Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
steve2470
steve2470's Journal
steve2470's Journal
February 6, 2014
Russian adviser threatens Ukraine with military force
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/02/06/ukraine-protests-russia-military-threats/5259777/Protesters expressed their fears as a senior U.S. diplomat arrived in Kiev to try to help find a resolution to the country's political crisis, and an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Ukraine with attack.
Sergei Glazyev on Thursday accused the United States of funding the Ukrainian "rebels" by as much as $20 million a day for weapons and other supplies. He urged the Ukrainian government to put down the "attempted coup" or Russia may have to to intervene under the terms of a 1994 agreement between the U.S. and Russia, according to the Ukraine edition of the Russian daily Kommersant.
Glazyev was alluding to the Budapest Memorandum, a treaty in which the Ukraine agreed to turn over a nuclear arsenal on its soil left over after the fall of the Soviet Union, of which Ukraine was a part until it dissolved in 1991.
In return, the United States, United Kingdom and Russia, nuclear powers all, guaranteed to respect the independence and the borders of Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to seek immediate U.N. Security Council action should Ukraine become a victim of an act of aggression.
Sergei Glazyev on Thursday accused the United States of funding the Ukrainian "rebels" by as much as $20 million a day for weapons and other supplies. He urged the Ukrainian government to put down the "attempted coup" or Russia may have to to intervene under the terms of a 1994 agreement between the U.S. and Russia, according to the Ukraine edition of the Russian daily Kommersant.
Glazyev was alluding to the Budapest Memorandum, a treaty in which the Ukraine agreed to turn over a nuclear arsenal on its soil left over after the fall of the Soviet Union, of which Ukraine was a part until it dissolved in 1991.
In return, the United States, United Kingdom and Russia, nuclear powers all, guaranteed to respect the independence and the borders of Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to seek immediate U.N. Security Council action should Ukraine become a victim of an act of aggression.
February 6, 2014
BARANKOVA, Russia — At the end of a road that winds through a mountain overlooking downtown Sochi — the last mile or so an unpaved, uninhabitable mess of mud and gravel — roughly 100 stray dogs that have been removed from Olympic Park are enjoying their reprieve from the slaughterhouse.
Some of them lay on the dirt, soaking in sunshine with their eyes closed. A few small puppies nip at each other and roll around in sawdust, while others make eager introductions to visitors, almost begging to be adopted. They perk up and start yapping when Jenya Popov, 25, who has been hired to live in a nearby aluminum shed with just a tiny cot, a stove heater and several bags of dog food, starts stirring around 3:30 p.m., eventually emerging with a large silver bucket.
"We feed the older dogs now," he said through an interpreter. "We fed the puppies in the morning."
It is by no means a luxurious home for the stray dogs that have essentially been classified as pests by the Russian organizing committee for the Winter Games, but it is indeed a home — for now, anyway — made possible by a billionaire philanthropist, the city of Sochi and various animal-loving volunteers.
Sochi's stray dogs find shelter, at least while Games go on
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2014/02/06/stay-dogs-sochi-olympics/5259005/BARANKOVA, Russia — At the end of a road that winds through a mountain overlooking downtown Sochi — the last mile or so an unpaved, uninhabitable mess of mud and gravel — roughly 100 stray dogs that have been removed from Olympic Park are enjoying their reprieve from the slaughterhouse.
Some of them lay on the dirt, soaking in sunshine with their eyes closed. A few small puppies nip at each other and roll around in sawdust, while others make eager introductions to visitors, almost begging to be adopted. They perk up and start yapping when Jenya Popov, 25, who has been hired to live in a nearby aluminum shed with just a tiny cot, a stove heater and several bags of dog food, starts stirring around 3:30 p.m., eventually emerging with a large silver bucket.
"We feed the older dogs now," he said through an interpreter. "We fed the puppies in the morning."
It is by no means a luxurious home for the stray dogs that have essentially been classified as pests by the Russian organizing committee for the Winter Games, but it is indeed a home — for now, anyway — made possible by a billionaire philanthropist, the city of Sochi and various animal-loving volunteers.
February 6, 2014
Washington Post: "FACT CHECK: Anti-Obamacare chorus is off key"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/fact-check-anti-obamacare-chorus-is-off-key/2014/02/05/a39d1632-8ed0-11e3-878e-d76656564a01_story.htmlTHE FACTS: No one knows whether the health care law will turn out to be good or bad for jobs and the economy. Everything is guesswork, however educated the guess.
The budget office, generally respected by both sides but not infallible, predicts some elements of the health care law will help job growth and other parts will hurt it.
On the plus side, for example, it expects lower-income people to have more money to spend because more of them will have their health insurance partially or fully paid for by government under the law. On the negative side, Elmendorf told Ryan’s committee that in the short run, the law would increase employers’ costs for their workers and reduce the number of people they hire. Over time, this could put downward pressure on wages, he said.
But those effects, good and bad, are expected to be modest. Of more consequence is the expectation that millions will take themselves voluntarily out of the labor force because they can afford to.
The budget office, generally respected by both sides but not infallible, predicts some elements of the health care law will help job growth and other parts will hurt it.
On the plus side, for example, it expects lower-income people to have more money to spend because more of them will have their health insurance partially or fully paid for by government under the law. On the negative side, Elmendorf told Ryan’s committee that in the short run, the law would increase employers’ costs for their workers and reduce the number of people they hire. Over time, this could put downward pressure on wages, he said.
But those effects, good and bad, are expected to be modest. Of more consequence is the expectation that millions will take themselves voluntarily out of the labor force because they can afford to.
February 6, 2014
CHINA, Maine (AP) — Police responding to reports of screaming coming from a home in Maine didn't find a victim of domestic violence as they feared. Instead, they found an amorous pig.
State police say a woman called last week after hearing what she believed to be a fight coming from a neighbor's home in the town of China. The caller said she heard screaming and thought there was a domestic assault.
The Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1jafexV ) reports that four state troopers responded and talked to the neighbor.
The neighbor explained that she raises pigs and the screaming was coming from an overjoyed male pig that had been placed in a pen with five sows in heat.
*end*
What's that expression, happy as a pig in shit ?
Police Investigating Horrific Screams In Maine Find Happy Pig
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/04/maine-police-screams-happy-pig_n_4722461.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopularCHINA, Maine (AP) — Police responding to reports of screaming coming from a home in Maine didn't find a victim of domestic violence as they feared. Instead, they found an amorous pig.
State police say a woman called last week after hearing what she believed to be a fight coming from a neighbor's home in the town of China. The caller said she heard screaming and thought there was a domestic assault.
The Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1jafexV ) reports that four state troopers responded and talked to the neighbor.
The neighbor explained that she raises pigs and the screaming was coming from an overjoyed male pig that had been placed in a pen with five sows in heat.
*end*
What's that expression, happy as a pig in shit ?
February 5, 2014
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- One of the top jobs at computer software giant Microsoft now belongs to a Florida A&M University graduate.
John W. Thompson, a 1971 graduate of FAMU, was named February 4 as independent chairman of Microsoft Corporation; a role previously held by company founder Bill Gates. Thompson first joined Microsoft's board in February 2012.
According to a release from Microsoft, Gates is stepping down in order to give more attention to other projects. Thompson was named Chairman of the Board the same day Satya Nadella was named Chief Executive Officer, taking over for Steve Ballmer.
In addition to Chairman of the Microsoft Company board, Thompson is the chief executive officer of Virtual Instruments; a privately held company that reportedly produces products designed to "ensure the performance and availability of applications deployed in virtualized and private cloud computing environments.".
*end*
WTG FAMU grad !
UPDATE: FAMU graduate named Chairman of Microsoft Corporation
http://www.wtxl.com/news/local/update-famu-graduate-named-chairman-of-microsoft-corporation/article_9f2fce20-8dc0-11e3-8175-001a4bcf6878.htmlTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- One of the top jobs at computer software giant Microsoft now belongs to a Florida A&M University graduate.
John W. Thompson, a 1971 graduate of FAMU, was named February 4 as independent chairman of Microsoft Corporation; a role previously held by company founder Bill Gates. Thompson first joined Microsoft's board in February 2012.
According to a release from Microsoft, Gates is stepping down in order to give more attention to other projects. Thompson was named Chairman of the Board the same day Satya Nadella was named Chief Executive Officer, taking over for Steve Ballmer.
In addition to Chairman of the Microsoft Company board, Thompson is the chief executive officer of Virtual Instruments; a privately held company that reportedly produces products designed to "ensure the performance and availability of applications deployed in virtualized and private cloud computing environments.".
*end*
WTG FAMU grad !
February 5, 2014
trend to part-time jobs, feedback sought
My 18 year old son will be entering the job market soon for the first time. His friends tell him that full-time (40 hours per week or close to it) jobs are not available at the entry level at places like Wal-Mart, McDonald's, etc. His friends range in age from 18 to 20.
Is this your experience also ? Thanks for your time ! 
Steve
February 5, 2014
Police busted the foursome at a Mott St. apartment building, acting on a tip the heroin that killed Hoffman originated from the location. Officials also disclosed that the heroin found in Hoffman's apartment did not contain the pain reliever fentanyl, which has killed 22 people in Pennsylvania.
Cops Tuesday night busted three men and a woman in a downtown Manhattan apartment building who might have been suppliers of the heroin that killed Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Acting on informants’ tips that the deadly drug originated from the Mott St. location, cops arrested the four suspected dealers — Thomas Cushman, 48; Robert Vineberg, 57; Juliana Luchkiw, 22; and Max Rosenblum, 22 — at around 7 p.m. and seized more than 350 bags of heroin from three apartments, police sources said.
Police were not certain if those arrested actually sold the lethal heroin to Hoffman or if they are part of a larger drug distribution ring, the sources said.
Philip Seymour Hoffman overdose death: 4 suspected heroin dealers arrested
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/philip-seymour-hoffman-knew-die-drug-report-article-1.1601596Police busted the foursome at a Mott St. apartment building, acting on a tip the heroin that killed Hoffman originated from the location. Officials also disclosed that the heroin found in Hoffman's apartment did not contain the pain reliever fentanyl, which has killed 22 people in Pennsylvania.
Cops Tuesday night busted three men and a woman in a downtown Manhattan apartment building who might have been suppliers of the heroin that killed Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Acting on informants’ tips that the deadly drug originated from the Mott St. location, cops arrested the four suspected dealers — Thomas Cushman, 48; Robert Vineberg, 57; Juliana Luchkiw, 22; and Max Rosenblum, 22 — at around 7 p.m. and seized more than 350 bags of heroin from three apartments, police sources said.
Police were not certain if those arrested actually sold the lethal heroin to Hoffman or if they are part of a larger drug distribution ring, the sources said.
February 5, 2014
Alaska could be the next state to reconsider the prohibition on marijuana, following legalization votes by Colorado and Washington last year.
Alaska elections officials posted data Tuesday showing that a petition for a statewide vote on marijuana legalization has gained enough signatures and met legal thresholds needed to put the issue before voters.
Under Alaska law, the petition when officially certified would appear on the Aug. 19 primary ballot. No formal opposition to the initiative has emerged thus far.
Taylor Bickford, spokesman for an Anchorage-based organization that is behind the ballot drive, said that while petitions are still being counted, the state has reported 31,593 signatures are qualified, more than the 30,169 needed.
Alaska moves toward August vote on legal pot
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/04/alaska-marijuana-ballot/5210613/Alaska could be the next state to reconsider the prohibition on marijuana, following legalization votes by Colorado and Washington last year.
Alaska elections officials posted data Tuesday showing that a petition for a statewide vote on marijuana legalization has gained enough signatures and met legal thresholds needed to put the issue before voters.
Under Alaska law, the petition when officially certified would appear on the Aug. 19 primary ballot. No formal opposition to the initiative has emerged thus far.
Taylor Bickford, spokesman for an Anchorage-based organization that is behind the ballot drive, said that while petitions are still being counted, the state has reported 31,593 signatures are qualified, more than the 30,169 needed.
February 5, 2014
Alaska could be the next state to reconsider the prohibition on marijuana, following legalization votes by Colorado and Washington last year.
Alaska elections officials posted data Tuesday showing that a petition for a statewide vote on marijuana legalization has gained enough signatures and met legal thresholds needed to put the issue before voters.
Under Alaska law, the petition when officially certified would appear on the Aug. 19 primary ballot. No formal opposition to the initiative has emerged thus far.
Taylor Bickford, spokesman for an Anchorage-based organization that is behind the ballot drive, said that while petitions are still being counted, the state has reported 31,593 signatures are qualified, more than the 30,169 needed.
Alaska moves toward August vote on legal pot
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/04/alaska-marijuana-ballot/5210613/Alaska could be the next state to reconsider the prohibition on marijuana, following legalization votes by Colorado and Washington last year.
Alaska elections officials posted data Tuesday showing that a petition for a statewide vote on marijuana legalization has gained enough signatures and met legal thresholds needed to put the issue before voters.
Under Alaska law, the petition when officially certified would appear on the Aug. 19 primary ballot. No formal opposition to the initiative has emerged thus far.
Taylor Bickford, spokesman for an Anchorage-based organization that is behind the ballot drive, said that while petitions are still being counted, the state has reported 31,593 signatures are qualified, more than the 30,169 needed.
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayMember since: Sat Oct 16, 2004, 01:04 PM
Number of posts: 37,457
