Some odd Russian video about the Olympics, and Queen

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Monaco proposes bluefin tuna ban

Well done, Monaco. Diners may not like it but it has to happen.

In particular, they want the Atlantic bluefin, the species that is suffering most from overfishing, to be given appendix-1 status by Cites when it convenes next month. The proposal, put forward by Monaco, would end trade in the tuna between European fishing fleets and Japan, the world's main purchaser of the fish. Not surprisingly, Japan is expected to oppose the ban, the bluefin being a prime ingredient for sushi.

"Stocks of bluefin tuna in the western Atlantic have dropped by 82% since 1978, while those in the eastern Atlantic have dropped by 80%," said Heather Sohl, of the WWF. "We are looking at a species that is going to be fished into extinction unless we take urgent measures to save it."

The bluefin tuna can grow up to 14ft in length, weigh more than 1,000lb (450kg) and live for more than 30 years. It can swim at up to 40mph (65km/h), can dive to depths of half a mile and is one of the oceans' great travellers, swimming from the tropics to the Arctic. However, it has become an increasingly popular target for trawler fleets from France, Spain and Italy, who have found a lucrative market in Japan.

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Top five health insurers posted 56 percent profit gains in 2009

From John Byrne at Raw Story:

If no health care overhaul passes Congress, health insurers may be in for a windfall -- and one far larger that most Americans probably realize.

According to a study by a pro-health reform group published Thursday, the nation's largest five health insurance companies posted a 56 percent gain in 2009 profits over 2008. The insurers including Wellpoint, UnitedHealth, Cigna, Aetna and Humana, which cover the majority of Americans with insurance.

The insurers' hefty profit gains came even as 2.7 million more Americans lost their insurance coverage due to the declining economy.

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NY Times picks up Goldman link to Greek financial problems

I mentioned this the other day following an article in Der Spiegel. How does Wall Street manage to cause so much damage, yet remain in such high regard among the political leaders around the world? It's sickening that the EU has not yet fully supported Greece. Countries moved faster to bail out the banks but moving to rescue a country is somehow a more difficult decision. Also, how do the politicians who agreed to these deals not be sent to prison? NY Times:

Wall Street tactics akin to the ones that fostered subprime mortgages in America have worsened the financial crisis shaking Greece and undermining the euro by enabling European governments to hide their mounting debts.

As worries over Greece rattle world markets, records and interviews show that with Wall Street’s help, the nation engaged in a decade-long effort to skirt European debt limits. One deal created by Goldman Sachs helped obscure billions in debt from the budget overseers in Brussels.

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Dick Cheney today said it's time to end DADT. Obama admin officials today said let's wait a few years.

Breaking news this morning. Dick Cheney says he's fine with the repeal of DADT. Joe and I both have weighed in over on AMERICAblog Gay.

Joe:

[I]n the real world, people think DADT is going to end. That's what people heard Obama say in the State of the Union. I hope the team at the White House, (led by Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina according to Politico) understand that there's an expectation that the President will actually deliver. And, it's important to remember that the President plays a key role here. He can include the repeal language in the budget recommendations for the Defense Department that he sends to Congress. It wasn't in the initial budget, but there's still time to do that. If Obama doesn't send the repeal recommendation to Congress, then, he's not serious. Members of Congress take the path of least resistance on every issue. If Obama doesn't push repeal in his budget, members will view it as a signal from the White House and nothing real will happen. We'll have gotten some nice speeches, but no action.

75% of the American people (including 64% of Republicans) are on board with gays serving openly in the military. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs indicated support for repeal. The Secretary of Defense is for repeal. Colin Powell wants the law repealed. And Dick Cheney is on board. But, Democrats at the White House and on the Hill are still fretting because they think this issue is too controversial. Ridiculous.

Me:

We now have Colin Powell (Republican), SecDef Gates (Republican appointee), Chairman Mullen (Republican appointee), Dick Cheney (Republican), Ted Olson (Republican), and the torture twins (Republicans), better than the Democratic party on this paramount gay civil rights issue. For years, we've been able to laugh in the face of gay Republicans who claimed the GOP was a viable alternative for gay Americans seeking their civil rights. No one is laughing any more. The Democratic party needs to wake up and realize that its political homophobia is losing it a constituency.

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Sunday Talk Shows Open Thread

Vice President Joe Biden appears on NBC and CBS this morning. He's in Vancouver at the Olympics. On CNN and FOX, the Obama administration's National Security Adviser Jim Jones is the featured guest.

But, all of this pales in comparison to ABC's interviewee: Dick Cheney. Yes, the former V.P. who led us into war over lies and who outed an undercover spy for political reasons is going to be attacking the Obama administration this morning. And, the traditional media and pundits will salivate over his every word. Wolf and his crew will be dissecting what Cheney says until at least Thursday.

Unless Biden makes a gaffe, which is always possible, don't expect much coverage of what he or Jones have to say. Nope. Today is going to end up being all about Cheney. It's so painfully predictable. Note how ABC is promoting the interview:

In a rare Sunday appearance, former Vice President Dick Cheney sits down for a "This Week" exclusive live interview. Guest anchor, ABC News Congressional Correspondent Jonathan Karl asks Cheney about how the Obama administration has waged the war on terror, the trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, and why he thinks the President has made the country "less safe". We'll cover it all with the former vice-president - from foreign policy to jobs, health care and 2010 politics.

Got that? We're less safe because of Cheney's policies. And, he and Bush destroyed the U.S. economy, leaving us on the brink of a depression. But, don't expect Jonathan Karl to hold Cheney accountable. Cheney won't be challenged. This is just another chance for him to attack, attack, attack.

Cheney is providing the talking heads a week's worth of fodder. He plays them for the fools that they are. And, ABC is his willing accomplice.

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Hindi Zahra - Imik Smik

She's Moroccan and sings in both Berber and English. She's coming through Paris this week and if I had the time I would head out. Hopefully next time. Nice and mellow for an easy going Sunday. Read the rest of this post...