News of the Week
Obamacare *************** Death Panels Begin: FDA Votes to Block Avastin for Breast Cancer TreatmentFederal health authorities are recommending the blockbuster drug Avastin no longer be used to treat breast cancer, saying recent studies failed to show the drug’s original promise to help slow the disease. *************** Climategate *************** The climate bugaboo is the strangest intellectual aberration of our age Christopher Monckton says that perspective was sorely missing at the Cancun climate conference. *************** What are the primary forcings of the Earth system? The Sun is the primary forcing of Earth's climate system. Sunlight warms our world. Sunlight drives atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns. Sunlight powers the process of photosynthesis that plants need to grow. Sunlight causes convection which carries warmth and water vapor up into the sky where clouds form and bring rain. In short, the Sun drives almost every aspect of our world's climate system and makes possible life as we know it. *************** The climate-change conference's own carbon footprint This year's climate-change meeting in Cancun was a lot smaller than last year's gathering in Copenhagen. But like a Hobbit, Cancun's footprint was quite big for its size. The meeting's carbon footprint was 25,000 metric tons of emissions, according to host nation Mexico. That includes the carbon output of everything - flights by delegates, shuttle rides from the swanky Moon Palace hotel, even food preparation. *************** UN Climate Change Delegates Support Prank Petition to Ban Water & Derail U.S. Economy I’ve got to hand it to the folks at the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. They‘ve come up with a creative new way to expose the scientific ignorance of many of today’s climate change fanatics. *************** Morales asks to save Kyoto Protocol, create global climate court Cancun, Mexico - Bolivian President Evo Morales called Thursday to save the Kyoto Protocol and to create an international climate justice tribunal. *************** War
& Terror *************** 'Don't ask, don't tell' repeal wins final passage By SCOTT WONG The Senate voted Saturday afternoon to repeal the ban on gays in the military, marking a major victory for gay rights and an end to the 17-year old "don't ask, don't tell" policy. *************** Anonymous’ Operation Payback IRC Operator Arrested Written by Ernesto A teenager was arrested yesterday on suspicion of being involved with the Anonymous’ Operation Payback. The operation orchestrated DDoS attacks on anti-piracy targets in the last months, and more recently against those who obstructed Wikileaks’ work. Sources have informed TorrentFreak that the arrestee is one of the IRC-operators of Anonymous, known under the nickname Jeroenz0r. *************** What the...? Up to 84MM Mexicans To Be Designated 'Trusted Travelers', Allowing Them to Bypass Airport Security Checks Worried that foreign travelers -- especially those entering the U.S. from Mexico -- will be insulted by intrusive security pat-downs in airports? Well, rest easy: Janet Napolitano is on the job. *************** Venezuela acquires 1,800 antiaircraft missiles from Russia By Juan Forero, Washington Post Staff Writer BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - Russia delivered at least 1,800 shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles to Venezuela in 2009, U.N. arms control data show, despite vigorous U.S. efforts to stop President Hugo Chavez's stridently anti-American government from acquiring the weapons. *************** Police probe Stockholm blasts as act of terrorism By Mia Shanley and Niklas Pollard (Reuters) - Police said on Sunday they were treating bomb blasts in Stockholm as an act of terrorism by a lone attacker that followed an emailed threat referring to Sweden's troops in Afghanistan and to cartoons of Mohammad. *************** FAA doesn't know who owns 119,000 of planes flying in U.S., sparking terror fears The Federal Aviation Administration is missing key information on who owns one-third of the 357,000 private and commercial aircraft in the U.S. - a gap the agency fears could be exploited by terrorists and drug traffickers. *************** National Senate Blocks Bill for Young Illegal Immigrants*************** By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN The Senate on Saturday blocked a bill that would have created a path to citizenship for certain young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children, completed two years of college or military service and met other requirements, including passing a criminal background check. *************** Chavez's $8B fuel tab Venezuela leader loses long bond debt battle *************** UN mulls internet regulation options By John Hilvert WikiLeaks sparks push for tighter controls. *************** CA Mayors Ask Sen. Barbara Boxer for a 21st Century Transpo System by Tanya Snyder and Bryan Goebel Sixty-five elected officials representing a number of California cities are urging California Senator Barbara Boxer to push a new federal transportation bill that reforms spending and puts a focus on public transit, walking and biking, or “21st century needs.” Boxer, as chair of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, could play a key role in the long-term re-authorization of the federal surface transportation act. *************** Nevada GOP sets '12 caucus date An election worker monitors electronic voting machines during primary election voting in Las Vegas, Nev. | AP Photo Close By GABRIEL BELTRONE & MOLLY BALL The Nevada Republican Executive Committee voted Wednesday night to hold the party's 2012 presidential caucus on February 18, a decision that could make GOP voters in the “First in the West” state third in line to vote for their party's next nominee. *************** U.S. will sign U.N. declaration on rights of native people, Obama tells tribes By Krissah Thompson, Washington Post Staff Writer President Obama said Thursday that the United States will sign a United Nations non-binding declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, a move that advocates called another step in improving Washington's relationship with Native Americans. *************** Size matters, lawsuit says of U.S. House By Gregory Korte, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives is the same size it was a century ago — even as the country's population has grown more than three times as large. *************** School Defends Restraining 4-Year-Old With Duct Tape Boy had hands bound because he'd struck staffers, school says *************** "Erin Brockovich" Town Shows No Cancer Cluster Tim Cavanaugh Hinkley, California, the town made famous in the Oscar-winning Julia Roberts movie Erin Brockovich, does not show any evidence of an increased rate of cancers. *************** Sandoval budget gives business leaders pause By Jon Ralston The voice on the other end of the line radiated frustration. *************** Alaska judge rejects Miller challenge Joe Miller was dealt another setback in his legal challenge to Sen. Lisa Murkowski's reelection Friday when a court rejected his lawsuit challenging the way state officials counted write-in ballots. *************** You Must Get Gun Range Training. But You Can’t Get Gun Range Training. Shaping the future of the Second Amendment in post-McDonald Chicago Brian Doherty Second Amendment lawyer Alan Gura filed an appeal this week in the case of Ezell v. Chicago, challenging the city's ban on gun ranges. It's likely to be one of the first important appeals court decisions to define the new shape of Second Amendment jurisprudence. *************** First elected African-American to change from the Democratic Party to Republican Party in the state of Georgia *************** Teacher Suffers Miscarriage Breaking Up Classroom Brawl Students at Bronx high school pushed her to the ground *************** Sea Based Launch Option for the Nuclear space launch cannon Joseph Friedlander had a brainstorm on how to launch the Wang Bullet (project Orion pulsed propulsion variant) from under the sea. *************** Judge upholds California's affirmative action ban By TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit challenging California's voter-approved ban on affirmative action in public university admissions. *************** No fast resolution on Prop. 8 By Peter Schrag Don't look for any quick resolution of the federal court challenge to Proposition 8, *************** North America: The new energy kingdom NEIL REYNOLDS The American Petroleum Institute reports that the United States produced more crude oil in October than it has ever produced in a single month, “peak oil” or not. *************** Economy
& Taxes *************** …And, So It Begins: The Public-Sector Ponzi Scheme is Collapsing Public-sector unions' house of cards is about to come tumbling down. *************** A California Bankruptcy, Dictatorship, and the Guarantee Clause Incoming California Governor Jerry Brown has gotten a look at the state budget and concluded that "We've been living in fantasy land. It is much worse than I thought. I'm shocked." *************** Sidestepping the U.S. Dollar, a Russian Exchange Will Swap Rubles and Renminbi By ANDREW E. KRAMER MOSCOW — Russia and China are poised to take a small but symbolic step in their expanding economic relationship, a move that in the long term could make the dollar less relevant to business between the two nations. *************** China’s Galloping Inflation The Chinese economy again exceeded expectations, but this time not in a good way. On Saturday—Beijing is now releasing bad news on weekends—the National Bureau of Statistics said that China’s consumer price index jumped 5.1% in November. The year-on-year increase was the biggest in 28 months. The median forecast was 4.7%. *************** International *************** Toward a United States of Europe French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde tells the Journal it will take much stronger fiscal and economic coordination among EU member states for the euro to work. *************** Venezuela assembly gives Chavez decree powers Socialist president given powers for 18 months *************** In Sweden slavery is the law I hear much talk about how Sweden proves that a “mixed economy” is the best system and how massive swathes of socialisation can improve standards of living. Well Jack just linked me to this story which appears to show that home-schooling is cause enough for the state to flat out kidnap a person’s offspring, no questions asked. *************** Britain 'more Thatcherite now than in the 80s' says survey British Social Attitude report finds people less supportive of the welfare state than in the 1980s *************** President Chavez seeks decree powers in Venezuela By FABIOLA SANCHEZ, The Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday said he will ask his congressional allies to again grant him special powers to enact laws by decree. *************** German troops stationed in France for first time since Second World War A battalion of German combat troops is to be officially stationed in eastern France on Friday for the first time since Nazi forces ended the Reich's occupation at the end of the Second World War. *************** Opinion *************** Missing the California of My Youth California has been fundamentally transformed. The results stand as a warning to the rest of America. *************** Dems could miss last chance to pass their own agenda Susan Ferrechio As the 111th Congress enters what could be its final workweek before adjourning, chances grow that Democrats will have to leave without passing two of their most critical agenda items and will have to abandon those initiatives until they can regain a substantial majority, perhaps years down the road. *************** Like it or Not: Mexico is America’s Next Afghanistan It's time to 'mhttp://sixmeatbuffet.com/images/The-Peoples-Republic.jpg an up' and face a fact that most politicians know, but few care to admit. *************** Cuban Missile Crisis: A Different Scenario How Obama would have played it back in ‘62. *************** Swindle of the year By Charles Krauthammer Barack Obama won the great tax-cut showdown of 2010 - and House Democrats don't have a clue that he did. In the deal struck this week, the president negotiated the biggest stimulus in American history, larger than his $814 billion 2009 stimulus package. It will pump a trillion borrowed Chinese dollars into the U.S. economy over the next two years - which just happen to be the two years of the run-up to the next presidential election. This is a defeat? *************** |
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