Legalize It!

In California:

A California voter initiative that would legalize possession and sale of marijuana has qualified for the November ballot, state election officials said on Wednesday, in what supporters called a "watershed moment" for their cause.

This would be a huge victory for supporters of the legalization of marijuana. With medical marijuana already legal, legalization is the next step. However, it would be a huge step for supporters nationwide and would provide a new benchmark for marijuana reform.

French Failure

France backed off initiative to introduce a carbon tax on domestic polluters:

"We have to amplify measures that help reinforce the competitiveness of our economy," Mr Fillon was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
"In that spirit, I would like to indicate that the decisions we are going to take regarding sustainable development have to be better coordinated with all European countries, so as not to widen our gap in competitiveness with our neighbour Germany."

Pretty disappointing that they didn't follow up on this. It would have been a significant move by one of the largest countries in the world and would send a message to the rest of the world that they are serious about the environment. It's very disappointing that they did not stand up for this, but only understandable because it would probably affect their economy. I hope that they can find a way to better institute this type of legislation that better targets the problem.

Biden Bomb

Joe Biden dropped an F-Bomb when introducing the President. It was funny more than anything else.

Healthcare Debate Starts

Now that the bill is passed, the debate has begun over how it will affect Americans. Democrats and Republicans are taking their stances:

"If you have health insurance, this reform just gave you more control by reining in the worst excesses and abuses of the insurance industry with some of the toughest consumer protections this country has ever known -- so that you are actually getting what you pay for," Obama said.

Republicans:

"His health-care bill is unhealthy for America," said Mitt Romney, a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012. "It raises taxes, slashes the more private side of Medicare, installs price controls, and puts a new federal bureaucracy in charge of healthcare."

I'm not too happy about the tax increases myself, but I think we need to wait and see how it is implemented to truly see how it affects the country. Tort reform was a major issue that was not addressed.

Google Moves China Operations

Moving to Hong Kong will allow for more freedom, but the government will continue to censor certain sensitive issues. It should be a positive step, but China's government policies will have to change before there is more freedom in the far eastern power.

Our President in all his Glory

I'm still having trouble learning what exactly was accomplished. This sums up my thoughts:

Many Americans, particularly those with private insurance from their employers, remained in the dark about whether the overhaul would help or hurt — even the grandson of President Harry Truman, who fought for universal health care more than a half century ago.

"How much damage is this going to do? How good a bill is this going to be?" said Clifton Truman Daniel, public relations director at the Harry S Truman College in Chicago. "My assumption is that it will improve things, but who knows?"

I've said all along that the Obama administration had not done a satisfactory job of making known what was happening. I have no idea how things have changed. Everyone having health insurance seems nice, but how does it affect me?

We're Back!

The Obamacrats passed the Healthcare Reform Bill:

I'm watching Obama give his address on the matter right now. I'll post the video later.

Religion Kills

A stampede at a Hindu temple in Northern Uttar Pradesh has caused the deaths of at least 63 people:

Police in India have lodged a case of criminal negligence against the managers of a Hindu temple where at least 63 people died in a stampede.

Dozens more were injured when the gate of the temple in northern Uttar Pradesh collapsed leading to a stampede.

All of the dead identified so far are women and children, police say. The temple gate was still being built.

Here's CNN's coverage of the incident:

This is not the first time that there's been a stampede at a temple in India. Just unfortunate that this kind of thing continues to happen.

Iraqi Election

Early voting in Iraq's parliamentary elections:

Sounds like democracy is exciting.

Doing Nothing

Since I'm doing nothing this week, I will probably update less, even though it seems like there's a lot going on. That's a lie. This post is going to make me post more. Updates later. Chile situation especially.

Another Earthquake: Chile

Another Earthquake has struck, this time in Chile:

A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile early Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, killing at least 147 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the entire Pacific basin.

I'll post if there is an update on the tsunami...Tragic though.

Scott Brown: Renegade Senator

Scott Brown is being vilified by his fellow republicans for voting for the Jobs Bill. Here's what one critic had to say:

"I've taken three votes," Brown said with exasperation. "And to say I've sold out any particular party or interest group, I think, is certainly unfair."

Brown has responded:

"I've taken three votes," Brown said with exasperation. "And to say I've sold out any particular party or interest group, I think, is certainly unfair."

He's getting skewered by conservatives for this, but I personally didn't expect him to continue to crusade on what he was elected on. He's making decisions based on what he promised; to help Massachusetts. I think he's doing a very good job right now.

ObamaCare Gaining Momentum

Someone watch this and explain it to me, I can't understand anything right now.

Rain Down: Floods in Madeira

The Island has been rocked by flash floods:

The Portuguese government meanwhile has declared three days of mourning after at least 42 people died in the floods.

Crews continues to try and clear things up:

Specialist army teams are working to get through to communities that remain cut off, with roads blocked and bridges collapsed.
Military personnel and civilian emergency teams have been clearing huge piles of rocks from roads and pumping mud and water out of shops and houses.

While people have been told to evacuate:

Dozens of people in Madeira have been ordered to evacuate their homes, amid fears of fresh landslides following deadly floods on the island.

It's not a very good situation on the Portuguese Island.

Credit Crunch

The new laws on credit go into effect on Monday. The Houston Chronicle highlights the changes.

Payment Timing:

Credit card companies must send you a statement at least 21 days before the payment due date. And under the newly effective portions of the law, when payments are for more than the minimum amount due, the additional money must be applied first to the highest-rate balance.

Payment Protection:

The new law requires credit card companies to process payments on the same day they are received. Therefore, payments are considered on time if they are received on the due date or the following day if the company was closed on the due date. This also extends to payments made on or before the due date at a local branch.

Double Billing:

It's no longer legal for credit card companies to charge interest twice on the same balance by collecting finance charges on current and previous balances.

Rate Increases:

redit card promotional rates must be for at least six months. In general, rates on existing balances cannot be raised unless your payment is more than 60 days late.

If you are more than 60 days late and your interest rate goes up as a result, you can get the original rate restored if you make six consecutive months of on-time payments.

Card issuers can raise rates on new balances, but they now must give you 45 days notice, an increase from 15 days.

If you decline to accept the rate hike, you will no longer be able to use the card to make new purchases. You will have to pay off the balance on the card at the old rate and apply for a new card when it's paid off.

Credit Limits:

Credit issuers can no longer automatically enroll you in over-the-limit protection programs that charge fees for letting you borrow more than you have been approved to borrow.

So when a purchase exceeds your credit limit, your card will be declined. As embarrassing as that may be while you are standing at a cash register, it might keep you from spending more with a credit card than you can afford to pay back.

Credit card issuers do have the option of letting you borrow more than your credit limit in exchange for a fee, but the new law only allows them to charge only one over-the-limit fee in a billing cycle.

If you choose to use this option, you need to know how much you'll have to pay for that service. It won't come cheap.

Seems like most of these are to protect the consumer.