Road To Recovery

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Reportedly, the US economy is now experiencing noticeable rebound, after more than a year of setbacks. Hopefully, this rise will last, and continue.

Genetic Driving

According to a recent article by cbsnews, a new study published recently on Lives Science's web site, explains how difficulty driving may have genetic background. Although the study was only done on a relatively small number of people, the estimation is that about 30% of Americans have a 'bad driving gene'.

New Health Care Legislation: Friend or Foe?

The House Democrats recently unveiled extreme new health care legislation, which will require practically universal sign-ups and will establish a new government-run insurance option. House speaker Nanci Pelosi commented on the changes, stating

Today we are about to deliver on the promise of making quality, affordable health care available for all Americans," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said from the steps of the Capitol building. "We have listened to the American people. We are putting forth a bill that reflrects our best values and greatest challenges.

We shall see what becomes of this new legislation. Hopefully, we will be able to come up with a health care plan that will benefit the most number of people possible.

Passports Uncovered - A Link to 9/11?

For the eight years following 9/11, we have been searching for evidence about who was involved, and how we could convict who was responsible. Pakistani soldiers that recently managed to battle their way into a Taliban stronghold, have uncovered a number of passports that may be linked to the suspects of 9/11. They weren't able to determine whether the passports were legitimate, and German and Swiss officials (two of the countries from which the passports were labeled) declined to comment. I think this could be a major breakthrough, although they could possible prove to simply be a number of fake passports that were abandoned.

Definition of Politics

At a townhall meeting in New Orleans, President Obama was questioned by a 4th grade boy about facing the enormous amounts of criticism. Obama then proceeded to amusingly descibe politics as "where one party wins, and then the other party kinda feels like it need to poke you a little bit...". A good description, I think.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Healthcare: The Final Phase?

President Obama comments about the passing of the healthcare reform of the Senate Finance Committee.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Stories from the Front Lines

I thought this was very interesting. CBS News teams recount their experiences in Afghanistan.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

RIP Arctic Ice Caps

The arctic ice cap appears to be melting. At least, so says Professor Peter Wadhams, head of the polar ocean physics group at Cambridge University. According to Wadhams,

In about 10 years, the Arctic ice will be considered as open sea.

As a large part of the region is now covered in what is known as 'first year ice', which tends to be much less secure and a lot thinner, the area is likely going to become open water during the summer, within the next 20 to 30 years.

New Domestic Issues for D.C.

Obama seems to have his work cut out for him.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Obama's Failure to 'Bring Home the Gold' Not the End of the World

I find this very amusing. Bob Schieffer comments about President Obama's decision to fly overnight to Copenhagen, just on the off chance that Chicago would be chosen for the upcoming Olympic site.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Afghanistan: Just Beginning?

Brigadier General John Nicholson talks briefly to Scott Pelley, of 60 Minutes. Apparently, we may just be entering a new phase in Afghanistan...a 14 year long phase.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

The Nuclear Option for Healthcare Reform

It seems as if the healthcare legislation is turning into a game of Cheat. The Ways and Means Committe, a key committee of the House, recently changed its legislation for healthcare to a new option, nicknamed the "nuclear option". This plan could potentially allow the Senate to bypass any opposition to this legislation, as it works rather simply: Also known as reconciliation, under which the normal filibusters that senators can often use would not be permitted, the normal vote of 60 that is usually required to pass any reform would be replaced with a simple majority vote.
The Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangal, D-N.Y., stated that

the action was necessary because there is a possibility that a handful of
Senate Republicans could choose to engage in partisan tactics to stall this important health reform bill.

He also noted

Why create the option if you don't intend to use it...And the fact that you created it enhances the chances that you will use it.

Whether this option will be enough to bump the reform through to the President's desk, however, is yet to be determined.

Rising Retirement Costs...Anyone See The Irony?

Most people probably associate retirement with relaxation and leisure. Unfortunately, they're in for a shock. On average, the typical couple retiring today would need about $338,000 in savings to be sure that they could cover medical costs. Does something not seem right about that picture? In America, healthcare is the primary reason that a person's plans for retirement fail, and they are forced to return to work. ..This is in America. The land of opportunity. In many other countries, the healthcare system is run completely by the government, and although their ideas may not be full-proof, their citizens can be comforted by the knowledge that they will always be able to recieve medical help, whenever they need it. Perhaps the United States should take a step towards these countries, and figure out where a) they have gone right and b) we have fallen short of expectations.

The Little Country That Could

There is no doubt that the problems in the Middle East are in the forefront of priorities for the Obama administration. However, the President may have to turn his head in a new direction, soon. Latin America's problems have spread beyond its borders, and have started to intersect with other issues around the world that are more important for the Unites States right now. Two issues especially have recently been demanding US attention as they are a broader issue that includes Latin America. It will be interesting to see where Obama next places his pawns.

US Facing Challenges in the Pullout From Iraq

The largest movement of soldiers and materials in more than four decades has been undertaken in Iraq, recently. 20,000 soldiers, at least a sixth of the force in Iraq, have been assigned to dismantling 300 military bases, and shipping out 1.5 million pieces of equipment. During this process, the army must also sustain its force of some 124,000 troops. Although a major reduction of troops is not scheduled until after the January national elections, the preparations are already being seen throughout the country.

Bernanke's Rise

Bernanke seems to be doing a good job. Since President Bush nominated him in Oct 2005, this is what gold has done. According to the former Federal Reserve Governor Wayne Angell, "a Fed chairman's performance can be measured by whether the price of gold is higher or lower than when he took office." Bernanke's performance seems to have been exemplary, so far. We will see if he is able to keep up this positive standard.

Berlin's Reunion

A huge celebration in Berlin was held in honor of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. 1.5 million people took to the streets to watch a several-day performance by France's Royal de Luxe street theatre company, which featured two massive marionettes traipsing through Berlin.

Political Science May Be Barred from NSF Research

Senator Tom Coburn(R-OH) has introduced a new amendment that, if passed, could bar the NSF (National Science Foundation) from using federal research money on political science issues. He argues that

Theories on political behavior are best left to CNN, pollsters, pundits, historians, candidates, political parties, and the voters, rather than being funded out of taxpayers’ wallets.

New York City: Setting the Stage for Change

Michael Bloomburg, the New York City mayor, seems to have an interesting way of making people safer and healthier. Recently, he has not only stated plans for lowering the portion of sugar-sweetened beverages that people intake daily, he has now banned smoking in many public spaces, and banned many restaurants from using margarine (known for being high in trans-fats). President Obama has even recently taken notice of New Yorks activity, having recently appointed the one and only Tomas Friedman to head the Centers for Disease Control.