Necessary News
1) SUPPORT THE TROOPS
A new study conducted by an Army special task force shows troop morale in Afghanistan is “significantly lower” than it was in past studies in 2005 and 2007, and the military needs to double the number of mental health professionals in the region to help our forces. By the numbers: “In 2009, 21.4 percent of the soldiers in Afghanistan were suffering from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, compared with 10.4 percent in 2005.” [McClatchy]
2) BY THE NUMBERS
What it takes to get rid of Lou Dobbs: $8 million. [NY Post]
3) INFECTED
Reuters reports, “American squeamishness about talking about sex has helped keep common sexually transmitted infections far too common, especially among vulnerable teens, U.S. researchers reported Monday.” Here’s a stat for you: “Adolescent girls 15 to 19 years had the most chlamydia and gonorrhea cases of any age group at 409,531.” How you like abstinence-only education now? [Reuters]
4) FUNDING THE OPPOSITION
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is collecting money to finance an economic study portraying health care legislation as a job killer and threat to the nation’s economy. Sound familiar? The Chamber has also attacked clean energy legislation on the same grounds, and apparently has no qualms hiring an economist willing to agree with them to torpedo major legislation. [Washington Post]
5) HURTING PATIENTS
In the last year, the pharmaceutical industry has raised the prices of brand-name prescription drugs by about 9 percent, which will add more than $10 billion to the nation’s drug bill. By at least one analysis, it is the highest annual rate of inflation for drug prices since 1992. In comparison, the consumer price index (which measures inflation across the economy) has fallen 1.3% in the past year. The drug industry is raising prices before reform to try and keep high profit margins. [NYT]
6) REALITY TV, PRESIDENTIAL STYLE
Grover Norquist has challenged GOP presidential wannabes to complete certain “assignments” from the conservative movement in 2010 in order to be considered serious contenders in 2012. For example, Mike Huckabee will have to campaign actively against Arkansas Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln, and Rudy Giuliani will have to run for governor of New York. [Roll Call]
7) NO LOVE FOR PALIN
A new ABC/Washington Post poll released Monday found that Americans still aren’t huge fans of Sarah Palin. The poll found that nearly 52 percent of Americans said they had an unfavorable opinion of her, compared to only 43 percent who said they had a favorable view. Palin kicked off her Going Rogue book tour with a taped interview on the Oprah Winfrey show, which aired yesterday (find a few clips in today’s audio block). [WP]
8) FOOD INSECURITY CRISIS
A new report released by the Department of Agriculture found that one in seven Americans struggles to get enough to eat, while more than a third go hungry from time to time — the highest levels ever recorded. Around 14.6 percent of U.S. households (or about 49.1 million people), “had difficulty providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources,” according to the report. Why we should feel the red-heat of shame: nearly 17 million children — that’s more than one in five across the United States — don’t have enough to eat, up from about 12 million kids last year. [Reuters]
9) THE WALL STREET PRAYER
“Our Chairman, Who Art At Goldman, Blankfein Be Thy Name. The Rally’s Come. God’s Work Be Done. On Earth As There’s No Fear Of Correction. Give Us This Day Our Daily Gains, And Bankrupt Our Competitors. As You Taught Lehman and Bear Their Lessons. And Bring Us Not Under Indictment. For Thine Is The Treasury, The House And The Senate Forever and Ever. Goldman."—Wall Street’s take on “The Lord’s Prayer,” from an email making its way around the financial district Monday morning. [Political Wire]
10) HISTORIC APOLOGY
Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a historic announcement Monday, where he apologized to the thousands of poor British children who were shipped to Australia over the years. An estimated 150,000 British children were shipped to the country between 1618 and 1967, most of whom after 1920 went to Australia through programs run by the government. The programs, which ended 40 years ago, were intended to provide the children with a new start, but many children ended up being physically and sexually abused, or were sent to work as farm laborers.[CBS News]
Watercooler Sensation
1) TERRIFYING HEADLINE OF THE DAY
“Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck Team Up For ‘Bold Fresh Tour’.” The “2010 tour will pair the top two hosts in cable news in “an event that makes professional wrestling seem like a night at the opera,” according to the tour description. The tour kicks off in O’Reilly’s hometown, Long Island, before heading to Tampa, FL, N. Charleston, SC, and Norfolk, VA. Oh, boy. [Huff Post]
2) SET THOSE TIVOS
Vice President Joe Biden is set to appear on Comedy Central’s “Daily Show with Jon Stewart” tonight, making him the first sitting vice president to do so. Biden has appeared five other times on the show. Should be a good show! [TPMDC]
3) HONORING SIR PAUL
The U.S. Library of Congress announced Monday that it is awarding Paul McCartney its third Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Along with the prize, an all-star tribute concert is also in the works for 2010 to honor the legendary artist. Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon previously won the Gershwin prize. Congrats! [AP]
4) WHY HEALTH INSURANCE MATTERS
“Uninsured patients with traumatic injuries, such as car crashes, falls and gunshot wounds, were almost twice as likely to die in the hospital as similarly injured patients with health insurance, according to a troubling new study.” Harvard University researchers conducting the study were surprised, since they have long believed that emergency room care was equitable. The researchers think that the disparity is because of resources differences in hospitals which regularly treat uninsured patients. [MSNBC]
5) WALK FASTER
Older individuals who walk slowly are almost three times more likely to die of heart disease and related causes than older people who walk faster, finds a new study by Parisian doctors. While the study draws the conclusion that older adults need to be encouraged to exercise more, it also shows that a test of walking speed could be used to test the health of elderly patients with less cost and better results than current elder tests. [MSNBC]
6) CONGRATS
This past weekend, Serena Williams set a single-season prize money record by earning $6,545,586 in 2009. Her major victories included the 2009 season-ending Championships as well as Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns. During her tennis career, Serena Williams has made close to $30 million. [Women Talk Sports]
7) FOOTBALL
The Redskins may be having a dreadful season, but the team did win a big victory this week in the Supreme Court. The Court declined to hear, without comment, an appeal brought by Native Americans seeking to force the Washington football team to change its name, saying “Redskins” perpetuated an offensive stereotype. The U.S. Court of Appeals had previously ruled that the lawsuit had not been filed in a timely fashion, pointing out the football team trademarked the term in 1967. [USA Today]
8) GIRL POWER!
Scientists say a new Viagra drug for women is showing promise. The drug, originally developed as an anti-depressant, works a little differently than the version created for guys, concentrating on a woman’s brain. [ABC News]
9) FAREWELL
“Brady Physics.” “Dead Or Canadian.” “Sing Along With Colin.” If you grew up in the 80s, you know exactly what I mean and are mourning today over the death of Ken Ober, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 52. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, look it up, I’m too sad to explain. (It’s called “Remote Control,” kids, and it was a seminal part of our teenage years.) [CNN]
10) CLIMATE CHANGE
Our #1 reason of the day for caring — deeply — about climate change: Giant jellyfish. Fishermen in Japan are running into hundreds of jellyfish “the size of a small refrigerator” with “venomous tentacles,” “weighing up to 450 pounds.” “The gelatinous seaborne creatures are blamed for decimating fishing industries in the Bering and Black seas, forcing the shutdown of seaside power and desalination plants in Japan, the Middle East and Africa, and terrorizing beachgoers worldwide, the U.S. National Science Foundation says.” To blame? Global warming, which has allowed these creatures to thrive, “to expand their ranges, appear earlier in the year and increase overall numbers.” [MSNBC]
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