
'The Saints Go Marching On'
New Orleans Saints Win Superbowl 44 in Miami
NO 30 - IND 17



IRESC - Haiti Earthquake Report
January 30, 2010-(Wire) - At 2153 UTC on Tuesday 12th January
2010, a magnitude 7.0Mw earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, the capital of
Haiti. News reports soon revealed that this was a major disaster.
Shortly afterwards, IRESC (International Radio Emergency Support
Coalition) received, miraculously via email just before connectivity failed, a
message from David Farquharson HH2QCS, who had helped with communications during
the series of hurricanes that devastated Haiti in 2008. He had survived the
earthquake but his home, high in the mountains above Port-au-Prince, was badly
damaged.
Nevertheless, he was heading into Port-au-Prince to see what he could do to
help. He said he would try to set up his amateur radio station. He witnessed a
two mile stretch of cliffs above nearby gravel pits collapsing and knew that
many deaths were inevitable.
IRESC went to a high alert level and commenced operations on their Echolink
Conference with a formal net, hoping that some communications could be
established either directly using VoIP or via a radio gateway situated within
reach of Haiti. Manny Arroyo, NP2KW, was particularly helpful in making his HF
Gateway facility available to IRESC from his advantageous location on St. Croix
in the US Virgin Islands.
The IRESC Incident Database, which can be accessed by emergency agencies and can
receive submissions directly from the general public, was heavily used to manage
health and welfare enquiries and eventually stored over 300 items of information
relating to the disaster.
In the early phases of the activation, traffic was almost entirely inbound to
Haiti. With no reliable amateur radio path, relatives’ enquiries were routed to
the Red Cross and Salvation Army bureaux for processing.
In the next few days, IRESC received further messages from HH2QCS and also from
Jean-Robert Gaillard HH2JR; they made grim reading. HH2JR had lost several close
family members. He also lost his cousin, Micha Gaillard, the Opposition Leader
in Haiti. Jean Robert himself had been attacked by mobs. The two hams had not
been able to communicate with each other since the earthquake.
The desperate scenes described were shocking. HH2QCS was, by now, leading the
communications team for one of the major medical centres in central
Port-au-Prince and was struggling with limited equipment to re-establish
internet communications, but he had been able to arrange solar power.
IRESC continued to deal with the large number of hams seeking information. At
one point, the IRESC Echolink conference had nearly 200 individual stations,
links and repeaters connected to it.
Because IRESC has members in over 50 countries, there was always a Net Control
Station available who could operate during their local daylight hours, thus
preventing exhaustion or overnight shifts. Members who spoke French were
contacted in case this became the language necessary for traffic handling. Such
members monitored the only radio station that managed to continue broadcasting
on the Internet, Signal FM, and provided translations of the public message
boards and news reports hosted on the station’s website.
IRESC Net Control Station (NCS) operators were joined by colleagues from the
National Hurricane Net, NIAR, HAMNET, ARES, RAYNET and others, to whom grateful
thanks are extended. The net was streamed to the web via several outlets. HF
communications were monitored in a variety of ways. In the region of 900 radio
amateurs registered to become members of IRESC in a 72 hour period. All in all,
this represented a truly remarkable international alliance between radio
amateurs.
As the relief effort developed, IRESC collaborated with the Maritime Mobile
Service net. The MMS net operates on 14.300MHz, the internationally agreed
‘Centre of Activity’ frequency for emergency communications. The net was in
regular communication with Father John Henault HH2JH, a missionary from the
Ile-a-Vache off the SW coast of Haiti, who travelled to the mainland to provide
assistance and to establish a ham radio station. Father John regularly provided
essential information and requests for supplies, principally fuel for his
generator. These messages were relayed to the IRESC Echolink net by Bernie
Farthing NP2CB for onward transmission to a variety of support agencies. As well
as more traditional routes, traffic was also being received via Blackberry and
SMS text, with some Haitians even managing to report via Facebook. All of this
data was collated on the IRESC Incident Database and forwarded as appropriate.
The Database was made an open source for any agency that found it of use.
IRESC Liaison Officer for the Eastern Caribbean, Julien Dedier 9Z4FZ, set
himself up as a point of contact for radio amateurs travelling with relief
teams, offering advice and assistance to smooth their passage through Trinidad &
Tobago en route to Haiti.
IRESC Liaison Officer for Israel, Pinchas Aviv 4Z5RU, set the Magen David Adom
network of VHF repeaters to relay the IRESC traffic so that it was heard across
the whole of the country.
In conclusion, it is true to say that traffic out of Haiti was limited. The
country’s infrastructure was so badly damaged that only the greatest of efforts
lead to limited ham radio activity. The bulk of message flow handled by IRESC
was of the Health & Welfare enquiry type. However, IRESC has benefitted from
this significant mobilisation of its facilities; the learning curve has been
steep and the debrief will be extensive. The IT systems, hosted on IRESC’s own
servers, stood up well under the immense volume of activity.
NCS operators were well supported by always having several Assistant NCS members
to work with them in the background, controlling the various online systems,
managing the Incident Database, logging and dealing with off-net communications
– not as glamorous as a net controller maybe, but the bedrock on which our
organisation relies. When the next emergency comes, many more key agencies and
contacts will be aware of what IRESC has to offer and will come to us earlier.
Better working relationships have already been formed.
Correspondence was received from all over the world and diligently attended to.
Radio amateurs worked with each other and found ways around the language and
colloquial differences that will inevitably exist when the whole world meets in
one place. But these radio amateurs had a shared goal – collaborating
internationally is the very essence of IRESC - and the success of the operation
demonstrates that it is possible to bring our diversity of cultures together in
a single team.
IRESC has now dropped to a lower activation level but the net control structure
has remained in place should any further help be requested. The fully activated
net operated continuously around the clock for 384 hours. A slower but steady
flow of requests for information on the whereabouts of individuals continues to
arrive.
At 27 th January 2010, the Haitian President Rene Preval said that 170,000
bodies had been counted. 245,000 commercial and residential buildings had either
collapsed or were too badly damaged to repair. Father John HH2JH, Jean-Robert
HH2JR and others have continued to report in to the Maritime Mobile Service and
SATERN nets.
For further information, please contact Steve Richards
g4hpe@iresc.org or visit our website at
www.iresc.org
COMMENTARY
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)
Credit Score Drops, They Drop You
by Ray Sabb, Editor
Cromwell, CT - January 30, 2010 (MA wire) - Don't ever think
that as a loyal member of a credit union they will not beat you when you are
down. If you have credit issues they raise your interest rates on any credit
cards that you have with them.
Now it don't figure, your credit score controls what interest
rate you have. OK, so the lower the score the higher the rate. While you try to
get yourself out of the hole they help dig it deeper to keep you in the hole.
Everyone should have the same rate, period. Not penalize you. Why not just lower
your credit line.
That would certainly reduce the risk on the loan. Not raising
the rate.
Or how about this, your credit score goes into the toilet
because of a divorce, a foreclosure action and loss of income. You stop using
your few credit cards, let them sell the accounts to collection services and get
threatening phone calls all day. Well hell yes your credit score is going down,
down, down. But the one credit card you keep current religiously because you
know you need a financial fail safe Digital Credit Union suspends the credit
whereby stealing away any dignity that you have had less by maintaining the
account.
This is wrong. The loyalty factor never plays a part in your
membership with a credit union like Digital Federal Credit Union. They espouse
to be a family that takes care of their family but what they do not tell you is
that they do not care. It is all hype for more members.
Here is an extract of an email sent to me and when I read it
well....
"I understand the frustration this
decision to suspend your Visa has caused you. I'm not sure if there's anything I
can say to make you feel better about this decision, but I would like to at
least explain the reasons behind our decision. Periodically, DCU will
conduct a review ofour Visa portfolio. Based on the information obtained
from Equifax, a
negative change in your credit history was shown. Based on this negative
change, DCU made the business decision to revoke access to your
credit line."
Here is what I have to say to that:
If I wanted to listen to an asshole I would fart.
Shame on DCU. The guy is just trying to get it together but
the credit file will most naturally show a negative because of their decision to
shun a loyal member and help to dig that hole even deeper.
If you are a member of DCU, LEAVE.
If you want to be a member of a credit union that will stick it to you... here
www.dcu.org , I prefer to deal with a national
bank. The rates are the same and you get better treatment.
This is the biggest joke of all:
"The DCU Way revolves around three
principles: People Come First, Do the Right Thing, and Make a Difference."
Disclaimer:
The opinion is that of the writer and not MainAttraction. :)
Amateur Radio Operators to the Rescue
IRESC provides a vital service during Haiti
By Ray Sabb, Editor
Cromwell, CT - January 22, 2010 -(MA Wire) - The International
Radio Emergency Support Coalition ( WWW.IRESC.ORG ) for over a week now has been
providing a vital service to the affected area in light of the earthquake that
devastated the already impoverished island nation of Haiti.
In the coarse of the past few days amateur radio operators
(HAMS) have been providing valuable communications capabilities with volunteers
from all over the world and providing a first response communications tool to
the stricken area. There abilities enabled Health and Welfare messages to be
sent and stored into an online incident database for follow up and closure.
But well beyond that service they also have agreements and
cooperative alliances in place with government agencies and non profit agencies
like the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army. Also the Maritime Mobile
Service Network (www.mmsn.org). And other high
profile organizations in the amateur community like Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES, www.arrl.org) members checking into the IRESC net for any
health and welfare traffic to their regions.
The scope of their operation is multi faceted as HAMS also use
radio frequencies (radio) in all types of modes. The high Frequency (HF) bands
were monitored by many of the nearly 1000 members. Other radio nets that were in
operation were also joined and the call for help was heard worldwide.
One amateur operator in Georgia heard an SOS. It was picked up
by the IRESC net team and verified as being a valid SOS from a sailing vessel on
route from Montserrat to Bermuda. Details of the SOS were vague but there was
enough information to warrant escalating it to the next level. The USCG was
notified with the information and the end result was that all are safe.
In another instance, through the cooperation of several groups
a Father John in the affected area was asking for help. The IRESC; team by radio
was able to establish contact as well as other organizations and get those
needed supplies to him.
The list is long but in saying that, this organization has
been there to help in disasters time and time again.
But the volunteer service does not go without dangers. A
couple of HAMS in the Dominican Republic; out of the sheer desire to help their
neighbors were attacked and robbed of their equipment by thugs. Fortunately they are ok but the danger exist even when you are trying to help.
Amateurs Radio Operators in the eye of disaster have been
providing emergency communications for over 100 years. The municipal
communications infrastructure and government communications equipment always get
disrupted but HAMS are independent of this and can ease the loss of
communications by using their own equipment.
The governments all over the world are recognizing this capability since 9-1-1
especially in the US. Municipalities are teaming up with HAMS and including them
in their Emergency Operations plans.
Cell phones, trunked repeaters and commercial radio towers get
disrupted or destroyed in a disaster. HAMS can throw up a tower in 20 minutes,
they can be on the air in minutes to provide that first response.
Even when voice over internet (VOIP) is disrupted they still
get it done. And here is the biggest thing. "THEY GET IT DONE FOR NO CHARGE."
No special awards, no compensation just satisfaction that they were able to be
of assistance.
Well done IRESC.
Email Ray Sabb
Editors note:
Ray Sabb is also a ham with the call sign of N1TAI.
Major Earthquake Rocks Haiti
A Call for Help
(wire)
A major magnitude 7.0 quake hit the impoverished
country of Haiti on Tuesday and prompted a tsunami watch for parts the
Caribbean, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on Tuesday. The epicenter of
the quake, which was initially reported off the coast, was located inland, only
10 miles (16 km) from the capital Port-au-Prince and was very shallow at a depth
of only 6.2 miles (10 km). A major earthquake, of magnitude 7 or higher, is
capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. There was no immediate report of
damage or casualties. "A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist
based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the center said. "However,
there is the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located
usually no more than a 100 km (60 miles) from the earthquake epicenter." Haiti
is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
The largest earthquake ever recorded in
the area shook Haiti on Tuesday, collapsing a hospital where people screamed for
help. Other buildings also were damaged and scientists said they expected
"substantial damage and casualties." With communications disrupted there were no
reports of deaths or injuries soon after the quake, as powerful aftershocks
shook the country. The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was
centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of the capital of Port-au-Prince,
the U.S. Geological Survey said. It had a depth of 5 miles (8 kilometers). It
was the largest quake recorded in the area, said USGS analyst Dale Grant, and
the last major one since a magnitude-6.7 temblor in 1984. An Associated Press
videographer saw the wrecked hospital in Petionville, a hillside Port-au-Prince
district that is home to many diplomats and wealthy Haitians. Elsewhere, a U.S.
government official reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine.
Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., Raymond Joseph, said from his Washington office
that he spoke to President Rene Preval's chief of staff, Fritz Longchamp, just
after the quake hit. He said Longchamp told him that "buildings were crumbling
right and left" near the national palace. He said he has not gotten through by
phone to Haiti since.
Don Blakeman, an analyst at the USGS in Golden, Colorado, said such a strong
quake carried the potential for widespread damage. "I think we are going to see
substantial damage and casualties," he said. The quake was felt in the Dominican
Republic, which shares a border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. Some
panicked residents in the capital of Santo Domingo fled from their shaking
homes. In eastern Cuba, houses shook but no major damage was immediately
reported. "We felt it very strongly and I would say for a long time. We had time
to evacuate," said Monsignor Dionisio Garcia, archbishop of Santiago. In Haiti,
the extent of the damage was unclear. "Everybody is just totally, totally
freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a U.S. Department of Agriculture
official visiting Haiti. "The sky is just gray with dust." Bahn said he was
walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake. "I just held on and
bounced across the wall," he said. "I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and
shouting and screaming in the distance." Bahn said there were rocks strewn about
and he saw a ravine where several homes had stood: "It's just full of collapsed
walls and rubble and barbed wire." The U.S. National Weather Service issued a
tsunami watch for Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, but said
historically the region has seen few destructive tsunamis.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said U.S. officials were
holding emergency meetings. "We need to gather what information we can quickly.
We will of course assist in any way we can," he said. Felix Augustin, Haiti's
consul general in New York, said he was concerned about everyone in Haiti,
including his relatives. "Communication is absolutely impossible," he said.
"I've been trying to call my ministry and I cannot get through. ... It's
mind-boggling."
|
THE JOB - URINE TEST |
Like most folks in
this country, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes
and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order
to get that paycheck in my case, I am required to pass a random
urine test (With which I have no problem). What I do have a problem
with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to
pass a urine test.
So, here is my
Question: Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare
check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please
understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their
feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone
sitting on their ass - doing drugs, while I work. . . .
Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had
to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?
I guess we could
title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'.
Something has to change and soon! |
I have had enough with the Brits press...
I posted on the Guardian the following:
I think it odd, that Brits look at the US as a fragmented
country and focus their critical repertoire on whether a person is black or
white, red or yellow, brown or mixed.
What you people need to realize is that as Americans, we put aside our racial
identity the best we can. Yes there is racism but as a young country we are
getting over that hurtle.
Tiger Woods is human, he has human faults and sure, he screwed around on his
wife. So did some of your own royals do the same yet we kept our nose out of if
and respected their choice to either heal the situation or terminate the
relationship.
I submit to you all, let the man choose his process to heal, let the US press
have their day but keep your freaking nose out of it. It is none of your
business. You folks have enough to talk about in the UK, stop talking about
ours. [BLOG ]
Ray Sabb
Editor
Mainattraction.net
Commentary
Selling out America
by Ray Sabb, Editor
Selling Out America, Wednesday, April 15, 2009 1:01 PM
Foreign companies like Alcatel (a French Company) buying
American companies like Lucent.
The company is now called Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU).
Since the acquisition of Lucent the company has done a great job of dismantling
a once respected company (Lucent). But that isn't all, they also bought an
American company called Celwave and also Cablewave which is now known as Radio
Frequency Systems (RFSworld.com).
I have watched this once robust company dwindle to what could be considered a
fleecing of American ingenuity and pride.
RFS once had around 700 employees and since Alcatel got involved in their
ridiculous HEAD COUNT manner of management and outsourcing the work to inferior
countries like China the company has been reduced to the size of about 50
employees and 3 outsource companies to provide help when they need it.
The really sad part is that they have a sales and marketing division that sits
around with their thumbs up their asses while the competition like Mobi is
kicking all kinds of butt taking orders and producing the same product like
theirs.
HELLO.....
This is just one of the examples. The European's have no clue how to run an
American company or any clue as to what American economics is all about and that
useless President we had for the last 8 years did nothing to stop these
acquisitions.
Just like the gas prices spiking in 2007 and 2008. Bush is an OILMAN, think he
wanted the prices to come down...Hell No... Now that he is out guess what? The
prices are around where they should be.
Our country is being taken over by foreign money and foreigners. We give
immigrants grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to start businesses. They buy a
Franchise (like Subways) and have their whole family running the business. If
you are not one of their kind you can't get a job with them.
Good example: Try applying for a job at a Chinese restaurant or a restaurant
that is owned by one of those folks from India. They won't even let you fill out
an application which by the way is illegal. They have to give you an application
and keep it in a file for 6 months.
So when you go to the gas station and there is an Iranian or Iraqi or some
foreigner that hardly speaks English ask him for his green card first. If he
doesn't have one just walk out on the bill.
What is he going to do, call the cops? Don't think so if he is an illegal....
FREE GAS what an idea...
But if you as a tax paying American make a mistake on your taxes the bastards
will throw the book at you.... Think I will move to the Pacific Ocean. Buy me a
big boat and just let it drift. Start it up only when I see land. Think Noah did
something like that, only he didn't have an engine.

The Champ that keeps going, going going.....
Scott Hamilton 50+ years old..

House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, pictured standing,
far right, speaks while colleagues Rep.
Barbara Lambert, D-Milford and Rep. Jack F. Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, play
solitaire.
This happened when the House was in a night session to vote on the new budget.
The guy sitting in the row in front of these two is on Facebook.
The guy behind Hennessy is checking out the baseball scores.
These are the folks that can't get the budget out by Oct. 1.
Now we know why!
So, they voted to approve a 30 day budget extension. With these clowns in
charge, 30 days from now we will be in the same boat, and these 2 yo-yo’s will
still be playing SOLITAIRE!
No further proof is needed.
It is time to dump them all, and reduce all elected officials to two terms.
No more lifelong tenure, free healthcare, exorbitant pensions, voting in their
own pay raises, etc.
The Tampa Buccaneers' football practice was delayed
nearly two
hours today after a player reported finding an
unknown white powdery
substance on the field. Head Coach (Raheem
Morris) immediately
suspended practice and called the Tampa Police
Department,
Hillsborough County Sheriffs office and
investigators for the Federal
Bureau of Investigations.
After a complete analysis, FBI forensic experts determined that the
white substance, unknown to players, was the
GOAL LINE.

Social Security freeze means seniors must scrimp
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — If her check were bigger, 76-year-old
Agnes Conti might be able to spring for a better cut of meat for her pot
roast. She could afford to send her nine grandchildren more than $20 for
their birthdays and Christmas. She'd be able to spring for some nice new
clothes, like she sees on QVC, not what she settles for at Walmart.
If only. The government has said the Social Security checks Conti and tens
of millions of other seniors rely on as their primary source of income will
not increase next year as consumer prices have fallen overall. And while the
retired hospital clerk will get by, she'll be watching her spending even
closer, knowing she can't expect the annual raise she's been accustomed to.
"We were good citizens all our lives. We went to work, we lived by the book,
we weren't on welfare, we didn't ask the city for anything," Conti said
while taking a break from crafts at a senior center here. "And what do we
get?"
At the Southwest Focal Point Senior Center in this Fort Lauderdale suburb,
seniors lamented the cost-of-living freeze, praised a White House plan for
$250 checks to soften the blow, but took all of the news in stride, saying
they've had a lifetime of experience living on a fixed income and would
manage with the money they currently receive.
Frank Ferreira sits in the center's lobby, near a decorative fireplace and
an autumn centerpiece. The 90-year-old retired truck driver loves to sing,
even practicing on a karaoke machine at home, and loves to dance even more.
He gets about $890 a month from Social Security, most of which he hands over
to his daughter to help pay his share of the bills.
The money isn't the biggest issue, Ferreira said. It's the message the
government is sending about caring for seniors.
"I could use a little more, but that's all right, I get along," he said.
"But I think that we deserve it, the elderly. You can't just discard them.
You've got to help them."
Nearby, 89-year-old Miriam Danzinger is shuffling along with a walker. She
gets about $1,300 monthly in Social Security, and after rent and other
expenses, including a MediGap plan, she has little to spare. Her daughter
helps pay her bills.
When her Chevrolet Cavalier broke down a few months back, Danzinger was
forced to give it up. When she goes to the store, she's thrifty, having
learned how to cut grocery costs when she ran a coffee shop. She lives as
simply as possible.
"Listen, there's no money. People are going hungry," she said. "But what can
I say? I'm only a little ant."
The freeze in next year's checks is the first since automatic Social
Security cost-of-living increases were adopted in 1975, and follows a 5.8
percent increase in January, the largest since 1982. By law, the adjustments
are pegged to inflation, which is negative this year because of lower energy
costs.
The Obama administration plan to send $250 stimulus payments to about 57
million seniors, veterans, retired railroad workers and people with
disabilities, would amount to a roughly 2 percent raise for the average
Social Security recipient. If approved, the checks would cost about $13
billion, though there is no plan yet how to finance them.
While seniors here have grown used to the annual raises, many of them said
they're willing to cut the government some slack given the recession and the
federal deficit.
"When they have the money, they give us the raise. If they don't have it,
they don't have it," said Lucy Polieto, a retired waitress who lives in
Southwest Ranches. She wears a glittery gold sweater and chains around her
neck, and walks with a spry bounce that belies her 94 years. "Sometimes, I'm
so surprised when I look at the check and I get a raise."
The news this week that checks would be stagnant is buffered by some
positives: Seniors won't be getting any less than they already do, most
recipients' Medicare part B premiums will freeze as well, and the
president's plan could soften the blow. But because the stimulus payments
would be a one-time check, not a raise that would continue over their
lifetime, for many seniors it means thousands of dollars, compounded, that
they'll never see.
For those in poverty, the raise could have made a huge difference. But for
the average senior simply living on a fixed income, it is seen less in
dollars and cents, and more in the tangible costs they might be more careful
with.
Polieto cooks eggplant, chicken cacciatori and pasta fazool. A raise could
have given her more leeway with her grocery bill.
"Then I could buy some steaks, maybe," she said. "But I'd rather have a pork
chop."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Obama awarded 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
(Wire) -October 9, 2009- President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
The first African-American to win the White House, Obama was praised by the
Norwegian Nobel Committee for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen
international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's
attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said.
"His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world
must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority
of the world's population."
The committee also said Obama has "created a new climate in international
politics."
The announcement came as a surprise -- Obama's name had not been mentioned among
front-runners -- and the roomful of reporters in Oslo, Norway, gasped when he
was named.
In his short time in office, Obama has acted on a wide range of issues from the
economy to terrorism and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Obama also lobbied unsuccessfully to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago,
Illinois. After returning from Denmark, Obama expressed no regret about his
trip, saying it is "always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United
States."
Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, last year's Peace Prize laureate,
said it was clear the Nobel committee wanted to encourage Obama on the issues he
has been discussing on the world stage.
"I see this as an important encouragement," Ahtisaari said.
The committee wanted to be "far more daring" than in recent times and make an
impact on global politics, said Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the
International Peace Research Institute.
Wangari Muta Maathai, the Kenyan who won the 2004 Peace Prize, said Obama's win
will help Africa move forward.
"I think it is extraordinary," she said. "It will be even greater inspiration
for the world. He has shown how we can probably come together, work together in
a cooperative way."
The award comes at a crucial time for Obama, who has administration officials
dispatched on global peace missions.
Obama's envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, has returned to the region to
advocate for peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Mitchell met
Thursday with Israeli President Shimon Peres. He plans to meet Friday with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before talking with Palestinian leaders in the West
Bank.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starts a six-day trip to Europe and Russia on
Friday. On the trip, the secretary will discuss the next steps on Iran and North
Korea, and international efforts to have the two countries end their nuclear
programs.
The centerpiece of the trip will be her visit to Moscow, where she will work
toward an agreement to take the place of the Start II arms control pact, which
expires December 5. She will also address the new bilateral presidential
commission that is working on a broad range of issues, from arms control to
health.
Obama became the third sitting U.S. president to win the prestigious prize.
Jimmy Carter was the fourth American leader to win, but he was long out of
office when he was recognized in 2002.
This year's peace prize nominees included 172 people and 33 organizations, the
highest number of nominations ever. The committee does not release the names of
the nominees.
Presidents Healthcare Reform
Plan
The Weenie Factor
by Ray Sabb, Editor |
| Hartford, CT - September 13, 2009 - Enough already.
You get so tired of the healthcare issue. It is freaking broken folks.
The Republicans don't want to see it happen because it will affect the
bottom line of some businesses and certainly have an impact on the
bottom line of corporate America. That's right, it costs money.
But lets take a different approach at reforming
healthcare.
Eliminate the lawsuits that help drive the costs up
Eliminate the insurance companies dictating to the
healthcare industry
Eliminate outrageous fees (Florida, 14 hours in ICU.
$14,000, in Connecticut about $2,000.)
Put a handle on Doctors fees, like the CO-PAY....
(What the hell are you paying insurance for, to give the Doctors more
money?)
So what happens, you get the left fighting with the
right, the Republicans fighting with the Democrats and not getting the
job done. Instead of demonstrating against the Obama (he didn't create
this mess (BUSH did)), sit down and start working on the damn thing.
There is a sign above my office door: "NO
WHINNERS"
But in the case of the House and Senate this should be
retitled: "NO WEENIES" |
A man was riding his Harley along a California
beach when suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, The
Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will
grant you one wish."
The biker pulled over and said, "Build a
bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want."
The Lord said, "Your request is
materialistic, think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking,
the supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific and the concrete and
steel it would take!
It will
nearly exhaust several natural
resources. I can do it, but it is hard
for me to justify your desire for
worldly things. Take a little more time
and think of something that could
possibly help mankind."
The biker thought about it for a long
time. Finally, he said,
"Lord, I wish that I, and all men, could
understand our women,
we want to know how she feels inside,
what she's thinking when
she gives me the silent treatment,why
she cries, what she means when she says
nothing's wrong, and how we can make a
woman truly happy.
There was a long silence and then the
lord replied........
"So do you want two lanes or four on
that bridge?"
The Shoe Box
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had
shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept
no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a
shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband
never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one
day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would
not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man
took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.
She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the
box.. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of
money totaling $95,000.
He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she
said, ' my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to
never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should
just keep quiet and crochet a doll.'
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears Only two
precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two
times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with
happiness.
'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of
this money? Where did it come from?'
'Oh, she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.
|
| Commentary
Michael Jackson - Enough Already
There is other news to talk about
by Ray Sabb, Editor
|
Cromwell, CT - June 27, 2009 - Like
everyone else, first thing I do in the morning is turn on the coffee
and the news.
What do you hear? "Michael Jackson this, Michael Jackson that."
Enough already. Listen, Michael Jackson
died before his time. I accept that his passing will and has had an
impact on the entertainment society world wide. But enough is
enough.
There is other news to report on.
So we lost the King of Pop, we also lost the King of Rock (Elvis),
but we also lost lost this last week entertainers that are more
worthy of press time than Jacko. People like Farrah Fawcett and Ed
McMahon and Gertrude "Sue" Whalen, 80, of Southington, CT.
Who!
Yes,
Gertrude Whalen. Now I think that this wonderful person should
be on the news as she led a good clean life.
Not one that included eccentric ideals, or a bunch of law suits for
molesting children, or hanging babies off a balcony.
A good person that all she did was live a decent life, work an
honest job and die with dignity. Lets write about that.
Lets write about someone like Farrah
Fawcett whose courage over the past 2 1/2 years was documented so
that (not as an actress but as a cancer patient), people could see
that it is a painful process to beat cancer.
So I say this, "Enough Already!"
Lets all move on. We die, sadly that is what happens and if you
abuse your body with drugs and life altering surgeries, your body is
going to fight back and Michael Jacksons body did. I cannot feel
sorry for him, I can for his family but they are as guilty as he is
for they didn't stop him.
So if you think that I am wrong,
then you know the drill.... Email is below....
-Ray Sabb, Editor
Contact:
EMAIL
©2009, Ray Sabb, All
Rights Reserved
|
| I love this Doctor |
Q:
Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is
this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't
waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up
your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can
extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer?
Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and
corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an
efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain?
Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy
vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily
allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine,
that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even
more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms
up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular
exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable
oil.. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more
vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the
middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You
should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO, Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the
best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had
about food and diets.
And remember:
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to
skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other -
body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a
Ride' AND.....
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on
nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those
conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than
Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than
Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks
than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks
than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION
Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills
you. |
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