March 8, 2013

A nightmare that doctors overwhelmingly choose to avoid when they die themselves

March 7, 2013

Obama to sign expanded Violence Against Women Act

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is signing into law a bill extending and expanding domestic violence protections, ushering in a legislative victory for gay rights advocates and Native Americans.

Flanked by domestic-violence survivors, lawmakers, law enforcement officers and tribal leaders, Obama was signing the extension to the Violence Against Women Act in a ceremony Thursday at the Interior Department, which overseas programs for Native Americans. A key provision of the expanded law strengthens protections for victims who are attacked on tribal land.

Vice President Joe Biden, who as a senator wrote and sponsored the original bill in 1994, was also scheduled to speak at the ceremony.

The law strengthens the criminal justice system’s response to crimes against women. White House press secretary Jay Carney called the extension ‘‘a very important milestone’’ that would give law enforcement new tools to respond to domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/candidates/obama/2013/03/07/obama-sign-expanded-violence-against-women-act/X8EW6923sktYuB6ohv7gCJ/story.html

March 7, 2013

More gun laws = fewer deaths, 50-state study says

CHICAGO (AP) —States with the most gun control laws have the fewest gun-related deaths, according to a study that suggests sheer quantity of measures might make a difference.

But the research leaves many questions unanswered and won't settle the debate over how policymakers should respond to recent high-profile acts of gun violence.

In the dozen or so states with the most gun control-related laws, far fewer people were shot to death or killed themselves with guns than in the states with the fewest laws, the study found. Overall, states with the most laws had a 42 percent lower gun death rate than states with the least number of laws.

The results are based on an analysis of 2007-2010 gun-related homicides and suicides from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers also used data on gun control measures in all 50 states compiled by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a well-known gun control advocacy group. They compared states by dividing them into four equal-sized groups according to the number of gun laws.

More: http://www.sfgate.com/news/medical/article/More-gun-laws-fewer-deaths-50-state-study-says-4333963.php

March 6, 2013

Comet Pan-STARRS will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere beginning on Thursday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The first of two comets heading toward the sun this year made its closest approach to Earth on Tuesday and will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere beginning on Thursday.

Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere have been able to see Comet Pan-STARRS for weeks at twilight, even without binoculars or a telescope. The comet came about 100 million miles (161 million km) from Earth on Tuesday.

"As Comet Pan-STARRS was setting on the southwestern horizon, its nucleus was visible to the naked eye," photographer Michael White from Manawatu, New Zealand, wrote to accompany a stunning image of the comet posted on the SpaceWeather.com website.

The comet, officially known as Comet C/2011 L4, was discovered in June 2011 by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, or Pan-STARRS, in Hawaii.

More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/05/us-usa-comet-idUSBRE9240Z320130305

March 6, 2013

In Chavez’s death, Obama sees hope for ‘new chapter’

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the show-stopping socialist who once dubbed then-President George W. Bush "the devil " and scorned President Barack Obama as a "clown ," probably won't be missed much in official Washington. Obama led a chorus of politicians saying they hoped that Chavez's death on Tuesday after a two-year battle with cancer would open a "new chapter" in relations between the United States and one of the world's top 20 oil exporters.

"At this challenging time," Obama said in a written statement hours after Chavez's death was announced, "the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government.

"As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights," Obama said.

Over the course of 14 years in power, Chavez won the adoration of Venezuela's poor by channeling the country's oil wealth into ambitious social spending. But he earned the loathing of the country's middle and upper classes by nationalizing key industries and consolidating his power, critics charged, at the expense of democratic institutions. Chavez, sometimes dubbed the "Comandante," angered the United States by embracing countries like Iran and offering his full-throated support to the Castro government in Cuba. American officials often accused him of funneling money to leftist rebels in neighboring Colombia, a close U.S. ally.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/chavez-death-obama-sees-hope-chapter-004942773--politics.html

March 6, 2013

White House Supports Cell Phone Unlocking, Big Victory For Tech Activism

Today was a big day for grassroots consumer activism: The White House officially came out in support of cell phone unlocking. After over 100,000 netizens demanded a response from the Obama Administration related to a new law banning consumers from “unlocking” their cell phones in order to move between carriers, the White House declared its unequivocal support for consumer choice.

“The White House agrees with the 114,000+ of you who believe that consumers should be able to unlock their cell phones without risking criminal or other penalties,” wrote White House Senior Advisor R. David Edelman on the White House Blog. “In fact, we believe the same principle should also apply to tablets, which are increasingly similar to smart phones. And if you have paid for your mobile device, and aren’t bound by a service agreement or other obligation, you should be able to use it on another network. It’s common sense, crucial for protecting consumer choice, and important for ensuring we continue to have the vibrant, competitive wireless market that delivers innovative products and solid service to meet consumers’ needs.”

Specifically, the administration supports “narrow legislative fixes” to allow consumers to move between carriers without legal penalties. It also gave a nod to the role of the Federal Communications Commission, which announced at a TechCrunch CrunchGov event last week,that it would investigate whether it has any executive authority to overturn the law.

Until earlier this year, consumers were able to “unlock” their smartphones, which allowed them to switch carriers (AT&T, Verizon, etc). For six years, the Library of Congress exempted cell phone unlocks from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which bans “circumvention” of copy protection schemes. The long-held decision was reversed during the last round of triennial reviews.

More: http://m.techcrunch.com/2013/03/04/white-house-supports-cell-phone-unlocking-big-victory-for-tech-activism/

March 6, 2013

John Cleese and Michael Palin on Jesus

March 5, 2013

Warmer climate to open new Arctic shipping routes by 2050

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - The quickest way to get goods from Asia to the U.S. East Coast in 2050 might well be straight across the Arctic, where a warming climate is expected to open new sea routes through what is now impenetrable ice, a study reported on Monday.

Most shipping traffic between these two centers currently goes through the Suez or Panama canals, and that is likely to continue even as melting Arctic sea ice makes the far north more accessible.

But increasingly warm temperatures also could make the Northwest Passage north of Canada an economically viable shipping route. Now, it is passable only at the end of most summers. It could also open up a route directly over the North Pole by mid-century, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Plus.

The Northern Sea Route, which mostly hugs Russia's northern coastline and is now a primary Arctic shipping route, would continue to be viable, according to research by Laurence Smith, a geography professor at the University of California-Los Angeles.

More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/05/climate-arctic-shipping-idUSL1N0BWDLI20130305

March 5, 2013

Venezuela says Chavez's breathing problems have worsened

Source: Reuters

CARACAS - President Hugo Chavez's breathing problems have worsened and the socialist leader is suffering a new, severe respiratory infection after cancer surgery in Cuba, Venezuela's government said on Monday.

Reading the latest brief official statement on the president's health, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said the 58-year-old's condition continued to be very delicate.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/05/us-venezuela-chavez-idUSBRE92405420130305

March 3, 2013

Romney: ‘It kills me’ not to be in White House

Mitt Romney says it "kills" him that he's not president. But he doesn't blame Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or anything else on his loss to President Barack Obama--except his campaign's failure to connect with minority voters.

“I lost my election because of my campaign," Romney said on "Fox News Sunday" in his first television interview since his November defeat, "not because of what anyone else did."

The former Massachusetts governor refused place blame on Christie, who some Republicans say elevated Obama in his embrace of the president in the wake of the storm.

Romney said his inability to win over black and Hispanic voters--and the damage done by those disastrous "47 percent" comments--ultimately derailed his White House bid.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/mitt-romney-kills-fox-obama-163333853--election.html