johnhanblog

Obama wins South Carolina in racially charged primary

Barack Obama routed Hillary Clinton in the racially-charged South
Carolina primary Saturday night, regaining campaign momentum in the
prelude to a Feb. 5 coast-to-coast competition for more than 1,600
Democratic National Convention delegates.

# posted by John @ 1/26/2008 07:16:00 PM 0 comments

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/johnDispatch

# posted by John @ 1/25/2008 01:26:00 PM 0 comments

Blacks Stung By Bill Clinton's Remarks

On blogs, Web chats and talk radio across black America, Bill Clinton is
being attacked as never before, reports the Washington Post. 
--------------------
World

Blast Kills Lebanese Terror Investigator

An explosion targeted a U.S. Embassy vehicle today in northern Beirut,
reportedly killing four Lebanese and injuring a local embassy employee
just ahead of a farewell reception for the American ambassador,
officials said.
--------------------
Politics

Clyburn: Obama Is Exciting Black Voters

In an interview with CBSNews.com, South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn says
Bill Clinton should watch his tone when discussing Barack Obama. 
__________________
Health

Study Says Job Stress Strains The Heart

In a British study, stressed workers were up to 68% more likely to get
heart disease than other workers; unhealthy lifestyles were a factor.

# posted by John @ 1/25/2008 12:30:00 PM 0 comments

Clashes As Egypt Tries To Seal Gaza Border

Witnesses say Egyptian police appear to be making an effort to reseal
the nation's border with the Gaza Strip, forming a human chain across
the site of the largest barrier breach, only allowing Gazans to return
home to their choked-off territory. 
--------------------
U.S.

U.S. Teen Arrested For Plane Hijack Plot

A teenage passenger from California was arrested in Nashville for
plotting to hijack a plane from Los Angeles to Nashville, the FBI said.
The teen had handcuffs, rope and duct tape in his bag and was believed
to be traveling alone, the FBI said. 
--------------------
World

Deadly Blast Kills Lebanese Official

An explosion targeted a U.S. Embassy vehicle today in northern Beirut,
reportedly killing four Lebanese and injuring a local embassy employee
just ahead of a farewell reception for the American ambassador,
officials said.
--------------------
Politics

Clinton, Economy At Center Of GOP Debate

Republican presidential contenders depicted Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
as weak on Iraq and certain to raise taxes Thursday night, setting aside
their own campaign debate squabbles long enough to agree that she is
unworthy of the White House.
--------------------
Health

Study Says Job Stress Strains The Heart

In a British study, stressed workers were up to 68% more likely to get
heart disease than other workers; unhealthy lifestyles were a factor. 

# posted by John @ 1/25/2008 11:11:00 AM 0 comments

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is abandoning his bid
for the White House.

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 11:37:00 PM 0 comments

Oil prices ease after higher-than-expected crude and gasoline
inventories reported.

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 11:13:00 AM 0 comments

WASHINGTON - Sales of existing homes fell 2.2% in December, closing out
a horrible year for housing in which sales of single-family homes
plunged by the largest amount in 25 years. The median home price dropped
1.8% for the year, first time that has occurred in four decades.

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 10:22:00 AM 0 comments

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats running Congress and the Bush administration
reached a tentative deal Thursday on $300-$1,200 tax rebates and
business tax cuts to jolt the slumping economy.

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 10:21:00 AM 0 comments

BULLETIN »
Median price of U.S. single-family homes falls in '07 -- first time in
40 years
1/24/2008 10:03:33 AM

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 10:10:00 AM 0 comments

White House, Congressional Democrats reach stimulus deal, AP reports;
Existing home sales down 2.2%, below forecasts, DJ reports.

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 10:07:00 AM 0 comments

Wide-Open Gaza-Egypt Border Angers Israel

Gaza's border with Egypt is still wide open, in spite of Egyptian
promises to reseal it. As thousands of Gazans stock up on supplies,
Israel says, as the residents are getting what they need from Egypt, it
will sever all ties with the territory. 
--------------------
World

Kenya's President, Opposition To Meet

Kenya's president and its main opposition leader were to meet for the
first time since their dispute over a presidential election set off
nationwide violence, and former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said
he would be there as a mediator. 
--------------------
Politics

Surging McCain Faces Conservative Skeptics

Despite a voting record that suggests he should be in conservatives'
good graces, John McCain has strident critics within the conservative
establishment, reports Brian Montopoli. 
--------------------
Health

Bypass Better Than Stents, New Study Says

Bypass surgery remains the best option for heart patients with more than
one clogged artery, according to the first big study to compare bypass
with drug-coated stents. 
____________________
Business

Trader Defrauds French Bank Of $7.14B

France's second largest bank, Societe Generale, has uncovered an
"exceptional" $7.14 billion fraud, all down to one futures trader who
has shaken a financial institution that was already reeling from losses
in the subprime crisis. 
--------------------
Entertainment

Britney Spears A Hot Topic For Shrinks

Britney Spears was a hot topic of conversation at a American
Psychoanalytic Association conference last week. Many object to their
colleagues who give arm chair diagnoses of the pop star to the media.

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 10:05:00 AM 0 comments

BULLETIN
U.S. unemployment claims decline for a fourth straight week
1/24/2008 8:31:55 AM

# posted by John @ 1/24/2008 09:42:00 AM 0 comments

BULLETIN:
Dow industrials erase steep decline, fueled by Citi, J.P. Morgan, GM,
Intel
1/23/2008 2:30:53 PM
More...go to
http://sinoam.blogspot.com
Or
http://jtonline.blogspot.com

# posted by John @ 1/23/2008 02:49:00 PM 0 comments

Crude-oil futures declined sharply on Wednesday, as continuing fears
that an economic recession will slash demand for oil prompted traders to
sell energy futures.

# posted by John @ 1/23/2008 12:22:00 PM 0 comments

Heath Ledger Autopsy Inconclusive

The cause of Heath Ledger's death is still unknown. An autopsy on the
actor was inconclusive, and more tests are needed, the medical
examiner's office said, a day after the 28-year-old actor was found dead
in a Manhattan apartment. 
______________
U.S.

Stocks Sink Again In Early Trading

Stocks tumble after another rocky opening with investors uneasy about
the health of the economy and corporate earnings. Top House leaders will
continue talks with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on a plan to try to
jolt the economy.

--------------------
World

Thousands Break Through Gaza Border

Palestinian gunmen have destroyed most of the Gaza-Egypt border wall,
allowing thousands of Gazans trapped in their territory by a tight
blockade to pour into Egypt to buy food, fuel and other supplies that
have become scarce. 
--------------------
Politics

Obama Distances Self From Indicted Donor

Barack Obama sought to distance himself from a real estate developer
facing federal corruption charges, saying he had no indication of any
problems when he accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions
from Antoin "Tony" Rezko. 
__________
Health

Heart Disease Killing Fewer Americans

Heart disease: It's the No. 1 killer of Americans, but Americans are
getting a lot better at fighting it according to a new study. There have
also been fewer deaths from strokes, Dr. Jon LaPook reports. 
--------------------
Business

Asia Markets Rebound On Fed's Rate Cut

Shares surged in Asian stock markets Wednesday, rebounding on the news
of a rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Investors from Hong Kong to
Tokyo have begun snapping up bargain-priced stock.
--------------------
Opinion

Are McCain's Border Blues Over?

John McCain is still a long way from securing the GOP nomination, but
the results in South Carolina suggest that his immigration record is not
the insurmountable obstacle it appeared to be last year, the Weekly
Standard writes. 

# posted by John @ 1/23/2008 11:54:00 AM 0 comments

MARKETS STILL SHAKY AS INVESTORS WORRY OVER HEALTH OF THE ECONOMY; DOW
DOWN 225 POINTS IN FIRST 10 MINUTES OF TRADING

# posted by John @ 1/23/2008 09:56:00 AM 0 comments

U.S. budget deficit to climb to $250 billion this year, according to the
Congressional Budget Office, AP reports.

# posted by John @ 1/23/2008 09:12:00 AM 0 comments

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/johnDispatch

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 11:00:00 PM 0 comments

NAPLES, Fla. - Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson quit the Republican
presidential race on Tuesday, after a string of poor finishes in early
primary
and caucus states. "Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for president
of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited
from our having made this effort," Thompson said in a statement.

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 03:19:00 PM 0 comments

MIAMI - Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with al-Qaeda to blow up
a radioactive "dirty bomb," was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years and four
months on terrorism conspiracy charges that don't mention those initial
allegations.

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 12:14:00 PM 0 comments

Breaking News

DOW DOWN 440 POINTS, ONE OF THE WORST OPENS ON RECORD FOR U.S. MARKETS

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 10:32:00 AM 0 comments

Rising health care costs put focus on illegal immigrants
---------------------------------------------
As the debate over the residency status of the nation's estimated 12
million illegal immigrants boils, another battle is simmering over what
- if any - benefits they deserve while they're here. Some of the most
heated arguments on the issue focus on health care.

U.S. GI first to die in MRAP attack
---------------------------------------------
A soldier killed over the weekend south of Baghdad was the first
American casualty in a roadside bomb attack on a newly introduced,
heavily armored vehicle, a military spokeswoman said Tuesday. Meanwhile,
a suicide bomber blew wounded 21 people near a high school.

Canada stiffens border checks, lawyers say
---------------------------------------------
Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to get into Canada, as
border agents with better access to American criminal databases are
turning people back for offenses ranging from assault to drunken driving
to shoplifting.

MONEY

Markets this morning: Nikkei nose-dives 5.7%
---------------------------------------------
Hong Kong shares plunged Tuesday, with the benchmark index tumbling as
investors dumped shares on fears a U.S. recession will spark a global
slowdown.

Ford to unveil upgraded '09 hybrid Escape
---------------------------------------------
Ford's 2009 Escape gas-electric hybrid will show improvements in power
and performance, the automaker said Tuesday.

Close to Home: Low-ball offers common in Lincoln, Neb.
---------------------------------------------
The real estate market in Lincoln, Neb., is usually as good or as bad as
the annual harvests of soybean, corn and other crops, which are big
drivers of the local economy. Not last year, says Marcia Weddle, an
agent at Century 21 Home & Farm Realty.

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 10:14:00 AM 0 comments

Pre-open moves
The Federal Reserve cut its overnight lending rate by 75 basis points to
3.50% after a rout on global share markets, but stock futures still
signaled sizable declines for U.S. shares.

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 09:56:00 AM 0 comments

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street plunged at the opening of trading Tuesday,
propelling the Dow Jones industrials down more than 400 points after an
interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve failed to assuage investors
fearing a recession in the United States.

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 09:49:00 AM 0 comments

The Fed, confronted with recession fears, cut a key interest rate by
three-quarters of a percentage point today.

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 09:45:00 AM 0 comments

BULLETIN:
Hong Kong's H-shares index down 10.4% to 12,119.80
1/21/2008 11:06:43 PM

# posted by John @ 1/22/2008 09:42:00 AM 0 comments

Hundreds crowded Ebenezer Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for the U.S.
holiday that celebrates the slain civil rights leader and his legacy of
battling intolerance, bigotry and war.
--------------------
U.S.

On King Drive, A Dream Deferred

At least 770 roads, boulevards and avenues bear his name, with most
running through minority communities. Faced with the stigma of poverty,
these areas challenge King's dream of economic and racial equality. 
--------------------
World

Gaza City Awakes To No Food, No Gas

Gaza City awoke Monday to shuttered bread shops and gas stations,
prompting officials to warn of a possible humanitarian crisis as Israel
refused to reopen crossings, in its effort to stop Palestinian rocket
fire. 
--------------------
Politics

Early Voters Key To Victory In Florida

Florida's presidential primaries could almost be decided by the time
most polling places open next week. That's because early voting started
Jan. 14 and absentee ballots started hitting the mail last month. 
-------------------
Health

The Complex Face Of Abortion

For many Americans, the face of abortion is a frightened teenager,
nervously choosing to terminate an unexpected pregnancy. The numbers
tell a far more complex story in which financial stress often plays a
pivotal role.
--------------------
SciTech

SSDs, The Death Knell Of Hard Drives?

It's too early to declare the computer hard drive obsolete. But thanks
to the shrinking size of flash memory chips, it is now possible to make
full-feature laptops that store their data and programs on "solid-state
drives," or SSDs. 
--------------------
Business

Pessimism Over U.S. Sweeps World Markets

Overseas investors, gripped by fears of a U.S. recession, dumped shares
over skepticism that an economic stimulus plan President Bush announced
last week would shore up an economy battered by problems in its housing
and credit markets.
--------------------
Opinion

MLK Day: Is America Changed?

It's the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and people are asking if
America has changed since his tragic death in 1968?

# posted by John @ 1/21/2008 04:29:00 PM 0 comments

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/johnDispatch

# posted by John @ 1/21/2008 02:41:00 PM 0 comments

BULLETIN:
British stocks suffer worst one-day performance since Sept. 11 attacks
1/21/2008 11:53:48 AM

# posted by John @ 1/21/2008 01:37:00 PM 0 comments

Asian Markets Tumble, Doubt "Stimulus"

Stock markets across most of Asia fell Monday following declines on Wall
Street last week amid investor pessimism over the U.S. government's
stimulus plan to prevent a recession. 
__________________
U.S.

On King Drive, A Dream Deferred

At least 770 roads, boulevards and avenues bear his name, with most
running through minority communities. Faced with the stigma of poverty,
these areas challenge King's dream of economic and racial equality. 

--------------------
World

Gaza City Awakes To No Food, No Gas

Gaza City awoke Monday to shuttered bread shops and gas stations,
prompting officials to warn of a possible humanitarian crisis as Israel
refused to reopen crossings, in its effort to stop Palestinian rocket
fire. 

--------------------
Politics

Analysis: Campaign '08, Elementary So Far

The 2008 campaign has been full of surprises but the course of events is
really just business as usual 
________________
Health

The Complex Face Of Abortion

For many Americans, the face of abortion is a frightened teenager,
nervously choosing to terminate an unexpected pregnancy. The numbers
tell a far more complex story in which financial stress often plays a
pivotal role. 

# posted by John @ 1/21/2008 10:38:00 AM 0 comments

Fresh Off Win, Clinton Gears Up For S.C.

Democrats geared up for next weekend's primary in South Carolina. As
Hillary Clinton came off her win the Nevada caucuses, Barack Obama said
the outcome of S.C. was "absolutely critical."

U.S.

Gov't Identifies Agent Killed At Border

A U.S. Border Patrol agent killed after being struck by a fleeing
vehicle along the border in southeastern California was identified as a
32-year-old husband and father of two.
_______________
Politics

McCain Defeats Huckabee, Wins S.C. Primary

John McCain won the South Carolina Republican primary Saturday, narrowly
defeating Mike Huckabee in the state that dealt a huge blow to his
presidential hopes in 2000. 
--------------------
Health

Genes Stacked Against Weight Loss?

Thousands of genes affect weight and many keep weight on, at least in
mice, say experts studying mice at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. 

SciTech

SSDs, The Death Knell Of Hard Drives?

It's too early to declare the computer hard drive obsolete. But thanks
to the shrinking size of flash memory chips, it is now possible to make
full-feature laptops that store their data and programs on "solid-state
drives," or SSDs. More...

--------------------
Business

One More Year To Sell "01.20.09"

A Vermont pipe carver angry at President Bush has built a million-dollar
business around the digits "01.20.09" - the last day of the current
administration. Now the president's final year means one year left for
the booming business. 

# posted by John @ 1/20/2008 07:59:00 PM 0 comments

Fresh Off Win, Clinton Gears Up For S.C.

Democrats geared up for next weekend's primary in South Carolina. As
Hillary Clinton came off her win the Nevada caucuses, Barack Obama said
the outcome of S.C. was "absolutely critical."

U.S.

Gov't Identifies Agent Killed At Border

A U.S. Border Patrol agent killed after being struck by a fleeing
vehicle along the border in southeastern California was identified as a
32-year-old husband and father of two.
_______________
Politics

McCain Defeats Huckabee, Wins S.C. Primary

John McCain won the South Carolina Republican primary Saturday, narrowly
defeating Mike Huckabee in the state that dealt a huge blow to his
presidential hopes in 2000. 
--------------------
Health

Genes Stacked Against Weight Loss?

Thousands of genes affect weight and many keep weight on, at least in
mice, say experts studying mice at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. 

SciTech

SSDs, The Death Knell Of Hard Drives?

It's too early to declare the computer hard drive obsolete. But thanks
to the shrinking size of flash memory chips, it is now possible to make
full-feature laptops that store their data and programs on "solid-state
drives," or SSDs. More...

--------------------
Business

One More Year To Sell "01.20.09"

A Vermont pipe carver angry at President Bush has built a million-dollar
business around the digits "01.20.09" - the last day of the current
administration. Now the president's final year means one year left for
the booming business. 

# posted by John @ 1/20/2008 07:58:00 PM 0 comments