ShortFormBlog | February 7, 2009

We will draw upon all the elements of our power — military and diplomatic, intelligence and law enforcement, economic and cultural — to stop crises from occurring before they are in front of us.
Vice President Joe Biden • regarding the new administration’s stance on foreign policy. In a 25-minute speech yesterday, Biden laid out the Obama administration’s foreign policy stances. He said that the U.S. plans to do more but will ask more from its allies. At the same time, they will not be afraid of using force if necessary against countries like Iran • source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

More than 40 people are feared dead in the fires, located in the state of Victoria. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

3.7 million $40 coupons for converters were printed for the conversion, which might not be enough to get one for everyone
115,000 devices are being distributed each day, and they might run out of digital converters by the end of the month, which definitely wouldn’t be enough source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

We don’t have any cash reserves now. And we still owe money on our houses.
Ian Thiermann • A 90-year-old California man who lost his $750,000 life savings in Madoff’s scheme and now works in a grocery store to make ends meet. Yeah, that’s right, he’s 90 and works in a grocery store. • source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

What happened? Sri Lanka is in the midst of a lengthy (30-year-plus), dangerous and bloody civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka. The Tigers are fighting to create their own sovereign nation, but appear to be close to defeated in this latest offensive. On Friday, Sri Lanka claimed that they killed 14 rebels, including two leaders.
In the middle In the midst of this conflict are a number of civilians, many of whom are hospitalized. 250,000 total people are trapped inside the rebel territory. After rebels started firing shells at a hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu, the war zone’s last hospital, patients were moved to a makeshift medical facility in Puttumatalan village.
A plea for helpThe Red Cross says there are nearly 400 people at this medical facility, many lying on the floor because it’s so overcrowded or forced to receive medical attention at unequipped schools or community centers. The international organization wants the rebels to allow them to move these patients without worry of getting in the crossfire. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Feb 2009 10:04