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Thursday, June 13, 2013
Bloomberg targets political donations in latest gun-control push
By Edith Honan
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in his latest bid for tougher gun control, is urging the city's legions of Democratic donors to withhold funds from four Democratic senators who opposed a background checks bill earlier this year.
The letter, sent to hundreds of the city's major donors on Wednesday, targets the four Democrats who joined Republicans in blocking a compromise bill designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, according to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group Bloomberg founded and largely funds.
The bill reached the Senate floor just months after a gunman killed 20 first graders and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, prompting gun control advocates to push for significant changes to U.S. gun laws.
Most senators - 54 - approved the measure, which polls indicated was backed by more than 80 percent of Americans, when it came up for a vote in April.
The plan to expand background checks to sales made online and at gun shows failed to become law after Republicans threatened to use a filibuster to block any gun proposal that did not get 60 votes in the 100-member Senate.
It was a stinging defeat for the billionaire mayor, who had aggressively used his personal wealth and political bully pulpit to push the measure. At the time, Bloomberg called the defeat a "damning indictment of the stranglehold that special interests have on Washington." He said his group would work to defeat opponents of gun control in the 2014 midterm elections. Wednesday's letter, first reported by the New York Times, targets Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
"I am writing to ask you: the next time these four Senators want you to support them with donations to their campaigns, tell them you cannot. Until they show that they will stand up for the American people and not the gun lobby, tell them you cannot support their candidacy," the letter says. "These "no" votes were a slap in the face to Americans everywhere."
In scathing language, the letter criticizes the senators for undermining efforts to keep Americans safe, at the same time as they approached New York donors for contributions.
At least one of the senators targeted by Bloomberg said he relishes the challenge.
"In Alaska, having a New York mayor tell us what to do? The guy who wants to ban Big Gulps?" Begich told the New York Times. "If anything, it might help me."
The four senators were not immediately available for further comment.
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat and a chief sponsor of the bipartisan background check plan the Senate blocked, told reporters he would like to see more money going to "gun culture states" to finance an information campaign about why Americans should not fear the background-check expansion.
"It's well-intended, they all have different approaches and they have a right to have that approach," he said of Bloomberg's letter.
Others said the effort could backfire, especially if Republicans win back control of the U.S. Senate, making new gun control legislation all but impossible.
"Mark Pryor is the only Democrat who could win in Arkansas," said one senior Democratic aide. "Making it less likely that he will win, will make it more likely that Republicans take control of the Senate, which would doom the prospects for expanded background checks for the foreseeable future."
The aide said that in some states, Democrats targeted by Bloomberg could use the liberal New York mayor as a foil to campaign against. Still, the aide quickly added: "It is never good to have someone spend millions of dollars against you."
(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bloomberg-targets-political-donations-latest-gun-control-push-185837931.html
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Kate Thomas: Great Make-Out Spots in London (VIDEO)
In the British capital, I got in touch with Sarah Bennetto, a popular comedian and radio DJ. Like I do with all the locals I connect with in my videos, I asked her to show me a slice of her city that most visitors probably don't know about.
Initially, we were going to go to her favorite coffee shops in East London. But then we got to talking and realized that wasn't nearly as exciting as showcasing her growing list of great spots to make-out around town. It wasn't easy to narrow down her selections. After all, London is a very romantic city. But I think we did a good job.
Watch the video and tell me what you think? Would you take a date to any of these locations?
Find more Travel with Kate videos on my Youtube Channel.
Follow me on Twitter.
And Like me on Facebook.
Here is info on the three main spots we highlighted:
1. Towpath Cafe
Along the Regents Canal at De Beauvoir Rd
Closest tube stop is the Haggerston Overground
2. Bridge Cafe
In Shorditch, 15 Kingsland Road
The closest tube: The Hoxton Overground
3. Islington New River Walk
It runs parallel to Essex Road in Canonbury Grove
The closest tube is Highbury and Islington Station (Victoria Line and London Overground)
And Hampstead Heath, well, that's off the Northern Line at Golder's Green. But finding the actual hollow tree is not easy!! It took us over an hour of wondering about, following the directions below. This was all we had to go on!
"Walk down the long path from The Spaniards Road (Jack Straws Castle end), and carry on past Constable's Firs and The Vale Of Health, on the right.
Then take the right fork at The Battery and proceed down The Viaduct Path.
The famous Mock Tudor public conveniences are on the left.
Just beyond the conveniences is a path sharp right."
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Follow Kate Thomas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@KateLThomas
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Wednesday, June 12, 2013
A look at Turkey and its widespread protests
ISTANBUL (AP) ? Turkey's Islamic-led government is facing its biggest protests in years as demonstrators and police clashed Tuesday for the 12th straight day. Here's a look behind the scenes:
Q: What's going on in Turkey?
A: Demonstrators were camping out in a park in Istanbul's landmark Taksim Square, protesting plans to cut down trees and redevelop the area when police went in May 31 to clear them out. That heavy-handed raid ignited protests that have since spread to dozens of Turkish cities. On Tuesday, police went into the square again, pulling down protesters' makeshift barricades and chasing some with tear gas and water cannons.
Q: Is this just about trees ? or something else?
A: Protesters are venting pent-up resentment against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in office for 10 years. Many secular Turks see him as an authoritarian figure trying to force his conservative religious Islamic views on them. Erdogan rejects those accusations. Still, he has spoken out against Caesarean births, said women should have at least three children, and backed laws to curb the sale of alcohol.
Q: What does Erdogan say?
A: The prime minister says the protests are being instigated by extremists who want to blacken Turkey's international image and he has lost patience with them. "For those who want to continue with the incidents I say: 'It's over,'" Erdogan said Tuesday. "Not only will we end the actions, we will be at the necks of the provocateurs and terrorists, and no one will get away with it."
Q: Why should other nations care about Turkey?
A: Turkey, a largely Muslim nation that straddles Europe and Asia, is a stable democracy, a key U.S. ally and an important regional influence. It has taken in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing that country's civil war.
Turkey's economy is worth $1.3 trillion annually, almost as much as Canada's. It also has a flourishing tourist industry that welcomed nearly 38 million visitors last year to ancient historical sites and ruins, wide sandy Mediterranean beaches and stunning regions of natural beauty.
Q: How is Turkey a key U.S. ally?
A: Turkey borders Iran, Iraq and Syria. The U.S. needs Turkey's help to quell the violence in Syria, stabilize Iraq and stem Iran's nuclear ambitions. Turkey also played a key role as the U.S. military went after Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Erdogan visited the White House last month for talks with President Barack Obama.
Q: What's next? Will Turkey see an Arab Spring revolution?
A: Turkey holds a presidential election next year in which Erdogan ? who will hit his term limit as prime minister ? could run against the current president. Despite the protests, Erdogan is unlikely to fall. His backing by rural conservative voters ? the so-called silent majority ? still appears to be strong.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-turkey-widespread-protests-205032279.html
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Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Sometimes it seems the only people the Obama administration doesn?t spy on are themselves (Michellemalkin)
Why bother with self-improvement? | Martina McGowan
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Make your lives a masterpiece, you only get one canvas.
E. A. Bucchiameri?
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A?lot of people?continue to search for the secrets to ways to?improve their way of life and to deepen their perspective and outlook.?And, there are many who simply don?t see the value or purpose of going on this journey. Additionally, even though we write a lot about this topic, the truth of the matter is that most of the answers probably already lie within you. Making these ?improvements? means?deepening your understanding and expanding your perspective about your life.? It helps you?develop vision, energies and enables us to determine what direction we are taking in our life.? People who have achieved personal mastery testified that they would feel a positive change in their life.
There are many different tangible benefits that an individual may gain from this journey:
? Clarify your decision making
Once you can get a?clear vision on your purpose and your mission in life, decision making becomes much easier, and at the same clearer. Once you know where you want to go, each action that you decide to perform is either moving you toward your goal, or away from it.
? Stronger?leadership
Knowing who you are, where you are going, and how you plan to get there helps you develop into a stronger, surer and more creative?leader. Because you care about yourself and your goals, you will work to improve your?communication skills and confidence as a such leader.?Effective leaders also need to be able to manage their emotions and not let them?get in the way of making sound judgments.
? Increase your emotional intelligence (EI)
Being the master of your emotions can?be difficult at times, especially during period of stress, difficulty and challenges. Mentoring, coaching and counseling can help you improve how you?develop and learn to master your emotions.
? Improved your work life balance
Learning who you are and sorting out what is truly important to you can have?significant effects on how you?handle your?life, and the choices you make for yourself and those you care for and about.?As we talked about last week, there will be spill-over or run-off from your self-improvement efforts into?your career and interpersonal relationships.
? Decrease your stress levels
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and being thoroughly grounded in the reality of life should help?lower stress levels.?And, handling your emotional side better?helps you learn to?accept change and become more flexible about things. Understanding clearly which things in your life are negotiable, and which are not should aid you in dealing with? stress and?being able to?reduce it.
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One of the great things about self-improvement principles is that they?can be applied to?personal life, your career, your leadership style and goals, and to?your organization.? Personal mastery can even help you with career, whether you would like to change your path or would like to improve your performance in the current career you are in.
Self-improvement,?contrary to what the title literally says, is not just for your own personal growth. Improving yourself could mean a lot. You are a part of a whole.?Your improvement can influence others and eventually change the world into something better.
Photo Credit: Stuck in Customs via Compfight cc
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About Martina
Servant, MD (gynecologist), blogger, businesswoman, seminary student, mother, grandmother, sexual assault survivor's advocate, minister, speaker, teacher, leader, writer, occasional haikuistSource: http://martinamcgowan.com/2013/06/why-bother-improving-you/
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