Regina Benjamin, Obama’s Pick For Surgeon General
President Obama, Regina Benjamin, and Sec of HHS
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama turned to the Deep South for the next surgeon general, choosing a rural Alabama family physician who made headlines with fierce determination to rebuild her nonprofit medical clinic in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Dr. Regina Benjamin is known along Alabama’s impoverished Gulf Coast as a country doctor who makes house calls and doesn’t turn away patients who can’t pay _ even as she’s had to find the money to rebuild a clinic repeatedly destroyed by hurricanes and once even fire.
“For all the tremendous obstacles that she has overcome, Regina Benjamin also represents what’s best about health care in America, doctors and nurses who give and care and sacrifice for the sake of their patients,” Obama said Monday in introducing his choice for a job known as America’s doctor.
He said Benjamin will bring insight as his administration struggles to revamp the health care system:
Saying she “has seen in a very personal way what is broken about our health care system,” Obama said Benjamin will bring important insight as his administration tries to revamp that system.
Benjamin called the job “a physician’s dream,” and pledged to be a voice for patients in need _ and to fight the preventable diseases that claim too many lives each year, including nearly her entire family.
Her father died with diabetes and high blood pressure, her only brother of HIV, her mother of lung cancer “because as a young girl, she wanted to smoke just like her twin brother could” _ an uncle now on oxygen as a result, she noted.
Portland’s gay mayor faces chances of recall
Portland’s gay mayor faces chances of recall
The Community to Recall Sam Adams from office have filed a petition in with the city to recall the mayor.
Some residents are upset with Adams since he admitted he had an affair with a teen boy, Beau Breedlove. Mayor Adams admits he had sex with Beau less than 3-weeks after the turned 18. Breedlove claims that he and the mayor made out when he was only 17.
The group has 90 days to collect 32,183 valid signatures to qualify the recall for the ballot.
The Attorney General has already cleared Adams saying he didn’t violate any laws.
Former NFL quarterback McNair killed in Tennessee
NFL Steve NcNair
By KRISTIN M. HALL, Associated Press Writer 48 minutes ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair(notes) and a woman were found shot to death Saturday afternoon inside a condominium in downtown Nashville, police said.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said authorities were still investigating the shootings and that no suspects were in custody.
“I don’t have any answers for you now as to what’s happened, who’s responsible,” Aaron said.
Aaron said the 36-year-old McNair died of a gunshot wound to the head. He said police tentatively identified the woman, but did not release her name.
“There are persons who were around the complex today, visitors, who have been taken to headquarters for questioning, just to see what they know, what they may have seen,” he said.
Aaron said officers went to the scene after receiving a call about injured persons inside the condo.
“When police officers arrived in response to that call, they found two individuals who had been shot to death inside the residence,” he said.
The condominium is one that McNair was known to frequent, but police spokeswoman Kristin Mumford said she didn’t know if he was the owner.
McNair played 13 seasons in the NFL and led the Titans within a yard of forcing overtime in the 2000 Super Bowl, which they lost 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in April 2008.
“We don’t know the details, but it is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the families involved,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
“We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair’s passing today,” Titans owner Bud Adams said in a statement. “He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl.”
About 50 people crowded just beyond police tape outside the complex in the upscale Rutledge Hill neighborhood, some wearing Titans hats. The condominium is located within walking distance of an area filled with restaurants and nightspots, a few blocks from the Cumberland River and within view of the Titans’ stadium.
McNair began his career in 1995 with the Houston Oilers, who eventually became the Titans, and finished with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. McNair played with pain for several years, and the injuries ultimately forced him to retire.
McNair’s most noted drive was the final one of the 2000 Super Bowl. He drove the Titans 87 yards in the final minute, 48 seconds, only to come up a yard short of the tying touchdown. Kevin Dyson caught his 9-yard pass, but was tackled at the 1-yard line by the Rams’ Mike Jones(notes).
McNair accounted for all of Tennessee’s yards in that drive, throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 14. The rest of the yardage came on penalties against the Rams. Before that, he brought the Titans back from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game.
“The people who didn’t know Steve McNair before will know him now,” Tennessee tight end Frank Wycheck said after the game. “Did you see that desire? Did you see that heart?”
During a five-game stretch at the end of the 2002 season, McNair was so bruised he couldn’t practice. But he started all five games and won them, leading the Titans to an 11-5 finish and a berth in the AFC championship game for the second time in four seasons.
A crowd gathers outside the co…
AP – Jul 4, 6:58 pm EDT
McNair played all 16 games in 2006, his first season in Baltimore, and guided the Ravens to a 13-3 record. But he injured his groin during the season opener last season and never regained the form that enabled him to earn a berth in four Pro Bowls.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of today’s tragic news regarding the death of Steve McNair. He was a player who I admired a great deal,” said New England Patriots senior football adviser Floyd Reese, who was GM of the Titans when McNair played there. “He was a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior. He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what.
“I don’t think there was a player who played with him or against him that didn’t look up to him and respect him,” Reese said. “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, his friends and the many teammates who loved and admired him.”
Titans coach Jeff Fisher was out of the country, taking part in the first NFL-USO coaches tour to Iraq.
AP Sports Writer Teresa Walker and Associated Press Writer Randall Paul Dickerson contributed to this rep
Janet Jackson Speaks for Family at BET Awards 2009
June 29, 2009 by comrex
Filed under Hip Hop/R&B, R&B/Hip Hop, World
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson Speaks for Family on behalf of Michael at BET Awards 2009
click link above
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Janet Jackson has taken the stage at the BET Awards to speak on behalf of her grieving family and thank fans for their love and support.
It was Janet Jackson’s first public appearance since her brother died last Thursday. With a deep sadness on her face, she strolled to the microphone and began to speak.
She said: “My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful, so they elected me to be here.”
She noted that the King of Pop was an icon to all in attendance, but that to the Jacksons, “he was family.”
After her brief comments, Ne-Yo and host Jamie Foxx took the stage and sang a poignant “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5.
AP, BET
Michael Jackson: Victim of Extreme Celebrity
June 26, 2009 by comrex
Filed under Entertainment, Guest Opinion, World
Michael Jackson The King of Pop
To the People,
I hung out with Michael Jackson (MJ) and his brothers during the recording of their TRIUMPH album, and I must say that MJ was very, very kind and brotherly-like to me. (Mind you now, this was a secret and off-limits recording session, and his brother Jackie did not like the fact that I was there).
But MJ insisted that I stay, and he and I spent about 2 hours (while waiting for a piece of recording equipment to arrive) – just talking about beautiful world destinations like Hawaii, Africa and other places.
More importantly, I have been very critical of and dismayed by MJ’s physical transformation that from my view, disrespected the tens of millions of Black brothers worldwide and their bold and beautiful African features and hair.
My verdict? MJ was guilty of dissing his original Africa features for Europeans ones.
Min. Farrakhan blames MJ’s issues on “extreme celebrity” that negatively distorts a person’s clarity.
Still others say that the childhood “beatings” by his father Joe Jackson were too many and were too brutal causing MJ to carry this fear/hate/love of his father to places that afforded him an escape from his reality.
Maybe MJ physical change to “white” was his attempt to dare the world to love him (and everyone) despite his (their) skin color or physical attributes.
Or maybe MJ did not want his children to face the same racism and the multitude of other problems Black people have to deal with is another possible reason MJ only wed and befriended white women (some of whom supposedly mothered his three children).
In conclusion, I just want to confess that I love music. But I also detest how music, sports, and celebrity are used to program the masses into a state of ignorance and servitude.
To his credit, MJ did leave the confines of the brutally racist entertainment industry to address world hunger, racism and the lack of basic human rights for various people of the world.
This, for me, is what makes MJ stand apart more than what any melody or lyric can ever do.
RIP my Brother. And please scout out a place for me in the other world.
In Love With My People,
Fige Bornu, Chairman – Positive African Image Institute
Michael Jackson dead at 50 ” I am Peter Pan”
June 26, 2009 by comrex
Filed under Entertainment, World
- The King of Pop Michael Jackson
Autopsy planned after Jackson’s sudden death
‘King of Pop’ had been spending many hours preparing for comeback tour
Michael Jackson had been planning to start a series of comeback concerts in London and had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months. Promoters of the shows said in March that he had passed a lengthy physical examination.
LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, defined in equal parts as the world’s greatest entertainer and perhaps its most enigmatic figure, was about to attempt one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Then his life was cut shockingly – and so far, mysteriously – short.
The 50-year-old musical superstar died Thursday, just as he was preparing for what would be a series of 50 concerts starting July 13 at London’s famed 02 arena. Jackson had been spending hours and hours toiling with a team of dancers for a performance he and his fans hoped would restore his tarnished legacy to its proper place in pop.
An autopsy was planned for Friday, though results were not likely to be final until toxicology tests could be completed, a process that could take several days and sometimes weeks. However, if a cause can be determined by the autopsy, they will announce the results, said Los Angeles County Coroner Investigator Jerry McKibben
Zimbabwe Troops take over Diamond Fields
By CELEAN JACOBSON, Associated Press Writer Celean Jacobson, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 56 mins ago
JOHANNESBURG – Human Rights Watch said Friday that Zimbabwe’s armed forces have taken over diamond fields in the east and killed more than 200 people, forcing children to search for the precious gems and beating villagers who get in the way.
The New York-based organization said its call for a ban on diamonds from the region had received an endorsement from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. A statement from the couple’s foundation was expected later Friday.
“Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have issued a call for a ban on any sale or purchase of Marange diamonds … until … the mining is not based on the violent abuse of residents in that region,” said Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch’s executive director.
Zimbabwe’s deputy mining minister, Murisi Zwizwai, has denied the allegations and said the presence of the military is to secure the area.
More than 100 witnesses, miners, police officers, soldiers and children were interviewed for the report entitled “Diamonds in the Rough,” which details allegations of human rights abuses by Zimbabwean armed forces in an attempt to control access to the precious gems.
The human rights group said esearchers had gathered evidence of mass graves and accounts of an incident last year when military helicopters fired at miners, while armed soldiers on the ground chased villagers from the area.
“There are hundreds of victims of human rights abuses that are unwilling to come forward for fear of the military,” Zimbabwe researcher Dewa Mavhinga said.
The report also alleges that some of the income from the diamond fields is going to officials of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, long accused of trampling on human rights and democracy in the southern African country.
The international human rights watchdog is calling on Zimbabwe’s coalition government, formed in February, to stop the abuses and prosecute those responsible.
It is also calling on the international body that governs the global diamond industry to press Zimbabwe, a participant, to end the illegal trade in Marange diamonds.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, established in 2002, aims to stem the flow of “blood diamonds” being used to fund fighting across Africa. Participants are forced to certify the origins of the diamonds being traded. This assures consumers that by purchasing diamonds they are not financing war and human rights abuses.
Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said the group is calling for the definition of blood diamonds to be broadened to include gems mined through “repression and violent abuses” by governments.
The Marange diamond fields were discovered in 2006 – at the height of Zimbabwe’s political, economic and humanitarian crisis. Villagers rushed to the area and began finding diamonds close to the surface. Mining is now managed by Zimbabwe’s Mining Development Corporation under protection of the military.
It is estimated that the diamonds could be worth $200 million a month to the cash-strapped country but the Mining Development Corporation claimed in 2007 that it was made $15 million from gem exports.
Zwizwai, the Zimbabwean deputy minister, said the country did not have the money to fence off the area and so was using the military to secure the diamond fields.
He said there had been no deaths by the military but that there had been “skirmishes” among the illegal diggers, which resulted in three reported deaths and eight arrests.
“The special operation by security forces has been successful as evidenced by (the) order and sanity which now prevails in the Marange area,” he told The Associated Press on the sidelines of a Kimberley Process meeting in neighboring Namibia.
___
Associated Press Writer Rodrick Mukumbira in Windhoek, Namibia contributed to this report
Israel Block Aid to Gaza
June 26, 2009 by comrex
Filed under Federal, Guest Opinion, World
- Hon. Cynthia McKinney
They Denied Us So They Wouldn’t Have to Ram Us
The Israelis are hopping mad. And they’re flexing their muscles in all the ugly places. They can’t ram us again without sparking an international uproar, so they’re trying to stop us from leaving the port at all. The Limasol, Cyprus Port Authority which controls the port of Larnaca also, sent their inspector to Larnaca with a letter saying that the boat failed inspection, only thing, the letter was written BEFORE he even arrived in Larnaca to do the inspection! Reuters is doing the story at this very moment saying that we were prevented from leaving due to Cypriot authorities. We just learned from a Cyprus government source that pressure is being applied by Israel to deny us departure credentials. It appears, then, that Israel is putting us into contortions because they don’t want us to take cement into Gaza. After white phosphorus, depleted uranium, DIME, cluster bombs, F16s, death, destruction, and mayhem. All of *this* over a few bags of cement. Can you believe???
1. Read the Haaretz article here, showing Israeli concern about us taking cement to Gaza
2. Hear the interview with Don Debar on the contortions we’re being put through by Cyprus Port Authority
3. Read the Reuters article here (interesting that the story broke in Israel and not Cyprus!!)
4. Individuals have already started to contact the Cyprus UN Mission and their DC Embassy to inquire why they are arbitrarily not allowing the Spirit of Humanity and the Free Gaza to set sail.
1. Here is the Ha’aretz article:
2. Hear Greta Berlin and I explain what is happening with the purposeful delay of our departure
http://www.livestream.com/wbaix
3. Read the Reuters article:
12:54 25Jun09 -Cyprus halts aid boats bound for Gaza Strip
LARNACA, Cyprus, June 25 (Reuters) – Cyprus stopped two
boats planning to carry aid to the Gaza Strip in defiance of an
Israeli blockade from leaving port on Thursday, officials said.
The U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement had been planning to take
33 activists to Gaza with medical supplies and cement, a
material that Israel does not allow into the Palestinian
territory devastated by a short war that ended early this year.
The Free Gaza Movement started sending regular aid voyages
from Cyprus to Gaza in August 2008, but one of its boats was
involved in a collision with an Israeli vessel in December, and
was turned back on another mission in January.
Cypriot shipping officials cited inspection requirements for
stopping the two vessels, a small ferry and a sailing boat, from
leaving port two hours before their scheduled departure.
Both vessels had travelled to Gaza before.
“One of the ships was only recently registered in Cyprus and
under Cyprus law it has to undergo inspection before being given
permission to sail,” said Serghios Serghiou, head of Cyprus’s
Department of Merchant Shipping. “(The second) … did not apply
for any inspections before sailing.”
Israel tightened a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after the
Islamist group Hamas took control of the enclave, a tiny sliver
of territory home to some 1.5 million people.
Israel bans imports of cement, steel or other building
supplies to Gaza, saying militants could use them for military
purposes. One of the vessels was to carry 15 tonnes of cement.
Israeli forces bombed then invaded Gaza in late December
2008 with a declared aim of ending cross-border rocket attacks
from the Hamas-ruled territory.
The war damaged infrastructure and hurt an economy already
hobbled by years of isolation.
(Writing by Michele Kambas, editing by Lin Noueihed)
((michele.kambas@thomsonreuters.com; 357 22469607; Reuters
messaging michele.kambas.reuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: PALESTINIANS ISRAEL/ACTIVISTS
Thursday, 25 June 2009 12:54:02
RTRS [nLO676773 ] {C}
ENDS
We are determined to depart, if not today, then tomorrow.
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Israeli Block Aid to Gaza
June 26, 2009 by comrex
Filed under Guest Opinion, World
Subject: Public Advisory – We did not leave Cyprus today
PUBLIC ADVISORY
(25 June 2009, LARNACA) – This is not the statement we in the Free Gaza Movement intended to release today. We had hoped to announce that our two ships, the Free Gaza and the Spirit of Humanity, departed from Larnaca Port on a 30-hour voyage to besieged Gaza, carrying human rights activists who have travelled to Cyprus from all across the world for this journey, 3 tons of medical supplies, and 15 tons of badly needed concrete and reconstruction supplies.
Nobel peace laureate Mairead Maguire, returning for her second trip to Gaza aboard one of our ships, said “[The people of Gaza] must know that we have not and will not forget them.”
That was our hope, but that is not what happened.
Instead, our ships were not given permission to leave today due to concerns about our welfare and safety. Our friends in Cyprus tell us that the voyage to Gaza is too dangerous, and they are worried we will be harmed at sea.
Cyprus has been a wonderful home for the Free Gaza Movement over these last 10 months. Cypriots know first hand the terrible consequences of occupation. They too know what it is to suffer from violence, injustice, and exile. Since our first voyage to break through the siege of Gaza, the Cypriot authorities have been extremely helpful and understanding of our goals and intentions.
The journey to Gaza is dangerous. The Israeli navy rammed our flagship, the Dignity, when we attempted to deliver medical supplies to Gaza during their vicious assault in December/January. Israel has previously threatened to open fire on our unarmed ships, rather than allow us to deliver humanitarian and reconstruction supplies to the people of Gaza.
The risks we take on these trips are tiny compared to the risks imposed every day upon the people of Gaza.
The purpose of nonviolent direct action and civil resistance is to take risks – to put ourselves “in the way” of injustice. We take these risks well aware of what the possible consequences may be. We do so because the consequences of doing nothing are so much worse. Anytime we allow ourselves to be bullied, every time we pass by an evil and ignore it – we lower our standards and allow our world to be made that much harsher and unjust for us all.
In addition to the concerns expressed by our Cypriot friends today, the American consulate in Nicosia warned us not to go to Gaza, stating that:
“…[T]he Israeli Foreign Ministry informed U.S. officials at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv that Israel still considers Gaza an area of conflict and that any Free Gaza boats attempting to sail to the Gaza Strip will “not be permitted” to reach its destination.”
Former U.S. Congresswoman & presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney responded to this warning by pointing out that, “The White House says that cement and medical supplies should get into Gaza and that’s exactly what we are attempting to take to Gaza.”
“Instead of quoting Israel policy to us,” McKinney continued, “…the U.S. should send a message to Israel reiterating the reported White House position that the blockade of Gaza should be eased, that medical supplies and building materials, including cement, should be allowed in. The Free Gaza boats should be allowed to reach their destination, traveling from Cyprus territorial waters, through international waters, and straight into Gaza territorial waters.”
“The State Department has chosen to advise us to take the Israeli notification seriously. Our question is, ‘Can we take President Obama seriously?’ Will he stand by his own words and allow us to provide relief for Gaza or will he back down?”
Tomorrow we will deliver a waiver, signed by all going to Gaza, that we absolve Cyprus of all responsibility for our safety. We would like to tell our friends here in Cyprus that though we understand and appreciate their concerns, we will not back down to Israel’s threats and intimidation.
###
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Former Congress Woman Cynthia McKinney to the President of United States
- Hon. Cynthia McKinney
I just sent the following message to President Obama:
“Mr. President, Please ask the Israelis to not harm our boats and to let us proceed to Gaza. The Israelis are paying attention and have printed stories about our boats in both the Jerusalem Post and Ha’aretz. We are doing nothing more than what you have already requested the Israelis to do: ease up on the Gaza blockade. Please ask the Israelis to allow us to proceed to Gaza without harm. Sincerely, Cynthia McKinney”
You, too, can contact the White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/) and ask them to send a message to Israel requesting our safe passage to Gaza. We pose no threat to Israel and represent real hope for change in US policy for the people of Gaza. I also contacted the State Department and the Justice Department with similar messages.
We are in a group training now. What will we do if . . . I’ll upload pictures and some video (if I’ve mastered this video camera) to our www.dignity.ning.com and livestream.com/dignity pages. Please visit all of our pages listed below and join!!
DIGNITY will be planning some direct actions inside the U.S., too. Additionally, I have communicated with the authorities re Troy Davis and am in communication with Peltier’s attorney.
As always, I do look forward to hearing from you!!
