- US Homeless Population Drops:
The number of homeless people living on the streets and in shelters dropped by 30 percent between 2005 and 2007, according to Bush administration officials and statistics compiled by local counts. The drop is attributed to a "housing first" strategy. The plan emphasizes placing the chronically homeless in permanent shelters to stop the cycle of emergency shelters, hospitals, and the streets. The decline is the most significant officials have seen in years. - Internet Censored For Games:
Journalists will not have uncensored access to the Internet during the Olympics, according to officials. Sites related to human rights and the group Falun Gong will be blocked. When China bid for the Games, they said journalists would be free to report, and blocking the "sensitive" sites does not go back on the pledge in their minds. "We will provide reporters with sufficient Internet access." - Bush Signs Housing Rescue:
President Bush signed a housing rescue package into law today that, in addition to protecting mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, includes $4 billion in grants to states to buy and repair foreclosed homes to "flip" them for profit and a fund to help homeowners get more affordable mortgages. The nation as a whole is $12 trillion in mortgage debt.
Graeme Black
Paul Smith
Nike
China seems determined to test every last bit of international patience and tolerance with these games - they better hope things go off perfectly.
1The permanent shelters are such a great idea. I know that for some homeless people not having a mailing address can be a huge hurdle to finding a job.
2I'm going stop paying for my student loans, and wait for the government to bail me out. I can buy a lot of toys for what I'm spending on that loan repayment.
3UnDave35 ---let me know how that works for you. I will be writing a letter to see if anyone will respond. I think we should start a movement.
4I don't think letter writing will do it: you've got to find a way to tie your bills to the next scandal or bank failure in the financial market. Be creative!
5Ugh, China is unbelievably predictable at times. I love how people came and attacked the thread on Chinese happiness saying anyone who didn't believe the Chinese were happy were so beyond the times. That the Chinese gov. isn't oppressive anymore. Sheesh.
6Thanks stephley ---I will start to look at some ties and bind the plight of student loans to that.
7The homelessness thing is good.
I've read that the housing crisis is actually good for the homeless, because thanks to the large rate of foreclosures and the poor market, shelters and charitable groups are able to purchase more housing they can use than before.
So I suppose there really is a silver lining for everything.
8Our homeless population is probably dropping because Bob Novak is running them over.
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10I think Novak's brain tumor is so sad. Did anyone hear whether or not that had anything to do with the accident? Last I heard they were still trying to figure out if the two were related.
11Good to hear about this homeless thing and also about this great new food source "Soylent Green". Things are looking up!
12I still want to know who had the brilliant idea of having the games in China to begin with. One could go on and on about the human rights violations in China, the list would run on for miles. However, aside from that what about the air quality! Why are we even subjecting out athletes to that! It seems more like a punishment than an honor. I have been to China and on one particular day we were trying to take a group picture and when the picture came out you could see all of the pollution in the air. Just seems like a bad idea all around.
13Did China simply pull a fast one on the Olympic Committe? or Did the Olympic Committee truly believe the promises of openness cleaniness etc would be met?
14Even this week, the IOC hasinsisted that in the long run, the attention focused on China will help improve things. They keep saying things like China operates on a different timetable than the rest of the world.
15It seems like a huge mistake to me! But, I'm not a IOC head honcho, so they didn't ask me what I thought!
16Though the homeless population might be dropping, the number of homeless people in our own capital is absolutely appalling.
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