Pawlenty Rolls Out New Political Organization

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/01/pawlenty-rolls-out-new-political-organization/

Republican Governor from Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, created a new political action group called "Freedom First" to help get republicans elected in 2009 and 2010. He has signed on a number of veteran Washington hands, making this one of the first concrete signs he may be considering a run for presidency in 2012.

Health Care Debate

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1926833,00.html

This article discusses the state of health care in West Virginia. A public option is wanted, but it is worried that by offering a public option private insurers will be put out of business. The Senate Finance Committee voted and the public was voted down 15 to 8 originally, but with an amendment including reimbursements to medicare rates, 2 democrats joined support and it was voted down 13 to 10.

Maine Republican Olympia Snowe has offered an amendment that calls for public health insurance only if private insurers don't do enough to offer affordable coverage. This would be determined on a state-by-state basis and private insurers would be able to change before a public option took hold.

Abortion Fight Complicates Debate on Health Care

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/health/policy/29abortion.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

The article is about a proposal to ban the use of subsidies to fund abortions. They say that people will be free to purchase additional "rider" insurance that covers abortions. States will all have to have at least one plan that covers abortions (private) and one that doesn't .

The is abortion debate is frustrating to me. In this instance especially, it's flat out discrimination. In these economic times, many people don't have the means to pay extra for abortion coverage. If they can't afford to get an abortion, it's going to be very hard to raise a healthy happy child.

Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

I've just finished reading the book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. The book goes from Christopher's first short runs that always resulted in injuries, to his first 50 mile run through the sweltering hills and canyons of rural Mexico.

As a journalist, McDougall is able to see some of the worlds greatest runners, and watch the greatest races. He becomes curious about the Tarahumara (or "running people") who reside in secluded caves in Mexico. He searches for a man named "Caballo" and together they compile a small race for some of the worlds greatest, most diverse ultra runners.In attendance are the Tarahumara; runners from a near-by village of Urique; Scott Jurek - a vegan and one of the worlds best ultra marathoners; "Barefoot Ted" - a man who always runs barefoot through any type of terrain; Jenn Shelton and Billy Barnett - young and fast Californian partiers; and a few more.

The book goes into depth about things such as the physics of running shoes, the "persistence hunting" theory about humans being able to run animals to the death, and the best things to eat as runner. It's all very factual and subjective - not preachy- like some of these topics often are.

The book is very interesting, and hard to put down. I recommend it to anyone who is a runner, interested in running, and, in particular, interested in ultra marathons.

For the first time, AIDS vaccine shows some success

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/health/research/25aids.html?ref=world

An AIDS vaccine was tested on volunteers in Thailand. Half were given placebo's, and the other half the vaccine. Of the 16,000 volunteers, 74 given placebo became infected, and only 51 given the vaccine did.

The vaccine is a combination of two other, previously tested vaccines that did not have any effects on humans. Scientists say they do not know why this vaccine was more effective.

Even though the effectiveness of the vaccine is small, it is a huge step in the right direction.

Grocery Wars

http://www.twincities.com/ci_13368907?nclick_check=1

Cub, Rainbow, and Lund's/Byerly's had been the top three grocers in the Twin Cities, but recently non-unionized discount grocers have been moving in and making gains. Super Target, Aldi, and Walmart are all fairly new to the Twin Cities, but Super Target has already moved up to #2 and Walmart is #4.

Similar scenarios have happened before - "In the long run, though, this battle will drive someone out of business. That's always been true in the Twin Cities. The 1950s neighborhood grocers that grandma shopped gave way to Red Owl and Del-Farm, then Applebaum's and Country Club, then Cub and Rainbow."

Long time cashiers and Cub can make up to $22/hour, where at Super Target few make more than $10/hour.

Walmart has avoided the Twin Cities because of the union stronghold. They waited for other non-unionized businesses, such as Aldi and Target, to move in before following.

Discount stores are able to sell groceries like produce at below cost because they save on wages, benefits, and sell large amounts of non-perishables. Stores like Kowalski's are unable to do that because a large portion of their money is going to their employees.

At Least 19 Killed in Ramadan Food Stampede

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/world/asia/15pstan.html?ref=asia

It is traditional for Muslims to give away food for the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. Due to extreme poverty, people rushed to receive their food. 19 women were killed in the stampede and at least another 25 women were injured.