Saturday, January 28, 2012

Biden Speaks with Iraqi Leaders




Told Deliberations are Underway Among All Political Factions

Vice President Biden spoke on the phone today with Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Osama Nujaifi and yesterday with Dr. Ayad Allawi, a leader of the Iraqiyya political bloc.

The two Iraqi leaders described deliberations underway among all Iraqi political factions and parties in the run-up to a proposed national conference led by President Jalal Talabani.

The Vice President discussed with both leaders the importance of resolving outstanding issues through the political process. The Vice President and Iraqi leaders agreed to stay in close touch as events unfold.

Demi Moore and the 'Conditioning' of America


News Organizations and Callous Americans "Salivating" Over Actor's Downfall

Okay, folks! It's time to go back to school. By a show of hands, how many out there remember learning about "Pavlov's Dogs" in psychology or science class? What?! Are you kidding me?! Only 25 people responded! That is a damn shame. Well, a video has been posted below to educate those that aren't aware of the theory. Nonetheless, allow me to provide you with a brief overview. 

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian mathematician and scientist who became famous as result of series of experiments he conducted on dogs and their digestive system. He noticed that dogs would salivate prior to being served food, but what fascinated Pavlov even more was the response dogs had when they suspected food was on the way. 

Pavlov, in layman's terms, began to "play with Fido's head", and would create a stimulus to see if he could get a similar response. In one example, the scientist would ring a bell prior to serving the food. The dogs, as a result of "classical conditioning", eventually began to salivate every time the bell was rung. The dogs were reacting to the notion that food was coming and that their appetites would be satisfied. 

America, and those living abroad, I would suggest to you that the sad tale of Hollywood star Demi Moore, like so many celebrities before her, is proof that society has succumbed to classical conditioning. Moreover, the mad scientists conducting this contemporary and crazed experiment are the mainstream media and those that think they have the inside track on Demi Moore and the most intimate details of her life. They don't know a damn thing, and just as Pavlov played with Fido's head, media outlets have reduced millions of people in this country and abroad to a bunch of drooling guinea pigs that can't wait for the next disturbing and juicy tidbit on Moore's personal problems. 

I completely understand that the news industry has a job to do and that failing to report on Moore's fall from grace would be frowned upon by the fellow members of the Pavlovian media and the public. I totally get that. What I don't get is the insatiable need for news outlets, including the tabloids, to irresponsibly and relentlessly pursue Moore -- or those closest to her -- to get as much "dirt" as possible. These reckless and unconscionable whores really make me sick, and their actions are a major reason why "From The G-Man" refuses to engage in or showcase these types of stories.  

The news directors, executives and publishers that willingly participate in this on-going experiment are soulless and twisted, and they need to be taken to task for their insensitivity and quest for salaciousness. Maybe it's time to "Occupy Hollywood" and go after TMZ-like media outlets, including the paparazzi, and hold them accountable by forcing them to stay in their lane when it comes to celebrities battling addiction and protecting their families. I'll bet the movement would received an enormous amount of financial and public support on that front, especially from members of the Hollywood community.   

Many news and pseudo-news sources will claim that they're simply after the truth. Well, I'm telling them that they need to cut the bullshit. If that were truly the case, they would stick to reporting the facts, not comments by alleged associates or friends of Moore -- whose only purpose is to sell her out to the highest bidder -- and wait for the star to come forward and tell her story when she is good and ready!

Furthermore, I want to issue a message to people that have posted unbelievably nasty comments on sites like the Huffington Post regarding Demi Moore. Some people have called Moore a "whiny bitch" and claimed she is to blame for her troubles because her fame and wealth have driven her over the edge. Others have noted that Moore was stupid and should've known better than to marry Ashton Kutcher, who is 16 years younger. These people, more commonly known as dumb-assess, need to shut their mouths and realize that pain is pain, no matter who's experiencing it. 

The statement Moore publicly made about the fear that she may be "unlovable" resonated with not just millions of women going though or emerging from a severe break-up or divorce, but millions of men as well. Pain is pain, people. It's just that men are less likely to admit how much they're hurting. They'd rather drown themselves in a sea of booze and vaginas -- or penises, if they're gay -- in effort to escape the pain. If people are going to scrutinize Moore for how she's choosing to deal with her pain, I suggest they look in the mirror, first. Pain is pain, people! How many times do I have to say it?    

As far as the vicious comments that have been posted on the Internet, the only people that deserve to comment on the private life of Demi Moore are those that love her, unconditionally, and have her best interest and safety at heart. Anyone outside of this community needs to mind their damn business and leave her and her family alone. Ms. Moore, Mr. Willis and Mr. Kutcher: If you're looking for an ally in media, now you've got one. 

This commentary is from the heart and.....From The G-Man. 


Photo source: David Shankbone
Author:  David Shankbone
Permission:  Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

Video uploaded to YouTube by  

Weekly Address: President’s Blueprint Includes Renewal of American Values


In his weekly address, President Obama discusses the blueprint he put forward this week in the State of the Union Address for creating an economy built to last.

After focusing on American manufacturing, American energy, and skills for American workers during each of the last three days, he used his weekly address to highlight his commitment to a renewal of American values.

The President is challenging leaders in Washington, DC to follow the model set by men and women in the military, end the gridlock and start tackling the issues that matter – without regard for personal ambition.

President Obama Speaks to the House Democrats Issues Conference

Kyrgyzstan: Prisoners Sew Their Lips Together in Protest

Around 1,300 prisoners in Kyrgyzstan have sewn their lips together in protest of poor living conditions.



By Gillian Stedman and Adnan Khan
Anchor: Ana Compain-Romero
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Passengers of Shipwreck Offered Compensation Payout

Uninjured passengers of the cruise liner Costa Concordia are offered a payout of $14,460 to not sue.



By Luke Leonard
Anchor: Ana Compain-Romero
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Friday, January 27, 2012

West Wing Week: 1/27/12

President Obama: 'Never Forget. Never Again'


Polish civilians watch as German police deport some of their fellow 
Belchatowers to Germany for forced labor (1941). (Click to enlarge.) 

Statement by the President on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

This International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Michelle and I join people in the United States, in Israel, and across the globe as we remember the six million Jews and millions of others who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis.

We commit ourselves to keeping their memories alive not only in our thoughts, but through our actions. As we remember all those who perished in camps from Auschwitz to Treblinka, Dachau to Sobibor, we pledge to speak truth to those who deny the Holocaust.

As we celebrate the strength and resilience of survivors, we pledge to stand strong against all those who would commit atrocities, against the resurgence of anti-Semitism, and against hatred in all its forms.

As we draw inspiration from the righteous gentiles who risked their lives to save friends, neighbors, and even strangers, we pledge to continue the hard work of repairing the world.

Together with the State of Israel, and all our friends around the world, we dedicate ourselves to giving meaning to those powerful words: “Never Forget. Never Again.”

Photograph from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Photo Archives -- public domain

Aneesh Chopra to Leave White House Post


Also Served as Chief Technology Officer

WASHINGTON, DC — The White House today announced the departure of Aneesh Chopra, Assistant to the President and the federal government’s first Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

President Obama said, “As the federal government’s first Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra did groundbreaking work to bring our government into the 21st century. Aneesh found countless ways to engage the American people using technology, from electronic health records for veterans, to expanding access to broadband for rural communities, to modernizing government records. His legacy of leadership and innovation will benefit Americans for years to come, and I thank him for his outstanding service.”

Author: US Govt.. Original uploader was Duffy2032 at en.wikipedia
Permission: PD-USGOV

Advance Estimate of GDP Growth for the Fourth Quarter of 2011

(Click to enlarge graph) 

Report Released by Council of Economic Advisers

The following information was submitted by Alan Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Today’s report shows that the economy posted its tenth straight quarter of positive growth, as real GDP (the total amount of goods and services produced in the country) grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of last year. For 2011 as a whole, GDP rose by 1.7 percent, raising the level of real GDP 0.7 percent above where it was at the start of the recession in the fourth quarter of 2007.  While the continued expansion is encouraging, faster growth is needed to replace the jobs lost in the recent downturn and to reduce long-term unemployment.

Positive contributions to real GDP growth in the fourth quarter included consumer spending (1.5 percentage points) and fixed investment (0.4 percentage point).  Overall government purchases fell (4.6 percent), with substantial declines in Federal defense spending (12.5 percent) and State and local spending (2.6 percent). 

As President Obama has said, this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and those who are struggling to get into the middle class.  That is why the President announced on Tuesday his Blueprint for an America Built to Last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

Legislation Sought to Ban Insider Trading by Congress Members

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney

Statement by the Press Secretary

Leader Reid has announced the Senate will take-up legislation making it clear that Members of Congress may not engage in insider trading, an important component of the President’s blueprint for an America built to last. As the President said in his State of the Union message, this bipartisan legislation will help limit the corrosive influence of money in politics and restoring the American people’s trust in Washington. Members of Congress should not be able to trade stocks based on nonpublic information gleaned on Capitol Hill nor should they be able to own stocks in industries they impact. We believe this is an important first step to prevent members of Congress from profiting from their positions and call for swift passage.

North Carolina Congressman, Governor to Retire

Congressman Brad Miller 

Statement from the President on the Retirement of Congressman Brad Miller and Governor Bev Perdue

Brad Miller has served the people of North Carolina for two decades. In the House of Representatives, Brad helped lead the fight to protect families from abuses by the financial industry, and is a key reason why today we finally have a strong watchdog in place looking out for American consumers. Michelle and I thank Brad for his service, and wish him the very best in the future. 
As the first woman to serve as North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor and Governor, Bev Perdue has never been afraid to break barriers. For over 25 years, she has fought for the people of the Tar Heel State – working to transform the state’s public schools, improve the health care system, protect and attract jobs for members of the military and their families, and create the jobs of the future.  Michelle and I want to congratulate Governor Perdue on her historic tenure, and we wish Bev and her family well in the future.

Congressman Miller photo source:
Online Guide to House Members and Senators
Author: Online Guide to House Members and Senators
Permission: Public Domain

Governor Perdue photo source:  http://www.governor.state.nc.us/library/images/Official_Perdue_Portrait.jpg
Author:  Office of Governor Beverly Perdue
Permission: Public Domain

Newsy Now: News Round-Up

Romney and Gingrich spar in Florida; BP must cover Transocean in oil spill clean-up; Twitter under fire; last chance to apply for astronaut school!



By Harumendhah Helmy
Anchor: Christina Hartman
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Death Toll Rises in Pakistan from Heart Meds

Officials reported Wednesday cheap heart drugs have now killed more than 100 patients in Pakistan.



By Emily Spain
Anchor: Emily Spain
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Mystery Illness Diagnosed and Debated by Medical Community

The Centers for Disease Control says Morgellons Disease is to blame for bizarre symptoms plaguing people across the nation.



By Meredith Baldwin
Anchor: Ana Compain-Romero
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

For Gingrich, Does Rhetoric Match Record on Reagan?

The candidate has caught flak in recent days over past criticisms of the Reagan administration, while touting his ties to the former president.



By Zach Toombs
Anchor: Zach Toombs
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Thursday, January 26, 2012

First Lady, Goya Team Up for "MiPlato"


Joint Effort Part of "Let's Move" Initiative

Tampa, Florida - In support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative, Goya Foods, the largest, Hispanic-owned U.S. food company, is committing resources to promote the USDA's MyPlate, or MiPlato, a new food group symbol to remind families about making healthy meal choices with easy “how-tos” about proper portions.

The First Lady joined Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods, and leading Latino organizations to promote their nationwide effort to encourage health and wellness in communities across the country. 

Goya Foods is rolling out numerous steps to help communities enjoy healthy, tasty and affordable meals including creating brochures, posters, coupons and cookbooks for consumers; developing educational tools for 4th through 6th grade students across the country; and imprinting the MiPlato icon on some of their products.

“Today’s announcement is what Let’s Move! is really all about – folks from every sector of our society stepping up and coming together on behalf of our kids. One of the pillars of Let’s Move! is empowering parents with the information they need to make healthy choices.  MiPlato is a tool to help support families in that effort.  Today, Goya is utilizing their incredible reach into communities across the country to get this helpful information to the hand of parents,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.

“Everything that Goya is doing – from the MiPlato posters and pamphlets to cookbooks and recipes – center around the idea that we parents can make simple changes to help their children lead healthier lives.”




“For Goya, MiPlato is an ideal reflection of our product line; quality, flavor, healthy and nutritious; while offering guidance to the public to easily identify the basic food groups of vegetables, grains, fruits, proteins, and dairy,” added Bob Unanue, president of Goya Food.

Community organizations from Florida to California have shown their support of Let’s Move! with commitments to promote MiPlato and distribute the Goya-produced materials through local churches, food pantries, promotores (community health workers) networks, registered dietitians, and schools.

Organizations include the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, which will distribute materials at its Nuestro Futuro rallies across the country, and the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger, which is working with New Mexico’s state social services and statewide food bank to ensure New Mexico’s families receive materials.

The booklets will also be distributed through food bank members of Feeding America in Texas, Florida, Arizona, New York, and California. 

In Tampa, the Girl Scouts of the USA has committed to promote MiPlato to Tampa-area Girl Scouts through the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. Several organizations have also joined USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion’s Nutrition Communicators Network as a Community Partner.

Goya Foods will collaborate with Let's Move! and USDA by producing a brochure featuring a series of recipes that meet the Dietary Guidelines that support MiPlato and ten tips for healthy eating.  The Goya sales force will offer these brochures to 32,000 supermarkets to distribute in their communities.

Goya will also print MiPlato posters for distribution in various supermarkets and grocery stores and produce brochures with a Goya savings coupon that will be distributed to a variety of national Hispanic associations and organizations at the various festivals and events that Goya sponsors throughout the year.

In the spring, Goya will launch the official MiPlato cookbook and distribute copies to their consumers.

Goya developed comprehensive lesson plans for grade students using beans as education characters, and will distribute these to elementary schools in six major cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Miami and Tampa.

The MiPlato icon will be printed on six different Goya products including black beans, pinto beans, white beans, chick peas, red kidney beans and the sazón Goya natural and complete.


The following Latino organizations have joined this effort:

ACTIVE Life
American Cancer Society
California Food Policy Advocates
Catholic Charities Philadelphia
Cuban American National Council (CNC)
Feeding America
San Antonio Food Bank (Feeding America)
Treasure Coast Food Bank (Feeding America)
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance (Feeding America)
Island Harvest (Feeding America)
FIND Food Bank (Feeding America)
Florida Dietetic Association
Ferias (para Aprender/Fitness)
Girls Scouts of the USA
Help4Kidz Foundation
Hispanic Access Foundation
Hispanic Federation
La Clinica del Pueblo
LULAC and their 850 councils
National Caucus of State Elected Legislators
National Council of La Raza (NCLR) - 300 affiliates
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC)
New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger
New York City Coalition Against Hunger
Pacific Southwest Conference for the Evangelical Church
Cancer Preventorium
Seventh Day Adventist Church
South Florida Center for Reducing Cancer Disparities
St. Cajetan Catholic Church/Hispanic Access
St. Camillus Catholic Church
Texas Hunger Initiative
Texas Impact
Urban Strategies
Vision y Compromiso

First Lady photo source:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/ 
Author:  Joyce N. Boghosian, White House photographer 
Permission: Public Domian

Goya image courtesy of 
http://www.goya.com

Bernanke Announces Fed's Plan

Ben Bernanke laid out the Federal Reserve's plan for the next few years on Wednesday. See what's in store.



By David Earl
Anchor: Christina Hartman
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Davos 2012 Kicks Off Wednesday

The world's annual billionaires' bash kicks off in Switzerland.



By David Earl
Anchor: Ana Compain-Romero
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

New Hampshire Law Lets Parents Pick Kids' Curriculum

New Hampshire says parents get the final say in what their children learn. Critics say that leaves teachers catering to many different opinions.



By Meredith Baldwin
Anchor: Ana Compain-Romero
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Alaskan Women, 85, Whacks Moose to Save Husband

An 85-year old Alaskan women hit a moose with a shovel after her husband was attacked. George Murphy was rushed to the hospital with injuries.



By Christine Karsten
Anchor: Megan Murphy
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Google to Overhaul Privacy Policies

Google is planning to consolidate its privacy policies across its services into one global agreement.



By Evan Thomas
Anchor: Megan Murphy
Link courtesy of Newsy.com

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

President Speaks on an Economy Built to Last in Iowa


President Obama visits Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and speaks about strengthening our economy and building an American that’s built to last.

USDA Unveils Historic Improvements to School Meals


New Standards Will Improve the Health and Well-Being of 32 Million Kids Nationwide

FAIRFAX, Va – First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled new standards for school meals that will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation.
 

The new meal requirements will raise standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day.

The healthier meal requirements are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her 
Let's Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama.

"As parents, we try to prepare decent meals, limit how much junk food our kids eat, and ensure they have a reasonably balanced diet," said First Lady Michelle Obama.

"And when we're putting in all that effort the last thing we want is for our hard work to be undone each day in the school cafeteria. When we send our kids to school, we expect that they won't be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we try to keep them from eating at home. We want the food they get at school to be the same kind of food we would serve at our own kitchen tables."

"Improving the quality of the school meals is a critical step in building a healthy future for our kids," said Vilsack.

"When it comes to our children, we must do everything possible to provide them the nutrition they need to be healthy, active and ready to face the future – today we take an important step towards that goal."

The final standards make the same kinds of practical changes that many parents are already encouraging at home, including: e
nsuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week; substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods; offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties; limiting calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size; and increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

A sample lunch menu with a before and after comparison is available to view and download in 
PDF andJPG formats.

USDA built the new rule around recommendations from a panel of experts convened by the Institute of Medicine —a gold standard for evidence-based health analysis.

The standards were also updated with key changes from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – the Federal government's benchmark for nutrition – and aimed to foster the kind of healthy changes at school that many parents are already trying to encourage at home, such as making sure that kids are offered both fruits and vegetables each day, more whole grains, and portion sizes and calorie counts designed to maintain a healthy weight.

USDA received an unprecedented 132,000 public comments on its proposed standards (available on the web at 
www.regulations.gov) – and made modifications to the proposed rule where appropriate.

USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon said: "We know that robust public input is essential to developing successful standards and the final standards took a number of suggestions from stakeholders, school food service professions and parents to make important operational changes while maintaining nutritional integrity."

The new standards are expected to cost $3.2 billion over the next five years -- less than half of the estimated cost of the proposed rule and are just one of five major components of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, now implemented or under development, that will work together to reform school nutrition.

In addition to the updated meal standards, unprecedented improvements to come include: t
he ability to take nutrition standards beyond the lunchline for the first time ever, foods and beverages sold in vending machines and other venues on school campuses will also contribute to a healthy diet; increased funding for schools – an additional 6 cents a meal is the first real increase in 30 years – tied to strong performance in serving improved meals; common-sense pricing standards for schools to ensure that revenues from non-Federal sources keep pace with the Federal commitment to healthy school meals and properly align with costs; and training and technical assistance to help schools achieve and monitor compliance.

The final nutrition standards released today also provide more time for schools to implement key changes, which will be largely phased in over a three-year period, starting in School Year 2012-2013. For example, schools will be permitted to focus on changes in the lunches in the first year, with most changes in breakfast phased in during future years.

USDA's 
Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, the Summer Food Service Program, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Together these programs make up the federal nutrition safety net.

Image courtesy of 
http://www.schooljotter.com