| |
| Senate Majority leader Harry Reid finally provided us with the full text of the Senate Health Care Bill. I think it is a strong bill. It includes the following: •Insurance exchanges will be set up in 2014 to help the uninsured get coverage. •A public option will be available on these exchanges. •Anyone below 133% of the federal poverty line will be eligible for Medicaid. •Anyone between 133% and 300% of the poverty line will get subsidies to buy insurance. •Insurance companies will be required to accept all new customers, even with preexisting conditions. •Annual and lifetime limits on coverage will be prohibited. •Insurance companies will be forbidden from canceling policies when a person got sick. •Insurance companies will not be allowed to charge sick people more than healthy people. •Employers with more than 50 employees will be fined for not providing health insurance. •Small businesses will receive tax credits to help them buy insurance for their employees. •Uninsured individuals will be fined $750 per year. •The size of the Medicare donut hole will be reduced by $500. •Children will be allowed to stay on their parents' policies until age 26. •Policies will have to explain their benefits in a standardized form in simple English. •An appeals process will be created so patients can fight back when coverage is denied. •There are many provisions encouraging preventive medicine. It is of course, expensive, but it will, in best traditions of the Democratic "Pay as You Go" principle, be covered by the new federal revenue streams and will actually REDUCE federal debt. For those who are interested in the full text of the bill, here's the link to all 2074 pages of it. :) Finally, we're moving in the right direction!!! Now, Senate, vote it in! | |
|
| How does it feel when your heart is ripped out? Ask Sheva.  Ukrainian National Team, once again, have lost a playoff for a major tournament. They are now 0-for-4. This chance was probably the last chance Sheva had of playing in the World Cup. I feel his pain. I feel everyone's pain. Ukraine fought as much as they could, deserted by luck, deserted by finishing. I applaud Greek national team on employing a winning stategy, sticking with it, and, when a momentary lapse in Ukrainian defense allowed them, ggrabbing the winning goal and successfully holding it. It came down to taking care of your chances. Greeks took care of them and Ukraine did not. I, as well as so many Ukrainian fans, was destroyed. This bitterness will last a while... | |
|
| Last week, Saturday, to be precise, the US House of Representatives had finally passed their version of Health Care bill. I am extremely optimistic that the health Care reform in this country has finally moved forward, despite significant opposition from the conservatives and blue dog Democrats. It seems that, from this point on, the resistence will remain staunch all along the way. Some people are either happy with today's health care or really do not care for it much at all. I see these conservative types argue that Government-run health care is an assault on capitalism, an assault on freedom, etc. Various slogans are hurled about without any elaboration on the side of those who support these slogans. How is government-run health care destroying our freedom? Should we ask those who are using Medicare, Medicaid, VA, whether their freedom is being assaulted? Are those who are not using government-run health care enjoying freedom in their health care? Not really. Unless you're really well off (and I am talking about the top 1%), you have to use an HMO or PPO (EPO) of some sort. You do not select a doctor and neither the doctor nor the patient select the course of treatment. Your plan does. Your plan decides which doctors you can see, which treatments are allowed for whatever ails you, and what sicknesses you're even allowed to address. At least, the government is not looking for profit, nor engages in multi-million dollar advertisement campaigns. When was the last time you saw a commercial for Medicare, Medicaid, or VA? Exactly. | |
|
| Wear and tear are starting to show on Dynamo's play. Dynamo have been playing twice every week for the last 4-6 weeks. And the opposition has not been slouches. UPL, Champions League, various international matches, now the Ukrainian Cup... Dynamo had to grind their teeth and truly fight to get past Dnipro at the weekend. They were rewarded with a 2:0 road victory against one of the better UPL teams and, since Shakhtar were unable to break Zakarpattya's resistance, a 6-point lead in the UPL standings. But for the Wednesday's Ukrainian Cup quarterfinal match at Shakhtar Donetsk, their one and only true rival, Dynamo simply had no strength left. They did not look fresh, fast, or rested. Shakhtar were definitely fresher. Not being 100% fit is a recipy for disaster against such strong team as Shakhtar. Shakhtar were able to record a 2:0 victory and knock Dynamo out of the competition. The schedule isn't getting easier any time soon. Dynamo are hosting Karpaty Lviv on Saturday in the UPL and Internazionale Milano - on Wednesday in Champions League. After that, on the 8th, Dynamo are in Uzhgorod. A week later, 6 to 8 Dynamo players are putting on Ukrainian National Team jerseys to play in the two-match World Cup qualification play-off against the greeks. Time to put up or shut up. Dynamo coaches, with Gazzaev at the helm, must find a way to regain freshness and strength, so needed down the stretch...
Current Standings of 19th Ukrainian National League Championship
| # |
PR |
Team |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PT |
| 1 |
1 |
Dynamo Kyiv |
11 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
30 |
6 |
31 |
| 2 |
2 |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
11 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
30 |
10 |
25 |
| 3 |
4 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
11 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
13 |
5 |
23 |
| 4 |
5 |
Metalurh Donetsk |
11 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
20 |
12 |
21 |
| 5 |
3 |
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk |
11 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
15 |
7 |
21 |
| 6 |
6 |
Tavriya Simferopil |
11 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
12 |
13 |
17 |
| 7 |
7 |
Karpaty Lviv |
11 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
19 |
16 |
16 |
| 8 |
9 |
Obolon Kyiv |
11 |
5 |
0 |
6 |
12 |
19 |
15 |
| 9 |
8 |
Illichivets Mariupol |
11 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
13 |
17 |
14 |
| 10 |
10 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
16 |
15 |
13 |
| 11 |
13 |
Zorya Luhansk |
11 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
20 |
11 |
| 12 |
11 |
Vorskla Poltava |
11 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
| 13 |
12 |
Chornomorets Odesa |
11 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
19 |
8 |
| 14 |
14 |
Metalurh Zaporizhzhya |
11 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
12 |
25 |
8 |
| 15 |
15 |
Zakarpattya Uzhgorod |
11 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
6 |
19 |
7 |
| 16 |
16 |
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih |
11 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
20 |
4 |
Dynamo Kyiv's 2009/2010 season:
Date |
Trophy |
Opponent |
H/A |
Score |
07/11/09 |
SCU |
Vorskla Poltava |
N |
0:0 |
07/18/09 |
UPL1 |
Chornomorets Odesa |
H |
5:0 |
07/25/09 |
UPL2 |
Tavriya Simferopil |
H |
6:0 |
08/01/09 |
UPL3 |
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih |
A |
3:1 |
08/08/09 |
UPL4 |
Illichivets Mariupol |
H |
3:1 |
08/15/09 |
UC3 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
A |
2:1 |
08/23/09 |
UPL5 |
Vorskla Poltava |
A |
1:1 |
08/31/09 |
UPL6 |
Metalurh Donetsk |
H |
3:1 |
09/12/09 |
UC4 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
A |
1:0 |
09/16/09 |
CLGS1 |
Rubin Kazan (RUS) |
H |
3:1 |
09/20/09 |
UPL7 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
A |
2:1 |
09/26/09 |
UPL8 |
Zorya Luhansk |
H |
2:0 |
09/29/09 |
CLGS2 |
Barcelona (ESP) |
A |
0:2 |
10/03/09 |
UPL9 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
A |
1:0 |
10/17/09 |
UPL10 |
Obolon Kyiv |
H |
2:1 |
10/20/09 |
CLGS3 |
Internazionale Milano (ITA) |
A |
2:2 |
10/24/09 |
UPL11 |
Dnipro Dnipropterovsk |
A |
2:0 |
10/28/09 |
UCQF |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
A |
0:2 |
10/31/09 |
UPL12 |
Karpaty Lviv |
H |
|
11/04/09 |
CLGS4 |
Internazionale Milano (ITA) |
H |
|
11/07/09 |
UPL13 |
Zakarpattya Uzhgorod |
A |
|
11/21/09 |
UPL14 |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
H |
|
11/24/09 |
CLGS5 |
Rubin Kazan (RUS) |
A |
|
11/28/09 |
UPL15 |
Metalurh Zaporizhzhya |
A |
|
12/05/09 |
UPL16 |
Chornomorets Odesa |
A |
|
12/09/09 |
CLGS6 |
Barcelona (ESP) |
H |
|
12/12/09 |
UPL17 |
Tavriya Simferopil |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL18 |
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL19 |
Illichivets Mariupol |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL20 |
Vorskla Poltava |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL21 |
Metalurh Donetsk |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL22 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL23 |
Zorya Luhansk |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL24 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL25 |
Obolon Kyiv |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL26 |
Dnipro Dnipropterovsk |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL27 |
Karpaty Lviv |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL28 |
Zakarpattya Uzhgorod |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL29 |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL30 |
Metalurh Zaporizhzhya |
H |
| | |
|
| Finally movement on Health Care debate:  Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid (D-NV), has announced that the merged Health-Insurance bill that will be discussed on the Senate floor WILL CONTAIN PUBLIC OPTION (with a state opt-out option). Finally, the Senate Democrats had gotten their heads out of their asses long enough to realize that Public Option is what a great majority of people want. It has finally become a time for them to realize that they are the representatives of the people. I am hoping the bill is done before the end of the year. It will provide a stong momentum towards socialing our health care and making it about our health, not corporate profits. There is still a lot uncertainty in this bill, such as eligibility criteria for the public option, how will we pay for it, how will we force the insurers to cover the sick without the pre-existing conditions, etc... In any case, though, the start had been made. Yeehaw! | |
|
| Dynamo are continuing very solid play. Gone are the times when faced with a grans of European football Dynamo would go into the deep defence, which still would not prevent their opposition from crashing Dynamo. Dynamo played honorably against Barcelona in their 2-0 Champions League Game Day 2 loss and outright well in Milan against Internazionale in the 2-2 draw.  Group Stage Group "F" Teams G W D L GS - GA P
FC Barcelona (ESP) 3 1 1 1 3 - 2 4
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 3 1 1 1 5 - 5 4
FC Rubin Kazan (RUS) 3 1 1 1 4 - 5 4
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) 3 0 3 0 3 - 3 3
Dynamo are still in it and still have a good chance to qualify. They need to continue to play well and win their home games. Then they do qualify for the knock-out rounds.
Meanwhile, Dynamo continue to win, albeit with difficulty in Ukrainian Premier League. Two tough wins in the two intra-city derbies have shown Dynamo to have the strain that such a tough schedule is forsing upon the team. But two wins are two wins. Dynamo now lead Shakhtar by 4 points after 10 matches. This is still a very successful season and Gazzaev's team is starting to truly gel.
Current Standings of 19th Ukrainian National League Championship
| # |
PR |
Team |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PT |
| 1 |
1 |
Dynamo Kyiv |
10 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
28 |
6 |
28 |
| 2 |
2 |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
10 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
29 |
9 |
24 |
| 3 |
3 |
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk |
10 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
15 |
5 |
21 |
| 4 |
5 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
10 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
5 |
20 |
| 5 |
8 |
Metalurh Donetsk |
10 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
18 |
12 |
18 |
| 6 |
4 |
Tavriya Simferopil |
10 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
12 |
12 |
17 |
| 7 |
7 |
Karpaty Lviv |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
13 |
15 |
| 8 |
6 |
Illichivets Mariupol |
10 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
14 |
14 |
| 9 |
10 |
Obolon Kyiv |
10 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
11 |
19 |
12 |
| 10 |
9 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
10 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
14 |
14 |
10 |
| 11 |
11 |
Vorskla Poltava |
10 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
| 12 |
15 |
Chornomorets Odesa |
10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
17 |
8 |
| 13 |
13 |
Zorya Luhansk |
10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
18 |
8 |
| 14 |
12 |
Metalurh Zaporizhzhya |
10 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
9 |
22 |
7 |
| 15 |
14 |
Zakarpattya Uzhgorod |
10 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
5 |
18 |
6 |
| 16 |
16 |
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih |
10 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
18 |
4 |
Dynamo Kyiv's 2009/2010 season:
Date |
Trophy |
Opponent |
H/A |
Score |
07/11/09 |
SCU |
Vorskla Poltava |
N |
0:0 |
07/18/09 |
UPL1 |
Chornomorets Odesa |
H |
5:0 |
07/25/09 |
UPL2 |
Tavriya Simferopil |
H |
6:0 |
08/01/09 |
UPL3 |
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih |
A |
3:1 |
08/08/09 |
UPL4 |
Illichivets Mariupol |
H |
3:1 |
08/15/09 |
UC3 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
A |
2:1 |
08/23/09 |
UPL5 |
Vorskla Poltava |
A |
1:1 |
08/31/09 |
UPL6 |
Metalurh Donetsk |
H |
3:1 |
09/12/09 |
UC4 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
A |
1:0 |
09/16/09 |
CLGS1 |
Rubin Kazan (RUS) |
H |
3:1 |
09/20/09 |
UPL7 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
A |
2:1 |
09/26/09 |
UPL8 |
Zorya Luhansk |
H |
2:0 |
09/29/09 |
CLGS2 |
Barcelona (ESP) |
A |
0:2 |
10/03/09 |
UPL9 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
A |
1:0 |
10/17/09 |
UPL10 |
Obolon Kyiv |
H |
2:1 |
10/20/09 |
CLGS3 |
Internazionale Milano (ITA) |
A |
2:2 |
10/24/09 |
UPL11 |
Dnipro Dnipropterovsk |
A |
|
10/28/09 |
UCQF |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
A |
|
10/31/09 |
UPL12 |
Karpaty Lviv |
H |
|
11/04/09 |
CLGS4 |
Internazionale Milano (ITA) |
H |
|
11/07/09 |
UPL13 |
Zakarpattya Uzhgorod |
A |
|
11/21/09 |
UPL14 |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
H |
|
11/24/09 |
CLGS5 |
Rubin Kazan (RUS) |
A |
|
11/28/09 |
UPL15 |
Metalurh Zaporizhzhya |
A |
|
12/05/09 |
UPL16 |
Chornomorets Odesa |
A |
|
12/09/09 |
CLGS6 |
Barcelona (ESP) |
H |
|
12/12/09 |
UPL17 |
Tavriya Simferopil |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL18 |
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL19 |
Illichivets Mariupol |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL20 |
Vorskla Poltava |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL21 |
Metalurh Donetsk |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL22 |
Metalist Kharkiv |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL23 |
Zorya Luhansk |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL24 |
Arsenal Kyiv |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL25 |
Obolon Kyiv |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL26 |
Dnipro Dnipropterovsk |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL27 |
Karpaty Lviv |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL28 |
Zakarpattya Uzhgorod |
H |
|
TBA |
UPL29 |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
A |
|
TBA |
UPL30 |
Metalurh Zaporizhzhya |
H |
| | |
|
| Ukraine is ready to step into the future!Ukrainian National team have placed second in the 6th UEFA WC Qualification group after subjecting Andorra to a 6-0 drubbing and, as such, qualified for the UEFA WC play-offs.  World Cup 2010 Qualification. Group 6England 10 9 0 1 34-6 27
Ukraine 10 6 3 1 21-6 21
Croatia 10 6 2 2 19-13 20
Belarus 10 4 1 5 19-14 13
Kazakhstan 10 2 0 8 11-29 6
Andorra 10 0 0 10 3-39 0 At past Monday's drawing, Greece were chosen to be Ukraine's play-off opponents. The first match will be played November 14 in Greece, and the second leg is November 18 in either Kharkiv or the new DonBas arena in Donetsk. I am excited. After beating England, Ukrainian National team seems capable of getting by Greece. Just one obstacle remains before the Ukrainian National Team and the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Ukrainian National team has already failed twice at this obstacle. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself. Go Ukraine!!!! | |
|
| This march on Washington was far more relevant than the "march" filled with "birthers" and "tea baggers" led by the loony man-child Beck a few weeks back. This march did not include silly slogans and already-disproven phony myths. This was a march of people fighting for what America had been built on - equal opportuinity, protection from discrimination, equal rights. You know, the things that do matter. Marchers did not want "their America back". They wanted what most Americans already had - respect and equality.  And Obama was listening. "The National Equality March coincided with National Coming Out Day, and came a day after President Obama delivered a supportive speech to the nation's largest gay and lesbian rights group.
Obama was praised for his remarks to the Human Rights Campaign, where he said he has urged congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefit and Obligations Act. But Obama has also been criticized by gay rights activists who say he has put those issues -- and the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which bans homosexuals from openly serving in the military -- on the back burner.
"Obama met the march with an important policy speech. He became the first American president to show such a support for the Gay and lesbian movement for equal rights. He did not forget his election platform promises and, perhaps, regained some of the momentum with us, liberals, for standing together with Gay and Lesbian movement. I am satisfied. For now. Actions speak louder than words. Time to repeal the Defense of marriage act and the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. | |
|
| Many said we couldn't do it. We thought we couldn't do it. In the match against England, Ukraine had done the one thing that would allow it to remain on path for the WC2010 - win. Ukraine, for the first time in its footballing history, had managed to defeat a team of England's caliber. A modest 1-0 victory gave ukraine three points and a second place in the WC UEFA qualification group 6, behind England. With one game to go, against Andorra, away, Ukraine may now be almost ascertain of second place finish and a place in the november play-offs. If you ask me, this is fantastic.  Now, we need to beat Andorra and prepare for the play-offs. On the 16th, UEFA will hold the play-off drawing. Since Ukraine are not seeded, we will face one of the 4 seeded nations. At this time, it appears that are possible opponents are Russia, France, Greece, and Portugal. France worry me. The rest are beatable. World Cup 2010 Qualification. Group 6England 9 8 0 1 31-6 24
Ukraine 9 5 3 1 15-6 18
Croatia 9 5 2 2 17-12 17
Belarus 9 4 1 4 19-11 13
Kazakhstan 9 2 0 7 10-27 6
Andorra 9 0 0 9 3-33 0 | |
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