How Americans Game the $200 Billion-a-Year 'Disability-Industrial Complex'

How Americans Game the $200 Billion-a-Year 'Disability-Industrial Complex'


How Americans Game the $200 Billion-a-Year 'Disability-Industrial Complex'

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:27 PM PDT

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that America's health-care entitlements—Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare—are the biggest drivers of our exploding federal debt. What you may not know is that there is a fourth program, that pays disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, that is also growing at an alarming pace. While part of that growth can be explained by the aging of the U.S. population, the largest factor in the proliferation of disability spending comes from the fact that Congress has dramatically expanded the definition of who gets called "disabled." As a result, many able-bodied Americans have been granted government paychecks for life, crowding out our ability to direct needed resources to the genuinely infirm.

China's bird flu outbreak not cause for panic: WHO

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:05 PM PDT

A boy looks at pigeons at a public park in People Square, downtown ShanghaiBy Michael Martina BEIJING (Reuters) - A strain of bird flu that has been found in humans for the first time in eastern China is not a cause for panic, the World Health Organization said on Monday, as the number of people infected rose to 21, with six deaths. The WHO praised China for mobilizing resources nationwide to combat the H7N9 flu strain by culling tens of thousands of birds and monitoring hundreds of people close to those infected. "So far, we really only have sporadic cases of a rare disease, and perhaps it will remain that way. ...


Merkel tells Putin to give NGOs a chance

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:16 PM PDT

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, attend the opening of the Hannover Fair at the Congress Center in Hannover, Germany, Sunday April 7, 2013. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Presidential Press Service)HANNOVER, Germany (AP) — Germany's leader has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Kremlin needs to encourage civil society as well as push for technological modernization.


China's bird flu outbreak not cause for panic: WHO

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:05 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - A strain of bird flu that has been found in humans for the first time in eastern China is not a cause for panic, the World Health Organization said on Monday, as the number of people infected rose to 21, with six deaths.

VIDEO: Female wrestlers fighting prejudice

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:41 PM PDT

The ricefields festival in Senegal's Diembereng is a rare opportunity for women to try their hand at wrestling, but those who do still face prejudice.

Planets Outside Of Our Solar System

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:03 PM PDT

NASA And MIT Mission Will Search For Habitable Planets

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:03 PM PDT

NASA announced on Friday that it will be granting $200 million in funding to MIT's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The goals of TESS are straightforward, but hard to do: they'll be widening by a huge order of magnitude the search for planets outside our solar system.

SKorea: 'Indication' NKorea prepping for nuke test

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:17 PM PDT

A South Korean soldier closes a military gate in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 7, 2013. A top South Korean national security official said Sunday that North Korea may be setting the stage for a missile test or another provocative act with its warning that it soon will be unable to guarantee diplomats' safety in Pyongyang. But he added that the North's clearest objective is to extract concessions from Washington and Seoul. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's point man on North Korea said Monday there is an "indication" that Pyongyang is preparing for a fourth nuclear test, a day after another Seoul official said a Pyongyang missile test may be in the works.


Mark Jacobs Talks Camelot Unchained, Kickstarter

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:53 PM PDT

Camelot Unchained, the upcoming RvR-centric MMORPG from Mark Jacobs and City State Entertainment, could be the spiritual successor to the classic Dark Age of Camelot.  We had a chance to talk to CSE co-founder Mark Jacobs and ask a few questions regarding the game and the decision to Kickstarter the project.

North Korea may be preparing new nuclear test: Seoul

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:48 PM PDT

North Korean soldiers take part in a shooting drill in an unknown locationBy Ju-min Park and Ben Blanchard SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) - Movement around an atomic test site in North Korea indicates the reclusive state may stage another nuclear test, a South Korean minister said on Monday, an act that would further drive up tensions on the Korean peninsula. The comments, made in response to a newspaper report, followed unusually harsh rebukes of North Korea at the weekend by China, Pyongyang's sole diplomatic and financial ally. Speculation had been building that North Korea might carry out a missile test in the near future. ...


WHO talks with China on sending bird flu team

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:44 PM PDT

A photographer takes a photo of a joint press conference by Chinese health officials and World Health Organization representatives, from left, Deng Haihua, spokesman for China's Commission of Health and Family Planning, Feng Zhijian, head of the emergency office of China's Disease Control and Prevention Center or CDC, Liang Wannian head of a Chinese government office in charge of H7N9 bird flu prevention control, Michael O'Leary, head of the WHO's office in China, and Sirenda Vong, the WHO's Emerging Infectious Diseases expert, in Beijing, China, Monday, April 8, 2013. The World Health Organization is talking with the Chinese government about sending international experts to China to help investigate a new bird flu strain that has killed six. Most of the 21 people stricken so far got severely ill. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)BEIJING (AP) — The World Health Organization is talking with the Chinese government about sending international experts to China to help investigate a new bird flu strain that has sickened at least 21 people, killing six of them.


Rogue Wave Capsizes Trans-Atlantic Ocean Rowers

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:28 PM PDT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard rescue crews combined efforts Saturday with the 800-foot Panamanian flag automobile carrier, Heijin, and the 600-foot Russian flag chemical-tank ship, Tanais Leader, to rescue four men attempting to row across the Atlantic Ocean from Senegal to Florida .

Chinese Stocks Shrug Off Bird Flu As PLA Officer Blames U.S. Military

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:25 PM PDT

China's outbreak of H7N9, a type of bird flu, has killed 6 out of 21 confirmed human cases and led to a mass cull of poultry and closure of wet markets in Shanghai and other cities. The spread of a lethal infectious disease is very bad for business, as East Asia discovered in 2003 during the SARS outbreak. But Chinese investors aren't running for the exits, not yet. Shares in Shanghai opened down 2% Monday after a two-day holiday last week but recovered fairly quickly. A similar pattern was seen in Hong Kong, which also saw a sell-off last Friday, including a dip in airline stocks. Shanghai's index is down 0.7%, while the Hang Seng closed midday slightly higher.

10 Leadership Lessons I Wish I Learned In My 20's

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:07 PM PDT

All of us would do well with a second bite at the apple, another chance to go back and do it all over again.  Our mistakes, as much as our successes, define us and can help steer us forward today.  With this in mind, here are 10 lessons learned over the last 20 years of doing business that are now part of my thinking.  Or put another way . . .  during the interview question where they ask you "what is your management or leadership philosophy?" Well, here it is. [View the downloadable slideshow here] 1. Run With Blinders On We spend a lot of time wondering what is happening over there in the organization. "What are they doing over there?  What is that group doing?  Wait, why did they get that project? "  At best this is wasted energy, and at worst a real distraction that keeps you from being fabulous you.  It wasn't until my mid 30s that someone close to me gave me this advice.  Their message was surprisingly simple: run like no one else matters.

Flo Takes A Back Seat In A New Campaign From Progressive

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:07 PM PDT

Flo's Superstore has an "Out to Lunch" sign on its door.

Can the American Dream Be Franchised?

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:00 PM PDT

The American dream for many people is to run their own company. As a result, they mistakenly pursue their hobby as their business idea. Unfortunately, very few people can make a living from their favorite interest. The worst reply when an entrepreneur is asked why they want to start a restaurant is "Well, I love to eat out and I always wanted to own one." This is one reason why so many restaurants close within a year of opening. Liking an area of business and having the experience to run it is two different things.

Grad Schools See Drop in Interest From Abroad

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:27 PM PDT

Applications from Chinese citizens to U.S. graduate schools declined 5% for the coming academic year amid worries about unstable funding for science programs and tight immigration policies.

WikiLeaks' "PLUS D" Aims To Digitize America's Secret Diplomatic History

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 08:55 PM PDT

Not so long ago, WikiLeaks represented the world's most radical group of investigative journalists. Lately, Julian Assange's organization has been acting more like radical librarians.

Opposition holds big rally in Venezuelan capital

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 08:33 PM PDT

CARACAS (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan opposition supporters rallied in a staunchly pro-government part of the capital on Sunday, answering a call by their candidate Henrique Capriles and showing strength a week before the presidential election.

N Korea prepares for 'fourth nuclear test'

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:47 PM PDT

S Korea official says there are "signs" of preparations as intelligence reports show stepped up activity at atomic site.

Afghan Army Learning to Fight on Its Own

Afghan Army Learning to Fight on Its Own


Afghan Army Learning to Fight on Its Own

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 12:39 PM PDT

On a recent mission, a unit of the Afghan National Army gave some clues to how prepared it is to fight the Taliban after American forces are gone.



Colombian FARC leader Catatumbo joins peace talks in Havana

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 12:33 PM PDT

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian rebel leader Pablo Catatumbo has joined the team of FARC negotiators hammering out a peace deal in Havana, a move that could help the Marxist group garner more support from low-ranking guerrillas to end the country's five-decade conflict.

The Renaissance Street Singers Perform Sacred Songs in Secular Spots

Posted: 06 Apr 2013 05:23 PM PDT

The Renaissance Street Singers, founded in 1973, perform 15th- and 16th-century hymns, psalms, and other sacred music in a variety of public spaces in New York.

Montenegro votes in presidential election

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:45 AM PDT

Incumbent Vujanovic holds lead in opinion polls going into election day, as statehood issue dominates voter concerns.

Lilly Pulitzer, Socialite Turned Designer, Dies at 81

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:36 AM PDT

Ms. Pulitzer, whose tropical print dresses became a fashion classic, got her start in 1959 by spilling orange juice on her clothes.

Nigeria Delta militants kill 12 police in boat ambush

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:32 AM PDT

YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian militants have ambushed a police boat in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, killing 12 police officers, authorities said on Sunday.

Rocket fired from Gaza strikes southern Israel: police

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:28 AM PDT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck southern Israel on Sunday, causing no damage or injuries, a police spokesman said.

Portugal to cut spending after court ruling

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 11:47 AM PDT

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's government will cut spending to meet targets agreed with its lenders after a court overturned key austerity measures, Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho said on Sunday.

The Caucus: White House Pressures G.O.P. on Gun Control

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:48 AM PDT

The White House says a threatened filibuster by Republicans on gun control was an affront to the families of the victims in the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Kerry meets Abbas in US talks push

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 12:08 PM PDT

US secretary of state meets Palestinian president in Ramallah, and is due to hold talks with Israeli PM.

Croatians protest against Cyrillic signs

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT

Tens of thousands take to the streets over plans to introduce alphabet from town ravaged by Serb rebels in the 1990s.

Gun charges in dissident inquiry

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 01:32 AM PDT

Two men, aged 32 and 24, are charged with possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity.

ArtsBeat: ‘Evil Dead’ Sets Pace at Busy Movie Theaters

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT

The horror movie, which cost about $17 million to produce, took in a better-than-expected $26 million over the weekend.

Fashion Designer Lilly Pulitzer Dies at 81

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT

Lilly Pulitzer, a Palm Beach socialite turned designer whose tropical print dresses became a sensation in the 1960s and later a fashion classic, died Sunday. She was 81.

QPR 1-1 Wigan

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:47 AM PDT

Shaun Maloney's 94th-minute free-kick denies 10-man QPR what would have been a vital win at the bottom of the table.

Osborne: I'm in tune on welfare

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:23 AM PDT

Chancellor George Osborne says he is "in tune" with "the great majority of the country" on changes to welfare.

Pope installed as bishop of Rome, appeals to lapsed faithful

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:21 AM PDT

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis was formally installed as bishop of Rome on Sunday and he urged lapsed Catholics not to be afraid to return to God.

Sudan officers get jail terms for alleged coup attempt

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 09:49 AM PDT

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A Sudanese court sentenced nine army officers to prison terms of up to five years on Sunday for their role in an alleged coup attempt against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, a lawyer said.

Study Points to New Culprit in Heart Disease

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:01 AM PDT

Research showed that the association between red meat and heart disease risk might be related not just to fat but to bacteria that thrive on a component of red meat.

Clashes after funeral of Egypt Copts

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 10:06 AM PDT

Violence breaks out at funeral of four Coptic Christians killed in sectarian clashes earlier this week.