Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.
Friday, December 31, 2010
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/
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.
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
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Outgoing Democrat Blames Chinese For Loss?
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."
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
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?
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
Dad Life, 2:54
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
Monday, December 20, 2010
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?
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.”
Top Secret America: the Land of Liberty
Interactive map
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.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
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
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
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.
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)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
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.
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.
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)
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
Ian Hunter, The Narrows Center, Fall River, MA 12/11/2010
Boy
Angel Of Eighth Avenue
Arms and Legs
Wash Us Away
I Wish I was Your Mother
I Wish I was Your Mother
I Wish I Was Your Mother
Irene Wilde
Michael Picasso
Michael Picasso
Sea Diver/Letter To Brittania From The Union Jack
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
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
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
BMI's Top 10 Worst Economic Myths of 2010
In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
Orwell Quote
In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
George Orwell
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
NIA Analysis for December
Why it's possible to have massive inflation with rising unemployment.
A video produced by the National Inflation Association.
US Textbooks: Muslim America
Saudi-funded textbooks being used in America's K-12 classrooms.
Teaching, among other things, that Jesus was a "Palestinian," the state of Israel never existed, and that the Muslims discovered America before Columbus. At this rate, perhaps even Saudi grade-school textbooks, complete with jihadi and dhimmi declarations, will come to instruct American school-children.
ooo OOO ooo
"Public Schools Teach the ABCs of Islam," by Erick Stakelbeck for CBN News, October 9, 2008:
CBNNews.com - Several recent studies have shown that American students are alarmingly ignorant about U.S. history and world events.
Experts have contributed the problem to everything from failing schools to substandard teachers.
But what about content?
For instance, did you know that Muslims discovered America? Or that Jerusalem is an Arab city? That's just some of the "history" that students in America's K-12 classrooms have been taught in recent years--with the help of taxpayer money.
A new report by the non-profit Institute for Jewish and Community Research finds that American high school and elementary textbooks contain countless inaccuracies about Christianity, Judaism, Israel and the Middle East.
The Institute examined 28 of the most widely-used history, geography and social studies textbooks in America. It found at least 500 errors.
One book ignored the Jewish roots of Christianity, saying the faith was founded by a "young Palestinian" named Jesus.
Another stated as fact that the Koran was revealed to Mohammed from God.
Yet another said ancient Jewish civilization contributed "very little" to to the arts and sciences.
Textbooks like these are used by millions of schoolchildren in all 50 states.[...]
Harvard is one of 18 universities that receives government funding under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965. To qualify for that funding, the universities are required to conduct outreach to K-12 teachers, helping them to shape lessons for schoolchildren. Elementary and secondary teachers have taken full advantage of the arrangement: after all, they believe they're getting expert insight on Islam and the Middle East from distinguished university scholars.
"You have a lot of politically naive teachers--well intentioned teachers who do want their students to learn more about Islamic history," says Stotsky. "It has not been well covered in most history courses they've ever taken, so they do genuinely want to learn more for themselves and teach their students more."
In some cases they may be getting more than they bargained for: the Saudi government has donated millions of dollars to Middle East Centers at universities that receive Title VI funding.
The Harvard Middle Eastern Studies Center--whose recommendations to the Massachusetts Board originally drew Stosky's concern--is one of them. As CBN News reported earlier this year, the Harvard Center received a $20 million donation from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in 2005. Georgetown University--another title VI recipient--also received $ 20 million from the Prince that same year.
It's through these Title VI university centers--all of them government-sanctioned and taxpayer supported--that Saudi-funded materials find their way into K-12 classrooms.
"Saudi donations to American universities should be seen in a much larger picture of Saudi promotion of a Saudi point of view," said Daniel Pipes, Director of the Middle East Forum in Philadelphia. "Whether it be Islamic or political, the Saudis have a point of view. And they have been very clever and very generous over the decades to promote that point of view."
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Opening Gay Private Who Supports Obama Reveals Biggest Security Breach in American History
"Brad was reprimanded for putting mundane video messages to friends on YouTube that carelessly revealed sensitive information."
"He’d graduated from training as an intelligence analyst with a security clearance."
"Brad was pulling for the celebrity freshman senator from Illinois, Barack Obama."
"Tthe Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is the worst thing about being in the military. “`I’ve been living a double life,'” he said.
The Inside Story of the Oklahoman Behind the Biggest Military Intelligence Leak Ever
Monday, December 6, 2010
Red Skelton, The Pledge Of Allegiance
Comedian Red Skelton (1913 – 1997) explains the Pledge to another generation.
WikiLeaks cables: Poland wants missile shield to protect against Russia
This is an update on Poland and as I have pointed out the Russkys are outmaneuvering Obama and abandoning a reliable old-time ally, Poland.
Majority of Muslims want Islam in politics, poll says
They have mixed feelings about the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, the survey shows.
The majorities in Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Nigeria would favor changing current laws to allow stoning as a punishment for adultery, hand amputation for theft and death for those who convert from Islam to another religion. About 85% of Pakistani Muslims said they would support a law segregating men and women in the workplace.
Daniel Hannan Comparison Between US And Europe
Daniel Hannan is a Member of the European Parliament
“If you look at the policies being pursued by your current rulers they amount to a comprehensive strategy towards Europeanization. This is a sustained attempt to change the character of The Republic into something else.
I am living in your future and believe me you are not going to like it.“
Daniel Hannan Warning About Our Transformation Into Europe