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Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

Happy Holidays!

We started our morning with Tchaikovsky’s  “Nutcracker Suite” and are proceeding with some Gregorian chanting. I don’t know anything that slows my brain down better than that and puts order into the day’s cooking complexities. Hubby likes the chants too.

I have lovely new neighbors, with a younger daughter that plays football, a “new” vintage front door on my 50’s house, terrific construction help, and a kind of rebirthing in a place I thought fallow. If not peace, then at least, resolve, has come this season.

Thank you to all, who have stopped this way. May your days be merry and bright!

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Delay in H.R. 3590 Vote

It’s unlikely to be in place before the State of the UNion Address. Now that will be an interesting speech! It looks like they are going to put jobs forward.

POLITICO Breaking News:

—————————————————–

The White House now expects January’s crowded congressional calendar to force health-reform talks into February, past President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. But top aides tell POLITICO that the president will go ahead with plans for what they call “a very hard pivot” to focusing on jobs next month, once the contours of a final health bill are set.

For more information…http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30925.html


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In the spirit of the holidays, The FDA has put out several alerts on hazelnuts, otherwise known to some of us as filberts. Seems a few batches have been infected with salmonella. So if you have nuts (not wingnuts) ready for your table, check out where you got them first. Check back HERE for any future notifications.

Kunze Farms Recalls Hazelnut Kernels because of Possible Health Risks

[..Hazelnut kernels were distributed to several different processors and wholesaler’s in the following areas:  Dayton, OR; , Milton-Freewater, OR; Hauppauge, NY; Mesa, AZ; Cottonwood, AZ; Seattle, WA; Ogden, UT;  San Antonio, TX.; and Parker, CO.

The product was packed in 25 lb cartons, under our product brand name of Kunze Farms, ‘Select Shelled Hazelnuts’ Dayton, Oregon with the code numbers 289091A or 299091A….]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm194867.htm

Willamette Shelling Recalls Shelled Hazelnuts Because of Possible Health Risk

[…After product sampling, Salmonella was found on one production lot. To ensure consumer safety, Willamette Shelling has decided to recall all shelled hazelnuts processed at its facility from October 12th 2009 through November 25th 2009.

Hazelnuts subject to the recall were shelled at Willamette Shelling’s facility on behalf of hazelnut processors. Shelled Hazelnuts processed by Willamette Shelling were returned to Oregon processors and a Canadian processor, and were further distributed by those firms. Unshelled hazelnuts are not affected by this recall.

All products subject to recall were packed in 25 lbs. and 50 lbs. corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 296091A, 299091A, 300091A, VH3696BO, and 310091A. Those corrugated boxes bore the following brand names: Kunze Farms, Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts, Canadian Hazelnuts, and Firestone Farms…]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm194806.htm

Willamette Shelling Recalls Shelled Hazelnuts Because of Possible Health Risk

[…Shelled Hazelnuts and Shelled Organic Hazelnuts were distributed in Oregon and California through wholesale distributors and direct delivery. Unshelled hazelnuts are not subject to this recall.

All products subject to recall were packed in 25 lbs. corrugated boxes bearing Willamette Filbert Growers or Meridian Organic Hazelnuts labeled with lot code numbers 289091A and 311091A…]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm194810.htm

Whole Foods Market® Recalls Bulk Hazelnuts

[December 19, 2009 – AUSTIN, TX – Whole Foods Market is recalling organic raw hazelnuts (filberts) sold in bulk through its stores in California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington because the nuts were part of a batch that was contaminated with salmonella. The company is also recalling non-organic dry roasted hazelnuts (filberts) sold in bulk through its stores in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, and non-organic raw hazelnuts (filberts) sold in bulk through its stores in Oregon and Washington. These hazelnuts should not be consumed. No illnesses have been reported at this time….]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm195060.htm

Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts Recalls Raw and Dry Roasted Hazelnut Kernels Because of Possible Health Risk

Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts brand raw hazelnut kernels and dry roasted hazelnut kernels subject to recall include:

• Raw hazelnut kernels packed in 25 pound corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.

• Dry roasted hazelnut kernels packed in 25 pound corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.

• 8 ounce, 2.5 pound, and 5 pound packages of raw hazelnut kernels in clear plastic packages, bearing no lot code. Shipped in corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.

• 4 ounce, 8 ounce, 2.5 pound, and 5 pound packages of dry roasted, salt free, hazelnut kernels in clear plastic packages, bearing no lot code. Shipped in corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.

These raw and dry roasted products were distributed in retail and wholesale stores, restaurants and bakeries in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Oklahoma and New Jersey. No illnesses have been reported to date.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm195017.htm

Harry and David Conducts Hazelnut Recall in Medford, Oregon because of Possible Risk to Health

[..The Harry & David Country Village store removed all the raw, shelled hazelnuts supplied by Evonuk from sale on December 17, 2009. This was done in response to a recall issued on December 17, 2009, by Willamette Sheller, Inc., the company that processed the hazelnuts for Evonuk.

The hazelnuts affected by this recall were sold as Filbert (hazelnut) kernels in bulk bin #10077 only at the Harry & David Country Village store, Medford, Oregon, prior to December 18, 2009…]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm195026.htm

Burnt Ridge Orchards, Inc. Recalls Shelled Hazelnuts Because of Possible Health Risks

[..The shelled hazelnuts that are subject to recall were sold Nov. 17th to Dec. 13th at the Olympia Farmer’s Market in Olympia, WA. They were packed in 8 oz and 16 oz zip lock plastic bags. This recall does not apply to hazelnuts sold in the shell…]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm195127.htm

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POLITICO Breaking News:
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Democrats and Republicans have agreed to take the vote on final passage of Senate health reform legislation at 8 a.m. Christmas Eve, far earlier in the day Thursday than originally expected, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev. ) announced.

For more information…http://www.politico.com

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Politico has news:

Rep. Parker Griffith to switch sides

POLITICO Breaking News:
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Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce this afternoon that he’s switching parties to become a Republican.

For more information… http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30896.html

It’s really pretty funny. As the report says, his district is trending Republican anyway, and they have already given him over $600,000 to run Republican next time. I get how he might be upset over the Health Care reform package, but you would think he would stick around for a little more than that. It stinks to high heaven.

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Things are hopping in Iran:

Funeral for Iranian Cleric Turns Into a Vast Protest

By ROBERT F. WORTH and NAZILA FATHI

Published: December 21, 2009

[BEIRUT, Lebanon — The funeral of a prominent dissident cleric in the holy Iranian city of Qum turned into a huge and furious antigovernment rally on Monday, raising the possibility that the cleric’s death could serve as a catalyst for an opposition movement that has been locked in a stalemate with the authorities…]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/world/middleeast/22cleric.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

In California we are playing these games as we work to unscramble the mess of Prop 8. Human rights are possible to achieve, as this article indicates! In addition to Mexico City, this article says Uruguay has managed to legalize same sex marriage for the whole country.

Mexico City Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: December 21, 2009

Filed at 5:50 p.m. ET

[MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico City lawmakers on Monday made the city the first in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, a change that will give homosexual couples more rights, including allowing them to adopt children….]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/21/world/AP-LT-Mexico-GayMarriag.html?ref=global-home

Ahh, the new pragmatism, even the birthers are screaming:

King: Nelson sold out anti-abortion movement

By JASON HANCOCK 12/21/09 8:35 AM

[Two days after praising U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., to Des Moines Register columnist Kathie Obradovich, U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, released a statement attacking the lawmaker for an abortion compromise in health care reform.

In order to garner Nelson’s support, Senate Democratic leaders included a provision in their version of health care reform that would allow states to ban abortion coverage for women receiving federal subsidies on proposed government-organized private insurance marketplaces, dubbed exchanges….]

http://iowaindependent.com/24126/king-nelson-sold-out-anti-abortion-movement?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IowaIndependent+%28Iowa+Independent%29

This is article is an example of one of the darker and more serious sides of the education of young people. Don’t let this happen to your school board.

Revisionist History Dept

McCarthy 101.

DAVE MANN | DECEMBER 11, 2009 | POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

[It takes serious revisionist thinking to believe that history has “vindicated” Joseph McCarthy, but that’s what some members of the State Board of Education contend. If they get their way, that’s how Texas schools will portray the late red-baiting U.S. Senator in social studies classes….]

http://www.texasobserver.org/pi/revisionist-history-dept

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Update. Fixed link.

I think the way everyone has been flooding her email the last few days, Barbara Boxer wanted the chance to speak about the health reform bill we may be about to embark upon. As many of you know, I remain on dial-up, and try to keep my formating for others using the same method. In dial-up format, watching uTube is a lot like watching paint dry. However, For those of you with something faster:

Boxer Speaks on Historic Health Care Bill

If she does a text print of it I’ll send it around later. Otherwise, for those of you with something faster, let me know what she says.

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Part seven of the continuing saga of H.R.3590.

On December 21 at 1:08 AM EST, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on H.R. 3590. This means they have decided to cut off further debate and vote on whether to pass the health reform bill, still known under it’s original title as the “Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009”, but amended to read: “ Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”.

This means the fifteen amendments and the agreed to tabling motions will stand. The remaining 459 amendments that were submitted will not be debated. There are, however, two additional new amendments that were submitted and agreed to as part of the motion to invoke cloture. They are: S.AMDT.3276, the so called “Manager’s Amendment”, introduced by Harry Reid, and S.AMDT.3277, an amendment as seen below, that directs the bill start date to be five days after it becomes an act by presidential signature.

S.AMDT.3276 contains the language directing the “compromise” on women’s rights over their bodies regarding abortion.  It also contains the language on Medicaid disbursement by the Federal Government for new Medicaid patients. There is an intriguing reference to ARRA on page 13500, which might mean something if they decide to extend it.

S.AMDT.3276 was only available on the Congressional Record pages, so I have cut, pasted and printed the pages to .pdf to produce the document S.AMDT.3276.  As with any pdf document it is keyword searchable. For your info, in the Record, 39 pages were used, however, when I printed it to .pdf, it took 178 pages.

The final vote, possibly turning this thing into an act, may come today.

Manager’s Amendment

S.AMDT.3276

Amends: H.R.3590, S.AMDT.2786

Amendments to this amendment: S.AMDT.3277

Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (submitted 12/19/2009) (proposed 12/19/2009)

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:

To improve the bill.

TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S13490-13529

STATUS:

12/19/2009:

Amendment SA 3276 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 2786. (consideration: CR S13477-13478)

12/19/2009:

Cloture motion on amendment SA 3276 presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S13477-13478; text: S13477-13478)

12/20/2009:

Considered by Senate.

12/21/2009:

Considered by Senate.

12/21/2009:

Cloture on amendment SA 3276 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 – 40. Record Vote Number: 385.

COSPONSORS(3):

Sen Baucus, Max [MT] – 12/19/2009

Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] – 12/19/2009

Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] – 12/19/2009

Enactment Date Amendment

S.AMDT.3277

Amends: H.R.3590 , S.AMDT.3276

Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (submitted 12/19/2009) (proposed 12/19/2009)

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:

To change the enactment date.

TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S13529

STATUS:

12/19/2009:

Amendment SA 3277 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 3276. (consideration: CR S13478; text: CR S13478)

12/20/2009:

Considered by Senate.

12/21/2009:

Considered by Senate.

SA 3277. Mr. REID proposed an amendment to amendment SA 3276 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Harkin) to the amendment SA 2786 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Harkin) to the bill H.R. 3590, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the end of the amendment, add the following:

The provisions of this Act shall become effective 5 days after enactment.

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http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/the-stories-of-the-two-somalis-freed-from-guantanamo-by-andy-worthington/.

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http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/saudi-warplanes-rain-1011-missiles-on-yemen/.

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