Following Senator Nelson's infamous "Nebraska Compromise", which forces the other 49 states to pay for Nebraska's new Medicaid recipients, journalists, legislators, and citizens have lashed out for what has been labeled a "sleazy back-room deal" by many folks across the political spectrum.

While reasonable people debate the pros and cons of the current health insurance reform bills, little is being said about one particularly insidious amendment.  For the sake of clarity, let's call it "Big Pharma's Biological Bonanza".

A Harvard University study suggests that the severity of H1N1 was oversold to the public.  It is unclear how H1N1 will affect public health over the coming months, but thus far, it has proven far less deadly than original predictions by the medical, pharmaceutical, and government communities.

According to Wolfgang Knorr, of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, the fraction of atmospheric carbon dioxide has not increased in the last 160 years.  His findings, published in the Geophysical Research Letters, appear to contradict the climate consensus on CO2 emission levels, often viewed as the main culprit for anthropogenic global warming.

One of the world's most accurate trends forecasters is predicting the rise of a viable 3rd party by 2012.  Gerald Celente, of the Trends Research Institute is making some dire predictions for 2010 and 2012.  Celente is considered a "Prophet of Doom" by many, but a highly credible track record makes his prognostications difficult to ignore.  Here's an abridged version of his accurate predictions over the last couple of decades:

1.  Stock market crash of 1987

Although California languishes near the bottom of the nation in educational performance, rays of hope are emerging.

The state legislature nicknamed California "The Golden State" back in 1968.  Although politically and socially the "land of milk and honey" was experiencing turmoil due to riots, assassinations, and walk-outs, both economy and industry developed a burgeoning middle class and housing market.  Although anti-communist Ronald Reagan presided over the state in 1968, this historic year shows the dramatic social and political changes that would lead California onto the path of destruction.

Representing 20% of the state's electorate, Independents are the only growing bloc of voters in California.  According to the latest poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Independents could serve as a key indicator for next year's mid-term elections.  Here are some of the pertinent highlights on several, critical statewide and national issues:

Top issues for 2010-

For centuries now Americans have made several truly unique, earth-shattering, game-changing contributions to the world, often in the form of ideas. One of those ideas is Federalism: government doesn't all have to be in one place or consist of a single monolithic body. There can be multiple levels of government with distinct jurisdictions, roles, and responsibilities.

Individuals and businesses continue to flee the golden state.  Last year, California lost another 98,000 residents, continuing a trend long in the making over the last decade.  Even despite a housing crash and 10% nationwide unemployment, Californians are still leaving in droves.