Saturday, December 25, 2010

The Christmas Feel Good Story; Mama Brown

In the true spirit of Christmas, I was impressed and challenged by Mama Brown of Oakland, California. As she is affectionately called, Mama Brown fulfilled her promise to send to college (no Bill Gates riches; she earned a salary of 45,000 a year when she made the promise) an entire class of first graders (now high school graduates)... read more

New York Times Reports: Kenyans Using Solar Power

KIPTUSURI, Kenya — For Sara Ruto, the desperate yearning for electricity began last year with the purchase of her first cellphone, a lifeline for receiving small money transfers, contacting relatives in the city or checking chicken prices at the nearest market.

Solar power for Ms. Ruto’s hut in Kiptusuri, Kenya, means her toddlers no longer risk burns from a smoky kerosene lamp. More Photos »
Charging the phone was no simple matter in this farming village far from Kenya’s electric grid.

Every week, Ms. Ruto walked two miles to hire a motorcycle taxi for the three-hour ride to Mogotio, the nearest town with electricity. There, she dropped off her cellphone at a store that recharges phones for 30 cents. Yet the service was in such demand that she had to leave it behind for three full days before returning.

That wearying routine ended in February when the family sold some animals to buy a small Chinese-made solar power system for about $80. Now balanced precariously atop their tin roof, a lone solar panel provides enough electricity to charge the phone and run four bright overhead lights with switches. For More...

Friday, December 24, 2010

The Miracle on Wall Street

In the celebratory aftermath of President Obama's stunning year-end legislation victories, one untold (or under-told) story has starkly and vividly emerged. The story:

Without a shred of equivocation the Republican party demonstrated to whom they are solely beholden to - the super rich.

They (GOP) were willing to obstruct, hold hostage or kill legislation that was hugely popular and necessary unless the super-rich got even more super-rich.

Case in Point:

Middle class tax relief, not until Mr. Wall Street go his cut;
Health Care for 911 First Responders, not until Mr. Rupert "FOXY NEWS" Murdoch got more billions;
Food Safety for American families, not until Mr. Bank Of America receives more of our tax dollars.


Other than the Obama Christmas Miracle, we continue to have, the Republican party miracle, how despite their actions, they are able to sell themselves to middle America as the party of Patriotism

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Comeback Kid: Part II

After admitting to taking a November mid-term election shellacking (his words), President Obama has led one of the most productive Lame Duck congressional sessions in the history of our country. The Tax Compromise, START Treaty, Food Safety Act, repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, 9/11 First Responders Health Bill - just to name a few major victories - have given Obama a boost in the polls as the following CNN article reports...



CNN Poll: 56 percent give Obama's lame duck a thumbs up
By: CNN Political Unit


Washington (CNN) - When it comes to public opinion, who's the biggest winner of one of the most productive congressional lame duck sessions in years?


According to a new national poll, it looks like President Barack Obama is that winner, and his strategy of cooperating with congressional Republican leaders may be the key to his success.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey indicates that 56 percent of Americans say they approve of the way Obama's handled the issues that Congress has considered during the lame duck sesssion, with 41 percent saying they disapprove.

According to the poll, only 44 percent of the public approves of how congressional Republicans have handled the issues and that number drops to 42 percent for Republican leaders in Congress, with a majority of Americans saying they disapprove of how both congressional Democrats and Republicans are acting during the session.