March 31, 2012

Mike Tate (WI Dem Chair) just posted this on Facebook:

Friends- here is the deal. As of tonight there are 4 good Democrats running for Governor. I think the field is set. So here is my request, pick a candidate, support them, work for them, etc. Or don't pick and work with the party till we have a nominee on May 9. Either way, let's not attack our fellow Dems. Each want nothing more than to defeat Walker and heal this state. They are all good people with the right intentions. On May 9 we will have our candidate and providence willing our next Governor. Let's keep it clean and remember the primary process gives us OUR nominee. We will be united against Walker at sun up on May 9. - Mike Tate

http://www.facebook.com/WisDems

March 31, 2012

Dow, S&P 500 push to best 1st quarter since 1998

Source: MSN

It was a good month and a great quarter for investors as stocks ended March with their best first-quarter performances since at least 1998.

The major averages moved higher in part due to improved consumer confidence and the largest gain in consumer spending in seven months.

At the same time, health care and energy stocks were the market leaders -- the former because of investor speculation that the Supreme Court will void part or all of the U.S. health care law. Higher oil prices boosted energy shares. Crude oil (-CL) settled up 24 cents to $103.02 a barrel.

The big question is whether stocks will repeat their pattern of the past two years. Stocks continued to rally into April in 2011 and April 2010 but slumped through the late spring and summer before a fall rally set in. While the quarter has been great, the market performance in March has been more subdued.

Read more: http://money.msn.com/market-news/post.aspx?post=087cac64-3d67-4737-b94a-31c3ff49ba16#scptm2

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Either (a) Obama is socialist and socialism isn't all that bad, or (b) Obama isn't socialist. Either way, the Republicans are in trouble.

March 30, 2012

OMG Gas Prices are Killing the Economy and Obama's Popularity... Wait, What?

The conventional wisdom has been that the high gas prices are hurting economic growth in a fledgling recovery, and that the American people, largely unhappy with the prices at the pump, are going to take it out on the President. Both of these are proving to be wrong as of now, however.

The economy isn't exactly showing signs of dying. We all know about the stellar jobs numbers in the past few months, capping off a total of 4 million private sector jobs created in the last 23 months. The Commerce Department reported today that consumer spending grew in February at the fastest pace in seven months, driven by the strong jobs growth of late. New orders for durable goods grew to $212 billion in February, an increase of 2.2% over the previous month. Yesterday, the Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims fell to 359,000, a 4-year low. Economists believe that initials claims below 400,000 represent an economy returning to health. Here is how the jobless claims data has looked over the Great Recession and the ensuing Obama Recovery (Credit: CS Monitor).

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/03/omg-gas-prices-are-killing-economy-and.html

March 29, 2012

Man poisoned by decapitated snake head

Authorities in Alabama said a homeless man handling a decapitated snake head was treated after being poisoned by the snake's venom.

Emergency responders in Mobile said the 41-year-old man stuck a finger in the mouth of what was believed to be the head of a cotton mouth and the snake's fangs broke his skin, WALA-TV, Mobile, reported Wednesday.

The man initially refused medical treatment, but paramedics were called back to the scene when the man began showing the effects of venom poisoning. He was taken to USA Medical Center for treatment.

A friend of the man said he spotted the snake swimming in a nearby creek.

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/03/28/Man-poisoned-by-decapitated-snake-head/UPI-88171332965487/

March 29, 2012

Breaking away for lunch: Hundreds flock to Sweden's popular midday dance parties

Some workers in Sweden have found a rather offbeat way to spend their lunch hour. Actually, on-beat is more like it.

Dripping with sweat and awash in disco lights, they dance away to pulsating club music at Lunch Beat, a trend that started in Stockholm and is spreading to other cites in Europe.

Then they go back to work.

"It is absolutely fantastic!" exclaimed Asa Andersson, 33, who broke away from her job at a coffee shop to bust some moves last week. "It is the first time I'm here, I'm totally happy and ecstatic, totally covered in sweat and I'm full of energy. It does not get any better than this."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/breaking-away-lunch-gets-meaning-swedish-midday-dance-095419381--spt.html;_ylt=AqC1kajWIE4jLiRGCbbWMNmLssB_;_ylu=X3oDMTNqOGZ1dWxxBGNjb2RlA2N0LmMEcGtnAzYxOTc0NmE2LWJkZGEtMzdmYi1hNWZkLWRkYmNlMTg1YjdmYwRwb3MDNARzZWMDbW9zdF9wb3B1bGFyBHZlcgNlNTU5ZTk5MS03OTEzLTExZTEtYmZmZS1lZWVkNjYzNjAxYjg-;_ylg=X3oDMTFrdDlzcGNtBGludGwDY2EEbGFuZwNlbi1jYQRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnMEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3

March 29, 2012

Budget to put brake on MPs' pensions (Canada)

Source: CBC

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's budget will take the shine off what critics call MPs' gold-plated pensions, reports Greg Weston for CBC News.

The budget will make sitting MPs pay more, and wait longer, to collect less in their retirement.

MPs can now collect their pension at age 55. That will increase to 60 or 65. For every dollar MPs put into their pension fund, taxpayers now contribute about $5.

Former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe, who was voted out of office in the last election after serving as an MP for 20 years, now enjoys a parliamentary pension of over $140,000 a year — for life

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/28/budget-pensions.html

March 29, 2012

Spanish workers hold general strike over labour reforms

Source: BBC

Spanish unions are holding a general strike to protest against labour reforms which the new government hopes will help cut unemployment.

Road, rail and air transport are all due to be affected, with domestic and European flights cut to a fraction of their usual volume.

Mariano Rajoy's conservative government is to unveil measures on Friday to save tens of billions of euros.

The strike is the government's first big challenge since taking office.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17545174

March 29, 2012

Pope Benedict criticises US trade embargo on Cuba

Source: BBC

Pope Benedict XVI has criticised the 50-year-old US trade embargo imposed on Cuba, as he ends a visit to the island.

The Pope called for greater rights in Cuba, saying he wanted a society in which no-one was denied basic freedoms.

This aim was not helped by economic measures which "unfairly burden" Cuba's people, he said.

Earlier, Pope Benedict met Cuba's revolutionary leader and former president, Fidel Castro, and celebrated Mass in front of vast crowds in Havana.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17545170

March 27, 2012

Trevor Thomas on The War Room (openly gay 28-year-old running for Congress)

March 26, 2012

In Seoul, Obama will say US can reduce its nuclear stockpile

Source: MSNBC

President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at Hankuk University in Seoul, Monday, and early reports indicate he will say that the United States could further reduce its nuclear stockpile while keeping promises to international partners, Reuters reported.

The Washington Post reported the president will speak out against the spread of nuclear weapons in light of North Korea’s plan to launch a satellite with a long-range rocket next month.

A White House official told Reuters that the president will discuss also arms control with Russia.

"He will reaffirm his commitment to reduce America's nuclear weapons and the role they play in our national security strategy," the official told Reuters. He will commit to a "new framework for civil nuclear cooperation that allows nations to tap the energy we seek without pursuing a fuel cycle that endlessly produces more nuclear materials,” the official said.

Read more: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/25/10858624-in-seoul-obama-says-us-can-reduce-nuclear-stockpile