Ted Kennedy on Health Care

Democratic plans for revamping U.S. healthcare are taking shape, with Senator Edward Kennedy soon to announce a proposal which could form the core of the nation's new health system.

Kennedy, a Democratic stalwart whose thinking is widely believed to track that of President Barack Obama on healthcare, is expected to unveil a plan in early June that will include both a new government program to provide medical coverage for all as well as a mandate that every American acquire some form of health insurance.

The two elements -- government insurance and mandatory coverage -- have been hotly debated as Obama seeks to begin radically transforming the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare industry by the end of the year.

Day 251

I'm still in the beautiful state of Tennessee. I left Nashville this morning for Memphis.  There will be plenty of Memphis style BBQ for the next two days.  

Lexington BBQ

Yesterday, I was in Lexington, North Carolina, the BBQ capital of the world.  I had dinner at Lexington BBQ, a family run business that started in the 60's.  I sat at the counter and was greeted by extremely friendly staff and ordered a chopped BBQ plate with a house brewed sweet tea.  I thought I died and gone to BBQ heaven and suddenly fried cracklings appeared, compliments of the proprietor.  Delicious.  My stomach was full and happy and just when I didn't think I could eat anymore, a dish of peach cobbler a la mode appeared.  It was one of the best meals of my life.  Exceptional service and exceptional food. 

 

Day 249

Honduras Earthquake

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Honduras early this morning.  The epicenter is located 80 miles northeast of La Cieba, Honduras.  A tsunami watch has been canceled for the area.  

Day 248

Day 247

European Commission

The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled plans for a tough new monitoring system for banks and other financial bodies to be in place next year, aiming to better protect investors hit by the crisis.

"Now is the time for action, it will be now or never," said EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, introducing the plans at a press conference.

One of the key proposals is to create a new European Systemic Risk Council (ESRC), to be chaired by the European Central Bank president, which would give EU nations an early warning of threats to financial stability.

Sonia Sotomayor- Supreme Court Nominee

Obama nominates Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the open slot left by Souter's retirement. If approved,  Sotomayor will be the third woman and first Latina in the Supreme Court.

Day 246

I spent the weekend in NYC visiting friends and got the first Fung Wah bus back to Boston this morning.  For those of you who are not familiar with the Chinatown buses, they are the best way to travel into the big city on the cheap.  One way is only $15 and buses leave everyday from 7 am to 11 pm, on the hour.  Someone once told me that the buses were introduced to transport restaurant workers to NYC's vibrant Chinatown.  Eventually it caught on with the enormous student population and became the huge industry that it is today.  

Tomorrow I leave for a road trip down to the southern part of the States.  I'll be seeing the sights, stitching, and savoring delicious ribs, steaks, and brisket from all the regions of BBQ country. 

Day 245

Iran on Sunday served as host to its first three-way summit meeting with Pakistan and Afghanistan to discuss cooperation on regional issues, the latest sign of Iran's emergence as a regional power.

With Pakistan and Afghanistan fighting to hold back the rising tide of radical, Islamic insurgencies led by the Taliban, the meeting seemed designed by Iran to assure its neighbors that working together the three could solve their problems without having to rely on the West.

Day 244

Fighting Continues in Pakistan

The fight against Taliban militants continues in Pakistan.

Pakistan's army began an offensive against the Taliban on 2 May after the peace deal broke down and the militants began spreading their area of influence.

A recent investigation by the BBC suggested that less than half of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which contains Swat Valley, and the neighbouring Federally Administered Tribal Areas is under full government control.

Day 243

Nancy Pelosi

 Nancy Pelosi is coming under attack for her past criticality of the Bush Administration and the CIA.

The House speaker ignored other attempts to ask her questions about the CIA and her allegations last week. Granted, there has been a lot of activity in Congress this week. Ahead of a week-long recess, sweeping bills to reform the credit card industry, the defense acquisitions process, provide nearly $91 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, revamp federal mortgage assistance programs and help the DOJ go after mortgage fraud were all considered by the House.

Day 242

British Pound Weakens

The British pound was under pressure on Thursday after Standard & Poor's cut its U.K. credit-rating outlook, sending the recently high-flying currency in the opposite direction.

The British pound fell as low as $1.5515, before recently trading at $1.5699, though still down from $1.5736 on Wednesday, following the move by Standard & Poor's to lower the credit-rating outlook on the U.K.

Day 241

Senate Banking Committee

The Senate voted 90-5 on  a bill regarding credit card policies.

Under the new bill, a customer would have to be more than 60 days behind on a payment before seeing a rate increase on an existing balance. Even then, the lender would be required to restore the previous, lower rate after six months if the cardholder pays the minimum balance on time.

Consumers also would have to receive 45 days' notice and an explanation before their interest rate was increased.

Some of these changes, including the 45-day notice requirement, are already on track to take effect in July 2010 under new rules being imposed by the Federal Reserve. But the legislation would put these changes into law and go further in restricting the types of bank fees and who could get a card.

Day 240

Yesterday, California voted and rejects proposition measures to staunch the budget crisis.

Day 239

WHO Let the Swine Out

In Japan, the number of swine flu cases hits 135 as 75 people report new infections.  Over 1,000 schools were closed near Osaka and Kobe to stop the outbreak. 

World Health Organization officials, meeting in Geneva for a week-long meeting of international health ministers’ Monday, said they were monitoring the situation in Japan. A W.H.O. spokesman, Dick Thompson, said there was still insufficient evidence that the disease was spreading in a sustained way among communities outside of North America, which would be required for the organization to raise its pandemic alert level to 6, the highest level.

Day 238

Graduation Day!

Today I graduate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts University.  I will "officially" receive my MFA this afternoon.  Go Rhinos!

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Day 236

World Health Organization

Cases of Swine Flu have been reported in India and Turkey.  Persons identified with the H1N1 influenza strain were air passengers coming from the US.  

Thirty-eight countries have now confirmed cases of the new flu strain, a mix of swine, human and avian viruses, which last month prompted the World Heath Organization to raise its global pandemic alert level to 5 on a 6-point scale.

Day 235

Day 234

Aung San Suu Kyi

Human rights activist and Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, is being held in a prison near Yangoon for violation of house arrest.  She had been visited by vietnam vet, John Yettaw of Missouri.  He swam across a lake to Suu Kyi's house where he stayed overnight.  He was arrested and is being charged with illegal entrance and staying at a residence without government permission.  His trial will be held on Monday.  He faces a maximum sentence of five years. 

Suu Kyi, 63, was first detained in 1989 and has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years. The latest extension of her detention was scheduled to expire May 27. 

No Smoking in North Carolina

The largest tobacco producing state, North Carolina,  is banning smoking in restaurants and bars.  I remember well when California banned smoking in 1995.  There are only 14 states left in the US that have no ban at all.  

Tehching Hsieh

Headed to NYC to see the Tehching Hsieh Retrospective at MOMA.  I've been waiting to see this show for a very long time.  

Day 233

Day 232

Roxana Saberi Released

Iranian-American journalist, Roxana Saberi, was released yesterday after being cleared of espionage charges.  A few details from the case were released including possession of a secret Iranian war document she copied out of curiosity from a her free-lance job as a translator. 

Day 231

Day 230

TARP Repaid

Three banks, Capital One, US Bancorp, and BB & T will pay back TARP funds by selling off shares. The move comes after Stress Test results show that the banks are in good enough shape to weather any further economic stress without additional aid from TARP.  Good news?  We will see.  

Internally Displaced People

The Pakistani government is pushing the residents of the Swat Valley to declare a war against Taliban militants.  Curfews were temporarily lifted to allow citizens to flee to safer areas causing a surge in internally displaced people.  

Despite the huge influx of refugees to IDP camps in nearby Mardan, there has been little evidence of the local government's presence.

Many local government officials are thought to have gone into hiding since the collapse of a recent peace pact between the government and Taliban forces, fearing that they have become targets for the Taliban.

"The only people who have really responded to this crisis have been the international aid agencies and the local population - volunteering in the camps and opening their homes," our correspondent reported.

Day 229

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Day 227

Hubble Telescope Rescue

Two spacecrafts, the Atlantis and the Endeavor, are parked at Cape Canaveral ready to be launched.  The Atlantis is ready to be launched to start its mission to repair the Hubble Telescope and the Endeavor is on call to rescue the astronauts on the Atlantis in case they get stranded in space.  Stranded in Space..... sounds like an idea for a new reality show.  

Santa Barbara Wildfire

Wildfire season has begun.  

More Pakistan vs. Taliban

With the demise of a millitant-government peace pact, thousands of Pakistanis flee the Swat Valley.  With its mountainous vistas, the valley is dubbed "the Switzerland of Pakistan" but fighting has left its towns in rubble.  Thousands flee to seek safety from the air-strikes.  

Gen. Ashfaz Parvez Kayani, the chief of Pakistan's army, said it would commit enough of its resources to "ensure a decisive ascendancy over the militants" in the country.

But there was no sign of a major military push in Swat — to the frustration of some.

"If the government, the army wants to control and crush the Taliban, why don't they send ground troops to flush them out? Why they are only shelling, which hurts the public most of all and creates anti-government feeling?" said Mohammad, the stone mason.

Boston Globe

The largest newspaper in New England is safe, for now.  The owner, New York Times, and the Boston Newspaper Union reached a soft agreement early this morning to keep the paper running. 

Concessions include:

• substantial pay cuts
• unpaid furloughs
• changes in lifetime job guarantee provisions
  

Day 226

People's Republic of China

China is under criticism for quarantining 70 Mexican citizens in a Bejing hotel to contain the possible spread of the H1N1 "Swine Flu" virus.  With many incoming and outgoing flights cancelled, both countries chartered flights to pick up stranded tourists and bring them back to their respective homes.  

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Day 223

David Souter

Supreme Court Justice David Souter announced his retirement yesterday and the media is all abuzz about possible replacement nominees.  Obama has not made any announcements yet and already he is getting criticism.  

Day 222

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Day 220

More Action in the Gaza Strip

Israel and Palestine are at it again.  Need I say more?

H1N1

More cases of Swine Flu are surfacing around the country.  In my backyard, classes were suspended at Harvard Dental School after a student was diagnosed with the new strain of virus. It will be interesting to see if all the precautions we are taking will contain the spread.