Blog Smith

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.

Friday, December 31, 2010

111th Congress Added More Debt Than First 100 Congresses Combined:

$10,429 Per Person in U.S.

How to drum like Ringo Starr

The Fab Faux's Rich Pagano on The Beatles' sticksman.

The Blues

Lesson Plans

Spain Goes on Mosque-Building Spree

Churches Forced to Close.

Military Control in America: Skywatch

Promo video

Cf. http://www.icxt.com/products/icx-surveillance/integrated-platforms/skywatch/SkyWatch-video/

SkyWatch Frontier

The SkyWatch Frontier was developed with the intention of being deployed with our military forces and, as such, provides optional ballistic capabilities for those areas in which enemy activity is at its highest. Due to this inherent design, the SkyWatch Frontier can meet the rigors of expeditionary missions not only for the military, but for border patrol and high level security arenas as well.

Cf. http://www.icxt.com/products/icx-surveillance/integrated-platforms/skywatch/skywatch-applications/

The Park Police also utilized their own SkyWatch™ mobile surveillance towers to assist with crowd management and surveillance [at the Independence Day celebrations in our Nation’s capital]. . . . In addition to celebrations on the National Mall, ICx products and services support security operations at other national icons across the United States, including the Statue of Liberty and the Hoover Dam.

Cf. http://www.icxt.com/news/150/27/

News Crew Attacked: “What went down was something that should not happen here in the United States of America"

TV Crew Covering Another Holiday for Obama Claims Mistreatment

Censored

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Ian Hunter discussing Arthur Lee & Love

Ian Hunter, along with Robert Plant, Ryan Adams, Garland Jeffreys, Nils Lofgren and more, played a special benefit show at NYC's Beacon Theater on June 23, 2006, for Arthur Lee who was struggling with leukemia.

Dr. Walter Williams: Why government central planning equals tyranny

TSA: Disabled Woman Thrown to Floor, Arrested for Refusing Breast Pat Down Search


Woman arrested after refusing enhanced pat down.

(Austin TX) Early Wednesday morning, a computer glitch shut down a security checkpoint for a couple of hours at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The line snaked out the door as many travelers waited for more than an hour and some missed their flights. One of the first people in line after that shutdown never made it through. She was arrested and banned from the airport.

Claire Hirschkind, 56, who says she is a rape victim and who has a pacemaker-type device implanted in her chest, says her constitutional rights were violated. She says she never broke any laws. But the Transportation Security Administration disagrees.

Hirschkind was hoping to spend Christmas with friends in California, but she never made it past the security checkpoint.

"I can't go through because I have the equivalent of a pacemaker in me," she said.

Hirschkind said because of the device in her body, she was led to a female TSA employee and three Austin police officers. She says she was told she was going to be patted down.

"I turned to the police officer and said, 'I have given no due cause to give up my constitutional rights. You can wand me,'" and they said, 'No, you have to do this,'" she said.

Hirschkind agreed to the pat down, but on one condition.

"I told them, 'No, I'm not going to have my breasts felt,' and she said, 'Yes, you are,'" said Hirschkind.

When Hirschkind refused, she says that "the police actually pushed me to the floor, (and) handcuffed me. I was crying by then. They drug me 25 yards across the floor in front of the whole security."

An ABIA spokesman says it is TSA policy that anyone activating a security alarm has two options. One is to opt out and not fly, and the other option is to subject themselves to an enhanced pat down. Hirschkind refused both and was arrested.

Other travelers KVUE talked to say they empathize with Hirschkind, but the law is the law.

"I understand her side of it, and their side as well, but it is for our protection so I have no problems with it," said Gwen Washington, who lives in Killeen.

"It's unfortunate that that happened and she didn't get to fly home, but it makes me feel a little safer," said Emily Protine.

The TSA did release a statement Wednesday that said in part, "Our officers are trained to treat all passengers with dignity and respect. Security is not optional."

The TSA says less than three percent of travelers get a pat-down.

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."

—Benjamin Franklin

Rendell: Wimps?

Commentary: Have we become a nation of whiners and wimps?

Beginning Jan. 1, 10,000 a day will turn 65. That will continue for the next 19 years.


Risking Social Security Bankruptcy by 2017.

Tea Party Turncoat Scott Brown

Big Boost for Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal: Brown Backs Senate Bill

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Muslim Student Interrups Lecture: Talk of Pork Offensive to Religion

Muslims find 'ham' comment hard to swallow.

Top 7 Project Based Learning Sites

The Magic and Rigor of Paideia from Grant Zimmerman The Magic and Rigor of Paideia from Grant Zimmerman on Vimeo.

Obama Squashes 'death panels' Talk

White House attempts to quiet revived talk of 'death panels'.

American Retreat: China deploying new carrier-killing missile...

Chinese missile shifts power in Pacific.

Foreign Banks Profit From Fed

Non-US banks gain from Fed crisis fund.

Pilot Blows Whistle on Poor TSA Security

I am the YouTube airline pilot.

Obama Lover Chris Matthews: Why Doesn't Obama Just Release The Birth Certificate?

RealClearPolitics - Video - Chris Matthews

Just 21% Want Feds to Control Net

FCC to Regulate Internet, Most Fear Regulation Would Promote Political Agenda.

Court Rejects Obama Attack on American Civil Rights

Court Rebuffs Obama on Warrantless Cell-Site Tracking

Monday, December 27, 2010

Outgoing Democrat Blames Chinese For Loss?

Chinese?

RealClearPolitics - Video - Outgoing Democrat Blames Chinese For Loss?

"I think it's strangling us," Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) said. "They're in the halls of Congress everywhere, and it means, for example, that you sit on a committee and you say something about concern about Chinese influence or something, you don't even know if in the next election, somehow or another, they manage to send some money to some group that now doesn't even have to say where they got it."

Just 29 percent of the registered voters surveyed by Fox News and Opinion Dynamics said they believed Obama would win

64 percent said they expected him to lose.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Malkin: Omnibus Double Whammy — Land Grab!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

James Clapper - "He Didn't Know About London..."

Town Taxes Christians

'Driveway fee' assessed against churches based on number of seats in worship centers.

Yeah, I feel safe with Manny, Moe, and Big Sis in charge

Nation’s Intelligence Chief Unaware of Significant U.K. Terror Plot; Focused on Other Things, White House Says.

'Christmas is evil': British Muslim Campaign

Group launches poster campaign against festive period.

Seattle, Naziland

Seattle Buses, Nazi Trucks: Different Times & People, Same Demons

Racist Chinese Communists Ban English

Perhaps the Chinese are leading the fight to replace English as the lingua franca of the world.

Metro begins random bag searches

One man who muttered "1935" and "Hitler;" The ACLU is questioning their constitutionality and the D.C. Bill of Rights Coalition and the Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition are following suit.

Drastic Measures for School District: Sweet Free Zone

In St. Paul schools, the not-so-sweet life.

Euro Trash

Year of bullying, bluff and bailouts leaves euro fighting for its life.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Christmas Round-Up

DC Metro randomly inspects passengers' bags.


By a 3-2 vote, Federal telecommunications regulators approved new rules Tuesday that would for the first time give the federal government formal authority to regulate Internet traffic, although how much or for how long remained unclear. The rules would prohibit Internet providers from "unreasonably discriminating" against rivals' Internet traffic or services on wired or wireless networks; you mean, as required in free market capitalist enterprises? The FCC proposal contains language suggesting the agency would try to discourage creation of such high-speed toll lanes; you mean, as if people have a choice in services as is required in free market capitalism?

The net neutrality case for government regulation of the Internet began with Robert McChesney, a University of Illinois communications professor. He stated: "At the moment, the battle over network neutrality is not to completely eliminate the telephone and cable companies," he told the website SocialistProject in 2009. "But the ultimate goal is to get rid of the media capitalists in the phone and cable companies and to divest them from control." In 2008, McChesney wrote in the Marxist journal Monthly Review that "any serious effort to reform the media system would have to necessarily be part of a revolutionary program to overthrow the capitalist system itself." McChesney told John Fund, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal that he is a socialist and said he was "hesitant to say I'm not a Marxist" (i.e., meaning, he is.)

Christmas Sweater Club Punished At High School.


Hans Rosling's 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats - BBC Four, 4:48


William Buckley interviews Huey Newton on Firing Line, 1972, 5:06


Dana Loesch on Spitzer, 8:03


Philly News: "Teacher salaries issue sharpens across region; "You almost have class warfare here," said the president of the school board.

Dad Life, 2:54


'Pedophile guide' author busted on obscenity charges; "Unfortunately, the federal government under this Barack Obama administration does not seem to be up to the task," the Liberty Counsel attorney laments. "Of course it's not surprising, in that this administration looks at sexuality pretty much in completely subjective and relative terms."

British arrest preacher for saying homosexuality a sin; however, a judge ruled that telling a street preacher that it is against the law to affirm the Bible's teaching on homosexuality is costing a team of British police officers some $11,000 – plus legal fees, 1:46.

The U.K.'s Public Order Act includes language that is similar to Obama's "hate crimes" law in the U.S. that he signed more than a year ago in that they ban some statements regarding homosexuality.


Bing Crosby & David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth, 4:23


Satchmo, Cool Yule, 3:00


The History of Christmas Tree Lights on the Internet, 3:18


THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY, 2:58


The Digital Nativity, 5:01


Dante Boogie

Monday, December 20, 2010

Vocal by Stan Freberg in 1955. Animated in 2009.

Vocal by Stan Freberg in 1955. Animated in 2009.

Ian Hunter, Town Crier Cafe, Pawling, NY, 19 December 2010

Entrance

1)23A Swan Hill
2)Words (Big Mouth)
3)Arms & Legs
4)Great Escape
5)Soul Of America
6)Man Overboard
7)Wash Us Away
8)Boy
9)Flowers
10)River Of Tears
11)Waterlow
12)Girl From the Office
13)Sweet Jane
Encore:
Little Star(solo)
Union Jack(solo)
Somewhere
Whole Lotta Shakin'

23A Swan Hill


Soul Of America


Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On


Irene Wilde

Irene Wilde


I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas
Michael Picasso
I Wish I was Your Mother

I Wish I Was Your Mother


Roll Away The Stone/All The Young Dudes

Roll Away The Stone/All The Young Dudes


Nuttin' For Christmas by Art Mooney & Orchestra

Vocals by Barry Gordon. MGM Records.











Facebook's Zuckerberg visits office of China search firm Baidu

Why a visit?

"It might very well be that [Zuckerberg and Li] are talking about a licensing deal or a revenue-sharing arrangement."

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg visited the campus of China's largest search engine Baidu on Monday. Baidu confirmed that Zuckerberg had made the visit, but it wouldn't comment on what they were talking about. Zuckerberg's girlfriend is Chinese and has family in the country. In another interview with the media, the Facebook CEO said he has a personal interest in China and even takes daily Chinese language lessons. Facebook, however, is currently blocked in China, along with other popular U.S. sites such as YouTube and Twitter. China's government routinely monitors and block websites for politically sensitive content.

The Cartel - Corruption in Public Schools


This clip from the documentary film "The Cartel," by Bob Bowdon, discusses the corruption occurring in some of New Jersey's Public Schools.

For more information, visit the film's website:
http://www.TheCartelMovie.com

The Religion of Peace Threatens the Pope in London


Check out the segment from 4.20 to 4.35 for an example of religious tolerance.

“With the ideology of truth, we will dominate over all other ways, democracy, secularism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddism. All of them will be under the foot of Islam. And so what?

The following commentary is taken directly from Michael Waller’s Political Warfare blog;

“In this YouTube video, shot September 18, 2010, the protesters can be seen threatening the leader of the world’s Catholics with their “Pope Benedict, you will pay” chant, and holding signs calling for the seat of the Catholic church to be controlled by shariah law. (See the Center for Security Policy’s new report, Shariah – Threat to America, also released this week.)

The words are not overheated rhetoric – they are calls for the pope to be murdered, and a declaration of war on Christians and others.

At 2 minutes and 26 seconds into the video, a militant named Anjem Choudary changes the chant to “Pope Benedict, you will pay/Justice is on its way.”

“Justice,” under shariah law, requires Christians either to convert to Islam, be killed, or submit to Islamic rule as dhimmis.

Amid cries of “Allahu akhbar,” another militant, Abu Rayah, implies that Pope Benedict is a military enemy of Muslims, as a leader of the “crusades.” He exhorts listeners to recall that “this war against Islam and Muslims is military and ideological as well.”

Abu Rayah denounces Pope Benedict for criticizing Islam, and expresses hope that, “inshallah,” the pope will meet “the lions of Islam.”

The militant adds that anyone who insults the prophet Muhammad “deserves capital punishment.” (4:44-4:50)

“Benedict, watch your back!” chants another militant, “Sallahudin [the Muslim warrior who fought the Christian crusaders] is coming back.” (5:18-5:24)

Other cries, as well as signs, denounce Catholicism and Christianity as a “satanic” and “evil ideology.”

The protesters then chant, “Muslims, rise up!” followed by a call for “martyrdom or victory” and chants of “Benedict, terrorist.”

As the pope passed by in his armored vehicle, the Muslim protesters screamed insults in Arabic at him and chanted, “Burn, burn, burn in Hell” (8:36)

The protesters were exclusively male, of various ethnic backgrounds, and obviously trained and organized. Even though they were not criminally violent, the code language they were using as understood by adherents to shariah law show that they should be considered a terrorist threat.”

$2tn debt crisis threatens to bring down 100 US cities

Overdrawn American cities could face financial collapse in 2011, defaulting on hundreds of billions of dollars of borrowings and derailing the US economic recovery.

Top Secret America: the Land of Liberty

Interactive map

Monitoring America

The months-long investigation, based on nearly 100 interviews and 1,000 documents, found that:

* Technologies and techniques honed for use on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan have migrated into the hands of law enforcement agencies in America.

* The FBI is building a database with the names and certain personal information, such as employment history, of thousands of U.S. citizens and residents whom a local police officer or a fellow citizen believed to be acting suspiciously. It is accessible to an increasing number of local law enforcement and military criminal investigators, increasing concerns that it could somehow end up in the public domain.

* Seeking to learn more about Islam and terrorism, some law enforcement agencies have hired as trainers self-described experts whose extremist views on Islam and terrorism are considered inaccurate and counterproductive by the FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies.

* The Department of Homeland Security sends its state and local partners intelligence reports with little meaningful guidance, and state reports have sometimes inappropriately reported on lawful meetings.

The cradle of liberty under investigation.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Russia Poised to Control 50% of U.S. Uranium Output

Financial Times reported.

The FCC's Threat to Internet Freedom

'Net neutrality' sounds nice, but the Web is working fine now. The new rules will inhibit investment, deter innovation and create a billable-hours bonanza for lawyers.

Reason.tv's 2010 Nanny of the Year

New population count may complicate Obama 2012 bid

Dems lose influence.

Egyptian Cleric - Wife Beating Permitted Only When She Refuses to Have Sex with Her Husband

The Social Contract - Fall 2010: Islam

Volume 21, Number 1 ...“The menace of Islam”

Candid Observations on Islam - Perceptive Insights from John Quincy Adams, John Wesley, and Winston Churchill

Wall Street’s Latest, Most Dangerous Fad: Shariah Finance - Questions and Answers from the TSC Editors

Multiple Choice Quiz: ‘Random’ Acts or Patterns of Terrorism?

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Donny Aldridge, Grandma Got Molested At The Airport

The Obama's Are Not Welcome at the Royal Wedding

Excellent short article about the end of the "special relationship" with our closest ally, Great Britain.

Jew-Hatred Bus Ads Run in Seattle


'Israeli War Crimes' signs to go on Metro buses by ALLEN SCHAUFFLER / KING 5 News
SEATTLE – "Israeli War Crimes," the enormous advertisement reads. "Your tax dollars at work."

To the right of the image is a group of children -- one little boy stares out at the viewer, the others gawk at a demolished building, all rebar and crumbled concrete.

It's an ad you'll be seeing soon on a handful of Metro buses in downtown Seattle.

A group calling itself the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign has paid King County $1,794 so that 12 buses will carry that message around town, starting two days after Christmas. That's December 27: the two-year anniversary of Israeli attacks on Gaza, aimed at stopping rocket attacks and weapons smuggling.

Ed Mast, a Seattle man who is a spokesperson for the group, says it’s not meant to be an anti-Israel message, but a message designed to generate discussion and awareness.

"I wouldn't say it's an anti-Israel message any more than any complaint about a country is anti-that country. We would like Israel to stop violating human rights. We would like Israel to give equal rights to its Palestinian citizens and its Palestinian subjects who live under occupation," said Mast.

At the Pacific Northwest office of the Anti-Defamation League, the ad campaign is seen quite a bit differently.

"We're dismayed," says Community Director Hilary Bernstein, who calls the bus-born advertisement grotesquely one-sided. "Citizens young and old will be seeing this sort of propaganda, this very one-sided distortion. It's unfortunate."

So, is the side of a public bus the right place for this kind of attack? Are the issues that regularly inflame one of the most flammable hot-spots in the world appropriate fare for people strolling the sidewalks of Seattle?

As far as King County is concerned, it's not really up to them what appears on the side of their buses, as long as it fits specific guidelines regarding:

* Pornography
* Alcohol
* Tobacco, and
* As long as the images and material used don't interfere with public safety or insult specific groups to the point that a riot could be incited, vandalism could occur or public safety could be threatened.

King County Metro Transit spokesperson Linda Thielke acknowledges some people will be offended by the campaign, but that is not enough to prevent the rolling billboards from hitting the streets.

"As a government, we are mindful of the provisions in state and federal constitutions to protect freedom of speech. So, we can't object these campaigns simply because they offend some people," said Thielke.

Friday, December 17, 2010

TSA Security Fails

Gaping Holes in Airline Security: Loaded Gun Slips Past TSA Screeners.

Federal Reserve Bans Christianity

Feds Force Okla. Bank To Remove Crosses, Bible Verse.

Faith on the Frontline – Support our Troops

Obama "Corrupt"

Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington's “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2010

Obama: Remember the promise President Obama made just after his inauguration in 2009? “Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency.”

Instead, Americans have suffered through lies, stonewalling, cover-ups, corruption, secrecy, scandal and blatant disregard for the rule of law…this has been the Obama legacy in its first two years.

In 2010, Obama was caught in a lie over what he knew about Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s scheme to sell the president’s vacated Senate seat. Blagojevich’s former Chief of Staff John Harris testified that Obama had personal knowledge of Blago’s plot to obtain a presidential cabinet position in exchange for appointing a candidate handpicked by the President. In fact, according to Harris’s court testimony, Obama sent Blagojevich a list of “acceptable” Senate candidates to fill his old seat. Obama was interviewed by the FBI even before he was sworn into office. He claimed he and his staff had no contact with Blagojevich’s office. Unfortunately federal prosecutors never called the President or his staff to testify under oath.

The President also broke his famous pledge to televise healthcare negotiations. And in 2010, we learned why he broke his pledge. In what is now known as the “Cornhusker Kickback” scheme, Obama and the Democrats in the Senate “purchased” the vote of one of the last Democrat hold-outs, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, who opposed Obamacare over the issue of covering abortions with taxpayer funds. Nelson abandoned his opposition to Obamacare after receiving millions of dollars in federal aid for his home-state, helping to give the Democrats the 60 votes they needed to overcome a Republican filibuster. Same goes for Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu, who received a $100 million payoff in what has been called “The Louisiana Purchase.” (The Kickback was so corrupt that Democrats stripped it out at the last minute. The Louisiana Purchase, on the other hand, became law of the land.)

Obama lied about his White House’s involvement in this legislative bribery that helped lead to the passage of the signature policy achievement of his presidency.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Red Cross Bans Christmas Cross so Muslims Not Offended

The Red Cross bans Christmas.

What's the biggest threat to free speech?


What’s the biggest threat to free speech? Reason.tv asks a cavalcade of politicians, journalists, filmmakers and content creators ranging from former Gov. Gary Johnson (R-N.M.) to Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld to The Atlantic’s Megan McArdle to adult filmmaker John Stagliano to new media magnate Andrew Breitbart to call their shot.

Featured (in order of appearance):

Andy Levy, Fox News’ Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld Gov. Gary Johnson, Our America Initiative


Roger Stone, Political Strategist, Blogger, The StoneZone

John Stagliano, Evil Angel Productions

Cyan Banister, CEO, Zivity.com

Robert Corn-Revere, Davis Wright Tremaine

Kevin D. Williamson, Deputy Managing Editor, National Review


John Tierney, Science Columnist, The New York Times

Robert A. George, Editorial Writer, The New York Post


Kristin Davis, “Manhattan Madam” and NY Gubernatorial Candidate

Andrew Breitbart, Big Hollywood/Big Government/Big Journalism

Tunku Varadarajan, Editor, Newsweek International & NYU Professor


Rob Kampia, Executive Director, Marijuana Policy Project

Scott Ross, Editor, NBC’s PopcornBiz

S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News and The Daily Caller

Bob Bowdon, Director, The Cartel

Tony Ortega, Editor in Chief, The Village Voice


Fred Smith, President, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Joe Garden, Features Editor, The Onion

John Papola, Producer-Director, “Fear the Boom and Bust”

Megan McArdle, Business and Economics Editor, The Atlantic


Greg Gutfeld, Fox News’ Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld

The interviews were conducted on December 9, 2010, at The Box, a nightclub on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. They took place during a Reason event designed to celebrate our work – and those of others across the political and ideological spectrum – in defense of free expression.

Interviews conducted by Michael C. Moynihan and filmed and edited by Jim Epstein. Approximately 3.30 minutes.

'The sea gave her back':

Wonder in Israel as ancient Roman statue buried for centuries is uncovered by powerful winter storm.

TSA, Bread and Circuses

Food prices rise sharply

and there's more to come

McConnell: Dems Using "Christmas Break As An Inducement" To Pass Omnibus

RealClearPolitics - Video - McConnell: Dems Using "Christmas Break As An Inducement" To Pass Omnibus

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) touts his one page continuing resolution that would "simply continue the government through February 18th."

"I would hope that it would make sense on a bipartisan basis, this one-page continuing resolution on Feb 18th as an alternative to this 2,000-page monstrosity that spends a half a billion dollars a page," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Ian Hunter 10 December 2010, Pawling, NY, Town Crier Cafe

Excerpts: Ian Hunter 9/17 Danbury CT and 12/10 Pawling NY


Battipaglia Calls Obama-CEO Meeting a `Photo Op'

The socialist president plays host to capitalism, Op-Ed by Dana Milbank

Same o, same o, song and dance from Boeing.

Cf. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/15/AR2010121505744_2.html?sid=ST2010121503366

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- James McNerney, chief executive officer of Boeing Co., talks about today's meeting between President Barack Obama and and 20 company executives in efforts to accelerate the U.S. economic recovery. McNerney, speaking with Betty Liu on Bloomberg Television's "Bottom Line," also discusses Boeing's plan to hire "four or five thousand people" in 2011 because of export growth. (Source: Bloomberg) (Bloomberg)

Battipaglia Calls Obama-CEO Meeting a `Photo Op'

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Joseph Battipaglia, market strategist at Stifel Nicolaus & Co., talks about President Barack Obama's meeting with business leaders in Washington today. He talks with Matt Miller, Carol Massar and Dominic Chu on Bloomberg Television's "Street Smart." Independent trader Andrew Keene also speaks. (Source: Bloomberg)

Only business can put Obama back on top

By Mort Zuckerman

Austrian Fined for Traditional Yodeling: Offended Muslims

Austria: Judge Rules That Yodeling Offends Muslims.

Russia: clashes between racist hooligans and mostly Muslim ethnic minorities

1,000 detained in Russia to prevent ethnic clashes.

U.S. missile-defense test fails over Pacific

Test was a repeat of a failed exercise in January.

Senate girds for last-minute showdown on spending

Unclear if Republicans have the votes to block it

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Iraqi Christians Seek Western Help

Amid Wave of ‘Religious Cleansing’

Do Americans Really Care About Our National Security?

Contributing Editor Dave Gaubatz

Racist Comments From Dream Amnesty Supporters Replace Whites

Will UCLA and Dream Act Amnesty Groups Denounce Racist Comments?


Illegal aliens given Dream Amnesty to replace whites? As the US Senate hangs within a few votes of passing Dream Act Amnesty for illegal aliens any day before Christmas 2010, Dream Amnesty supporters make and cheer racist comments against white Americans!

On December 13, at the Levitt Pavilion in the historic MacCarthur Park, UCLA's Kent Wong gave another exhilarating speech at "The DREAM Act is alive" vigil held where he expressed his admiration to DREAMers, their evolution of this country and generation, and how will go on to do many great things with their lives and for this country.

"I'm proud of the DREAMers who have changed the course of this country," Wong said. "I am so proud of the DREAMers who have take over the chambers of the US senate, who have taken over the office of John McCain... Who have marked on foot from Florida to Washington, DC."

"We will win the dream act soon -- very soon," he exclaimed. "When that day comes, we will celebrate with millions and millions of people of people across this country who are standing with you tonight. Who stand for justice, who stand for democracy and equal opportunities for all."

"When that day happens, the young people of the DREAM Act movement, will go on to accomplish and do great things with your lives," he said. "You will go on to become lawyers, teachers, doctors and members of the US congress to replace those old white men... You are the hope and future of this country. You are hope and future of your generation."

If Dream Act Amnesty passes, millions of Americans will be DISPLACED and REPLACED in their jobs, seats in college, and elections.

According to Dr. Wong, that replacement will be racially motivated and targeted.

The Move Toward Revolution

Should Muslim Teacher Be Paid to Make Mecca Pilgrimage?

teacher sues U.S. school after being denied three weeks unpaid leave to make pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Federal Government has brought the case on behalf of Safoorah Khan, claiming that it is a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

After a year of work the teacher asked to be compensated so that she could fulfill her religious duty.

The government asked the court to order the school district to adopt policies that reasonably accommodate its employees' religious practices and beliefs, and to reinstate Khan with back pay and also pay her compensatory damages.

In November 2008, Khan filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which found reasonable cause that discrimination had occurred and forwarded the matter to the U.S. Justice Department.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Bill Clinton for a Third Term (or preface to Hillary)?


Obama and Bill press conference both surreal and astounding.

Obama gave yet another brief, halting, and clearly uncertain explanation of the tax rate proposal, then Obama indicated he was going to let Bill Clinton “speak briefly.” Where Obama had spoken to the press for less than 3 minutes, Bill took center stage and spoke, without teleprompter, and with a concise and authoritative understanding of issues ranging from tax rates to Haiti, for the next half hour.

At the 6:35 mark, Obama made his first attempt to cut off Bill and take back the podium. Clinton disregarded Obama’s move, and continued to speak – managing to talk over Obama while still maintaining his instantly recognizable “aw shucks” tone of voice. It is at that moment we note the first clearly visible anger come from Obama. From this point on, Bill is completely off script. He is now effectively “running the show” – and Obama knows it.

By the 8:20 mark, the White House Press Corps begins asking Bill questions while Obama stands next to the former president, looking increasingly uncomfortable and agitated.

At the 10:28 mark Obama folds his arms across his chest, staring down the reporter who continues to pose questions to Bill. At 10:55 Obama again attempts to retake the podium – Bill does not give it up. It is at that point Obama, current Complainer-in-Chief, looks down at his watch and declares he is 30 minutes late for a Christmas party, and that, “Gibbs will call last question.” (Even though Obama has actually only been at the press conference for about 10 minutes) A clearly terse handshake between Obama and Bill is undertaken, followed by Obama’s abrupt turn away from the podium and a short walk to the door.

It is at this moment, some 11 minutes into the press conference, the situation does indeed enter into the surreal. Obama is now off camera as another reporter poses the next question to Bill while using the title “Mr. President”. For the next 20 minutes, Clinton is speaking to the nation from the White House, without the use of a teleprompter, without specific preparation of the questions being posed – and he intelligently responds.

At about the 16:00 minute mark, a member of the press asks Bill if Obama should be a one term president. Bill, while briefly stating he does not believe that to be the case, spends far more time defending Democrats in Congress- the very group who now openly challenge Obama’s competence as president in now-infamous four letter terms.

American Education?

A number of stories about the sad state of American schools and the kids they dis-serve.

Fat is a National Security Issue: "We can’t just leave it up to the parents"

Michelle Antoinette warns about the latest national security threat: fat.

Now that the kids are fed in schools;

"We can’t just leave it up to the parents." The federal government will feed the children and raise the children as well.

Obama Giveth, Obama Taketh

Obama, Haley go head to head.

"Obama rejected Haley's request to repeal the health care bill - but said he'd consider letting states opt out of its mandates." These are very disturbing points. Is it just me who notices that the Obamination simply decrees this that or the other thing? Don't we have the separation of powers anymore? Don't we have laws? This is corruption, pure and simple. Laws are made for others and they only apply if and when people want them to apply. Companies, unions, are exempted and now it looks like states can get out of the onerous provisions as well. Very, very strange times indeed.

Judge Calls Health Law Unconstitutional, Commerce Clause Does Not Apply


U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson said the law's requirement that most Americans carry insurance or pay a penalty "exceeds the constitutional boundaries of congressional power."

Hudson wrote that the Interstate Commerce Clause wasn't sufficient for Congress to establish the individual mandate. He said Congress lacked precedent for "regulation of a person's decision not to purchase a product, notwithstanding its effect on interstate commerce or role in a global regulatory scheme."

The Commerce Clause is an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."

The individual mandate "would invite unbridled exercise of federal police powers."

Capretta Interview on Obama's Health-Care Law

Cf. http://www.bloomberg.com/video/65230850/

Dec. 13 (Bloomberg) -- James Capretta, a health-care fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, discusses today's ruling on the Obama administration's individual health-care mandate. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson in Richmond, Virginia, today ruled that the requirement in President Barack Obama’s health-care legislation that most citizens maintain minumum health coverage is unconstitutional because it goes beyond Congress’s powers to regulate interstate commerce. Capretta talks with Bloomberg's Megan Hughes. (Source: Bloomberg)

New Low in Support for Health Care Reform

Sunday, December 12, 2010

London Riots

Winter of Discontent: London fee riots not the end, The Spirit of '68?


Attack on Charles and Camilla


(Paris, May 1968) Beauty is in the Street

7-10 Years for the American Recovery

Ian Hunter, The Narrows Center, Fall River, MA 12/11/2010

I Wish I was Your Mother


I Wish I Was Your Mother


Irene Wilde


Michael Picasso


Michael Picasso


Sea Diver


The Ballad of Little Star/Somewhere


Letter to Brittania From the Union Jack


Sweet Jane


Roll Away The Stone / All the Young Dudes / We Wish You A Merry Christmas


Roll Away The Stone / All the Young Dudes / We Wish You A Merry Christmas


Ageless Ian Hunter rocks The Narrows in Fall River

Set list

Words, Big Mouth
The Great Escape
Wash Us Away
Boy
Arms & Legs
Soul of America/Man Overboard
Wash Us Away
Angel of 8th Avenue
Irene Wilde
Girl From the Office
Flowers
River of Tears
Michael Picasso
Sea Diver
Letter to Brittania From the Union Jack
Ballad of Little Star
Somewhere
Sweet Jane
Roll Away the Stone/All The Young Dudes/We Wish You A Merry Christmas





In depth: Google's Cr-48 Chrome notebook

Google sent notebooks loaded with Chrome OS to beta testers.

Analysis: WikiLeaks battle

A new amateur face of cyber war?

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Cloudy outlook as Google

Google steps up push to rule web

Friday, December 10, 2010

Most Americans Say

They're Worse Off Since Obama Took Office, Poll Shows.