Yes, I'm still here. Time flies when your working on yourself.
And heck ya, having fun too. It's not an oxymoron to put exercize
with fun. It can be done. Hardest part is getting there in morning
then the rest feels good. Sometimes I'm able to sleep in and get there
in the afternoon. That's even better. I'm at a mile in 16 minutes now.
Nearly double what I started at. And I do 2 miles not 1. 2 miles in 35
minutes. Went off to resort for Thanksgiving to celebrate our 15th
Anniversary- with the kids in tow of course. I managed to swim laps
and get 60 minute workout one day. Then big blizzard hit and its been
now 4 days since I've made it to gym. But funny part is, I WANT to get
there! So up and back at em in morning at 5:30. Still with Becca, and
super amazed when I see what I'm already up to in weights. Really, I
tell her, I don't honestly WANT to look like Ahnuld. But Moms are tough
it's true. Comes from years of lugging 2 kids on one arm and 4 grocery
bags on the other. Don't know where the weight is. Don't want to know
just yet as long as I'm getting there 4-5 days a week. That's priority. And
going at it hard when I'm there too. No time to lose.
Can't believe the year is nearly over. Time is ever an illusion. Year seems
very long in some aspects when I think of what was going on January of this
year and yet in many ways it has flown by as well. Most people continue to
"clean up" on old issues. Can be painful as every workable issue is magnified
bigger than ever before so that we can "finally get it already" and move on.
Most of our issues are cleaned up, swept up and we are in the bliss of "now".
Refuse to get caught up in the commercialization of holidays and once again
will have minor gift giving aside from the children. I more look forward to
our annual preparation of gifts for the homeless. We ask the children to pick
out items from their room to give. It's more personal then going to a store.
Each year they amaze us as they pick out many of their favorite things. And
think of beautiful things to give. Like the year they included markers and paper.
Ah if only it could truly be a Season of GIVING not getting. If we asked for
nothing but gave everything.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
more discoveries in space
LOS ANGELES - Astronomers have discovered what they believe is the birth of the smallest known solar system. Peering through ground- and space-based telescopes, scientists observed a brown dwarf — or failed star — less than one hundredth the mass of the sun surrounded by what appears to be a disk of dust and gas.
The brown dwarf — located 500 light years away in the constellation Chamaeleon — appears to be undergoing a planet-forming process that could one day yield a solar system, said Kevin Luhman of Pennsylvania State University, who led the discovery.
It's long been believed that our own solar system came into existence when a huge cloud of gas and dust collapsed to form the sun and planets about 4.5 billion years ago.
The new finding is the smallest brown dwarf to be discovered with planet-forming properties. If the disk forms planets, the resulting solar system will be about 100 times smaller than our own, scientists said.
Brown dwarfs, which are bigger than a planet but much smaller than a star, are thought to be balls of gas that failed to collect enough mass to start shining.
The discovery was made using
Hubble Space Telescope as well as ground observatories. Results will be published in the Dec. 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
___
On the Net:
Spitzer Space Telescope: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Hubble Space Telescope: http://hubble.nasa.gov
The brown dwarf — located 500 light years away in the constellation Chamaeleon — appears to be undergoing a planet-forming process that could one day yield a solar system, said Kevin Luhman of Pennsylvania State University, who led the discovery.
It's long been believed that our own solar system came into existence when a huge cloud of gas and dust collapsed to form the sun and planets about 4.5 billion years ago.
The new finding is the smallest brown dwarf to be discovered with planet-forming properties. If the disk forms planets, the resulting solar system will be about 100 times smaller than our own, scientists said.
Brown dwarfs, which are bigger than a planet but much smaller than a star, are thought to be balls of gas that failed to collect enough mass to start shining.
The discovery was made using
Hubble Space Telescope as well as ground observatories. Results will be published in the Dec. 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
___
On the Net:
Spitzer Space Telescope: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Hubble Space Telescope: http://hubble.nasa.gov
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Put your money where mouth is
I always tell everyone that self care is paramount right now in the Great
Emergence. Maybe I don't talk about it enough on this blog I thought but
how boring is that to just talk about caring for yourself more? Plus it runs
the risk of sounding narcissistic as well. Primarily the only ones who need
to really work at this are the Lightworkers who serve everyone else in the
Universe but themselves. You know who you are. For them, saying ME FIRST
is a great challenge believe me. I've been working very hard at it for the
past year. My little mantra's are "The only person you need to worry about
is YOU!" So, in that vein I've done what I could on a budget that swings
wildly in the land of per diem. Doesnt' have to involve money but usually it
does! But it might be a quite long bath. Might be sleeping in when I could
be doing the mountains of laundry that mysteriously come from having young
children, or it might be finding more time for my goals.
One of my goals for more than 10 years is to lose the weight that I gained
from birthing my two beauties that are now 7 and 9. About to be 8 and 10.
It's time. I'll do whatever it takes. Amazing how just to get to the gym, I
constantly have to pull out the "ME first!" factor and STILL have difficulty
getting there. An errand pops up thats necessary for the household to survive,
a daugthers presentation, sons home sick, on and on it went. And so I chose
5:30 AM to get up for my workout! I did it for years when I work the morning
radio shows and woke everyone else up---I can do it again. COuldn't be any
worse then getting up with the barely 20 somethings who seem to have all the
answers and treat you as if you are geriatric at 35. So off I went last week.
Bleary eyed and sleepy but blissfully enjoying ooo whats that? Silence! I can hear
my thoughts! Perfect ME time! I even jacuzzied and sauna'd one day. Amazed
at how different this experience was from the one the other day
when I was swimming at the gym with the kids. I popped in to warm up in the
sauna and had my daughter saying "Adam's in here!" (boys aren't supposed to
be in ladies locker room) and having to end my 5 second respite to dry him up
and plop him in the locker room lobby until we were ready. This was serene!
Then I made another decision. Instead of going at it alone like a boat with no
oars-- I decided to give a personal trainer a try. I justified that the $40 rate
was easily spent on dog food treats, coloring markers, and other non essentials
on a weekly basis. Besides, it's not like I would need the trainer EVERY TIME
I went to the gym. That's a misnomer. So Becca met me on Friday. November 11.
11/11 is NEW BEGINNING in Numerology. I've moved on 11/11. Took a big
business trip on 11/11 (for which the wheels are STILL turning 3 years later!), its
always a day of action in my life. I didn't even know that was the date when I
booked it with her! Tomorrow I set off on the new plan of action. 60 minutes of
cardio every other day and 30 minutes cardio/30 minutes weights. Oh, I just
saw the time. 11:11! That's wild! Lots of AB exercizes too. Becca's a Pisces so
we'll work well together. And she's my goal weight. How's that for motivation?
Not that I want to
bore you with my plight but 60- 75 pounds to go is quite daunting. And it's
important for all of us to eat well right now and to get healthy. What good is it to
get to the other side of the chasm if we aren't physically healthy? Wish me luck.
First goal is 40 by 40. My 40th birthday is March 1st. Here's hoping I write that
I made it that day. Is all I want for my birthday. All I've every wanted for the last
10 birthdays. I just have to put ME first every day to pull it off.
Emergence. Maybe I don't talk about it enough on this blog I thought but
how boring is that to just talk about caring for yourself more? Plus it runs
the risk of sounding narcissistic as well. Primarily the only ones who need
to really work at this are the Lightworkers who serve everyone else in the
Universe but themselves. You know who you are. For them, saying ME FIRST
is a great challenge believe me. I've been working very hard at it for the
past year. My little mantra's are "The only person you need to worry about
is YOU!" So, in that vein I've done what I could on a budget that swings
wildly in the land of per diem. Doesnt' have to involve money but usually it
does! But it might be a quite long bath. Might be sleeping in when I could
be doing the mountains of laundry that mysteriously come from having young
children, or it might be finding more time for my goals.
One of my goals for more than 10 years is to lose the weight that I gained
from birthing my two beauties that are now 7 and 9. About to be 8 and 10.
It's time. I'll do whatever it takes. Amazing how just to get to the gym, I
constantly have to pull out the "ME first!" factor and STILL have difficulty
getting there. An errand pops up thats necessary for the household to survive,
a daugthers presentation, sons home sick, on and on it went. And so I chose
5:30 AM to get up for my workout! I did it for years when I work the morning
radio shows and woke everyone else up---I can do it again. COuldn't be any
worse then getting up with the barely 20 somethings who seem to have all the
answers and treat you as if you are geriatric at 35. So off I went last week.
Bleary eyed and sleepy but blissfully enjoying ooo whats that? Silence! I can hear
my thoughts! Perfect ME time! I even jacuzzied and sauna'd one day. Amazed
at how different this experience was from the one the other day
when I was swimming at the gym with the kids. I popped in to warm up in the
sauna and had my daughter saying "Adam's in here!" (boys aren't supposed to
be in ladies locker room) and having to end my 5 second respite to dry him up
and plop him in the locker room lobby until we were ready. This was serene!
Then I made another decision. Instead of going at it alone like a boat with no
oars-- I decided to give a personal trainer a try. I justified that the $40 rate
was easily spent on dog food treats, coloring markers, and other non essentials
on a weekly basis. Besides, it's not like I would need the trainer EVERY TIME
I went to the gym. That's a misnomer. So Becca met me on Friday. November 11.
11/11 is NEW BEGINNING in Numerology. I've moved on 11/11. Took a big
business trip on 11/11 (for which the wheels are STILL turning 3 years later!), its
always a day of action in my life. I didn't even know that was the date when I
booked it with her! Tomorrow I set off on the new plan of action. 60 minutes of
cardio every other day and 30 minutes cardio/30 minutes weights. Oh, I just
saw the time. 11:11! That's wild! Lots of AB exercizes too. Becca's a Pisces so
we'll work well together. And she's my goal weight. How's that for motivation?
Not that I want to
bore you with my plight but 60- 75 pounds to go is quite daunting. And it's
important for all of us to eat well right now and to get healthy. What good is it to
get to the other side of the chasm if we aren't physically healthy? Wish me luck.
First goal is 40 by 40. My 40th birthday is March 1st. Here's hoping I write that
I made it that day. Is all I want for my birthday. All I've every wanted for the last
10 birthdays. I just have to put ME first every day to pull it off.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Whaddya know!
Well whaddya know...the oil companies are making more money than ever before? Say it isn't so Joe! Please. If anyone is surprised by this please let me know. Maybe if consumption continues to tweak down- finally (it went UP initially when prices went up as well) - we can create a sea of change here. Hitch a ride with a friend. Ride your bike in Spring/summer. These suckers have enough! And hate to be cynic but having the politicians tell them to curb spending is well--humorous stuff!
Check out the profit lines of the 5 major oil companies. The great divide of the chasm grows ever wider. Over there ya got the have's. And they have more than ever before. More billionaires. More millionaires. Over there ya got the have not's. Poorer and poorer. No health insurance. No living wages. Just wait til the flip accelerates in this here Emergence. The last will go first and the first will go last. And if your embittered by it all and think your last, head on over to Rwanda for weeks stay and see if that doesn't change your mind.
And yes, while the numbers will make ya boil, it sure is entertaining to watch the Light shine on the Truth FINALLY.
On side note...time sure is ramped up and accelerated. For you neophytes that's called a quickening. I can't believe how fast the day goes. And that its mid November already. Peacefully in the NOW in all it's beauty and hoping you are as well. Yesterdays done deal, tomorrow aint here yet. Focus your eyes on NOW and rest will beautifully fall into place---Jill
WASHINGTON — The chiefs of five major oil companies defended the industry's huge profits Wednesday at a Senate hearing where they were exhorted to explain prices and assure customers they're not being gouged.
There is a "growing suspicion that oil companies are taking unfair advantage," Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said, opening the hearing in a packed committee room.
"The oil companies owe the American people an explanation," he declared.
Lee Raymond, chairman of Exxon Mobil Corp., said he recognizes that high gasoline prices "have put a strain on Americans' household budgets" but he defended his company's huge profits, saying petroleum earnings "go up and down" from year to year.
ExxonMobil, the worlds' largest privately owned oil company, earned nearly $10 billion in the third quarter. Raymond was joined at the witness table by the chief executives of Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips, BPAmerica Inc., and Shell Oil Company.
Together the companies earned more than $25 billion in profits in the July-September quarter as the price of crude oil hit $70 a barrel and gasoline surged to record levels after the disruptions of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Raymond said the profits are in line with other industries when earnings are compared to the industry's enormous revenues.
But senators pressed Raymond to explain why in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina some ExxonMobil gas station operators complained the company had raised the wholesale price of its gas by 24 cents a gallon in 24 hours. Is that not price gouging? they asked.
Raymond said he could not confirm the specific price increase, but that ExxonMobil had issued a directive in response to the storm disruptions "to minimize the increase in price while at the same time recognizing if we kept the price too low we would quickly run out (of fuel) at the service stations."
"It was a tough balancing act," said Raymond, who said it was not price gouging.
Although only 28 states have price gouging laws, and they vary widely as to implementation, the head of the Federal Trade Commission cautioned against enactment of a federal price gouging law. "Price gouging laws that have the effect of controlling prices likely will do more harm than good" and would be difficult to enforce, FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras told the hearing held jointly by the committees of energy and commerce.
Democrats had wanted the executives to testify under oath, but Republicans rejected the idea. "If I were a witness I would demand to be put under oath," said Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. The soaring prices have sent shivers through a Congress worried about political fallout.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., made the issue personal, noting that the executives were reaping multimillion-dollar bonuses on top of multimillion-dollar salaries as "working people struggle" to pay for gasoline and face the specter of soaring home heating bills this winter. "Your sacrifice appears to be nothing," Boxer told the executives.
The head of the National Association of Manufacturers, former Michigan Gov. John Engler, criticized lawmakers for the way they handled the hearing.
"Demagoguery and demonization will not reduce energy prices or solve supply problems in the long run," he said. "Our energy supply and infrastructure have suffered from 25 years of increasingly restrictive government policies that have made it almost impossible to access and refine the resources we have. The Senate should dispense with the theatrics and get serious about Americas energy supply."
The White House said that President Bush, too, is concerned about energy prices.
"Energy prices have been too high and energy companies have realized significant increases in profits," said spokesman Scott McClellan. "It's important that the private sector be good corporate citizens and invest in the energy infrastructure and support those who are in need."
A number of Democrats, joined by a few Republicans, have called for a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
Domenici said he opposes such a move, saying "it didn't work before and probably won't work again." The government imposed taxes on oil company windfall profits in the 1970s, resulting in a drop in investment in oil development.
The executives hoped to dampen any further momentum for calls for taxing windfall oil company profits, something still viewed as a longshot but also no longer out of the question. Such a tax could inhibit investment in refineries or oil exploration and production, the industry argues.
James Mulva, chairman of ConocoPhillips, said "we are ready open our records" to dispute allegations of price gouging. ConocoPhillips earned $3.8 billion in the third quarter, an 89 percent increase over a year earlier. But he said that represents only a 7.7 percent profit margin for every dollar of sales. "We do not consider that a windfall," said Mulva.
Raymond cautioned against Congress imposing "punitive measures, hastily crafted" -- an apparent reference to windfall profits taxes -- and suggested that they would inhibit investment in domestic energy projects. Both Republicans and Democrats have urged the companies to use more of their profits to build refineries and other energy projects.
David O'Reilly, chairman of Chevron, attributed the high energy prices to tight supplies even before the Gulf hurricanes hit and said his company is "investing aggressively in the development of new energy supplies."
The oil executives said their companies spend tens of billions of dollars in investments.
Shell earned $9 billion in the third quarter, said John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Co., but he said over the last five years the company's investment in U.S. operations was equal to its income from U.S. sales.
The oil industry's record third-quarter profits -- at a time when motorists were reeling from unprecedentedly high gasoline costs and warned of huge heating bills this winter -- have caught the attention of both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Some analysts predict the 29 largest oil companies will earn $96 billion this year.
Check out the profit lines of the 5 major oil companies. The great divide of the chasm grows ever wider. Over there ya got the have's. And they have more than ever before. More billionaires. More millionaires. Over there ya got the have not's. Poorer and poorer. No health insurance. No living wages. Just wait til the flip accelerates in this here Emergence. The last will go first and the first will go last. And if your embittered by it all and think your last, head on over to Rwanda for weeks stay and see if that doesn't change your mind.
And yes, while the numbers will make ya boil, it sure is entertaining to watch the Light shine on the Truth FINALLY.
On side note...time sure is ramped up and accelerated. For you neophytes that's called a quickening. I can't believe how fast the day goes. And that its mid November already. Peacefully in the NOW in all it's beauty and hoping you are as well. Yesterdays done deal, tomorrow aint here yet. Focus your eyes on NOW and rest will beautifully fall into place---Jill
WASHINGTON — The chiefs of five major oil companies defended the industry's huge profits Wednesday at a Senate hearing where they were exhorted to explain prices and assure customers they're not being gouged.
There is a "growing suspicion that oil companies are taking unfair advantage," Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said, opening the hearing in a packed committee room.
"The oil companies owe the American people an explanation," he declared.
Lee Raymond, chairman of Exxon Mobil Corp., said he recognizes that high gasoline prices "have put a strain on Americans' household budgets" but he defended his company's huge profits, saying petroleum earnings "go up and down" from year to year.
ExxonMobil, the worlds' largest privately owned oil company, earned nearly $10 billion in the third quarter. Raymond was joined at the witness table by the chief executives of Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips, BPAmerica Inc., and Shell Oil Company.
Together the companies earned more than $25 billion in profits in the July-September quarter as the price of crude oil hit $70 a barrel and gasoline surged to record levels after the disruptions of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Raymond said the profits are in line with other industries when earnings are compared to the industry's enormous revenues.
But senators pressed Raymond to explain why in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina some ExxonMobil gas station operators complained the company had raised the wholesale price of its gas by 24 cents a gallon in 24 hours. Is that not price gouging? they asked.
Raymond said he could not confirm the specific price increase, but that ExxonMobil had issued a directive in response to the storm disruptions "to minimize the increase in price while at the same time recognizing if we kept the price too low we would quickly run out (of fuel) at the service stations."
"It was a tough balancing act," said Raymond, who said it was not price gouging.
Although only 28 states have price gouging laws, and they vary widely as to implementation, the head of the Federal Trade Commission cautioned against enactment of a federal price gouging law. "Price gouging laws that have the effect of controlling prices likely will do more harm than good" and would be difficult to enforce, FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras told the hearing held jointly by the committees of energy and commerce.
Democrats had wanted the executives to testify under oath, but Republicans rejected the idea. "If I were a witness I would demand to be put under oath," said Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. The soaring prices have sent shivers through a Congress worried about political fallout.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., made the issue personal, noting that the executives were reaping multimillion-dollar bonuses on top of multimillion-dollar salaries as "working people struggle" to pay for gasoline and face the specter of soaring home heating bills this winter. "Your sacrifice appears to be nothing," Boxer told the executives.
The head of the National Association of Manufacturers, former Michigan Gov. John Engler, criticized lawmakers for the way they handled the hearing.
"Demagoguery and demonization will not reduce energy prices or solve supply problems in the long run," he said. "Our energy supply and infrastructure have suffered from 25 years of increasingly restrictive government policies that have made it almost impossible to access and refine the resources we have. The Senate should dispense with the theatrics and get serious about Americas energy supply."
The White House said that President Bush, too, is concerned about energy prices.
"Energy prices have been too high and energy companies have realized significant increases in profits," said spokesman Scott McClellan. "It's important that the private sector be good corporate citizens and invest in the energy infrastructure and support those who are in need."
A number of Democrats, joined by a few Republicans, have called for a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
Domenici said he opposes such a move, saying "it didn't work before and probably won't work again." The government imposed taxes on oil company windfall profits in the 1970s, resulting in a drop in investment in oil development.
The executives hoped to dampen any further momentum for calls for taxing windfall oil company profits, something still viewed as a longshot but also no longer out of the question. Such a tax could inhibit investment in refineries or oil exploration and production, the industry argues.
James Mulva, chairman of ConocoPhillips, said "we are ready open our records" to dispute allegations of price gouging. ConocoPhillips earned $3.8 billion in the third quarter, an 89 percent increase over a year earlier. But he said that represents only a 7.7 percent profit margin for every dollar of sales. "We do not consider that a windfall," said Mulva.
Raymond cautioned against Congress imposing "punitive measures, hastily crafted" -- an apparent reference to windfall profits taxes -- and suggested that they would inhibit investment in domestic energy projects. Both Republicans and Democrats have urged the companies to use more of their profits to build refineries and other energy projects.
David O'Reilly, chairman of Chevron, attributed the high energy prices to tight supplies even before the Gulf hurricanes hit and said his company is "investing aggressively in the development of new energy supplies."
The oil executives said their companies spend tens of billions of dollars in investments.
Shell earned $9 billion in the third quarter, said John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Co., but he said over the last five years the company's investment in U.S. operations was equal to its income from U.S. sales.
The oil industry's record third-quarter profits -- at a time when motorists were reeling from unprecedentedly high gasoline costs and warned of huge heating bills this winter -- have caught the attention of both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Some analysts predict the 29 largest oil companies will earn $96 billion this year.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Now this is putting wealth to good use
NEW YORK - The world's richest man,
Bill Gates' name Bill Gates, believes it is possible to completely wipe out malaria that kills thousands every day but gets comparatively little attention because it mostly affects poor countries.
"The fact that all these kids are dying, over 2,000 a day. That's terrible. If it was happening in rich countries, we'd act," said the software billionaire — who has acted by pledging $258.3 million recently for the development of new drugs, a vaccine and better protection against mosquitos.
"Biology has improved, so the chance of having new medicines and vaccines are stronger today than ever," Gates said in an interview for ABC's "This Week" to be aired Sunday.
"And yet because the people who need these medicines can't afford them, we haven't put the resources of the world behind us," said the top philanthropist who has provided about $6 billion over the last five years for various causes and projects.
The largest chunk, $107.6 million, of the new funds to battle malaria will go to develop an experimental malaria vaccine and will cover the completion of testing in Africa and the licensing process, should the vaccine prove viable. A study in Mozambique has found the vaccine cut the risk of severe malaria among young children by 58 percent.
A group working to accelerate the development of affordable drugs, the Medicines for Malaria Venture, will get $100 million. The rest will go to developing better pesticides and bed nets against the disease-spreading mosquitos.
In the United States, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focuses on education and scholarships. But globally "We learned about these health issues, we realized that that's where you can make a huge change," he said.
"With our foundation, with others ... we're getting the brightest scientists to come and work on these problems," Gates added.
But can the stubborn, age-old infection be fully eradicated?
"Absolutely. It's not going to happen overnight, and we should take the tools we have today and get those applied, because we can save half the lives just that way," Gates told George Stephanopoulos, a former White House aide and now an ABC anchor.
"With breakthroughs that will come over the next two decades, yes, we can make malaria in the whole world like it is in the United States today, something that we just don't have to worry about," said Gates.
So will he be remembered more for the work on global health than for Microsoft, Stephanopoulos asked?
"I don't care whether I'm remembered ... empowering people with the Internet and PCs is my lifetime's work. That's my job."
Bill Gates' name Bill Gates, believes it is possible to completely wipe out malaria that kills thousands every day but gets comparatively little attention because it mostly affects poor countries.
"The fact that all these kids are dying, over 2,000 a day. That's terrible. If it was happening in rich countries, we'd act," said the software billionaire — who has acted by pledging $258.3 million recently for the development of new drugs, a vaccine and better protection against mosquitos.
"Biology has improved, so the chance of having new medicines and vaccines are stronger today than ever," Gates said in an interview for ABC's "This Week" to be aired Sunday.
"And yet because the people who need these medicines can't afford them, we haven't put the resources of the world behind us," said the top philanthropist who has provided about $6 billion over the last five years for various causes and projects.
The largest chunk, $107.6 million, of the new funds to battle malaria will go to develop an experimental malaria vaccine and will cover the completion of testing in Africa and the licensing process, should the vaccine prove viable. A study in Mozambique has found the vaccine cut the risk of severe malaria among young children by 58 percent.
A group working to accelerate the development of affordable drugs, the Medicines for Malaria Venture, will get $100 million. The rest will go to developing better pesticides and bed nets against the disease-spreading mosquitos.
In the United States, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focuses on education and scholarships. But globally "We learned about these health issues, we realized that that's where you can make a huge change," he said.
"With our foundation, with others ... we're getting the brightest scientists to come and work on these problems," Gates added.
But can the stubborn, age-old infection be fully eradicated?
"Absolutely. It's not going to happen overnight, and we should take the tools we have today and get those applied, because we can save half the lives just that way," Gates told George Stephanopoulos, a former White House aide and now an ABC anchor.
"With breakthroughs that will come over the next two decades, yes, we can make malaria in the whole world like it is in the United States today, something that we just don't have to worry about," said Gates.
So will he be remembered more for the work on global health than for Microsoft, Stephanopoulos asked?
"I don't care whether I'm remembered ... empowering people with the Internet and PCs is my lifetime's work. That's my job."
Friday, November 04, 2005
The Great Divide
Continues to astonish me that the cost of living increases yet wages are frozen or have gone down (for women) and not one politician will step forward to propose living wage legislation. In my city of Fargo N.D. USA where the minimum wage is just above $5.00 like everywhere else, if you are not a professional, a "good" paying wage might be $8.00 hour and over period of time if you are lucky you could work yourself up to perhaps $9.50 or $10.00- a SUPERVISOR wage in many instances. The director of the Churches United for Homeless shelter here told me he did a study throughout the region along with the U.S. Census statistics and found that to make a living wage here you'd need to earn $9.50 an hour. And that's just a livin' folks- nothing extra. Nothing outrages me more. We value our workers less and less, labor unions continue to break up or dissolve, the rich are getting richer on the backs of humble, hard working Americans who have no concept of the American dream. Yet no politicians- not even the Democrats- call this a "sexy constituent" because nobody addresses it any longer- except for Ralph Nader whom even the Dem's dislike. Says alot about how much they really care about the little guy.
I don't mean to depress you with all this. Because as I always say, it has to get worse before it gets better. And it WILL get better. The tide is high. The current is evident everywhere you look. Civil suit with Walmart. Walmart scrutiny on effects on labor (drive wages down) . Hurricane Katrina showing the world the face of America's poorest. Nothing gets me in more of a Norma Rae moment then this--well, this and crimes against children and the perpetrators going to jail less than drug possession. The trend of poverty may very well be this Administrations downfall if they continue to cut social programs, spend our money elsewhere and create huge deficits, and continue turn their eyes.
Poverty continues to INCREASE in this country and throughout the world at an alarming rate. As the gap grows wider (chasm) between the rich and the poor. The number of millionaires and billionaires continue to increase so rapidly the editors of Forbes can't keep up with their 500 list.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html
Poverty Overview (source link above)
There were 37.0 million people in poverty (12.7 percent) in 2004, up from 35.9 million (12.5 percent) in 2003.
There were 7.9 million families in poverty in 2004, up from 7.6 million in 2003. The poverty rate for families remained unchanged at 10.2 percent. The poverty rate and the number in poverty showed no change for the different type of families.
As defined by the Office of Management and Budget and updated for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2004 was an income of $19,307; for a family of three, $15,067; for a family of two, $12,334; and for unrelated individuals, $9,645.
I don't mean to depress you with all this. Because as I always say, it has to get worse before it gets better. And it WILL get better. The tide is high. The current is evident everywhere you look. Civil suit with Walmart. Walmart scrutiny on effects on labor (drive wages down) . Hurricane Katrina showing the world the face of America's poorest. Nothing gets me in more of a Norma Rae moment then this--well, this and crimes against children and the perpetrators going to jail less than drug possession. The trend of poverty may very well be this Administrations downfall if they continue to cut social programs, spend our money elsewhere and create huge deficits, and continue turn their eyes.
Poverty continues to INCREASE in this country and throughout the world at an alarming rate. As the gap grows wider (chasm) between the rich and the poor. The number of millionaires and billionaires continue to increase so rapidly the editors of Forbes can't keep up with their 500 list.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html
Poverty Overview (source link above)
There were 37.0 million people in poverty (12.7 percent) in 2004, up from 35.9 million (12.5 percent) in 2003.
There were 7.9 million families in poverty in 2004, up from 7.6 million in 2003. The poverty rate for families remained unchanged at 10.2 percent. The poverty rate and the number in poverty showed no change for the different type of families.
As defined by the Office of Management and Budget and updated for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2004 was an income of $19,307; for a family of three, $15,067; for a family of two, $12,334; and for unrelated individuals, $9,645.
Round and round it goes
Winds of change continue to blow
Round and round it goes
where it stops nobody knows
By DAN MOLINSKI, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina - A crowd of 10,000 protesters chanting "Get out Bush!" swarmed the streets of this Argentine resort Friday, hours before the hemisphere's leaders sat down to debate free trade, immigration and job creation.
Before dawn, thousands greeted a train bringing the last group of fellow demonstrators from Buenos Aires, including Bolivian presidential hopeful Evo Morales and soccer great Diego Maradona, who donned a T-shirt accusing
President Bush' name Chanting "Fascist Bush! You are the terrorist!" the protesters hung from the engine and moved up the sides of the train, trying to shake hands with those inside.
Later, they took to the streets, heading toward a stadium where Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a speech before joining the Summit of the Americas.
Chavez arrived early Friday, saying he was "inspired" by the protesters, who also oppose the U.S.-led negotiations to form a Free Trade Area of the Americas stretching from Alaska to Argentina.
"Today the FTAA is dead and we are going to bury it here. We are here to change the course of history," he said after stepping off his plane.
But Mexican President
Vicente Fox'one of the region's biggest free trade proponents, told reporters that Venezuela and other nations opposed to the FTAA may be left behind as the rest of the hemisphere considers moving forward on creating a huge free trade zone.
One marcher, Canadian steelworker Dennis Matteau, said free trade must be stopped.
"We have NAFTA, so we know about free trade deals," he said. "They are not good for workers."
The march was mostly peaceful, although some self-proclaimed anarchists spray-painted slogans on a bank. Most businesses along the route had closed, except for a fruit stand protected by a wall of wooden crates.
"So far, I've only lost four bananas," owner Blas Zanghi said.
Shuttling between luxury hotels, Bush met with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner as well as Central American and Andean leaders Friday before joining the 34-nation summit.
Leaders attending the two-day summit agreed ahead of time to focus on creating jobs and reducing poverty. In recent days, however, attention has shifted to the free trade issue and sparring between the United States and Chavez, a leftist whose government has used his country's vast oil wealth on social programs for the poor.
Washington maintains the proposed free trade accord, which has stalled amid opposition by several Latin American countries, is vital to creating jobs and increasing wealth in the region.
Chavez, who regularly claims Washington is trying to overthrow him, has said free trade is being forced on Latin American countries and the deal would only help the rich. Instead, he is promoting anti-FTAA deal based on socialist ideals.
Bush arrived Thursday, the same day Venezuela staged a mock U.S. invasion of its own territory. The event was the latest exercise intended to prepare soldiers and civilian volunteers for what Chavez says is a possible attack by American troops.
U.S. officials deny any such plan.
Chavez and Bush will likely see each other Friday at the summit's inauguration but are not scheduled to meet one-on-one.
Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organization of American States — the Washington-based group that organized the summit — said he was disappointed by the attention given to the free trade deal.
"This is not a summit about the FTAA," a frustrated Insulza told reporters.
But Bush seemed to be winning over supporters. A high-ranking Brazilian official, who said he was not authorized to give his name, told reporters 28 of the 34 countries participating in the summit had agreed to relaunch trade talks as early as April.
___
Associated Press writers Nestor Ikeda, Vivian Sequera, and Alan Clendenning in Mar del Plata and Kris Kitto in Buenos Aires contributed to this report.
___
On the Net: http://www.summit-americas.org
Round and round it goes
where it stops nobody knows
By DAN MOLINSKI, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina - A crowd of 10,000 protesters chanting "Get out Bush!" swarmed the streets of this Argentine resort Friday, hours before the hemisphere's leaders sat down to debate free trade, immigration and job creation.
Before dawn, thousands greeted a train bringing the last group of fellow demonstrators from Buenos Aires, including Bolivian presidential hopeful Evo Morales and soccer great Diego Maradona, who donned a T-shirt accusing
President Bush' name Chanting "Fascist Bush! You are the terrorist!" the protesters hung from the engine and moved up the sides of the train, trying to shake hands with those inside.
Later, they took to the streets, heading toward a stadium where Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a speech before joining the Summit of the Americas.
Chavez arrived early Friday, saying he was "inspired" by the protesters, who also oppose the U.S.-led negotiations to form a Free Trade Area of the Americas stretching from Alaska to Argentina.
"Today the FTAA is dead and we are going to bury it here. We are here to change the course of history," he said after stepping off his plane.
But Mexican President
Vicente Fox'one of the region's biggest free trade proponents, told reporters that Venezuela and other nations opposed to the FTAA may be left behind as the rest of the hemisphere considers moving forward on creating a huge free trade zone.
One marcher, Canadian steelworker Dennis Matteau, said free trade must be stopped.
"We have NAFTA, so we know about free trade deals," he said. "They are not good for workers."
The march was mostly peaceful, although some self-proclaimed anarchists spray-painted slogans on a bank. Most businesses along the route had closed, except for a fruit stand protected by a wall of wooden crates.
"So far, I've only lost four bananas," owner Blas Zanghi said.
Shuttling between luxury hotels, Bush met with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner as well as Central American and Andean leaders Friday before joining the 34-nation summit.
Leaders attending the two-day summit agreed ahead of time to focus on creating jobs and reducing poverty. In recent days, however, attention has shifted to the free trade issue and sparring between the United States and Chavez, a leftist whose government has used his country's vast oil wealth on social programs for the poor.
Washington maintains the proposed free trade accord, which has stalled amid opposition by several Latin American countries, is vital to creating jobs and increasing wealth in the region.
Chavez, who regularly claims Washington is trying to overthrow him, has said free trade is being forced on Latin American countries and the deal would only help the rich. Instead, he is promoting anti-FTAA deal based on socialist ideals.
Bush arrived Thursday, the same day Venezuela staged a mock U.S. invasion of its own territory. The event was the latest exercise intended to prepare soldiers and civilian volunteers for what Chavez says is a possible attack by American troops.
U.S. officials deny any such plan.
Chavez and Bush will likely see each other Friday at the summit's inauguration but are not scheduled to meet one-on-one.
Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organization of American States — the Washington-based group that organized the summit — said he was disappointed by the attention given to the free trade deal.
"This is not a summit about the FTAA," a frustrated Insulza told reporters.
But Bush seemed to be winning over supporters. A high-ranking Brazilian official, who said he was not authorized to give his name, told reporters 28 of the 34 countries participating in the summit had agreed to relaunch trade talks as early as April.
___
Associated Press writers Nestor Ikeda, Vivian Sequera, and Alan Clendenning in Mar del Plata and Kris Kitto in Buenos Aires contributed to this report.
___
On the Net: http://www.summit-americas.org
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Light is brighter in Heaven with Rosa
Hero #1 in the Great Emergence HEROES 101 course is Rosa Parks.
When I write about taking a stand, speaking the truth, sticking your
neck out for what's right when all seems lost---who else is there to
take the #1 spot of Heroes in the Emergence as our most prime example
of actions to emulate? Grace, courage beyond comprehension, dignity
with attitude! That's Rosa.
I always point to Rosa when I tell my children that ONE person indeed
CAN make a difference. And create a sea of change for the better.
We'll miss you Rosa. We need more Rosa's here to help get us across
the chasm. You define the word HERO. And heaven just got a lot brighter.
DETROIT - A church packed with 4,000 mourners celebrated the life of Rosa Parks Wednesday in an impassioned, song-filled funeral, with a crowd of notables giving thanks for the humble woman whose dignity and defiance helped transform a nation.
"The woman we honored today held no public office, she wasn't a wealthy woman, didn't appear in the society pages," said Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. "And yet when the history of this country is written, it is this small, quiet woman whose name will be remembered long after the names of senators and presidents have been forgotten."
The funeral, which stretched well past its three-hour scheduled time, followed a week of remembrances during which Parks' coffin was brought from Detroit, where she died Oct. 24; to Montgomery, Ala., where she sparked the civil rights movement 50 years ago by refusing to give her bus seat to a white man; to Washington, where she became the first woman to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.
Those in the audience held hands and sang the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" as family members filed past her casket before it was closed.
"Mother Parks, take your rest. You have certainly earned it," said Bishop Charles Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple, who led the service.
Speakers described Parks, who died at 92, as both a warrior and a woman of peace who never stopped working toward a future of racial equality.
"The world knows of Rosa Parks because of a single, simple act of dignity and courage that struck a lethal blow to the foundations of legal bigotry," said former
President Clinton who presented Parks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, not yet born when Parks took her famous stand, was one of many who attributed their success to the doors Parks opened.
"Thank you for sacrificing for us," he said. "Thank you for praying when we were too cool and too cute to pray for ourselves. ... Thank you for allowing us to step on your mighty shoulders."
Singers included Aretha Franklin and mezzo-soprano Brenda Jackson, who sang a soaring version of the Lord's Prayer.
Members of Congress and national civil rights leaders filled the pews. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke, as did former presidential candidate
Long before the funeral, the line to get one of the 2,000 available public seats at the church extended for blocks.
Tammi Swanigan waited for hours without getting a seat, but the 28-year-old Detroit resident wasn't complaining.
"I think just being here, it was really nice to see all the people come out to pay their respects," she said.
Parks was a 42-year-old tailor's assistant at a Montgomery department store in December 1955 when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus. Her act triggered a 381-day boycott of the bus system led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Parks and her husband, Raymond, moved to Detroit in 1957, after they lost their jobs and faced harassment and death threats in Montgomery. She is to be entombed in a mausoleum, along with the bodies of her husband and mother
When I write about taking a stand, speaking the truth, sticking your
neck out for what's right when all seems lost---who else is there to
take the #1 spot of Heroes in the Emergence as our most prime example
of actions to emulate? Grace, courage beyond comprehension, dignity
with attitude! That's Rosa.
I always point to Rosa when I tell my children that ONE person indeed
CAN make a difference. And create a sea of change for the better.
We'll miss you Rosa. We need more Rosa's here to help get us across
the chasm. You define the word HERO. And heaven just got a lot brighter.
DETROIT - A church packed with 4,000 mourners celebrated the life of Rosa Parks Wednesday in an impassioned, song-filled funeral, with a crowd of notables giving thanks for the humble woman whose dignity and defiance helped transform a nation.
"The woman we honored today held no public office, she wasn't a wealthy woman, didn't appear in the society pages," said Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. "And yet when the history of this country is written, it is this small, quiet woman whose name will be remembered long after the names of senators and presidents have been forgotten."
The funeral, which stretched well past its three-hour scheduled time, followed a week of remembrances during which Parks' coffin was brought from Detroit, where she died Oct. 24; to Montgomery, Ala., where she sparked the civil rights movement 50 years ago by refusing to give her bus seat to a white man; to Washington, where she became the first woman to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.
Those in the audience held hands and sang the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" as family members filed past her casket before it was closed.
"Mother Parks, take your rest. You have certainly earned it," said Bishop Charles Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple, who led the service.
Speakers described Parks, who died at 92, as both a warrior and a woman of peace who never stopped working toward a future of racial equality.
"The world knows of Rosa Parks because of a single, simple act of dignity and courage that struck a lethal blow to the foundations of legal bigotry," said former
President Clinton who presented Parks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, not yet born when Parks took her famous stand, was one of many who attributed their success to the doors Parks opened.
"Thank you for sacrificing for us," he said. "Thank you for praying when we were too cool and too cute to pray for ourselves. ... Thank you for allowing us to step on your mighty shoulders."
Singers included Aretha Franklin and mezzo-soprano Brenda Jackson, who sang a soaring version of the Lord's Prayer.
Members of Congress and national civil rights leaders filled the pews. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke, as did former presidential candidate
Long before the funeral, the line to get one of the 2,000 available public seats at the church extended for blocks.
Tammi Swanigan waited for hours without getting a seat, but the 28-year-old Detroit resident wasn't complaining.
"I think just being here, it was really nice to see all the people come out to pay their respects," she said.
Parks was a 42-year-old tailor's assistant at a Montgomery department store in December 1955 when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus. Her act triggered a 381-day boycott of the bus system led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Parks and her husband, Raymond, moved to Detroit in 1957, after they lost their jobs and faced harassment and death threats in Montgomery. She is to be entombed in a mausoleum, along with the bodies of her husband and mother
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