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Obama pushes for medication-assisted treatment for drug abuse
In the face of a worsening epidemic of opioid abuse in this country, legislators and addiction experts are calling for a shift in the way we view and treat addiction, and an increase in medication-assisted treatment plans.
Currently, most addiction treatment programs – such as the well-known 12-step program – involve a combination of abstinence, social support and therapy. Proponents of this method tend to advocate against the practice of replacing abuse of one drug with dependence on another. But with evidence pointing to the incredible efficacy of using drugs to help addicts recover, the push to make that option more widely available is a key component of the Obama administration's fight against the opioid addiction epidemic.
Deaths from opioids quadrupled in the United States between 2002 and 2013, and in the past decade, heroin use among people aged 18-25 has doubled. Past efforts to curb the abuse have been largely unsuccessful.
Several medications – namely buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone – have been shown to be enormously helpful in treating addiction. But unfortunately, less than half of the 2.5 million Americans who might benefit from medication-assisted treatment actually receive such treatment, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Buprenorphine (often sold as the brand name Suboxone) is one of the most effective anti-addiction medications; as a partial agonist, it binds to opioid receptors but doesn't activate them to the extent that heroin and other addictive opioids do. In order to prescribe buprenorphine, doctors must undergo special training.
Methadone, the most common anti-addiction medication, is a full agonist like heroin, which makes it a better option for more severe addicts that take higher drug doses. It's tightly regulated; only clinics with government approval can prescribe it. Since both buprenorphine and methadone have long half-lives, they prevent the extreme peaks and troughs caused by opioids with short half-lives. These peaks and troughs are responsible for overdose and withdrawal symptoms; maintaining a steady level of the drug in the body and preventing those swings can alleviate symptoms and prevent addicts from reaching for other opioids.
Naltrexone, another medication used in addiction treatment, blocks opioid receptors and prevents the body from responding to opiates. Since it does not activate opioid receptors, it does not cause the "high" that addictive opiates do. Naltrexone is a good choice for less severe addicts who wish to detoxify rapidly.
Only 30,000 doctors in the country can prescribe these medications, and each one can only prescribe to 100 patients. In addition to declaring that he will allocate more funds to states to expand medication-assisted treatment programs, President Barack Obama proposed raising that number to 200.
California is in the process of dramatically transforming its addiction treatment programs for low-income residents. The shift in thinking emphasizes that addiction is a chronic illness, and that there is a role for medication in the treatment process.
Marlies Perez, chief of substance abuse disorder compliance division for state Department of Health Care Services, argues that medication can make a huge difference in severe addiction cases, and is the "gold standard" for helping addicts recover. The proven power of medication-assisted treatment is drawing the attention of doctors and politicians, and inspiring the formation of collaborations such as the Medication-Assisted Recovery Services (MARS) project, a joint effort between the National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Division of Substance Abuse.
Proponents of the 12-step approach, however, argue that replacing one drug with another is not the same as the true recovery addicts achieve through abstinence. But for those for whom abstinence doesn't stick, the medications can be life-changing.
John Connolly, deputy director for substance abuse prevention and control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, concedes that medication should not be the only treatment given to addicts; it should be used in combination with traditional treatment methods like counseling and social support. More access to these evidence-based medication-assisted treatments, however, is vital for severe addicts that have been unsuccessful with attempted abstinence and therapy alone.
As the death toll from drug overdose rises, we need increased awareness about the importance of medication-assisted treatment and its potential to help curb this epidemic. Unfortunately, the Legal Action Center reports that Medicaid programs in at least 17 states do not cover long-term methadone treatment; funding this type of therapy could present a significant challenge, but one that we must address if we wish to help addicts recover for life without relapse.
For more information/questions regarding any legal matters, please email [email protected] or call 310.203.2800.


AMMAN — Over 400 Syrian women have been trained on human rights and gender through the four Women Leadership Councils (WLCs) established by CARE International over the past year in the governorates of Amman, Zarqa, Irbid and Mafraq, aiming to support Syrian women and girls in Jordan in achieving "effective engagement" with their local communities.
"Based on CARE's belief in the need to establish partnerships in all aspects of life, our objective was to integrate Syrian women into the Jordanian society," the NGO explained in a statement issued last Monday, adding that the WLCs also helped participants in "enhancing their ability to deal with the isolation and depression they may be facing after leaving their homes, in addition to the consequences of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) and their engagement with working environments that are not safe enough for them".
"When I was first contacted by CARE, I remember being so excited because I felt like my voice was going somewhere and I was actually using the intellect that I worked hard for over the years to help people, like I always did," said Rana, a former lawyer and Syrian refugee member of the WLC in Amman.
She explained that the team "works closely with women to teach them all kinds of things, from literacy courses in English to GBV awareness and legal advice".
"We had many sessions about the issue of early and forced child marriage and, right after the first session, girls started asking us for more information like reasons why they shouldn't get married at an early age, and how to use effective arguments to change the minds of their parents or caretakers," Rana recalled, expressing her joy over "being able to make a change in the mindset of the young girls, by being the lawyer who had an impact back in Syria".
The initiative started in 2017, when CARE International selected a total of 48 Syrian women and girls to train them on ways to start the change within their communities. With 12 leaders per governorate, intensive training and workshops were implemented on topics such as leadership skills, communication, human rights, gender, conflict resolution and women's empowerment — and now, beneficiaries are seeing the results.
"When CARE called me and asked me if I'd like to be interviewed for a spot in the WLC, I had my doubts," Syrian refugee Yasmin recounted, remembering how she went to the interviewer and told her that "they must have gotten something wrong", as she did not have "a proper education".
Up to this point, the WLC project resulted in the implementation of 8 community initiatives, according to CARE International sources, who noted that the initiatives were "based on meaningful topics such as combating early marriage, enhancing the role of women and educating the beneficiaries on public safety standards, in addition to teaching English and Arabic and enhancing the positive outlook for the future".


In the summer of 2015, Wild Pink premiered their EP entitled Good Life, released via Texas is Funny Records. This past August, the band announced that they will be releasing their new EP, 4 Songs, via Tiny Engines Records and have recently embarked on a tour (all dates below) to promote their latest release. I spoke with John Ross, lead songwriter and front man of the group, about early musical influences, nostalgic tour moments, and self-identity in an ever-changing scene. This group runs the gamut from soft, sultry ballads to rock bangers with poignant lyrics that center on nostalgia and past haunts; all are guaranteed to leave you teary eyed in the drivers' seat on your ride home.
Catherine Vianale: How long has Wild Pink been an active project and what instrument do you play?
John Ross: Wild Pink has been around since the fall of 2014 and I play guitar and sing. TC Brownell plays bass and Dan Keegan plays drums.
CV: What was a formative band(s) for you growing up and how do your early music tastes influence your writing style for Wild Pink?
JR: Earliest formative bands would have to be Nirvana, R.E.M and Queen. My sister is older than me and I remember when I was 5 or 6 she drove in from Baltimore and brought over a tape of R.E.M's Green and taught me how to pogo dance to 'Stand' on the back porch. That's one of my earliest musical memories. There was also a babysitter who would bring over her CD book and I remember listening to In Utero a lot and being blown away at how heavy and dark it was. Later on, artists like Jackson Browne, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen all had a big impact on my life and the way I write music. Their songs are simple and powerful so I think that's why I keep Wild Pink's songs simple.
CV: In a similar vein, how do your roots in your hometown music scene influence your writing? Did you develop new styles and ideas after moving to NY?
JR: Florida is where I started writing songs and playing in bands which helped me form as a person. Central and North Florida are special places and show up in my songs a lot. Some of the most creative people I've met have lived in Tallahassee at some point.
There's plenty of inspiration in New York too though. There are so many good shows every week. In the last few years I've experimented with writing different styles and genres and still do but Wild Pink feels more like a continuation of what I've always been interested in.
CV: You guys are embarking on a tour soon for 4 Songs, and have done a few tours before. What initially intrigued you to pursue touring DIY? What are some rewards and setbacks you've experienced in planning your own tours?
JR: Touring is really fun but it was also pretty challenging at first. Seeing a band like Ex-Breathers who toured seemingly constantly kinda showed me that it's possible if you really want to do it.
CV: Do you have a favorite show you've played or favorite memory as a band?
JR: It's hard to nail down a favorite show or memory but recording the full length with Justin Pizzoferrato is up there. Also the house shows we've played in St Louis, Pittsburgh and Akron are too.
CV: Are there any upcoming shows or albums from artists you like that you're excited for?
JR: I'm excited to hear the new Ratboys record. Julia's songwriting and commitment to touring is inspiring. I'm also excited to hear the rest of Return To Love from LVL UP and Cymbals Eat Guitars' and Pile's next records. Show-wise, I'm looking forward to seeing Built To Spill next Friday!
CV: If you could be the master of anything, what would it be?
JR: I'd master the animal kingdom with telepathy.
CV: Is there anything else you want to tell us about?
JR: New solo project: Its called B and the EP is called US 1. They're mostly ambient, country inspired songs about US 1 and I'm hoping to put it up on Bandcamp this fall.


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Rachel Ruysch
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Still Life of Flowers
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A Vase of Flowers
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1706 Oil on canvas, 100 x 81 cm
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mk156 after 1700 Oil on canvs 75.5x60.7cm
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MK169 1698 Cloth 5805x44.5cm
mk170 circa 1685 Oil on canvas 57x43.5cm
Rachel_Ruysch
Dutch 1664-1750 Rachel Ruysch (June 3, 1664 ?? Amsterdam, August 12, 1750) was a Dutch artist who specialized in still-life paintings of flowers. She was born in The Hague, but moved to Amsterdam when she was three. Her father Frederik Ruysch, a famous anatomist, and botanist, was appointed a professor there. He gathered a huge collection of rarities in his house. She assisted her father decorating the prepared specimen in a liquor balsamicum with flowers and lace. At fifteen Ruysch was apprenticed to Willem van Aelst, a prominent Delft painter, known for his flower paintings. In 1693, she married a portrait painter, Juriaen Pool (1666-1745), with whom she had ten children. Her sister Pieternel was married to Jan Munnicks, a young man who drew flowers in the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. In 1701 Ruysch was inducted into the painters' guild in The Hague. Several years later Ruysch was invited to work for the court in D??sseldorf and serve as court painter to Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine. She remained working for him and his wife from 1708 until the prince's death in 1716. Also Jan Weenix and Adriaen van der Werff were invited to deliver paintings, after Eglon van der Neer died. In 1723 she won the lottery. Ruysch kept painting for her prominent clients. Ruysch lived eighty-five years and her dated works establish that she painted from the time she was a young woman until she was an octogenarian. About a hundred paintings by her are known. The background of the paintings are usually dark. Ruysch was also noted for her paintings of detailed and realistic crystal vases.


Cancer can be a deadly disease, and even its treatments are draining. Those who survive the disease have gone through a lot, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Observed nationwide on the first Sunday in June each year, National Cancer Survivors Day bracelets from AmazingWristbands.com are a way to be reminded of and celebrate people who have survived and a way to inspire those who have been recently diagnosed.
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According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is growths of extra cells called tumors that can invade nearby tissues. There are many possible causes for the malignant tumors, including genetic factors, tobacco use, environmental factors, and some types of infections. Treatments vary, depending on the type of cancer and the patient, and some can last months or more. The American Cancer Society estimates that there are more than 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States.
Many of our wristbands can be created with our easy-to-use online tool. Or, call us and our professional and friendly customer service agents will help you. When purchasing custom wristbands online, be sure to work with a vendor who offers only 100% latex-free wristbands. At Amazing Wristbands, all our silicone products are non-allergenic and latex free. We offer free shipping, free artwork, free design, and free color matching. There are no minimum order requirements on our most popular wristband styles, and your custom bands will ship within 10-15 days. We offer various styles such as debossed, embossed, as well an custom key chains, silicone rings and an adjustable wristband option. Build your own National Cancer Survivors Day bracelets online today!
Does your company have any interest in making a donation of braclets for a fundraiser for cancer ?


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Home > News > Landmark reform bill signed into law on 3 December but skepticism lingers about fiscal sustainability
Costa Rica Politics December 2018
Costa Rica: Landmark reform bill signed into law on 3 December but skepticism lingers about fiscal sustainability
A long-awaited fiscal reform bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly after a second reading on 3 December, becoming law the following day. The bill includes revenue-generating changes to Costa Rica's tax regime and puts limits on government spending, following a significant deterioration of public finances in recent years. Despite the reform, however, some analysts remain wary of whether the reform goes deep enough, remaining skeptical of government fiscal projections.
The government originally hoped to use the fiscal reform package to reduce the fiscal deficit by 1.9% of GDP. However, several exemptions were introduced during the parliamentary process which have reduced the final estimated impact. Although this should reduce the deficit—which hit an multi-decade high of 6.2% of GDP in 2017 and is forecast to have risen further in 2018—and also give a boost to investor confidence, it is unlikely to eliminate the fiscal gap and stop the rise in the public debt-to-GDP ratio on its own, leaving more work for the government to do in the coming months and years.
The reform bill swaps the old general tax on sales for a value-added tax with the same standard rate of 13%, while also incorporating reduced rates of 4%, 2% and 1% for selected goods and services. It limits government spending increases by setting fiscal rules linking spending to GDP growth as well as the public debt-to-GDP ratio. The bill also increases income tax rates for high-income earners and raises the capital gains tax in most cases. The government expects these measures to bring the fiscal deficit to below 4% of GDP by 2023. However, on 5 December Moody's cast doubt on its achievability and reduced Costa Rica's credit rating from Ba2 to B1 with a negative outlook. Moody's explained that most of the forecast reduction comes from limiting expenditures over time, which it believes will be difficult in an environment of popular opposition to austerity and headwinds to economic growth. Moreover, on 21 December S&P Global Ratings downgraded Costa Rica's credit rating from B+ to BB- with a negative outlook for similar reasons. Meanwhile, FocusEconomics panelists appear broadly unconvinced that the government will succeed in markedly reducing the fiscal deficit, which they see remaining above 5.5% through 2023.
The new measures could weigh on private and government consumption in the near-term. However, there will likely be a boost to private fixed investment growth as businesses will have greater clarity for their long-term planning and more confidence in the governance of Costa Rica. The effect of the reform on inflation will likely be mixed: On the one hand, a greater range of goods and services being taxed should stoke price rises overall; on the other hand, weaker consumption growth should have the opposite effect. The colón, meanwhile, has strengthened slightly following the reform's approval due to reduced uncertainty, although it could come under pressure if subsequent measures to put the public finances on a sustainable footing are not implemented.
Overall, FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect the fiscal deficit to fall from 6.9% in 2018 to 6.7% in 2019, before falling further to 5.7% in 2020. In terms of economic growth, our panel expects an expansion of 3.0% in 2019, which is down 0.1 percentage points from last month's forecast, and 3.2% in 2020.
Author: Edward Gardner, Economist
Looking for forecasts related to Politics in Costa Rica? Download a sample report now.
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Costa Rica Economic News
Costa Rica: Inflation climbs in December
Consumer prices increased over the previous month in December, clocking in a 0.53% rise, notably up from November's flat reading and marking a 17-month high.
Costa Rica: Contraction in economic activity eases further in November
Economic activity continued to shrink in November, although at 6.5% year-on-year it is the mildest contraction rate since March, following October's 6.6% drop.
Costa Rica: GDP contracts at a softer rate in Q3
The economy shrank again in the third quarter, although at a notably softer pace than in the second (Q3: -7.2% year-on-year; Q2: -8.9% yoy).
Costa Rica: Central Bank keeps monetary policy unchanged in December
At its monetary policy meeting on 16 December, the Central Bank of Costa Rica decided to maintain the monetary policy rate at its record low of 0.75%, having cut it from 1.25% on 17 June.
Costa Rica: Contraction in economic activity continues to ease in October
Economic activity continued to decrease in October, although at 6.6% year-on-year it is the softest contraction since March, following September's 6.8% contraction (previously reported: -7.1% year-on-year).
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Latin America selected
Mexico arrests 'money launderer' for drug lord Guzman
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35909667
Image caption Guzman is currently awaiting extradition to the United States
Mexican authorities say they have arrested the top money launderer for the Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, known as "El Chapo" or "Shorty".
Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza, nicknamed "King Midas", was detained while on holiday in the southern state of Oaxaca.
Guzman, a former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, is currently awaiting extradition to the United States.
He was recaptured in January after breaking out of a high-security prison.
Mr Inzunza is suspected of laundering $300m-$400m a year for the Sinaloa cartel through a network of companies and currency exchange centres.
A US federal court in Washington had requested Mr Inzunza's arrest and he is likely to be extradited.
Guzman himself is also facing extradition to the US on charges of drug trafficking in California, and murder in Texas.
Earlier this month, he asked for the extradition process to progress rapidly so he could receive better treatment in prison.
Since Guzman's recapture in January, six months after he escaped from prison, he has been subject to a stricter regime.
Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán
Mexican drug lord El Chapo Guzman 'requests US extradition'
El Chapo Guzman: Extradition to US could take 'at least year'
El Chapo Guzman: Sean Penn defends Rolling Stone interview
El Chapo: How Mexico's drug kingpin fell victim to his own legend
World Sections


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Себастьян-Баррус () — муниципалитет в Бразилии, входит в штат Пиауи. Составная часть мезорегиона Юго-запад штата Пиауи. Входит в экономико-статистический микрорегион Шападас-ду-Эстрему-Сул-Пиауиенси. Население составляет  3 560 человек на 2010 год. Занимает площадь 893,715 км². Плотность населения — 3,98 чел./км².

Демография
Согласно сведениям, собранным в ходе переписи 2010 г. Национальным институтом географии и статистики (IBGE), население муниципалитета составляет:

По данным оценки 2016 года население муниципалитета составляет 3 455 жителей.

Статистика
 Валовой внутренний продукт на 2003 составляет 6.489.478,00 реалов (данные: Бразильский институт географии и статистики).
 Валовой внутренний продукт на душу населения на 2003 составляет 1.367,65 реалов (данные: Бразильский институт географии и статистики).
 Индекс развития человеческого потенциала на 2000 составляет 0,566 (данные: Программа развития ООН).

Ссылки
IBGE Cidades
Confederação Nacional de Municípios (CNM)

Примечания

Муниципалитеты штата Пиауи

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Hotpan is designed for today's lifestyle. Vegetables cooked over low heat in their own moisture retain their nutrients, while meat and fish are succulent, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The innovative design uses up to 60% less energy. Stainless steel pan works on conventional and induction stoves. Elegant serving shell keeps food hot and fresh for up to 2 hours and doubles as a serving bowl.


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Q: 3d stuttering on 64bit Windows 7 I recently upgraded from 32bit Windows 7 to 64bit so I could use all the RAM in my laptop.
Everything works great except 3D, which stutters like crazy. This worked fine when I was on 32bit Windows 7.
I have the latest driver for the Quadro FX 770M that is in my Dell M4400. I got this via the NVidia utility on their site. I also tried the Dell driver from support.dell.com.
Both give the same results.
I have all the drivers installed for the motherboard, hard disk etc as given on the dell support page.
Does anyone else share this issue with 3D on 64bit Windows 7.

A: In the nvidia control panel there should be a 3d settings tab. Make sure all these settings are correct.

A: The latest nVidia drivers (190/191) cause some stuttering with Windows 7 in certain games. Roll back your drivers to 186 and it should be fine. I'm waiting for a fix myself.

A: You could try uninstalling the drivers and then run Driver sweeper, then install the Nvidia drivers again.

A: Try it with Aero disabled. I know that I get choppy streaming Netflix video if I don't disable Aero.

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Trails, Films & More
Andrea Thabet
Fellowship Recipient
The House that Mary Built: The 1936 California House and Garden Exposition
Dr. Andrea Thabet is a historian specializing in Los Angeles, urban, and public history, with a focus on urban renewal policy and cultural policy in the United States. Dr. Thabet has worked as a Curatorial Assistant at the Skirball Cultural Center and Museum in Los Angeles as well as at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. She has taught college level courses in her areas of expertise, including a course on the U.S. Civil Rights Movement at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and America in the 1960s at the California Institute of Technology. Dr. Thabet has consulted on a number of historic preservation projects, which include a successful Historic- Cultural Monument nomination for the Hawk House designed by Harwell Hamilton Harris (2019), and research and writing about Civic Center Branch Administrative Centers for Survey LA, a city-wide project conducted by L.A.'s Office of Historic Resources. Presently, she serves as Co-Coordinator for the L.A. History & Metro Studies Group, based at the Huntington Library. Dr. Thabet holds a Ph.D and an M.A. in U.S. History from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a B.A. in History with an Art History minor from Loyola Marymount University. She has presented her research at a number of academic conferences and public events. Dr. Thabet's forthcoming article, "'From Sagebrush to Symphony': Negotiating the Hollywood Bowl and the Future of Los Angeles, 1918-1926," will appear in the Pacific Historical Review in Fall 2020. Her published works on Los Angeles and urban history have appeared in both academic and popular journals, in both print and digital formats. Currently, Dr. Thabet is working on a book manuscript based on her dissertation, Culture as Urban Renewal: Postwar Los Angeles and the Remaking of Public Space.
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06/15/2011 12:19 pm ET Updated Aug 15, 2011
Kucinich Sues Obama For Violating War Powers Act In Libya
By Jennifer Bendery
WASHINGTON –- President Barack Obama spoke passionately in 2007 about the need for Congress to challenge the Bush administration over violating the War Powers Act -- the very charge he is now facing from lawmakers in both parties over U.S. military involvement in Libya.
Back when Obama was a senator, he talked tough on the need for Congress to find "a backbone" and keep then-President George W. Bush in check regarding the legality of the Iraq War.
"We thought we learned this lesson," Obama said during remarks at DePaul University in October 2007.
"After Vietnam, Congress swore it would never again be duped into war, and even wrote a new law -- the War Powers Act -- to ensure it would not repeat its mistakes. But no law can force a Congress to stand up to the president. No law can make senators read the intelligence that showed the president was overstating the case for war. No law can give Congress a backbone if it refuses to stand up as the co-equal branch the Constitution made it."
Those sentiments are now being played out by some of Obama's biggest critics on Libya.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) announced Wednesday that they are suing Obama in federal court over the constitutionality of leading the U.S. into war with Libya without seeking Congressional approval. Specifically, their lawsuit challenges the executive branch's circumvention of Congress and its use of international organizations -- namely, the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- to authorize the use of military force abroad.
"With regard to the war in Libya, we believe that the law was violated," Kucinich said in a statement. "We have asked the courts to move to protect the American people from the results of these illegal policies."
The lawsuit is signed by a bipartisan mix of lawmakers, including Reps. Howard Coble (R-N.C.), John Duncan (R-Tenn.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), Tim Johnson (R-Ill.) and Dan Burton (R-Ind.). Of note: Paul is one of Obama's GOP challengers for the presidency in 2012.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) also warned Obama Tuesday that he may be in violation of the War Powers Act by Sunday if he doesn't seek congressional authorization to continue operations in Libya. Sunday will mark 90 days since U.S. forces first struck Libyan targets as part of the NATO-led effort to take out leader Muammar Gaddafi.
According to the War Powers resolution, a president who commits troops to war must explain the legal reasoning for doing so within 60 days. That period can be extended to 90 days if the president requests more time from Congress, which Obama did not do. By the 90-day mark, the president is required to obtain congressional approval for action. To date, Obama has not sought such approval and maintains it is not necessary given that military action is expected to be limited in scope and duration.
"Since the mission began, the administration has provided tactical operational briefings to the House of Representatives, but the White House has systematically avoided requesting a formal authorization for its action," Boehner said in a letter to Obama.
"Therefore, it would appear that in five days, the administration will be in violation of the War Powers Resolution unless it asks for and receives authorization from Congress or withdraws all U.S. troops and resources from the mission."
In his letter, the Speaker proposes the White House has made one of two determinations on Libya: "Either you have concluded the War Powers Resolution does not apply to the mission in Libya, or you have determined the War Powers Resolution is contrary to the Constitution."
Boehner wasn't always so critical of Obama over Libya -- in fact, Politico reported that he said the president was "technically" in compliance with the War Powers Act earlier this month.
"There are a lot of questions that remain out there, and frankly I think members on both sides of the aisle are looking for answers about this, and they're looking for some clarity," he told reporters. "Legally, they've met their requirements [under] the War Powers Act."
An administration official told The Huffington Post on Wednesday that the White House is preparing to send Congress extensive documentation "sometime today" that makes the case for involvement in Libya without Congressional approval. It remains to be seen if lawmakers will agree those documents suffice -- and if Republicans plan to drag the issue out for political gain.
Jennifer Bendery
Senior Politics Reporter, HuffPost
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Valdosta Daily Times' superficial review of Douglas Wolk's All of the Marvels
The Valdosta Daily Times posted a fluff-coated review of propagandist Wolk's history book "All of the Marvels", which didn't know when to quit in terms of how far it goes:
Douglas Wolk read all of the Marvels then wrote a book called "All of the Marvels."
By all of the Marvels, he's referring to having read all of the Marvel comic books that are interrelated between the introduction of "The Fantastic Four" in 1961 through the company's comics published through roughly 2017. That's approximately 27,000-plus comic books. At roughly a half-million pages, Wolk makes the argument that Marvel Comics has created the "biggest story ever told," according to the book's subtitle.
If he really wanted his book to have meaning, Wolk would've stopped around 2003, which was pretty much when Marvel's books lost direction. They may have told the biggest story you could expect, but it was really in 1939 where it all began, and past the early 2000s, Joe Quesada and Bill Jemas ruined everything. Why, soon after Jemas left, Quesada made sure they boomeranged back on company wide crossovers, which they'd mostly refrained from for nearly 3 years, bringing us insults to the intellect like House of M, and Civil War. None of which Wolk ever asked caused harm to Marvel's storytelling, self-contained or otherwise.
It's a compelling argument. True, many of the comic books are self-contained adventures, or two- to three- to six-issue story arcs. But each of those issues are and can be interrelated. Some small element introduced as far back as that first issue of "Fantastic Four" 61 years ago can be a story-telling point in an issue of any other Marvel title today. No character or story element is too small, everything has potential for a story in any number of Marvel Comics books – depending on the creativity of the writers and artists.
What about what comes after 2003? By then, Brian Bendis had influenced Marvel for the worse, along with Joe Quesada, mandating nearly ever comic they published had to be written for trade collections, at least 6 issues in length, and often resulted in padded out storytelling that made it a drag to read through. And did Wolk ever criticize Quesada for mistreatment of Mary Jane Watson? Apparently not, if he kept on reading their output a decade after she was kicked to the curb.
Wolk established some rules for his journey through all of the Marvel Comics. He excluded some titles such as "Conan the Barbarian," for example, since the character's stories did not relate to the overall Marvel Comics Universe (at least it didn't during the time period of Wolk's experiment; Conan has since been introduced to the rest of the Marvel Universe via mystical time travel and "Savage Avengers").
And Conan's now exiting the MCU again, their having lost the license due to the politically correct cowardice of Jason Aaron, and for all we know, it may be difficult to publish Savage Avengers in trades as a result. But it's surely better if Wolk had nothing to say about Conan (or even Red Sonja and Kull the Conqueror, which all saw Marvel adaptations in the Bronze Age), because I'm sure he would've taken a woke approach to comment on their content, much like he did with the following:
Yet, Wolk gives full chapters to works such as "Master of Kung Fu," a martial arts comic book that ran from the mid-1970s through mid-1980s. It featured few connections with the Marvel Universe but developed a cult following through the years. While its connections to the rest of the Marvel Universe are tenuous, the chapter explores the handling of race and culture in past comic books, the copyright entanglements of combining Marvel-created characters with characters from other characters whose licensing has since lapsed, and groundbreaking creative work.
I seem to recall Wolk made a politically correct fuss over the racial stereotyping in MOKF, and based on his leftist politics, that's why I'd rather not hear somebody like him tell what he thinks, because people like him often mess up based on their approach these days.
He lays out his ground rules for readers then digs into his research and advice. He implores readers not to start at the beginning with "FF" No. 1, not to read specific titles from the first issue all the way through, to not seek only the "big" story arcs without reading some of the "filler" stuff for a given title – how can the "big" stuff have any impact on a reader unfamiliar with the status quo of a character or a title prior to the "big" thing happening? ... He recommends readers jump in anywhere, on any title, at any time, though he gives some recommendations of good starting points in several titles.
Sorry, but I'm not taking "research and advice" like that at face value, seeing how he went out of his way to sugarcoat some of Marvel's most overrated crossover events, in example. Besides, I firmly believe it's recommended to read Captain America's Golden Age origins to understand how these stories began, what they could allude to from the times, and why even the early origins matter. I remember once reading some excerpts from the Golden Age Human Torch stories, and noticed that in the premiere, the titular android was wearing a blue-colored outfit, and realized Stan Lee must've gotten the idea to give the FF blue costumes based on that. If you want specific understandings of how Marvel history began, that's why the Golden Age matters, and too bad if Wolk doesn't comprehend that.
Wolk looks at the expected things – chapters devoted to the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the X-Men, for example – as well as the unexpected – the chapter devoted to "Master of Kung Fu," as example again.
"All of the Marvels" is fun to read for long-time fans who may be deeply familiar with some Marvel titles but not others, or who believe they are familiar with all of the titles, or ones who have never picked up a comic, or those who've only seen the Marvel movies but want to know more.
Wolk is welcoming to life-long Marvel "true believers" as well as newcomers.
I'd think this is more like "welcoming" to anybody naive enough to buy into his PC narrative that doesn't make distinctions between what's good or bad, or doesn't admit things went downhill somewhere along the way. Not that you could expect these mainstream papers to admit it, sadly. I may be a true believer, but of the stories published up to a certain point, and all based on merit, which the garbage that came out since lacks, no thanks to Quesada and Axel Alonso. Maybe what's really a shame is how till this day, there's still no authors willing to write an objective history book that doesn't follow a PC narrative in what's good or bad in the history of the MCU's stories, self-contained or otherwise. No wonder MSM coverage of these books remains so farcical.
Labels: Avengers, crossoverloading, Fantastic Four, licensed products, marvel comics, moonbat writers, msm propaganda, Spider-Man, women of marvel, X-Men
Marvel Continuity ended with Fantastic Four # 322 1989 see https://zak-site.com/Great-American-Novel/ff_end.html
Posted by Joerizzo2025 | 8:53 AM
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Plastic pollution to double by 2030
Diplomatic Correspondent
23 October, 2021 12:00 AM
Plastic pollution in oceans and other bodies of water continues to grow sharply and could be more than double by 2030, according to an assessment by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
The report released on Thursday highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. It also says a drastic reduction in unnecessary, avoidable and problematic plastic, is crucial to addressing the global pollution crisis overall.
To help reduce plastic waste at the needed scale, it proposes an accelerated transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, the removal of subsidies and a shift towards more circular approaches towards reduction.
Titled From Pollution to Solution: a global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution, the report shows that there is a growing threat, across all ecosystems, from source to sea.
But it also shows that there is the know-how to reverse the mounting crisis, provided the political will is there, and urgent action is taken.
The document is being released 10 days ahead of the start of the crucial UN Climate Conference, COP26, stressing that plastics are a climate problem as well.
For example, in 2015, greenhouse gas emissions from plastics were 1.7 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent; by 2050, they're projected to increase to approximately 6.5 gigatonnes. That number represents 15 per cent of the whole global carbon budget - the amount of greenhouse gas that can be emitted, while still keeping warming within the Paris Agreement goals.
Addressing solutions to the problem, the authors pour cold water on the chances of recycling our way out of the plastic pollution crisis.
They also warn against damaging alternatives, such as bio-based or biodegradable plastics, which currently pose a threat similar to conventional plastics.
The report looks at critical market failures, such as the low price of virgin fossil fuel feedstocks (any renewable biological material that can be used directly as a fuel) compared to recycled materials, disjointed efforts in informal and formal plastic waste management, and the lack of consensus on global solutions.
Instead, the assessment calls for the immediate reduction in plastic production and consumption, and encourages a transformation across the whole value chain.
It also asks for investments in far more robust and effective monitoring systems to identify the sources, scale and fate of plastic. Ultimately, a shift to circular approaches and more alternatives are necessary.
For the Executive Director of UNEP, Inger Andersen, this assessment "provides the strongest scientific argument to date for the urgency to act, and for collective action to protect and restore our oceans, from source to sea."
She said that a major concern is what happens with breakdown products, such as microplastics and chemical additives, which are known to be toxic and hazardous to human and wildlife health and ecosystems.
"The speed at which ocean plastic pollution is capturing public attention is encouraging. It is vital that we use this momentum to focus on the opportunities for a clean, healthy and resilient ocean", Ms. Andersen argued.
Currently, plastic accounts for 85 per cent of all marine litter.
By 2040, it will nearly triple, adding 23-37 million metric tons of waste into the ocean per year. This means about 50kg of plastic per meter of coastline.
Because of this, all marine life, from plankton and shellfish; to birds, turtles and mammals; faces the grave risk of toxification, behavioral disorder, starvation and suffocation.
The human body is similarly vulnerable. Plastics are ingested through seafood, drinks and even common salt. They also penetrate the skin and are inhaled when suspended in the air.
In water sources, this type of pollution can cause hormonal changes, developmental disorders, reproductive abnormalities and even cancer.
According to the report, there are also significant consequences for the global economy.
Globally, when accounting for impacts on tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, together with the price of projects such as clean-ups, the costs were estimated to be six to 19 billion dollars per year, during 2018.
By 2040, there could be a $100 billion annual financial risk for businesses if governments require them to cover waste management costs. It can also lead to a rise in illegal domestic and international waste disposal.
The report will inform discussions at the UN Environment Assembly in 2022, where countries will come together to decide a way forward for more global cooperation.
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