Articles Posted by Ralph E. Stone
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Kissing the Blarney Stone
Blarney Castle Photo by Judi Iranyi By Ralph E. Stone October 21, 2009 On our recent trip to the Republic of Ireland we stopped in Blarney, County Cork, where the 15-century Blarney Castle — and…
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Dead Peasants Insurance Policies
I learned about a new low in corporate greed from Michael Moore’s latest documentary “Capitalism: A Love Story,” which, by the way, I highly recommend. It is called “dead peasants” insurance. Companies take out secret insurance policies on their employees and name themselves as beneficiaries. And we are not talking about key employees since losing their expertise, knowledge and contacts of top managers can be financially devastating for companies. But companies also write policies for rank-and-file employees. When the employee dies, the company, not his or her family, gets the insurance money. In Moore’s movie, Wal-Mart took out a secret policy on a cake decorator, and when she died, Wal-Mart received $80,000, but her family received nothing.
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Isn’t it Time For An Early Afghanistan Exit Strategy?
What is the cost of the War in Afghanistan so far? The War (2001–present) has cost the lives of 830 Americans due to hostile and non-hostile actions. In addition, the War has caused the deaths of thousands of Afghan civilians directly from insurgent and foreign military action, as well as the deaths of possibly tens of thousands of Afghan civilians indirectly as a consequence of displacement, starvation, disease, exposure, lack of medical treatment, crime and lawlessness resulting from the war.
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Muslims Celebrate Eid
Coming with the new moon, the Eid festival marks the end of ‘Ramadan’ – a month when Muslims fast throughout the day and eat only at night. Prayers, feasts and family gatherings are the major highlights of the celebrations. It was during this month that the holy Koran was revealed. Eid means recurring happiness or festivity. Eid is celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervor and Muslims from all strata of life can be seen adorned in beautiful new clothes, visiting the mosques to attend Salatul Eid (Eid prayers). Greetings of “Eid-Mubarak” or “a blessed Eid” are exchanged.
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September 16 is Mexican Independence Day
Father Miguel Hidalgo was a parish priest of Dolores, a small village in the state of Guanajuato. His famous “Grito de Dolores or Independencia,” or call for independence to the Amerindians and mestizos to retaliate against the hated native Spaniards, who had exploited and oppressed Mexicans for ten generations.
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Why Are The Drug
and Health Insurance Companies Smiling?What did President Obama give in return for this $80 billion? Reportedly, Obama agreed not to bargain down prices for Medicare purchases and promised that the U.S. would not buy less expensive drugs from Canada. What will that cost us? Well 13 European nations successfully regulate the price of drugs, reducing the average cost of name-brand prescription medicines by 35 percent to 55 percent.
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Top Five Health Care Reform Lies
Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!
The truth: These accusations—of “death panels” and forced euthanasia—are, of course, flatly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: “No ‘death panel’ in health care bill.” What’s the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will and other issues facing older Americans.
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