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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

News Nuggets 771


These beat-up homes in Houston, Texas, are in fact an elaborate traffic-stopping work of art using the homes' own wood siding. From the Daily Mail of the UK.

Cracks in Beijing’s Financial Edifice (James Kynge) from the Financial Times [of the UK]
"China marshalled the might of its state-directed economy and engineered a muscular rebound that led the subsequent global recovery. This time, though, Beijing is feeling a lot less muscular. The exertion of its last effort has sapped internal resources so thoroughly that the pertinent question today is not whether China can once again guide the global economy away from the rocks but whether Beijing retains decisive control over its own economic levers."

Sanctions Pose Growing Threat to Syria’s Assad from the New York Times
"The Syrian economy is buckling under the pressure of sanctions by the West and a continuing popular uprising, posing a growing challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s government as the pain is felt deeply by nearly every layer of Syrian society."

This Time, It Really Is Different (Joe Nocera) from the New York Times
"its prognosis, if we continue on the current path, is grim. “Unless we take dramatic steps, it will be Japan all over again,” says Alpert. “Continuous deflation, no economic growth, in and out of recessions. And high unemployment.” Adds Hockett: “It will be like the economic version of chronic fatigue syndrome. A low-grade fever all the time.”"

The Best Piece About the Recession You'll Read This Month (Kevin Drum) from Mother Jones Magazine
"Despite everything, Team Obama actually did pretty well. Maybe 70-80% as well as anyone could have done."

Occupy Wall Street Breaks Through from Talking Points Memo
"...it’s clear that Occupy Wall Street has hit the sweet spot and is now driving the political conversation the way the tea party once did. There’s still a lot of weird and confusing stuff going on in the streets of cities where OWS and its offshoots are making their stands, but the general message that corporate wealth needs to be examined as solutions for fixing the economy are weighed is becoming the dominant topic in politics. Some signs that OWS is going mainstream:"

Thousands in Chicago Protest Financial Industry from Reuters
"Thousands of people including teachers, religious leaders and union workers marched in downtown Chicago on Monday to voice mounting anger over joblessness and income inequality in protests that snarled rush-hour traffic."

Tea Party for the Left? (John Avlon) from the Daily Beast
"As Occupy Wall Street explodes, the movement is being pegged as a left-wing Tea Party. John Avlon on the key differences between the protests—and why they both miss the mark."

The Occupy Protests: A Timely Call for Justice (Eugene Robinson) from the Washington Post
"The movement is broad and unfocused, but it’s just what the country needs."

Wisconsin Dems Announce Timeline For Effort To Recall Gov. Scott Walker from Talking Points Memo
"Wisconsin Democrats have announced the date at which they will begin attempting to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker, whose anti-public employee union legislation polarized the state and made it a center of national attention and activism: The petitions will begin being gathered November 15."

The GOP's Sad, Intolerant 2012 Field (Robert Shrum) from The Week
"At the weekend's Values Voters Summit, Republican presidential candidates and conservative kingmakers proved that bigotry is among their chief values"

The Republican Tolerance Gap (Peter Beinart) from the Daily Beast
"The GOP has come a long way—most Republicans are fine with a Mormon, black, or woman candidate. But Romney still can’t preach respect for nonbelievers, Cain can’t harp on racism, and Bachmann can’t praise feminism."

Republican Study Committee is GOP's 'Circular Firing Squad' from Politico
"The Republican Study Committee, which has long served as the conservative policy nerve center for the House GOP, has been beset by infighting and disputes over the group’s mission. In the past few months, at least three lawmakers have quit the group, an unusual number of defections, according to longtime RSC members and GOP aides. Several others are considering leaving and are speaking openly about their discontent."

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY NUGGET!!
Brain Linked to Robotic Hand; Success Hailed from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"When it happened, emotions flashed like lightning. The nearby robotic hand that Tim Hemmes was controlling with his mind touched his girlfriend Katie Schaffer's outstretched hand. One small touch for Mr. Hemmes; one giant reach for people with disabilities."


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