Effects of warmest decade ever
The past three summers alone melted more Arctic ice than any time in modern history, scientists say.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Major record labels rip off 300,000 songs for compilation CDs, may owe $60 billion in damages
Jazz great Chet Baker's estate is suing the major record labels for releasing his music on Canadian CDs without paying compensation (a common practice in Canada, where over 300,000 songs have been released on CD without compensation).
The defendants -- Warner Music Canada, Sony BMG Music Canada, EMI Music Canada, and Universal Music Canada -- have admitted that they owe at least CAD$50 million, but Baker's estate is entitled to up to CAD$60 billion.
The defendants -- Warner Music Canada, Sony BMG Music Canada, EMI Music Canada, and Universal Music Canada -- have admitted that they owe at least CAD$50 million, but Baker's estate is entitled to up to CAD$60 billion.
The claims arise from a longstanding practice of the recording industry in Canada, described in the lawsuit as "exploit now, pay later if at all." It involves the use of works that are often included in compilation CDs (ie. the top dance tracks of 2009) or live recordings. The record labels create, press, distribute and sell the CDs, but do not obtain the necessary copyright licences...It is difficult to understand why the industry has been so reluctant to pay its bills. Some works may be in the public domain or belong to a copyright owner difficult to ascertain or locate, yet the likes of Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Cockburn, Sloan, or the Watchmen are not hidden from view.
The more likely reason is that the record labels have had little motivation to pay up. As the balance has grown, David Basskin, the president and CEO of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd., notes in his affidavit that "the record labels have devoted insufficient resources for identifying and paying the owners of musical works on the pending lists." The CRIA members now face the prospect of far greater liability.
The class action seeks the option of statutory damages for each infringement. At $20,000 per infringement, potential liability exceeds $60 billion.
We're the Monkey Wrench in the System
The entire basis of repugican policies, from the outset, has been to eliminate the concept of the American middle class.
Repugicans want two classes of Americans — rich and powerful, and poor and powerless, with the former telling the latter how to think, what to buy, and how to vote.
Middle class people are a monkey wrench in the system, because they're comfortable and secure enough to read newspapers and be at least nominally aware and involved in politics — and repugicans don't want that.
Repugicans want two classes of Americans — rich and powerful, and poor and powerless, with the former telling the latter how to think, what to buy, and how to vote.
Middle class people are a monkey wrench in the system, because they're comfortable and secure enough to read newspapers and be at least nominally aware and involved in politics — and repugicans don't want that.
Another repugican being, well, a repugican
Judd Gregg (reptile-New Hampshire), the troglodyte repugican, has written up a manual for Congressional obstructionism.
Optimists think this will discredit Gregg or repugicans in general, (like that is possible - they have no credit in the first place).
Optimists think this will discredit Gregg or repugicans in general, (like that is possible - they have no credit in the first place).
Wal-Mart Screws Its Employees
Under pressure from a class-action lawsuit in Massachusetts, Wal-Mart has agreed to pay employees $40,000,000 as partial restitution for stolen wages.
The Boston Globe mentions in its first paragraph that it's the largest such settlement in state history, but a settlement means a compromise, of course, so the stolen wages were probably far in excess of $40-million.
Yet nobody at Wal-Mart apologizes, admits wrongdoing, or goes to jail.
*****
Same song different day.
The Boston Globe mentions in its first paragraph that it's the largest such settlement in state history, but a settlement means a compromise, of course, so the stolen wages were probably far in excess of $40-million.
Yet nobody at Wal-Mart apologizes, admits wrongdoing, or goes to jail.
*****
Same song different day.
BoFA Screws Its Customers
And this is news?
An ex-insider describes how Bank of America screws its customers.
It is interesting the ways they put it to you though.
An ex-insider describes how Bank of America screws its customers.
It is interesting the ways they put it to you though.
Historic EPA finding: Greenhouse gases harm humans
EPA: Greenhouse Gases Endanger Human Health
The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded greenhouse gases are endangering people's health and must be regulated, signaling that the Obama administration is prepared to contain global warming without congressional action if necessary.
The Obama administration took a major step Monday toward imposing the first federal limits on climate-changing pollution from cars, power plants and factories, declaring there was compelling scientific evidence that global warming from man-made greenhouse gases endangers Americans' health.
Full StoryIndiana man caught on bike with stolen xmas tree
Authorities said they caught an Indiana man riding a bike while balancing a stolen xmas tree across the handlebars.
Russian secret service eyed for climate change email hacks
If true, this would hardly be much of a surprise.
Considering how critical petroleum is to the Russian economy, any substantial change would not be viewed very kindly by the Russians.
Considering how critical petroleum is to the Russian economy, any substantial change would not be viewed very kindly by the Russians.
From The Independent:
The news that a leaked set of emails appeared to show senior climate scientists had manipulated data was shocking enough. Now the story has become more remarkable still.
The computer hack, said a senior member of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, was not an amateur job, but a highly sophisticated, politically motivated operation. And others went further. The guiding hand behind the leaks, the allegation went, was that of the Russian secret services.
The leaked emails, which claimed to provide evidence that the unit's head, Professor Phil Jones, colluded with colleagues to manipulate data and hide "unhelpful" research from critics of climate change science, were originally posted on a server in the Siberian city of Tomsk, at a firm called Tomcity, an internet security business.
56 newspapers around the world carry climate change editorial
It's the same editorial being used around the world as leaders prepare for the Copenhagen talks. Only one - yes, one - newspaper in the US participated.
What a pathetic joke though it shows just how vocal the teabagging, anti-science crowd has become in the US.
How exactly does a country show leadership in the world when there's such a rejection of the modern world?
The teabaggers don't care if the US is the laughing stock of the world, as long as they have their bible.
What a pathetic joke though it shows just how vocal the teabagging, anti-science crowd has become in the US.
How exactly does a country show leadership in the world when there's such a rejection of the modern world?
The teabaggers don't care if the US is the laughing stock of the world, as long as they have their bible.
Today 56 newspapers in 45 countries take the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice through a common editorial. We do so because humanity faces a profound emergency.
Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. In scientific journals the question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage. Yet so far the world's response has been feeble and half-hearted.
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Delhi, Delhi, India
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Izmir, Izmir, Turkey
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Swindon, England, United Kingdom
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Lyon, Rhone-Alpes, France
Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
as well as Wales, and the United States
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Delhi, Delhi, India
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Izmir, Izmir, Turkey
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Swindon, England, United Kingdom
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Lyon, Rhone-Alpes, France
Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
as well as Wales, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
A lot of important information may be passing by you today, so if you don't have a good memory, be sure to write everything down!
File away important knowledge for future reference -- you never know when you may need it.
Today's random fact could be tomorrow's missing puzzle piece.
A project needs your help later in the day.
Volunteer your services with confidence -- your solid grasp of reality helps you achieve a lot at this time.
Tonight, do some personal research on a subject that interests you.
Got it.
A lot of important information may be passing by you today, so if you don't have a good memory, be sure to write everything down!
File away important knowledge for future reference -- you never know when you may need it.
Today's random fact could be tomorrow's missing puzzle piece.
A project needs your help later in the day.
Volunteer your services with confidence -- your solid grasp of reality helps you achieve a lot at this time.
Tonight, do some personal research on a subject that interests you.
Got it.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Afghan Women Among 'Worst Off' In World
Afghan women are among the worst off in the world, violence against them is "endemic" and Afghanistan's government fails to protect them from crimes such as rape and murder, a rights group has said.
Afghan Women Among 'Worst Off' In World
Afghan Women Among 'Worst Off' In World
Photographers win British war on photography
Is Britain's war on photography coming to an end?
After the Independent newspaper got senior officials to admit that anti-terror legislation was being "widely abused...to question and search innocent photographers," the Association of Chief Police Officers has sent out a strongly worded memo to all officers ordering them to cease the practice.
The harassment of photographers by police officers is said to have senior officers "exasperated, depressed and embarrassed," and they characterize officers' belief that anti-terror laws prohibit photography as an "internal urban myth."
Chief Constable Andy Trotter, chairman of Acpo's media advisory group, took the decision to send the warning after growing criticism of the police's treatment of photographers.Writing in today's Independent, he says: "Everyone... has a right to take photographs and film in public places. Taking photographs... is not normally cause for suspicion and there are no powers prohibiting the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place."
He added: "We need to make sure that our officers and Police Community Support Officers [PCSOs] are not unnecessarily targeting photographers just because they are going about their business. The last thing in the world we want to do is give photographers a hard time or alienate the public. We need the public to help us.
"Photographers should be left alone to get on with what they are doing. If an officer is suspicious of them for some reason they can just go up to them and have a chat with them - use old-fashioned policing skills to be frank - rather than using these powers, which we don't want to over-use at all."
Section 44 of the Terrorism Act allows the police to stop and search anyone they want, without need for suspicion, in a designated area. The exact locations of many of these areas are kept secret from the public, but are thought to include every railway station in and well-known tourist landmarks thought to be at risk of terrorist attacks...
Science News
From BBC-Science:
Archaeologists uncover signs of mass cannibalism at a 7,000-year-old human burial site in Germany.  | | A group of huge cave spiders that have been squatting in a house in Yorkshire are repatriated underground. |
THE BIG PICTURE
Liars and Fools
Liars and Fools today are:
Lush Dimbulb lies claiming Liberals are using health care reform to "eliminate" the elderly.
Only the wingnuts, Lush, only the wingnuts.
The Wasington Times pulishes a full-page birther ad with chimp imagery.
Well, considering a chimp is a full step up from a birther ...
Dimbulb lies again saying Obama thinks "people that want to kill us" "have a point".
Does this fool ever listen to himself?
Lush Dimbulb lies claiming Liberals are using health care reform to "eliminate" the elderly.
Only the wingnuts, Lush, only the wingnuts.
The Wasington Times pulishes a full-page birther ad with chimp imagery.
Well, considering a chimp is a full step up from a birther ...
Dimbulb lies again saying Obama thinks "people that want to kill us" "have a point".
Does this fool ever listen to himself?
What not to do at office holiday parties
What not to do at office holiday parties
Too many visits to the punch bowl could make you the punch line at work.
Reunited with son two decades after horror
Reunited with son two decades after horror
Fatima Mohammed Salih thought all her kids died in one of Saddam Hussein's most notorious acts.
Reintroduced wolves causing strife
Reintroduced wolves causing strife
Southwest ranchers are frustrated by livestock killed by the once-endangered animals.
Top hotels around the world
Top hotels around the world
Learn which hotel is rated the best beach resort and which is the most romantic.
Secret to living like the wealthy
Secret to living like the wealthy
Rich people don't necessarily act the way that most of us think they do.
America's best bang-for-the-buck cities
America's best bang-for-the-buck cities
Stable jobs, lower costs, and quick commutes make these areas among the most affordable to live.
Car dealer extras you don't need
5 car dealer extras you don't need
These options can add thousands to the cost of your car, and most of them are worthless.
Instant cures for bad breath
Instant cures for bad breath
Mints and gum only cover up odor but these easy tips can give you fresh breath fast.
Palin Left Hawaii Because Of Too Many Asians
In the New Yorker review of "Going Rogue," Sam Tanenhaus writes a paragraph that exposes something that should gather a lot of attention in a country where whites are becoming the minority.Apparently in her travels to various colleges, Sarah Palin's stint at the University of Hawaii was ended not by poor grades or distractions, but by too many Asian faces.
Overqualified, but happy to have a holiday job
Retailers report a surge in applications this year from professionals who had never applied for such jobs before.
Cooking a rat to eat lands celebrity TV show in hot water; actors charged with animal cruelty
Two stars of the reality TV show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!" have been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly killing and cooking a rat to eat during filming.
Gino D'Acampo, the winner of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and fellow contestant Stuart Manning are facing criminal charges for animal cruelty after cooking and eating a rat on the TV program.
Officials: Bin Laden in Afghanistan - maybe
Osama bin Laden may be slipping back and forth from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Or the U.S. might not have a clue, more than eight years after the al-Qaida leader masterminded the terrorist attacks on America.
Full StoryMissing Aussie man found at pub
A Tasmanian man at the center of a two-day missing persons operation in New Zealand has been found drinking in a bar and oblivious to the search.
Missing Aussie man found at pub
Missing Aussie man found at pub
Manufactured doubt
How fake science debunked real science on climate change, tobacco and more
A fascinating essay about how big business, working alongside Hill & Knowlton, among others, manufactured fake doubt about the link between tobacco and cancer, the danger of CFCs to the ozone lawyer, and now climate change.
It's long, comprehensive, and very good.
Worth a read.
It's long, comprehensive, and very good.
Worth a read.
North Carolina & S. Virginia Snow Totals
Ah, the joys of winter!North Carolina & S. Virginia Snow Totals
Break-in attempts at leading climate change scientist's offices
Idiots being idiots ...
From The Guardian:
From The Guardian:
Attempts have been made to break into the offices of one of Canada's leading climate scientists, it was revealed yesterday. The victim was Andrew Weaver, a University of Victoria scientist and a key contributor to the work of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In one incident, an old computer was stolen and papers were disturbed.
In addition, individuals have attempted to impersonate technicians in a bid to access data from his office, said Weaver. The attempted breaches, on top of the hacking of files from British climate researcher Phil Jones, have heightened fears that climate-change deniers are mounting a campaign to discredit the work of leading meteorologists before the start of the Copenhagen climate summit tomorrow.
Daily Almanac
Today is Sunday, Dec. 6, the 340th day of 2009.
There are 25 days left in the year.
Today In History December 6
There are 25 days left in the year.
Today In History December 6
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
London, England, United Kingdom
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia
Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany
Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Hjorring, Nordjylland, Denmark
Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Nantes, Pays De La Loire, France
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
Quebec, Quebec, Canada
as well as Singapore, Scotland, and the United States
London, England, United Kingdom
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia
Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany
Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Hjorring, Nordjylland, Denmark
Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Nantes, Pays De La Loire, France
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
Quebec, Quebec, Canada
as well as Singapore, Scotland, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Try to keep petty dramas and other unwanted intrusions out of the way as much as possible.
Now's a good time to pay attention to your inner workings for a while.
If you're feeling frustrated about something, do whatever is necessary to cleanse yourself of that negative energy.
Tonight, make sure you give something (or someone) your best shot -- the gesture will mean a lot.
Will do.
Try to keep petty dramas and other unwanted intrusions out of the way as much as possible.
Now's a good time to pay attention to your inner workings for a while.
If you're feeling frustrated about something, do whatever is necessary to cleanse yourself of that negative energy.
Tonight, make sure you give something (or someone) your best shot -- the gesture will mean a lot.
Will do.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
This is funny ...
Iran has warned Switzerland of 'consequences' following the recent referendum there on minaret construction. Characteristic Ahmadinejadian subtlety!
But here's a thought: when scripted opprobrium flies around the world, it's usually between governments or other impersonal entities.
Given Switzerland's unusual direct-democracy, however, where people can enact laws even when the government is against them, doesn't this mean that the condemnations are, for once, aimed directly at a nation's public rather than the government that represents them?
*****
This is funny!
But here's a thought: when scripted opprobrium flies around the world, it's usually between governments or other impersonal entities.
Given Switzerland's unusual direct-democracy, however, where people can enact laws even when the government is against them, doesn't this mean that the condemnations are, for once, aimed directly at a nation's public rather than the government that represents them?
*****
This is funny!
Do deaf people hear voices when they hallucinate?
Summary: We’re not sure.
After a post we featured earlier this year on whether deaf people can hear hallucinated voices, I was sent an amazing study that attempted to distill the variety of ‘hearing voices’ experiences in deaf people.
It was published in the journal Cognitive Neuropsychiatry in 2007 and attempted to avoid some of the pitfalls of studying auditory hallucinations in people with absent or limited hearing.
Some of the earlier research on deaf people who hear voices has been criticized for assuming that when a deaf person describes a ‘voice’ it automatically means they are having a similar experience to hearing people.
For example, when a deaf person describes the experience as ‘loud’ they may just mean it is particularly intrusive, rather than that it has specific auditory properties.
This later study used a sorting method, were a number of statements about what the experience could be like (some illustrated) were presented to deaf participants and they are asked to select the ones that best describe their experiences.
Large moon of Uranus may explain odd tilt
A massive ancient moon that has since disappeared may be the reason Uranus now lies on its side.Large moon of Uranus may explain odd tilt
French immigrants founded first British farms
Ancient Brits might have continued much longer as hunter-gatherers had it not been for innovations introduced by Gallic newcomers.
Climategate Looking More And More Like Watergate
From Crooks and Liars:
Photograph: Nick Rowe/Getty Images
As anti-science folks like Sarah Palin continue to make big noise over "Climategate," new evidence has emerged suggesting an organized effort to dig up dirt ahead of the upcoming climate summit in Copenhagen.
From The Raw Story:
A series of repeated break-in and computer hacking attempts at a Canadian climate research institute are a sign of a "well-orchestrated campaign of harassment" against climate researchers ahead of the Copenhagen summit, several news sources report.
Employees at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, have revealed that the school's Centre for Climate Modelling has experienced at least two break-ins in recent months, as well as several attempts at hacking into the center's computer network.
The news comes a week after revelations that computer hackers stole thousands of emails from a climate research center at the University of East Anglia in the UK, some of which purportedly show attempts to cover up data that does not fit with claims about global warming.
There is much left to learn about how the "Climategate" e-mails were obtained, but these revelations suggest something more nefarious could be afoot. With cap and trade legislation on the horizon and billions of dollars at stake, it is not unreasonable to suggest that a person, organization or corporation would go to such measures to protect their interests.
Repugican mock of public option backfires as Democrats adopt idea
When Tom Coburn and David Vitter decided to make fun of Democratic efforts to pass health reform, they probably did not see this coming.
Repugican mock of public option backfires as Democrats adopt idea
Repugican mock of public option backfires as Democrats adopt idea
Health bill survives first big test
Unflinching on a critical first test, Senate Democrats closed ranks Thursday behind $460 billion in politically risky Medicare cuts at the heart of health care legislation, thwarting a Republican attempt to doom President Barack Obama's sweeping overhaul.
Orphaned baby gorillas get new jungle home
Two baby gorillas left orphaned after a 2007 attack on a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been settling into their new home.Manufacturing leads the way
Manufacturing leads the way
Areas that rely heavily on factory work are showing some of the biggest job gains in the country.
Stress Index
Stress Index
Also:
Easy ways to burn extra calories
Easy ways to burn extra calories
Use these tips to start adding a workout into your everyday life without ever going to the gym.
Secret stash of masterpieces seized
Secret stash of masterpieces seized
Police confiscate works by Picasso, Van Gogh, and others about to be sold secretively.
Biggest job interview blunders
10 biggest job interview blunders
Avoid these common missteps that career coaches say candidates are making.
Legal embarrassment for crashers
Legal embarrassment for crashers
A bounced check and debt spawn lawsuits for Michaele and Tareq Salahi.
Amanda Knox 'extremely disappointed'
Amanda Knox 'extremely disappointed'
She visits with her family after being sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder of her roommate.
Story
Story
Also:
Obama aide under intense scrutinty
Obama aide under intense scrutinty
White House social secretary Desiree Rogers organized the party that two socialites crashed.
Historic storm slams Texas
Historic storm slams Texas
An unusual weather pattern blankets part of the state with up to four inches of snow.
Alabama overpowers the No. 1 Gators
Alabama overpowers the No. 1 Gators
The Crimson Tide earns a spot in the national championship game by crushing Florida.
Also:
That sensor above the traffic signal
That sensor above the traffic signal
People try to figure out if it's a camera, an ambulance traffic controller, or something else.
Chicken Stuffed With Cocaine Is Recipe For Arrest
Customs inspectors have arrested a Guatemalan man who was carrying a cooked chicken stuffed with more than $4,000 worth of cocaine.
Chicken Stuffed With Cocaine Is Recipe For Arrest
Rain, winds, record heat on same day
A storm packing blustery winds and driving rain knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses in the Northeast on Thursday before giving way to sunny skies and record high temperatures a ' all in the same morning.
Full StoryHoliday gifts women will flip for
Holiday gifts women will flip for
These inspired and affordable presents will make her happy without breaking the bank.
Saturday Jam
Today on the Saturday Jam: The Beatles
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Nowhere Man
And I Love Her
I'll Cry Instead
All My Loving
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Nowhere Man
And I Love Her
I'll Cry Instead
All My Loving
The early years of Beatlemania
President Obama's Weekly Address
Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Every month since January, when I became your President, I’ve spoken to you about the periodic reports of the Labor Department on the number of jobs created or lost during the previous month; numbers that tell a story about how America’s economy is faring overall.
In those first months, the numbers were nothing short of devastating. The worst recession since the 1930s had wreaked havoc on the lives of so many of our fellow Americans. Yesterday, the numbers released by the Labor Department reflected a continuing positive trend of diminishing job loss.
But for those who were laid off last month and the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession, a good trend isn’t good enough. Trends don’t buy the groceries. Trends don’t pay the rent or a college tuition. Trends don’t fulfill the need within each of us to be productive, to provide for our families, to make the most of our lives, to reach for our dreams.
So, it is true that we, as a country, are in a very different place than we were when 2009 began. Because of the Recovery Act and a number of other steps we’ve taken, we’re no longer facing the potential collapse of our financial system or a second Great Depression. We’re no longer losing jobs at a rate of 700,000 a month. And our economy’s growing for the first time in a year.
But too many of our neighbors are still out of work because the growth we’ve seen hasn’t yet translated into all the jobs we need. Stung by this brutal recession, businesses that have kept their doors open are still wary about adding workers. Instead of hiring, many are simply asking their employees to work more hours, or they’re adding temporary help.
History tells us this is usually what happens with recessions – even as the economy grows, it takes time for jobs to follow. But the folks who have been looking for work without any luck for months and, in some cases, years, can’t wait any longer. For them, I’m determined to do everything I can to accelerate our progress so we’re actually adding jobs again.
That’s why, this week, I invited a group of business owners from across the country to the White House to talk about additional steps we can take to help jumpstart hiring. We brought together unions and universities to talk about what we can do to support our workers today and prepare our students to outcompete workers around the world tomorrow. We brought together mayors and community leaders to talk about how we can open up new opportunities in our cities and towns.
On Friday, I spent the day in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and met with workers and small business owners there. I stopped by a steel company called Allentown Metal Works, and spoke at Lehigh Community College. I visited folks at a job placement center, and stopped by a shift change at Alpo. The stories and concerns I heard mirrored the countless letters I receive every single day. And they speak louder than any statistic or government report. The folks in Allentown – and in all the Allentowns across our country – are the most dedicated, productive workers in the world. All they’re asking for is a chance, and a fair shake.
And that’s exactly what I’m working to give them. In the coming days, I’ll be unveiling additional ideas aimed at accelerating job growth and hiring as we emerge from this economic storm.
And so that we don’t face another crisis like this again, I’m determined to meet our responsibility to do what we know will strengthen our economy in the long-run. That’s why I’m not going to let up in my efforts to reform our health care system; to give our children the best education in the world; to promote the jobs of tomorrow and energy independence by investing in a clean energy economy; and to deal with the mounting federal debt.
From the moment I was sworn into office, we have taken a number of difficult steps to end this economic crisis. We didn’t take them because they were popular or gratifying. They weren’t. We took these steps because they were necessary.
But I didn’t run for President to pass emergency recovery programs, or to bail out banks or to shore up auto companies. I didn’t run for President simply to manage the crisis of the moment, while kicking our most pressing problems down the road. I ran for President to help hardworking families succeed and to stand up for the embattled middle class. I ran to fight for a country where responsibility is still rewarded, and hard-working people can get ahead. I ran to keep faith with the sacred American principle that we will deliver to our children a future of even greater possibility.
And my commitment to you, the American people, is that I will focus every single day on how we can get people back to work, and how we can build an economy that continues to make real the promise of America for generations to come.
Daily Almanac
Today is Saturday, Dec. 5, the 339th day of 2009.
There are 26 days left in the year.
Today In History December 5
There are 26 days left in the year.
Today In History December 5
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia
Pecs, Baranya, Hungary
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
Lampeter, Wales, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
London, England, United Kingdom
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Kingston, Kingston, Jamaica
Midland, Ontario, Canada
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Maidenhead, England, United Kingdom
Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom
Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
Sofia, Sofiya, Bulgaria
as well as Brazil, and the United States
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia
Pecs, Baranya, Hungary
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
Lampeter, Wales, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
London, England, United Kingdom
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Kingston, Kingston, Jamaica
Midland, Ontario, Canada
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Maidenhead, England, United Kingdom
Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom
Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
Sofia, Sofiya, Bulgaria
as well as Brazil, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
You could be right in the middle of an interesting story in the morning paper when a totally unexpected and out-of-the-blue verbal spat practically knocks you off the couch.
Responding with anger and irritation is a sure way to escalate the conflict.
If you listen, though, you will soon discover what you initially perceived as an attack is simply this person's way of opening a dialogue about a situation that has very little to do with you.
You'd rather read the paper, but compassion will carry the day.
Oh, no.
You could be right in the middle of an interesting story in the morning paper when a totally unexpected and out-of-the-blue verbal spat practically knocks you off the couch.
Responding with anger and irritation is a sure way to escalate the conflict.
If you listen, though, you will soon discover what you initially perceived as an attack is simply this person's way of opening a dialogue about a situation that has very little to do with you.
You'd rather read the paper, but compassion will carry the day.
Oh, no.
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