After all the flack James Cameron's caught for various political and religious interpretations of "Avatar," the Oscar-winning director has a bone of his own to pick and it's not about the hidden meanings of his new blockbuster's plot.
When questions at a junket on Tuesday turned to FOX News personality Glenn Beck, Cameron unleashed his characteristic bluntness, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
"Glenn Beck is a f------ a--hole," Cameron told reporters. "I've met him. He called me the anti-Christ and not about 'Avatar.' He hadn't even seen 'Avatar' yet. I don't know if he has seen it."
What Beck probably has seen is Cameron's 2007 documentary "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," a perfect target for the religious right in its suggestion that Jesus may not have been resurrected after his death.
Cameron went on to say that regardless of his personal opinion about Beck, "... he certainly is dangerous because his ideas are poisonous." respect for the constitution, personal responsibility, don't buy the b.s. the MSM tells you, yep all danger and arsenic there James...
"I couldn't believe when he was on CNN. I thought, what happened to CNN? Who is this guy? Who is this madman? And then, of course, he wound up on FOX News, which is where he belongs, I guess." with all the far-right whack jobs...who, I guess after reading your comments will probably not be renting your dvd's anytime soon.
Cameron added that he'd "love to have a dialog with" Beck. with or without four letter expletives tough guy?
He then explained why, despite his ongoing and often public disputes with other right-wingers, he believes society needs to have frank and open discussion about lightning rods for conflict like religion and the environment.
"They're just people ranting away, lost in their little bubbles of reality, steeped in their own hatred, their own fear and hatred," he said, when asked he responds to "attacks" from the right.
"Let's just call it out. Let's have a public discussion. That's what movies are supposed to do, you know, you can have a mindless entertainment film that doesn't affect anybody. I wasn't interested in that."
The Hollywood Reporter also notes that Cameron
made it very clear he intended people to come away from "Avatar" with more respect for the environment and how our actions are affecting it.
"Anybody that is a global-warming denier at this point in time has got their head so deeply up their a-- I'm not sure they could hear me," he said. but let's have a frank, respectful and open civil discussion about things.
"I'm less interested in making money for the movie and more interested in saving the world that my children are going to inhabit. How about that? I mean look, I didn't make this movie with these strong environmental anti-war themes in it to make friends on the right, you know.'
"Avatar" will be available on DVD and home video on April 22, which also happens to be Earth Day. -yeah, I'll be first in line to rent a movie where evil Marines kill peaceable blue tribesmen...on second thought...
#4
Anybody that is a global-warming denier at this point in time has got their head so deeply up their a-- I'm not sure they could hear me,"
With a statement like that how could anyone have any type of discussion other than name calling. And with this statement: lost in their little bubbles of reality its hard to believe he would even listen to the facts.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
03/24/2010 18:15 Comments ||
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#5
Avatar works as a sort of sequel to Aliens. Evil corporations, clueless high tech Earth soldiers vs primitives. Only differences are Aliens had Cocky Marines and Avatar had well financed mercs, that and Pandora and her inhabitants were made to be appealing while the Aliens are not.
#6
oops, my bad, I'm a Marine and my buddy told me it was about evil Marines and the hero was a disabled Marine. I don't usually see movies involving smurfs and all the typical far-left shadow corporations running the evil Govt meme.
The Dubai municipality has retracted a decision to ban restaurants from using alcohol in the preparation of dishes, The National daily reported on Tuesday.
The confusion was a result of a "misunderstanding", municipality officials said, claiming that restaurateurs misinterpreted a circular sent to them.
The liberal Gulf emirate had announced on Sunday it would enforce a 2003 law banning alcohol in food preparation, based on complaints from Muslim clients who were not warned that dishes in some restaurants contained alcohol.
Khaled Sharif al-Awadhi, director of Dubai municipality's food control department, said food containing alcohol could be served on condition it was segregated from other food and clearly labeled, The National reported.
"We have found violations where hotels are not clearly stating alcohol content in their food," it quoted him as saying. Awadhi added that alcohol should be handled like other "non-halal products" such as pork.
The newspaper said chefs in Dubai, where restaurants in hotels with a license are allowed to serve alcohol, had approached the municipality asking for a review of the decision, which they said threatened their industry.
The National said that a municipality circular sent to all hotels clearly stated that food in alcohol would be strictly prohibited.
"Use of alcohol in preparation and cooking of food is strictly prohibited. Display and sale of food products containing alcohol as an ingredient is strictly prohibited," said the circular according to the English-language daily.
Ahmed Al-Ali, the head of food inspections was quoted by the paper on Sunday that alcohol in food would not be allowed even if clearly labeled.
Al-Awadhi said the circular was misunderstood by restaurateurs. "It's a misunderstanding. The memo meant to say that alcohol content in food should be clearly stated and also kept separately," he said.
The municipality will meet with chefs from leading hotels later this week to communicate the regulation and clear the confusion.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
I suppose the fact that it all boils off during cooking escapes them.
#4
In Israel, Sunday brunches offered by major hotels are a huge money maker, and competition is fierce. Buffet lines are organized to segregate meats, dairy, and vegetarian foods.
In one such hotel, halfway through brunch, a customer saw steam drifting from underneath a meat tray in the direction of the dairy line. They calmly started screaming bloody murder, which concluded the buffet for the day.
The hotel's restaurant manager had to bring in, at great cost, a team of Rabbis to determine if Kosher law had been violated. After days of debate and argument, they decided that water should be obtained from the steam of the meat line, and that if a dog would drink it, it would mean that it had been contaminated with meat.
All eyes were on the manager as he put the bowl of water on the floor. The dog sniffed at it gingerly, then decided it wasn't thirsty. This satisfied the Rabbis, so they decreed that the hotel buffet was Kosher, not Tref.
Only later did the restaurant manager admit to a friend that for insurance he had put a few drops of Lysol in the water bowl with the water.
#5
I suppose the fact that it all boils off during cooking escapes them.
Almost all boils off, gromky, according to the Cook's Illustrated people, who ran the experiment. It's one of those asymptotic thingies.
Posted by: trailing wife on the other computer ||
03/24/2010 12:48 Comments ||
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#6
Do they label foods made with vanilla extract?
I remember reading during the first Gulf War that people couldn't send, e.g., chocolate chip cookies to the soldiers based in Saudi Arabia, because of the vanilla extract.
Of course, that's one teaspoon of vanilla extract (35% alcohol, for the stuff in my cabinet) amid 2.25 cups of flour, 1.5 cups of sugar, two eggs, plus trace other elements. Oh, and the chocolate chips.
[Bangla Daily Star] Three of a family suffered burn injuries as criminals hurled acid on them centring love affairs at Bathuli village under Dhamrai Police Station of Dhaka Monday night.
The victims were identified as Tania Akhter, 18, daughter of Tomij Uddin of the village, her mother Komola Begum, 45, and cousin Tanvir, 11.
Police arrested Mohidur, 25, son of Hazrat Ali in this connection.
Sub Inspector Imdadul Haque said Mohidur and Alamgir hurled acid using injection syringe as Tania refused their love proposals.
Family sources said the criminals threw acid on them when they were asleep around 11:30pm.
The victims were admitted to Manikganj Sadar Hospital at 2:00 am.
Different parts of Tanvir's body were burnt while Tania suffered burn injuries to her hands and a part of her face and Komola to her hands and legs, hospital sources said.
Police are also trying to arrest Alamgir, 25, son of Nannu, SI Imdadul said.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
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Bangladesh's largest state-run hospital has banned staff from wearing full-face burqas after an increase in thefts of mobile phones and wallets from wards, a hospital chief said Monday.
Female staff have been ordered to wear standard uniforms, which do not cover either the hair or face, while on duty at the Bangabandhu Medical University Hospital in Dhaka, senior administrator Abdul Majid Bhuiyan told AFP."We decided to enforce our uniform regulations after discovering instances of stealing by veiled staff," he said, adding some burqa-wearing staff had also been secretly sending unqualified "proxy workers" to cover shifts for them.
Only a small number of women working at the hospital wear the full-face veil, he said.
"Doctors have also said burqa-clad women who travel to work on crowded public buses then do not change into regulation uniform could carry diseases into the hospital," he said. Bangladesh has the world's fourth-largest Muslim population. Islam is the state religion although only a small minority of women wear the burqa.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
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Good move Bangladesh. Way to set precedent. Let's hope this catches on. Thieves, "proxy workers", suicide bombers.. All good reasons for banning the burqa everywhere.
#2
This is not a recommendation, but Australia has very little goverment debt. The Howard government paid it all off. A remarkably precient action given what is happening currently, and one they get almost no credit for.
The current Labor government is of course busy racking up new debt, but debt levels are still very low by international levels.
Hence the Australian dollar is largely immune to the soveriegn debt crisis, which is going to get a whole lot worse.
#3
I should also note that private and company debt levels in Australia are very high. Which means that we will see higher levels of (debt) deleveraging. Which will tend to send the Australian dollar down as AUDs flow overseas to repay these debts.
[Al Arabiya Latest] French public sector workers unleashed nationwide strikes Tuesday, disrupting train services and schools in another challenge to President Nicolas Sarkozy after his party's elections defeat.
Sarkozy dismissed his labor minister and reshuffled his cabinet after the Socialists and their left-wing allies swept to victory in the regional vote on Sunday, the last ballot box test before the 2012 presidential polls.
All of France's major unions were taking part in the national day of protest against job cuts and plans for pension reform, a centerpiece of Sarkozy's agenda in the second half of his presidency.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
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OTTAWA -- After protesters at the University of Ottawa prevented Ann Coulter from giving a speech Tuesday night, the American conservative writer said it proved the point she came to make -- free speech in Canada leaves much to be desired.
Then she said what she really thought of the student protesters who surrounded Marion Hall, making it to unsafe, in the view of her bodyguard, for the pundit to attempt entry.
"The University of Ottawa is really easy to get into, isn't it?" she said in an interview after the cancelled event. "I never get any trouble at the Ivy League schools. It's always the bush league schools."
Coulter said she has been speaking regularly at university campuses for a decade. While she has certainly been heckled, she said this is the first time an engagement has been cancelled because of protesters.
"This has never, ever, ever happened before -- even at the stupidest American university," she said.
Coulter remarked on the reception she has had since entering the country.
"Since I've arrived in Canada, I've been denounced on the floor of Parliament -- which, by the way, is on my bucket list -- my posters have been banned, I've been accused of committing a crime in a speech that I have not yet given, I was banned by the student council, so welcome to Canada!"
#8
It's not a gratuitous stab at her supporters; her supporters very likely agree with her.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/24/2010 12:13 Comments ||
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London, Ont. Inflammatory right-wing pundit Ann Coulter took aim at a University of Ottawa administrator Monday night, saying an e-mail from the school warning her to use restraint, respect and consideration when addressing Ontario students during a speaking tour this week made her a victim of a hate crime.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
03/24/2010 12:22 Comments ||
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#10
Valeriano, a 19-year-old sociology and women's studies student, said later that she was happy Coulter was unable to speak the "hatred" she had planned to.
I don't think that means what you think it means little hate-filled girl....
Outside the hall, Sameena Topan, 26, a conflict studies and human rights major at the U of O, spoke to the Citizen on behalf of a group of protesters.
"We have a large group of students that can very clearly outline the difference between discourse and discrimination," Topan said of the protest.
So you are going to DISCRIMINATE againast any opposing views in order to avoid any DISCOURSE....
Notice what these alledged students are majoring in. Woman's studies, Conflict Studies, and Human Rights....
BTW I am for denying vote to people who live from money handled by their parents since thay obviously aren't concerned by taxes.
Posted by JFM 2010-03-24 13:24
I am all for a restructuring of vote eligibility and who has full franchise and who doesn't. It's a contentious subject, I'll admit that, but it has to be done. Maybe restrict the vote to Veterans, Business Owners, Property Owners...something along those lines. I have no idea how or where one would begin. Just thinking out loud.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man ||
03/24/2010 14:03 Comments ||
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#13
Maybe restrict the vote to Veterans, Business Owners, Property Owners...something along those lines. Secret Asian Man
Used to be that way Secret Asian Man. Literacy, believe it or not, was also a voting requirement. Unfortunately the practice was deemed discriminatory, racist, and unenlightened.
#15
I'll be happy with limiting it to those who actually pay Federal Income taxes.
No, you can't live on welfare and vote yourself more of other people's money....
I caught the idea in an Arab blog (the guy hates islamists BTW). He asked his son in front of all family: "When a boy becomes a man?" The boy blushing because such subject is streng verboten in Arab society, "When he has sex!" "No, the day you pay your first bill".
Luminious idea! In France, admission i university is nearly free and you only have to graduate from high school (there is no exam for admission in University) so first year classes are encumbered by people who dodn't study and will never get into seond year. But they demonstrate, they strike. And they ask for "student salary". Of couse they don't pay taxes. That is why in my dreams people should have a rent receipt with them both for voting or demonstrating. The banner in one hand and the receipt in the other or the cops would beat the crap out of them. :-)
#16
I wouldn't like to go back to the days of literacy tests. It gave those in power the motivation not to educate people. Not that those in power are doing a good job of that now, mind you.
I wonder what party was involved? Hmmm.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
03/24/2010 19:26 Comments ||
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#17
I've been saying that to my family for yrs fellow 'burgers. Unless you pay a fed or state income tax (or are a disabled vet, police, etc) or property tax - you don't vote. I have a worthless neice whose on the dole w/an illegit kid - imho she has absolutely no right to vote for any politician that wants to give her more of somebody else's money.
One of the provisions in the new health care law requires small businesses to provide coverage for workers. Such an "employer mandate" has been in place in San Francisco, Calif., for over a year. The mandate has earned mixed reviews at best.
Under the law, businesses with 20 or more employees are required to provide medical coverage, either on their own or by paying into a city-run program. That's what most restaurants are doing -- albeit grudgingly. To cover the cost, owners are either having to raise their menu prices or tack on a so-called "Healthy Surcharge" onto the tab. At some places, it's around 4 percent of the check. Others charge a flat fee of a dollar or two. Simple solution I will use, subtract charge from tip.
Either way, customers are footing the bill for the health care of their waitstaff, busboys, and cooks, regardless of whether the workers work part time, live in San Francisco, or are in the U.S. legally.
How well the plan is going over seems to depend on where the restaurant is located. Management at many neighborhood bistros and cafes say customers don't seem to mind paying the extra surcharge. But folks running downtown restaurants -- many of which depend on visitors -- say the mandate is hurting their bottom line.
At the venerable Fior D'Italia in North Beach, Calif., owner Bob Larive says he's having to tax his customers to fund a political mandate. "It makes doing business here much more expensive, which makes the city less attractive in the long run to the visitors and the locals," he says.
Some eateries worry they'll have to let people go, or cut shifts. But Mayor Gavin Newsom gives a different view. A former restaurant owner himself, who lobbied hard for this universal health care program, Newsom argues it's saving restaurants and taxpayers money, by offering workers preventative care. Newsom argues that this in turn keeps them out out emergency rooms, and on the clock.
"Businesses get the benefit in the back end," Newsom says. "We have a more robust work force, greater productivity and output because employees have health care." He adds the program is providing healthcare to 50,000 people who don't have insurance.
But in a city that lost more than 200 restaurants in the past 4 years, critics say the extra expense is costing jobs and revenue San Francisco can't afford. What's more, the local restaurant lobby, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, has filed suit, claiming the "employer mandate" violates federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court is now deciding whether to hear the case.
#1
customers are footing the bill for the health care of their waitstaff
The customer always foots the bill, whether as a surcharge, a tax, or just increased prices. The alternative is to not buy the product (meal), in which case the employees lose their jobs - and end up supported by the taxpayer - who tends to be the same person as the customer was. He who has assets pays, one way or the other. Eventually in a downward-spiraling, self-consuming economy, no one has any more assets - then what?
#3
"Businesses get the benefit in the back end," The San Fran way I guess.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
03/24/2010 15:32 Comments ||
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He who has assets pays, one way or the other. Eventually in a downward-spiraling, self-consuming economy, no one has any more assets - then what?
Posted by Glenmore 2010-03-24 12:46
Ugliness. Generally the people revolt and *cough* remove the Elites by any manner of unpleasant means. We really need to alter the sequence and save ourselves the journey. It has its benefits, but admittedly some of the lesson is lost.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man ||
03/24/2010 18:19 Comments ||
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More Americans now favor than oppose the health care overhaul that President Obama signed into law Tuesday, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds -- a notable turnaround from surveys before the vote that showed a plurality against the legislation. An amazing turnaround! How did they do that?
By 49%-40%, those polled say it was "a good thing" rather than a bad one that Congress passed the bill. Half describe their reaction in positive terms -- as "enthusiastic" or "pleased" -- while about four in 10 describe it in negative ways, as "disappointed" or "angry."
The largest single group, 48%, calls the legislation "a good first step" that needs to be followed by more action. And 4% say the bill itself makes the most important changes needed in the nation's health care system.
Posted by: Bobby ||
03/24/2010 06:41 ||
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they must've found the 500 dumbest people in America to poll on this issue...besides having no clue what's even contained in the more than 2,500 pages of this monstrosity...
#5
What BS. This is the BO pravda press going into action. The day after this bill was passed in Congress (Monday), one poll I saw indicated the number of people who didn't like the bill increased. Why is Pelosi at 11% approval rating and Reid at 8% if everything is peachy keen?
#6
In the new USA TODAY survey and one taken a month ago, the biggest shift toward support of the bill was among low-income Americans, minorities and those under 40.
#7
At least the Dems do: Rasmussen Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11 (see trends).
The Approval Index rating today represents a seven-point gain for the President compared to a week ago. The bounce comes entirely from increased enthusiasm among Democrats. Today, 60% of Democrats Strongly Approve while only 9% Strongly Disapprove. A week ago, those figures were 46% Strongly Approve and 14% Strongly Disapprove.
Among Republicans, the Presidents Approval Index was at -66 a week ago and is the same today. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Presidents Approval Index rating was -25 a week ago and -26 today.
Posted by: ed ||
03/24/2010 9:47 Comments ||
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We'll see come November. I suppose we won't see any special campaigning out of the Donks if they are so sure since clearly victory is theirs.
#10
We better get things going before November. Dems will have illegals signed up, so the voting booth will be packed. They have 7 months to pass their legislation and rig the election. The script was written last week with the health care bill.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/24/2010 10:35 Comments ||
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#11
Paul makes a great point, by November they could garner 20+ million new voters and install all sorts of Green/For the Children taxes. There might not be anything left to save by this fall.
Posted by: Jefferson ||
03/24/2010 10:56 Comments ||
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Every health care worker and doctor I've talked to lately, including an OB/Gyn in-law, opposes it. One office even had the addresses and numbers of our reps and senators posted pointing out the problems with it. Several others stated they will not take Medicare, Medicaid, and another requires you to send in your own health insurance forms because they are disgusted with the insurance companies running their practice and dictating treatments. The majority will not like the bill in the near future when they realize its impact on them.
a. Put healthcare and medical procedures beyond the reach of most boomers and the elderly through gov't imposed ceilings, rationing and excessive co-pays.
b. Tax the hell out of youth and middle-aged Americans who, due to good health, have far fewer high-cost procedures and medical claims.
End result, life expectancy for the elderly declines and actuarial tables adjust as tax revenues from the non-elderly increase accordingly. It really is going to suck to be an old bugger. No wait, it will suck to be a Obamacare tax burdened young person as well!
#14
Those healthy youth are going to tell Obumble to FOAD and refuse to buy insurance. Would you rather pay $7,000+ in premiums or a $700 fee? Then when they do get seriously sick (and after the fact) - they will jump on the Insurance bandwagon since they can't be refused coverage.
#15
Unfortunately Craze, I don't think it will be optional. I suspect our paycheck Social Security (FICA) column will be sliding over a bit for new column which will be appearing very soon.
#17
If any of the Dem leadership thinks that a vote on legalize illegals is going to be quicker and easier than the fiasco of Obamacare, they have not been paying attention to what has been happening in the South and Midwest.
For once Steyn is serious
Sometimes you do live to see it. In my book America Alone, I point out that, to a five-year-old boy waving his flag as Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee procession marched down the Mall in 1897, it would have been inconceivable that by the time of his 80th birthday the greatest empire the world had ever known would have shriveled to an economically moribund strike-bound socialist slough of despond, one in which (stop me if this sounds familiar) the government ran the hospitals, the automobile industry, and much of the housing stock, and, partly as a consequence thereof, had permanent high unemployment and confiscatory tax rates that drove its best talents to seek refuge abroad.
...Permanence is an illusion and you would be surprised at how fast mighty nations can be entirely transformed. But, more important, national decline is psychological and therefore what matters is accepting the psychology of decline.
#1
While I love Steyn when he's not so serious, I think I like him just as much when he is. This is a sobering analysis of the American situation right now and in the not-so-distant future. A reality check if there ever was one; the canary in the coal mine. In other words, a must read for anyone who has any interest in grasping the magnitude of implications before us in this time in history.
Demographically speaking, the insolvency of current entitlements-- not to mention the expansion of entitlements and increased taxes looming in front of us-- is bearing down on us like a runaway freight train. What happens when the other shoe drops? It will not be pretty. Chronic 10%+ unemployment, higher interest rates, stagflation (or worse, deflation)... the United States of America as we know it (or knew it, rather) will cease to exist. So much for keeping all the unsurly state actors in check. The global order will revert to the natural order of things: i.e. nuclear proliferation, more armed conflict, more extremism, more poverty, more hunger, more inequality... in a word: chaos. Which as it happens is the TRUE natural order of things when no one or no thing exists to keep it it bay.
Our politician's in power are either completely oblivious to this impending reality or knowingly complicit in making it a reality. All in the name of "equality", "social justice", and their cradle-to-grave welfare programs. The myopia and ideology on display is staggering in it's ignorance and incompetence. I can only surmise that our insistence on not learning from history is just another part of the human condition.
In the words of Winston Churchill:
"The vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."
#2
And for those who missed his comments on the O'Reilly factor last night, Charles Krauthammer spelled out-- in the simplest and starkest terms I've heard yet-- the fallacy of accounting played on us by the 0bama administration as it relates to the HCR bill; which was disingenuous if not downright dishonest if we are to assume that 0bama is as intelligent as we've been lead to believe. (Yeah, I have my doubts, too.)
I'd love to find a clip of that interview or at least the transcript. It ita must-see/read!
[Iran Press TV Latest] The US President has signed into law a controversial health reform bill that is to eventually provide nearly every American with some sort of health insurance. The executive order pertaining to Stupak's abortion deal got lost in the shuffle ...
"It is fitting that Congress passed this historic legislation this week for as we mark the turning of spring, we also mark a new season in America," Obama told a delighted group of people who attended the signing ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, AFP reported.
"The bill I'm signing will set in motion reforms that generations of Americans have fought for and marched for and hungered to see," he added.
Supporters of the so-called "Obamacare", including Democrats from both chambers of Congress, were present at the ceremony.
Despite a unanimous opposition on the Republican side, the US House of Representatives ratified the sprawling $940 billion overhaul by a 219 to 212 vote on Monday.
The sweeping law is going to extend healthcare coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans.
Republicans have vowed not to abandon their fight to challenge the bill in the Senate. They say they'll appeal the bill if they win a majority in the elections in November.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
The sweeping law is going to extend healthcare coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans....
....along with 12 million non-USCIT Mexican workers, foreign students and visitors just hanging out.
A lawyer slapped a civil judge in a court in Faisalabad, a private TV channel reported on Monday. Liaqat Javaid advocate slapped Civil Judge Tariq Mehmood, the channel reported. The judge was hearing a loan default case. Javaid, lawyer for the accused, asked the judge to release the accused as the amount had already been deposited. The judge after thoroughly reading the record of the case said the contention of the defendant's lawyer could not be entertained as no such receipt of payment had been recorded. This flared the lawyer up and he started abusing the judge. He rushed to the dais and allegedly slapped the judge repeatedly. Court officials and lawyers succeeded in rescuing the judge, who went into his retiring room, APP reported. Reacting to the incident, the Faisalabad sessions judge ordered all judges to stop working immediately and demanded suspension of the lawyer's licence. District bar office-bearers also held an emergency meeting and decided that the judges would continue to boycott the courts until the suspension of Javaid's licence, the channel reported. The civil judges of Jaranwala, Samundri and Tandlianwala tehsils boycotted the courts. They condemned the incident and called it a shameful act. Forty-five civil judges submitted their resignations to the senior civil judge and said they would not resume their duties the next working day (Wednesday) if a case was not registered against the lawyer for disgracing, misbehaving, manhandling, abusing, threatening and attempting to kill the judge. They said Javaid had committed contempt of the court. District and Sessions Judge Sohail Nasir also held a meeting with the civil judges and assured that their grace and dignity would be protected at all costs.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
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A student sustained a bullet injury and was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition when two rival student groups clashed at the Pak-Swedish Technical College, Quaidabad, in the limits of Shah Latif police station on Monday.
Police said activists of the Pakhtoon Students Federation (PSF) and the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) clashed in the college over some issue, and used iron bars, wooden clubs and firearms to attack each other.
Consequently, an activist of the PSF, Nasir Zaman, was shot in the stomach and was rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Five other students, Rafaih, Rehan, Owais, Kamran and Saleem, also sustained injuries and were shifted to private hospitals where they were released after being provided first-aid treatment.
Sukkhan police station SPO Abdul Jabbar Qaimkhani said the situation has been brought under control.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
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Robert White, the first man to pilot a winged plane into space, has died at the age of 85.
On July 17, 1962 the US Air Force Major flew his X-15 rocket plane to an altitude of 59 miles (95km) above the Earth and reached weightlessness.
He could see the coastline of the Western United States from north of San Francisco down to Mexico. On his radio he told those below: "This is a fantastic view." By that time four Americans had gone into space but they were in capsules that splash landed under parachutes in the ocean.
White successfully flew his plane back to Earth and landed it on a dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
The X-15 he tested would become the forerunner of the modern Space Shuttle which achieved its first orbital flight in 1981, the same year White retired.
White had flown in the Second World War and the Korean War before becoming an X-15 test pilot.
He was also the first pilot to break the milestone speed barriers of four, five and six times the speed of sound. He eventually reached a top speed 4,094mph. He also flew 70 missions in Vietnam.
His family said he died peacefully in his sleep in Orlando, Florida, having lived so much of his life on the edge of danger.
[Straits Times] THE United Nations said on Tuesday it would host a meeting on Myanmar here later this week amid concern about new electoral laws that disqualify detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told a press briefing that the so-called Group of Friends of Myanmar would meet at UN headquarters on Thursday.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for the informal meeting to mull Myanmar's new electoral laws ahead of upcoming national polls, which will be the first to be held in 20 years.
The new laws relate to the registration of political parties and bar anyone serving a prison term from being a member of an official party.
The Group of friends of Myanmar brings together Australia, Britain, China, the European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
It was set up in December 2007 as a forum for informal discussions and for developing shared approaches to back UN efforts to promote democracy and national reconciliation in Myanmar.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2010 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
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#1
Let the partying and wh*ring begin!
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
03/24/2010 10:11 Comments ||
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#2
I confess that is a new one on me. I did not know that Myanmar had five-star hotels.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/24/2010 12:16 Comments ||
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Here's how the health care overhaul would affect taxpayers, according to The Tax Institute at H&R Block: Taxpayers without qualifying health care coverage:
Beginning in 2014, taxpayers who are required to obtain or maintain qualifying health care coverage will face a penalty if they do not comply. The penalty increases from $95 in 2014 to $695 in 2016. They must file a return substantiating required coverage beginning in 2014.
Certain individuals may qualify for a subsidy to help cover the cost of insurance. This subsidy will be administered through the insurance company, with any difference being reconciled through the individual tax return.
Based on the 2009 poverty level data currently in effect, a family of four with household income less than $88,200 would qualify for such a subsidy.
Taxpayers who contribute to flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts:
Beginning in 2011, only prescribed drugs and insulin will be reimbursable through flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts. As a result, over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin or medical-related items such as bandages will no longer be qualified expenses for HSA or FSA purposes. Looks like a hidden tax, to me.
Beginning in 2013, the annual contribution to a flexible spending account is limited to $2,500. The current limit is $5,000.
The penalty for non-qualified distributions from health savings accounts increases from 10% to 20% in 2011.
Taxpayers with large medical expenses:
For 2013-16, the threshold for deducting medical expenses is increased from 7.5% of adjusted gross income to 10%. The threshold is not changed for individuals who are at least age 65 by the end of the year.
Higher-income taxpayers:
Beginning in 2013, the 1.45% employee portion of Medicare tax will increase by 0.9 percentage points for taxpayers with earned income in excess of $200,000, or $250,000 for joint filers. Any tax not fully withheld and sent to the government by the employer must be paid by the employee through their tax return. This also applies to self-employment income.
Also in 2013, taxpayers with adjusted income more than $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers) will be subject to an additional 3.8% tax on net investment income (such as interest, dividends, capital gains).
Posted by: Bobby ||
03/24/2010 06:46 ||
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Link ||
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#1
Any chance of a so called Flat Tax is certainly gone forever along with tens of thousands of pine trees. This has nothing to do with health care and everything to do with increased income taxes.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) says he will
include a provision in the FY2011 Defense Authorization Bill to amend
national health care reform legislation to explicitly state that TRICARE
"meets all requirements for individual health insurance."
Committee staff members indicate this is a technical correction to make
doubly sure TRICARE beneficiaries don't suffer any inadvertent penalties
under the language of national health care reform legislation currently
pending in the House.
According to staff, the new House language cites Medicare, TRICARE For
Life, and VA care as meeting the requirements, but didn't explicitly
include TRICARE.
Skelton tried to amend the bill to include TRICARE, but House rules
governing reconciliation bills like the national health reform bill bar
amendments that don't involve funding.
But the lack of funding issue means Skelton will be able to make the fix
in the defense bill instead.
While it would be incongruous in the extreme to consider TRICARE as
failing to meet any reasonable requirements for health insurance, the
technical fix will make doubly sure TRICARE beneficiaries won't be
subject to financial penalties applicable to people who don't obtain
qualifying insurance.
It would also require that TRICARE make a change to allow continued coverage of non-dependent children until age 28 if they don't have
qualifying employer-sponsored coverage. Details on how to accomplish that would have to be worked out in the defense bill if the national
health reform legislation passes.
Congress needs to act by April 1 to prevent a 21% cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors. Last week, the Senate approved a 6-month
fix (until Oct. 1) as part of its jobs bill, H.R. 4213.
#3
This bill affects all of us. We all lose. Freedom is precious and that is the price of this legislation. The bill provides for a lot of government intrusion in our lives. The IRS will have expanded power. It is a skid down a slippery slope. The country can't afford it. Anyone who believes the costs estimates provided by the Donks and CBO are foolish. Can anyone think of any government program that has made the estimated budget or come in under budget? Can anyone think of any Federal government social programs that are not broke? If people think they have gotten health care out of this sham; think again. There is no money for these "cash for votes" programs now or later. It is a sham to gain 30 million votes. Next up is amnesty for illegal immigrants; another 15-20 million undocumented, unregistered Democratic voters.
#4
Anyone who believes the costs estimates provided by the Donks and CBO are foolish.
CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf met with Obama at the White House on 21 July 2009. Following that meeting, the CBO's attitude toward all things Obama took a very sharp course change. I wouldn't believe any data coming out of the CBO.
#5
By the time O and the traitorous congress get done with their socialistic pet legislation, the acceleration to bankruptcy will pick up some real steam, and that will be the end of the Socialist dream. We will be more like Zimbabwe.
That is exactly what O wants.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/24/2010 10:32 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
OTTAWA -- After protesters at the University of Ottawa prevented Ann Coulter from giving a speech Tuesday night, the American conservative writer said it proved the point she came to make -- free speech in Canada leaves much to be desired.
More Americans now favor than oppose the health care overhaul that President Obama signed into law Tuesday, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds -- a notable turnaround from surveys before the vote that showed a plurality against the legislation.
