The Nobel Prizes
Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, personal diploma, and a cash award.
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The Nobel Prize in Physics 2012 was awarded jointly to Serge Haroche (FR) and David J. Wineland (US) for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2012/
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The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012 was awarded jointly to Robert J. Lefkowitz (US) and Brian K. Kobilka (US) “for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2012/
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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 was awarded jointly to Sir John B. Gurdon (GB) and Shinya Yamanaka (JP) “for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2012/
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The Nobel Prize in Literature 2012 was awarded to Mo Yan (CN) “who with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history and the contemporary”.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2012/
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The Nobel Peace Prize 2012 was awarded to European Union (EU)
“for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe”.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2012/
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The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2012 was awarded jointly to Alvin E. Roth (US) and Lloyd S. Shapley (US)
“for the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/2012/
President Obama meets with the 2012 US Nobel Laureates
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
All Times Eastern
Vice President Biden welcomes the President of the European Parliament, the Honorable Martin Schulz, to the White House
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
President Obama and Vice President Biden receive the presidential daily briefing
11:00 AM
11:35 AM
President Obama delivers remarks at an event with middle class Americans who would see their taxes go up if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts
South Court Auditorium
White House
12:00 PM
12:30 PM
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney briefs the press.
1:00 PM
1:30 PM
First lady Michelle Obama welcomes military families for a tour of the White House for a viewing of the 2012 holiday decorations
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
President holds a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room. Vice President Biden also attends
4:00 PM
4:45 PM
President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with more than a dozen CEOs from major companies on growing our economy and reducing our deficit
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
November 28, 2012
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
11:35 AM ET
President Obama delivers remarks at an event with middle class Americans who would see their taxes go up if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts
South Court Auditorium
White House
12:30 PM ET
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney briefs the press.
1:30 PM ET
Military families honored at White House
First lady Michelle Obama welcomes military families for a tour of the White House for a viewing of the 2012 holiday decorations
—-
CNN http://live.cnn.com
10:30 AM ET
Hispanic caucus tackles immigration reform
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is expected to release what it calls a set of “principles” aimed at reforming federal immigration laws.
11:00 AM ET
Amtrak reorganization hearing
The House Transportation Committee holds a hearing regarding the ongoing changes at Amtrak. Company executives are scheduled to testify.
11:35 AM ET
President Obama delivers remarks at an event with middle class Americans who would see their taxes go up if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts
South Court Auditorium
White House
12:30 PM ET
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney briefs the press.
1:30 PM ET
Military families honored at White House
First lady Michelle Obama welcomes military families for a viewing of the 2012 holiday decorations
5:20 PM ET
Secretary Clinton briefing with African Union chair
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and African Union Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma hold a briefing with reporters in Washington. The two may discuss the situation in Democratic Republic of Congo.
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CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
8:30 AM ET
Washington Journal Examines the ‘Fiscal Cliff’
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Washington-Journal-Examines-the-39Fiscal-Cliff39/10737436080/
9:00 AM ET
Bipartisan Policy Center: The “Fiscal Cliff” & Past Budget Agreements
Bipartisan Policy Center, Deloitte, George Mason University http://www.c-span.org/Events/Applying-Lessons-Learned-from-1990-Budget-Impasse-to-the-Fiscal-Cliff/10737436081/
11:00 AM ET
Amtrak reorganization hearing
The House Transportation Committee holds a hearing regarding the ongoing changes at Amtrak. Company executives are scheduled to testify. http://www.c-span.org/Events/House-Cmte-Reviews-Amtrak39s-Structural-Reorganization/10737436107/
11:35 AM ET
President Obama delivers remarks at an event with middle class Americans who would see their taxes go up if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts
South Court Auditorium
White House
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Pres-Obama-on-Middle-Class-Tax-Cuts/10737436115/
12:30 PM ET
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney briefs the press. http://www.c-span.org/Events/White-House-Daily-Briefing/10737436116/
1:00 PM ET
Brookings Institution: Panel Discussion on the Rule of Law in China http://www.c-span.org/Events/Supreme-Court-Justice-Discusses-Constitutionalism-in-China/10737436108/
The Nobel Prizes
Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, personal diploma, and a cash award.
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The Nobel Prize in Physics 2012 was awarded jointly to Serge Haroche (France)
and David J. Wineland (USA)
for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2012/
———
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012 was awarded jointly to Robert J. Lefkowitz (USA)
and Brian K. Kobilka (USA)
“for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2012/
——–
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 was awarded jointly to Sir John B. Gurdon (British)
and Shinya Yamanaka (Japan)
“for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2012/
———
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2012 was awarded to Mo Yan (China)
“who with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history and the contemporary”.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2012/
——–
European Union (EU)
The Nobel Peace Prize 2012 was awarded to European Union (EU)
“for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe”.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2012/
———
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2012 was awarded jointly to Alvin E. Roth (USA)
and Lloyd S. Shapley (USA)
“for the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/2012/
————
November 29 – President Obama meets with the US 2012 Nobel Prize winners in the Oval Office.
Obama to Meet With New Group of CEOs
11/26/12 By Damian Paletta and Carol E. Lee – wsj
President Barack Obama will meet with a second batch of chief executives Wednesday as part of his efforts to mobilize external support for a package of changes to reduce the deficit, people familiar with the matter said.
It will be the second such meeting this month after Mr. Obama met with a dozen CEOs on Nov. 14, including Jeff Immelt of General Electric Co. and Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo Inc. The names of CEOs meeting with Mr. Obama on Wednesday couldn’t be immediately learned.
The meetings are part of a White House approach to deficit negotiations with Congress that differs from its strategy during the debt ceiling fight of 2011. Last year, the White House met primarily with lawmakers to try to craft a deal.
This time, Mr. Obama is spending more time meeting with businesses and other outside groups to galvanize external support that White House backers believe could help pressure lawmakers to compromise. The meetings with chief executives have been arranged in part by White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett.
For more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/11/26/obama-to-meet-with-new-group-of-ceos/
Obama reaches out to CEOs who backed Romney
11/27/12 8:29 PM EST By DONOVAN SLACK – POLITICO44
President Obama is scheduled to meet with more than a dozen chief executives at the White House on Wednesday, including several prominent backers of his former GOP opponent, Mitt Romney.
A guest list released by the White House includes Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson and State Farm CEO Ed Rust, both of whom maxed out to Romney’s presidential campaign and kicked in another $15,000 to the RNC this fall. Then there’s Caterpillar chief executive Douglas Oberhelman, who gave a combined $27,500 to Romney and the RNC, and AT & T CEO Randall Stephenson who gave a combined $35,800.
The list also features some friendly faces, including Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, who hosted Obama at his Martha’s Vineyard home for a reception last year and gave $20,000 to the DNC. There’s Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, who maxed out to Obama and gave $30,800 to the DNC, and Patricia Woertz, CEO of Archer Midlands Daniel, who gave the president and the DNC a total of $33,300.
Reaching out to business leaders — regardless of their political views — has been a key part of Obama’s strategy to pressure Congress on the fiscal cliff. He met with another group of chief executives last week.
Here is the full guest list for Wednesday’s meeting:
Frank Blake, Chairman and CEO, The Home Depot
Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs Group
Joe Echeverria, CEO, Deloitte LLP
Ken Frazier, President and CEO, Merck and Co.
Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, Coca Cola
Terry Lundgren, Chairman, President, and CEO, Macy’s Inc.
Marissa Mayer, CEO and President, Yahoo!
Douglas Oberhelman, Chairman and CEO, Caterpillar
Ian Read, Chairman and CEO, Pfizer
Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast
Ed Rust, Chairman and CEO, State Farm Insurance Co.
Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott
Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEO, AT&T
Patricia Woertz, President and CEO, Archer Midlands Daniel
Obama meets with CEOs, middle income earners on ‘fiscal cliff’
11/28/12 By Olivier Knox, Yahoo! News | The Ticket – 34 mins ago
Looking for leverage in “fiscal cliff” talks with Republicans, President Barack Obama on Wednesday was to host middle-class Americans whose taxes risk going up January 1 and then retreat behind closed doors for talks with top corporate executives. The White House also worked to enlist support on Twitter, highlighting a hashtag, #My2K, for tweets about the standoff.
Obama planned to deliver a speech at 11:35 a.m. to press Congress to extend Bush-era tax cuts only for individuals with income up to $200,000 and families up to $250,000. He’ll be surrounded by Americans who stand to be affected if those tax cuts are allowed to expire on January 1.
Obama wants to end the tax cuts for higher earners while preserving them for for the middle class. The White House says that “a typical middle class family of four” would pay Uncle Sam an additional $2,200 unless tax cuts are extended for them.
Obama campaigned for reelection arguing that tax cuts that chiefly benefit the richest Americans must expire in order to save popular government programs that face the axe.
Republicans want to extend the tax cuts for higher earners, insisting that a tax hike on that group will reduce investments that generate jobs at a time when the economy is still sputtering and unemployment remains high.
For more: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-spotlights-middle-class-meets-ceos-fiscal-cliff-141910370–politics.html
Always an interesting subject, CR. It was amazing when President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 and so many voices denounced this. I saw it as a vote of confidence and encouragement and a vote for the hope that the new President represented. His speech addressed the issues involved so well. And he has certainly been working very hard for a more peaceful world for his entire first term.
Hi Kat! They had foresight in PBO’s abilities.
MBA Purchase Applications
Released On 11/28/2012 7:00:00 AM For wk11/23, 2012 – bloomberg
Highlights
The Mortgage Bankers purchase index continues to trend higher, up 3.0 percent for the second week in a row. In contrast, the refinance index is moving lower, down 2.0 percent. Yet refinancing activity remains very strong, making up 81 percent of total applications with purchase applications making up the remaining 19 percent. Mortgage rates remain extremely low, down 1 basis point in the week to 3.53 percent for the average 30-year loan for conforming mortgages ($417,500 or less).
Source: http://bloomberg.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=450986&cust=bloomberg-us&year=2012&lid=0#top
Barack ‘Black Eagle’ Obama loses his adoptive father
11/27/12 By Rob Hotakainen | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — As a freshman senator campaigning for president in May of 2008, Barack Obama made a stop on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana, where he became part of a new family.
Hartford and Mary Black Eagle formally adopted Obama as their son during a private traditional Native American ceremony, giving him a new name – Barack Black Eagle – and making him an honorary member of the tribe.
On Monday night, the president lost his adopted father, who was also a spiritual leader for the tribe. After battling emphysema and pneumonia, Hartford Black Eagle, 78, died in his sleep at home at Lodge Grass, Mont., according to his son, Cedric, the chairman of the Crow Tribe.
As the family prepared to make funeral arrangements Tuesday afternoon, Cedric Black Eagle said his mother was expecting a telephone call from the president later in the day. He said his father was proud to count the president among his sons, though he never made a big deal about it.
“He didn’t really brag about it,” Cedric Black Eagle said.
The White House didn’t respond late Tuesday to a request for comment.
It marked the second death in the Black Eagle family this month. On Nov. 16, Marilyn Black Eagle, Obama’s 55-year-old adopted sister, died in a two-car traffic accident. An obituary published in The Billings Gazette listed the president and first lady Michelle Obama among the survivors.
Obama visited the reservation shortly before Montana’s 2008 presidential primary, as he wrestled then-Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York for the Democratic presidential nomination. He was the first presidential candidate ever to visit the reservation.
According to published reports at the time, Hartford Black Eagle christened Obama with his new name and waved smoke from burning cedar needles over him with a fan of bald eagle feathers. The future president told a cheering crowd that he liked his new name and called the Black Eagles “the nicest parents you could ever want to know.”
W. Ron Allen, the chairman of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Sequim, Wash., said Native Americans benefited from Obama’s desire to reach out to minorities that he thought were underrepresented in U.S. politics.
“Early on, his campaign realized that the Indian communities were among those,” Allen said. He described the Crow Tribe as very traditional and said tribal leaders wanted to respond to Obama’s pledge to help them: “They believed his commitment and their response to his conviction was that they wanted to adopt him. Not all tribes do that.”
As a result of the adoption, Obama is an honorary member of the tribe but can’t vote in tribal elections, said Allen, who’s also the treasurer of the National Congress of American Indians, an advocacy group.
After he was elected, Obama invited his adoptive parents to attend his inauguration in January 2009.
The couple, who were married for 60 years, became regulars at the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference, where the president meets with tribal leaders from across the country. They even had a chance to meet the president’s two daughters.
“My dad was a great traditional Crow healer, and I think he represented Indian country well as being the adopted father of President Barack Obama,” Cedric Black Eagle said.
Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/11/27/175723/barack-black-eagle-obama-loses.html
Next Up…
11:35 AM ET
President Obama delivers remarks at an event with middle class Americans who would see their taxes go up if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts
South Court Auditorium
White House
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/Pres-Obama-on-Middle-Class-Tax-Cuts/10737436115/
November 28, 2012
Remarks by the President on Extending Tax Cuts for the Middle Class
South Court Auditorium
12:01 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.
Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. Thank you very much. Everybody, please have a seat — except you guys. Don’t sit down. (Laughter.)
Well, good morning, everybody.
AUDIENCE: Good morning.
THE PRESIDENT: There’s been a lot of talk here in Washington about the deadlines we’re facing on taxes and deficits — these deadlines are going to be coming up very soon, in the coming weeks. But today is important because I want to make sure everybody understands this debate is not just about numbers. It’s a set of major decisions that are going to affect millions of families all across this country in very significant ways. And their voices — the voices of the American people — have to be part of this debate. And so I asked some friends of mine here to join me, some folks from here in the area.
Our ultimate goal is an agreement that gets our long-term deficit under control in a way that is fair and balanced. That kind of agreement would be good for our businesses; it would be good for our economy; it would be good for our children’s future. And I believe that both parties can agree on a framework that does that in the coming weeks. In fact, my hope is to get this done before Christmas.
But the place where we already have, in theory at least, complete agreement right now is on middle-class taxes. And as I’ve said before, we’ve got two choices. If Congress does nothing, every family in America will see their taxes automatically go up at the beginning of next year. Starting January 1st, every family in America will see their taxes go up.
A typical middle-class family of four would see its income taxes go up by $2,200. That’s $2,200 out of people’s pockets. That means less money for buying groceries, less money for filling prescriptions, less money for buying diapers. (Laughter.) It means a tougher choice between paying the rent and paying tuition. And middle-class families just can’t afford that right now.
By the way, businesses can’t afford it either. Yesterday, I sat down with some small business owners who stressed this point. Economists predict that if taxes go up on the middle class next year, consumers will spend nearly $200 billion less on things like cars and clothes and furniture — and that obviously means fewer customers. That cuts into business profits. That makes businesses less likely to invest and hire, which means fewer jobs. And that can drag our entire economy down.
Now, the good news is there’s a better option. Right now, as we speak, Congress can pass a law that would prevent a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody’s income. Everybody’s. And that means that 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses wouldn’t see their income taxes go up by a single dime. Ninety-eight percent of Americans, 97 percent of small businesses would not see their income taxes go up by a single dime.
Even the wealthiest Americans would still get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. So it’s not like folks who make more than $250,000 aren’t getting a tax break, too. They’re getting a tax break on the first $250,000 just like everybody else.
Families and small businesses would, therefore, be able to enjoy some peace of mind heading into Christmas and heading into the New Year. And it would give us more time then next year to work together on a comprehensive plan to bring down our deficits, to streamline our tax system, to do it in a balanced way — including asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more, so that we can still invest in things like education and training, and science and research.
For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/28/remarks-president-extending-tax-cuts-middle-class
Up Next…
1:30 PM ET
Military families honored at White House
First lady Michelle Obama welcomes military families for a viewing of the 2012 holiday decorations
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
November 28, 2012
REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT HOLIDAY PRESS PREVIEW
East Room
1:33 P.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA: Well, hi, everyone. Welcome to the White House. Pretty cool, huh? Yes.
Well, let me start by thanking Jennifer, first of all, for that very lovely introduction, and to welcome her family here as well, her father and her husband. We are just so grateful for your service and so glad you could be here. Thank you, Jennifer, for everything that your family — you and your family have done for this country and what you’ve done to help make this house as beautiful as it is.
As First Lady, I think you all know that I have had the privilege of traveling all across this country. And one of the best things I get to do is to meet with all of the wonderful, extraordinary military families like Jennifer’s family and all of your families. And it’s an honor, truly an honor to host you all here today at the White House. It’s a cool house. I like it.
I have said this many times before and I will say it again, because I can’t say it enough — our military families truly represent the very best that this country has to offer. And I’ve seen it up close. You all do so much for this country, and you do it with such amazing poise and grace.
You all are outstanding neighbors. You are just phenomenal, focused parents. You all are tremendous coworkers and community leaders in your own rights. And you all do this under such extraordinary circumstances. So many of you are doing it while moving from base to base every couple of years, enduring all of those months of long deployments with loved ones serving, oftentimes, halfway around the world.
For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/28/remarks-first-lady-holiday-press-preview
Operation Honor Cards
Posted by Sheri Lapan on July 01, 2011 at 07:24 PM EST
When my kids think of community service, they think about picking up trash along the road, visiting the animal shelter and collecting food – all of which are good things, but I don’t know that they actually have learned why we do – or should do – community service or understand the importance of community service to the beneficiaries. Now they do.
Together, Girl Scout troop 2255 and Boy Scout troop 888 chose to do a community service learning project that was not only worthy of the time and effort, but also a great deal of fun. The kids chose to do Operation Honor Card and commit community service hours in the name of soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Documentary filmmaker Chris Barrett captured the Scouts on film, watch the video below.
Operation Honor Cards is the joint project of Blue Star Families, the American Red Cross, and ServiceNation: Mission Serve. Inspired by the First Lady’s Joining Forces campaign for military families, the program aims to create an atmosphere of ‘shared service’ and a WWII sense of ‘all give some’ by encouraging Americans to perform service in honor of military families and veterans.
Although initially the kids didn’t know exactly why or what would comprise a care package, we had a chance to talk about the things that might make a hospital stay a little easier and more comfortable – socks for cold feet, balm for chapped lips, cards, games, puzzles for the mind. And we talked about the soldiers who were at Walter Reed and how their service helped ensure that we had a better life every day.
All while in the comfort of a home with friends, food & drink. The kids learned, they had fun. They banked community service hours, did a good thing and were helpful without tremendous effort. I don’t know about you, but some service projects – like picking up trash along the creek – get old really quickly for the kids.
For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/01/operation-honor-cards
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Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts team up in Virginia to create care packages for wounded soldiers
Uploaded by BlueStarFamilies on Jul 1, 2011
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts team up in Virginia to create care packages for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They track their community service hours using Operation Honor Cards (http://www.honorcards.org) and create their very own an honor wall.
Filmed by: Chris Barrett – June 30, 2011
Bo Inspects the 2012 White House Holiday Decorations
Published on Nov 29, 2012 by whitehouse
Bo makes a final inspection of the 2012 White House Christmas decorations before 90,000 visitors come through the doors of the People’s House this holiday season. Find out more about the 2012 White House Holiday celebrations, including the special tributes to troops, veterans and military families at wh.gov/holidays.
Top Romney Adviser Brags About Losing Poor, Minority Voters To Obama
11/28/12 29 minutes ago – Benjy Sarlin – TPMDC
Mitt Romney can take some solace in his devastating loss on Nov. 6: at least he won the voters who really count. That’s the thesis anyway of top adviser Stuart Stevens, who penned an op-ed in the Washington Post on Wednesday arguing that by winning wealthier and whiter voters, Romney secured the moral victory over Obama.
“On Nov. 6, Mitt Romney carried the majority of every economic group except those with less than $50,000 a year in household income,” Stevens wrote. “That means he he carried the majority of middle-class voters. While John McCain lost white voters under 30 by 10 points, Romney won those voters by seven points, a 17-point shift.”
According to Stevens, “The Republican Party has problems, but as we go forward, let’s remember that any party that captures the majority of the middle class must be doing something right.” As a result, “Republican ideals — Mitt Romney — carried the day.”
For more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/11/stuart-stevens-poor-minority-voters.php?ref=fpnewsfeed
Please join me in lighting a candle for our President, First Family and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Beige Book
11/29/12 2:00 PM ET
Highlights
The latest Beige Book indicated that the economy in recent weeks grew “at a measured pace” versus the prior Beige Book language that the economy “generally expanded modestly.” Relative strength varied by District with seven Districts posting modest growth, two were stronger, and three were either slow or weaker. Weaker conditions in New York were attributed to widespread disruptions at the end of October and into November caused by Hurricane Sandy. Philadelphia reported general weakness that was exacerbated by the hurricane.
Sectors were mixed. According to the Beige Book, consumer spending grew at a moderate pace in most Districts. In contrast, manufacturing weakened, on balance. Seven of the twelve Districts reported either slowing or outright contraction in manufacturing, and two others gave mixed reports.
Consumer spending increased at a moderate pace in most Districts in recent weeks. In New York, sales were ahead of plan prior to Hurricane Sandy, and merchants expect to recoup sales lost during the storm as residents replace destroyed or damaged property. Automobile sales varied by District but were mostly healthy. Looking to the holiday sales season, the Districts whose contacts gave an outlook noted mostly upbeat expectations.
Markets for single-family homes continued to improve across most Districts with some noting strong sales. Even commercial real estate saw modest improvement.
Providing fuel for the consumer sector, employment rose in most Districts. But progress was generally described as modest. Wage pressures were seen as subdued or contained. Price pressures were reported as changed little from the modest pace that was reported in the last assessment. Almost every District described price growth as modest. However, there were some concerns about higher energy costs and rising health care costs.
Key concerns from District business contacts were the fiscal cliff and damage in the Northeast from Hurricane Sandy.
Overall, the recovery continues to progress but at a soft pace with relative sector strengths shifting. There is little in this report to divert the Fed from its currently loose monetary policy. A safe bet is that policy will be unchanged at the December 11-12 meeting. However, there have been hints that the Fed may implement new guidance formats based on goals for near-term inflation and employment.
On the news, equities were down incrementally but still well into positive territory for the day thus far.
For more: http://bloomberg.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=450760&cust=bloomberg-us&year=2012&lid=0#top
3:00 PM ET
President holds a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room. Vice President Biden also attends
November 28, 2012
Remarks by the President at a Cabinet Meeting
The Cabinet Room
3:11 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Is that brighter than usual? (Laughter.) Yes, that’s serious.
Well, listen, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to meet with my full Cabinet for the first time since the election took place. The primary purpose from my perspective is to say thank you, because everybody here, in their respective agencies, has done a remarkable job on behalf of the American people, across the board on a wide range of issues. They’ve always prioritized how do we make sure that we have a strong middle class, how do we grow our economy, how do we put people back to work, and how do we keep the American people safe and continue to extend our influence and our ideals around the world. And I could not have a better collection of people, many of whom have stayed here throughout my first term. And I think we’ve had as little turnover as any President during the course of a first term, and the reason is because everybody has done such a remarkable job.
So my main purpose is to say thank you to them, but also to remind them that we’ve got a lot of work to do. There are going to be a few specific issues that we spend a lot of time on. One in particular that I should note is that the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy is still being felt by families all across New York and New Jersey, parts of Connecticut. We are very pleased that under the leadership initially of Janet Napolitano and FEMA, but now Shaun Donovan, who’s heading up a task force, we’re focusing not only on recovery, but now on rebuilding and making sure those communities come back stronger than ever and people get the help that they need. So that will be an important topic because it’s really going to be an interagency concern.
The second thing that we’ll be talking about, obviously, is what’s on the minds of a lot of American families across the country, and that is making sure that we’ve got this fiscal cliff dealt with and that middle-class taxes don’t go up. I already spoke extensively about that today. I’ll just repeat: There is no reason why taxes on middle-class families should go up. It would be bad for the economy. It would be bad for those families. In fact, it would be bad for the world economy. And so I think it’s very important that we get that resolved, and I am very open to a fair and balanced approach to reduce our deficit and provide the kind of certainty that businesses and consumers need so that we can keep this recovery going.
And obviously, we’ll be spending some time talking about national security issues as well.
For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/28/remarks-president-cabinet-meeting
4:45 PM ET
President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with more than a dozen CEOs from major companies on growing our economy and reducing our deficit
Thursday, November 29, 2012
All Times Eastern
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
10:25 AM
President Obama and Vice President Biden receive the presidential daily briefing
10:45 AM
President Obama meets with senior advisors.
11:00 AM
12:00 PM
12:15 PM
President Obama meets with the 2012 American Nobel Prize winners.
12:30 PM
President Obama and Ex-Gov Romney meet for lunch.
12:45 PM
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
4:30 PM
Vice President Biden attends a memorial service for Senator Warren Rudman in the Russell Senate Office Building.
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
Vice President Biden Speaks at a Reception for Late Senator Warren Rudman
Washington, DC
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
November 29, 2012
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
12:45 PM ET
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
1:00 PM EST
White House World AIDS Day Event
6:00 PM EST
Vice President Biden Speaks at a Reception for Late Senator Warren Rudman
Washington, DC
—-
CNN http://live.cnn.com
9:30 AM ET
Senate Environment & Public Works Committee: Hurricane Sandy Impact & Recovery
10:00 AM ET
U.S. job creation hearing
The Senate Small Business Committee holds a hearing on legislative proposals aimed at creating jobs and helping the U.S. economy grow.
10:30 AM ET
Secretary Clinton briefing on creating AIDS-free generation
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will release a blueprint that will serve as a roadmap in the global HIV/AIDS response for creating an AIDS-free generation.
12:30 PM ET
National Security Advisor & Sec. of State on Foreign Policy Trends
Hillary Clinton delivers the keynote and Tom Donilon delivers the luncheon address at an event co-hosted by Foreign Policy Magazine and the U.S. State Department.
12:30 PM ET
State Department briefing
Press Secretary Victoria Nuland holds a briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the situations in Egypt and Gaza.
12:45 PM ET
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
2:00 PM ET
New Mercury findings briefing
NASA holds a new conference to unveil new observations from the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury.
2:00 PM ET
Federal response to autism hearing
The Senate Oversight Committee holds a hearing into the federal response to the rising number of autism cases in the United States.
2:00 PM ET
New Mercury findings briefing
NASA holds a news conference to unveil new observations from the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury.
2:30 PM ET
Secretary Panetta, Barak briefing
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak, brief reporters on Gaza, Egypt and other issues at the Pentagon.
—-
CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
9:30 AM ET
Senate Environment & Public Works Committee: Hurricane Sandy Impact & Recovery http://www.c-span.org/Events/Senate-Cmte-Looks-at-Impact-of-Hurricane-Sandy/10737436136/
10:30 AM ET
Secretary Clinton briefing on creating AIDS-free generation
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will release a blueprint that will serve as a roadmap in the global HIV/AIDS response for creating an AIDS-free generation. http://www.c-span.org/Events/Secretary-Clinton-Releases-President39s-Plan-for-AIDS-Relief/10737436140/
12:00 PM ET
House Democrats Elect Leadership for 113th Congress http://www.c-span.org/Events/House-Democrats-Elect-Leadership-for-113th-Congress/10737436137/
12:30 PM ET
National Security Advisor & Sec. of State on Foreign Policy Trends
Hillary Clinton delivers the keynote and Tom Donilon delivers the luncheon address at an event co-hosted by Foreign Policy Magazine and the U.S. State Department. http://www.c-span.org/Events/National-Security-Advisor-Sec-of-State-on-Foreign-Policy-Trends/10737436135/
12:30 PM ET
State Department briefing
Press Secretary Victoria Nuland holds a briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the situations in Egypt and Gaza.
12:45 PM ET
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
2:00 PM ET
House Committee Oversight and Government Reform
Federal Response to Rise in Autism Rates http://www.c-span.org/Events/Lawmakers-Look-into-Federal-Response-to-Rising-Rates-of-Autism/10737436113/
November 29
President Obama meets with the 2012 American Nobel Prize winners
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2012 was awarded jointly to David J. Wineland (US) and Serge Haroche (FR) for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2012/
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012 was awarded jointly to Robert J. Lefkowitz (US) and Brian K. Kobilka (US) “for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2012/
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2012 was awarded jointly to Alvin E. Roth (US) and Lloyd S. Shapley (US)
“for the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design”
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/2012/
Join Today’s Let’s Move Faith and Communities Webinar
Posted by Kate Strangfeld on November 28, 2012
Let’s Move Faith and Communities is an initiative to help faith-based and neighborhood organizations initiate and coordinate activities that encourage healthy living and well-being. As part of the monthly webinar series, Let’s Move Faith and Communities is holding a webinar on Thursday to talk about why faith and community organizations are uniquely suited to address the health needs in their community and to highlight the success of faith leaders around the country who have engaged their community around this issue.
WEBINAR: MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY A SOURCE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS
DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2012
TIME: 2:00 PM EASTERN
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
You can also find links to community- based resources and sign up for upcoming webinars, like “Transform Your Food Pantry into a Source of Health and Wellness”. Read more about Let’s Move Faith and Communities and how you can impact your community here.
Source: http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2012/11/28/join-todays-lets-move-faith-and-communities-webinar
Romney to meet with Obama at the White House
11/28/12 10:03 AM EST By BYRON TAU – POLITICO44
President Obama will host Mitt Romney at the White House this week, press secretary Jay Carney announced.
“On Thursday, Governor Romney will have a private lunch at the White House with President Obama in the Private Dining Room. It will be the first opportunity they have had to visit since the election,” Carney said in a statement.
It will be their first meeting since the election. In his election night victory speech, Obama made a post-election overture to Romney
“I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward,” Obama said in his Chicago speech.
Tom Vilsack to meet with Hill players
By DAVID ROGERS | 11/28/12 3:57 PM EST Updated: 11/28/12 6:46 PM EST
The four top House and Senate players on the farm bill are scheduled to meet Thursday with Agriculture Secy. Tom Vilsack, a luncheon which has taken on added importance given the growing pressure for some resolution before the end of next month.
Consumers are threatened by a potential doubling in milk prices January 1, absent some action by Congress. And Vilsack and the Agriculture Committees must soon decide if they have any real shot of wrapping a five-year farm bill into whatever deficit reduction package emerges from talks now between the White House and Congress.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84341.html?hp=l8
Jobless Claims in U.S. Decrease as Sandy Effect Dissipates
Nov 29, 2012 5:52 AM PT By Alex Kowalski & Shobhana Chandra – bloomberg
Fewer Americans filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance payments last week as the labor market disruptions wrought by superstorm Sandy ebbed.
Applications for jobless benefits decreased by 23,000 to 393,000 in the week ended Nov. 24, Labor Department figures showed today. Economists forecast 390,000 claims, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.
The drop in claims indicates the job market in the mid- Atlantic region, which employs about 14 percent of U.S. workers, may be stabilizing after Sandy put some area residents out of work at the start of the month. Apart from the storm-related damage, job creation will probably be limited as companies navigate the global economic slowdown and U.S. fiscal outlook.
Claims are “going to be distorted for a period of time by the after-effects of the storm,” said James Shugg, a senior economist at Westpac Banking Corp. in London, who forecast applications would drop to 395,000. “We’ve been surprised by the strength of hiring, but we’re anticipating a sharply lower number for the payrolls in the next month because there’s not going to be a strong enough economic growth base.”
Estimates for first-time claims ranged from 350,000 to 430,000 in the Bloomberg survey of 49 economists. The previous week’s figure was revised to 416,000 from a previously reported 410,000.
For more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-29/initial-jobless-claims-in-u-s-fall-as-sandy-effect-dissipates.html
Economic growth improves significantly
Nov 29, 2012 9:09 AM EST By Steve Benen – maddowblog
The initial estimate on economic growth in the third quarter — July, August, and September — was an underwhelming 2 percent. This morning, revised figures point to a much healthier economy.
The economy grew at a substantially faster pace in the third quarter than first thought, powered by increases in business inventories and federal spending.
After initially saying output increased at an annual rate of 2 percent, the Commerce Department on Thursday revised its estimate to show growth of 2.7 percent in the three months that ended Sept. 30.
While businesses have remained cautious amid fiscal uncertainty in Washington and weak growth overseas, consumer spending in the United States has moved along in recent months at a healthier pace.
The 2.7 percent GDP figure is the best since the end of 2011, and the second best quarter of the last three years. Talk of a “double-dip recession,” common earlier in the year, is now nowhere to be found.
It’s also worth noting that economic growth would have been even stronger had it not been for austerity-like policies at the state and local level, where public spending has been curtailed sharply.
As for the politics, the conventional wisdom suggests President Obama won a second term in spite of a struggling economy, but in light of the stronger growth shortly before the election, it may be time to consider whether Obama prevailed because of an improving economy.
Above, you’ll find a chart showing GDP numbers by quarter since the Great Recession began. The red columns show the economy under the Bush administration; the blue columns show the economy under the Obama administration.
Corporate Profits
11/29/2012 8:30:00 AM For Q3:12
Highlights
Corporate profits in the third quarter rebounded to $1.752 trillion annualized, compared to $1.665 trillion in the second quarter. Profits in the third quarter grew an annualized 22.7 percent after contracting 1.4 percent in the second quarter. Profits are after tax but without inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments. Corporate profits on a year-on-year basis increased 18.6 percent, compared to up 14.5 percent in the second quarter.
Source: http://bloomberg.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=451387&cust=bloomberg-us&year=2012&lid=0#top
Corporate Profits
11/29/2012 8:30:00 AM For Q3:12
Highlights
Corporate profits in the third quarter rebounded to $1.752 trillion annualized, compared to $1.665 trillion in the second quarter. Profits in the third quarter grew an annualized 22.7 percent after contracting 1.4 percent in the second quarter. Profits are after tax but without inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments. Corporate profits on a year-on-year basis increased 18.6 percent, compared to up 14.5 percent in the second quarter.
Source: http://bloomberg.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=451387&cust=bloomberg-us&year=2012&lid=0#top
Consumer Comfort in U.S. Picks Up as Buying Climate Improves
Nov 29, 2012 6:45 AM PT By Elizabeth Dexheimer – bloomberg
Consumer confidence climbed to a seven-month high last week as more Americans said it was a good time to make purchases, pointing to a brighter holiday shopping season.
The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to minus 33 in the period ended Nov. 25, the highest level since April, from minus 33.9 the previous week. It marked the highest level for a Thanksgiving week, when shoppers begin their year-end holiday gift buying, since before the recession began five years ago.
Expanded store hours combined with deals, discounts and online offers last week may have helped propel the share of Americans saying it’s a good time to spend to a seven-month high. Improving labor and housing markets will probably lift spirits further, benefiting retailers such as Target Corp. and Macy’s Inc. between now and the final shopping days before Christmas, the most important period of the year for retailers.
“Consumers started the holiday-shopping season their cheeriest since 2007, a hopeful sign for retailers in their make-or-break time of year,” said Gary Langer, president of Langer Research Associates in New York, which compiles the index for Bloomberg.
A report from the Commerce Department showed the economy in the third quarter expanded more than previously estimated as a narrower trade deficit and gains in inventory overshadowed a smaller increase in consumer spending. Gross domestic product rose at a 2.7 percent annual rate, up from a 2 percent previous estimate, the agency said. Household purchases climbed at a 1.4 percent rate, the slowest in more than a year.
For more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-29/consumer-comfort-in-u-s-picks-up-as-buying-climate-improves.html
Pending Sales of Existing U.S. Homes Rose 5.2% in October
Nov 29, 2012 7:11 AM PT By Michelle Jamrisko – bloomberg
Americans signed more contracts in October to purchase previously owned homes, another sign the recovery in the housing market is being sustained.
The index of pending home resales climbed 5.2 percent, exceeding the highest estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists, to 104.8 after a revised 0.4 percent gain in September, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed today in Washington. The median forecast in the Bloomberg survey called for a 1 percent gain.
The lowest mortgage rates on record, stable prices and waning foreclosures are helping underpin sales three years after the last recession ended. Federal Reserve policy makers have targeted the industry with purchases of mortgage-backed securities as they seek to bolster the labor market and the expansion.
“As folks start to feel a little more comfortable about their home price, they’re going to put it on the market and you’re going to start to see this trend continue” of higher sales, Anika Khan, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based senior economist at Wells Fargo & Co., said before the report. “We still see the overall residential market continuing to add to growth in the coming quarters.”
Estimates in the Bloomberg survey ranged from a 1 percent drop to a 4 percent gain. The prior month’s figure was originally reported as a 0.3 percent advance. Compared with a year earlier, the index increased an unadjusted 18 percent after an 8.7 percent gain in the 12 months ended in September. After seasonal adjustment, pending purchases climbed 13.2 percent from a year ago.
Stocks held gains after the figures and amid optimism lawmakers will reach a budget deal. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed 0.5 percent to 1,416.47 at 10:08 a.m. in New York.
For more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-29/pending-sales-of-existing-u-s-homes-increased-5-2-in-october.html
Office Hours on Extending Middle Class Tax Cuts: #My2K with Brian Deese
Erin LindsayNovember 28, 2012 05:34 PM EST
If Congress doesn’t act by the end of the year, every American family’s taxes will automatically go up. A typical middle-class family of four would see their taxes rise by $2,200 in 2013. Surrounded by American’s who had written in support of his plan, President Obama called on the American people to speak up and add their voices to the debate:
Tomorrow, Thursday November 29th at 1:00 pm ET, Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council will join us for a special session of Office Hours. During a live Q&A on Twitter, Brian will answer your questions about a balanced approach to reducing the deficit and the importance of extending the middle-class tax cuts.
Here are the details:
* Ask your questions now and during the live event on Twitter with the hashtag #WHChat
* Follow the Q&A live through the @WHLive Twitter account
* If you miss the live session, the full session will be posted on WhiteHouse.gov and Storify.com/Whitehouse
Thousands of Americans have already spoken out. Check out some of their responses and then share your story by visiting WH.gov/My2K, or on Twitter using the hashtag #My2K.
12:15 PM ET
President Obama meets with the 2012 American Nobel Prize winners.
Video to follow
12:30 PM ET
President Obama and Ex-Gov Romney meet for lunch.
November 29, 2012
Readout of the President’s Lunch with Governor Romney
This afternoon, President Obama and Governor Romney visited for an hour over lunch in the Private Dining Room adjacent to the Oval Office. Governor Romney congratulated the President for the success of his campaign and wished him well over the coming four years. The focus of their discussion was on America’s leadership in the world and the importance of maintaining that leadership position in the future. They pledged to stay in touch, particularly if opportunities to work together on shared interests arise in the future. Their lunch menu included white turkey chili and Southwestern grilled chicken salad.
Next Up…
1:00 PM EST
White House World AIDS Day Event
The White House is hosting an event in observance of World AIDS Day to discuss the Administration’s efforts to move us towards an AIDS-free generation.
The White House
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
World AIDS Day 2012: Toward an AIDS-free Generation
Published on Nov 30, 2012 by whitehouse
The White House hosts an event in observance of World AIDS Day to discuss the Administration’s efforts to move us toward an AIDS-free generation. November 30, 2012.
Next Up…
1:00 PM ET
Office Hours with Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council – Live Q&A on Twitter
Brian will answer your questions about a balanced approach to reducing the deficit and the importance of extending the middle-class tax cuts.
Freshwater fish named after Obama
11/29/12 12:00 PM EST By BYRON TAU – POLITICO44
President Obama: Best-selling author, commander-in-chief, Nobel Peace Prize winner … and namesake of a new American freshwater fish.
Professor Richard Mayden of the Saint Louis University’s Department of Biology and Dr. Steven Layman of Geosyntec Consultants discovered the new species of darter fish, and describe them in a new article in the Bulletin of the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
“We chose President Obama for his environmental leadership, particularly in the areas of clean energy and environmental protection, and because he is one of our first leaders to approach conservation and environmental protection from a more global vision.” Layman said about the Obama fish, as quoted by BuzzFeed.
The researchers also named other species of the fish after former Presidents Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt, and Jimmy Carter and former Vice President Al Gore. The fish were named for those leaders due to their environmental stewardship.
Please join me in lighting a candle for our President, First Family and our Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
6:00 PM EST
Vice President Biden Speaks at a Reception for Late Senator Warren Rudman
Washington, DC
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Vice President Biden Speaks at a Reception for Late Senator Warren Rudman
Published on Nov 29, 2012 by whitehouse
Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks at a memorial service for Senator Warren Rudman in the Russell Senate Office Building. November 29, 2012.
Vice President Biden Goes to Costco
Megan Slack November 29, 2012 03:31 PM EST
Today, Vice President Joe Biden visited a newly opened Costco in Washington, DC. After picking out a few Christmas gifts and other items, he talked about the importance of extending tax cuts for middle-class families.
“All the people you meet in here today and you see, these are hardworking folks who don’t need to see their taxes go up,” he said.
But, if Congress doesn’t take action before the end of the year, the typical middle-class family will pay about $2,200 more in taxes starting in 2013.
“And so I think it’s important Congress acts now — I mean right now,” Vice President Biden said. “All it has to do is take a single vote to extend the middle-class tax cut.”
For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/11/29/photos-vice-president-biden-goes-costco
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