BULLY BOY
PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID
TABLE
PRINCESS BARRY O IS PLANNING HER OWN GANG OF SIX. AS SHE TOLD THESE REPORTERS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AT CLUB TUSH, "SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN AND HOLLA' BACK, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?"
AS A RESULT, PRINCESS BARRY INTENDS TO TURN HER FAN CLUB INTO AN OFFICE 'FOR PROFIT FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS' NON-PROFIT "OTHERWISE YOU KNOW BOBBY GIBBS IS GOING TO BE DOING THE POCKET DANCE EVERY TIME WE GO TO I-HOP AFTER A NIGHT OF CLUB HOPPING. 'IS MY PRETEND WALLET IN THIS POCKET? NO. MAYBE IT'S IN MY COAT POCKET? LET ME CHECK.' HE'LL KEEP DIGGING AND DIGGING UNTIL SOMEONE FINALLY PICKS UP THE CHECK. BOY BE BROKE ASS. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO PARTY, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DOUGH COMING IN, YOU FEEL ME?"
AND THAT'S WHY HIS NON-CHARITY FAN CLUB WILL NOW BE TAKING CORPORATE DOLLARS.
"PEOPLE WORRY THAT THIS WILL INFLUENCE ME OR CHANGE THE WAY I DO BUSINESS," PRINCESS BARRY SAID SIPPING ON A FUZZY NAVEL. "I TELL THEM, 'DO YOU EVEN KNOW ME A LITTLE? I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A WHORE FOR MONEY."
FROM THE TCI WIRE:
In yesterday's snapshot, we noted the development regarding burn pits. The Veterans Administration explains:
On Jan. 10, 2013, President Obama signed a new law
(218 KB, PDF) requiring VA to establish a burn pits registry for
Veterans who may have been exposed to burn pits in Iraq or Afghanistan.
VA will announce how to sign up once the registry is available.
The
new registry will enhance VA's ability to monitor the effects of
exposure and keep Veterans informed about studies and treatments.
Additionally, VA is conducting studies on possible health effects.
Stony
Brook University in Stony Brook, New York is gearing up to host a
symposium on the issue. This will be their second one, their 2nd Annual
Scientific Symposium on Lung Health after Deployment to Iraq &
Afghanistan. The symposium will take place March 4th which isn't that
far away. If you'd like to register to attend, you can click here for the registration info if you're doing it by mail or by fax as well as a registration link if you'd like to register online.
Rosie Lopez-Torres is the executive director of BurnPits 360.
Her husband is Iraq War veteran Captain Leroy Torres who left the US in
strong health and had it destroyed by burn pits in Iraq. Burn Pit 360
(and the Torres family) have worked very hard on lobbying for a National
Registry. In fact, it's their first listed goal.
To
maintain a National Registry that will allow the individuals affected
to self report their data online. To identify the need for a
longitudinal study, to prove a medical, scientific, and legal
correlation between the toxic chemicals detected and the individuals
exposed.
To
Establish an alliance of veteran service organizations, health care
providers, legislators, and government organizations to allow for the
strategic development of a quality specialized health care model
specific to toxic environmental exposures that will provide a lifetime
continuum of care.
To
Facilitate resources to thousands of Reservists, Service Members,
Veterans, and their Families through outreach initiatives encompassed
around linking the services requested on the registry to services
available within their community.
Burn
Pit 360 is among the groups that can look with satisfaction at the Burn
Pit Registry becoming a reality because they worked very hard to help
matke that happen.
Yesterday's snapshot also applauded Senator Mark Udall of Colorado and had a press release from his office. I AM AN IDIOT.
That was Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico. (The Senators Udall are
cousins -- that does not excuse my mistake, but is offered in case
anyone's wondering about two senators with the same last name.) My
apologies for my very stupid error and we'll repost the press release
from Senator Tom Udall's office:
WASHINGTON
- U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) announced that
today President Obama signed their bill to establish a registry of
service members and veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals and
fumes from open-air burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan into law.
"Today we celebrate the conclusion of our bipartisan effort to improve the health and well-being of our veterans," Udall said, "This is a victory for our men and women in uniform across the globe, and I am proud to say it was made possible by the strong advocacy of Master Sergeant Jessey and Maria Baca of New Mexico," Udall said. "Just as our veterans have answered the call of duty for our country, we have answered their call for better information and today brings us closer to insuring this special population receives the care and treatment they deserve."
Udall and Corker's Burn Pits Registry Act was included as part of a larger veterans package, S. 3202, the "Dignified Burial and Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012," which passed the Senate and House in late December 2012.
The bill will create a registry similar to the Agent Orange and Gulf War registries to help patients, doctors and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determine to what extent air pollution caused by open air burn pits has led to medical diseases among service members.
In 2011, Udall and Corker introduced S, 1798, the Burn Pits Registry Act, with cosponsors Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.).
All five members of New Mexico's congressional delegation also supported the measure in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Udall began work on this legislation after meeting MSgt Jessey Baca and his wife Maria of Albuquerque, who detailed Jessey's battle with cancer, chronic bronchiolitis, chemical induced asthma, brain lesions, TBI, PTSD and numerous other ailments believed to have been caused by exposure to burn pits in Iraq.
Earlier this year, Udall testified before a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on the legislation and mentioned the work of the Bacas, who had traveled from New Mexico to attend the hearing. Video of the Senator Udall testifying before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee is available here and a photo of Udall with the Bacas here.
As early as 2002, U.S. military installations in Afghanistan and Iraq began to rely on open-air burn pits to dispose of waste materials. The U.S. Department of Defense and numerous contractors made frequent use of burn pits at a number of bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Department of the Army, Department of the Air Force and the American Lung Association have confirmed the dangers posed by burn pits, and veterans and their families have reached out to Congress for action.
Creating a burn pits registry was supported by numerous groups, including Burn Pits 360, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Association of the U.S. Navy, Retired Enlisted Association, the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees and the National Military Family Association.
"Today we celebrate the conclusion of our bipartisan effort to improve the health and well-being of our veterans," Udall said, "This is a victory for our men and women in uniform across the globe, and I am proud to say it was made possible by the strong advocacy of Master Sergeant Jessey and Maria Baca of New Mexico," Udall said. "Just as our veterans have answered the call of duty for our country, we have answered their call for better information and today brings us closer to insuring this special population receives the care and treatment they deserve."
Udall and Corker's Burn Pits Registry Act was included as part of a larger veterans package, S. 3202, the "Dignified Burial and Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012," which passed the Senate and House in late December 2012.
The bill will create a registry similar to the Agent Orange and Gulf War registries to help patients, doctors and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determine to what extent air pollution caused by open air burn pits has led to medical diseases among service members.
In 2011, Udall and Corker introduced S, 1798, the Burn Pits Registry Act, with cosponsors Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.).
All five members of New Mexico's congressional delegation also supported the measure in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Udall began work on this legislation after meeting MSgt Jessey Baca and his wife Maria of Albuquerque, who detailed Jessey's battle with cancer, chronic bronchiolitis, chemical induced asthma, brain lesions, TBI, PTSD and numerous other ailments believed to have been caused by exposure to burn pits in Iraq.
Earlier this year, Udall testified before a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on the legislation and mentioned the work of the Bacas, who had traveled from New Mexico to attend the hearing. Video of the Senator Udall testifying before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee is available here and a photo of Udall with the Bacas here.
As early as 2002, U.S. military installations in Afghanistan and Iraq began to rely on open-air burn pits to dispose of waste materials. The U.S. Department of Defense and numerous contractors made frequent use of burn pits at a number of bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Department of the Army, Department of the Air Force and the American Lung Association have confirmed the dangers posed by burn pits, and veterans and their families have reached out to Congress for action.
Creating a burn pits registry was supported by numerous groups, including Burn Pits 360, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Association of the U.S. Navy, Retired Enlisted Association, the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees and the National Military Family Association.
Summary of the Open Burn Pits Registry:
- Establish and maintain an open burn pit registry for those individuals who may have been exposed during their military service;
- Include information in this registry that the Secretary of the VA determines applicable to possible health effects of this exposure;
- Develop a public information campaign to inform individuals about the registry; and
- Periodically notify members of the registry of significant developments associated with burn pit exposure.
Timeline of the Open Burn Pits Registry:
- November 3, 2011: Udall, Corker & six co-sponsors introduce S. 1798, the Open Burn Pits Registry Act.
- June 13, 2012: Udall testifies before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee in support of the Act.
- September 12, 2012: The Act is included in a larger veterans package, S. 3340, the Mental Health Access to Continued Care and Enhancement of Support Services bill, which the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee passes unanimously.
- December 19, 2012: The Act is included in an alternative veterans package, S. 3202, the "Dignified Burial and Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012, which passes the full Senate unanimously.
- December 30, 2012: The U.S. House of Representatives passes S. 3202 unanimously.
- January 10, 2013: President Obama signs S. 3202, which includes the Open Burn Pits Registry Act language.
Again, Senator Tom Udall. That was my huge mistake. My apologies.
Iraq is yet again slammed with violence today in what has already been a very violent month. Iraq Body Count counts 165 people dead from violence in Iraq this month through Wednesday. 165 killed in 16 days which is a little over 10 deaths every day. Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) counts at least 26 dead while Press TV points out, "The latest wave of violence comes only a day after 40 people were killed and over 200 others wounded in a spate of terrorist attacks across the country." The Washington Post's Liz Sly offered this pespective in a Tweet.
Liz Sly
A 3rd day of attacks in Iraq; a Sunni politician on Tues; Kurdish political offices on Weds; Shiites targeted today. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraqi-officials-car-bomb-attack-kills-4-shiite-pilgrims-heading-to-shrines-south-of-baghdad/2013/01/17/47d7d3b8-6079-11e2-bc4f-1f06fffb7acf_story.html?hpid=z3 …
BBC News notes 4 dead in a Hilla bombing. Alsumaria adds
that seven were injured and they note the bombing as Babel. (It's the
same area and dependent upon whether you're using the Babylon
reference.) Following the bombing, Alsumaria reports, protesters gathered outside the police station and demanded the resignation of the police director. Ahlul Bayt News Agency notes a Karbala car bombing that claimed the lives of 4 Shi'ite pilgrims with another twelve injured. Lu Hui (Xinhua) reports
that7 people are dead and over 25 injured as a result of 2 car bombings
in al-Dujail (Salahuddin Province) with the first bomb allegedly being
used to attract a crowd in the immediate aftermath and the second bomb
going off after the crowd was present attempting to provide aid. AP notes that the death toll from those two car bombings has already risen to 11 and that the injured now stands at sixty. The UK Express reports
a Qassim car bombing which claimed 5 lives and left twenty injured and a
Baghdad roadside bombing which claimed 2 lives and left two people
injured.
In addition, Alsumaria reports that a Baghdad truck driver was targeted with a sticky bombing attached to his truck which left him injured, that a Baquba car bombing has left more than one person injured, and Sahwa
continues to be targeted with three homes sustaining damage in Kirkuk
today (villages of Arafa Hawija, Alamadhorih and Akolh) from bombings. All Iraq News notes
Col Khaled al-Hamdani, former Director General of Nineveh Province, has
disclosed he survived an assassination attempt today when a bombing
targeted his convoy as it went through Mosul. All Iraq News also reports a Mousl car bombing which left four people wounded.
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