Juan is."

I am happy for NPR.  I believe they made the best decision for everyone because they would have been forced by their DONATING public to defend their commentator and it could literally destroy their client base.


Mr. Williams is not a stupid man.  He portrays himself within the Murdoch media service as a moderate.  I guess he isn't and he should feel safe to be exactly as he is now that is he guaranteed a draw of $2 million.  This could be his time to become liberated and counter to anything he has said before.  Go get 'em, Juan.

...Williams (click title to entry - thank you) – who just got a $2 million deal for three years with Fox News – said it is making him rethink his previous beliefs about the left wing....

Williams has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt exactly the level of hatred Murdoch is capable of producing  with abandon.  Williams is hardly a professional, so much as a puppet.  But, most that realize how 'poisoned' those words are and how dangerous they could become know that MOST if not ALL that Murdoch produces is counter-culture, extreme and has no place in mainstream media. 

I mean the words Williams spewed would inspire a 'sit in' at the jet walkway or worse.  He has to know that and if he doesn't then Murdoch's tribe is more stupid than anyone assumed. 

That might actually be the case considering the 'CLASSROOM' environment that accompanies most of the commentary.  And the naive belief that the 'red phone' will actually ring.  I would love for Putin to call on those phones and tell them their coverage wasn't comprehensive enough to cover the conquest of their network and the SS was coming for them if they would just step outside the studio door.  THEN let them want to hear from the President.  I mean the stunts they pull are moronic and lack any form of realty. 

Why any citizen in the USA would want an altered history of the USA with closed minded opinion is beyond me.  Williams fits in at Murdoch's Media Palace.  Sincerely.  


BE  FREE, JUAN, BE FREE !  No longer are the chains of 'reason' binding you.

"I have zero desire to be on You Tube"

He also states his memoir is "untraditional."  How can a memoir be anything but a recollection of the past?  Oh, maybe if one spins it and lies.  

"Untraditional."  Does he speak like that deliberately?  The word is non-traditional.  I don't even know if there is a word 'untraditional.'in the dictionary.

In Merrium-Webster the word untraditional means to do the opposite of (reverse).  Nontraditional means lacking the usual especially positive characteristics of the thing specified.

That's George.  Amazing. 

...In the video, (click title to entry - thank you) Bush calls the book an "untraditional" memoir that does not simply provide an exhaustive chronological account of his life and years in office....

MASS DECEPTION  (click here) declares G.W. Bush administration used carefully crafted  propaganda to demonize Arabs/Muslims after 9/11 and to create a moral panic.  The author investigates whether that was worth the overall financial and human costs of the war in Iraq.

Dr. Bonn says Bushwas aided by the media in presenting a case that caused a public panic that led to war.  The book, Mass Deception, introduces the notion called "critical communication" to explain how and why the top political leaders and the news media collaborate to create "public panics that benefit both parties."

 READ CHAPTER ONE (CLICK HERE)

Dr. Bonn examines the run-up to war, (click here) the war itself, and the occupation of Iraq as done in a manner that violates domestic and international law.  He also observes that Bush's reasons for invading Iraq had nothing to do with national security.



As fellow Republicans decry the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) (click here) bailouts just weeks before the midterm elections, which is expected to cost taxpayers about $51 billion, former President Georgia W. Bush said, "It wasn't that hard for me, just so you know," of the decision to go through with the 2008 bailout. "I made the decision to use your money to prevent the collapse from happening." He must be a socialist! And he probably isn't even an American citizen! (the Hill)

The US Department of Labor also restructured the definition under ERISA of what can be considered an 'Investment Councilor.'

 The Proposed New Ruling

A person who renders (click here) “investment advice” under the regulation, and receives a fee or other compensation,
direct or indirect, for doing so, is a fiduciary under section 3(21)(A)(ii). The current regulation provides in relevant part as follows:

(c) Investment advice. (1) A person shall be deemed to be rendering “investment advice” to an employee benefit plan, within the meaning of section
3(21)(A)(ii) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and this paragraph, only if:

(i) Such person renders advice to the plan as to the value of securities or other property, or makes recommendation as to the advisability of investing in,purchasing, or selling securities or other property; and

(ii) Such person either directly or indirectly (e.g., through or together with
any affiliate)--

(A) Has discretionary authority or control, whether or not pursuant to agreement, arrangement or understanding, with respect to purchasing or selling securities or other property for the plan; or

(B) Renders any advice described in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section on a regular basis to the plan pursuant to a mutual agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or otherwise, between such person and the plan or a fiduciary with respect to the plan, that such services will serve as a primary basis for investment decisions with respect to plan assets, and that such person will render individualized investment advice to the plan based on the particular needs of the plan regarding such matters as, among other things, investment policies or
strategy, overall portfolio composition, or diversification of plan investments....

U.S. Labor Department Sues Four Firms for Entrusting Investments to Madoff (click title to entry - thank you)

By Andrew M. Harris - Oct 21, 2010 4:10 PM ET

Ivy Asset Management LLC, Beacon Associates Management Corp., J.P. Jeanneret Associates Inc., Andover Associates Management Corp. and their principals were named as defendants in a complaint filed today in federal court in Manhattan.

The suit was brought under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act on behalf of union-sponsored and single-employer benefit plans, according to the complaint. The Labor Department asked the court to order the defendants to “restore to the plans all losses suffered” as a result of fiduciary breaches by the defendants related to Madoff investments.... 

U.S. Department of Labor sues Syracuse firm to recover union pensions that went to Madoff (click here)

Published: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 4:50 PM     Updated: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 5:53 PM

Syracuse, NY -- The U.S. Department of Labor today accused J.P. Jeanneret Associates Inc., of Syracuse, its executives, and three other investment companies and executives, of causing pension, health and benefit plans to lose hundreds of millions of dollars through investments with Bernard L. Madoff.

The lawsuit was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. If successful, it would return money to thousands of workers in Central New York workers who had money in union pension plans that invested with Jeanneret, a Syracuse investment firm....

Falls from ladders and roofs are sincerely some of the most devastating injuries and occur regularly.

Falls from height (click title to entry - thank you) remain the most common cause of workplace fatality. In 2008/09 there were 35 fatalities, 4654 major injuries and a further 7065 injuries that caused the injured person to be off work for over 3 days or more, due to a fall from height.

OSHA News Release: [10/21/2010]
Contact Name: Jason Surbey
Phone Number: (202) 693-4668
Release Number: 10-1481-NAT

Statement of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis on reported decline in workplace injuries and illnesses

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics today announced that nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers declined in 2009 to a rate of 3.6 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, down from a total case rate of 3.9 in 2008. BLS also reported a decline in the total number of cases from 3.7 million in 2008 to 3.3 million in 2009. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement:

"While the reported decline in workplace injuries and illnesses is encouraging, 3.3 million workplace injuries and illnesses are 3.3 million too many. No worker should fear being injured or made sick for a paycheck.

"Complete and accurate workplace injury records can serve as the basis for employer programs to investigate injuries and prevent future occurrences. Most employers understand this and do their best to prevent worker injuries, but some do not. That is why my department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is aggressively working to ensure the completeness and accuracy of injury data compiled by the nation's employers. We are concerned about the widespread existence of programs that discourage workers from reporting injuries, and we will continue to issue citations and penalties to employers that intentionally under-report workplace injuries.

"Too many Americans suffer each year from preventable injuries or illnesses they received while on the job. Even in these difficult economic times, we must keep in mind that no job is a good job unless it's a safe job."