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
March 5, 2012
If you could not live in the USA, where would you live, and why ?
Canada springs to mind for me, the healthcare system and its similarities to the USA.
March 4, 2012
Everyone,
We announced today that we’re in the process of cutting a number of active positions, mostly non-development, throughout the company. I'm sure this announcement has sparked some questions from all of you, so I want take this opportunity to address those as best I can. Over the past several years, the company has grown rapidly and evolved to better serve you and the rest of our global community. Thanks to all of your support, we continue to serve by far the biggest subscription-based MMO community, as well as the most passionate eSports and online gaming communities, in the world.
In order to keep making epic game content while serving players effectively, we have to be smart about how we manage our resources. This means we sometimes have to make difficult decisions about how to best maintain the health of the company. We’re in the process of making some of those hard decisions now.
After evaluating our current organizational needs, we determined that while some areas of our business had been operating at the right levels and could benefit from further growth, other areas had become overstaffed. As a result, we need to scale down some of our departments and part with some of our colleagues and friends here at Blizzard. I know that you all understand how difficult this type of situation can be for anyone who might be affected, so I want to assure you that we'll be offering each impacted employee a severance package and other benefits.
*more at link above*
Message from Mike Morhaime (WoW/Blizzard President, on cutting 600 jobs)
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/4079626833?page=1Everyone,
We announced today that we’re in the process of cutting a number of active positions, mostly non-development, throughout the company. I'm sure this announcement has sparked some questions from all of you, so I want take this opportunity to address those as best I can. Over the past several years, the company has grown rapidly and evolved to better serve you and the rest of our global community. Thanks to all of your support, we continue to serve by far the biggest subscription-based MMO community, as well as the most passionate eSports and online gaming communities, in the world.
In order to keep making epic game content while serving players effectively, we have to be smart about how we manage our resources. This means we sometimes have to make difficult decisions about how to best maintain the health of the company. We’re in the process of making some of those hard decisions now.
After evaluating our current organizational needs, we determined that while some areas of our business had been operating at the right levels and could benefit from further growth, other areas had become overstaffed. As a result, we need to scale down some of our departments and part with some of our colleagues and friends here at Blizzard. I know that you all understand how difficult this type of situation can be for anyone who might be affected, so I want to assure you that we'll be offering each impacted employee a severance package and other benefits.
*more at link above*
March 4, 2012
LONDON — The head of the Catholic Church in Scotland has fiercely attacked the British government’s plans to allow gay marriage, calling the proposals “madness.”
In an article for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, Scottish Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O’Brien accuses the coalition government of trying to “redefine reality.”
He says the proposals to allow same-sex unions are “madness,” calling the idea “a grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right.”
Prime Minister David Cameron has openly advocated gay marriage. Later this month, the equalities minister will launch a consultation on how to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
Scottish Cardinal slams UK government plans to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/scottish-cardinal-slams-uk-government-plans-to-redefine-marriage-to-include-same-sex-couples/2012/03/04/gIQAFmBJqR_story.htmlLONDON — The head of the Catholic Church in Scotland has fiercely attacked the British government’s plans to allow gay marriage, calling the proposals “madness.”
In an article for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, Scottish Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O’Brien accuses the coalition government of trying to “redefine reality.”
He says the proposals to allow same-sex unions are “madness,” calling the idea “a grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right.”
Prime Minister David Cameron has openly advocated gay marriage. Later this month, the equalities minister will launch a consultation on how to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
March 4, 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – An investigation into the burning of Muslim holy books at a U.S. military base has found it was a mistake involving at least five Americans who may face a disciplinary review, a Western official said Saturday, but Afghan investigators claimed it was an intentional desecration.
The conflicting accounts highlight rising tensions between the two countries despite apologies by President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials following the Feb. 20 discovery of charred Qurans and other religious literature in a burn pit at Bagram air base, north of Kabul.
Anger over the burnings already has led the deaths of more than 30 Afghans during violent protests as well as six U.S. soldiers who were shot and killed by ROGUE Afghan security forces.
A Western official told The Associated Press that preliminary findings from a joint investigation by senior Afghan and U.S. military officials that was ordered by Marine Gen. John Allen has convinced them that although mistakes were made, there was no intent to desecrate the Qurans or other material.
Conflicting accounts over Afghan Quran burnings
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-03-03/official-quran-burnings/53340562/1KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – An investigation into the burning of Muslim holy books at a U.S. military base has found it was a mistake involving at least five Americans who may face a disciplinary review, a Western official said Saturday, but Afghan investigators claimed it was an intentional desecration.
The conflicting accounts highlight rising tensions between the two countries despite apologies by President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials following the Feb. 20 discovery of charred Qurans and other religious literature in a burn pit at Bagram air base, north of Kabul.
Anger over the burnings already has led the deaths of more than 30 Afghans during violent protests as well as six U.S. soldiers who were shot and killed by ROGUE Afghan security forces.
A Western official told The Associated Press that preliminary findings from a joint investigation by senior Afghan and U.S. military officials that was ordered by Marine Gen. John Allen has convinced them that although mistakes were made, there was no intent to desecrate the Qurans or other material.
March 4, 2012
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has launched a big push into the highly competitive Southern California grocery business, which could spell further trouble for the region's major supermarket chains.
The nation's largest retailer, which announced plans last week for a grocery store in downtown Los Angeles, has two more of its smaller-format grocery-focused stores called Neighborhood Markets in the works in Orange County, one more in Ventura County and another in San Diego.
So far, the Bentonville, Ark., company has announced plans for 13 Neighborhood Markets in California, said Steven Restivo, Wal-Mart's senior director of community affairs. All will have pharmacies, he said. More Neighborhood Markets in California could be announced in the future, Restivo added.
The Orange County stores will be at Beach Boulevard and Atlanta Avenue in Huntington Beach and Avenida de las Flores and Antonio Parkway in Rancho Santa Margarita. The Ventura store will be in Camarillo.
Wal-Mart making big push into Southern California grocery market
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wal-mart-markets-20120303,0,2653663.storyWal-Mart Stores Inc. has launched a big push into the highly competitive Southern California grocery business, which could spell further trouble for the region's major supermarket chains.
The nation's largest retailer, which announced plans last week for a grocery store in downtown Los Angeles, has two more of its smaller-format grocery-focused stores called Neighborhood Markets in the works in Orange County, one more in Ventura County and another in San Diego.
So far, the Bentonville, Ark., company has announced plans for 13 Neighborhood Markets in California, said Steven Restivo, Wal-Mart's senior director of community affairs. All will have pharmacies, he said. More Neighborhood Markets in California could be announced in the future, Restivo added.
The Orange County stores will be at Beach Boulevard and Atlanta Avenue in Huntington Beach and Avenida de las Flores and Antonio Parkway in Rancho Santa Margarita. The Ventura store will be in Camarillo.
March 4, 2012
We are in serious trouble if we ever regard OWS the same way these people regard the Moscow protests.
Fear of Return to ’90s Hardship Fuels Support for Putin
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/world/europe/in-russia-vote-fear-of-hardship-fuels-putin-support.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1Most said they were aware of the recent protests in Moscow. But they had little good to say about them.
“A nuthouse” is how the manager of a women’s clothing store named Angelina described the protests.
Her colleague chimed in, “That’s for people who have free time and don’t have to work for a living.” Both had taken a smoking break and were standing under a large campaign billboard with Mr. Putin’s face and the slogan “A Great Country; a Strong Leader.”
“A nuthouse” is how the manager of a women’s clothing store named Angelina described the protests.
Her colleague chimed in, “That’s for people who have free time and don’t have to work for a living.” Both had taken a smoking break and were standing under a large campaign billboard with Mr. Putin’s face and the slogan “A Great Country; a Strong Leader.”
We are in serious trouble if we ever regard OWS the same way these people regard the Moscow protests.
March 3, 2012
The actor also said during an appearance on "Piers Morgan Tonight" that he does not "support the idea of gay marriage."
Former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron is taking heat from GLAAD after remarks made on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight.
During Friday's interview, Cameron called homosexuality "unnatural" and "destructive."
"I think that it's unnatural. I think that it's detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization," the actor, who played Mike Seaver on the 1980s TV series, said on the program.
GLAAD Fires Back After 'Growing Pains' Star Kirk Cameron Calls Homosexuality 'Unnatural'
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kirk-cameron-homosexuality-unnatural-glaad-296665The actor also said during an appearance on "Piers Morgan Tonight" that he does not "support the idea of gay marriage."
Former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron is taking heat from GLAAD after remarks made on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight.
During Friday's interview, Cameron called homosexuality "unnatural" and "destructive."
"I think that it's unnatural. I think that it's detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization," the actor, who played Mike Seaver on the 1980s TV series, said on the program.
March 3, 2012
Please DU Daily Kos petition to Rush's advertisers
link here in Politics: http://www.democraticunderground.com/125118560
March 2, 2012
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum still has a small lead over rival Mitt Romney in the latest poll of likely Republican primary voters in Ohio, though the gap between the two men has shrunk since Monday.
Conducted by Quinnipiac University, the poll released Friday found Santorum leads the former Massachusetts governor 35 percent to 31 percent among likely Republican voters, compared to a poll released Monday showing Santorum with 36 percent to Romney's 29 percent.
Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said a third of Ohio Republican voters told pollsters they might change their mind before March 6, when Republicans in ten states choose who they want to take on President Obama in November.
In addition to the Buckeye state, voters in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia head to the polls on "Super Tuesday," as the early March contest has come to be known. Ohio is considered the most important of the states as it will be crucial for the Republican candidate to win Ohio in the general election seven months from now.
Santorum leads Romney in latest Ohio poll
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57389242-503544/santorum-leads-romney-in-latest-ohio-poll/Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum still has a small lead over rival Mitt Romney in the latest poll of likely Republican primary voters in Ohio, though the gap between the two men has shrunk since Monday.
Conducted by Quinnipiac University, the poll released Friday found Santorum leads the former Massachusetts governor 35 percent to 31 percent among likely Republican voters, compared to a poll released Monday showing Santorum with 36 percent to Romney's 29 percent.
Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said a third of Ohio Republican voters told pollsters they might change their mind before March 6, when Republicans in ten states choose who they want to take on President Obama in November.
In addition to the Buckeye state, voters in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia head to the polls on "Super Tuesday," as the early March contest has come to be known. Ohio is considered the most important of the states as it will be crucial for the Republican candidate to win Ohio in the general election seven months from now.
March 2, 2012
President Obama's goal in upcoming talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to persuade him that the United States "has Israel's back" so that Israel has no need to rush toward air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, the president said in a newly published interview.
In a meeting at the White House on Monday, the president told journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, he will try to persuade the Israeli leader that an attack now would backfire at a time when Iran is under increasing international pressure.
In an interview granted earlier this week and posted on the Atlantic magazine's website Friday morning, Goldberg reported that Obama is dismissive of a strategy of containment as unworkable and called it "unacceptable" for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Obama said he plans to tell Netanyahu that he will order military strikes against Iran's nuclear program if the current international sanctions are not successful in deterring its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The possibility of an American strike against Iran is a serious one, Goldberg reported.
Obama on Iran: 'I don't bluff'
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-interview-iran-20120302,0,7234351.storyPresident Obama's goal in upcoming talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to persuade him that the United States "has Israel's back" so that Israel has no need to rush toward air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, the president said in a newly published interview.
In a meeting at the White House on Monday, the president told journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, he will try to persuade the Israeli leader that an attack now would backfire at a time when Iran is under increasing international pressure.
In an interview granted earlier this week and posted on the Atlantic magazine's website Friday morning, Goldberg reported that Obama is dismissive of a strategy of containment as unworkable and called it "unacceptable" for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Obama said he plans to tell Netanyahu that he will order military strikes against Iran's nuclear program if the current international sanctions are not successful in deterring its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The possibility of an American strike against Iran is a serious one, Goldberg reported.
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayMember since: Sat Oct 16, 2004, 01:04 PM
Number of posts: 37,457
