Keepingitreal

Today's News Highlights 06.29.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Kabul hotel attacked by suicide bombers
A squad of bombers and gunmen attacked a landmark hotel in the Afghan capital late Tuesday, exploding a vehicle at its gate and then entering the building.
(By Pamela Constable)

New IMF chief Lagarde faces immediate tests
Lagarde faces immediate tests in Greece, as well as a longer-range commitment to giving developing nations more power within the IMF.
(By Howard Schneider)

FBI looks at Arlington Cemetery procedures
A broad criminal inquiry also seeks evidence of possible contracting fraud and falsification of records, people familiar with the investigation said.
(By Jerry Markon and Christian Davenport)

Kerry, McCain share long friendship
Their personal bonds and foreign policy views have been shaped by war.
(By Paul Kane)

D.C. seeks foothold in online gambling
D.C. officials are scrambling to launch an online casino in the city, which is the first jurisdiction in the United States to sanction Internet gambling.
(By Michael Laris)

POLITICS
Latest scandals show South Korea still struggles to shed corrupt, collusive ways
SEOUL, South Korea — Allegations of multibillion dollar fraud at banks and revelations by South Korea’s top business conglomerate of shady dealings are forcing the country to grapple anew with a legacy of deep-seated corruption.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Republicans turn labor dispute with Boeing into political headache for Obama
WASHINGTON — The government’s labor dispute with Boeing Co. is turning into a political headache for President Barack Obama, giving his Republican rivals a fresh opening to bash the administration’s economic policies.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Obama, Biden to meet Senate Democratic leaders in debt discussions
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden plan to meet with Senate Democratic leaders Wednesday, the latest step in debt negotiations with Congress.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Matching Supreme Court justices
The Supreme Court term that ended Monday appeared to make clear that Bush and Obama got what they hoped for when they nominated the justices who will shape the court’s future.
( by Robert Barnes , The Washington Post)

DC readies nation's first government-run online poker operation, and stakes will be low
WASHINGTON — Residents of the nation’s capital could be able to play government-sponsored Texas Hold ‘Em poker and other online games on their laptops within three months even though such wagering is essentially banned in the rest of the country.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
Ask Amy: Couple can’t agree to disagree about exes
My boyfriend and I are thinking about becoming engaged. He keeps in regular contact with his exes, and I think this is really weird.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Ketchup concern
In a Heloise flashback, a reader wonders: Should ketchup be refrigerated after it’s opened?
(, King)

Marriage or cohabitation?
After two years of dating he’s ready to move in with her. But after lots of divorces in his family he’s not ready for marriage.
(, The Washington Post)

Shylock’s the highlight in contrived ‘Merchant’
Mark Nelson is a superb Shylock in Shakespeare Theatre’s otherwise forcibly contrived handling of “The Merchant of Venice.”
( by Peter Marks , The Washington Post)



(, The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
General Electric extends global Olympic sponsorship through 2020 Summer Games
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — General Electric Co. extended its global Olympic sponsorship through 2020 on Wednesday in a four-games deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Tuesday's Sports In Brief
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court won’t revive baseball star Roger Clemens’ lawsuit against his former personal trainer for claiming he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormones.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ndamukong Suh says he sees 'positive light' in talks to end the NFL lockout
WALLED LAKE, Mich. — Ndamukong Suh is spending his offseason traveling, working out, rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder and spending time with family and friends.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

South Carolina repeats as national champion with 5-2 win, sweep of CWS finals over Florida
OMAHA, Neb. — Michael Roth pitched 7 2-3 innings on three days’ rest, and South Carolina won its second straight national championship with a 5-2 victory Tuesday night that completed a two-game sweep over Florida in the College World Series finals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Interim financing deal will allow Dodgers to keep playing during bankrutpcy, but battle looms
WILMINGTON, Del. — Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt may have won the first round in a bankruptcy court fight with Major League Baseball, however the two sides are gearing up for what could be a protracted battle for control of one of the most storied teams in baseball.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
AP IMPACT: FBI's hunt for al-Qaida's 'third man' merges identities of two different people
LONDON — The FBI’s most-wanted list features a dated black-and-white photograph for the man wanted in connection with the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya. Saif al-Adel, reads the glaring red banner, alias Muhammad Ibrahim Makkawi.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

North Korea says it will retaliate militarily for South Korea army units' anti-Pyongyang signs
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s military vowed Wednesday to retaliate for anti-Pyongyang signs posted at front-line South Korean army units, as rare talks between the rivals on a stalled joint tourism project broke down.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Sizzle of fizzle? Britain faces mass strikes as unions try to increase the heat on government
LONDON — Thousands of British schools will close and travelers will face long lines at airport immigration this week when three quarters of a million workers go on strike — the first blast in what unions hope will be a summer of discontent against the cost-cutting government’s austerity plans.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Myanmar state media warn democracy leader Suu Kyi that planned tour could trigger riots
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s state media warned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that her plans to travel outside Yangon to meet supporters could trigger riots.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Embattled Sudan president visits chief diplomatic backer, China
BEIJING — Sudan’s embattled president conferred Wednesday with his chief diplomatic backer, China, reaching agreements on economic support just days before the southern part of his country becomes independent.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
D.C.'s biggest stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)

Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)

Don't make the economy worse: Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)

Dana Milbank Live
Dana Milbank is recruiting cabin stewards, apologists and Tiffany's liaisons to help Newt Gringrich on his 2012 campaign.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Toyota to recall 82,200 vehicles in the US due to possible faulty computer boards
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall about 82,200 hybrid SUVs in the U.S. due to computer boards with possible faulty wiring.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

That Was Quick: Chrome Extension Adds Facebook, Twitter Sharing To Google+

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Good First Sign: I Have A Strong Desire To Keep Using Google+

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Kodak looks to vanquish Apple and RIM in patent forum, brightening its turnaround picture
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Innovation turned Eastman Kodak Co. into one of the world’s most recognizable brands. Imitation by its rivals might help keep the picture-taking pioneer from fading into history.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Square Closes That $100 Million Round, Mary Meeker Joins Board

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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BUSINESS
Toyota to recall 82,200 vehicles in the US due to possible faulty computer boards
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall about 82,200 hybrid SUVs in the U.S. due to computer boards with possible faulty wiring.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

World stock markets rise on signs that Greece may adopt controversial austerity measures
BANGKOK — Hopes that Greece will enact an unpopular set of austerity measures to prevent the country from defaulting on its massive debts sent world stocks higher Wednesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Greek austerity bill set to pass as all bar one Greek Socialist deputy appear in favor
ATHENS, Greece — Greek deputies are poised to back a deeply unpopular austerity bill Wednesday that is essential for the country to get crucial bailout funds and avoid a devastating default on its debts.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

That Was Quick: Chrome Extension Adds Facebook, Twitter Sharing To Google+

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

France to name new finance minister after Lagarde chosen to head IMF
PARIS — France is expected to name a new finance minister to replace Christine Lagarde, who is leaving to take up the top job at the International Monetary Fund next week.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Today's News Highlights 06.20.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
McIlroy captures history at Congressional
Rory McIlroy posts the lowest mark in tournament history, shooting a final-round 69 for a total of 16-under 268, as he runs away with the 111th U.S. Open.
(By Barry Svrluga)

CEO Pay: What the area’s executives make
Hefty stock awards and bonuses drove total compensation up over 20 percent for Washington’s highest-paid chief executives last year, reflecting a nationwide trend among the largest public companies.
(By Danielle Douglas)

With executive pay, rich pull away from America
A mounting body of economic research indicates that the rise in pay for company executives is a critical feature in the widening income gap.
(By Peter Whoriskey)

Rise in charitable giving may signal economic rebound
Charitable giving in the United States rose last year for the first time in two years, signaling a rebound in the economy.
(By Annie Gowen)

Hospitals courting primary-care doctors
The push is forcing doctors to make decisions about how to deliver care to patients.
(By Lena H. Sun)

POLITICS
PROMISES, PROMISES: No action yet from Obama on guns despite call for steps
WASHINGTON — More than five months after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, the White House has yet to take any new steps on gun violence, even though that’s what President Barack Obama called for in the wake of the shooting.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Black slaves, freedmen risked their lives to work as Union spies down South during Civil War
WASHINGTON — In the Confederate circles he navigated, John Scobell was considered just another Mississippi slave: singing, shuffling, illiterate and completely ignorant of the Civil War going on around him.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

PROMISES, PROMISES: No action yet from Obama on guns despite call for steps
WASHINGTON — More than five months after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, the White House has yet to take any new steps on gun violence, even though that’s what President Barack Obama called for in the wake of the shooting.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Michelle Obama aims to inspire youth leaders during upcoming visit to South Africa, Botswana
WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama is fond of saying there’s no magic to her being first lady.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

First lady departs for trip to to Africa
First lady Michelle Obama, along with her two daughters, left for Africa on Sunday, her second official solo journey abroad.
(, The Washington Post)

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STYLE
Ask Amy: Words of love, uttered and ... forgotten?
During a weekend outing, her boyfriend told her he loved her, would marry her “in a week” and wanted her to have his baby. The next day, he couldn’t remember what he said. Yes, there was drinking involved.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Special guest request
Heloise asks: Is it fair to ask for unusual, specialty or hard-to-find food items when you are a guest in someone’s home? Readers, what do you have to say?
(, King)

Why a mom may have stayed with an abusive husband
Mom didn’t leave her abusive husband and now a daughter won’t forgive her. Did Mom have a good reason for staying — such as loss of her children?
(, The Washington Post)

Calm by the green, crazed by the pitch
At the U.S. Open and the Gold Cup, vastly dissimilar cultures were on display — entirely different, yet very much the same.
( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)

FTC vs. National Gallery
Republican lawmaker’s push to have the National Gallery take over the historic FTC building has sparked a turf battle in Washington.
( by Ned Martel , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Giants fan beating suspect up for parole revocation hearing at Los Angeles jail
LOS ANGELES — The main suspect in the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium in March faces a court hearing to determine whether he should remain in jail for violating terms of his parole.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Sunday's Sports In Brief
BETHESDA, Md. — On another brilliant day of golf, Rory McIlroy ran away with the U.S. Open title, winning by eight shots and breaking the tournament scoring record by a whopping four strokes.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Franchitti wins in Milwaukee, pulls even with Power in IndyCar points standings
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — With Sunday’s win in Milwaukee, Dario Franchitti pulled even with Will Power in the IndyCar Series points standings.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Even with White Sox, Cubs under .500, crosstown series could provide some drama
CHICAGO — Ozzie Guillen’s kidney stone just might be the perfect metaphor for this baseball season in Chicago.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ticket to Augusta: Kevin Chappell's strong US Open comes to a Masters-ful conclusion
BETHESDA, Md. — The top eight finishers at the U.S. Open qualify for next year’s Masters, and that’s a big deal for someone like Kevin Chappell.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Reports: Japan's prime minister under pressure to resign next month
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, criticized for his handling of the tsunami disaster and the country’s sluggish economy, is under pressure to resign next month if budget bills are passed by parliament, reports said Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Syria’s president: ‘Saboteurs’ are trying to exploit a movement seeking legitimate reforms
Syria’s embattled president says “saboteurs” are trying to exploit legitimate demands for reform in the country.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

British foreign secretary says Syrian leader Assad must reform or go, asks Turkey's help
LUXEMBOURG — Britain’s foreign secretary said Monday that Syria’s leader must reform or go, as the country’s regime continues a brutal crackdown on dissent.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Greek power company workers start strikes against privatization, potentially causing shortages
ATHENS, Greece — Greece faces potential power outages as employees at the main power utility strike to protest the company’s privatization, part of austerity plans essential for the country to avoid a default.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Handful of Melbourne-Sydney flights canceled as volcanic ash moves over southern Australia
SYDNEY — Qantas and Virgin Australia plan to cancel flights into and out of the southern city of Adelaide on Tuesday, when an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano is expected to again move into Australian airspace. Some service on a budget carrier between the country’s two largest cities was also suspended.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS

Outlook: Faux lesbians and anonymity online
Join Washington Post bloggers Melissa Bell and Elizabeth Flock as they discuss the quest to unmask the real blogger behind the "Gay Girl in Damascus" blog.
(, vForum)

D.C.'s biggest stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

Outlook: Faux lesbians and anonymity online
Join Washington Post bloggers Melissa Bell and Elizabeth Flock as they discuss the quest to unmask the real blogger behind the "Gay Girl in Damascus" blog.
(, vForum)

From devoted, to deadbeat, to cannibal: How animal fathers survive in the wild
Join Dr. Stephen Vessey as he chats about the various ways animals choose to rear their young. How different are they from human dads?
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
‘Reminder: Call Dad,’ Another Notch In Google’s Belt Of Social Fail

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Adobe Software Updates To Help Devs Build iOS, PlayBook And Android Apps

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

The Bitcoin Trials Continue: Mt. Gox Exchange Collapses Due To Compromised Account

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

VillageVines Relaunches As Savored, Expands Discount Dining To 10 Cities

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Yup, YouTube Counts Video Ads As Regular Views

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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EDITORIAL
More questions about those erasures
D.C. school officials wonder why the popular Singapore math program hasn’t worked at an elementary school.
(, The Washington Post)

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BUSINESS
Athens will get loan to avoid default, but must act on spending, privatization laws
LUXEMBOURG — The markets were in jittery mood once again Monday after eurozone finance ministers failed to agree to release the next bailout loan installment to Greece — money that is needed to prevent a debt default that could trigger financial chaos.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Athens will get loan to avoid default, but must act on spending, privatization laws
LUXEMBOURG — European stocks and the euro slipped Monday after eurozone finance ministers came up short of a final deal to get Greece its next installment of bailout money that is needed to prevent a default that could cause financial chaos.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Airbus superjumbo A380 grounded at Paris Air Show after clipping a wing
LE BOURGET, France — Airbus’ star jet has been grounded after clipping a wing on a taxiway structure, the latest in an embarrassing string of incidents for the European jet maker at the aviation industry’s premier showcase.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Japanese exports drop 10.3 percent in May as impact from quake and tsunami lingers
TOKYO — Japan’s exports dropped for the third straight month in May, hit by massive production losses in the auto sector following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disasters, the government said Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

‘Reminder: Call Dad,’ Another Notch In Google’s Belt Of Social Fail

Today's News Highlights 06.16.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
White House defends Libya action
The administration’s stance puts it at odds with GOP leaders and some anti-war Democrats.
(By Scott Wilson)

Greek default fears sharpen
Growing political turmoil intensifies concerns that Greece may be spiraling toward default, potentially igniting a new phase in Europe’s debt crisis.
(By Anthony Faiola and Howard Schneider)

A new low for U.S., Pakistan
Officials say the security relationship between the two nations is the rockiest it’s been since 2001.
(By Karen DeYoung and and Griff Witte)

Arizona Rep. Giffords released from Houston hospital, 5 months after being shot
HOUSTON — Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was released from a Houston hospital on Wednesday, five months after being shot in the head during a Tucson political event.
(By Associated Press)

Bruins hoist the Stanley Cup
Boston captures the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years with a 4-0 victory over the Canucks in Game 7 in Vancouver.
(By Associated Press)

POLITICS
AP source: House Democratic leaders plan to meet Thursday to consider next step in Weiner case
WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders are planning to meet Thursday to consider the next step in handling the scandal embroiling Rep. Anthony Weiner, who has resisted calls to resign in the midst of a sexting scandal that has been a major distraction for his party for nearly three weeks.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Study finds dads are spending much more time with kids than they did a few generations ago
WASHINGTON — The percentage of American fathers who live apart from their children has doubled over the last half-century. But, to their credit, many of today’s dads are spending more than twice as much time with their kids as they did back then.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

White House report on Libya does little to soothe anger among lawmakers on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON — The White House is vigorously defending President Barack Obama’s right to keep the U.S. military engaged in Libya without seeking congressional approval, a move that appears to have done little to soothe anger among Republican lawmakers and anti-war Democrats over the president’s consultations with Congress during the nearly three month-long campaign.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

White House report on Libya does little to soothe anger among lawmakers on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON — The White House is vigorously defending President Barack Obama’s right to keep the U.S. military engaged in Libya without seeking congressional approval.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Hackers who breached Senate computer system say they hit CIA website
WASHINGTON — A group of hackers who breached the Senate computer system earlier this week claimed responsibility for problems with the CIA’s website Wednesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
Carolyn Hax: Money matters
How to handle a situation in which you loan an old friend money.
(, The Washington Post)

Ask Amy: Teacher needs to go to spending school
Retiree scrimped and saved so much during her working years that she’s at a loss now on how to enjoy her hard-earned money.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Miss Manners: Who wins in ‘culture’ clash?
Dear Miss Manners: When cultural differences result in different expectations of the hostess and guest obligations, to whose culture should we defer; the hostess’s or the guest’s?
(, United Media)

Is it a musical? Or a textbook? ‘Canto’ can’t decide
GALA Hispanic Theatre’s final offering of the 2010-11 season trips over its wordiness.
(, The Washington Post)

‘Green Lantern’ is plausible and none too illuminating
‘Green Lantern’ is neither amusing nor exciting enough to ensure a long-running franchise.
( by Mark Jenkins Special to The Washington Post , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Wednesday's Sports In Brief
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Tim Thomas drew a virtual line in his crease throughout the crazy, contentious Stanley Cup finals, and Boston’s brilliant goalie just wouldn’t allow the Vancouver Canucks to cross it whenever it really mattered.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Vancouver fans set cars on fire, fling bottles after Stanley Cup loss to Bruins
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Parked cars were set on fire, others were tipped over and people threw beer bottles at giant television screens following the Vancouver Canucks’ 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Luongo insists Canucks will compete for Stanley Cup again after falling to Bruins in Game 7
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Roberto Luongo insists the Canucks will be back.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Boston Bruins end 39 years of futility beat Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 for Stanley Cup
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Zdeno Chara thrust the Stanley Cup high above his 6-foot-9 frame, knocking off his own championship hat and nearly falling down. The Boston Bruins’ captain passed it to 43-year-old Mark Recchi, who raised the shiny silver trophy for a third and final time.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Malaysian soccer coach is third suspect charged with match-fixing in youth tournament
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian authorities have charged a second soccer coach in a widening scandal over match-fixing at a domestic youth tournament.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Countries back treaty recognizing labor rights for millions of domestic workers
GENEVA — Countries have voted to to back a new convention that will recognize labor rights for millions of maids, nannies and cooks around the world
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

ConocoPhillips, Bangladesh sign contract to explore for gas in deep waters of Bay of Bengal
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh has signed a production-sharing contract with American energy giant ConocoPhillips to explore for gas in the virtually unexplored deep waters of the Bay of Bengal.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

French health authorities recall hamburgers after 5 children sickened from E. coli
PARIS — French health authorities have ordered a recall of hamburger patties after five children were contaminated with E. coli.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Second governing Socialist party deputy resigns his parliamentary seat in Athens
ATHENS, Greece — Second governing Socialist party deputy resigns his parliamentary seat in Athens.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Syrian authorities detain hundreds of young men in the northwest, activists say
GUVECCI, Turkey — Syrian security forces made sweeping arrests Thursday, randomly detaining males above the age of 16 in a northwestern province that has been under military siege for a week, a Syrian human rights activist said.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Campus Overload Live with Jenna Johnson
Jenna Johnson answers your questions about college life, on and off campus.
(, vForum)

The Weather Gang Lab with Jason Samenow (Video)
Capital Weather Gang's Jason Samenow digs into this week's big weather story. Join the chat to find out what will happen -- and why.
(, vForum)

D.C.'s biggest stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (Video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

Elementary graduations, D.C. best for families, Catholic U ditches co-ed dorms: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (Video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

The Web Hostess: Online manners, memes and must-see video
A weekly chat about the best ways to kill time online. Our Web Hostess, Monica Hesse, sifts the Internet so you don't have to, searching for meaning, manners and the next great meme.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Citigroup says hackers stole data on 360,000
HONG KONG — Hackers stole account information of more than 360,000 of Citigroup Inc.’s U.S. credit card customers in a recent data breach, the bank said Wednesday, almost double the number initially thought.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Hell Yes, Mayor Bloomberg. I’m With You.

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Citigroup says hackers stole account information of 360,000 customers in recent data breach
HONG KONG — Citigroup Inc. says hackers stole the account information in a recent data breach of more than 360,000 U.S. credit card customers, much higher than initially thought.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Yahoo Tries Its Hand At Mobile App Search

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Attn Sports Fans, Journalists, And Parents Of Young Athletes, GameChanger Is On Line Two

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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BUSINESS
Korean Air takes first A380 to the skies with unique configuration for business travelers
INCHEON, South Korea — Korean Air showed off its first Airbus A380, outfitted with a unique full business class upper deck, in a pair of special flights Thursday, a day before the launch of regular international service.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Asian markets tumble on unrest over Greek debt crisis, China ecomomy fears
HONG KONG — World stocks tumbled on Thursday, hammered by continuing fears that Europe’s debt crisis could spiral out of control and worries over China’s economy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Greek PM may resign amid austerity riots
Greece’s beleaguered government was in power-sharing talks with the opposition conservatives and negotiating the resignation of Prime Minister George Papandreou, an effort to ensure approval of new austerity measures required to avoid bankruptcy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

UK retail sales fall 1.4 pct in May after royal wedding spending spree in April
LONDON — Officials figures show that retail sales in Britain fell by a worse than expected 1.4 percent in May as consumers turned their attention from a royal wedding to their own economic worries.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Citigroup says hackers stole data on 360,000
HONG KONG — Hackers stole account information of more than 360,000 of Citigroup Inc.’s U.S. credit card customers in a recent data breach, the bank said Wednesday, almost double the number initially thought.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Today's News Highlights 06.10.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Newt Gingrich’s 2012 campaign implodes
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign imploded Thursday afternoon with virtually his entire senior staff leaving en masse, according to multiple sources familiar with the moves.
(By Chris Cillizza and Karen Tumulty)

Romney will skip Iowa straw poll in August
Former Massachusetts governor, widely regarded as the front-runner in the GOP presidential race, has decided not to participate in this year’s Iowa straw poll nor any other early tests in advance of the 2012 primaries and caucuses, his campaign announced Thursday night.
(By Philip Rucker and Chris Cillizza)

Ex-NSA official Thomas Drake pleads guilty to misdemeanor
The plea brings an end to a troubled prosecution that was one of the Obama administration's most prominent efforts to punish accused leakers of classified information.
(By Ellen Nakashima)

Senate legislation may slow, but quorums continue
The old ritual of calling senators to the Senate floor to bide time, “quorum calls,” has increased dramatically. Meanwhile, the amount of legislative business the body conducts is down.
(By David A. Fahrenthold)

An embassy-in-exile
American diplomats who evacuated from Libya are still working — in a makeshift mission at the State Department.
(By Mary Beth Sheridan)

POLITICS
Americans, Africans debate future of program that links trade opportunities to good government
LUSAKA, Zambia — Americans and Africans are debating the future of a program that links trade opportunities to with the U.S. to good government.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Alaska set to release emails from Palin's time as governor as she considers White House run
JUNEAU, Alaska — The nation is about to get a new look at Sarah Palin’s tenure as Alaska governor.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Citigroup credit card data taken from 200,000 customers in latest hack of major company
NEW YORK — Citigroup Inc. has become the latest victim in a string of high-profile data thefts by hackers targeting some of the world’s best-known companies.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Not even summer yet: Heat grips half the country; scientists say sign of things to come
WASHINGTON — Public schools in Philadelphia and parts of New Jersey and Maryland cut their days short, worried about students sweltering in temperatures in the 90s.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Redistricting stalemate in Virginia
The GOP-controlled Virginia House of Delegates and the Democratic-led state Senate approved conflicting plans for redistricting.
( by Rosalind S. Helderman , The Washington Post)

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STYLE
In wake of staff walkout, questions abound about Newt Gingrich's viability in White House race
ATLANTA — Rocked by the stunning walkout of his entire senior campaign brain trust, Newt Gingrich is nonetheless vowing to remain in the race for president.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Is age the only thing keeping them apart?
A reader wonders why she can’t get to the next level with a guy 13 years her senior.
(, The Washington Post)

Ask Amy: Learning the truth about the past
I come from a very large family — eight sisters and three brothers. By the time I was 8, my father and mother had both died. I went to live with my oldest sister (also the oldest child in the family) and her husband and his son.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Sanitizing a spa tub
I am requesting a suggestion for deep-cleaning or sanitizing my spa tub. I’ve just cleaned it and scrubbed the jets with an old toothbrush. I want to be certain that all bacteria is gone so I can feel good about getting in my spa tub.
(, King)

Music review: ‘Juggler in Paradise’ at NSO
Christoph Eschenbach conducts the emphatic work’s American premiere in his last program of his first season.
( by Anne Midgette , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Thursday's Sports In Brief
OSLO, Norway — Usain Bolt ran the fastest time in the world this season as he eased to victory in the 200 meters at a Diamond League meet, while Caster Semenya finished third behind Halima Hachlaf in the 800 meters.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Softball, baseball considering joint Olympic pitch for 2020 reinstatement effort
OKLAHOMA CITY — The sport of softball could be facing an identity crisis.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Mathis matches best PGA round for 1st lead on tour with 5-under 65 after 1st round at St. Jude
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — David Mathis certainly took the long way around to grabbing the first PGA Tour lead of his career.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Already connections for the four new men's basketball coaches in the Big 12 Conference
Before they became new Big 12 head basketball coaches, Missouri’s Frank Haith and Texas A&M’s Billy Kennedy had already known each other nearly two decades.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Alex Smith 'absolutely' expects to be 49ers starting QB, says there's no beef with Crabtree
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Alex Smith finds it awkward that a free agent quarterback is organizing the San Francisco 49ers workouts during the NFL lockout.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Vietnam announces naval live fire drill as South China Sea dispute with China heats up
HANOI, Vietnam — A squabble over territory in the South China Sea escalated Friday when Vietnam announced a live ammunition drill in an apparent reponse to China’s demand that the Vietnamese halt all oil exploration in the area.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Gates says NATO has a ‘dim’ future
BRUSSELS — America’s military alliance with Europe — the cornerstone of U.S. security policy for six decades — faces a “dim, if not dismal” future, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday in a blunt valedictory address.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Japan government says tsunami survivors need long-term mental care to prevent suicide
TOKYO — Survivors of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami need long-term mental health care to protect them from debilitating conditions that could lead to suicide, Japan’s government said Friday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Karzai arrives in Pakistan for reconciliation talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad Friday for talks with top Pakistani leaders amid cautious hopes that the two nations can forge a coordinated strategy for reconciling with insurgents.
( by Griff Witte and Pamela Constable , The Washington Post)

German disease control center says cause of E. coli outbreak locally-grown vegetable sprouts
BERLIN — Investigators have determined that locally grown vegetable sprouts are the cause of the European E. coli outbreak that has killed 29 and sickened nearly 3,000, the head of Germany’s national disease control center said Friday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
We're having a heatwave: The Weather Gang Lab with Jason Samenow (Video)
Capital Weather Gang's Jason Samenow digs into this week's big weather story. Join the chat to find out what will happen -- and why.
(, vForum)

Palin vs. Bachmann, 2012 Elections and more: The Live Fix with Chris Cillizza
Get your Friday Live Fix as Chris Cillizza discusses Mitt Romney's Presidential candidacy, Weinergate, the Worst Week in Washington, and all the latest political news.
(, vForum)

Weiner's confession and Palin's emails: Dana Milbank Live
Dana Milbank answers your questions about politics and his columns and judges your "Etch-a-Sketch" submissions.
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Friday, June 17)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Lipdub? No. Founders Forum Re-creates Bond Movie Featuring Europe’s Startup Stars

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Groupon Was “The Single Worst Decision I Have Ever Made As A Business Owner”

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Citigroup says hackers accessed credit card data of some North American customers
HONG KONG — Citigroup Inc. said Thursday that hackers have accessed the credit card information of tens of thousands of its North American customers.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Apple Just Handed Twitter The Keys To The iOS Kingdom — Here’s Twitter’s Take

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Interview: Martin Rae, President Of The Academy Of Interactive Arts And Sciences

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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BUSINESS
World stock markets mostly down on concerns global growth is slowing
BANGKOK — World stock markets moved lower Friday over concerns global economic growth is slowing, despite news of a narrower U.S. trade deficit that sent Wall Street up after a weeklong slump.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Probe finds that NRC head manipulated information to make case for closing proposed nuke dump
WASHINGTON — While he apparently broke no laws, the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission withheld and manipulated information to make the case for shutting down the proposed radioactive waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, according to an internal investigation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Dutch government, unions, employers agree to increase retirement age to 67
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch government says it has brokered a new pact with unions and employers to lift the retirement age to 67 to ease the financial burden of a graying population and rising life expectancy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Lipdub? No. Founders Forum Re-creates Bond Movie Featuring Europe’s Startup Stars

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

British industrial production slides 1.7 percent in April, far worse than forecast
LONDON — Industrial production in Britain plunged by 1.7 percent in April, far worse than expected and partly due to disruptions caused by the extra public holiday for the Royal Wedding, according to official figures published Friday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Swagga Digital Magazine Summer Issue 2011

Morning News 04.14.11

1. A Man, A Plan, A Deficit
   President Obama outlined his plan for tackling the national debt Wednesday, drawing on liberal values and proposing tax cuts for the rich.
   Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, April 14, 2011

2. Nuclear Safety? Please Refer to Industry Guides.
   When it comes to nuclear regulatory guides, industry often writes the rules say critics.
   Read original story in ProPublica | Thursday, April 14, 2011

3. For Libyan Rebels, Cell Phones Replace Semaphore
   A young telecom entrepreneur has helped rebels pinch Qaddafi's wireless network.
   Read original story in | Thursday, April 14, 2011

4. FAA Ends Solo Air Traffic Night Shifts
   After another incident of a controller nodding off, federal authorities now insist each night shift must be a sleepover with more than one controller at the party.
   Read original story in Washington Post | Thursday, April 14, 2011

5. States Seek to Ban Animal Farm Exposes
   Undercover photos and videos are a favored tool of animal advocates looking to reveal squalid conditions and inhumane practices. Some states want to make them illegal, because not all animals are equal.
   Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, April 14, 2011

6. Kobe Bryant Fined $100,000 for Anti-Gay Slur
   NBA commissioner slapped a fine on the Lakers star after he made homophobic comments during a game on Tuesday night.
   Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Thursday, April 14, 2011

7. Civil War Lesson Plan: Auction Black Students
   A Virginia schoolteacher divided her classroom by race and then told white students to bid for black ones.
   Read original story in TPM | Thursday, April 14, 2011

8. Big Mac, Brought to You by Identity Theft
   McDonald's managers in Georgia have been charged with hiring prospective workers using the stolen identity cards of U.S. citizens.
   Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Thursday, April 14, 2011

9. Top CIA Spooks Leave for Private Firms
   The private sector has steadily chipped away at the CIA's top talent since 9/11 in the hope of securing government contracts.
   Read original story in Washington Post | Wednesday, April 13, 2011

10. Congress Yanks Wolf Off Endangered Species List
    In last week's budget, Congress took the unprecedented step of removing wolves from the Endangered Species List and handing their management over to pro-hunting states.
    Read original story in New York Times | Wednesday, April 13, 2011

11. Donald Trump, Harbinger of Doom
    The popularity of the real estate magnate shows just what a bad position the GOP is in when it comes to presidential candidates.
    Read original story in FiveThirtyEight | Wednesday, April 13, 2011

12. Blogger Sues Huffington Post
    Ariana Huffington is a "robber baron" who has made millions off the backs of unpaid bloggers, says one contributer who's filed suit against the site.
    Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Morning News 04.11.11

1. Obama To Deliver Deficit-Reduction Speech Wednesday
   Senior adviser David Plouffe told the Sunday shows that the president will outline his plan to reduce federal budget deficits and debt, including a call for wealthier Americans to pay more taxes.
   Read original story in USA Today | Sunday, April 10, 2011

2. Qaddafi Agrees to Peace Plan
   Libya's leader has agreed to the African Union's proposed cease-fire and "dialogue." But rebels say they will accept nothing less than the despot's resignation.
   Read original story in Washington Post | Monday, April 11, 2011

3. Concern Grows Over Debt Ceiling Vote
   If it was so difficult to reach a deal on a budget until September that cut $38 billion, many are growing worried about the possibility that a divided Washington won't be able to agree on raising the current $14.25 trillion federal debt ceiling.
   Read original story in The New York Times | Sunday, April 10, 2011

4. General McChrystal is Back
   After dismissing McChrystal following his Rolling Stone debacle, Obama has asked the former Afghanistan commander to lead a program for military families.
   Read original story in New York Times | Monday, April 11, 2011

5. New Quake Hits As Japan Widens Nuclear Evacuation
   A 7.1 earthquake rocked Japan on Monday as officials said they would evacuate more areas around the Fukushima nuclear plant.
   Read original story in Reuters | Monday, April 11, 2011

6. In GOP Presidential Field, the Sound of Crickets
   Congressional Republicans are worried that no promising presidential candidates have emerged for 2012.
   Read original story in Politico | Monday, April 11, 2011

7. Krugman: "What Have They Done With President Obama?"
   The NYT columnist says the president has gone from inspiring to spineless.
   Read original story in New York Times | Monday, April 11, 2011

8. Deadly Chinese Milk Poisoned on Purpose
   Milk that killed three children appears to have been tainted intentionally.
   Read original story in Guardian | Monday, April 11, 2011

9. U.N. Hammers Ivory Coast President
   President Laurent Gbagbo is vying for the title of most tenacious dictator, which means the U.N. and France have started bombarding his forces again.
   Read original story in CNN | Monday, April 11, 2011

10. Retired Justice O'Connor Under Ethics Fire
    Critics say she needs to choose between hearing cases in U.S. appeals courts or playing a role in public policy issues because doing both is a clear conflict of interest.
    Read original story in The Associated Press | Sunday, April 10, 2011

11. Unusual Device Led To Confusion in Synagogue Blast
    First, officials said it was a bomb, then they said it was an accident, and now it's a bomb again. Part of the issue had to do with the fact that the explosive was layered under hundreds of pounds of concrete, making it difficult to identify.
    Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Sunday, April 10, 2011

12. Mubarak Denies he Was a Corrupt President
    In his first comments since he was ousted from the Egyptian presidency, Hosni Mubarak denied he had abused his power and vowed to cooperate in any investigation.
    Read original story in Al Jazeera | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Morning News 04.07.11

1. Budget Dispute Drags on
   Obama, Boehner, and Reid met for 90 minutes in the Oval Office on Wednesday, and say they are inching closer to a deal.
   Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, April 7, 2011

2. Liberal Judge Declares Victory in Wisconsin
   Challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg leads the unwitting anti-union avatar David Prosser by 204 votes, but a recount may be necessary.
   Read original story in Politico | Thursday, April 7, 2011

3. Fox Drops Glenn Beck
   Ding-dong! The demagogic host announced his departure from Fox News Wednesday, but not before likening himself to Paul Revere.
   Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Thursday, April 7, 2011

4. Portugal Begs for Bail-Out
   The E.U. will ride to the debt-stricken country's aid to the tune of billions.
   Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Thursday, April 7, 2011

5. Ivory Coast Megalomaniac Still in Denial
   Despite French diplomacy, the Ivory Coast's Gbagbo refuses to leave his palace, saying Sarkozy wants to assassinate him.
   Read original story in Guardian | Thursday, April 7, 2011

6. Qaddafi to Obama: Be My Pen Pal?
   "Our dear son, Excellency, Baraka Hussein Abu oumama, your intervention is the name of the U.S.A. is a must," the Libyan dictator wrote in a letter.
   Read original story in AP | Thursday, April 7, 2011

7. Granny Cuts Armenia Off From Internet
   An old woman on a scrap hunt severed a cable with her spade, plunging the whole of Armenia into internet darkness.
   Read original story in Guardian | Thursday, April 7, 2011

8. YouTube Wants to Rival TV
   Google is revamping YouTube by adding channels featuring original programming.
   Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Thursday, April 7, 2011

9. Japan Plant Plugs Leak Into Pacific
   Workers have stopped the flow of radioactive water into the Pacific, preventing the tragedy of fluorescent sushi.
   Read original story in Washington Post | Wednesday, April 6, 2011

10. Stuff White People Like? Not Breeding.
    The numbers of Hispanic and Asian children are rising, while white kids are on the decline in the U.S.
    Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Wednesday, April 6, 2011

11. Archaeologists To Exhume Macabre Mona Lisa
    A team of Italian researchers hopes to find the withered remains of the Florentine woman whose face may solve the secret behind that enigmatic smile.
    Read original story in Telegraph | Wednesday, April 6, 2011

12. Berlusconi to Bunga Bunga Another Day
    Both the Italian Prime Minister and his alleged escort, "Ruby Heartstealer," skipped their first day in court. The trial will resume May 31.
    Read original story in NPR | Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Morning News 03.31.11

1. CIA Runs Covert Ops in Libya
   The spy agency is gathering intelligence on Qaddafi's military and rebel forces.
   Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, March 31, 2011

2. Libyan Rebels Retreat Eastward
   Qaddafi still has the military might to crush rebel fighters, who have retreated 200 miles after making gains earlier this week.
   Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Thursday, March 31, 2011

3. Radiation Found in U.S. Milk
   But officials say the low levels pose no health risk.
   Read original story in CNN | Thursday, March 31, 2011

4. Buffet's Heir No Longer Apparent
   David Sokol, tipped as Warren Buffett's successor at Berkshire Hathaway, has resigned after revelations of iffy stock trading.
   Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Thursday, March 31, 2011

5. Will Giffords Run for Senate?
   Supporters are discussing the possibility that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is still in hospital, could return to politics as a U.S. senator.
   Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, March 31, 2011

6. Libyan Foreign Minister Abandons Qaddafi
   Senior official Moussa Koussa fled Libya, saying he was "no longer willing" to support Qaddafi's regime.
   Read original story in Guardian | Thursday, March 31, 2011

7. Obama To Call for Reduction in Oil Imports
   Over the next decade, Obama wants to reduce foreign-oil imports by one-third. Economists wish him good luck.
   Read original story in Reuters | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

8. Arizona Passes Controversial Abortion Law
   Arizona Governor Jan Brewer passed a law on Tuesday banning abortions based on the gender or race of the fetus, a common practice in China.
   Read original story in Reuters | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

9. Google Introduces +1 Button to Rival Facebook's Like
   People with Google accounts can now recommend sites, and have those preferences show up in their friends' Google results.
   Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Thursday, March 31, 2011

10. No Refuge for the Paunchy
    The fat stigma has spread from the Anglosphere to places like American Samoa and Tanzania.
    Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, March 31, 2011

11. HIV Vaccine to Start Trials Within a Year
    The new vaccine, comprised of synthetic, computer-generated sequences of proteins, could be a breakthrough in the more than 20-year struggle to find a way to prevent AIDS.
    Read original story in The Daily Mail | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

12. Spacecraft Snaps Historic Photo of Mercury
    The photo, captured by the Mercury Messenger spacecraft on Tuesday morning, is the first image ever to be obtained of Mercury from the planet's orbit.
    Read original story in New York Times | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Morning News 03.22.11

1. Explosion Rocks Qaddafi's Compound
   Allied forces targeted the Libyan dictator's ground forces Sunday, allowing rebels to regroup.
   Read original story in New York Times | Monday, March 21, 2011

2. Japan Plant Repair Delayed
   Workers are trying to repair a ventilation system in the plant and channel enough power to a cable connected to reactor No. 2.
   Read original story in New York Times | Monday, March 21, 2011

3. Wyclef Jean Shot in Haiti
   The pop star was grazed by a bullet as he campaigned for fellow musician Michel Martelly in the Haitian presidential election.
   Read original story in CNN | Monday, March 21, 2011

4. AT&T Buys T-Mobile for $39 Billion
   The deal will make AT&T the biggest wireless carrier in the United States. It also means trouble for competitors and workers as AT&T consolidates the two companies.
   Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Monday, March 21, 2011

5. In Brazil, Obama Balances International Issues
   President Obama kicks off a tour of Latin America this week, but is at pains to show he isn't neglecting pressing issues elsewhere.
   Read original story in Washington Post | Monday, March 21, 2011

6. Knut Is Dead
   The star polar bear of the Berlin Zoo died suddenly on Saturday, aged 4, as hundreds of tourists looked on in horror.
   Read original story in AP | Monday, March 21, 2011

7. The Congressman from Koch?
   Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo received more money from Koch Industries than any other politician in 2010. Liberal groups say he's now pushing Koch-friend legislation in the House.
   Read original story in Washington Post | Monday, March 21, 2011

8. Egyptians Go to the Polls as Regional Turmoil Continues
   A historic reform vote begins in Egypt, but security forces continue to take a hard line against protestors in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen.
   Read original story in Reuters | Saturday, March 19, 2011

9. Japanese Hospital Workers Left Elderly People To Die
   Grisly scenes at abandoned hospitals and care homes underscore the plight of Japan's elderly tsunami survivors.
   Read original story in The Guardian | Saturday, March 19, 2011

10. Utah Adds Semi-Automatic To List of State Symbols
    Officials say the John M. Browning-designed M1911 handgun "captures a portion of Utah's history" and symbolizes the defense of freedom.
    Read original story in Reuters | Saturday, March 19, 2011

11. When Maggie Met Jimmy
    A new trove of letters and documents suggest that hard-nosed British leader Margaret Thatcher was surprisingly chummy with President Jimmy Carter.
    Read original story in The Associated Press | Saturday, March 19, 2011

12. Majority of American Support Gay Marriage
    For the first time in over a decade of polling, a new ABC News/Washington Post survey finds.
    Read original story in Talking Points Memo | Friday, March 18, 2011

Morning News 02.07.11

1. Egypt Makes New Concessions to Protesters
   After meeting with a number of representatives of opposition groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's vice president vowed to allow a free press, lift the emergency laws and set up a committee to study reforms.
   Read original story in The Associated Press | Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

2. Green Bay Packers Triumph at Super Bowl
   The Florida team took down the Pittsburg Steelers 31-25.
   Read original story in The Chicago Sun Times | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

3. AOL Buys Huffington Post
   The $315 million deal will put Huffington Post founder Ariana Huffington at the head of editorial content for both companies.
   Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

4. Google Exec To Be Released in Egypt
   The 30-year-old Google employee and political activist will be freed from government custody after disappearing over a week ago.
   Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

5. Super Bowl: Christina Aguilera Flubs National Anthem
   "At the twilight's last reaming"? Really?
   Read original story in The Washington Post | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

6. Obama and O'Reilly Face Off
   Politico reports the two "seemed to enjoy each other's company" during a pre-Super Bowl interview.
   Read original story in Politico | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

7. U.S. Special Envoy Embarrasses Administration
   The White House's envoy to Europe shocked Western leaders in Munich when he seemed to speak fondly of Egypt's president, underscoring the disagreements that exist in Washington over how to proceed.
   Read original story in The Guardian | Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

8. Americans in Iran Deny Spying Charges in Court
   Two men held in Iran for the last 18 months pleaded not guilty, insisting they were hiking in the mountains of northern Iraq when they inadvertently crossed an unmarked border.
   Read original story in Reuters | Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

9. User-Generated Ads Score at Super Bowl
   A Doritos dog ad and a Pepsi MAX commercial made on the cheap by ordinary people won competitions for the coveted Super Bowl spots. Meanwhile, Groupon bombed with its off-color ad about Tibet.
   Read original story in USA Today | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

10. Scrabble for New Domain Names Begins
    The ubiquitous .com is about to be joined by a host of new suffixes. But who will control .nazi, .god, .abortion, and .gay?
    Read original story in The Washington Post | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

11. Sumo Contest Scrapped After Match-fixing Scandal
    Sumo wrestling's major spring contest has been cancelled after players admitted that the ancient sport is now basically WWF with loincloths.
    Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

12. Bush Calls Off Trip After Protests, Legal Threats
    The former president canceled what would have been his first trip to Europe since leaving office after activists called for demonstrations and a group threatened legal action.
    Read original story in The Washington Post | Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

Morning News 01.26.11

1. Obama Calls for Innovation, Cooperation in State of the Union Address
   The president said Americans are facing a 21st-century "Sputnik moment" that will require renewed investment in technology and innovation as the U.S. seeks to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
   Read original story in The Washington Post | Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011

2. Two Parties Sit Together for Obama's Big Night
   The State of the Union had a prom-night feel as lawmakers frantically sought out "dates" from the rival party to sit with.
   Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

3. SOTU Response: Ryan Warns of America's Decline
   The telegenic, young(ish) chair of the House budget committee warned that "America's best century will be considered our past century" if government deficits are not reduced.
   Read original story in CBS | Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

4. Financial Crisis Could Have Been Avoided
   A federal inquiry has concluded that the Federal Reserve and its recent chairman could have forseen--and prevented--the 2008 economic meltdown.
   Read original story in The New York Times | Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

5. 3 Dead in Egyptian Protests
   As police clash with protesters, commentators caution that "Egypt is not Tunisia" but say the demonstrations rocking Cairo could still be significant.
   Read original story in Foreign Policy Foreign Policy | Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011

6. Bachmann's SOTU Rebuttal Blunder
   CNN was the only network to air Rep. Michele Bachmann's Tea Party response to the State of the Union live. Unfortunately she never looked into CNN's camera.
   Read original story in Politico | Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

7. Talking Heads React to SOTU
   Motivational or yawn-inducing? The pundits have their say.
   Read original story in The Daily Dish | Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

8. Grand Piano Appears on Sandbar Off Miami Coast
   Authorities have no idea how the 650-pound instrument got there, and they have no plans to move it.
   Read original story in Miami Herald | Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

9. Illinois Supreme Court Will Rule on Rahm
   The state's high court agreed to hear Rahm Emanuel's appeal on whether he's qualified to run for mayor of Chicago, and ordered the city not to print any ballots without Emanuel's name on them.
   Read original story in The Chicago Tribune | Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011

10. Embassy Bomber Sentenced to Life in Prison
    Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, the first former Guantanamo to be tried in civilian court in the U.S., was sentenced to life in prison for participating in the 1998 embassy bombings that killed more than 200 people.
    Read original story in BBC | Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011

11. With 12 Nods, "The King's Speech" Leads Oscar Pack
    The monarchy drama about a stammering George VI will face off against "The Social Network" in a "showdown between classy, traditional Oscar bait and edgy, youthful, up-to-the-minute drama."
    Read original story in Associated Press | Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011

12. NBC: Feds Can't Link Manning to Assange
    Sources tell NBC that although investigators can prove that suspected leaker Bradley Manning downloaded and passed off classified documents, there's no definitive connection between him and WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange.
    Read original story in MSNBC | Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011

Morning News 01.20.2011

1. House Votes to Repeal Health Care Reform
   Three Democrats joined House Republicans in a primarily symbolic vote to repeal the Obama Administration's health care bill.
   Read original story in Reuters | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

2. Loughner Indicted in Arizona Shooting
   The 22-year-old has been indicted on charges of the attempted murder of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her two aides.
   Read original story in The Washington Post | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

3. Military Tribunals to Start Again in Guantanamo
   Congress has made it next-to-impossible to bring detainees to the U.S. for trial, which means they'll face prosecution in Cuba.
   Read original story in The New York Times | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

4. Obama and Hu Announce $45 Billion Trade Deal
   President Obama mentioned human rights in a joint press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, but he focused on trade and the common interests of the United States and China.
   Read original story in The Washington Post | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

5. Obama's Approval Ratings Up
   While Sarah Palin's popularity hits an all-time low, President Obama is gaining support in the lead-up to next week's State of the Union.
   Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

6. Wal-Mart Goes Healthy With Michelle Obama's Help
   The retail giant will cut salts, fats, and sugars and lower prices on fruit and vegetables.
   Read original story in The New York Times | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

7. UK Bans Pastor Terry "Burn A Koran" Jones
   Jones tried to organize a mass burning of the Koran on the most recent anniversary of 9/11. The Brits aren't too keen on him promoting his book, Islam Is of the Devil, in the UK.
   Read original story in CNN | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

8. NASA Swaps Astronaut After Bike Accident
   Timothy Kopra will no longer be part of the crew piloting the space shuttle Discovery next month after falling off his bike. In related troubles, NASA has already selected a backup commander of the Endeavour to step into the boots of commander Mark Kelly, husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
   Read original story in AP | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

9. Philadelphia Abortion Doc Charged With Murder
   Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who performed late-term abortions in West Philadelphia for decades, allegedly severed babies' spinal cords with scissors after they were born alive and operated on women in conditions so dangerous that one of them died.
   Read original story in CBS Philly | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

10. Obama Administration Tells Congress CableGate Wasn't That Bad After All
    In public, the Obama administration has presented the WikiLeaks cable dump as a grave threat to national security, but in private briefings with congressional officials, the revelations are described as "embarrassing but not damaging."
    Read original story in Reuters | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

11. Giffords Will Leave Hospital Friday
    Less than two weeks after being shot in the head, the congresswoman will leave Tucson for a Houston rehabilitation hospital.
    Read original story in Politico | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

12. Patients Can Finally Choose Who Visits Them In the Hospital
    Regulations that took effect Tuesday will allow patients at any hospital that accepts Medicare or Medicaid to designate approved visitors.
    Read original story in ABC | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Morning News 01.19.2011

1. Bomb Discovered Along MLK Jr. Day Parade Route
   A "potentially deadly" bomb was found in a backpack in Spokane, Washington on MLK Jr. Day.
   Read original story in AP | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

2. Peace Corps Founder Sargent Shriver Dies
   The brother-in-law to the Kennedys was a paragon of Big Government idealism, presiding over the Peace Corps and president Johnson's "War on Poverty."
   Read original story in Time | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

3. Employment Upswing in Manufacturing
   Factories are a bright spot in an otherwise bleak employment landscape.
   Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

4. Chinese President Expected to Emphasize "Harmony" During State Visit
   The Obama administration would very much like to engage on serious subjects including human rights, trade laws, and currency valuation, but Hu Jintao has more modest expectations.
   Read original story in CNN | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

5. Are Statins Like Lipitor Overrated?
   Chloresterol-lowering drugs are a cash cow for drug companies but researchers say the medications may not benefit those at low risk of heart disease.
   Read original story in Reuters | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

6. Goldman's Partners: Rich and Male
   Beyond the bank's top execs lie Goldman Sachs' 475 partners, who stand to make a fortune off of company stock options. Only 13 percent of them are women.
   Read original story in The New York Times | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

7. Two Students Shot in L.A. School
   A high school sophomore apologized to his classmate and then fled the room after a gun in his backpack went off accidentally, wounding two classmates.
   Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

8. Haiti Charges Baby Doc With Corruption, Theft
   The former dictator said he returned to Haiti to help his country, but instead he's being held accountable for the harm he inflicted 25 years ago.
   Read original story in BBC | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

9. Lieberman Joins Ranks of Retiring Senate Liberals
   The Connecticut independent will officially announce that he's not seeking reelection Wednesday, the day after North Dakota Democrat Kent Conrad said he won't run in 2012
   Read original story in Politico | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

10. Royal Succession Courts Gender Equality
    Elizabeth II would never have been Queen if she'd had a younger brother. The British government is out to change that.
    Read original story in The Daily Telegraph | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

11. Apple Made $27 Billion Last Quarter, Shipped 7.3 million iPads
    But the even-better-than-expected earnings report was overshadowed by questions about CEO Steve Jobs' health.
    Read original story in Business Insider | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

12. Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake Hits Pakistan
    The tremor was felt as far away as Dubai, but isn't believed to have caused massive damage.
    Read original story in | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

Anniversary Issue of Swagga Digital Magazine

Bill preventing big tax hikes heads to Obama Fri.

WASHINGTON — A massive bipartisan tax package preventing a big New Year's Day tax hike for millions of Americans is on its way to President Barack Obama for his signature Friday.

The measure would extend tax cuts for families at every income level, renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and enact a new one-year cut in Social Security taxes that would benefit nearly every worker who earns a wage.

The president is expected to sign the bill Friday afternoon.

In a remarkable show of bipartisanship, the House gave final approval to the measure just before midnight Thursday, overcoming an attempt by rebellious Democrats who wanted to impose a higher estate tax than the one Obama agreed to. The vote was 277-148, with each party contributing an almost identical number of votes in favor (the Democrats, 139 and the Republicans, 138).

In a rare reach across party lines, Obama negotiated the $858 billion package with Senate Republicans. The White House then spent the past 10 days persuading congressional Democrats to go along, providing a possible blueprint for the next two years, when Republicans will control the House and hold more seats in the Senate.

"There probably is nobody on this floor who likes this bill," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. "The judgment is, is it better than doing nothing? Some of the business groups believe it will help. I hope they're right."

Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., said that with unemployment hovering just under 10 percent and the deadline for avoiding a big tax hike fast approaching, lawmakers had little choice but to support the bill.

This is just no time to be playing games with our economy," said Camp, who will become chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee in January. "The failure to block these tax increases would be a direct hit to families and small businesses."

Sweeping tax cuts enacted when George W. Bush was president are scheduled to expire Jan. 1 — a little more than two weeks away. The bill extends them for two years, placing the issue squarely in the middle of the next presidential election, in 2012.

The extended tax cuts include lower rates for the rich, the middle class and the working poor, a $1,000-per-child tax credit, tax breaks for college students and lower taxes on capital gains and dividends. The bill also extends through 2011, a series of business tax breaks designed to encourage investment that expired at the end of 2009.

Workers' Social Security taxes would be cut by nearly a third, going from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent, for 2011. A worker making $50,000 in wages would save $1,000; one making $100,000 would save $2,000.

"This legislation is good for growth, good for jobs, good for working and middle class families, and good for businesses looking to invest and expand their work force," said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Some Democrats complained that the package is too generous to the wealthy; Republicans complained that it doesn't make all the tax cuts permanent.

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., called it "a bipartisan moment of clarity."

The bill's cost, $858 billion, would be added to the deficit, a sore spot among budget hawks in both parties.

"I know that we are going to borrow every nickel in this bill," Hoyer lamented. CONTINUE READING...

 

 

Obama Seeking Aid for Jobless in Any Deal on Tax Cuts

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is holding out for an extension of unemployment assistance and of a variety of expiring tax breaks for low-wage and middle-income workers as part of a deal with Congressional Republicans to extend all the Bush-era tax cuts.

But it is unclear how much leverage the White House has in the tax negotiations, given the drubbing Democrats took in the midterm elections, the tight Congressional calendar and a threat by Senate Republicans to block any legislation until the tax fight is resolved.

In a symbolic nod to President Obama’s pledge to let the tax cuts on upper-income brackets expire on Dec. 31, as scheduled by law, the House on Thursday approved a bill to continue the lower tax rates enacted during the Bush administration for Americans they described as “middle class.” The vote was 234 to 188, with three Republicans joining 231 Democrats in favor; 20 Democrats and 168 Republicans were opposed.

The bill, however, has no chance of passage in the Senate, where even some Democrats say the tax cuts should be extended for everyone, at least temporarily, given the continued weakness in the economy.

Senate Democratic leaders scheduled their own symbolic votes for Saturday, intending to demonstrate their desire to end the tax cuts for the rich.

Republicans, meanwhile, expressed dismay at the posturing by Democrats, which they said was delaying the inevitable and even getting in the way of a potential deal on aid for millions of unemployed Americans whose benefits have started to run out.

Administration officials said no deal was at hand, and negotiators from the administration and the two parties in Congress met only briefly on Thursday. It is possible that the parties will be unable to reach a compromise, in which case tax rates will revert at the end of this year to their pre-2001 levels, meaning an across the board tax increase. However, the Treasury could be directed to keep the current rates while negotiations continue.

But the sense within both parties was that Democrats were essentially negotiating the terms of their major retreat on an issue that they once considered a slam-dunk on both substantive and political levels.

Senior Senate Republican aides said that an extension of all the income tax cuts was a foregone conclusion, but that a deal on jobless aid was possible if Democrats agreed to cover the cost. Democrats expressed indignation that Republicans were insisting on finding spending cuts to offset the unemployment benefits while being perfectly willing to add to the national debt the $700 billion cost of continuing the tax cuts on the highest incomes for the next decade. CONTINUE READING..

Comcast accused of setting up Internet 'toll booth'

Comcast Corp. has begun imposing a fee on Internet middleman Level 3 Communications Inc., one of the companies that Netflix Inc. has hired to deliver movies and TV shows to Web customers.

Comcast, the largest U.S. cable TV company, has set up an Internet "toll booth," charging Level 3 whenever customers request content, the Colorado-based company said Monday.

Level 3 plans to complain to U.S. regulators who may enact so-called net-neutrality rules next month. The Federal Communications Commission is seeking to bar phone and cable providers from interfering with legal traffic on their networks. The rules are backed by President Barack Obama and companies led by Google Inc., EBay Inc. and IAC/InterActiveCorp. Phone and cable companies say rules aren't needed and may hurt investment.

"This action by Comcast threatens the open Internet and is a clear abuse of the dominant control that Comcast exerts in broadband access," Thomas Stortz, Level 3's chief legal officer, said in the statement. "With this action, Comcast is preventing competing content from ever being delivered to Comcast's subscribers at all, unless Comcast's unilaterally determined toll is paid."

Comcast, which is seeking regulatory approval to acquire majority ownership of NBC Universal, defended the fee in a statement, saying it is based on "long established and mutually acceptable commercial arrangements" with Level 3's peers.

Traffic Jam?

Level 3 is preparing to more than double the traffic it puts on the cable provider's network and has tried to pressure the company into accepting it for free, Joe Waz, Comcast's senior vice president for external affairs, said in an e-mailed statement.

Level 3 announced on Nov. 11 that it will carry films and TV shows for the Web streaming service offered by Netflix.

Netflix accounts for more than a fifth of the traffic downloaded during the peak hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the U.S., according to a report from broadband network company Sandvine Inc. Level 3 has said it will add capacity to its network to handle the extra load from Netflix's movies.

Jen Howard, a spokeswoman at the FCC, and Steve Swasey, a spokesman for Netflix, declined to comment.

Comcast fell 27 cents to $19.94 at 9:38 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Shares of the Philadelphia-based company had gained 20 percent this year before today. Level 3, down 35 percent this year, fell 2 cents to 98 cents. Netflix, based in Los Gatos, California, lost $1.86 to $197.06.

Genachowski

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, in proposing net neutrality rules last year, called for a principle of non- discrimination by Internet-service providers. The FCC will meet on Dec. 21.

"This means they cannot block or degrade lawful traffic over their networks," Genachowski said.

Public Knowledge and the Media Access Project, two Washington-based advocacy groups, backed Level 3 yesterday. The groups said the request for payment to carry Level 3 traffic shows the need for stronger net neutrality legislation and more scrutiny of Comcast's NBC deal.

Comcast is seeking to buy 51 percent of NBC from General Electric Co. and needs FCC and Justice Department approval to complete the deal, which was announced almost one year ago.

Critics, such as Representative Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat and head of a U.S. House panel on communications, are concerned that a merger would restrict customers' access to content, particularly programs available online.

Zoom's Complaint

Also yesterday, Boston-based Zoom Telephonics Inc. told the FCC that Comcast requires unreasonable tests of modems used to connect to the Internet. Zoom asked the FCC to set aside Comcast's testing regime.

Comcast didn't ask Zoom to submit to testing that is any different than what it asks of other cable modem manufacturers, Sena Fitzmaurice, a Washington-based spokeswoman for Comcast, said in an e-mailed message.

"Comcast wants to make sure devices our customers purchase at retail will work well and are safe," Fitzmaurice said.

Morning News 11.19.10

1. Obama Faces Off Against GOP Over Nuclear Treaty
   The president has embarked on a high-stakes gambit to push through a nuclear arms treaty with Russia in the face of Republican opposition.
   Read original story in The New York Times | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

2. Fed Chairman Cries Foul on the Global Economic Playground
   Ben Bernanke will unleash an academic diss-fest against rising economic powers that he says aren't playing fair.
   Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

3. New Zealand Mine Explosion Traps 27 Miners
   The cause of the explosion and the fate of the miners is still unknown.
   Read original story in BBC | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

4. Ethics Panel Votes to Censure Rangel
   Rangel may be the first representative to be censured by the House of Representatives since the Congressional page sex scandal of 1983.
   Read original story in The Boston Globe | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

5. Fox Boss Apologizes for Calling NPR Execs "Nazis"
   News chief Roger Ailes said he should have called them "bigots" instead.
   Read original story in CBS | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

6. Republicans Extinguish Unemployment Benefits
   GOP rejection of a bill to extend benefits for three months means the unemployed will be without help starting Nov. 30.
   Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

7. Battle Tanks Roll into Afghanistan for First Time
   The sixteen jet-powered battle machines are part of a plan to "take the gloves off" in the war with the Taliban.
   Read original story in The Washington Post | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

8. Russians Baffled by GOP Opposition to Nuclear Treaty
   "I really don't think Republicans want to kill arms control."
   Read original story in The Washington Post | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

9. Bugatti Found Rotting in Barn Prompts Auction Frenzy
   The 1926 collectable went for seven times its estimated $15,000 value to a mystery bidder.
   Read original story in The Daily Telegraph | Friday, Nov. 19, 2010

10. Indian Microlending Industry in Danger of Collapse
    Angered by huge profits being made by for-profit mircrolenders, millions of borrowers have defaulted on their loans, sometimes with the encouragement of local government leaders.
    Read original story in The New York Times | Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

11. American High Schools Improve, Barely
    Scores on national reading and math exams inched up last year, but the vast majority of kids still can't read good.
    Read original story in The Washington Post | Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

12. Should Everyone Give Willow Palin a Break?
    She called a kid a "faggot" on Facebook, but is that grounds for universal condemnation? Several commentators say 16-year-olds should be able to run their mouths online without being endlessly analyzed by a bunch of adults with blogs.
    Read original story in Outside the Beltway | Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

How Obama Saved Capitalism and Lost the Midterms

If I were one of the big corporate donors who bankrolled the Republican tide that carried into office more than 50 new Republicans in the House, I would be wary of what you just bought.

For no matter your view of President Obama, he effectively saved capitalism. And for that, he paid a terrible political price.

Suppose you had $100,000 to invest on the day Barack Obama was inaugurated. Why bet on a liberal Democrat? Here’s why: the presidency of George W. Bush produced the worst stock market decline of any president in history. The net worth of American households collapsed as Bush slipped away. And if you needed a loan to buy a house or stay in business, private sector borrowing was dead when he handed over power.

As of election day, Nov. 2, 2010, your $100,000 was worth about $177,000 if invested strictly in the NASDAQ average for the entirety of the Obama administration, and $148,000 if bet on the Standard & Poors 500 major companies. This works out to returns of 77 percent and 48 percent.

But markets, though forward-looking, are not considered accurate measurements of the economy, and the Great Recession skewed the Bush numbers. O.K. How about looking at the big financial institutions that keep the motors of capitalism running — banks and auto companies?

The banking system was resuscitated by $700 billion in bailouts started by Bush (a fact unknown by a majority of Americans), and finished by Obama, with help from the Federal Reserve. It worked. The government is expected to break even on a risky bet to stabilize the global free market system. Had Obama followed the populist instincts of many in his party, the underpinnings of big capitalism could have collapsed. He did this without nationalizing banks, as other Democrats had urged.

Saving the American auto industry, which has been a huge drag on Obama’s political capital, is a monumental achievement that few appreciate, unless you live in Michigan. After getting their taxpayer lifeline from Obama, both General Motors and Chrysler are now making money by making cars. New plants are even scheduled to open. More than 1 million jobs would have disappeared had the domestic auto sector been liquidated.

“An apology is due Barack Obama,” wrote The Economist, which had opposed the $86 billion auto bailout. As for Government Motors: after emerging from bankruptcy, it will go public with a new stock offering in just a few weeks, and the United States government, with its 60 percent share of common stock, stands to make a profit. Yes, an industry was saved, and the government will probably make money on the deal — one of Obama’s signature economic successes.

Interest rates are at record lows. Corporate profits are lighting up boardrooms; it is one of the best years for earnings in a decade.

All of the above is good for capitalism, and should end any serious-minded discussion about Obama the socialist. But more than anything, the fact that the president took on the structural flaws of a broken free enterprise system instead of focusing on things that the average voter could understand explains why his party was routed on Tuesday. Obama got on the wrong side of voter anxiety in a decade of diminished fortunes.

“We have done things that people don’t even know about,” Obama told Jon Stewart. Certainly. The three signature accomplishments of his first two years — a health care law that will make life easier for millions of people, financial reform that attempts to level the playing field with Wall Street, and the $814 billion stimulus package — have all been recast as big government blunders, rejected by the emerging majority.

But each of them, in its way, should strengthen the system. The health law will hold costs down, while giving millions the chance at getting care, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Financial reform seeks to prevent the kind of meltdown that caused the global economic collapse. And the stimulus, though it drastically raised the deficit, saved about 3 million jobs, again according to the CBO. It also gave a majority of taxpayers a one-time cut — even if 90 percent of Americans don’t know that, either.

Of course, nobody gets credit for preventing a plane crash. “It could have been much worse!” is not a rallying cry. And, more telling, despite a meager uptick in job growth this year, the unemployment rate rose from 7.6 percent in the month Obama took office to 9.6 today.

Billions of profits, windfalls in the stock market, a stable banking system — but no jobs.

Of course, the big money interests who benefited from Obama’s initiatives have shown no appreciation. Obama, as a senator, voted against the initial bailout of AIG, the reckless insurance giant. As president, he extended them treasury loans at a time when economists said he must — or risk further meltdown. Their response was to give themselves $165 million in executive bonuses, and funnel money to Republicans this year.

Money flows one way, to power, now held by the party that promises tax cuts and deregulation — which should please big business even more.

President Franklin Roosevelt also saved capitalism, in part by a bank “holiday” in 1933, at a time when the free enterprise system had failed. Unlike Obama, he was rewarded with midterm gains for his own party because a majority liked where he was taking the country. The bank holiday was incidental to a larger public works campaign.

Obama can recast himself as the consumer’s best friend, and welcome the animus of Wall Street. He should hector the companies sitting on piles of cash but not hiring new workers. For those who do hire, and create new jobs, he can offer tax incentives. He should finger the financial giants for refusing to clean up their own mess in the foreclosure crisis. He should point to the long overdue protections for credit card holders that came with reform.

And he should veto, veto, veto any bill that attempts to roll back some of the basic protections for people against the institutions that have so much control over their lives – insurance companies, Wall Street and big oil.

They will whine a fierce storm, the manipulators of great wealth. A war on business, they will claim. Not even close. Obama saved them, and the biggest cost was to him. SOURCE NY TIMES