semiannual translational

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

News roundup: CNN anchor goes after Lee over U.N. treaty fear ...

News roundup: CNN anchor goes after Lee over U.N. treaty fear

Herbert's Cabinet sees turnover. Unused funds funneled to state road projects. Josie Valdez elected Utah Dems' vice chairwoman.

Happy Monday. CNN's Anderson Cooper goes after Sen. Mike Lee on his opposition to a U.N. treaty in rights of disabled people, with Cooper demanding to know what other U.N. treaties have changed U.S. law and Lee getting visibly upset at the line of questioning. [Mediaite]

Topping the news: President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner met face-to-face Sunday in the latest fiscal cliff negotiations. It was the first time the pair met one-on-one since July 2011. [NYTimes] [WaPost]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert's 22-person cabinet will see a lot of turnover in the next few months. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]

-> Tribune managing editor Terry Orme lauds the paper's Washington bureau for keeping readers updated on what they need to know about the fiscal cliff. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @BuzzFeedAndrew: "Mitt Romney's face when Manny Pacquiao got knocked out. via @lesamoursmusic pic.twitter.com/9poq0CzR"

Opinion section: Bruce Willden, a military retiree from Garden City, suggests that a Utah lottery would, heaven forbid, provide much needed revenue for the state's education fund. [Trib]

-> Medicare, as is, is an ineffective system in need of reformed reimbursement practices, according to a class of doctoral nursing students at the University of Utah. [Trib]

-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says it would be wise of Boehner to stop fighting Obama over the tax-the-rich issue and move on to entitlement reform. [DNews]

-> Paul Rolly weighs in on military discrimination, troublesome ID acquisition and stolen signs. [Trib]

-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb offer some political morsels for your holiday enjoyment. [DNews]

-> Rolly tells Sen. Orrin Hatch that he is disappointed with his tea party-esque movements. [Trib]

-> George Pyle: Mike Lee, you're no Bob Dole. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley offers you a sampling of Utah's potential 2026 Olympic pins. [Trib]

Weekend in review: Utahns react to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to review California's banned same-sex marriage amendment. [Trib] [Fox13]

-> Dixie State College is weighing whether to distance itself from the Dixie label, which some fear ties the school to the Deep South, slavery and racial segregation. [Trib]

-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz finds a replacement for his former district director who left to work for Congressman-elect Chris Stewart. [Trib]

-> Over $20 million of unused state funds will be directed to road resurfacing projects state-wide. [Trib]

-> Josie Valdez will serve as the Utah Democratic Party's vice chairwoman. [Trib]

-> In the last three years of Interstate I-15 construction through Utah County, minor accidents increased while major accidents decreased. [Trib]

-> Stewart used campaign contributions to repay a $65,000 loan he personally made to his campaign. [Trib]

-> Campaign money raised by Rep. Jim Matheson and GOP challenger Mia Love closely mirror the end result: a slight tip of the scale in Matheson's favor. [Trib]

National news: In a weird clash of worlds, Mitt Romney meets Many Pacquiao right before his big fight. [WaPost]

-> And Saturday Night Live poked fun at both Obama and Boehner. [CNN]

-> Sen. Bob Corker is the latest Republican to suggest that Congress may end up agreeing to raising tax rates on the wealthy. [FoxNews] [WaPost]

-> Romney's '47 percent' remark named quote of the year. [APviaTrib]

-> Obama's campaign outspent Romney's in the waning days of the campaign by some $71 million. [Politico]

Where are they?

Utah Governor Gary Herbert attends the Annual Wreaths Across America event at the Utah Capitol, hosts a budget discussion and later meets with Lt. Gov. Greg Bell.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon hosts a Cabinet meeting.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker holds a senior staff meeting and performing arts center meeting and heads to a Human Rights Day celebration in the evening.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder meets with Sen. Karen Mayne and attends WVC Historical Society meeting.
President Barack Obama travels to Michigan and tours the Daimler Detroit Diesel plant and then delivers remarks to workers.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]

-- Thomas Burr and Betsy Blanchard

Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/betsyblanchard

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsoutofcontext/55435594-64/trib-utah-campaign-obama.html.csp

seattle mariners geraldo rivera supreme court health care joe oliver joba chamberlain new york mega millions jetblue

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Fundamental analysis 10 December 2012 | Inside Forex trading

Market mood changed in the second part of the previous week. High demand for dollar was observed. It let the dollar to claw back all its losses against European opponents, and the dollar ended the trade rising against the euro, and falling slightly against the pound.? Demand for dollar was mostly caused by news about the ECB which kept the interest rates unchanged, but worsened the growth outlook for the euro zone. The ECB also gave us to understand that it may also cut the key interest rate. The main topic of this trading session is employment in the USA. It also helped the dollar to strengthen. ADP reported private-sector jobs increased. According to the statistics of unemployment insurance claims, a number of claims reduced. And according to the data of the Ministry of Labor, non-farn sector jobs increased, and its results are better-then-excepted ? by 146 thousands when it was expected 80/90 thousands. At the same time unemployment rate decreased to 7.7% from 7.9%. But, such encouraging numbers didn?t give rise to due reaction. Maybe, it is because of negative counterbalance, connected with the US fiscal cliff concerns, as Democrates and Republicants can?t come to a decision on the budget strategy. Other statistics showed different results ? in October production orders increased by 0.8% m/m and 3.0% y/y, ISM reported Manufacturing PMI fell under 50.0, to 49.5, and business activity in New York increased. Michigan University report noted consumer mood fell, in November construction spending?s increased by 1.4% m/m and 9.6% y/y. ?This week there will be a few important statistics of the USA. Market?s attention is concentrated on information about inflation ? the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) are expected to decrease, in the first case -0.1% m/m, 1.9% y/y after? 0.1% m/m, 2.2% y/y, in the second one -0.4% m/m, 1.8% y.y after ?-0.2% m/m, 2.3% y/y. Such trend may cause the FRS to implement further quantitative easing. But, according to the US regulator, it will be known on Wednesday, when FOMC will announce its decision on interest rate and perspectives of monetary policy after another meeting. This event may be the main one this week. Before coming out of this information, investors? attention will be focused on discussion of the US budget cliff. It will be the main topic for dollar and financial markets.

EUR

A single European currency rose against the dollar at the beginning of previous week and fell against the dollar in the end of the week. Crucial moment for the euro was the ECB meeting on the perspectives of monetary policy. Governor of the European Central Bank M. Dragi announced that the ECB cut growth outlook for eurozone for this year and the next ones. He also told about other discussions of interest rate which took place during the meeting. This situation and information of Bundesbank, which told about probable slow down of Germany economy next year, made the euro to be under pressure, and the euro ended trading week decreasing against dollar, pound and yen. What is more, a single European currency was also negatively influenced by information about Moody?s which cut rating of the ESM rescue fund and also by rumors that this institution is going to cut the rating of Germany. The EU statistics mostly confirmed forecasts of weak economic perspectives. German manufacturing decreased by 2.6% m/m and 3.7% y/y in October, manufacturing PMI of eurozone remained stuck in recession, producer prices index of eurozone continued to slow down, and retail sales decreased by 1.2% m/m and 3.6% per annum. According to forecasts, the EU economic data which will be published this week are expected to support a single European currency ? activity indexes in different sectors of economy for December are expected to increase a little bit in comparison with November, but do not give rise to expectations of exit recession in 4th quarter. ZEW report for the last month is expected to lead to concerns connected with German economy growth on high level. The euro may be rescued by the events in the USA, where budget cliff is discussed. If they do not reach a consensus on this issue, a single European currency may turned out to be in demand.

GBP

British currency copied the movement of euro against dollar during the last week?s trading session. British sterling pound turned out to be in the wave of selling in the end of the week and didn?t managed to save its advantages, achieved before. News from the islands in the second part of the trading week didn?t give rise to good mood concerning the pound ? autumn report of the Minister of Finance of Great Britain noted? that the indexes increased. He also announced about? implementations of new taxes, which will more likely force the economy to reduce. According to economic statistics, activity decreased almost in all sectors of economy ? PMI of construction sector and sector of services fell, and manufacturing PMI increased slightly, but remained in negative zone. Trade deficit increased because of weak external demand, Hometrac reported house prices fell for five successive months. In October Manufacturing decreased again ? 0.8% m/m and -3.0% y/y, when +0.9% m/m and -0.5% y/y was expected, and processing industry decreased to -1.3% m/m,? -2.1% y/y after ?0.0% m/m, -1.7% y/y, when -0.2% m/m, -0.2% y/y was expected. This week there will be a few economic data of islands, among which the most important one will be about employment in Great Britaian. Forecasts expect employment stability in labor market. It is a little bit surprising because of the signals which indicate decrease in GDP in the fourth quarter. Concerning the perspectives, it is more likely that the pound will remain under the influence of external events. And the mood appeared on the market in the end of previous trading week will remain till appearance of new information, and it may leave the British currency under pressure.

JPY

The USD/JPY currency pair remained trading in side corridors and ended trading week neutral on starting prices for two successive trading sessions. News from Europe and the USA caused some volatility, but it didn?t lead the currency pair beyond the ranges of correction. It is obvious that now investors are anxious about the perspectives of monetary policy, which may become known after the elections in Japan, which will be held in the middle of this month. There will be a few economic news about the Land of the Rising Sun ? in the third quarter fixed capital investments decreased by 2.5% after 7.7% before, salaries suddenly rose by 0.2% y/y after -0.5% y/y, and money supply decreased in? November to 5.0% y/y from 10.8% y/y. This week there will be more economic data about Japan. Published final calculation of the GDP for the 3rd quarter reported unchanged results per quarter -0.9% q/q, but it improved to 0.5% per annum from 0.1% y/y announced before. Tankan report for the 4th quarter will be published this week. But, economic statistics will unlikely cause increase in activity of the currency pairs which involve the yen. Market will continue to wait for the results of elections, which will be held in the nearest Sunday and which may answer the question ? whether new government will force the Bank of Japan to be more aggressive in its monetary policy.

Source: http://blog.forex4you.com/fundamental-analysis-10-december-2012/

Nexus 7 KDKA Pumpkin Carving Ideas denver broncos Hurricane Sandy path opm daylight savings

How Mosaic brings cleantech investing to the masses | GreenBiz.com

Have I got a deal for you: Invest as little as $25, or as much as you want, in clean-energy projects. Earn a princely 6.38 percent interest annually for the next five years. Make the world a better place.

Sound too good to be true? A promising startup is betting otherwise. Mosaic, based in Oakland, Calif., has figured out how to crowdsource solar projects in a way that seems to be a win-win for everyone. For each project, it seeks investors ? smaller fries, like you and me ? to fund a given project, promising a respectable rate of return. As loans get repaid, investors can roll the proceeds back into new projects, or take the money and run.

Think of it as?Kickstarter for clean energy.

Mosaic was founded in 2009 by Daniel Rosen and Billy Parish. I?ve known Parish for a few years, and have watched him even longer. He dropped out of Yale in 2002 to help build a youth movement for climate solutions. He founded and led the Energy Action Coalition for four years, bringing together more than 50 diverse, youth-led organizations into a joint campaign to promote clean energy. Rosen, who has coordinated business development for cleantech companies in Arizona and Israel, was named one of the ?30 under 30? in energy by Forbes.

Their company started slowly, garnering interest-free investments from individuals to fund solar installations on five community projects. They range from homes on a Navajo reservation in Arizona to the Asian Resource Center in Oakland. All are smallish installations, from 1.5 kilowatts to 29 kilowatts. (For reference, most residential solar systems in the United States range from 2 to 5 kilowatts.)

I invested $100 in the Asian Resource Center installation in 2011, in equal parts to support the fledgling company as well as a social-service organization in my hometown, located about a half mile from the GreenBiz Group office.

Those first projects were funded using a zero-interest investment model similar to Kiva, where investors get their principal back over time but no interest. This allowed Mosaic to avoid federal regulation and to go to market, learn the business, get feedback, and show traction for the idea. At the same time, it launched into the process of registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal agency that governs investment firms.

More recently, the company started raising money for projects in which it would pay interest. It can do this while waiting for SEC approval thanks to something called Regulation D, which exempts from regulatory oversight the offer and sale of up to $1 million of securities in a 12-month period.

Mosaic?s first such project is a 47-kilowatt installation on a youth employment center, also in Oakland. A small group of investors was invited to put in as little as $25 and have been promised a return of 6.38 percent over five years. The ribbon-cutting for the installation is taking place this week. The project is projected to save the youth center more than $160,000 through reduced electricity costs.

Next page: My modest roll of the dice

Source: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/12/10/how-mosaic-brings-cleantech-investing-masses

white house correspondents dinner 2012 whcd 2012 nfl draft kevin durant jazz fest zurich classic selena

Talking Comics with Tim | Ales Kot on Change | Robot 6 @ Comic ...

Change #1

By most accounts, 2012 has been a damn fine year for Image Comics. Ales Kot was one of the many independent creators involved in this success, given the July release of Wild Children (the writer?s graphic novel collaboration with Riley Rossmo). Wednesday sees the debut of his new Image miniseries (with artist Morgan Jeske) Change. In October, we offered a preview of the project, about ?a struggling screenwriter/successful car thief, an obscenely wealthy astronaut and a dying cosmonaut on his way back to Earth?. After reading this interview, be sure to check out Comic Book Resource?s interview with Kot regarding his other upcoming Image projects, Zero and The Surface.

Tim O?Shea: What prompted you to open Issue 1 with quotes from electro duo Holy Ghost?s 2011 song Do It Again and Sylvia Plath?s The Rival?

Ales Kot: The Holy Ghost quote alludes to separation, tuning things out, not paying attention, not seeing the full picture. The Plath quote is about the other, the shadow we all carry with us, the beauty and terror intertwined. Both quotes reflect some of the key themes of the comic.

When you make a choice to have a character that likes to cuss, what does that bring to dialogue dynamics? How does it help the story you want to tell?

I don?t think I had much of a choice. The characters speak ? I just write things down and apply my own sensibility but only to the point where it doesn?t conflict with what feels right naturally, which is an incredibly vague statement no reader will probably have any use for. So let?s try it again: I tune in, hear and write down what the characters have to say, sometimes there?s a scene I already have completely formed in my head, sometimes I just have an idea or a key piece of the scene or sometimes I don?t have anything at all, but whatever the case, I listen because that?s what writers have to be good at. Then I edit everything into something that feels right as a scene. Sometimes it doesn?t work and I have to throw it out, sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes it needs readjusting later. I love the process.

W-2 came fully formed when it came to certain aspects. The cussing was one of them. Same with Sonia. Most people just cuss ? some more, some less ? some do it because they need to blow off some steam, some do it only when they?re scared, some just use cussing the way others use punctuation. W-2 cusses because it?s natural to him.

I love that you created a rap artist with the name W-2. How many false starts did you have with his name before you settled on that?

Thank you, I?m glad you like it! No false starts. I had Pynchon?s Gravity?s Rainbow on the table in my living room when I was thinking about the character. The book largely focuses on V-2 rockets Nazi Germany developed during the second world war. Yes, this is how my sense of humor works sometimes.

How challenging is it to bring a third character into the story (mostly set on the planet) who is in space?

When I began working out the shape of the story, I wanted to include a setting or a character that would immediately connect with Morgan?s aesthetic sensibility. Morgan was already on board for the project, but I felt that it was right to bring a wild card into the mix by simply following my gut and looking at his other comics for inspiration. We both love SF, Morgan draws amazing astronauts ? so that was it. I let the astronaut come to me in visual form, described him to Morgan, we got exactly who we wanted?and then I had to come up with a way to make the narrative work with the astronaut, which was exactly the kind of challenge I love. It already felt right to have the astronaut in, but the logistics of it needed to be sound and precise. I?m glad to report that I figured it all out just a few days later.

It was challenging, yes, but creating the astronaut and finding his place within the narrative was the leap into the unknown ? both literally and figuratively ? that turned this project into something much more complex than it was before.

The story utilizes layouts that seemingly escalate the tension of the narrative in certain scenes (such as Page 18). How much did you request that in the script versus that being a creative choice made by the art team?

Morgan and I have a tight collaborative process that allows for a lot of empty spaces where we can invent and reinvent things on our own, but also discuss ideas and tell each other what we want whenever we feel like it. I trust Morgan?s artistic choices as he?s quite attuned to the story. With #1, for example, we discussed the overall shape of the issue, what we wanted it to do and how we would go at it. At that point, we already knew we wanted to make a dense comic with increasing tension. When I wrote the script for #1, I specified the amount of panels per page and I described every panel, but I also told Morgan to add, subtract and simply change things as he sees fit. When the pages come back, I work with them and include everything that was altered in my editing/rewriting process. It feels very holistic. I find openness, trust and creativity paramount for relationships in general.

Before embarking on this project, had you tried your hand at writing rap lyrics before?

I?m pretty sure I did at some point, yeah. I enjoyed Eminem?s first three albums as a very young teenager, then got into the UK grime scene, raggacore, Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang, MF Doom, DJ Rupture?s brilliant Gold Teeth Thief mix introduced me to Dead Prez ? this great piece on Ghostface by David Brothers reminded me that I never listened to most of his solo albums, although I loved everything I heard, so I went back and explored further. I used to write poetry a lot, and anything can be poetry when you do it right. Comics are poetry. Rap lyrics are poetry. Jumping in the middle of the empty street at 3 am can be poetry. So I tried, yeah, but it never felt quite right ? I needed to become a better writer to even try again, and that took years of listening, thinking and writing.

The end of Issue 1 features lyrics to W-2?s ?Four Ways to Forgiveness.? By including that, is an attempt on your part to inject some element of intertextuality (albeit all of your own writing) in the narrative?

Not an attempt. Everything is connected, that?s all I?m willing to say. May the discovery be a journey in itself.

Was this story written with Morgan Jeske in mind, or did he join the project after you had written the script? Either way, why do you think his art is a good fit for your work?

Written with Morgan in mind. I like to write for an artist, work in tandem and in a team, feel the closeness shared creativity and enthusiasm bring to the mix. Before I start a project, I do my best to read and reread everything the artist has done before, picking my collaborators carefully, researching and dissecting their work.

Morgan was the right artist because there was no project before I looked at his art. His work on Disappearing Town made me think ? yeah, I better come up with a great story, because I really want to work with this guy. The sensitivity of his line is beautifully coupled with its love for every angle of whatever he?s drawing. There?s something distorted about it, too ? you can see the lightly broken elegance and energy of Pope?s work but also shades of Quitely?s focused distortion and Corben?s grotesque horror merging with Ba?s & Moon?s ink ballet. I could see that Morgan feels scenes as he draws them. The way he takes inspiration in and works with it until he turns it into something new is close to what I aim for. We like similar art, we?re both nuts for learning as much about other artists? process as possible. Morgan?s constantly pushing himself, which is another trait I value greatly. No cheap shots. No half measures.

As an independent creator, how challenging is it to build your reading audience ? considering that you have folks like this Robot 6 reader who [seemingly] refused to pick up your work, based on a version of your bio blurb on your website?

Based on his comments, it?s not clear whether the reader refused to buy my work or simply felt a bit put off, in his own words, and then read my work anyway. I certainly hope it was the second.

Overall, building my reading audience one reader at a time feels like the right path. Talking to retailers is also very important. Image did a nice overprint and Change #1 is selling very well, so I?m hoping retailers will make sure they have #1 in stock when #2 ships. But it all begins with me making the best comics I can create. Then it?s down to making sure people know about my work, being open to critique, doing signings, cons ? if readers want to contact me directly, my Twitter?and Tumblr?are always at their service, as is my email. Communication is the key.

Source: http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/talking-comics-with-tim-ales-kot-on-change/

jennie garth space needle nashville predators king arthur king arthur there will be blood there will be blood

How Ernest Hemingway's cats became a federal case (+video)

The descendants of Ernest Hemingway's cats?? dozens of them?? freely roam the writer's former home, now a museum. In a controversial court case, a judge says the felines must be regulated under federal law.

By Warren Richey,?Staff writer / December 9, 2012

One of more than 60 cats in residence at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Fla., prowls through the late author's writing room. How to care for the cats has become a federal issue.

Roberto Rodriguez/AP

Enlarge

Key West has a well-earned reputation as a haven for misfits, outcasts, and free-spirits. The locals don?t even consider themselves part of the United States of America. They refer to the place as the Conch Republic.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // --> A judge ruled Ernest Hemingway's cats must be regulated under federal law.

So it is more than a bit ironic that Key West is also the location of a knock-down, drag-out fight over the federal government?s power under the US Constitution?s Commerce Clause to regulate? cats.

And not just any cats, either. The cats being subjected to federal oversight are the descendants of the famous six-toed felines raised and cared for by former Key West resident and author Ernest Hemingway.

Mr. Hemingway spent most of the 1930s in Key West completing some of his best work. Now, his former house at 907 Whitehead Street is a museum open to daily tours and the occasional wedding.

It also continues to be home to 40 to 50 six-toed cats that are a living legacy of Hemingway. As in Hemingway?s time, the cats are allowed to roam and lounge at will in the house and on the one-acre grounds.

That?s how the federal government became involved.

Ernest Hemingway: 10 quotes on his birthday

At some point several years ago, a museum visitor expressed concern about the cats? care. The visitor took that concern all the way to the US Department of Agriculture and, literally, made a federal case out of it.

Soon USDA inspectors showed up in Key West. They said that if the museum wanted to display cats it needed an exhibitor?s license as required under the federal Animal Welfare Act. (That?s the same law that regulates circuses, zoos, and traveling dog and pony shows.)

Federal officials advised the museum that it also needed to take action to: Confine the cats in individual cages each night, or construct a higher fence around the property, or install an electric wire atop the existing brick wall, or hire a night watchman to keep an eye on the cats.

The museum was ordered to tag each cat for identification, and add additional elevated resting surfaces within the cat?s enclosures.

USDA officials also advised that the museum would face fines for noncompliance.

The museum fought back, asking a federal judge in 2009 to rule that the USDA did not have authority over the Hemingway cats.

A lawyer for the museum told the judge that this was not a federal issue and that there were better-situated agencies in Key West, Monroe County, or the State of Florida to monitor and regulate the care and feeding of cats in Key West.

The judge disagreed. He ruled that the USDA was well within its authority to regulate the cats.

The museum appealed. In a unanimous decision announced on Friday, the three-judge panel agreed that the USDA does, in fact, have the necessary authority to regulate the Hemingway cats.

The court said the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) has been broadly interpreted by federal officials to authorize regulation of any exhibit of animals that are made available to the public.

There is no dispute that the museum includes scores of cats that are permitted to roam the grounds during visiting hours. Since admission is charged to see the house and the cats are part of the property, the AWA permits regulation of the cats, the court said.

The appeals court also concluded this broad interpretation of the AWA to extend to the regulation of cats in a museum did not exceed Congress?s power to authorize such federal regulations under the Commerce Clause.

The question, the court said, was whether the Hemingway cats ?substantially affect? interstate commerce.

The judges said they do.

?The Museum argues that its activities are of a purely local nature because the Hemingway cats spend their entire lives at the Museum ? the cats are never purchased, never sold, and never travel beyond 907 Whitehead Street. But the local character of the activity does not necessarily exempt it from federal regulation,? Chief Judge Joel Dubina said in his 13-page decision.

?The Museum invites and receives thousands of admissions-paying visitors from beyond Florida, many of whom are drawn by the Museum?s reputation for and purposeful marketing of the Hemingway cats,? Dubina wrote.

?The exhibition of the Hemingway cats is integral to the Museum?s commercial purpose, and thus, their exhibition affects interstate commerce,? he said. ?For these reasons, Congress has the power to regulate the Museum and the exhibition of the Hemingway cats via the AWA.?

Chief Judge Dubina added a concession at the end of the decision.

?Notwithstanding our holding, we appreciate the Museum?s somewhat unique situation, and we sympathize with its frustration,? he wrote. ?Nevertheless, it is not the court?s role to evaluate the wisdom of federal regulations implemented according to the powers constitutionally vested in Congress.?

On added irony in the cat case is that Whitehead Street bisects a section of Key West well known for the large number of chickens and roosters roaming free through the streets.?

Ernest Hemingway: 10 quotes on his birthday

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/BmLxIweGDp0/How-Ernest-Hemingway-s-cats-became-a-federal-case-video

nfl draft grades devils dodgers rachel maddow gia la riots new jersey devils

Voter disdain spreads as 'fiscal cliff' looms

President Barack Obama speaks to workers about the economy during a visit to Daimler Detroit Diesel in Redford, Mich., Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The scene playing out on Capitol Hill is a familiar one as lawmakers with competing ideologies wage an 11th-hour battle to avert a predictable crisis. This one comes just a year after an equally divided Washington nearly let the country default on its loan obligations, a debt-ceiling debate that contributed to the electorate's deep lack of faith in their elected leaders and a drop in the nation?s credit rating. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

FILE - In this Sept 18, 2012, file photo, New Hampshire Republican Congressman Charles Bass speaks during a debate in Manchester, N.H. The scene playing out on Capitol Hill is a familiar one as lawmakers with competing ideologies wage an 11th-hour battle to avert a predictable crisis. Rep. Charlie Bass, a New Hampshire Republican who lost his re-election bid last month, says it?s unclear whether his GOP colleagues will ?face the reality that the president, at least at this point, is not going to accept anything other than a tax rate increase.? (AP Photo/The Union Leader, David Lane, Pool, File)

HOOKSET, N.H. (AP) ? Fear and frustration course through the lunch crowd at Robie's Country Store and Deli, a popular outpost 500 miles from where Washington is again locked in tense negotiations over taxes and spending as a critical deadline looms.

"I'm worried," Lorraine Cadren of nearby Manchester says between bites of her chicken sandwich. Her doubt in the nation's elected leaders is palpable: "I'm not sure what's going to come out of Washington next." Not that she has the time to pay much attention; the 64-year-old is unemployed and preoccupied with finding a new job as Christmas approaches.

A few tables away, John Pfeifle shares Cadren's angst while trying to enjoy his $6.99 chicken parmesan special.

"Somebody's gotta have some smarts," says the 63-year-old business owner, complaining that both President Barack Obama and House Republicans seem willing to allow the nation to go over the "fiscal cliff," triggering broad tax increases and massive spending cuts that economists warn could lead to another recession.

"I have no faith at all they'll do the right thing," Pfeifle said of Congress.

And why would these voters have confidence in Washington?

The scene playing out on Capitol Hill is a familiar one as lawmakers with competing ideologies wage an 11th-hour battle to avert a predictable crisis. This one comes just a year after an equally divided Washington nearly let the country default on its loan obligations ? a debt-ceiling debate that contributed to the electorate's deep lack of faith in their elected leaders and a drop in the nation's credit rating.

Evidence of Congress' plummeting popularity is everywhere.

From New Hampshire diners to Colorado coffee shops, weary residents report widespread concern. They relate the debate in Washington over their tax dollars with their own lives: average Americans who are struggling every day to make ends meet. And already distracted by the holidays and tired of politics after a bitter presidential campaign, they are calling on Washington to get its act together.

"It's pathetic. Nobody's doing their job," said Laura Hager, a retiree from Lancaster, Pa. "The rest of the country is being held hostage to this entire situation."

She said the uncertainty makes it difficult to shape a personal financial plan; she can't imagine what business leaders must be going through. "Nobody can plan. Nobody knows what they'll do," she said.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., warned that the public's disgust with Congress would reach new heights if lawmakers and the White House fail to reach an accord before the year-end deadline.

"Ninety percent disapproval rating is going to go up to 99 percent disapproval," the senator said at a panel discussion last week in Washington on the fiscal cliff's impact on businesses.

Warner overstated Congress' unpopularity, although not by much.

A recent Associated Press-GfK poll found that 74 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job; just 23 percent approve. The figures are virtually unchanged from June and slightly above Congress' recent low point of 12 percent approval during the debt ceiling debate in August 2011.

Some voters are trying to ignore the debate altogether, although near-constant news coverage is making that difficult, especially as Obama and his Republican opponents work to rally their supporters.

In a campaign-style event Monday in Michigan, the heart of industrial America, Obama warned that he "won't compromise" on his demand that the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes. Polls find that most voters agree with the president's deficit-cutting plan to raise tax rates on income over $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples, although House Republicans are reluctant to agree.

The conservative group Crossroads GPS is running television ads across the country describing Obama's solution as "a huge tax increase" with "no real spending reforms." ''Call President Obama and tell him it's time to show us a balanced plan," the ad says.

Most voters interviewed in recent days are calling for an immediate compromise and seem willing to raise taxes on the wealthy so long as the middle class is protected.

There is a vague sense that the "fiscal cliff" is more serious than other recent Capitol Hill clashes. But barely a month after the presidential contest ended, most people say they're not following the daily developments that consume Washington.

In a Denver coffee shop, interior designer Roxann Lloyd, 42, is mystified by the sound and fury out of Washington over the cliff.

"I don't think they have any idea what a big deal is to an average person," she said. "I'm just ignoring it."

Lloyd said she isn't surprised by the partisan bickering over the issue. "I don't feel like they are really looking out for us," she said of Congress.

John Baker, 65, a Denver psychologist, said he had little faith in Congress' ability to fix the problem: "I don't think Congress can fix a flat tire."

"It's a typical Washington, 'Let's hit the panic button and keep people scared so they will let us do what we want to do,'" Baker said in a downtown Denver Starbucks. "Ultimately, it will be fixed but not until a lot of pockets are lined."

It's unclear whether members of Congress are hearing the message.

Rep. Charlie Bass, a New Hampshire Republican who lost his re-election bid last month, says it's unclear whether his GOP colleagues will "face the reality that the president, at least at this point, is not going to accept anything other than a tax rate increase."

A stalemate would result in "painful uncertainty," Bass said, offering his caucus a bit of advice: "We best get on with it ? get it done."

Back at Robie's, store owner Debbie Chouinard says she's burned out from election season and "tired of all the bull."

"I honestly haven't been paying attention," she said while feeding her 2-year-old granddaughter lunch during a brief lull. "People should be working together to get this country going."

___

Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-11-Fiscal%20Cliff-Disconnect/id-677bf57468904239af22e6fd2ed9fede

Kristen Stewart Rupert Sanders Photos 2016 Olympics TD Bank mountain lion hanley ramirez Christian Bale visits victims Perez Hilton

Supporters show solidarity after Ch?vez names successor

Venezuelan President Hugo Ch?vez may have helped his party avoid in-fighting by naming his vice president to be his chosen successor.?

By Andrew Rosati,?Correspondent / December 10, 2012

People pray during a demonstration in support of Venezuela's President Hugo Ch?vez at the Simon Bolivar square in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday. Ch?vez was heading back to Cuba on Sunday for more surgery.

Fernando Llano/AP

Enlarge

Thousands of Venezuelans poured into central Caracas Sunday in solidarity?as their president, Hugo Ch?vez, prepared for his journey to Cuba for surgery.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

The passions that led the president's followers to take streets after his election day victory just weeks before took a different form after Saturday's announcement that the president's cancer had returned.?Despite the presence of marching bands and attempts to revive popular campaign chants, many at the rally remained subdued ahead of his flight to Havana today.

"We?re here in a demonstration of spirit and faith to support our president who is fighting this terrible disease,? says William Hernandez, a library administrator.?

The firebrand leader has been shuttling back and forth between Havana and Caracas to receive cancer treatments since last June.?In a signal that the situation has grown more serious,?Ch?vez named his successor Saturday: Vice President?Nicol?s Maduro. The nod to his vice president,?a former trade unionist and minister of foreign of affairs, reverberated across both sides of the political divide, as many Venezuelans now believe the end may be near for their leader.

"Of course we support [Maduro], he's a 'young, well-prepared leader,'" says Ricardo G?mez, a chemical engineer, echoing the president's endorsement at the rally.?

In the near term, the endorsement has little practical effect: Venezuela's constitution already establishes that the vice president should take over?if the president is unable to finish his term. Ch?vez, who has been in power 14 years, is scheduled to begin a new six-year term on January 10. Under Venezuelan law, if the president is unable to serve, or dies within the first four years of the term, a special election is convened within 30 days to determine a new president.

The?Ch?vez announcement is important because "in the event the president can't serve, the reigning party has their candidate," says Ricardo Sanchez, an opposition member of the National Assembly.?He adds that he expects Mr. Maduro would follow the same?political direction as?Ch?vez.

But even with the endorsement, it remains to be seen if Maduro could muster as much political respect as Ch?vez. Many fear that without Ch?vez at the helm his party will splinter. "Of course Nicholas Maduro doesn't have the same leadership as Ch?vez," says Vladimir Villegas, a former diplomat who served under Maduro. "However, he has Ch?vez's approval?? which counts for [something] in terms of [limiting] party infighting."

Ch?vez was reelected by the slimmest margin (11 percent) of his political career in the October presidential race against Henrique Capriles Radonski.

Mr. Villegas says the passing of the campaign torch to soft-spoken Maduro ??over Ch?vez hard lined-military allies or strident leftists???as the president's most viable chance at "convincing and inspiring voters" to return to the polls.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/dgunRvSznfw/Supporters-show-solidarity-after-Chavez-names-successor

mike wallace chicago cubs split pea soup recipe the client list yahoo.com/mail baylor april 9