Obama said that good journalism is "critical to the health of our democracy," but expressed concern toward growing tends in reporting -- especially on political blogs, from which a groundswell of support for his campaign emerged during the presidential election."I am concerned that if the direction of the news is all blogosphere, all opinions, with no serious fact-checking, no serious attempts to put stories in context, that what you will end up getting is people shouting at each other across the void but not a lot of mutual understanding," he said.
"I am concerned that if the direction of the news is all blogosphere, all opinions, with no serious fact-checking, no serious attempts to put stories in context, that what you will end up getting is people shouting at each other across the void but not a lot of mutual understanding,"
say wha?
he's not reading the right blogs then...
what he said is more true of tv and the press, blogging, being open source, has much more recourse to research and fact checks through sheer numbers of curious people ready to go dig deeper than the tradmed does, especially lately.
sure, blogs are heavy with opinions as well as facts, but that's part of what makes them so satisfying at their best, it's more real as reflection of our natures, which slipslide from sublimely serious to ridiculously silly without missing a beat.
there's a balance there that's missing from stuffier forms of media. of course there are blogs like redstate and lgf that whip up the budding becks of this world, but if they are the bathwater, no need to flush the most interestingly new form of media for decades along with them.
way to miss the point, o-man! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
I'm sure you meant to say, "Not the left blogs"... ;) The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
or the wrong ones.
oh forget it :) ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
He isn't going to get a good press coverage by saying that their fact checking is deficient and they need the blogs to stay honest. keep to the Fen Causeway
UN climate change talks are "dangerously close to deadlock," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is to warn on Monday, kicking off a week that could prove crucial for efforts to halt global warming. REUTERS - U.N. climate change talks are "dangerously close to deadlock," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will warn on Monday, kicking off a week that could prove critical for efforts to halt global warming. The head of the European Union's executive will challenge developing nations to commit to greenhouse gas emissions curbs to get financial support from industrial nations, according to excerpts of his remarks obtained by Reuters. "Europe's message to the developing world is that if you are serious about the challenge of cutting emissions, we will be there to help," Barroso will say at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
REUTERS - U.N. climate change talks are "dangerously close to deadlock," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will warn on Monday, kicking off a week that could prove critical for efforts to halt global warming.
The head of the European Union's executive will challenge developing nations to commit to greenhouse gas emissions curbs to get financial support from industrial nations, according to excerpts of his remarks obtained by Reuters.
"Europe's message to the developing world is that if you are serious about the challenge of cutting emissions, we will be there to help," Barroso will say at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
WASHINGTON -- As world leaders gather in New York for the highest-level conference yet on climate change, European leaders are expressing growing unease about the United States' stance in international talks aimed at reaching a global agreement in Copenhagen in December. Officials of several European countries have cited what they see as a lack of political will on the part of the United States to adequately address climate change. The American reluctance to accept any agreement that would require legally binding and internationally enforceable targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could doom the Copenhagen session, they said. Ahead of this week's climate talks at the United Nations, the Europeans also expressed little hope that the United States Senate would act on a climate bill before the Copenhagen talks begin. They said the lack of domestic consensus sows doubt about whether the United States can keep any pledges it makes at Copenhagen, either on the level of reductions in global warming emissions or on financial commitments to help developing nations adapt to a changing climate.
WASHINGTON -- As world leaders gather in New York for the highest-level conference yet on climate change, European leaders are expressing growing unease about the United States' stance in international talks aimed at reaching a global agreement in Copenhagen in December.
Officials of several European countries have cited what they see as a lack of political will on the part of the United States to adequately address climate change. The American reluctance to accept any agreement that would require legally binding and internationally enforceable targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could doom the Copenhagen session, they said.
Ahead of this week's climate talks at the United Nations, the Europeans also expressed little hope that the United States Senate would act on a climate bill before the Copenhagen talks begin. They said the lack of domestic consensus sows doubt about whether the United States can keep any pledges it makes at Copenhagen, either on the level of reductions in global warming emissions or on financial commitments to help developing nations adapt to a changing climate.
look busy! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
President Barack Obama faces the sternest test of his international leadership this week when he attends the United Nations and chairs a G20 summit, amid growing doubts about his grandiose vision for US foreign policy. When he addresses the 64th UN General Assembly, which opens tomorrow, Mr Obama will tell his global audience that "everybody has a responsibility, the US is leading anew and we are looking to others to join," according to Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the world body.After the unilateralism of the Bush era, there will be immense relief among the UN's 192 members that America has a president ready to co-operate with the rest of the world.
When he addresses the 64th UN General Assembly, which opens tomorrow, Mr Obama will tell his global audience that "everybody has a responsibility, the US is leading anew and we are looking to others to join," according to Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the world body.
After the unilateralism of the Bush era, there will be immense relief among the UN's 192 members that America has a president ready to co-operate with the rest of the world.
The Obama administration proposed on June 17 a financial- regulatory overhaul including a "comprehensive review" of the Fed's "ability to accomplish its existing and proposed functions" and the role of its regional banks. The Fed was to lead the study and enlist the Treasury and "a wide range of external experts." ... U.S. lawmakers have also called for a review of the Fed's power and structure, saying Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke overstepped his authority as he bailed out [international] creditors of Bear Stearns Cos. and American International Group Inc. while battling a crisis that led to $1.62 trillion in writedowns and losses at financial firms. ... While the report requested by the Treasury hasn't been formally scrapped, no work has been done on the project, which was due Oct. 1, the people said. Treasury spokesman Andrew Williams declined to comment, as did Fed spokeswoman Michelle Smith.... "The conflicts of interest inherent in the current system are glaring," [Wrightson ICAP chief economist Lou] Crandall said.
U.S. lawmakers have also called for a review of the Fed's power and structure, saying Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke overstepped his authority as he bailed out [international] creditors of Bear Stearns Cos. and American International Group Inc. while battling a crisis that led to $1.62 trillion in writedowns and losses at financial firms. ...
While the report requested by the Treasury hasn't been formally scrapped, no work has been done on the project, which was due Oct. 1, the people said. Treasury spokesman Andrew Williams declined to comment, as did Fed spokeswoman Michelle Smith....
"The conflicts of interest inherent in the current system are glaring," [Wrightson ICAP chief economist Lou] Crandall said.
The allegations are mounting against German Colonel Georg Klein, who ordered a recent air strike in Afghanistan in which civilians died. Klein apparently gave incorrect information to the US pilots who carried out the attack and neglected to warn people on the ground, in violation of NATO procedures. The investigators have now arrived on the scene. They are staying at Colonel Georg Klein's base, where they are questioning personnel, inspecting the premises and equipment and listening to recordings of radio communications. Their goal is to determine whether Klein can be held accountable for what happened. Colonel Georg Klein is still in Kunduz, even though his six-month tour of duty there was scheduled to end this week. Under normal circumstances, he would have been able to go home by now, but Klein is forced to remain in Kunduz; if he were to leave Afghanistan, it would look like an admission of guilt. He meets daily with the chief investigator, Canadian NATO General C.S. Sullivan. By now Klein is probably asking himself how it could have happened, how he could have issued that fateful command. Sources in Kunduz say his nerves are becoming increasingly frayed.
The allegations are mounting against German Colonel Georg Klein, who ordered a recent air strike in Afghanistan in which civilians died. Klein apparently gave incorrect information to the US pilots who carried out the attack and neglected to warn people on the ground, in violation of NATO procedures.
The investigators have now arrived on the scene. They are staying at Colonel Georg Klein's base, where they are questioning personnel, inspecting the premises and equipment and listening to recordings of radio communications. Their goal is to determine whether Klein can be held accountable for what happened.
Colonel Georg Klein is still in Kunduz, even though his six-month tour of duty there was scheduled to end this week. Under normal circumstances, he would have been able to go home by now, but Klein is forced to remain in Kunduz; if he were to leave Afghanistan, it would look like an admission of guilt.
He meets daily with the chief investigator, Canadian NATO General C.S. Sullivan. By now Klein is probably asking himself how it could have happened, how he could have issued that fateful command. Sources in Kunduz say his nerves are becoming increasingly frayed.
US President Barack Obama has spoken out against CIA prisoner abuse and wants to close Guantanamo. But he tolerates the existence of Bagram military prison in Afghanistan, where more than 600 people are being held without charge. The facility makes Guantanamo look like a "nice hotel," in the words of one military prosecutor. The day that Raymond Azar was taken by force to Bagram was a quiet day in Kabul. There were no attacks and the sun was shining. Azar, who is originally from Lebanon, is the manager of a construction company. He was on his way to Camp Eggers, the American military base near the presidential palace, when 10 armed FBI agents suddenly surrounded him. The men, all wearing bulletproof vests, put him in handcuffs, tied him up and pushed him into an SUV. Two hours later, they unloaded Azar at the Bagram military prison 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Kabul.
US President Barack Obama has spoken out against CIA prisoner abuse and wants to close Guantanamo. But he tolerates the existence of Bagram military prison in Afghanistan, where more than 600 people are being held without charge. The facility makes Guantanamo look like a "nice hotel," in the words of one military prosecutor.
The day that Raymond Azar was taken by force to Bagram was a quiet day in Kabul. There were no attacks and the sun was shining.
Azar, who is originally from Lebanon, is the manager of a construction company. He was on his way to Camp Eggers, the American military base near the presidential palace, when 10 armed FBI agents suddenly surrounded him.
The men, all wearing bulletproof vests, put him in handcuffs, tied him up and pushed him into an SUV. Two hours later, they unloaded Azar at the Bagram military prison 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Kabul.
The most senior US and Nato commander in Afghanistan has said the war against the Taliban "will likely result in failure" if more troops are not sent and a new strategy developed. General Stanley McChrystal said in a leaked report obtained by the Washington Post that, despite some progress, "many indicators suggest the overall effort is deteriorating". Inability to provide adequate resources "also risks a longer conflict, greater casualties, higher overall costs, and ultimately, a critical loss of political support" he said, according to the Post report published on Monday. "Any of these risks, in turn, are likely to result in mission failure."
The most senior US and Nato commander in Afghanistan has said the war against the Taliban "will likely result in failure" if more troops are not sent and a new strategy developed.
General Stanley McChrystal said in a leaked report obtained by the Washington Post that, despite some progress, "many indicators suggest the overall effort is deteriorating".
Inability to provide adequate resources "also risks a longer conflict, greater casualties, higher overall costs, and ultimately, a critical loss of political support" he said, according to the Post report published on Monday.
"Any of these risks, in turn, are likely to result in mission failure."
CAT charity has received its biggest donation from an individual in its 35-year history thanks to Margaret and Graham Sheppard. Graham, who was a long time supporter of CAT sadly passed away four years ago leaving his house as a legacy to the organisation. Margaret remembers that Graham had decided that he wanted to leave a legacy to a worthy cause and that "We were so impressed when we first visited CAT. Graham just said, yes, this is the way things have got to go"
Most of the world's major river deltas are sinking, increasing the flood risk faced by hundreds of millions of people, scientists report.Damming and diverting rivers means that much less sediment now reaches many delta areas, while extraction of gas and groundwater also lowers the land. Rivers affected include the Colorado, Nile, Pearl, Rhone and Yangtze.
Most of the world's major river deltas are sinking, increasing the flood risk faced by hundreds of millions of people, scientists report.
Damming and diverting rivers means that much less sediment now reaches many delta areas, while extraction of gas and groundwater also lowers the land.
Rivers affected include the Colorado, Nile, Pearl, Rhone and Yangtze.
As an economic, biological and cultural resource, water is of paramount importance to the delta. It is also an ongoing cause of friction between farmers, stock breeders, fishermen, salt producers, reed harvesters, managers of protected natural environments, hunters, bathers and, of course, local residents.
The site goes on to speak of the differing requirements and impacts of each population and how it is dealt with in that delta. Even with all those attempts at balance, a flood in 2005 scared the pants off of them. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Torture Can't Provide Good Information, Argues Neuroscientist
Much ink has been spilled about the right and wrong of torturing terrorists, particularly since 16 April when the U.S. Department of Justice released memos detailing the "enhanced interrogation" of terrorism suspects during the Bush Administration. But what is less often discussed is whether or not torture works at all. Generally the debate has been whether torture causes detainees to say anything, possibly lying, to end the torture. But in an article published today in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, a neuroscientist compares torture's "folk psychology" assumptions to current models of brain function during stress and trauma. His conclusion: Torture causes brain damage that can wipe out memories of the desired information, or even create false ones. Author Shane O'Mara, a neuroscientist at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, says the CIA torture strategy seems: based on the idea that repeatedly inducing shock, stress, anxiety, disorientation and lack of control is more effective than standard interrogatory techniques in making suspects reveal information. Information retrieved from memory in this way is assumed to be reliable and veridical, as suspects will be motivated to end the interrogation by revealing this information. No supporting data for this model are provided; in fact, the model is utterly unsupported by scientific evidence.
But what is less often discussed is whether or not torture works at all. Generally the debate has been whether torture causes detainees to say anything, possibly lying, to end the torture. But in an article published today in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, a neuroscientist compares torture's "folk psychology" assumptions to current models of brain function during stress and trauma. His conclusion: Torture causes brain damage that can wipe out memories of the desired information, or even create false ones.
Author Shane O'Mara, a neuroscientist at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, says the CIA torture strategy seems:
based on the idea that repeatedly inducing shock, stress, anxiety, disorientation and lack of control is more effective than standard interrogatory techniques in making suspects reveal information. Information retrieved from memory in this way is assumed to be reliable and veridical, as suspects will be motivated to end the interrogation by revealing this information. No supporting data for this model are provided; in fact, the model is utterly unsupported by scientific evidence.
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has returned to his country, nearly three months after being deposed. Mr Zelaya has sought refuge inside the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa and hundreds of his supporters have gathered outside. Mr Zelaya said he had crossed mountains and rivers to return to the capital, where he said he was seeking dialogue. Honduran authorities, who have threatened to arrest Mr Zelaya, have imposed a curfew on the country. In images broadcast on national television, a smiling Mr Zelaya wearing his trademark white cowboy hat appeared on the balcony of the Brazilian embassy waving to crowds of his supporters.
More than 40 foreign oil companies are working in Libya, including London-based BP Plc, Eni SpA of Rome, Irving, Texas- based Exxon Mobil Corp. and Occidental Petroleum Corp., which has headquarters in Los Angeles. Qaddafi's spending program is attracting companies such as Alcatel SA, which is based outside Paris, Munich-based Siemens AG, Milan's Impregilo SpA and London-based Rentokil Initial Plc. Businesses from China, South Korea, Brazil and Turkey also are working in Libya, said Salah el-Houni, head of international exhibitions for Libyan media company Dar Alarab, sponsor of fairs in Tripoli for foreign firms.... During that period, in 2004, Siemens, Germany's largest engineering company, won an order worth 180 million euros ($264 million) to upgrade Libya's power-supply grid after a visit by then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Former U.K. premier Tony Blair visited Libya in May 2007 when BP, Europe's second-biggest oil producer, signed an accord to conduct a $900 million exploration program with Libya's National Oil Corp. ...Toulouse, France-based Airbus SAS at the same time confirmed an order for 15 aircraft from Libyan Airlines. .... Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi agreed to build a $5 billion coastal highway as part of the agreement [settling Italy's colonization of Libya from 1911 to 1943].... Oil is also financing Libya's sovereign wealth fund, the Libyan Investment Authority, which has $80 billion to spend, the fund's chairman, Abdulhafid Zlitni, told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper in February. Libya's central bank last year bought a 4.6 percent stake in UniCredit SpA, Italy's biggest bank. Libya may increase its stake in Italian oil company Eni to 10 percent from less than 2 percent
Qaddafi's spending program is attracting companies such as Alcatel SA, which is based outside Paris, Munich-based Siemens AG, Milan's Impregilo SpA and London-based Rentokil Initial Plc. Businesses from China, South Korea, Brazil and Turkey also are working in Libya, said Salah el-Houni, head of international exhibitions for Libyan media company Dar Alarab, sponsor of fairs in Tripoli for foreign firms....
During that period, in 2004, Siemens, Germany's largest engineering company, won an order worth 180 million euros ($264 million) to upgrade Libya's power-supply grid after a visit by then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Former U.K. premier Tony Blair visited Libya in May 2007 when BP, Europe's second-biggest oil producer, signed an accord to conduct a $900 million exploration program with Libya's National Oil Corp. ...Toulouse, France-based Airbus SAS at the same time confirmed an order for 15 aircraft from Libyan Airlines. ....
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi agreed to build a $5 billion coastal highway as part of the agreement [settling Italy's colonization of Libya from 1911 to 1943]....
Oil is also financing Libya's sovereign wealth fund, the Libyan Investment Authority, which has $80 billion to spend, the fund's chairman, Abdulhafid Zlitni, told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper in February.
Libya's central bank last year bought a 4.6 percent stake in UniCredit SpA, Italy's biggest bank.
Libya may increase its stake in Italian oil company Eni to 10 percent from less than 2 percent
Rentokil Initial Plc.
central casting alert...
love the acronym too. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
