British girls undergo horror of genital mutilation despite tough laws (video)

If video fails, click here or go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2011/09/british-girls-undergo-horror-of-genital.html

Female circumcision will be inflicted on up to 2,000 British schoolgirls during the summer holidays – leaving brutal physical and emotional scars. Yet there have been no prosecutions against the practice.
Warning: Contains disturbing images


Sources:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2010/jul/25/girls-facing-female-circumcision
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jul/25/female-circumcision-children-british-law

The Islamic doctrine, tradition and rationale behind the practice.

Congressional Investigation of Obama actions on Solyndra, LightSquared

Source:  http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/182553-issa-to-investigate-government-loan-programs
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said Tuesday that his committee plans to investigate government loan programs to private corporations in light of allegations of improper dealings between the White House and failed energy company Solyndra and wireless start-up LightSquared.

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Republicans in Congress quickly mocked the bankruptcy as emblematic of the president's green technology initiatives under the stimulus bill — and noted that a key Solyndra investor had been a bundler for the Obama campaign. House Republicans say they have emails showing the White House pressuring Department of Energy bureaucrats to expedite the loan approvals, although the White House has argued that nothing improper occurred.

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Republicans have also charged that the White House pressured an Air Force general to revise testimony before a closed congressional hearing to aid LightSquared, a wireless start-up company. Emails between the company and the White House make mention of the fact that the company's CEO would be attending Democratic fundraisers in Washington, and administration officials met with executives from the company on the same day that CEO Sanjiv Ahuja wrote a $30,400 check to the Democratic National Committee.
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My comment:   It appears that he is not an empty suit afterall;  the suit may be full of corruption. 

US imports teachers - from the Philippines

If video fails, click here or go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2011/09/us-imports-teachers-from-philippines.html

"The Learning" will air September 20, 2011 on PBS. Check local listings.

"The Learning" - POV 2011
by Ramona Diaz

One hundred years ago, American teachers established the English-speaking public school system of the Philippines. Now, in a striking turnabout, American schools are recruiting Filipino teachers. "The Learning" is the story of four Filipino women who reluctantly leave their families and schools to teach in Baltimore. With their increased salaries, they hope to transform their families' lives back in their impoverished country. But the women also bring idealistic visions of the teacher's craft and of life in America, which soon collide with Baltimore's tough realities. A co-production of CineDiaz and ITVS in association with The Center for Asian American Media, with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and American Documentary
POV. (90 minutes)