The first of a three-night stand, 6/29/2010: Ian Hunter joins Escovedo for the encore: "I Wish I Was Your Mother."
Down in the Bowery (with the longer intro):
A Blog Smith is analogous to Hephaestus (as a blacksmith) in that they create from writing by "forging" the basic materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: ideas, IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Ian Hunter Joins Alejandro Escovedo at the City Winery, NYC
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sen. Coburn pressed Kagan today on the limits of the government's power under the commerce clause.
Why does the obvious answer to this question flummox Kagan?
CA Teacher: Scott Brown a Nazi
6th grader Sam Besserman reports: when Scott Brown Won My Teacher Said the Nazi’s Are Taking Over.
Beverly Vista School District, CA, had no comment.
Yale Prof: `Obama The Most Radical President Ever'
Yale professor, Richard L Rubenstien, states: "He [Obama] is looking to correct the mistake that is the creation of the state of Israel."
Target Tehran? Israel, US ‘prepare to attack Iran’
Reports are circulating that the U.S is amassing a greater military presence in the Middle East. The alleged build up is also rumoured to involve the Israeli use of Saudi Arabian air space. It’s thought by some to be in preparation for an attack on Iran.
SANTELLI TO GOVERNMENT: STOP SPENDING! STOP SPENDING! STOP SPENDING! 6-28-2010
Rick Santelli states "Go read some Austrian economist instead of the funny pages." Santelli tells Liesman, to which the response is "I am ready to talk about Fred Hayek, John Hayek, and Selma Hayek." Followed promptly by the Santelli coup du jour: "Go back to Russia where you understand the state and the citizen."
Monday, June 28, 2010
August 13, 2007 from WXPN, Ian Hunter: Ageless and Energized, Interview and In-Studio Performance
Set List
* "Shrunken Heads"
* "World Was Round"
* "All the Young Dudes"
* "Memphis"
Ian Hunter, June 22, 2007 from WXPN
Set List
* "Once Bitten Twice Shy"
* "Twisted Steel"
* "Big Mouth"
* "Dead Man Walking"
* "Soul of America"
* "Shrunken Heads"
* "When the World Was Round"
* "All The Way From Memphis"
Ian Hunter on Alejandro Escovedo's, Street Songs of Love, Down In The Bowery
Ian Hunter sings on "Down in the Bowery." The Ian Hunter collaboration made sense for many reasons: "I've known Ian for quite awhile now. I've gotten to work with him somewhat, opening up shows, playing on the same bill. He played on the tribute album for me which helped me get through my health situation that I was in when I was sick," Escovedo explains. (Escovedo had an extremely serious bout with Hepatitis-C several years ago and a number of musicians united to help defray his mounting medical costs since he, like many musicians and artists, had no medical insurance.)
"He's become a really cool mentor and a friend to me...I've always loved his music. It's interesting that he would sing on this song which is a song that I wrote for my son, who is 18 years old and - you know - angry young man, loves punk rock and graffiti art and is a singer in a band and kind of like an outcast in a way. And the song basically says that I love him and that I will support basically anything he becomes, because I love him just the way he is, so it encourages him to pursue his dream. No one ever told me those kind of things when I was a kid, except for the songs I listened to on the radio and on records. Ian Hunter's songs were a large part of that for me."
Cf. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-cara-price/alejandro-escovedo-talks_b_627165.html
"There's One Birth Certificate We Haven't Seen"
I wonder who he means?
Representative King's (IA-5, R) comments on the floor of the House is "progressive" generational theft but he makes an offhand comment about not seeing one particular long form birth certificate.
Reporters Mock Palin After Speech: Not Really Objective, Eh?
Several people were caught on an open mike mocking Sarah Palin for delivering a "roller coaster"-type speech after she addressed California State University, Stanislaus on Friday.
As the former Alaska governor stepped off stage at the sold-out dinner fundraiser and the sound of applause faded away, voices identified as reporters in a viral video could be heard one after another cracking jokes about the speech.
"Oh my God, I feel like I just got off a roller coaster, going round and round, and up and down. Sh-t flying out … everywhere," one said, as someone else made whooshing sounds.
Another one chimed in, comparing the address to the work of a sloppy college student.
"When you’ve got to write a report as a college student and you just try to jam as many quotes in as possible … That’s what I got," he said.
Someone else added: "She didn’t finish a statement."
Then another voice could be heard cutting through, saying: "Did she make a statement, because I didn’t catch that either."
Obama Dealt Crony to Blago for Senate Seat
This audio excerpt from a Blagojevich wiretap dated November 7, 2008 implicates Obama and Blagojevich in a quid pro quo to sell Obama’s old Senate seat. It reveals that Obama used SEIU major players Andy Stern and Tom Balanoff to negotiate with Blagojevich. It also reveals that Obama wants Valerie Jarrett to obtain the Senate seat.
Iran Warship Update
The Pentagon has confirmed that a fleet of 12 warships has passed the Suez Canal, and is now likely awaiting orders to support the escalation in the Persian Gulf. The attached image from Stratfor shows the latest positioning of US aircraft carrier groups as of June 23: the USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) is now right next to USS Eisenhower (CVN 69), both of which are waiting just off Iran's coast.
Obama Calling Bluff of Those Complaining About Debt He Created
Obama Calling Bluff of Those Complaining About Debt He Created.
"Somehow people say, why are you doing that, I'm not sure that's good politics. I'm doing it because I said I was going to do it and I think it's the right thing to do. People should learn that lesson about me because next year when I start presenting some very difficult choices to the country, I hope some of these folks who are hollering about deficits and debt step-up because I'm calling their bluff. We'll see how much of that, how much of the political arguments that they're making right now are real and how much of it was just politics."
Supreme Court rules that all Americans have fundamental right to bear arms
McDonald v. Chicago, by a 5-4 vote, affirmed a natural born citizen's right to firearms against the City of Chicago which sought to deny him his Constitutional rights.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
9/11 Museum will honor Muslims, Obama Scholar Tied to Ground Zero Imam
In addition to other individuals and groups, the museum will represent the “voices of American Muslims in particular, and it will honor members of other communities who came together in support and collaboration with the Muslim community on September 11 and its aftermath,” says Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, or ASMA. Our very own Jenny Pachucki, an oral historian with the museum, is collaborating with ASMA to ensure the perspective of American Muslims is woven into the overall experience of the future museum.
The 9/11 Museum will honor Muslims according to the advocacy group planning the work in New York. The museum will receive direction from an Obama scholar linked to the 'Ground Zero' imam. Vartan Gregorian wrote a book which according to a book review by the Middle East Forum, Gregorian's book "establishes the Islamist goal of world domination."
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Police Enforce Sharia Law in Dearborn, MI
'Apparently the Constitution carries little weight in Dearborn since I have been waiting to see why the Christian preachers were detained at Arabfest 2010. The video of their alleged infraction has been recorded. Fortunately for the intrepid preachers the Thomas More Law Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan has agreed to represent them in further legal action. The preachers were arrested on charges of breach of the peace.
Firefox Crash Protection
One of the most bedeviling annoyances in the last several months has been fixed by Mozilla. In last night's updating Firefox included a nifty feature called “Crash Protection” (Windows, Linux only) that prevents plugins from crashing the whole browser. According to Mozilla wiki, it does that by running Adobe Flash, Apple QuickTime and Microsoft Silverlight in a separate process called plugin-container.
Palestinian Children's Hit Song: Martyrdom
The 'Birds of Paradise' produces a song in which small children embrace martyrdom to regain Palestine.
A Palestinian Arabic children's choir has been racking up views all over the world with the new YouTube hit "when we die as martyrs, we will go to heaven."
According to The Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), one of the world's most comprehensive data centers on radical Islamic terrorist groups, the song is a hit on Arabic and worldwide websites and the children's choir performing it fast is becoming one of the most popular children's groups in the Arab world.
In the video clip, which can be viewed on the popular video sharing site YouTube, a prepubescent girl sings in front of what seems to be a group of children in pre-school the lyrics "Without Palestine, what does childhood mean?" Allah is invoked to bring his wrath down on those who oppose Palestinian violence.
Pam Geller demonstrates the critical contrast with a traditional American understanding of children.
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Lyrics are for educational purposes only; the copyright remains in the hands of the lawful owners.
Kid Says No Golf for Obama
In 18 mos, Barry’s golfed 39 times (7 since the oil rig explosion) as compared to Bush’s 24 golfing expeditions in 8 yrs.
Out of the mouths of babes:
About Obama – "I’m not sure if he should actually be golfing right now."
Obama Trashed the Military: McChrystal Responded, as He Did Before
Secrets From Inside the Obama War Room reveals the background in the machinations between the neophyte Obama and the actual war leaders, McChrystal and Petraeus. Obama is out of his element and I wonder how deep the dissatisfaction is between the White House and the troops. The evidence that the top military leadership is bucking Obama is a good sign that they have not bought into Obama's naivete which is a good thing. On the other hand, it puts our troops at risk and means we have to wait for a regime change to develop an effective Afghanistan policy.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Game Culture in MA Media Culture programme
This video was produced for the course Game Culture in MA Media Culture programme at Maastricht University. It focuses on the economic aspect of computer games, particularly on virtual economy and gold farming.
Chu, BP Backed Cap & Tax Since 2007 in Cozy Relationship with Big Oil
In 2007 Steven Chu and UC Berkeley partnered to accept a $500 million investment from BP to form the Energy BioSciences Institute. BP was slated then to "help save the world." Chu, appointed by Obama, and BP failed.
BP Chairman Tony Hayward stated in June 2007:
From BP’s perspective, the evidence that climate change is happening, and that it is manmade, is mounting all the time. As the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found, the evidence is almost overwhelming. We could wait until the science is 100% certain, but BP believes that, as an energy company, it has a duty to act pre-emptively. When you balance the likely impacts of not taking action against the real opportunities that exist to take action, it is difficult to believe that humanity will not move towards a solution to climate change…
We need to ensure that the costs of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are included in the price we pay for everything – whether it be a television, a train journey, or switching on a light – all should reflect the cost of emissions in their price.
This can be achieved through a Cap and Trade system, taxation, or regulation.
Dutch police use 'decoy Jews' to stop anti-Semitic attacks
Dutch police use 'decoy Jews' to stop anti-Semitic attacks.
In a broadcast of the Dutch TV program "The Five W's" by the [Dutch] Jewish Broadcasting Organization, one can see Rabbi Lody van de Kamp walk with two students though Amsterdam where he is threatened by Moroccan youths. One of them even gives him a Hitler salute.
In the TV program Van de Kamp raises the alarm about the growing anti-Semitism in the Netherlands. He wants Jews to be able to walk normally in all areas of the city, and at present that is not the case.
"It happens regularly that one is mocked," says Rabbi Van de Kamp. The two students also claim to have been harassed often when they walk through the city.
In other cities of the Netherlands there have also been reports filed with the police because Jews were attacked.
Last week it became known that the Amsterdam borough "De Baarsjes" even has a hidden synagogue, because Jews are afraid of trouble otherwise.[1]
Last week PvdA member Ahmed Marcouch called for the deployment of a lokjood ["decoy Jew"] to halt the growing anti-Semitism.
"As far as I am concerned, you may deploy a decoy Jew, but you must nab them. You must do everything to increase the chances of getting them. These look like they are just incidents, but this is serious."
Signs of Serious Disagreements Between Military and Obama's Clowns
General McChrystal is being summoned to Obama to apologize for anti-administration comments although the real discussion should be about war policy and the mission in Afghanistan. Clearly the military concerns are not going to be addressed although we already knew that since Obama dithered about Afghanistan for months before deciding to send more troops. It is unfortunate that the regime is so pig-headed and defensive that political opportunism is considered more important than war-time policy but this is contemporary politics as practiced in D.C.
It is certainly the case that American history bears out the view that the military remains under civilian control and McChrystal's comments are ill-considered for public consumption. However, the facade of a lackluster, uninvolved Obama clearly demonstrates that he is no Truman talking to a MacArthur.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Oklahoma to vote on banning Sharia Law
The Oklahoma legislature has approved a ballot initiative which will ask voters whether or not to ban state judges from using Sharia law and international law to decide the outcome of cases.
In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News on June 18, the author of the bill, Rex Duncan (R-Sand Springs) predicted that legislators in other states will draft similar proposals to his and stated that a vote on the issue in Oklahoma was “years overdue.” He said that Muslims who adhere to Sharia law in their private lives are insisting that the courts enforce it in regard to domestic disputes in the United States. He believes that if Sharia is accepted here, “It would be the same cancer upon American courts it is in Great Britain.”
Is It Iran? Iraq? Saudi Arabia? No, Its Dearborn, Michigan, USA
This is a procession in the remembrance of Imam Hussein (A.S.). Chelum or Arbaeen is the 40th day after Ashura (The day Imam Hussain (A.S.) was martyred) 40 days after his murder he was given a coffin.
Not one American flag is in evidence, nor are any women visible: Welcome to America, 2010.
Sen. Nelson, `No Constitutional Authority to Shakedown BP'
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said he does not know that President Obama had the constitutional authority to tell BP it had to surrender its stockholders' money.
Eyewitness States No Long Form Birth Certificate for Obama
Tim Adams, the former senior elections clerk for the city and county of Honolulu was interviewed by Gene Birk of ABC affiliate WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, Ky.
WND BORN IN THE USA?
Elections official hits TV to affirm no Hawaii birth
Tells network affiliate hospital certificate non-existent, cites racism for controversy
Posted: June 20, 2010
5:19 pm Eastern
By Joe Kovacs
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
In direct contradiction of the White House storyline, the former Honolulu elections official who caused a national stir this month when he told WND Barack Obama was "definitely" not born in Hawaii, and that no long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate even exists for the president in the Aloha State is now reaffirming those claims to a network television affiliate.
Tim Adams, the former senior elections clerk for the city and county of Honolulu was interviewed by Gene Birk of ABC affiliate WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, Ky.
"As of the time I was in Hawaii working in the elections office," said Adams, "we had many people who were asking about the eligibility of Senator Obama to be president. I was told at the time there is no long-form birth record, which would have been the case if President Obama was born in [a] hospital in Honolulu. There is no such form in Hawaii."
"[Obama] does have a [Certification] of Live Birth, which is given to children of families who are residents of Hawaii when children are born outside the state. So, I assert that he was born outside of Hawaii. Now, we can't tell you where he was born. Some of his family members said that he had been born while his mother was on a trip overseas."
"When I mentioned this, it got people's attention. They also did not like my conclusions that since President Obama does have a [Certification] of Live Birth from the state of Hawaii, that he was born a U.S. citizen. And during the initial part of the campaign, when questions about his eligibility to be president came up – including Senator McCain because he was born in Panama – that both these men were vetted by the same process as any other presidential candidate. So, while we may not agree, some people say that because of Article 2 of the Constitution, President Obama was not eligible to be president. That's not a question that we can answer.
"The people who are in charge of saying who is eligible to run for president have already vouched that he was indeed an eligible candidate. If we disagree with that, we don't need to go after the man. We need to look at the process by which candidates are vetted for public office."
The interviewer, apparently looking to reaffirm what he was just told, asked Adams again, "So let me understand what you're saying. There is no long-form birth certificate, because he was not born on U.S. soil."
"Correct," responded Adams.
"But there is a Certification of Birth, which is what this is," said Birk, as he looked at a photocopy of Obama's purported short-form, computer-generated Certification of Live Birth, a document which does not specify the hospital where Obama might have been born nor any doctor's name or signature.
"A facsimile of it has been put online," said Adams.
Birk responded, "Yes, and in your opinion, this means regardless of where he was born, he was a U.S. citizen at birth."
"Yes," said Adams, reiterating his personal opinion that Obama is eligible to hold office and that the question would have been answered when the Democratic National Committee vetted him to run for public office prior to the 2008 election.
Adams' claims are starkly different from those of the White House.
Adams does appear naive and he has his own idealistic and liberal views, which is certainly his right, however, he makes a textbook case for authenticity since he clearly favors Obama's policies yet he effectively squashes any hope that Obama is constitutionally eligible to be president.
Sen. Kyl: 'Obama Says No Border Security without Amnesty'
At an Arizona town hall meeting this past Friday, Republican Senator Jon Kyl told his constituents that Obama privately insisted that he will not secure the border until amnesty for illegal aliens passes first. According to Kyl, Obama argued that Democrats would lose their bargaining chips for any type of amnesty if the government beefs up its presence on the chaotic border. “The problem is,” Obama allegedly told Kyl, "If we secure the border, then you all won’t have any reason to support comprehensive immigration reform.”
Transcript (at 3:21):
SEN. JON KYL: I met with the president in the Oval Office, just the two of us… Here’s what the president said. “The problem is,” he said, "If we secure the border, then you all won’t have any reason to support comprehensive immigration reform.”
[gasps from the audience]
KYL: In other words they’re holding it hostage. They don’t want to secure the border unless and until it is combined with comprehensive immigration reform. I explained, “You and I have an obligation to secure the border. That’s an obligation. It also has some potentially positive benefits. You don’t have to have comprehensive immigration to secure the border, but you have to have a secure border to get comprehensive immigration reform. You may be surprised, maybe you don’t think that there’d be any more incentive, but I’m not so sure that that’s true. In any event, it doesn’t matter we’re supposed to secure the border.”
That’s why this is being done. They want to get something in return for doing their duty. And that’s—
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Chicago politics.
KYL: Yeah.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Why Green Energy Will Not Work: Cap & Tax is a Disaster
Your household consumes approximately 7,807 kWh/year.
Your household consumes approximately 309 CCFs/year.
The average U.S. household consumes 11,000 kWh/year and 700 CCFs of natural gas.
Your household emits an annual average of 18,032 of CO2 per year.
The average U.S. household produces 24,849 lbs. of CO2 per year.
What If There Were Cell Phones in 1977?
Of course there were none but this artist imagined what it would be like if future technologically was retrofitted for the past. This is the result.
`Impeach Obama:' Democratic Candidate from Texas’ 22nd Congressional District
Invitation to May 29th Town Hall Meeting from Kesha for Congress on Vimeo.
Kesha Rogers unsettles many since her campaign is pro-American and a return to classical education. Her campaign website features patriotic songs states clearly "Down With the Traitors."
Saturday, June 19, 2010
BIG SIS: Internet Domination Needed to Control Americans
Civil Rights Clampdown in D.C. With all the tools that the Federal government has at its disposal Big Sis has a real nerve to ask for more power over the Americans. None of the reasons she cites is compelling at all. According to the Patriot Act the Feds can sweep in and out of every nook and cranny of American's lives. This attempt to dominate more over the Americans is a power play pure and simple.
Islamist Group Back to Rule World
The Islamist group that kicked up controversy for its "Fall of Capitalism & Rise of Islam" conference last year is slated to return to Chicago next month to hold its second Khilafah Conference, "Emerging World Order: How the Khilafah Will Shape the World." The goal is to persuade attendees to "answer the call" to "join the campaign" for a Khilafah, or global Islamic empire.
It is haram or "legally forbidden by Islamic law" to participate in a democracy. Islam is first and the people follow. Human laws, such as an American Constitution, contradict Islam and its laws. Democracy will destroy itself from within. You can not work from within, from the perspective of a political party, because you would have to represent non-Muslims as well. The political process itself is haram. Muslims have to work outside the political process to advance Islam. Cf. especially after the 3:00 mark, interview with Dr. Abdul Wahid, Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain interviewed about the hizb on the UK's Ummah Channel: 31 January 2010.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Pat Condell, Wake Up, America, speaks out on free speech, no criticism of Islam
Internet personality Pat Condell on the latest abomination from Obama. Condell references the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam. Ireland passed a libel and blasphemy bill. Meanwhile, the Dutch are going ahead to prosecute Geert Wilders.
Obama's Fellow Muslims Rate Him Lower Since Cairo
Approval of policies down since Cairo speech in 2009. The Cairo speech was allegedly to re-set the Muslim view of the U.S. It has not worked.
NASA: Cosmic 'superstorm' more crippling than 20 Katrinas
The video was speeded up to reveal four hours of actual time and some 70,000-80,000 miles of space. Analysts say the entire planet Earth could fit between the plasma streamers with room to spare.
