Latest News and Politics from the U.S. - Huffington Post (April 2011 Diet)

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Today, I had the opportunity to get out and visit some of our partners in Chile. We started about 50 kilometers south of Santiago in the small town of Paine and the community of Pintue. A massive earthquake that struck this rural setting last February wrought terrible destruction. Almost half of all the structures were destroyed.As with any earthquake there was little pattern to the destruction, homes fully upright are  interspersed with empty lots -- the rubble has all been cleared. The school is still standing but the police station next door was completely destroyed. Between the two is a bright red container which is part of the ChileConect@Chile project undertaken by Fundacion de Vida Rural as part of their effort to bring connectivity to the affected communities following the earthquake. This organization has been setting up community technology centers in rural communities across Chile with Microsoft support since 2003.More...

Source: Just a Few Meters Can Make All the Difference

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"The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" controversy just doesn't seem to be going away.  The parenting book by Amy Chua is not only a major bestseller, but it has created a firestorm of media attention.The news from Harvard that Chua's daughter, Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld, has just been admitted  may have anxious parents with kids who want to get into the Ivy League opening their bottles of Tums.More...

Source: Isn't It About Time We Gave Moms a Break?

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After the first round of the 2011 Masters finished up on Thursday, some wondered whether this would be Tiger Woods' return to glory. Tiger supporters saw a glimpse of what could be during the second round when the 4-time Masters champion climbed up the leader board to third place at 7-under.Rory McIlroy, who dominated on Thursday and Friday, still holds the lead at 10-under. Jason Day is right behind him at 8-under and K.J. Choi is tied with Woods for third place.More...

Source: Masters 2011 Round Three LIVE UPDATES

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The moment a mother delivers a new person into the world, her next amazing feat begins: producing and delivering the perfect food for that baby.Hormonal changes at delivery trigger the lactation process. Breast milk is the ideal combination of protein, fat, immunity boosting factors and key nutrients to help a baby's body and brain grow strong. The act of nursing also seems to lower mothers' risk of breast and ovarian cancer. For the most part, breastfeeding requires just mom, baby and a comfortable chair or bed. No dishes, no groceries, no bottles! However, this natural process is not without its rough spots. Nipple soreness, anxiety and exhaustion strike most nursing moms at some point. The most important advice to new moms: Don't give up. Make sure to line up expert help from maternity nurses or a lactation consultant.More...

Source: Breastfeeding: Nature's Perfect Baby Food

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The City Council dreams of a Grammy Award-winning rapper appear to be over, for now at least.Rhymefest announced Friday morning on Twitter that his campaign would not seek a recount in Chicago's 20th Ward runoff election, essentially conceding to incumbent Alderman Willie Cochran. It marked the end to a six-month-long political odyssey for the socially conscious rapper, who promised to continue his advocacy for the community despite failing in his bid for alderman.More...

Source: Rhymefest Concedes, No Recount: Alderman Willie Cochran Wins 20th Ward Race

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It is rare that a commentator gets to write a column that is unreservedly rosy and infused with optimism for the future.  This kind of positive punditry doesn't sell newspapers, but I think it's certainly salutary given all that we've had to contend with over the last few years.So, here it goes:  Unemployment is at 8.8%, a 2-year low.  We added 216,000 jobs last month, of which 200,000 were private sector (just what we needed to fill the void left by the receding stimulus).  We've seen a full percentage point drop in unemployment over four months and now economists expect 2.5 million jobs to be created this year.  No doubt, the countervailing news is from the public sector where local governments have shed 416,000 jobs since an employment peak in September 2008, and dropped 15,000 jobs in March.More...

Source: 2011: Obama's Reagan Moment

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Rory McIlroy continued to dominate in the third round of the 2011 Masters and remains atop the leaderboard at 12-under. Tiger Woods shot a 74 on Saturday, dropping to 5-under and tied for ninth place.Will Tiger be able to make a comeback in the final round? Or will McIlroy hold onto the lead and earn his first green jacket? K.J. Choi and three others are tied for second place at 8-under, but will they be able to catch up to McIlroy?More...

Source: Masters 2011 Final Round LIVE UPDATES

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Are social reading sites changing the way we think about reading? Is it the new equivalent to reading in public? People can now start book groups without even leaving their couches. From reading sites that recommend books much in the same way Pandora does for music to sites that allow users to chat about their favorite books, here are some we've found.Did we miss one of your favorite social reading sites? Let us know in the comments!More...

Source: Best Social Reading Sites (PHOTOS)

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Many tributes were paid to Martin Luther King, Jr. on the day commemorating his assassination 43 years ago. One commentary in particular caught my eye and stirred my ire. The noted author, Hampton Sides, contemplating the August 28th unveiling of Dr. King's Memorial on our nation's Mall and the development of four new documentaries about his life, wrote that we should resist deifying Dr. King and remember that he wasn't a saint, but a "sinner."When we erect monuments to our nation's heroes, it is to memorialize them and celebrate their contributions to our country. When standing in the shadow of their magnificent statues, I want to be inspired by their greatness, not reflect upon their character flaws or human frailties. Whenever I visit the Jefferson Memorial, I stand in awe of this true Renaissance man. Would Mr. Sides, instead, have me remember that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence with one hand while holding slaves with the other? Should I ponder Jefferson's hypocrisy rather than his contribution to history?More...

Source: In Defense of Dr. King

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Three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols continues to struggle during the St. Louis Cardinals' slow start to the season.Nine games into the season, Pujols has only recorded five hits, one home run and he is batting .143.More...

: Albert Pujols Continues To Struggle In April