The State of the Economy

The Fed told us in the past week that the worst is over, that the economy is 'leveling out,' and that the recession is nearing its end. It credited, in part, its actions and those of the current administration with helping the economy. It also outlined its plans for the future, namely that interest rates will remain flat and that they will halt the buying of Treasury bonds.

«Kristal»

Ka kohë që s'shihemi dhe ndiej
Si të harroj unë, dalëngadalë,
Si vdes tek unë kujtimi yt
Si vdesin flokët dhe gjithçka.

Tani kërkoj unë posht' e lart
Një vend ku ty të të lëshoj.
Një strofë, notë a një brilant
Ku të të lë, të puth, të shkoj.

Në s'të pranoftë asnjë varr
Asnjë mermer a morg-kristal
Mos duhet vallë prapë të të mbart
Gjysmë të vdekur, gjysmë të gjallë?

Në s'gjetsha hon ku të të hedh
Të gjej një fushë a një lulnajë
Ku butësisht porsi polen
Gjithkund, gjithkund të të shpërndaj.

Të të mashtroj ndoshta kështu
Dhe të të puth e t'ik pa kthim
Dhe nuk do të dimë as ne, askush
Harrim ish ky, a s'ish harrim.

Ismail KADARE

Americans and Abortion

This blog posting compares Americans' view on abortion between May and August of this year. Back in May, there was a 'Pro-life' majority of 51-42% across the nation.

In a new poll that came out last week, that majority has been whittled down to a virtual tie of 47-46% with the 'Pro-life' still on top.

Honestly, it matters little what the majority of the population thinks. The decision belongs to the individuals involved directly in the situation and, ultimately, to the pregnant woman. The law is right to allow her a choice and say over her body and reproductive rights.

Looming Troubles

Although Social Security is on the back burner while we are discussing healthcare, it is a deep trouble looming on the nation's horizon. Along with Medicare and defense, it is contributing to the national debt which is ever on the rise.

If you ask me, this should be the biggest worry of the elderly, not the public insurance health plan. And let them remember, too, that the latter Bush wanted to privatize it. Where would Social Security money be now had he done that before the volatile days of the stock market?

Bill Clinton for Health

Former president Bill Clinton is trying to make amends for his failure to pass a health plan during his administration.

In a meeting with progressives in Pittsburgh, he expressed support for president Obama's health plan and urged the participants to hold on to their progressive goals. At the same time, he condemned Republican efforts to portray the health plan as a bureaucratic ruse to kill the elderly and the disabled.

Obama on the Offensive

President Obama has finally come to the aid of the Democratic congressmen and women who are going around the country advocating for the passage of the health bill. In his town hall meetings across the country he has attacked high insurance premiums; criticized the nature of insurance companies, reminding citizens that the latter care more about their profits than the well-being of the insured; reprimanded the same insurance companies for making a bureaucracy out of patients' health while themselves scaring the nation that a government-run insurance plan will do the same; addressed concerns of citizens about the funding of the healthcare program; given his listeners examples of Americans who have gone bankrupt because of unaffordable healthcare, and all the while has debunked Sarah Palin's outrageous lies and fear-mongering propaganda about the non-extant 'death panels.'

NPR coverage of one of those town hall meetings is in the audio below.

Let's Get Some Shoes!

Southern Discomfort

I don't know what's more surprising about this report: the fact that corporal punishment is still allowed, or the fact that disabled students are the more likely victims of it.

The graphic below illustrates the chilling data. The southern states seem to be especially more inclined toward corporal punishment. Aren't those states also part of the bible belt? I guess the religion they purport to uphold does not really dictate how they live their lives and comport themselves... damned sadists!

Health & Science Update

Fish is not only good for your cardiovascular health, but also very good for the brain. No, not the 'makes you smart' thing; rather, lowering your chances of dementia. So cut out the meat and introduce the fish. Your only worry, then, should be mercury poisoning.

While reminding you of the ever-expanding list of benefits from aspirin, doctors would like to remind you of its adverse effects, as well. Fair enough.

For women that don't like condoms, a spermicidal and microbicidal gel is available. It has been shown to block, among others, HIV. Still not finely tuned, though.

And for those ladies who find themselves in a family way, a good advice is to breast-feed their baby. Not only is it good for its health, but it also lowers the mother's risk of breast cancer.

Babies Are Smart?!

So it seems. Smarter than we normally think, to be precise. And considering the questions that toddlers ask, I'd have to say the younguns do, indeed, have more intellectual curiosity than their adult counterparts.

I don't know how well intelligence bodes for babies, though. Our consideration of them as merely dumb miniature people is the best thing they've got going for them. That's why I play with them when they're around. Without that, they're simply pooping machines....

California in the News

California seemed to be the main preoccupation of last week's edition of The Economist, from the expansion of the state in the 1960s and its initial and recurring problems, to the troubled state of the University of California system, and the legalization of marijuana and the economic consequences that accompany it.

NPR follows up with a report on the popularity of medical marijuana in the state. The audio can be found at the same link, since it cannot be embedded here. More marijuana news from a retirement community in Orange County, where the residents are trying to popularize the use of marijuana, as well as encourage its cultivation within the community. The accompanying audio is, again, at the same link.

Birth Rates

According to The Economist, a new study in Nature contradicts the popular belief that the rich have fewer children. With a rise in the Human Development Index (indicator of better life), populations in those countries began to have fewer children. As the HDI increased further, however, those same populations began to have more children, as indicated by the graph below. Many factors are suspected to be behind this trend.

On related news, Europe is showing an overall increase in its birth rate. Certainly good news for those xenophobic nativists who fear that the increases occur only within muslim immigrant populations.