Wednesday October 8, 2008 MYT 5:28:22 PM

PM will not defend Umno post (updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will not defend his Umno presidency in the party polls next March, paving the way for his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. 

He told this to reporters after a Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Wednesday.

Abdullah also told reporters that he would "stay on as Prime Minister" till March.

By tradition, the Umno president and deputy president become the prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively. Najib is expected to run for president, and if he wins, would become the nation’s sixth prime minister.

With his now all eyes will focus on who will contest for the Presidents and Deputy Presidents Posts. Let not loose sight that Pak Lah may be stepping down but Khairi - the person who I give most credit to for Pak Lah's downfall will be running for the UMNO youth position.

With Datuk Nur Jazlan upping the ante and announcing his intention to go for a Party Vice President position, I am sure we are going to see more new faces popping up.  That is good of UMNO as  it really needs to show its ability to reform and a huge part of it is to put new untainted faces into leadership.

*****

County News Briefs

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has nominated a Hmong community activist to the city’s Fire and Police Commission.

Paoi Lor is program coordinator for the “Hmong ABC” radio program, which airs Saturday mornings on WJYI-AM (1340), and she has been active in several Hmong organizations.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=797788

jlehr@joplinglobe.com

NEOSHO, Mo. — Sheriff’s investigators acknowledged this week that the inquiry into the murder of a Hmong male, whose skeletal remains were discovered in a field near Granby more than four months ago, has stalled.

Chief Deputy Chris Jennings, of the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, said every lead officers have received on the murder of Ger Lee, 40, since the discovery of his remains May 5, including information received just this past week, has been pursued.

“We can’t say we’ve discounted all of them. We can’t say they were dead ends. But we haven’t been able to turn them into anything substantial,” Jennings said.

He said that doesn’t mean that sheriff’s detectives are shutting the case down. Unsolved homicides are never closed, he said.

“But we are pretty much at a standstill until we develop new leads, whether that comes from people contacting us or from (our own) further investigation.”

Lee was a Laotian refugee of the mid-1980s who lived in California before moving to Missouri more than three years ago with his girlfriend, Soun Sachao, and their first child. Although he had yet to obtain U.S. citizenship, he was part of a community of about 100 Hmong-American families living in the Cassville area in Barry County. He had a second child with Sachao before his disappearance in early January of this year.

His cousin, John Lee, of rural Cassville, reported him missing Feb. 21. The cousin later recognized a distinctive gold Buddhist necklace that Ger Lee wore when a photograph of the piece of jewelry found with the remains was made public in May. He came forward to authorities and a positive identification of the remains was made through dental records.

An autopsy determined Ger Lee was shot in the head.

Investigators’ suspicions regarding the murder initially were directed toward St. Paul, Minn., where the victim had been stopped and arrested in June of 2007 for alleged possession of a little less than one pound of opium. The discovery of $1,392 cash in his possession and another $10,000 cash in a motel room that matched a key card he was carrying led to a charge of first-degree possession of narcotics.

His cousin has acknowledged that Lee suffered from an opium habit.

Lee was seen in the company of another Asian male in Barry County with tattoos on his hands prior to his disappearance on or about Jan. 10. The description of the tattoos reportedly matched tattoos St. Paul police noted on a passenger in Lee’s vehicle at the time of his arrest.

Lee also was driving a black Acura with Minnesota plates just before his disappearance. Investigators initially assumed that it may have been driven back to Minnesota by his killer.

Then detectives tracked the Acura down to a wrecker service in Lawrence County, where it had been towed after being found abandoned at the Talbot Conservation Area in the adjacent county on or about Jan. 20. That raised the possibility that the murder may have been more local in origin than initially thought.

But Sheriff Ken Copeland said Friday that detectives have exhausted leads in that direction without coming up with much and indicated that the focus of the investigation could swing back to Minnesota once again.

“We have been told there were some people up there who visited him (here in the month) before he was killed,” Jennings said.

 Ger Lee’s cousin, John Lee, told the Globe in May that he suspected Ger had not quit his opium habit and that he could smell the narcotic on Ger’s clothes.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_264210943.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/06/california.murder.suicide/index.html?iref=newssearch

Its terrifying because its so inexplicable. Suddenly a father of what seems like a normal, happy family with its ups and downs shoots everyone in his home and then himself, stealing away the lives of his children and wife, lives that held so much potential. And no one really understands why. :(

More on this today...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/07/murder.suicide.react/index.html

:(

How unfortunate. RIP, Rajarman family.

Community Update

 
 
October 1, 2008                                                                              
202-667-4690 helly@searac.org

Contact: Helly Lee
                                                                                                                       
 
Washington, DC – On September 30, 2008, the President signed the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act which provides an additional two years of SSI for Elderly and disabled refugees who have been cut off because of the seven year time limit. Refugee and humanitarian immigrants whose SSI was cut off due to the seven year time limit should contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) immediately to apply for the extension (please see attached FAQ with additional information and details on qualification).
 
The law is effective starting today, October 1, 2008. This two year extension of SSI for refugees and humanitarian immigrants is set to expire in 2011 under provisions in
H.R. 2608.
 
For many elderly and disabled refugees and other humanitarian immigrants, including Hmong and Montagnards who fought honorably alongside American soldiers in times of war, SSI provides the very basic means for survival. The SSI program pays minimal monthly benefits to elderly and disabled adults and children who are low income and have limited resources to maintain self sufficiency. 
 
“This extension is a positive step to ensuring that elderly and disabled refugees are not thrown into destitution, due in large part, to the barriers that they experience in attaining their citizenship and ultimately losing their SSI after seven years,” states Doua Thor, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC).
 
SEARAC commends the advocacy efforts of numerous national advocacy organizations, local community partners and congressional offices, including sponsors, Senators Smith (R-OR) Senator Kohl (D-WI), Congressmen McDermott (D-WA) and Congressman Weller (R-IL) as well as their staff in leading this cause.
 
For more information, please contact Helly Lee at 202-667-4690 or helly@searac.org.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed on SEARAC's listserves are solely those
of the authors and do not necessarily reflect SEARAC's positions.

SUBMISSIONS: SEARAC invites members to submit materials directly to this
listserve by sending them to forum@searac.org

In the past few days you probably heard a lot of Members of Congress complaining about the number of calls they got about the economic bailout. Well, we learned two things from last week – letting corporate interests go unregulated leads to bad things and calls do make a difference!

The health insurance industry is one of the least regulated businesses in America today. What other service do you pay for when you don’t need it, and then get denied the service when you do? At least personal savings accounts at the banks are insured by the FDIC, but where do you go when your insurance company denies care due to a pre-existing condition? That’s why we are fighting for a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all.We need you to call your Member of Congress today.  We know that calls make a difference, and if they get thousands of calls in one day, it really gets their attention.

 You can make the call by clicking here.  Or you can dial toll-free at 1-888-436-8427.  The call tool will tell you which side your member of Congress is on, with us for a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all; or for leaving you on your own with the insurance industry.

 Let them know that you think fixing the health care system should be the top priority for Congress and the New President in 2009.

Encourage them to support guaranteed quality, affordable health care for all and to reject health care proposals that reduce regulations for insurance companies, that tax my current coverage and that drive more people into the individual market to fend for themselves.

We are not going to allow our health care system to get to the point that our banking system did. We need quality, affordable health care, and we need it now.

Make the call today.  1-888-436-8427.

To your health,  

The TakeAction Team         

I for one will be ssoooo glad when this election is over with.  I'm so tired of seeing this crap on tv.  Everywhere you turn, it's something about elections.  City, county, state and federal level.  It's overwhelming!!  Don't get me wrong, I love being an American and having the right to vote.  I fully plan to implement that right.  I'm just tired of hearing about it.  I should note that nothing I state will be about any certain candidate or my choice or voting preference in any way!!

I'm especially tired of the news.  The news is trying to turn this election so badly that it's not even funny.  They media will create a poll just to have a poll over crap that nobody should even care about.  The news is trying to make the story instead of letting Americans make the choice themselves.  My worst fear is that the people are listening instead of paying attention to what they should be....the candidates!!  I can listen to one man say something and watch the news or read the paper and the media will indicate that he said something else.  There is no such thing as fair journalism. 

I will also say that all these radicals that are trying to get my vote aren't helping their cause any.  The more crap I hear, the more I turn away from their candidate.  I'm about voting records and who's getting what done.  I don't care about sex, race, religion or any of that.  I want to know who's voted on what or declined to vote and who's lying.  I don't need manufactured lies.  I want some truth and not the way some party person or the media sees it.  For those that don't know, you can easily access the federal web site and all voting records are a matter of public record.  QUIT listening to the speeches and the who says what....check out the facts!!  SHEESH

My other huge issue is all the babble over Sarah Palin.  I'm tired of hearing how unqualified she is.  She is running for Vice President, not the President.  I'm fully aware that she'd be second in command.  At least she'll be voted in as VP and not assume that role like Hillary did through marriage!!  Anyway, I stray from my point, which is that 16 presidents were Governors before becoming President.  The Democrats didn't seem to care when Billy Clinton was a Governor of Arkansas and became President.  What makes him any different than Palin??  I dare you to answer that honestly!!  Ronald Reagan, who was a Republican was also loved by Democrats.  Last time I checked, he was an actor turned Governor and then became President.  Let's not forget Jimmy Carter.  Not much needs to be said about that.  One of the greatest President's ever, F.D.R. was a Governor prior to being elected President a record 4 times!!  Again, I ask, why can't you just accept that you're terrified of Sarah Palin and know she has what it takes to be Vice President?? 

By the way, I'm not saying one way or the other who I'm voting for.  This is just a bit of the crap that I'm tired of hearing about.  I watched some of the analysis after the debate tonight.  They asked some college students their views after seeing the debate.  A few said they were swayed toward Obama because he's the only one that mentioned education.  Let me just point out that he NEVER said he was going to help or do anything for education.  He merely said that he'd been to college...some good colleges and so had Michelle.  I don't see how that says that he "talked about education".  Did he ever serve a single day in the military??  Has he ever served the people in any way??  Ah yes, issues like this are of great irritability to me.  Let's at least stay realistic and on FACT!!

Alright, I'm done with my rant.  Will it change anything??  NO!!  But I feel a little bit better.  HAHA  I'd just like to say that people need to realize there are many ways to get change.  If you want real change, don't listen to just the speeches or debates.  Go to their state web sites and U.S. government web sites and check out voting records.  Look to see who's changed their story the most.  Look to see who's just saying what they thing people want to hear.  The media sure doesn't know.  They only tell you what they want you to know and who they want you to vote for.  And for pity sakes, don't vote by party.  The party vote is the worst thing you can do.  Not every Republican or Democrat is good.  Vote by the candidate that is most qualified and is going to do the most good.  A nice face or suave persona doesn't make for the best person in office.  It takes a whole lot more than that!!

<stepping down off my soapbox>

Ah, I feel better!!  Nighty night all!!

What I do have some major gripes on was the TTC service on Saturday night.

TTC expanded its service for Nuit Blanche, most notably the all-night subway service for the stations adjacent to Nuit Blanche happenings.  I drove my car down town, and then purchased a day pass so that I could see as much as possible without killing my feet.

Zone A was all good.  I took the subway even for single subway stops, because I knew I'd be on my feet for 8 hours or so.  At around 3 or 4 in the morning, I headed for Zone B.  It was far away from the subway stations, so I went to St. Andrews station, and waited for a westbound street car on King Street.

We waited for about 30 minutes.  Three eastbound street cars passed, and not one westbound streetcar.  We were tired, cold, and bitter!  We walked to Queen Street and went around.  By then, I was miserable, catching a cold, sleepy...

Fortunately, we saw a brilliant exhibit, and I was ready to go to Zone C to see some more exhibits.  It was 6:15, and the event was set to close at 7am.  Oh no!  Gotta rush!

By some miracle, we caught a street car immediately, but we got stuck at the subway station, and had to wait quite awhile for the subway.  We saw Horroridors, which was lame, but horrifying.

At 6:45, I said "one last exhibit, let's go!"  So we hopped on the subway...well, we tried.  7am came and went, and no train.  I realized that the event was officially over, and that on Sunday mornings, the subway only opened at 9am.  No more trains for 2 hours.

There were huge crowds of people on the platform, waiting for a train that wouldn't come for hours.  A TTC staff saw this, and went to chat with some other TTC worker.  WHAT THE FUCK!  We asked to confirm my suspicions, and we left on the last train, going in the opposite direction, back to my car.

My friend suggested that the large crowds expected for Nuit Blanche could be an experiment to see if Toronto was ready to bid for the Olympics.  Clearly, our transportation system is far from ready.  I can't believe this is their standard of service while they continue to raise the fares and even plan to eliminate free parking for Metropass holders.

Damn government funded monopolies.

The number of students in the US taking the National Latin Exam has risen steadily to more than 134,000 students in each of the past two years.  Interestingly, large increases are even seen in remoter areas like New Mexico, Alaska and Vermont.

The number of students taking the Advanced Placement test in Latin has nearly doubled over the past ten years.  Although Spanish and French still dominate, and Chinese and Arabic are trendier, Latin is quietly flourishing.

The resurgence of a language once rejected as outdated and irrelevant is attributable to a new generation of students who seek to increase SAT scores, stand out from their friends, or simply harbor a fascination for it after reading Harry Potter's Latin-based chanting spells, says Winnie Hu in an article in the New York Times.

Enrollment in the suburb of New Rochelle has increased to 187.  The two middle schools in town are starting an ancient-cultures club in which students will explore the lives of Romans, Greeks and other ancient people.

In New York City, Latin is thriving.  It is currently taught in three dozen schools, including Brooklyn Latin, a high school in East Williamsburg that started in 2006.  Four years of latin are required, as well as two years of Spanish.  Latin phrases adorn the walls, and words like discipuli (students), magistri (teachers) and latrina (bathroom) are part of everyday conversation.  

"It's the language of scholars and educated people," says Jason Griffiths, headmaster of Brooklyn Latin.  "It's the language of people who are successful.  I think it's a draw, and that's certainly what we sell."

Adam Blistein, executive director of the American Philological Association at the University of Pennsylvania which represents more than 3,000 members including classics professors and latin teachers, says that more high schools are recognizing the benefits of Latin.  It builds vocabulary and grammar for higher SAT scoores, appeals to college admissions officers as a sign of critical-thinking skills and fosters true intellectual passion, he feels.

"Goethe is better in German, Flaubert is better in French and Virgil is better in Latin," says Dr Blistein.  "If you stick with it, the lollipop comes at the end when you get to read the original.  In many cases, it's what whets their apetite."

Once upon a time, Latin was required at many public and parochial schools.  It fell into disfavor in the 1960s when students rebelled against traditional classroom teachings and even rhe Roman Catholic Church abandoned the use of Latin as the official language of the Mass.

Interest was somewhat revived in the 1970s and began picking up in the 1980s with the back-to-basics movement in many schools.  But it has really taken off in the last few years as an ivory tower secret that has infiltrated popular culture.

The Harry Potter books use Latin words for names and spells, and at least two have been translated into Latin ("Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis"), as have several by Dr Seuss ("Cattus Petasatus").   Movies like "Gladiator" and "Troy" as well as the series "Rome" have also lent glamour to ancient subjects.

Marty Abbott, education director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, says it is possible that Latin might edge out German as the third most popular language taught in schools, behind Spanish and French. 

Abbott is a former latin teacher, and says that today's Latin classes appeal to more students because they have evolved from "dry grammar and tortuous translations" to livelier lessons that focus on culture, history and the daily life of the Romans.

In addition, she says, Latin teachers and students themselves have promoted the language outside the classroom through clubs, poetry competitions and mock chariot races.

In Scarsdale, NY, where latin enrollment rose by 14 percent this year, the high school sponsors a Roman banquet on the Ides of March, during which students wear tunics and wreaths in their hair.  Seniors serve bread, olives, roasted chicken and grapes to younger students, as they all break bread with their fingers.

The Latin teacher, Marion Polsky, says she still receives postcards in Latin from former students, and that at least three have gone on to become Latin teachers.

Ciera Gardner, a sophomore at New Rochelle (and an aspiring actress), started latin three years ago, and while two friends have dropped away she persists, because Latin will look good on her college applications and -- in the meantime -- it has already helped her decipher unfamiliar words in scripts.  "It's different," she says.  "Everyone says 'I take Spanish' or 'I take Italian,' but it's cool to say 'I take latin.' "

And Max Gordon, also a sophomore, says he has learned more about grammar in Latin class than he ever did in English classes.  He occasionally debates the finer points of grammar with his mother, a video artist who studied Latin.

"In some ways it's really frustrating," he says.  "I'll hear someone say something that isn't grammatically correct and I'll cringe."

sole source: article by Winnie Hu in the NY Times on 10/7/08.  www.nytimes.com

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

After Bailout, AIG Executives Head to Resort

"Less than a week after the federal government offered an $85 billion bailout to insurance giant AIG, the company held a week-long retreat for its executives at the luxury St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, Calif., running up a tab of $440,000"

I don't see how there can be any explanation that could possibly justify this.

For the lighter side from our comrade Sean…  Thanks Sean.

Richard Fuld punched in face in Lehman Brothers gym

Richard Fuld, the disgraced head of Lehman Brothers, was punched in the face in the office gym amid the bank's collapse

Mr Fuld, who has been testifying on the financial crisis before the US House Oversight Committee, was attacked on a Sunday shortly after it was announced that the banking giant was bankrupt.

Following rumours that the incident had occurred, Vicki Ward, a US journalist, said "two very senior sources - one incredibly senior source" had confirmed it to her. "He went to the gym after ... Lehman was announced as going under," she told CNBC. "He was on a treadmill with a heart monitor on. Someone was in the corner, pumping iron and he walked over and he knocked him out cold.  More...

As tonight's news sensationally revealed, four of the big high street names in banking suffered such serious drops in share value and liquidity, they have gone cap in hand to a Labour PM begging to be bailed out - even though this will mean these banks handing over large amounts of equity. In effect, the banking system is on a fast road to being nationalised.

It would be ludicrous to claim that Labour fully engineered the whole crisis in order to achieve this delightful socialist aim. Though I doubt they are entirely gutted, despite the financial implications. The left had almost forgotten this ambition, it was once so far fetched. Now it's fallen in their laps like manna from heaven.

In addition to this, the Tories said at conference recently that they will likely have to raise taxes to sort out the economic mess. Again, this lends great political capital to the old guard left, who will be able to easily raise taxes within the next year or so, on the basis that the Tories have said they won't do anything differently.

Big clinks of glasses all round in Islington and at the T. Benn household, then.

Of course, the sting in the tail is that Labour won't be in office long enough to make hay of all these amazing de facto socialist achievements.

They'll be on the oppostion benches, all braying and cursing and showing up their true leftist roots, as the Tories slowly untangle the mess.

And so, I firmly believe that New Labour is utterly dead, not least because current events will finally breathe life to the old Labour monster, which will be encouraged enough to set out their stall and argue vehemently against capitalism and vehemently for the merit and necessity for a strong state and nationalisation programmes.

Great stuff for the Tories. They will be able to shoot labour like fish in a well stocked barrel, taking their time in explaining Labour's major fuck ups in office. The Tories, sadly, will not be taking a proper libertarian line on this, and explain that the disaster could have been avoided were in not for BoE meddling with the interest rates. They won't take the correct measures, but instead go for a moderate approach which will only work in part. But it's the least worst option.

Labour are finished. And so long as the people are reminded why things are quite so badly fucked, the Tories ought to clean up at election time in a way not seen since for generations.

And "just like us" characters can keep us company, reassure us that we're OK, and maybe even help us solve our problems. Think Judy Blume, perhaps especially the landmark Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

But a book that may help young readers lose weight through modeling behavior that is neatly hidden in storyline? This I'd never considered. I've never thought books that promoted any agenda, from room-cleaning directives from preachy Berenstain Bears, aka The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room (A First Time Book) (I know, I know -- queue the e-mailed objections) to the raft of pre-election, partisan propaganda that's popped up between deceptively bright-and-sunny children's book covers, were generally worthwhile reading. But I now admit some might have useful angles.

According to a bumper crop of news stories on this subject in the past few days, a new study claims kids who read books that promote healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise and good nutrition are more likely to lose extra weight.

Reports the L.A. Times, "A recent study found that after reading a book with underlying messages of getting healthy via physical activity and good nutrition, girls ages 9 to 13 showed a slight decrease in their body mass index."

The book to which they're referring, Lake Rescue (Beacon Street Girls, No. 6) by Annie Bryant, is part of the Beacon Street Girls series written for (ack-age guideline coming) preteen girls, and also addresses tough situations like cyber bullying and divorce. Describes the Times: "In this book, an overweight girl goes to an outdoor adventure camp with her class. Although worried about being picked on for being heavy, she finds a role model who teaches her about becoming healthier through eating right and trying new activities."

So what's the fact breakdown? Apparently the book's author (in the most clever marketing ruse I've ever heard of) proposed the study, which featured 64 seriously overweight girls already enrolled in Duke University’s Healthy Lifestyles program. They were put into three groups and tracked. One group read no books, one read another Beacon Street Girls book that didn’t deal with health and weight loss issues, and one read "Lake Rescue."

The Times reports the "Lake Rescue" group decreased its BMI scores 0.71%, the group that read another book decreased its BMI scores .33%, and the group that had no intervention increased its BMI scores .05%. Well, the progress may have been slight, but it's noticeable.

And of course, nothing, including a book, is a panacea. Children need support, availability of healthy food and exercise opportunities, and other positive reinforcement to lose weight. After all, the girls in this study were already enrolled in a serious program. But given the onslaught of junk-food commercials and candy-popping peers facing them down every day, I'll bet the weight loss proposition is harder on children, girls or boys, than it would be for just about anyone else.

If this book helps, this is wonderful. I'd even give my blessing to a Berenstain Bears book that tackled such a tough subject for a younger audience, if it got results for its young readers.

posted by Janie McQueen, author of The New Magic Bookshelf: Finding Great Books Your Child Will Treasure Forever

visit www.magicbookshelfonline.com

A federal judge ordered the Bush administration Tuesday to immediately free 17 Chinese Muslims from Guantanamo Bay into the United States, rebuking the government in a landmark decision that could set the stage for the release of dozens other prisoners in Cuba.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina said it would be wrong for the government to continue holding the detainees, known as Uighurs (WEE'-gurz), who have been jailed for nearly seven years, since they are no longer considered enemy combatants. Over the objections of government lawyers who called them a security risk, Urbina ordered their release in Washington D.C. by Friday.
"Because the Constitution prohibits indefinite detentions without cause, the continued detention is unlawful," Urbina said in a ruling that brought cheers and applause from a standing-room only courtroom filled with dozens of Uighurs and human rights activists.

-- Daryl has some great commentary on his blog about some of the political semantics over the economic bailout plan.