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	<title>Light of Reason</title>
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	<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com</link>
	<description>The light of reason blog.</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:21:07 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Resigns: Iceberg Scandal</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/alaska-governor-sarah-palin-resigns/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/alaska-governor-sarah-palin-resigns/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:27:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Iceburg Scandal]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Sarah Palin]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Sarah Palin resigns]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=348</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Friday, July 3, 2009, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin resigned, with 16 months left in her term. 
A recent Time article explained it best:

In a hastily called press conference on the eve of a three-day holiday, Palin presented herself as a point guard exhausted by the &#8220;full court press from the national level.&#8221; The 2008 [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/sarah-palin-resigns.jpg" alt="Sarah Palin Resigns" title="Sarah Palin Resigns" width="350" height="180" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-349" /></p>
<p>On Friday, July 3, 2009, <a href="http://gov.state.ak.us/">Alaska Governor</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin">Sarah Palin</a> resigned, with 16 months left in her term. </p>
<p>A recent Time <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090704/us_time/08599190866900">article</a> explained it best:</p>
<blockquote><p>
In a hastily called press conference on the eve of a three-day holiday, Palin presented herself as a point guard exhausted by the &#8220;full court press from the national level.&#8221; The 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee explained how the metaphorical point guard should respond. &#8220;She drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her head up because she needs to keep her eye on the basket, and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win,&#8221; Palin said. &#8220;And I know when it&#8217;s time to pass the ball for victory.&#8221; Or take a timeout, as the case may be.
</p></blockquote>
<p>Could the reason behind her sudden resignation be her higher hopes of running for a National office? Perhaps not, as resigning as Governor of Alaska has all but put a hold on her political career. Rarely do political candidates step down and resign their political posts.</p>
<p>Could the reason behind Sarah Palin&#8217;s Resignation be that she&#8217;s going to have an federal indictment against her? Perhaps.</p>
<p>Could the reason for Sarah Palin&#8217;s resignation be because she has fallen victim to her political and non-political critics? Perhaps. You might recall recent inexcusable commentary about Sarah Palin&#8217;s daughter by David Letterman.</p>
<p>Could the reason for Sarah Palin&#8217;s resigning her post as Alaska Governor be something that we aren&#8217;t aware of yet? Most likely. I do believe that Sarah Palin&#8217;s resignation could be part &#8220;family reasons&#8221;, but it could be something else. Perhaps Sarah Palin resigned because she just doesn&#8217;t feel that she&#8217;s effective anymore as the Governor of Alaska?</p>
<p>Sarah Palin, during her official press conference held at her Alaska home, gave the following statement:</p>
<blockquote><p>
“I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path,” said Governor Palin after the announcement. “Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional ‘Lame Duck’ status in this particular climate would just be another dose of ‘politics as usual,’ something I campaigned against and will always oppose. It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future, can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success. I look forward to helping others – to fight for our state and our country, and campaign for those who believe in smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence.”
</p></blockquote>
<p>Sarah Palin is tired of politics. Yeah, right.</p>
<p><strong>Update:</strong>What I&#8217;m hearing now is that Sarah Palin has resigned ahead of being indicted on federal corruption charges, being named the &#8220;iceburg scandal&#8221;. A blog post <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/sarah-palin-resigns-as-al_b_225515.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7280">here</a> has more about the Iceburg Scandal, Brad&#8217;s blog says:</p>
<blockquote><p>
possible federal indictments against Palin, concerning an embezzlement scandal related to the building of Palin&#8217;s house and the Wasilla Sports Complex, built during her tenure as Mayor. Both structures, it is said, feature the &#8220;same windows, same wood, same products.&#8221; Federal investigators have been looking into this for some time, and indictments could be imminent, according to the Alaska sources.
</p></blockquote>
<p>Also, there&#8217;s an interesting <a href="http://taszara.com/sarah-palin-federal-indictment-alaska-newspaper-sarah-palin-scandal/762/">here</a> talking about how the &#8220;upcoming <strong>Sarah Palin federal indictment</strong> would have crippled her ability to govern effectively.&#8221; </p>


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Something</small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/we-have-a-obama-running-mate-obama-bayh-08/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: We Have an Obama Running Mate: Obama Bayh 08'>We Have an Obama Running Mate: Obama Bayh 08</a> <small>Looks like</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/new-report-shows-lessons-learned-from-the-h1n1-swine-flu-outbreak/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/new-report-shows-lessons-learned-from-the-h1n1-swine-flu-outbreak/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:27:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Blogs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=345</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Trust for America&#8217;s Health (TFAH), the Center for Biosecurity, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) issued a new report called &#8220;Pandemic Flu: Lessons From the Frontlines&#8221;. The report found that the initial response to the H1N1 Swine flu outbreak &#8220;showed strong coordination and communication and an ability to adapt to changing circumstances from U.S. [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Trust for America&#8217;s Health (TFAH), the Center for Biosecurity, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) issued a new report called &#8220;Pandemic Flu: Lessons From the Frontlines&#8221;. The report found that the initial response to <a href="http://www.usefultipsguide.com/how-to-know-if-you-have-the-swine-flu/">the H1N1 Swine flu outbreak</a> &#8220;showed strong coordination and communication and an ability to adapt to changing circumstances from U.S. officials&#8221;. But, the report also shows how the US core public health capacity would be severely overwhelmed if a more severe outbreak was much more widespread.</p>
<p>The Pandemic Flu: Lessons from the Frontlines report reviews 10 early lessons learned from the response to the H1N1 (swine) flu outbreak, 10 ongoing core vulnerabilities in U.S. pandemic flu preparedness, and case studies of challenges communities around the country faced when responding to the outbreak. The 10 early lessons learned from the 2009 H1N1 outbreak in the report were that:</p>
<p>  1. Investments in pandemic planning and stockpiling antiviral medications paid off;<br />
  2. Public health departments did not have enough resources to carry out plans;<br />
  3. Response plans must be adaptable and science-driven;<br />
  4. Providing clear, straightforward information to the public was essential for allaying fears and building trust;<br />
  5. School closings have major ramifications for students, parents and employers;<br />
  6. Sick leave and policies for limiting mass gatherings were also problematic;<br />
  7. Even with a mild outbreak, the health care delivery system was overwhelmed;<br />
  8. Communication between the public health system and health providers was not well coordinated;<br />
  9. WHO pandemic alert phases caused confusion; and<br />
  10. International coordination was more complicated than expected.</p>
<p>The report also identified some surprises encountered during the H1N1 Swine Flu outbreak, including that much of the world&#8217;s pandemic planning had revolved around the potential threat of the H5N1 (bird) flu virus, which had been circulating in Asia and elsewhere for nearly a decade. It also reveals that planners anticipated there would be six weeks of lead time between the time a novel flu virus was identified and its spread to the United States.</p>
<p>In addition, according to the analysis in Pandemic Flu: Lessons from the Frontlines, there are a number of systemic gaps in the nation&#8217;s ability to respond to a pandemic flu outbreak. To further strengthen U.S. preparedness, the following 10 core areas must be addressed:</p>
<p>  1. Maintaining the Strategic National Stockpile&#8211; making sure enough antiviral medications, vaccinations, and equipment are available to protect Americans, which includes replenishing the stockpile when medications and supplies are used;<br />
  2. Vaccine development and production&#8211; enhancing the biomedical research and development abilities of the United States to rapidly develop and produce a vaccine;<br />
  3. Vaccinating all Americans &#8212; ensuring that all Americans would be able to be inoculated in a short period of time;<br />
  4. Planning and Coordination &#8212; improving coordination among federal, state, and local governments and the private sector preparedness and planning activities on an ongoing basis, including taking into account how the nature of flu threats change over time; <span id="more-345"></span><br />
  5. School closings, sick leave, and community mitigation strategies &#8212; improving strategies to limit the spread of disease ensuring all working Americans have sick leave benefits and that communities are prepared to limit public gatherings and close schools as necessary;<br />
  6. Global coordination &#8212; building trust, technologies, and policies internationally to encourage science-based, consistent decision making across borders during an outbreak;<br />
  7. Resources &#8212; providing enough funding for the on-the-ground response, which is currently under funded and overextended;<br />
  8. Workforce &#8212; stopping layoffs at state and local health departments and recruiting the next generation of public health professionals;<br />
  9. Surge capacity &#8212; improving the ability for health providers to manage a massive influx of patients; and<br />
  10. Caring for the uninsured and underinsured &#8212; ensuring that all Americans will receive care during an emergency, which limits the spread of the contagious disease to others, and making sure hospitals and health care providers are compensated for providing care.</p>
<p>The full analysis is available on TFAH&#8217;s Web site at <a href="http://www.healthyamericans.org">www.healthyamericans.org</a>. The report was supported by a grant from RWJF.</p>
<p>Trust for America&#8217;s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. </p>
<p>The Center for Biosecurity is an independent, non-profit organization of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Their mission is to strengthen national security by reducing the risks posed by biological attacks, epidemics, and other destabilizing events and to improve the nation&#8217;s resilience in the face of such incidents.</p>
<p>The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation&#8217;s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need &#8212; the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. </p>


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		<title>United States Postal Service Unveils Simpsons Stamps</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/united-states-postal-service-unveils-simpsons-stamps/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/united-states-postal-service-unveils-simpsons-stamps/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:56:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[USPS]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=338</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Woo-Hoo! Check it Out, Man! The United States Postal Service what The Simpsons stamps will look like when they are released May 7, 2009. Take a look at which Simpsons characters could appear on the new stamps and vote for your favorite one at the USPS website. The Simpsons, currently in its 20th year as [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/simpsons-stamps.jpg" alt="simpsons stamps" title="simpsons stamps" width="430" height="85" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-339" /></p>
<p>Woo-Hoo! Check it Out, Man! The <a href="http://www.usps.com/">United States Postal Service</a> what <a href="http://www.usps.com/promotions/simpsons.htm">The Simpsons stamps</a> will look like when they are released May 7, 2009. Take a look at which Simpsons characters could appear on the new stamps and vote for your favorite one at the USPS website. The Simpsons, currently in its 20th year as a regularly scheduled half-hour series, is the longest-running comedy in television history. </p>
<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/simpsons-stamps-homepage.jpg" alt="simpsons usps stamps" title="simpsons usps stamps" width="350" height="212" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-340" /></p>
<p><strong>Vote for your favorite Simpsons character</strong><br />
Starting on April 9 at 8:00am EST and ending on May 14, 2009, you can vote for your favorite Simpsons character on the <a href="http://www.usps.com/simpsons"USPS site for the Simpsons</a>. Results from the voting will be announced shortly after May 14, 2009.</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/simpsons-stamps-small.jpg" alt="simpsons-stamps-small" title="simpsons-stamps-small" width="258" height="120" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-341" /></p>
<p><strong>Pre-Order The Simpsons Stamps and Stamped Postal Cards</strong><br />
You can order The Simpsons Stamps and Stamped Postal Cards right now. The stamps are 44 cent First Class Mail stamps, and you can order them in books of 20. The stamped postal cards come in packs of 20. You can order them online and they&#8217;ll be mailed out on May 7th, 2009.</p>
<p><strong>Enter the Matt Groening Signed Poster Sweepstakes</strong><br />
Hey, Dude, Check it Out! If you&#8217;re over 18 years old and love The Simpsons then you can enter to win a limited edition Simpsons poster signed by Simpsons creator and executive producer Matt Groening. 25 of them will be given away.</p>
<p>The USPS says that &#8220;The U.S. Postal Service receives approximately 50,000 suggestions for stamp subjects each year, yet only about 20 topics are selected for postage. The Simpsons is the only television show to be featured as the sole subject of a stamp set while still in primetime production.&#8221;</p>
<p>The Simpsons, which airs Sundays (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), is the longest running primetime sitcom in television history. The Simpsons exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Cartoonist Matt Groening created the infamous Simpson family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson - all now identifiable by their silhouettes alone.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s more about the Simpsons stamps:<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/09/simpsons-stamps-unveiled_n_185045.html">&#8216;Simpsons&#8217; Stamps Unveiled</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i4f09d44ee2455d72e756c9ff48b2461a">&#8216;Simpsons&#8217; stamps en route</a><br />
<a href="http://keepingmycool.blogspot.com/2009/04/usps-simpsons-stamps.html">USPS Simpsons Stamps</a><br />
<a href="http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/04/01/postal_service_announces_simpsons_stamps">Postal Service Announces &#8216;Simpsons&#8217; Stamps</a><br />
<a href="http://onegirlsshop.com/?p=681">simpsons stamps</a><br />
<a href="http://mke2lax.blogspot.com/2009/04/first-class-doh.html">First Class D&#8217;Oh!</a></p>


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		<title>General Motors Slide into Bankruptcy has an Upside</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/general-motors-slide-into-bankruptcy-has-an-upside/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/general-motors-slide-into-bankruptcy-has-an-upside/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:48:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Governmental Action]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=335</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, President Obama did it again. By the government&#8217;s action to put General Motors (GM) into bankruptcy and to seek and receive the resignation of Mr. Wagner, GM CEO, this administration has demonstrated its willingness to take action to do what is needed to correct problems. 
Just the act of taking action in a positive [...]


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Something</small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/report-says-barack-obama-born-in-kenya/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Report Says Barack Obama Born in Kenya'>Report Says Barack Obama Born in Kenya</a> <small>According </small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well, President Obama did it again. By the government&#8217;s action to put General Motors (GM) into bankruptcy and to seek and receive the resignation of Mr. Wagner, GM CEO, this administration has demonstrated its willingness to take action to do what is needed to correct problems. <span id="more-335"></span></p>
<p>Just the act of taking action in a positive way is very reassuring.</p>
<p>Before we jump to conclusions that are based on misinformation, whether intentional or unintentional, President Obama repeatedly said in his statement today that the government has no intention or desire to run the auto industry. It proved this with the interim CEO being someone that has auto industry experience. Furthermore, President Obama said that GM will be in the reorganization type of bankruptcy. To foster sales of GM brand vehicles while it is in bankruptcy, the government will loosen up credit for their purchase and back up the vehicle warranties. </p>
<p>To foster a successful result when GM emerges from bankruptcy, President Obama said that a new management team will preside over a leaner firm that manufacturers innovative vehicles for the 21st century just as it had produced for the 20th century. To accomplish this, President Obama said that all interested parties will have make concessions. </p>
<p>Even though this action is unsettling to the many people inside the auto industry and even to us not in that industry, it is obvious that the Obama administration has taken steps to help GM avoid being forced into the liquidation type of bankruptcy, found a way to keep our auto industry alive during its transition to a more lean, innovative firm that manufactures the types of new vehicles that will be required for a new century.</p>


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Something</small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/report-says-barack-obama-born-in-kenya/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Report Says Barack Obama Born in Kenya'>Report Says Barack Obama Born in Kenya</a> <small>According </small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>What Happened to Congressional Deliberations?</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/what-happened-to-congressional-deliberations/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/what-happened-to-congressional-deliberations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:06:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Government Waste]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Political Action]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=328</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Something that has made me uncomfortable for years has been the partisanship that exists at all levels of government, especially, in Congress. Yes, I like the concept of a two party system to permit the government to have discussions between differing factions to, theoretically, enable Congress to make more thoughtful decisions and not to be [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/house-financial-services-committee-releases-emergency-economic-stabilization-act-of-2008/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: House Financial Services Committee Releases Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008'>House Financial Services Committee Releases Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008</a> <small>The House </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/barack-obama-tied-to-terrorist-bill-ayers/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Barack Obama Tied to Terrorist Bill Ayers'>Barack Obama Tied to Terrorist Bill Ayers</a> <small>According </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/new-report-shows-lessons-learned-from-the-h1n1-swine-flu-outbreak/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak'>New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak</a> <small>Trust for </small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/congress-debate.jpg" alt="" title="congress-debate" width="350" height="262" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-332" /></p>
<p>Something that has made me uncomfortable for years has been the partisanship that exists at all levels of government, especially, in Congress. Yes, I like the concept of a two party system to permit the government to have discussions between differing factions to, theoretically, enable Congress to make more thoughtful decisions and not to be a rubber stamp of the President.</p>
<p>This is a noble thought and has yielded many excellent results. However, when partisanship takes over in the legislative arena, good ideas (bills) have been prevented from becoming good laws for political reasons. Members of Congress should do what is good for America and not blindly follow a doctrine of objection, regardless of the value of a bill. </p>
<p>The concept of &#8216;doing what is right and best for our country&#8217; is not a new concept. It is just that we have and are seeing good bills fail to be enacted into law or that the concessions necessary to obtain support from members of an opposing party so waters down a bill&#8217;s benefit that the bill no longer will be as effective. In addition, the excessive amount of time Congress requires to consider the bill greatly reduces Congress&#8217; ability to consider additional bills during that session of Congress.</p>
<p>It is high time that more Americans sent signals to our officials that we want our local and federal governments&#8217; actions to be based upon &#8216;what is best for America.&#8217; </p>
<p>I realize that to better their re-election campaigns, some governmental officials of both parties have made decisions based more upon campaign donations than upon what is best for America.</p>
<p>This thought has come to the surface for me because of the way Republicans in Congress have objected to the Obama Administration&#8217;s efforts to right our economy for now and for the long run. For example, the debate over the stimulus bill. With all of the flap by the Congressional Republicans that the bill doesn&#8217;t help business enough, it seems that about 40% of the benefit of the stimulus would be for businesses, which was a concession by the administration to obtain bi-partisan support for the legislation. When casting their votes for passage, Congressional Republicans still refused to support the stimulus bill - except for three members of the House.</p>
<p>Since Congressional Republicans objected so strongly to every suggestion from the administration, I wondered why they hadn&#8217;t presented suggestions for resolving the problems. Perhaps they didn&#8217;t know what else to do.</p>
<p>The only way we, as Americans, can stop both parties from playing games with our country&#8217;s future is to let our elected officials hear from us. For contacting Congressional members and members of the federal government, find their email addresses, mail addresses, and phone numbers by visiting the federal government&#8217;s website at www.usa.gov or by calling the federal government&#8217;s information line at 800.333.4636.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/house-financial-services-committee-releases-emergency-economic-stabilization-act-of-2008/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: House Financial Services Committee Releases Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008'>House Financial Services Committee Releases Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008</a> <small>The House </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/barack-obama-tied-to-terrorist-bill-ayers/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Barack Obama Tied to Terrorist Bill Ayers'>Barack Obama Tied to Terrorist Bill Ayers</a> <small>According </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/new-report-shows-lessons-learned-from-the-h1n1-swine-flu-outbreak/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak'>New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak</a> <small>Trust for </small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Book Reveals Junk Science, Conflicts of Interest, Disease Guidelines Affecting Millions</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/book-reveals-junk-science-conflicts-of-interest-disease-guidelines-affecting-millions/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/book-reveals-junk-science-conflicts-of-interest-disease-guidelines-affecting-millions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:54:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=324</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
There&#8217;s a new book out titled &#8220;The Baker&#8217;s Dozen &#038; the Lunatic Fringe: Has Junk Science Shifted the Lyme Disease Paradigm?&#8221; that reveals critical evidence about IDSA guidelines, science, and researchers that were examined in a recent Anti-Trust Investigation.
The book, written by author, researcher, and Lyme patient PJ Langhoff has released a scientific expose [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/new-report-shows-lessons-learned-from-the-h1n1-swine-flu-outbreak/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak'>New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak</a> <small>Trust for </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/barack-obama-the-audacity-of-vanity/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Barack Obama: The Audacity of Vanity'>Barack Obama: The Audacity of Vanity</a> <small>The follow</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bakers-Dozen-Lunatic-Fringe-Paradigm/dp/0965458067"><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/bakers-dozen-book.jpg" alt="" title="bakers-dozen-book" width="150" height="204" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-325" /></a> <img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/pjlanghoff.jpg" alt="" title="pj langhoff" width="107" height="150" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-326" /></p>
<p>There&#8217;s a new book out titled &#8220;The Baker&#8217;s Dozen &#038; the Lunatic Fringe: Has Junk Science Shifted the Lyme Disease Paradigm?&#8221; that reveals critical evidence about <a href="http://www.idsociety.org/">IDSA</a> guidelines, science, and researchers that were examined in a recent Anti-Trust Investigation.</p>
<p>The book, written by author, researcher, and Lyme patient <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2GORPUPPUXZ7M">PJ Langhoff</a> has released a scientific expose that exposes the politics, conflicts of interest, academic ties, research, and IDSA guidelines for Lyme disease. In fact, the book exposes key evidence offered during CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal&#8217;s anti-trust investigation into the Infectious Disease Society of America&#8217;s (IDSA) clinical practice guidelines for Lyme disease; findings which called the guidelines formation process &#8220;flawed.&#8221;</p>
<p>The IDSA Lyme disease guidelines are sometimes called &#8220;restrictive.&#8221; Misinterpretation may prevent diagnosis, treatment access, and insurance coverage. &#8220;I researched what I felt was an alarming trend &#8212; the denial of illness by those previously publishing that chronic Lyme existed and was serious, but whom now appear to deny this point of view,&#8221; said Langhoff. The IDSA guidelines for Lyme disease are promoted as the &#8220;standard of care.&#8221; Some physicians treating outside these so-called &#8220;standards&#8221; have found their medical licenses suspended or revoked. The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), which includes some IDSA members, offers a markedly different set of guidelines affording chronically infected patients better options. &#8220;Chronic Lyme&#8221; is a form that the IDSA guidelines and some of its panelists are accused of dismissing. The IDSA guidelines state they are merely recommendations.</p>
<p>Some people feel adherence to the current IDSA guidelines are a significant impediment to wellness. &#8220;They are but one standard of care; written by those whose connections appear rife with conflicts of interest, and who may promote what many call &#8216;junk science,&#8217;&#8221; says Langhoff. The book explores diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, academic partnerships; patents and grant funding, government interests, the impact of the current paradigm on an ill population; and the need for reform. It calls for open access to long-term treatments, objectivity, and cooperative consensus in guidelines formation. The book also emphasizes the need for better patient representation in the legislative process than is currently afforded by only one medical society or advocacy group.</p>
<p>&#8220;The scientific community is not listening to patients, and these books offer a chance for our voices to be heard,&#8221; says PJ. The latest book was written after studying thousands of documents, mostly accessible via the Internet &#8212; an information resource often used by patients when seeking answers for health issues, for which they are heavily criticized. &#8220;We are not a hysterical bunch inventing illness by way of electronics, we seek answers. The idea that Lyme disease is not serious or chronic, that it is easily curable in all patients after antibiotics, or even that current diagnostics are accurate, is ridiculous,&#8221; says the author. &#8220;The book illustrates that current research easily refutes those holding a restrictive, minimalist viewpoint, and any guidelines that may help to promote that mindset.&#8221;</p>
<p>PJ Langhoff and her family have suffered with Lyme for two decades. She has written books and articles on tick-borne illness, including a book series called &#8220;It&#8217;s All In Your Head.&#8221; Langhoff is an independent writer, medical researcher, columnist, humorist, and owns a small press. She advocates for patients and physicians through her web sites and support group. The author received a grant from Turn The Corner Foundation, a <a href="http://www.turnthecorner.org/">non-profit advocacy group</a> called &#8220;Turn the Corner&#8221;. Four years in the making, the book&#8217;s research was also shared during production of the award-winning Lyme disease documentary film, &#8220;Under Our Skin.&#8221;</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/new-report-shows-lessons-learned-from-the-h1n1-swine-flu-outbreak/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak'>New Report Shows Lessons Learned From the H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak</a> <small>Trust for </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/barack-obama-the-audacity-of-vanity/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Barack Obama: The Audacity of Vanity'>Barack Obama: The Audacity of Vanity</a> <small>The follow</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Global Commercial Property Survey: China Property Market Remains Prudent</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/global-commercial-property-survey-china-property-market-remains-prudent/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/global-commercial-property-survey-china-property-market-remains-prudent/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:26:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Global Economy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[commercial real estate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=319</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to a new Global Commercial Property Survey by RICS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, collapsing oil prices have pulled oil rich countries into the global property malaise with capital values falling in emerging nations for the first time in the survey&#8217;s history.

Commercial property in China has until recently remained relatively firm in the [...]


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According</small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/how-to-qualify-for-the-new-first-time-homebuyer-tax-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: How to Qualify for the New First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit'>How to Qualify for the New First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit</a> <small>An $8,000 </small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rics.jpg" alt="" title="rics" width="158" height="64" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-320" /></p>
<p>According to a new Global Commercial Property Survey by <a href="http://www.rics.org/">RICS</a>, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, collapsing oil prices have pulled oil rich countries into the global property malaise with capital values falling in emerging nations for the first time in the survey&#8217;s history.</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/china-commercial-realestate.jpg" alt="" title="china-commercial-realestate" width="240" height="160" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-321" /></p>
<p>Commercial property in China has until recently remained relatively firm in the face of the global economic downturn. Most of the Chinese indicators have previously remained in positive territory, with both supply and demand holding up and expectations generally upbeat. However, the number of surveyors reporting a fall than a rise in capital values hit its worst level in the survey&#8217;s history. 72 percent more Chartered Surveyors reported a fall than a rise in capital values compared to a positive 18 percent in the previous quarter with surveyor sentiment for future rises also turning negative for the first time.</p>
<p>Rents fell across more than 90% of the countries surveyed with the greatest downward pressure occurring across parts of Asia. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and India were ranked in the bottom five for rental performance as the collapse in world trade has smashed export earnings and business confidence.</p>
<p>The previously strong performing UAE (United Arab Emirates) saw capital values plummet from a positive balance of 65 percent to a negative balance of 83 percent. The outlook for future performance has in consequence turned very gloomy. In the UAE, 85 percent more Chartered Surveyors expect capital values to fall compared to a positive balance of 45 percent in the previous quarter. In Dubai, 96 percent more Chartered Surveyors expect capital values to fall even further over the next three months, a drop from a positive balance of 22 percent in the previous quarter.</p>
<p>RICS&#8217; Global Commercial Property Survey is a quarterly guide to the developing trends in the commercial property investment and occupier market. This edition details market conditions for the fourth quarter of 2008 based on information collected from leading international real estate organisations and local firms.</p>
<p>RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICS has been committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity &#8212; providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting businesses and society. RICS is the worlds&#8217; leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction. With over 140,000 members globally, RICS represents, regulates and promotes the work of property professionals throughout 146 countries.</p>
<p>The RICS Asia supports a network of over 9,000 individual professionals across the Asia region with an objective to help develop the property and construction markets in these countries, by introducing professional standards, best practice and international experience. It promotes RICS and its members as the natural advisors on all property matters. It also ensures that services and career development opportunities are provided to members.</p>
<p>The RICS Asia region covers national associations and local groups locating in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The People&#8217;s Republic of China and the SAR Hong Kong. It also has members working across the region such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos PDR, Macao, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, The Maldives, The Philippines, Timor East and Vietnam.</p>


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According</small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/how-to-qualify-for-the-new-first-time-homebuyer-tax-credit/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: How to Qualify for the New First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit'>How to Qualify for the New First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit</a> <small>An $8,000 </small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>How to Qualify for the New First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/how-to-qualify-for-the-new-first-time-homebuyer-tax-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/how-to-qualify-for-the-new-first-time-homebuyer-tax-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:33:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Blogs]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Homebuyer Tax Credit]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=313</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers is a step in the right direction toward revitalizing Florida&#8217;s housing market and stimulating the state&#8217;s economy, says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 president of the Florida Association of Realtors(R) (FAR).

&#8220;The new tax credit provides a great incentive for first-time homebuyers to enter the housing market and find the home [...]


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Woo-Hoo! </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/general-motors-slide-into-bankruptcy-has-an-upside/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: General Motors Slide into Bankruptcy has an Upside'>General Motors Slide into Bankruptcy has an Upside</a> <small>Well, Pres</small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/book-reveals-junk-science-conflicts-of-interest-disease-guidelines-affecting-millions/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Book Reveals Junk Science, Conflicts of Interest, Disease Guidelines Affecting Millions'>Book Reveals Junk Science, Conflicts of Interest, Disease Guidelines Affecting Millions</a> <small> 
There</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers is a step in the right direction toward revitalizing Florida&#8217;s housing market and stimulating the state&#8217;s economy, says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 president of the Florida Association of Realtors(R) (FAR).</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/florida-assoc-realtors.jpg" alt="" title="florida-assoc-realtors" width="350" height="163" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-314" /></p>
<p>&#8220;The new tax credit provides a great incentive for first-time homebuyers to enter the housing market and find the home of their dreams here in Florida,&#8221; Shelton says. &#8220;With plentiful affordable inventory offering a range of housing options, mortgage interest rates near historical lows and competitive pricing, the time is right for prospective homebuyers who have been sitting on the fence to take advantage of the homeownership opportunity available through the tax credit.&#8221;</p>
<p>The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Barack Obama last week, offers almost $79 billion in economic stimulus proposals, including provisions to help stabilize and rejuvenate the housing market such as: increasing the first-time homebuyer tax credit to $8,000 for those buying by Dec. 1, 2009, and eliminating the repayment requirement; reinstating higher limits for Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Fannie Mae and Freddie loans; and increased rural housing loans.</p>
<p>What do first-time homebuyers need to know to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit? Here are a few of the rules that apply, at least according to the most recent analysis, though things could change as tax professionals continue to review the details. Consult your tax advisor if there are any questions about the $8,000 tax credit and how to use it.</p>
<p>  &#8212;  The tax credit is available for first-time buyers who purchase between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2009. They can either claim the credit on this year&#8217;s return due April 15 or file for the credit in 2009.</p>
<p>  &#8212;  To qualify as a first-time homebuyer, the purchaser cannot have owned a home in at least three years before the date of purchase. However, ownership of a vacation home or rental home does not disqualify the buyer.</p>
<p>  &#8212;  The deduction is worth 10 percent of a home&#8217;s value up to $8,000, which means all homes worth more than $80,000 could qualify for the maximum amount.</p>
<p>  &#8212;  It&#8217;s a tax credit, not a deduction. That means the entire amount goes back to the first-time homebuyer unlike deductions, such as mortgage interest, that are subtracted from gross income before tax is calculated. If qualified for $8,000, the buyer gets $8,000, even if they would not owe that much in taxes.</p>
<p>  &#8212;  Buyers can claim a maximum credit of $8,000, or up to $4,000 for married individuals filing separately, according to the IRS. The credit phases out for married couples with adjusted gross income of $150,000 and for individual taxpayers with income above $75,000.</p>
<p>  &#8212;  The tax credit does not have to be paid back, providing the homebuyer keeps the property for at least 36 months and resides in the home.</p>
<p>Source: Florida Association of Realtors </p>


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Woo-Hoo! </small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/general-motors-slide-into-bankruptcy-has-an-upside/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: General Motors Slide into Bankruptcy has an Upside'>General Motors Slide into Bankruptcy has an Upside</a> <small>Well, Pres</small></li><li><a href='http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/book-reveals-junk-science-conflicts-of-interest-disease-guidelines-affecting-millions/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Book Reveals Junk Science, Conflicts of Interest, Disease Guidelines Affecting Millions'>Book Reveals Junk Science, Conflicts of Interest, Disease Guidelines Affecting Millions</a> <small> 
There</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Survey Says 20 Percent of Women have a Secret Santa Claus Fantasy</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/survey-says-20-percent-of-women-have-a-secret-santa-claus-fantasy/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/survey-says-20-percent-of-women-have-a-secret-santa-claus-fantasy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:32:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Surveys]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Santa Claus]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.light-of-reason.com/?p=307</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to a study released by the flirty dating website BeNaughty.com, more than one in five women have a secret Santa Claus fantasy. And 1 in 10 wear a Santa costume in the bedroom.
Recent research by the website BeNaughty.com revealed that women find that Santa Claus, the chubby, bearded gift-giver is very sexy. During the [...]


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According</small></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/santa-claus-woman.jpg" alt="" title="sexy santa claus" width="240" height="162" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-309" /></p>
<p>According to a study released by the flirty dating website <a href="http://www.benaughty.com">BeNaughty.com</a>, more than one in five women have a secret Santa Claus fantasy. And 1 in 10 wear a Santa costume in the bedroom.</p>
<p>Recent research by the website BeNaughty.com revealed that women find that Santa Claus, the chubby, bearded gift-giver is very sexy. During the research, more than 1,000 women were asked whether they fancied Santa Claus.</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.light-of-reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/santa-claus.jpg" alt="" title="santa claus" width="240" height="160" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-308" /></p>
<p>According to the study results, northern women were most attracted to Santa Claus, with almost one in three (32%) from Sheffield (in the United Kingdom) and one in three (31%) from Glasgow (in the UK) saying they found him sexy. The BeNaughty.com research also revealed that one in 16 (6%) men had, at one time or another, dressed up as Santa Claus in the bedroom.</p>
<p>Also, men from Cardiff, United Kingdom were the most prolific: more than one in 10 (11%) said<br />
they had dressed as Santa Claus for their partner. And one in 10 (9%) women had worn a sexy Mrs Claus outfit, with one in six (17%) Liverpudlian women saying they had slipped into the kinky red and<br />
white outfit for festive fantasy fun.</p>
<p><strong>Info about the Survey</strong><br />
12,102 female BeNaughty.com members were surveyed through the BeNaughty.com website from 1 - 5 December 2008 and were asked &#8220;Do you find Santa Claus fanciable or sexy?&#8221; 11,009 male and female BeNaughty.com members were also surveyed through the BeNaughty website from 1 - 5 December and were asked &#8220;Have you ever dressed in a Santa Claus or Mrs Santa Claus outfit in the bedroom?&#8221;</p>
<p>The total survey base: 23,111. The survey was conducted in the United Kingdom.</p>
<p>&#8220;Do you find Santa Claus fanciable or sexy?&#8221;<br />
City/town  Women who said yes: %</p>
<p>Birmingham 17<br />
Bradford  8<br />
Bristol   11<br />
Cardiff   23<br />
Coventry  24<br />
Edinburgh 19<br />
Glasgow   31<br />
Leeds 21<br />
Leicester 23<br />
Liverpool 29<br />
London 12<br />
Manchester 20<br />
Newcastle 29<br />
Nottingham27<br />
Sheffield 32<br />
Southampton   18<br />
Sunderland 25</p>
<p>&#8220;Have you ever dressed in a Santa Claus or Mrs Santa Claus outfit in the bedroom?&#8221;</p>
<p>City/town         Men who said yes %         Women who said yes %</p>
<p>Birmingham 10  11<br />
Bradford   4   4<br />
Bristol5   7<br />
Cardiff11  8<br />
Coventry   10  12<br />
Edinburgh  3   10<br />
Glasgow2   6<br />
Leeds  5   10<br />
Leicester  2   9<br />
Liverpool  8   17<br />
London 9   13<br />
Manchester 8   11<br />
Newcastle  4   6<br />
Nottingham 6   8<br />
Sheffield  6   14<br />
Southampton7   5<br />
Sunderland 2   6</p>
<p>BeNaughty is one of seven dating websites operated by EasyDate Ltd, the UK&#8217;s largest biggest online dating company. Launched commercially in the UK in 2002, EasyDate has nearly three million registered users. They cater for three strategic markets of traditional dating, flirty dating and mobile<br />
dating for the social networking community. For more information, please visit http://www.benaughty.com and http://www.easydate.biz</p>
<p><a href="http://technorati.com/claim/n4kzqry3u2" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a></p>


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According</small></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Barack Obama Gets Waxed; Joins Hall of Presidents at San Francisco&#8217;s Wax Museum</title>
		<link>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/barack-obama-gets-waxed-joins-hall-of-presidents-at-san-franciscos-wax-museum/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.light-of-reason.com/archive/barack-obama-gets-waxed-joins-hall-of-presidents-at-san-franciscos-wax-museum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:33:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Editor</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Right around the time that Barack Obama is getting comfy in his new White House digs, he&#8217;ll also be taking up residence a coast away at San Francisco&#8217;s famed Wax Museum at Fisherman&#8217;s Wharf. And, not to be outdone in this election year, joining him will be the &#8220;Secretary of Cool&#8221; and winner in his [...]


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<p>Right around the time that Barack Obama is getting comfy in his new White House digs, he&#8217;ll also be taking up residence a coast away at San Francisco&#8217;s famed <a href="http://www.waxmuseum.com">Wax Museum at Fisherman&#8217;s Wharf</a>. And, not to be outdone in this election year, joining him will be the &#8220;Secretary of Cool&#8221; and winner in his own right, Justin Timberlake, who beat out competitors Dale Earnhardt and Tupac Shakur in an online poll.</p>
<p>Also joining the Wax Museum&#8217;s collection in 2009 are a new &#8220;age-accurate&#8221; Queen Elizabeth and the teen TV sensation Miley &#8220;Hannah Montana&#8221; Cyrus. Earlier this year, a team of Bay Area Celebrity Judges, led by &#8220;Mr. San Francisco Nightlife,&#8221; Harry Denton of &#8220;Starlight Room&#8221; fame, voted to include Mother Theresa, Prince William and Mariah Carey who will round out the new &#8220;cabinet&#8221; for the Wax Museum in 2009.</p>
<p>The new figure of President Obama will take about six months to complete at a cost of between $15,000 &#8212; $40,000, dependent upon clothes, jewelry and other accessories.</p>
<p>The process of creating a wax figure begins with a clay head that is sculpted and utilized to construct a plaster mold. The mold is then filled with a mixture of molten bees wax. As the wax begins to harden, excess wax is poured from the center of the mold, creating a hollow wax sculpture. After removing the plaster mold, medical glass eyes are set in place, along with porcelain teeth. Human hair, including eyebrows and facial hair, are inserted one strand at a time. This process can take up to two months to complete. Layers of translucent paint are applied, creating skin tones. Hands, arms and sometimes entire torsos are also manufactured in wax.</p>
<p>The museum started with 150 life-sized figures in front of black curtains on the first floor and opened as one of the largest wax museums in North America. Now the exhibit includes over 200 figures in elaborately staged scenes, with costumes, props and lighting, carefully constructed to authenticate people at the peak of their fame. Many scenes were designed and sculpted by Thomas Fong&#8217;s son Ronald, who co-directed the family business in partnership with his father from its inception. Over the years, the Fong family has added a collection of gift shops and attractions adjoining the museum to form the Wax Museum Entertainment Complex. The Haunted Gold Mine fun house opened in 1979, and the Medieval Dungeon, a museum of ancient European history, opened in 1989. These attractions were closed in 1998, when the old building was demolished to make way for the construction of the all new, 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building to replace the century old Fisherman&#8217;s Wharf structure and house a bigger and better than ever Wax Museum.</p>
<p>As one of the world&#8217;s largest wax museums, the Wax Museum at Fisherman&#8217;s Wharf continues to show all aspects of life from the ignoble Chamber of Horrors to the inspiring Hall of Religion, including the historic Library of U.S. Presidents, the spectacular Recreation of King Tut&#8217;s Tomb and the unique Palace of Living Art, where the world&#8217;s most famous masters, and their masterpieces come to life through the magic of wax artistry. Among both foreign and domestic visitors, the most popular part of the wax museum tour is The Gallery of Stars. Artisans are busy continually producing a galaxy of brand new stars, such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who will join such classics as Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne.</p>


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