The Weekend Desk Report

Natasha Julius is on special assignment in Wisconsin - something to do with Paul Ryan and yoga. We expect her back next week.

Market Update
Trading on Fiscal Cliffs is up among savvy investors due to boredom; interest will be sure to spike when we go over and volume will go up to 11. Trading on America, however, stalled amidst reports that corporate profits are at record highs and wages at record lows. Oh to be in Iceland now that a long, cold winter has come.

International Report
"The Obama administration secretly gave its blessing to arms shipments to Libyan rebels from Qatar last year, but American officials later grew alarmed as evidence grew that Qatar was turning some of the weapons over to Islamic militants, according to United States officials and foreign diplomats," the New York Times reported this week.

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"Most of the arms shipped at the behest of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to supply Syrian rebel groups fighting the government of Bashar al-Assad are going to hard-line Islamic jihadists, and not the more secular opposition groups that the West wants to bolster, according to American officials and Middle Eastern diplomats," the Times reported last month.

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"There's something wrong when on one hand Americans continue to stand up in support for Egyptians' aspirations for human rights and on the other the US government supplies weapons to the very military regime that is attacking protesters," Amnesty International reported last January.

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U.S. Foreign Arms Sales Make Up Most Of Global Market and (just like corporate profits) U.S. Arms Sales Shoot To Record Levels.

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Yay, Obama!

Psy Ops
"South Korean rapper PSY is still scheduled to perform at Sunday's 'Christmas in Washington' concert at the National Building Museum after he apologized Friday for performing songs with anti-American lyrics at a concert protesting the U.S. military presence in South Korea during the early stages of the Iraq war in 2004," NBC reports.

"The 34-year-old PSY, born Park Jae-Sang, said he was 'deeply sorry' for performing the song 'Dear American,' a song written by the South Korean metal band N.E.X.T. In reference to American soldiers, the song includes the lyrics 'Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law, and fathers/Kill them all slowly and painfully.'"

If only the lyrics were "Arm their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law, and fathers . . ."

Does He Know The Election Is Over?
President Obama is on his way to Michigan to walk with workers - right after he gets done making pot illegal again in Washington and Colorado.

Position Devolving
"A prominent Hispanic Democrat from Illinois is calling out President Obama for not playing a more active role in the immigration reform talks that have begun in Congress," The Hill reports.

"Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who campaigned for the president in swing states with large populations of Latino voters, said Obama is missing in action from the discussions that are taking place on Capitol Hill."

Hey, it's awfully time consuming making gay marriage a states' rights issue while making a federal case out of pot.

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(With thanks to MrJM)

The Week In Review
Steve Rhodes was a guest on WBEZ's Morning Shift on Friday discussing this week's news. Here it is.

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The Weekend Desk Tip Line: Make the magic happen.

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The College Football Report: Musical Cheers.

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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: "They've made their lists and checked 'em twice. Now the big moment has arrived: Jim and Greg reveal the Best Albums of 2012 and hear some of your nominations."

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The Flying Saucer Weekend Brunch Report: Modern takes on old classics!

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The CAN TV Weekend Viewing Report: CAN TV brings you local, relevant issues from Chicago's neighborhoods and communities. See what's happening around the city in education, the arts, government, cultural events, social services and community activities.

Children in Organized Armed Violence at Home & Abroad

Prexy Nesbitt of Columbia College joins this forum on the role of children in armed conflicts abroad and in the United States.

Saturday, December 8 at 8 p.m. on CAN TV21
1 hr. 30 min.

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Why Local Matters: Levers for Community Change

Joan Blough of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation shares systems-focused community efforts that can improve outcomes for young children and their families.

Saturday, December 8 at 9:30 p.m. on CAN TV21
2 hr.

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Opening the Black Box: The Charge is Torture

Co-organized by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Project, this exhibition showcases proposed monuments to memorialize documented cases of torture by the Chicago Police.

Sunday, December 9 at 9 a.m. on CAN TV21
30 min.

Solitary Confinement & Human Rights

Hosted by the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights, this conference brings together academics, activists, survivors, faith community leaders, and community organizers to examine the impact of solitary confinement on prisoners.

Solitary 101 - The U.S.

Jean Casella of Solitary Watch introduces the state of solitary confinement in prisons today.

Sunday, December 9 at 9:30 a.m. on CAN TV21
1 hr.

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Immigration, Supermax Prisons, & Juveniles

Susan Gzesh of the University of Chicago moderates a panel on how solitary confinement effects different populations, such as immigrants and juveniles.

Sunday, December 9 at 11 a.m. on CAN TV21
2 hr.

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Solitary Confinement & Mental Health

Terry Kupers of The Wright Institute explains the psychological impact of solitary confinement on inmates.

Sunday, December 9 at 1 p.m. on CAN TV21
1 hr. 30 min.

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