progree
progree's JournalJapan, South Korea stick to coal despite global climate deal
Source: Reuters
Less than a week since signing the global climate deal in Paris, Japan and South Korea are pressing ahead with plans to open scores of new coal-fired power plants, casting doubt on the strength of their commitment to cutting CO2 emissions.
Asia's two most developed economies are burning more than ever and plan to add at least 60 new coal-fired power plants over the next 10 years.
Officials at both countries' energy ministries said those plans were unchanged.
Japan, in particular, has been criticized for its lack of ambition - its 18-percent target for emissions cuts from 1990 to 2030 is less than half of Europe's - and questions have been raised about its ability to deliver, since the target relies on atomic energy, which is very unpopular after the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-south-korea-stick-coal-despite-global-climate-031331032.html
Similar to some earlier reactions:
India, China, Saudi Arabia 'happy' with climate pact, AFP, 12/12/15
http://news.yahoo.com/india-china-saudi-arabia-happy-climate-pact-153738758.html
India says Paris climate deal won't affect plans to double coal output, Reuters 12/14/15
http://news.yahoo.com/india-push-ahead-coal-plans-paris-climate-deal-110724335--finance.html
Trump criticizes Ben Carson, says he doesn't have 'energy'
Source: Associated Press
Trump, who has made a practice in public appearances and interviews of listing those he says have wronged him, told the crowd that he doesn't think Ben Carson could negotiate effectively with world leaders.
"I don't think Ben has the energy," Trump said. "Ben is a nice man, but when you're negotiating against China and you're negotiating against these Japanese guys that are going to come against you in waves, and they think we're all a bunch of jerks 'cause our leaders are so stupid and so incompetent and so inept, we need people that are really smart, that have tremendous deal-making skills and that have great, great energy."
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/trump-bids-perry-adieu-race-takes-aim-rival-185930884--election.html
"when you're negotiating against China and you're negotiating against these Japanese guys that are going to come against you in waves,"
At least this time he left out the part about how they skip the small talk and just blurt out "we want deal!" http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/251969-trump-impersonates-asian-negotiators
"I don't think Ben has the energy, ... we need people that are really smart, that have tremendous deal-making skills and that have great, great energy."
Ben Carson, as probably all of you know, is African American, but just in case. So Trump has managed to add to the stereotypical insults of two races this time.
File your taxes, or you won't get ACA healthcare subsidies next year
^^--I made up the wording on the thread title, but I think it accurately describes what this article is saying. This post/article applies to people who got ACA healthcare subsidies in 2014:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tax-filing-problems-could-jeopardize-183734604.html
...About 1.8 million households that got financial help for health insurance under President Barack Obama's law now have issues with their tax returns that could jeopardize their subsidies next year. Administration officials say those taxpayers will have to act quickly.
...Consumers who got health care tax credits are required to file tax returns that properly account for them, even if they are unaccustomed to filing because their incomes are low. {And as the article explains, your tax filing must include Form 8962 -Progree}. Unless they follow through, "they will not be able to receive tax credits to help lower the cost of their health insurance for 2016," Lodes explained.
...Judy Solomon of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: "They are getting an advance payment of a tax credit, and to finish the process they need to file a tax return. They have to look at it as a process that is a year long and has multiple steps."
Anyway the ones who are in jeopardy got subsidies in 2014 but haven't filed a tax return yet that includes the new Form 8962
"On working harder and longer, Jeb! meant all those part-timers (because of Obamacare)"
"who want full-time jobs"
https://www.facebook.com/AM950Radio
[font color = blue]AM950Radio> Jeb Bush says that people need to start working longer and harder to improve the economy. What a statement from an heir of a family fortune! - [/font]
[font color = brown]R.W. Troll> ...try to be honest... He said those words, but it's pretty obvious that he meant more than the part time work they are doing now ( you know, the less than 30 hours a week because of Obamacare?)[/font]
[font color = blue]Carlos>
Under G.W. Bush, Part-time workers increased by 2,954,000
while full-time workers increased by 1,556,000
Under Obama, Part-time workers increased by 1,290,000
while full-time workers increased by 5,235,000
Seems like if anyone was the part-time president, it was G.W. Bush.
Since the bottom of the jobs market in February 2010 (coincidentally one month before Obamacare was passed and signed)
Part-time workers increased by 40,000 while full-time workers increased by 10,275,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Using the BLS's Table A-9 part-time and full-time numbers http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t09.htm
Part-time workers: http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12600000
Full-time workers: http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12500000
Maybe Jeb! should talk to his big bro about what NOT to do.[/font]
-------------------------------------------------
AM950 is the only progressive talk radio station in Minnesota
By the way, the BLS's definition of full-time workers is 35 or more hours/week, while the Obamacare employer mandate for providing healthcare insurance is 30 hours/week. So if all that many employers were moving away from full-time to part-time jobs, it would show up in the above BLS statistics, but sure doesn't seem to. Also, involuntary part-timers has been falling for years.
Ouch! PBS Newshour's Politics Monday contrast Bernie's and Hillary's styles
SUSAN PAGE (USA Today): ... And, also, his (Bernie's) manner. She (Hillary) has got all kinds of problems in looking approachable and looking like she’s a fully-fledged human being. And he’s all — he’s just totally approachable. He’s 100 percent authentic, approachable Bernie Sanders. So I think the contrast is not helpful to her.
TAMARA KEITH (NPR): Yes.
GWEN IFILL: Go ahead.
TAMARA KEITH: I was just going to say that when I talk to people out when I’m reporting, they say things like, gosh, Bernie Sanders is just so real.
And it creates that contrast with Hillary Clinton, who has been in public life for so long. She’s had her picture taken so many times that she has that smile down just right. And Bernie is just out there being Bernie. And so it does create sort of a stylistic contrast for people.
Bif, Pow, Ouch,
That link above has the video of this segment (lots of fun to watch), not just the transcript.
Oh, start at about 3:00. But the goody above starts at 3:42.
[font color = red]On Edit: Much thanks to tomm2thumbs, here is the YouTube video:[/font]
U.S. House fails to pass Republican bill diluting Dodd-Frank reforms
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives failed on Wednesday to round up enough votes for a bill scaling back various financial reforms, a surprising defeat in an area conservatives hoped to prioritize this year.
... Before the vote on Wednesday, Democrats slammed the bill as a Republican effort to chip away at the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial law, including one provision that would have given banks extra time to comply with part of the Volcker rule.
... The most controversial aspect of the proposal was the section related to the Volcker rule, which bans banks from making risky trades with their own money and prohibits certain investments in financial products.
The bill gave banks more time to exit positions in collateralized loan obligations, or CLOs, which are essentially bundles of business loans. Banks had complained that they would have to quickly abandon those investments.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/u-house-fails-approve-bill-diluting-dodd-frank-204253008--sector.html
[font color = red]On Edit[/font] (thanks Sunseeker in #3) "The GOP used a procedure called a "suspension" that requires a 2/3 vote. So their majority was not enough. "
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/house-republicans-jobs-regulation-reform-bill-fails-suspension
(The above doesn't explain why the GOP chose to do the above, sigh. One question leads to another. Maybe Boner can't count.)
Anyway, great news, although probably Dodd-Frank, as watered down as it already is, will be insufficient to prevent another derivatives meltdown.
[font color = red]More on Edit:[/font]
PoliticAverse in #5 has the rollcall link (35 Democrats voted for and 1 Republican voted against)
See: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll009.xml
DCBob in #7 explains why the Repubs might have gone this route --
NYPD work slowdown will be dealt with ‘very forcefully,’ Bratton says
Source: Yahoo News
Commissioner investigating dramatic drops in arrests to determine whether the dip is a deliberate jab at NYC mayor
Any New York City police officers refusing to make arrests or issue traffic violations to express their dissatisfaction with Mayor Bill de Blasio will face forceful consequences, the department’s top cop said Monday.
New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said at a press conference that while he is not convinced the NYPD's rank-and-file is engaging in an organized work slowdown, he is actively investigating a dramatic drop in arrests in recent weeks and will deal swiftly with any intentional slacking off.
“We’re watching that very closely,” Bratton said Monday of the dip in summonses and arrests. He’s ordering a “comprehensive review of what has been happening,” drilling down to the precinct and squad car level to determine who is working and who may be dropping the ball.
The number of summonses in the city is down 90 percent for the week ending Sunday, according to the Daily News, while arrests are down 56 percent compared to the year before.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/nypd-work-slowdown-will-be-dealt-with--very-forcefully---bratton-says-230926632.html
and then there is some bilge about how this doesn't necessarily mean there is a work slowdown going on.
Black people shouldn't interrupt white people's dinner, according to some ( http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014980489 ), but I guess a 50-90% work slowdown is an OK form of protest.
‘Black brunch’ protesters interrupt diners in NYC, Oakland (#BlackBrunch #BlackLivesMatter)
Source: Yahoo News
In a twist on sit-in-style protests, civil rights activists entered several restaurants in New York City and Oakland, Calif., on Sunday in what organizers billed as “Black Brunch.”
About three dozen people participated in demonstrations in New York, where they momentarily “disrupted” meals at popular midtown eateries, including Lallisse, Maialino and Pershing Square — places protesters identified as predominantly “white spaces.”
At each stop, demonstrators read the names of African-Americans killed by police.
“Every 28 hours, a black person in America is killed by the police,” the protesters said. “These are our brothers and sisters. Today and every day, we honor their lives.”
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/black-brunch-protests-nyc-berkeley-oakland-190212742.html
Lots of tweets and pictures in the article -- definitely worth the click and scroll through. Here's one:
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Minnesota
Member since: Sat Jan 1, 2005, 04:45 AM
Number of posts: 11,205