Roberto Abraham Scaruffi: WP

Tuesday 31 May 2011

WP

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
War costs to be major factor in troop-withdrawal talk
Of all the statistics that President Obama’s national security team will consider when it debates troop reductions in Afghanistan, the most influential number will be the cost of the war.
(By Rajiv Chandrasekaran)

In N.C., GOP worries over 2012 and Obama
If GOP activists in N.C. feel confident heading into the 2012 election season, you wouldn’t know it by what they’re doing and saying. The dynamics are on display elsewhere in the South, too.
(By Amy Gardner)

The protest candidate who’s rising to the occasion
Supporters of presidential hopeful Herman Cain like to talk about “Raising Cain,” and his momentary blip is raising some serious questions for the GOP.
(By Jason Horowitz)

College merit aid produces bidding wars
Affluent college applicants, shocked by sticker prices and leery of debt, are choosing a school because it is the best deal.
(By Daniel de Vise)

Study: Closing tax breaks for retirement would do little to help budget
As Washington considers closing a profusion of tax breaks in its quest to reduce record budget deficits, a new study suggests that some targets might produce far less cash than is commonly thought.
(By Lori Montgomery)

POLITICS
Start spreading the news: Obama's pick to lead Joint Chiefs is partial to "New York, New York"
WASHINGTON — Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, President Barack Obama’s choice to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wears four stars on his shoulders, holds three master’s degrees, fought two wars against Iraq, and survived one bout with cancer.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

The GOP's 'shellacking' now behind him, Obama finds more solid political ground
WASHINGTON — Six months after Republicans alarmed Democrats with a midterm election wave, President Barack Obama has shaken off the jitters and found his political footing despite sluggish economic growth and deep public anxiety about the direction of the country.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Women breaking barrier in Navy, serving on submarines, but not SEALs yet
WASHINGTON — It’s a dramatic tale.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

HEALTHBEAT: Record number of drug shortages leave hospitals scrambling to avoid patient harm
WASHINGTON — A growing shortage of medications for a host of illnesses — from cancer to cystic fibrosis to cardiac arrest — has hospitals scrambling for substitutes to avoid patient harm, and sometimes even delaying treatment.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

As the GOP moves to the right, presidential hopefuls abandon old centrist stands
WASHINGTON — In the first presidential election since the tea party’s emergence, Republican candidates are drifting rightward on a range of issues, even though more centrist stands might play well in the 2012 general election.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)



STYLE
Frank Stewart’s Bridge: Finding fault

(, Tribune Media Service)

Ask Amy: This workplace giver really takes the cake
Two co-workers haven’t spoke in more than a year because of a) an argument over a birthday gift; b) the giver stealing back the gift from a lunchbox; and c) the giftee’s refusal of a chocolate cake of atonement.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: A thank-you call
Dear Heloise: I take calls all day long at a call center. I would like to re-emphasize to everyone that when you call someplace, be sure to have all of your information, along with a pen and paper, ready by the phone. And please do not spend time being angry or insulting.
(, King)

Miss Manners: Voicemails left ignored
Dear Miss Manners:It seems that recipients of calls can now no longer be troubled to even listen to their messages; rather, they simply redial my number, often not even knowing who has called. Many of these calls begin with “You called me? Who is this?”
(, United Media)

Brother-in-law is nasty to her kids
She told him that if he didn’t want to be around her kids, he was welcome to not come to her house.
(, The Washington Post)


SPORTS
Monday's Sports In Brief
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jim Tressel, who guided Ohio State to its first national title in 34 years, resigned amid NCAA violations from a tattoo-parlor scandal that sullied the image of one of the country’s top football programs.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Man United midfielder Paul Scholes retires from soccer, will take up coaching role at club
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has announced his retirement from soccer and says he will take up a coaching role with the English champions.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Soderling gets another chance to beat Nadal at French Open as both reach quarterfinals
PARIS — Robin Soderling is going to get another chance to double Rafael Nadal’s career loss record at the French Open.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Chinese national women's basketball team finishes two-week tour
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — China national women’s basketball coach Sun Fengwu was proud of his young team’s effort during its two-week trip to the United States.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Swept in lone NBA finals appearance, James has help this time as Heat's Big Three faces Mavs
MIAMI — Even those critics who hated “The Decision” might understand why LeBron James made it.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)


WORLD
UN rights office says more than 50 people believed killed by pro-government forces in Yemen
GENEVA — The U.N.’s human rights office says it has received reports from Yemen that more than 50 people have been killed since Sunday by pro-government forces.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Angered by civilian casualties, Afghan president says he won't allow NATO airstrikes on houses
KABUL, Afghanistan — Angered by civilian casualties, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday he will no longer allow NATO airstrikes on houses, issuing his strongest statement yet against strikes that the military alliance says are key to its war on Taliban insurgents.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

European court rules that Russian magnate Khodorkovsky's rights violated with 2003 arrest
PARIS — The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Russian oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s rights were violated after his arrest in 2003 and ordered Russia to pay him €24,000 ($35,000) in damages and court costs.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Libya rebels launch TV station, trying to counter Gadhafi's powerful media
BENGHAZI, Libya — Libya’s rebels have launched their first homegrown satellite TV station, trying to counter the regime’s powerful media machine, which churns out Moammar Gadhafi’s message, depicts the opposition as terrorists and drums up patriotic fervor by beaming images of burning buildings hit by NATO strikes.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

European court rules that Russia violated magnate Khodorkovsky's rights in 2003 arrest
PARIS — European court rules that Russia violated magnate Khodorkovsky’s rights in 2003 arrest
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)


LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Chatological Humor: Monthly with Moron

(, vForum)

Naomi Wolf on the 'Aging Myth'
Twenty years ago, Naomi Wolf wrote the best-selling book, "The Beauty Myth." Two decades later, she finds growing older means getting better.
(, vForum)

Real Wheels Live
Live online discussion with Real Wheels columnist Warren Brown about car-buying and the auto industry.
(, vForum)

Free Range on Food
Free Range on Food is a forum for discussion of all things culinary.
(, vForum)

Talk about Travel
Have a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel section's editors and writers are at your service.
(, vForum)


TECHNOLOGY
Scoop: European Social Games Phenomenon wooga Raises $24 Million

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

With 2 Million Downloads Under Its Belt, Appsfire Raises $3.6 Million Series A

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Disrupt Backstage Pass: Google’s Marissa Mayer Talks Serendipity (And Dodges The Apple Question)

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Twitter Close To Acquiring AdGrok

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

The Next 6 Months Worth Of Features Are In Facebook’s Code Right Now (But We Can’t See)

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)


BUSINESS
LinkedIn opens Asia headquarters in Singapore, eyes office in Japan
SINGAPORE — Career networking website LinkedIn opened its Asian headquarters in Singapore on Tuesday, part of a plan to tap the region’s large pool of professionals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Getting personal: Feds pursue top execs in health care fraud cases previously settled for cash
WASHINGTON — It’s getting personal now. In a shift still evolving, federal enforcers are targeting individual executives in health care fraud cases that used to be aimed at impersonal corporations.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Scoop: European Social Games Phenomenon wooga Raises $24 Million

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

SKorea's Ticket Monster acquires Malaysian site
SEOUL, South Korea — Fast-growing South Korean daily deal site Ticket Monster says it has acquired a Malaysian company in its first move overseas.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

China hikes electricity rates to counter power shortages
SHANGHAI — China has raised electricity rates for some industrial users as parts of the country grapple with their worst energy crisis in years, despite concerns higher costs may add to inflation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)