A suicide bomber rammed his car into a police residential complex in Pakistan yesterday, killing at least 20 people, officials said, in another blow for a country grappling with devastating floods.A decades-long decline in smoking rates leveled off in 2005 and has changed little ever since, according to a government study that calls for more funding for anti-smoking programs.The pastor of a Gainesville, Fla., church planning to burn Korans on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks said he’s now “weighing” what to do after Army Gen. David Petraeus’s warning that the event would endanger U.S. troops.Despite spending two seasons on “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” it seems Danielle Staub managed to emerge with some notions of self-worth, decency and the dangers of reality TV. Bravo, Danielle!Drew Barrymore has had some duds for onscreen partners in romantic comedies — not that she’s about to name names. “The worst is when you’re kissing someone who is not a good kisser, and you’re trying to make it look good, and you feel like you’re just working on your own,” she says. Luckily her latest film, “Going the Distance,” pairs her with someone very near to her heart: ex-boyfriend Justin Long.Ready to tackle all those home-repair projects you’ve been putting off in favor of days down the shore? Head to the West Philly Tool Library, where homeowners can borrow an unlimited number of tools and ladders for up to seven days. It costs just $20 for a yearly membership, and “tool librarians” are always on hand to lend expert advice.NEW YORK. The State University of New York has adopted new practices to help prevent students from falling victim to deceptive credit card marketing that can burden them with too much debt in tough economic times.Surfing is an excellent total-body workout combining upper and lower body strength, cardiovascular fitness, core strength, stability, balance and flexibility.Just as the world looks to Brazil as a nation that knows how to party, Bra-zil looks to Salvador as the city that can out-party even Rio. This corner of the northeastern state of Bahia is party central 365 days a year. Salvador is the oldest city in Brazil and was its capital for more than 200 years. And even 300 years ago it picked up a nickname which translates to Nearly All the Sins.Placing yourself in a choice college can be a numbers game, and if your GPA or tuition veers off, your most frugal and strategic bet might be to transfer.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid “got to 60” at 1:08 yesterday morning, clearing a key Republican hurdle and keeping the Senate’s version of a health care reform bill on track for passage before Christmas.
But, while Reid appears to have a bill, he does not have a happy caucus. Even as they voted for the measure, progressive senators were saying they hoped reform would not ultimately look like the bill they are now rushing to passage.
It is no secret that the White House abandoned efforts to pass a real reform measure weeks ago.
Indeed, President Obama’s Dec. 6 speech to Democratic senators — in which he failed to express support either for a government-supported public option or expansion of Medicare — was seen by many on Capitol Hill as having strengthened the hand of Sen. Joe Lieberman, who demanded that measures designed to hold private insurers to account be stripped from the Senate bill.
While other Democratic senators have been cautious about stating the obvious, Sen. Russ Feingold pulled no punches in his response to the watered-down legislation being advanced by Reid, with whom he has historically had very good relations.
“I’ve been fighting all year for a strong public option to compete with the insurance industry and
bring health care spending down. Unfortunately, the lack of support from the administration made keeping the public option in the bill an uphill struggle,” the senator said. “Removing the public option from the Senate bill is the wrong move, and eliminates $25 billion in savings. I will be urging members of the House and Senate who draft the final bill to make sure this essential provision is included.”
Despite the need for improvement, Feingold decided to back the compromised plan at least in part to move the process — which might yet improve the measure — forward.
“[While] the loss of the public option is a bitter pill to swallow, on balance, the bill still delivers meaningful reform, and the cost of inaction is simply too high,” explained the senator. “This bill significantly expands coverage ... The bill also improves a flawed Medicare formula ... encourages the kind of low-cost, high-value care ... and reduces federal budget deficits by $132 billion over the next decade.”
– John Nichols is Washington correspondent for The Nation magazine.
Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages. Opposing viewpoints are welcome. Please send 400-word submissions to letters@metro.us.
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In the July MMMpod, Young Veins talk about breaking away from Panic! at the Disco, Keith Lockhart talks about Buckwheat Zydeco throwing the Boston Pops for a loop, Zooey Deschanel talks about how Roy Orbison inspired a She & Him song, Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells talks about how awesome Funkadelic is, and we talk about how awesome Jimmy Cliff is, who in turn talks about Sam Cooke and divine intervention. An explosive show for July! Oh yeah, and we also test your knowledge of America songs in the MMMPod medley.
