Blog Smith

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.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Emanuel Gesture



Graphic source: REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)


Lest anyone think that incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is not taking his new position seriously and without dignity he gestures prior to the inauguration ceremony of Obama.


"The time has come to set aside childish things."


Barack Obama

Obama: Worst Inauguration Day Decline

U.S. stocks sank, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its worst Inauguration Day decline, as speculation banks must raise more capital sent financial shares to an almost 14-year low. This development and lack of confidence in Obama will just make him more likely to succumb to business interests. He has no coherent program and will likely blow in the direction that business seeks for him.

Obama's Words Deconstructed

I had recourse to a word analysis in order to see if any words are revealed to be important in the inauguration speech based on their frequency. Leaving out the incidental words such as the prepositions I sought to find common themes in the word frequency. A summary follows directly below and I reproduced the entire list at the bottom.

Word Frequency %


all 9 0.32
America 8 0.29
American 2 0.07
Americans 3 0.11
America's 2 0.07
can 13 0.46
cannot 6 0.21
change 1 0.04
changed 1 0.04
common 6 0.21
day 5 0.18
do 7 0.25
end 4 0.14
every 8 0.29
father 3 0.11
fathers 1 0.04
force 3 0.11
forward 3 0.11
free 2 0.07
freedom 3 0.11
future 3 0.11
generate 1 0.04
generation 5 0.18
generations 3 0.11
God 3 0.11
God-given 1 0.04
God's 1 0.04
government 3 0.11
governments 1 0.04
great 1 0.04
greater 4 0.14
greatness 2 0.07
happiness 1 0.04
hard 3 0.11
hard- 1 0.04
hardship 1 0.04
history 3 0.11
hope 3 0.11
I 3 0.11
idea 1 0.04
ideals 3 0.11
job 1 0.04
jobs 3 0.11
journey 3 0.11
judge 1 0.04
just 3 0.11
justness 1 0.04
knew 1 0.04
know 5 0.18
knowledge 3 0.11
last 3 0.11
life 3 0.11
light 2 0.07
long 4 0.14
longer 2 0.07
moment 3 0.11
moments 1 0.04
must 8 0.29
nation 12 0.43
nations 3 0.11
new 11 0.39
our 67 2.39
ours 1 0.04
ourselves 3 0.11
peace 4 0.14
people 7 0.25
peoples 1 0.04
power 4 0.14
powerful 1 0.04
prosper 1 0.04
prosperity 3 0.11
prosperous 2 0.07
seek 4 0.14
seeks 1 0.04
small 3 0.11
smaller 1 0.04
spirit 5 0.18
thank 4 0.14
time 6 0.21
timeless 1 0.04
today 6 0.21
understand 2 0.07
understanding 1 0.04
understood 2 0.07
up 4 0.14
upon 3 0.11
us 23 0.82
we 60 2.14
woman 1 0.04
women 4 0.14
work 6 0.21
worked 1 0.04
workers 2 0.07
works 1 0.04
world 6 0.21
worldly 1 0.04
world's 1 0.04
you 16 0.57
your 3 0.11


"Our" is the clear favorite word of the speech followed by "we," then, "us." Nothing else really comes close to these three words in frequency. The big three are followed by "can" in importance. He repeated his slogan: our, we, us, and can. His speech is a slogan: yes we can. A variation of America or Americans is next in importance. He really has not said anything of substance with these top words. "New," "God" or a variation thereof is next, along with "spirit" followed by "world" or a variation. "Work" follows and then "generation" or "generations." He is not really stating much at all. Variations of "people" or "government" are next in importance. The speech becomes more vapid and across the board than it actually sounded live. He said less than what I thought I heard while listening and then reading and reflecting on the entire transcript. It is less substantial than I thought previously. "Change" or "changed" appear once each respectively. The change notion seems to have disappeared as the candidate becomes the office-holder. There is no change referred to anymore.


The full list of words follows:


Word Frequency %

-- 6 0.21
! 4 0.14
" 4 0.14
( 13 0.46
) 13 0.46
, 138 4.93
. 128 4.57
: 31 1.11
; 16 0.57
[ 1 0.04
] 1 0.04
20 1 0.04
2009 1 0.04
60 1 0.04
a 47 1.68
abandoned 1 0.04
ability 1 0.04
accept 1 0.04
account 1 0.04
achieve 1 0.04
across 3 0.11
act 1 0.04
action 1 0.04
Address 1 0.04
advance 1 0.04
advancing 1 0.04
adversaries 1 0.04
afford 2 0.07
Afghanistan 1 0.04
again 2 0.07
against 1 0.04
age 2 0.07
ages 1 0.04
ago 1 0.04
aims 1 0.04
alarmed 1 0.04
all 9 0.32
alliances 1 0.04
alone 1 0.04
alongside 1 0.04
already 1 0.04
also 2 0.07
always 1 0.04
ambitions 2 0.07
America 8 0.29
American 2 0.07
Americans 3 0.11
America's 2 0.07
amidst 1 0.04
an 3 0.11
ancestors 1 0.04
and 111 3.97
answer 2 0.07
apologize 1 0.04
APPLAUSE 13 0.46
apply 1 0.04
are 22 0.79
arguments 1 0.04
Arlington 1 0.04
around 1 0.04
as 11 0.39
aside 1 0.04
ask 1 0.04
assure 1 0.04
at 8 0.29
back 2 0.07
bad 1 0.04
badly 1 0.04
band 1 0.04
Barack 2 0.07
based 1 0.04
be 12 0.43
because 8 0.29
been 8 0.29
before 4 0.14
began 1 0.04
begin 2 0.07
believe 1 0.04
beneath 1 0.04
bestowed 1 0.04
better 2 0.07
between 3 0.11
big 2 0.07
bigger 1 0.04
bind 1 0.04
birth 2 0.07
bitter 1 0.04
blame 1 0.04
bless 2 0.07
blood 2 0.07
bodies 1 0.04
bold 1 0.04
borders 1 0.04
born 1 0.04
borne 1 0.04
brave 2 0.07
break 1 0.04
bridges 1 0.04
brings 1 0.04
broken 1 0.04
build 2 0.07
Bush 1 0.04
business 1 0.04
businesses 1 0.04
but 20 0.71
by 8 0.29
calls 2 0.07
came 1 0.04
campfires 1 0.04
can 13 0.46
cannot 6 0.21
capacity 1 0.04
capital 1 0.04
capitals 1 0.04
care 2 0.07
care's 1 0.04
carried 3 0.11
carry 1 0.04
cars 1 0.04
cause 1 0.04
celebrated 1 0.04
celebration 1 0.04
challenges 2 0.07
chance 1 0.04
change 1 0.04
changed 1 0.04
chapter 1 0.04
character 1 0.04
charity 1 0.04
charter 2 0.07
child 2 0.07
childish 1 0.04
children 2 0.07
children's 1 0.04
choice 1 0.04
choices 1 0.04
choose 1 0.04
chosen 1 0.04
Christians 1 0.04
citizens 1 0.04
citizenship 1 0.04
city 1 0.04
civil 1 0.04
clean 1 0.04
cling 1 0.04
clouds 1 0.04
coldest 1 0.04
collective 1 0.04
colleges 1 0.04
come 4 0.14
commerce 1 0.04
common 6 0.21
communism 1 0.04
Concord 1 0.04
confidence 2 0.07
conflict 2 0.07
consequence 1 0.04
consider 1 0.04
consume 1 0.04
consumed 1 0.04
continue 1 0.04
control 1 0.04
convictions 1 0.04
cooperation 2 0.07
corruption 1 0.04
costly 1 0.04
costs 1 0.04
could 1 0.04
country 2 0.07
courage 3 0.11
create 1 0.04
creed 1 0.04
crisis 4 0.14
CROWD 1 0.04
culture 1 0.04
curiosity 1 0.04
currents 1 0.04
cut 1 0.04
cynics 1 0.04
danger 1 0.04
dangers 1 0.04
dark 1 0.04
darkest 1 0.04
data 1 0.04
day 5 0.18
deceit 1 0.04
decent 1 0.04
decides 1 0.04
decisions 1 0.04
decline 1 0.04
defeat 1 0.04
defense 2 0.07
define 1 0.04
defining 1 0.04
delivered 1 0.04
demand 1 0.04
demanded 1 0.04
demands 1 0.04
depended 1 0.04
depends 1 0.04
depth 1 0.04
deserts 1 0.04
deserve 1 0.04
destiny 1 0.04
destroy 1 0.04
determination 1 0.04
did 2 0.07
died 1 0.04
differences 1 0.04
difficult 1 0.04
digital 1 0.04
dignified 1 0.04
dignity 1 0.04
discord 1 0.04
dissent 1 0.04
dissolve 1 0.04
distant 1 0.04
do 7 0.25
documents 1 0.04
doers 1 0.04
does 1 0.04
dogmas 1 0.04
domestic 1 0.04
done 2 0.07
doubt 1 0.04
down 1 0.04
drafted 1 0.04
drawn 1 0.04
during 1 0.04
dust 1 0.04
duties 2 0.07
each 2 0.07
earlier 1 0.04
earned 2 0.07
earth 3 0.11
easily 1 0.04
economy 3 0.11
effect 1 0.04
effort 1 0.04
electric 1 0.04
emanates 1 0.04
embody 1 0.04
emerged 1 0.04
end 4 0.14
endure 1 0.04
endured 1 0.04
enduring 2 0.07
enemy 1 0.04
energy 1 0.04
enjoy 1 0.04
entitle 1 0.04
equal 1 0.04
era 2 0.07
even 2 0.07
every 8 0.29
everywhere 1 0.04
evidence 1 0.04
example 1 0.04
expand 1 0.04
expanded 1 0.04
expedience's 1 0.04
extend 2 0.07
eye 1 0.04
eyes 1 0.04
face 2 0.07
faced 2 0.07
faction 1 0.04
factories 1 0.04
fail 2 0.07
failure 1 0.04
faint-hearted 1 0.04
fair 1 0.04
faith 2 0.07
faithful 1 0.04
fallen 1 0.04
false 2 0.07
falter 1 0.04
fame 1 0.04
families 1 0.04
far 2 0.07
farms 1 0.04
far-off 1 0.04
far-reaching 1 0.04
fascism 1 0.04
fate 1 0.04
father 3 0.11
fathers 1 0.04
favors 1 0.04
fear 2 0.07
feed 2 0.07
fellow 1 0.04
few 1 0.04
filled 1 0.04
finally 1 0.04
find 2 0.07
firefighter's 1 0.04
firm 1 0.04
fist 1 0.04
fixed 1 0.04
flourish 1 0.04
flow 1 0.04
foes 1 0.04
for 23 0.82
forbearers 1 0.04
force 3 0.11
forge 1 0.04
forgotten 1 0.04
former 1 0.04
forth 2 0.07
Forty-four 1 0.04
forward 3 0.11
fought 1 0.04
foundation 1 0.04
founding 2 0.07
free 2 0.07
freedom 3 0.11
friend 2 0.07
friends 1 0.04
from 5 0.18
fuel 1 0.04
full 1 0.04
further 1 0.04
future 3 0.11
gather 1 0.04
gathering 1 0.04
generate 1 0.04
generation 5 0.18
generations 3 0.11
generosity 1 0.04
Gettysburg 1 0.04
gift 2 0.07
give 1 0.04
given 1 0.04
giving 1 0.04
gladly 1 0.04
globe 1 0.04
God 3 0.11
God-given 1 0.04
God's 1 0.04
good 2 0.07
goods 1 0.04
government 3 0.11
governments 1 0.04
grace 1 0.04
grandest 1 0.04
grateful 1 0.04
gratitude 1 0.04
great 1 0.04
greater 4 0.14
greatness 2 0.07
greed 1 0.04
grids 1 0.04
grievances 1 0.04
gross 1 0.04
ground 1 0.04
grows 2 0.07
growth 1 0.04
grudgingly 1 0.04
guardians 1 0.04
guided 1 0.04
habits 1 0.04
hand 1 0.04
hands 1 0.04
happiness 1 0.04
hard 3 0.11
hard- 1 0.04
hardship 1 0.04
harness 1 0.04
has 14 0.50
hatred 1 0.04
hatreds 1 0.04
have 16 0.57
he 1 0.04
health 2 0.07
heart 1 0.04
held 1 0.04
help 1 0.04
helps 1 0.04
here 1 0.04
heritage 1 0.04
heroes 1 0.04
high 1 0.04
Hindus 1 0.04
his 1 0.04
history 3 0.11
Homes 1 0.04
honesty 1 0.04
honor 1 0.04
hope 3 0.11
horizon 1 0.04
hour 1 0.04
hours 2 0.07
how 1 0.04
huddled 1 0.04
humanity 1 0.04
humble 1 0.04
humbled 1 0.04
humility 1 0.04
hungry 1 0.04
I 3 0.11
icy 2 0.07
idea 1 0.04
ideals 3 0.11
if 1 0.04
ill 1 0.04
ills 1 0.04
imagination 1 0.04
imagine 1 0.04
in 26 0.93
Inaugural 1 0.04
indicators 1 0.04
indifference 1 0.04
individual 1 0.04
inducing 1 0.04
inevitable 1 0.04
inhabit 1 0.04
innocents 1 0.04
Instead 1 0.04
instruments 1 0.04
intend 1 0.04
interest 1 0.04
interests 1 0.04
inventive 1 0.04
Iraq 1 0.04
irresponsibility 1 0.04
is 36 1.29
it 19 0.68
its 8 0.29
itself 1 0.04
Jan 1 0.04
Jews 1 0.04
job 1 0.04
jobs 3 0.11
join 1 0.04
joined 1 0.04
journey 3 0.11
judge 1 0.04
just 3 0.11
justness 1 0.04
keepers 1 0.04
Khe 1 0.04
kindness 1 0.04
knew 1 0.04
know 5 0.18
knowledge 3 0.11
labor 1 0.04
land 1 0.04
language 1 0.04
lash 1 0.04
last 3 0.11
law 1 0.04
lay 1 0.04
lead 1 0.04
leaders 1 0.04
leave 1 0.04
legacy 1 0.04
leisure 1 0.04
less 7 0.25
lessen 1 0.04
let 7 0.25
levees 1 0.04
liberty 2 0.07
lie 1 0.04
life 3 0.11
light 2 0.07
like 1 0.04
lines 2 0.07
live 1 0.04
local 1 0.04
long 4 0.14
longer 2 0.07
look 1 0.04
lose 1 0.04
lost 1 0.04
lower 2 0.07
loyalty 1 0.04
magnificent 1 0.04
make 2 0.07
makers 1 0.04
mall 1 0.04
man 3 0.11
manage 1 0.04
many 3 0.11
mark 1 0.04
market 2 0.07
may 3 0.11
meaning 2 0.07
measurable 1 0.04
measure 1 0.04
meet 4 0.14
memories 1 0.04
men 4 0.14
met 2 0.07
midst 1 0.04
might 2 0.07
mindful 1 0.04
minds 2 0.07
missiles 1 0.04
moment 3 0.11
moments 1 0.04
month 1 0.04
months 1 0.04
more 5 0.18
most 3 0.11
mountains 1 0.04
move 1 0.04
much 1 0.04
Muslim 1 0.04
Muslims 1 0.04
must 8 0.29
mutual 2 0.07
my 2 0.07
nagging 1 0.04
narrow 1 0.04
nation 12 0.43
nations 3 0.11
necessity 1 0.04
needed 1 0.04
network 1 0.04
never 2 0.07
new 11 0.39
next 1 0.04
nine 1 0.04
no 7 0.25
noble 1 0.04
nonbelievers 1 0.04
nor 5 0.18
Normandy 1 0.04
not 16 0.57
nothing 2 0.07
nourish 1 0.04
now 6 0.21
nuclear 1 0.04
nurture 1 0.04
oath 3 0.11
Obama 26 0.93
obscure 1 0.04
oceans 1 0.04
of 83 2.97
off 2 0.07
office 1 0.04
often 2 0.07
old 3 0.11
on 17 0.61
once 3 0.11
one 2 0.07
only 5 0.18
opportunity 1 0.04
or 11 0.39
ordered 1 0.04
other 1 0.04
our 67 2.39
ours 1 0.04
ourselves 3 0.11
out 2 0.07
outcome 1 0.04
outlast 1 0.04
outside 1 0.04
over 3 0.11
packed 1 0.04
parent's 1 0.04
part 2 0.07
pass 1 0.04
passed 2 0.07
pat 1 0.04
patchwork 1 0.04
path 2 0.07
patriotism 1 0.04
patriots 1 0.04
patrol 1 0.04
peace 4 0.14
people 7 0.25
peoples 1 0.04
perils 1 0.04
petty 1 0.04
pick 1 0.04
place 1 0.04
places 1 0.04
planet 2 0.07
plans 1 0.04
play 2 0.07
please 1 0.04
pleasures 1 0.04
pledge 1 0.04
plenty 1 0.04
plowed 1 0.04
political 1 0.04
politics 1 0.04
poor 1 0.04
possessions 1 0.04
power 4 0.14
powerful 1 0.04
precious 1 0.04
precisely 1 0.04
prefer 1 0.04
prepare 1 0.04
President 2 0.07
presidential 1 0.04
price 1 0.04
principles 1 0.04
proclaim 1 0.04
product 1 0.04
productive 1 0.04
profound 1 0.04
programs 1 0.04
progress 1 0.04
promise 2 0.07
promises 1 0.04
prosper 1 0.04
prosperity 3 0.11
prosperous 2 0.07
protect 1 0.04
protecting 1 0.04
prudent 1 0.04
public's 1 0.04
purpose 2 0.07
pursue 1 0.04
putting 1 0.04
qualities 1 0.04
quality 1 0.04
question 3 0.11
quiet 1 0.04
race 1 0.04
raging 1 0.04
raise 1 0.04
rather 3 0.11
raw 1 0.04
reach 1 0.04
read 1 0.04
ready 1 0.04
reaffirm 1 0.04
reaffirming 1 0.04
real 1 0.04
Recall 1 0.04
recognition 1 0.04
recriminations 1 0.04
reform 1 0.04
refused 1 0.04
regard 1 0.04
reject 1 0.04
relative 1 0.04
relies 1 0.04
remain 2 0.07
remained 1 0.04
remains 1 0.04
remaking 1 0.04
remember 2 0.07
remembrance 1 0.04
reminded 1 0.04
required 1 0.04
resources 1 0.04
respect 1 0.04
responsibility 1 0.04
responsibly 1 0.04
restaurant 1 0.04
restore 2 0.07
restraint 1 0.04
retirement 1 0.04
return 1 0.04
reveal 1 0.04
revolution 1 0.04
riches 1 0.04
rightful 1 0.04
rights 1 0.04
rising 1 0.04
risk-takers 1 0.04
river 1 0.04
road 1 0.04
roads 1 0.04
role 1 0.04
roll 1 0.04
route 1 0.04
rugged 1 0.04
rule 1 0.04
run 1 0.04
sacred 1 0.04
sacrificed 1 0.04
sacrifices 1 0.04
safely 1 0.04
safety 1 0.04
Sahn 1 0.04
said 1 0.04
sake 1 0.04
sapping 1 0.04
satisfying 1 0.04
saw 1 0.04
say 3 0.11
scale 1 0.04
scarcely 1 0.04
schools 2 0.07
science 1 0.04
Scripture 1 0.04
search 1 0.04
security 1 0.04
see 1 0.04
seek 4 0.14
seeks 1 0.04
sees 1 0.04
segregation 1 0.04
seize 1 0.04
selflessness 1 0.04
serious 1 0.04
served 1 0.04
service 2 0.07
services 1 0.04
set 1 0.04
settled 1 0.04
settling 1 0.04
shall 3 0.11
shape 1 0.04
shaped 1 0.04
shed 1 0.04
shifted 1 0.04
shores 1 0.04
short 2 0.07
shortcuts 1 0.04
shown 1 0.04
shuttered 1 0.04
side 1 0.04
sights 1 0.04
silencing 1 0.04
simply 1 0.04
size 1 0.04
skill 1 0.04
slaughtering 1 0.04
small 3 0.11
smaller 1 0.04
smoke 1 0.04
snow 1 0.04
so 9 0.32
society's 1 0.04
soil 1 0.04
some 3 0.11
someday 1 0.04
something 2 0.07
soon 1 0.04
source 1 0.04
sow 1 0.04
span 1 0.04
SPEAKER 1 0.04
specter 1 0.04
spend 1 0.04
spin 1 0.04
spirit 5 0.18
spoken 1 0.04
stained 1 0.04
stairway 1 0.04
stale 1 0.04
stand 2 0.07
standing 1 0.04
Starting 1 0.04
starved 1 0.04
state 1 0.04
States 1 0.04
statistics 1 0.04
still 2 0.07
storm 1 0.04
storms 2 0.07
stranger 1 0.04
strangled 1 0.04
strength 1 0.04
strengthen 1 0.04
stronger 2 0.07
struggled 1 0.04
sturdy 1 0.04
subject 1 0.04
success 2 0.07
suffering 1 0.04
suggest 1 0.04
sum 1 0.04
sun 1 0.04
surely 1 0.04
surest 1 0.04
survive 1 0.04
sweatshops 1 0.04
swift 1 0.04
swill 1 0.04
system 1 0.04
take 2 0.07
taken 2 0.07
tanks 1 0.04
task 2 0.07
tasted 1 0.04
technology's 1 0.04
tell 1 0.04
tempering 1 0.04
terror 1 0.04
tested 1 0.04
than 8 0.29
thank 4 0.14
that 49 1.75
the 133 4.75
their 10 0.36
them 4 0.14
themselves 1 0.04
then 2 0.07
there 3 0.11
these 9 0.32
they 17 0.61
things 4 0.14
this 24 0.86
those 12 0.43
threat 1 0.04
threaten 1 0.04
threats 1 0.04
through 4 0.14
throughout 2 0.07
tides 1 0.04
till 1 0.04
time 6 0.21
timeless 1 0.04
tirelessly 1 0.04
to 71 2.54
today 6 0.21
together 1 0.04
toiled 1 0.04
told 1 0.04
tolerance 1 0.04
tolerate 1 0.04
too 6 0.21
towards 1 0.04
Transcript 1 0.04
transform 1 0.04
transition 1 0.04
traveled 2 0.07
tribe 1 0.04
true 2 0.07
trust 2 0.07
truths 1 0.04
turn 1 0.04
ultimately 1 0.04
uncertain 1 0.04
unclench 1 0.04
understand 2 0.07
understanding 1 0.04
understood 2 0.07
undiminished 1 0.04
unfolds 1 0.04
united 2 0.07
unity 1 0.04
universities 1 0.04
unmatched 1 0.04
unpleasant 1 0.04
up 4 0.14
upon 3 0.11
us 23 0.82
use 2 0.07
ushering 1 0.04
values 1 0.04
very 1 0.04
village 1 0.04
violence 1 0.04
virtue 2 0.07
vision 1 0.04
vital 1 0.04
wage 1 0.04
war 2 0.07
warming 1 0.04
was 5 0.18
watchful 1 0.04
watching 1 0.04
waters 2 0.07
waver 1 0.04
way 2 0.07
ways 1 0.04
we 60 2.14
weakened 1 0.04
weakness 1 0.04
wealth 2 0.07
week 1 0.04
well 2 0.07
we'll 2 0.07
were 3 0.11
West 2 0.07
what 8 0.29
when 7 0.25
where 3 0.11
whether 4 0.14
which 4 0.14
whip 1 0.04
whisper 1 0.04
who 14 0.50
whose 1 0.04
why 2 0.07
wield 1 0.04
will 17 0.61
willing 2 0.07
willingness 2 0.07
winds 1 0.04
winter 2 0.07
wisely 1 0.04
with 12 0.43
without 2 0.07
woman 1 0.04
women 4 0.14
wonders 1 0.04
words 4 0.14
work 6 0.21
worked 1 0.04
workers 2 0.07
works 1 0.04
world 6 0.21
worldly 1 0.04
world's 1 0.04
worn-out 1 0.04
would 1 0.04
wrong 1 0.04
year 2 0.07
years 1 0.04
yes 1 0.04
yet 2 0.07
you 16 0.57
young 1 0.04
your 3 0.11

Different words/items counted: 914
Total Words: 2447
Total Punctuation: 317
Total Other Text: 3
Total Characters: 13697
Total Paragraphs: 184

Obama "Immigrant" Inaugurated



If Rick Warren invokes Obama as a "son of an African immigrant [who] can rise to the highest level of our leadership" no one bats an eye and celebrates the point. On the other hand, if the challenges and law suits try to establish the same point in court, they are ignored. Obama hides in plain site establishing the same violation of the Constitution as noted on his website: he is not a natural born citizen, he is an immigrant himself. I prefer a government of laws and not of men.

Commentary: Analysis of Inaugural Address

Transcript: Inaugural Address of Obama
20 January 2009

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.

I thank President Bush for his service to our nation...


(APPLAUSE)

... as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.

OBAMA: The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers [sic], and true to our founding documents.


COMMENTARY
How are the people true to our founding documents? The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are protections of liberty for the people. It is up to elected officials to be faithful to the documents, which they have not always been.

OBAMA: So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.

Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.


COMMENTARY
We may be in a crisis but at last count the inauguration cost $170 million. The message to cut back is not for the American people but the spendthrifts in government who are throwing away our opportunities. In addition, I believe the last phrase is key. Obama must want to sell his energy solution, as he will want Americans to rein in energy use, as a security measure. What he will not be advertising is how this means less opportunity for Americans, as the Federal government will stifle innovation and individual initiative. He must have as his goal the Socialist Carol Browner and how these international organizations are promoting a one-world government and the diminution of American energy use.

OBAMA: These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.


COMMENTARY
American decline is not inevitable but he does not address the lessening of opportunity. If America is to get in line with the remainder of the world, and innovation is stifled, Americans, particularly younger Americans, will have lower achievements. I think it is interesting that he simply left this paragraph hang by itself.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.


COMMENTARY
The paragraph he left hanging for the following paragraph is simply a recourse to a rhetorical flourish. It says nothing but it sounds good since it communicates stirring words like "challenges," "serious," and a vague we can do it America. This paragraph is fluff.

(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
The fluff paragraph had its intended object: applause. He got it.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

OBAMA: On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.


(APPLAUSE)
COMMENTARY
These three paragraphs appear to be his obligatory nod to civil rights. He does not mention of course he was not in America during the civil rights movement; he benefited though from the work of others.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.

OBAMA: It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.

Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.


COMMENTARY
The next four paragraphs seem to be his summary of American history.

OBAMA: For us, they fought and died in places [sic] Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

COMMENTARY
Then, comes this strange sentence, which is about war, but he simply places war time sacrifices in the broader American themes of immigration, slavery, and settlement.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.


This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed.

COMMENTARY
There is a poor transition from traditional American themes to the journey paragraph. He did not address how with all that hard work Americans find themselves in this crisis. If he did, his targets might hit too close to home so politically he does not mention any villains.

OBAMA: Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

(APPLAUSE)

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.

The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.


COMMENTARY
This section is really flat. He talks of remaking without stating what needs to be remade. He simply is calling people to work. It is also phrased so vaguely that there is no program or idea that he is tied to. People have to sacrifice is all is saying.

We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.


COMMENTARY
This is the harping he has been stating in his weekly radio addresses. With each week the number of jobs he is stating to save grows. This may be just an obligatory nod to FDR since nothing about the infrastructure will grow the U.S. economy. The infrastructure is a weakness of the U.S. since we have failed to invest in foundational areas. Other countries have invested and have surpassed our growth particularly in the digital age.

We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality...

(APPLAUSE)

... and lower its costs.


COMMENTARY
He is taking a stab at Bush's science policy. Then, he alludes to expanding the wonders of technology, which can be extremely expensive, but then somehow, magically, technology will cost less. He does not explain how.

OBAMA: We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.


COMMENTARY
Most likely the key here will be the reference to the "soil" technologies since Illinois and the businesses there stand to profit a great deal from ethanol use. He will most likely advocate ethanol as his energy and security solution which will be good for businesses that he is dependent on for support.

All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply.


COMMENTARY
He must have big energy plans, not detailed here, that he will outline at some point. The statements here allow him to refer back to this to say he told us already. Of course, there are no details here at all.

OBAMA: The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.


COMMENTARY
He will end programs he does not like; he will favor those he does.

And those of us who manage the public's knowledge will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.


COMMENTARY
He may be just taking a snipe at Bush here but there is a lack of trust between many people and Obama but he can not explicit refer to them.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched.

OBAMA: But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.

The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.


(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
No one should expect Obama to uphold free market principles; he is explicitly advocating a liberal, interventionist model of the federal government.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.

OBAMA: Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.


(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
This section may be against Bush's security priorities, which of course he has not rolled back. All the questions that people leveled at Bush in regards to the Patriot Act or infringing on basic American liberties are not on the Obama radar screen. He can criticize Bush and still retain all the powers of the imperial presidency. He may be referring to waterboarding, extradition, and others practices that he plans to abandon which will make the enemies of the U.S. more contentious.

It is interesting that he made a reference to the "small village where my father was born." He does not reference where he was born. Of course, we do not know where he was born anyway. He may have been born in the same small village as a British citizen of Kenya, just like his father.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.

OBAMA: They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause; the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy, guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.


COMMENTARY
Pleasant words but sufficiently vague so as to say nothing. I understand that he has to criticize Bush but he has no plan or better idea to offer. You have to accept on faith that somehow he will forge peace in Afghanistan. He does not say how; he may not understand the area in any case. Also, it is interesting to see how he addresses Iraq: "We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people." He does not seem to grasp the security advances that have resulted from the surge and all of the accomplishments established by his election in November. In this way, during his watch, he can claim that he was the one who handled Iraq correctly. In fact, General Petraeus, the Awakening Councils in Iraq, and the blood and sacrifice of American service people have already achieved this standard. It would have been magnanimous of him to admit this but he has demonstrated no indication earlier that he intends to credit those who performed the hard work and selfless duty of sacrifice to this end. It is more important for him to play politics about Iraq and repeat the standard liberal dogma.

OBAMA: With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet.


COMMENTARY
Energy and security keeps coming back in the speech. He intends to rein in America in its energy use. It is the top priority in the speech.

We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.

And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."


(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
He is addressing the terrorist threat, briefly, and I would conclude that he thinks if we use less we will be less of a target. He is wrong; Islamists are on their way regardless.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.


COMMENTARY
"Patchwork" is an odd metaphor to use. It implies weakness, the standard cliche is melting pot or tossed salad. It is the incorrect word to use. It works against his rhetoric.

We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.

And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.


COMMENTARY
If America becomes blander we will have peace. I think that is a debatable point but I believe it is fair to state that is what he intends. We had peace when we were distinctive and lived in a unipolar world. Obama intends a multipolar world, restraining American ambitions.

OBAMA: To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.


COMMENTARY
He can dream on; this will not happen.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.


COMMENTARY
Interesting in that his next paragraph, after the conciliatory paragraph about Muslims, seems to follow Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations thesis. There is a tension here unless he is trying to appeal to all sides of the political debate, the internationalists, and the realists. It is unclear what he is referring to, perhaps as he is so unfamiliar with foreign policy, he simply does not know how to proceed. In this way, he can be reactive, depending on how much the U.S. is attacked, he can always take the ploy that he has a clear policy as it is a response to whatever the remainder of the world does against U.S. interests.

To those...

(APPLAUSE)

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.


COMMENTARY
He plans to provide more foreign aid.

And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.


COMMENTARY
This is another reference to how much we consume. We are at fault for using the world's energy. We will have to cut back in favor of the remainder of the world.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service: a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.


COMMENTARY
Our military makes great sacrifices.

OBAMA: And yet, at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.

It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break; the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.

It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.

OBAMA: These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.


COMMENTARY
Americans will need to be like soldiers. We must sacrifice.

What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

OBAMA: This is the source of our confidence: the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.


COMMENTARY
We have our duty, and we have a responsibility to ourselves, but we have a duty to sacrifice for the world.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall. And why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.


(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
We are sacrificing but we can still celebrate. He makes another reference to his father, a man he barely knew and did not raise him, in addition, he would not be served at a restaurant, not because of his race, but because he was not an American. It is a odd reference to make. I do not think Barack recognizes that there are those who question his background. He wants to make disagreements about race instead. He is wrong.

So let us mark this day in remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled.

In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by nine campfires on the shores of an icy river.


COMMENTARY
He does not reference how there are nine campfires at Valley Forge.

OBAMA: The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.

At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you.

(APPLAUSE)

And God bless the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)


COMMENTARY
He invokes Washington. He wants us to sacrifice bravely as Americans. He must intend to significantly lower the American way of living.

Presidential Oath Mistake



Since the presidential oath was not available to be read it is not surprising that there was a glitch. Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution states the oath as follows: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."


Chief Justice Roberts threw Obama off on his first official duty: a simple oath easily memorized. "Faithfully" belongs before "execute," and not at the end of the oath. That is why Obama was puzzled, smiled, and he could not improvise.


I wonder if this is a bad omen.


The oath was not smooth at all.


Initially, Obama interrupted Roberts midway through the opening line, in which the president repeats his name and solemnly swears.


Next in the oath, which is enshrined in the Constitution, is the phrase "... that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States." But Roberts rearranged the order of the words, not saying "faithfully" until after "president of the United States."


That appeared to throw Obama off. He stopped abruptly at the word "execute."


Recognizing something was off, Roberts then repeated the phrase, putting "faithfully" in the right place but without repeating "execute."


Obama then repeated Roberts' original, incorrect version: "... the office of president of the United States faithfully."


In any case, I guess its official. You can just make it up as you go along. There is no need to follow the Constitution anyway.


Transcript:


ROBERTS: Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator?
OBAMA: I am.
ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama...
OBAMA: I, Barack--
ROBERTS: ...do solemnly swear...
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear...
ROBERTS: ...that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...
OBAMA: ...that I will execute... [pause]
ROBERTS: ...faithfully the office of president of the United States...
OBAMA: ...the office of president of the United States faithfully...
ROBERTS: ...and will, to best of my ability...
OBAMA: ...and will to [the] best of my ability...
ROBERTS: ...preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
OBAMA: ...preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
ROBERTS: So help you God?
OBAMA: So help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Wisdom from Swedish Retiree: Listen Americans

Lise Lindeberg, a 72-year-old retiree in Stockholm, Sweden, thinks people have put too much faith in Obama. "People want him to be a savior—some kind of messiah. You just can't become president and change everything when there's no money."

Ohio High School Superintendent Warns Against Exercising Free Speech

An Ohio high school superintendent warned his charges against "inappropriate comments" when he sent out emails to parents in advance of Inauguration Day. The
Mason school officials said they are taking a proactive educational approach in advance of Inauguration Day activities.


Their announcement stated: "Inappropriate comments that may make other students, staff or families feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in school or on the bus will not be tolerated," Superintendent Kevin Bright said in an e-mail sent to parents.


People are expecting students and staff to show respect for President-elect Obama and the incoming administration.


Jeff Schlaeger, Mason High School's psychologist, said "inappropriate comments" occurred around election week when doctored pictures of Obama appeared at the school. Schlaeger is a member of the district's racial equity committee and curriculum organizer for MHS Freshman Diversity Week.


The school is not discouraging students from saying those comments it is stating they won't be tolerated. The historical precedents for not tolerating dissent far outweigh anything positive school officials hope to gain by restricting student's right to free speech.

Obama the Republican

John McCain, typically blunt, has told colleagues regarding Obama "that many of these appointments he would have made himself," said Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and a close McCain friend. According to Fred Greenstein, emeritus professor of politics at Princeton, said: "I don't think there is a precedent for this. Sometimes there is bad blood, sometimes there is so-so blood, but rarely is there good blood." Now that their Chicago meeting on November 16 is a bit of old news Graham, who accompanied McCain to the meeting, said Obama took a notably different tone toward Iraq than he had during the campaign, emphasizing the common ground in their views. "What the Obama-Biden administration has talked about is not losing the gains we have achieved." He added, "Obama does not want to be the guy who lost Iraq when it is close to being won."


Obama should be apologizing to those families who sacrificed so much yet never during the campaign did he acknowledge their heroism nor did he recognize how successful the surge was.

Obama the Entertainer



Obama announced that he will star in a new hour-long musical, dance, and variety show.

Recessional Inauguration Taxes Taxpayers

During what we are being told is a recession, the price tag is estimated to be $170 million. In addition, Obama's Inauguration has been financed partially by the bailed-out Wall Street executives. The actual swearing-in ceremony will cost $1.24 million, according to Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The federal government estimates that it will spend roughly $49 million on the inaugural weekend. Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland have requested another $75 million from the federal government to help pay for their share of police, fire and medical services.


The party bill has "a budget of roughly $45 million, maybe a little bit more," said Linda Douglas, spokeswoman for the inaugural committee.


That's more than the $42.3 million in private funds spent by President Bush's committee in 2005 or the $33 million spent for Bill Clinton's first inaugural in 1993.
According to Massie Ritsch, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, "These are people giving mostly $50,000 apiece. They tend to be corporate executives, celebrities, the elite of the elite."


The biggest group of donors were none other than the recently bailed-out Wall Street executives and employees.


Ritsch said: "Those who worked in finance still managed to pull together nearly $7 million for the inauguration."


Besides Wall Street firms, a large chunk of the money came from employees at companies such as Microsoft, Google and DreamWorks Animation, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.


Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer and his wife, Connie, both gave $50,000. So did Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda.


DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife, Marilyn, both gave $50,000. Filmmaker and DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate, both also gave $50,000. And DreamWorks employees gave a total of $275,000.


Billionaire investor George Soros and his family contributed $250,000 to the inauguration, and Google co-founder Larry Page and CEO Eric Schmidt each donated $25,000.


Other big-name donors who gave $50,000 include filmmaker George Lucas, artist Dale Chihuly, Los Angeles Dodgers President Jamie McCourt. Citigroup managing director Raymond J. McGuire; Oracle President Charles E. Phillips Jr.; actresses Halle Berry and Sharon Stone; and Melvin Simon, co-founder of Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner in the United States.


The governors of Maryland and Virginia, and the mayor of Washington said that their combined costs could exceed $75 million. That's on top of the $49 million the federal government is spending, again mostly for security.


Elite firms are supporting Obama and the government is spending taxpayer money to promote the Inaugural image of Obama.

What Else Can He Say?



Obama can really only say what he says best. Until his handlers tell him what to do he go on camera and put on appearances.

Holder Okays Snooping on Americans, Regulate Guns



U.S. Senator Russ Feingold questioned Attorney General nominee Eric Holder about FISA during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on 15 January 2009. Holder supported renewing the part of the Patriot Act that allows for the FBI to seek records from businesses, libraries and bookstores as the policing agency investigates suspects in this country.


Senator Orrin Hatch questioned Holder in regards to the Presidential powers as a consequence of his inherent authority. Presidential powers are superior and this allows him more power over the regulation of guns.


Sunday, January 18, 2009

Muslim Speaker for Obama Inaugural Prayer Tied to Terrorists

Muslim scholar, Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, has been chosen to speak at Obama's inaugural prayer service. Mattson is the leader of a group that federal prosecutors say has ties to terrorists. Mattson is also a professor of Islamic studies at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut.


But in 2007 and as recently as last July, federal prosecutors in Dallas filed court documents linking the Plainfield, Indiana-based Islamic society to the group Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.


The Islamic Society of North America, which describes itself as "the nation's largest mainstream Muslim community-based organization," is fighting its inclusion on a list of co-conspirators in the Dallas terrorism case against the Holy Land Foundation.


That foundation and five of its former leaders were convicted at a retrial in November of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Educating Yourself on Sharia Finance & Banking in the U.S.

With the rise of Sharia finance within the U.S. government many citizens will need to acquaint themselves with how the process is working. Many more Americans would object were they to realize how extensive the contacts have become and they may have a dimmer view of the ongoing bailouts as a result. Fortunately, there are groups who are educating Americans with the ongoing challenge to their way of life.

Iranian Cleric Solicits Shooter, Notes Obama's Dog Priorities

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Iran's top cleric opined: "The world is on a slope of collapse. One is shocked when a president (Obama) sits, smiles and says 'my concern is to find a dog for my daughter.' Shame on you and those who voted for you," he said.


He also added during Friday prayers that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni should be shot.


"Every time the picture of this woman is shown, I really wish that somebody would expend a bullet on her," he said according to a recording of the sermon obtained by the Associated Press, and a copy of the speech was also translated and published by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a Middle Eastern press monitoring service.
These are the people that Obama wants to meet with and to have no preconditions before for meeting. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall on that auspicious occasion?


Jannati is the head of the powerful hardline Iranian Council of Guardians which ensures the government remains true to the principles of the Islamic revolution.


He was hand-picked by Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for the position and is seen by the reformist camp as one of the biggest opponents of democratic reforms in Iran. His council disqualified thousands of reformist candidates during parliamentary elections. At least they have something in common with Obama: they lack qualifications.

Federal Government's Fear of the People

For the inauguration Washington will be on lock down for this unprecedented security event. It will be overseen by the U.S. Secret Service and will include 7,500 active-duty soldiers, 10,000 National Guard troops, and 25,000 law-enforcement officers.


On Inauguration Day, the city will be honeycombed with communication command centers staffed with officials from the Secret Service, FBI, police and fire departments, intelligence agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.


Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department is working with 99 federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies to double its force of 4,100 officers. The FBI will have 600 agents on duty, a 20 percent increase from the 2005 inauguration. All 1,600 Capitol Police officers will be on duty.


Chemical, Biological


The U.S. Army will have a brigade at Fort Stewart, Georgia, ready to respond to a chemical and biological attack. Within 48 hours, hundreds of planes and helicopters could fly to the Washington region if needed.


Even the ceremonial guards at the inauguration are prepared to change out of their dress uniforms to help out in the event of a security lapse.


The effort will even include inspectors, behavioral experts, air marshals and canine teams from the Transportation Security Administration, who are usually deployed at airports. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is sending bomb experts and dog handlers.


Helping to monitor crowds will be 94 surveillance cameras spread throughout the city as well those in subway stations and in helicopters.


Anyone wishing to stand along the route of the inauguration parade will have to go through some type of screening, including metal detectors.


On Inauguration Day, two bridges connecting Washington to Virginia will be closed to all traffic except tour buses, emergency vehicles and pedestrians. Vehicles also will be restricted within a seven-block section west of the White House.


Parade-Route Balconies


Security officials are taking special care with buildings near the festivities. Parking garages in some will be shut down the day before. Guests attending the Air Transport Association’s party at its Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters -- along the parade route -- will have to be pre-cleared because the building has balconies.


The scale of the overkill for the inauguration begins to reveal the extent that the government fears the people and the lengths it can go to shut down the government if necessary.

Politician Free Zone

For the inauguration the signs along 5th and I Streets in D.C. read, "Warning, Prostitution Free Zone." I wonder where all the politicians will be going for the 20th.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Washington, D.C. Bans Free Speech

Free speech is banned in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department has forbidden a pro-life gathering and chalk display during Inauguration Week. The chalk display had been approved previously for the last 16 years. The City of Washington, D.C., has also allowed numerous public 'chalk art displays' throughout the city, but as this involves a pro-life display in front of the White House and Obama is pro-choice it stands to reason the First Amendment will be suspended.


The Christian Defense Coalition plans to appeal the decision of the police to ban their expression.

Holder Justice?



Eric Holder will be questioned as the Attorney General Elect. Questions regarding his roles will be paramount.




Previous testimony from Holder before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1999 did not go well. Orrin Hatch--then chairman of the judiciary committee asked him why he never pressed the terrorists to provide information about other FALN terrorists who were still at large. Holder was unable to answer the question.

Taxpayers Fund Al Jazeera

WLIW21 relies on many different resources for its support in providing these valuable services - station members, volunteers, corporate sponsors, community groups and governmental funding all contribute to fulfilling the mission of the station. WLIW21 looks forward to a continued partnership with the tri-state area as truly public television.


Since WLIW reports that they receive public funding, Americans must be the dumbest people in the universe. American taxpayers will now be funding Al Jazeera since the company has signed deals to air throughout the U.S. Right now a person is perfectly able to pay for the messages, ideas, and slime that emanates from the black hole but Americans have made it easier to attack America. They will be paying for propaganda that undercuts them as a nation.


A list of the Board of Directors, in case anyone wants to object, appears below:


Board of Long Island Educational TV Council, Inc.
Charlotte Nichoson Ackert
Chairperson
Community Leader

Terrel L. Cass
President and General Manager,
WLIW21

James M. Goldrick
1st Vice Chairman
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co.

Michael Bertuch
2nd Vice Chairman
ViaTech Publishing Solutions

Robert Sturm
Secretary/Treasurer
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Richard M. Aborn
Constantine & Aborn Advisory Services, LLC

Santa Albicocco
Attorney/Community Leader

Angela Anton
Susan Anton Community Newspapers

Hans Bosch
Kenstan Lock Company

Matthew T. Crosson
Long Island Association, Inc.

Nancy R. Douzinas
Rauch Foundation

William G. Forman
North Atlantic Industries, Inc.

Phyllis Hill-Slater
Hill Slater, Inc.


Michael T. Keenan
Wachovia Bank
James H. MacNaughton
Community Leader

Steven C. Millner
Quogue Venture Group, Inc.

Vera Moore
Vera Moore Cosmetics

Thomas A. Nicolette
Akers Biosciences, Inc.

George D. O'Neill
Meriwether Capital, LLC

Diane Chernoff Rosen
Alter & Rosen, LLP

Arnold Scaasi
Community Leader

Barry R. Shapiro
(Chairman Emeritus)
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Robert D. Siegfried
Kekst and Company Inc.

Donald J. Stewart
(Chairman Emeritus)
Parker Publications, Inc.

Jacqueline F. Strayer
Arrow Electronics, Inc.

Paul F. Washington
Time Warner Inc.

Compulsory Military Service?

The irrepressible Congressman Rangel, D-N.Y., is at it again. The perennial proponent of re-instating the draft plans to revive the idea. And, with a Democrat president, a Democrat Senate, and a Democrat House he just may have a shot this time. The Obama campaign discussed, and there has been public support for Obama youth movements, and this seems to be in line with earlier developments. The Republicans will bleat about compulsory service or Obama service groups but there is not a great deal of political opposition that they can muster since they are the minority party. The potential result is most likely some type of compulsory or heavily supported military or paramilitary service as a result.


The historical war-making record of Democrats does not look good either. War efforts have been led by Democratics Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, and Clinton. Oddly enough, the Republicans have ended or so threatened others with retaliation that war was avoided. Nixon and Reagan come to mind in this regard. Of course, this is a simplistic and all too brief summary but it stands to reason that Rangel is actually on to something.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Keyes on Obama

Dr. Keyes is interviewed summarizing his thoughts on the natural born citizen




controversy.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Ummm, Illinois Profit?

I had blogged before about the socialist, Carol Browning, who had discriminated against her employees as the head of the EPA. Yet, the appointee will be the new coordinator of energy policies in the U.S. Before we go too far astray I have to wonder why she would get this appointment. One aspect to consider is to grasp how much of a benefit that the corn producing states, such as Illinois, stand to gain from an increase in using ethanol. The short answer is a great deal. This is a move that they were savvy enough to move on once it became clear that oil flow to the U.S. was in jeopardy.


Corn belt states began subsidizing ethanol after the Arab oil embargo of 1973. The federal government advocated its use a few years later. The Energy Tax Act of 1978 authorized an excise tax exemption for biofuels, chiefly gasohol (a gasoline blend containing at least 10 percent ethanol). Another federal program provided loan guarantees for the construction of ethanol plants, and in 1986 the U.S. even gave ethanol producers free corn. It's estimated that the excise exemption alone costs U.S. taxpayers as much as $1.4 billion per year.


The immediate beneficiaries of ethanol subsidies have been corn farmers and, more significantly, the Archer Daniels Midland Corporation of Decatur, Illinois, better known as ADM. The world's largest grain processor, ADM produces 40 percent of the ethanol used to make gasohol. As might be supposed, the company and its officers have been eloquent in their defense of ethanol and generous in contributing to both political parties. The politicians have been in return. The libertarian Cato Institute estimates that every dollar of ADM's ethanol profit costs taxpayers 30 bucks.


The circle is complete. The corn growers stand to profit from the increased demand for ethanol and minions are needed to implement the plans of big business. Obama will enter now.

Inauguration Emergency

"An emergency exists in the District of Columbia," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement. And, with that, Washington, D.C. is on lock-down. What is the emergency? The emergency is the upcoming inauguration ceremony. Since "the emergency" is not really an emergency it seems fair to conclude that Americans should get accustomed to non-threatening situations that are now regarded as emergencies. As Americans are benumbed to the notion of the government regularly declaring emergencies for the most frivolous reasons they can likewise expect to find their liberties diminished as well. The Obama - Bush gang are acting in concert.

Thanks From Bugs


One of the fans weigh in.

Obama/Biden SCOTUS Meet Behind Closed Doors

According to the press release: "The visit is a private event. There will be no photo or press availabilities.” In a meeting that has not happened between a President and a Chief Justice in 17 years, SCOTUS and the President-elect are chatting but without any one from the outside. I wonder what they have to talk about?

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

'Nary A Brown Ripple

Not a ripple in the MSM about the appointment of Carol Browner.




It may be that considerations of race or politics are secondary if ethanol is promoted by Obama-Browner. It may be worth considering if Illinois is the state that is expected to benefit a great deal from the proposed energy solutions during the new administration.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Obama Stands Behind Socialist on Energy



Graphic source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES APPOINTED.

Carol M. Browner has been tapped as the coordinator of climate and energy policies. Until last week, Browner, Obama's nod as global warming czar, was listed as one of 14 leaders of a socialist group's Commission for a Sustainable World Society, which calls for "global governance" and says rich countries must shrink their economies to address climate change. The page has been revised but a cached copy reveals that Browner is a socialist.


Just last Thursday though, Browner's name and biography had been removed from Socialist International's Web page although a promotional photo of a her speaking on 30 June to the group's congress in Greece was still available.


Socialist International, an umbrella group for many of the world's more mainstream social democratic political parties such as Britain's Labor Party, is a self-proclaimed socialist group harshly critical of U.S. policies.


Obama tapped Browner last month to fill a new position as White House coordinator of climate and energy policies. The appointment does not need Senate confirmation and so will not likely face opposition as a confirmed Socialist.


Previously, Browner ran the Environmental Protection Agency under Clinton and she was on the board of directors for the National Audubon Society, the League of Conservation Voters, the Center for American Progress and former Vice President Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection.


Her name has been removed from the Gore organization's Web site list of directors, and the Audubon Society issued a press release about her departure from that organization.


The controversial Browner was investigated by The Washington Times who discovered that she refused to use email when she served during the Clinton administration for fear of leaving a digital trail. She also ordered her government computer hard drive wiped clean of records just before leaving office.


An email sent to her surfaced in litigation so she simply decided not to a computer." She said: "I was very careful."


A lawsuit convinced a judge to order that the agency must preserve such records. The same day Browner asked a staff member to erase all files on her government computer and her work computer was scrubbed which prompted allegations of a possible cover-up.


The ensuing investigation ultimately cleared Ms. Browner of any wrongdoing who claimed that she was unaware of the judge's order. Her former agency, however, didn't fare as well. It was found in contempt of court for failing to preserve government records.


There will be no transparency during her tenure since she is "afraid the public might see it later," said Mike Surrusco, senior researcher at Common Cause, a nonpartisan group that monitors government ethics and openness.


Charles Davis, executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition at the University of Missouri, said avoiding computers and e-mail "seems a little drastic and over the top."


In addition, according to her Wikipedia article:



"During Browner's tenure, there were many reports from African American employees of racism directed at them from a network of "good old boys" who dominated the agency's middle management layers. The most known of these involved policy specialist Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, who in 1997 filed suit against the agency; in 2000 the EPA was found guilty of discrimination against her and she was awarded $300,000. Coleman-Adebayo said that Browner allowed the problems to persist rather than trying to clean them up: "She wasn't at all sympathetic to complaints about civil rights abuses. We were treated like Negroes, to use a polite term. We were put in our place." In an October 2000 Congressional hearing on the matter, Browner appeared near tears as she said minorities had tripled in the agency's senior ranks during her time as administrator, but she was unable to explain why the culprits in Coleman-Adebayo's case had not been dismissed and in some cases had been promoted. A month earlier, Browner had asked for the Office of the Inspector General to linvestigate [sic] a statement by an African American environmental specialist that she had been ordered to clean a toilet in 1993 in advance of Browner's arrival at an EPA event. This followed a rally in which dozens of EPA employees protested what they saw as rampant bias at the agency. Congressional dissatisfaction with the EPA situation and its treatment of Coleman-Adebayo led to passage of the No-FEAR Act in 2002, which discourages federal managers and supervisors from engaging in unlawful discrimination and retaliation."

LeT the U.S. Become a Jihadist Center

Jamaat-ud-Dawa is supposedly a charitable organisation and Hafiz Mohammed Saeed claims to be an injured innocent; yet, it's clear that the organisation and Saeed's family have been subject to scrutiny by the U.S. government for several years and a couple of Saeed's family members are already in US custody.


As the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) grew in Pakistan, Saeed's family rotated to the US to live and work here for a decade.


During this time, LeT aka Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), has morphed from an ISI-sponsored terror outfit against India to become a global jihadist organisation with increasing ties to Al Qaeda.


JuD originated and deeply resonated in almost all areas of Pakistani life where the U.S. could do little. Mumbai changed the equation.


Previously, Saeed's family rotation lived here as imams while preaching and raising funds for jihad.


The first to land in the US was Muhammad Masood, Saeed's brother, who arrived in 1987 on a J-1 exchange visitor visa. He lived in the Boston area, working odd jobs until he started teaching at the Islamic Academy of New England at the Islamic Center of New England in Sharon, Massachusetts. Masood was arrested in November 2006 and charged with visa fraud and other unnamed crimes.


The second family member to arrive was Abdul Hannan, Saeed's brother-in-law (married to Masood's sister). Hannan arrived in the late-1990s, coming to the US through another member of their organisation, Muhammad Khalil, who is serving time currently in a U.S. jail. By 1998, Hannan himself was in jail, also in Massachusetts.


Hannan was released in 2002, and for the next couple of years floated around another Rhode Island, also as an imam, before returning, as imam to Massachusetts. Hannan was again arrested in November 2006 with his brother-in-law Masood. So far, there were two members of Saeed's family in U.S. jails.


The third member, another brother of Saeed named Hamid arrived in the US in 2001 for a program at Harvard University. He returned to the U.S. later in the year and became an imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester. In October 2007, Hamid was deported to Pakistan, on visa irregularities. But one of the reasons, according to some sources, was that the U.S. discovered that he used to run a safe house for LeT terrorists in Moon Chowk and Lahore, India and that his imam activities in the U.S. were all about teaching jihad to youngsters there.


By 2003, LeT offices opened in California and Virginia. After the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, international organizations discovered that LeT also ran terror training camps which were also used to train terrorists from other groups.


The climax to their activities was Mumbai on November 26.


LeT arose an international terrorist organization allied with, or working in concert with Al Qaeda thus this has piqued the interest of the international intelligence community.


Daniel Markey, currently with the Council for Foreign Relations and earlier with the U.S. State Department, stated that the U.S. concern is that LeT emerged as a global jihadist organization no longer satisfied with the status as just an anti-India group.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Follow the Money

A Newsmax story last year estimated that anywhere from $13 million to $63 million may have been received by the Obama campaign from overseas credit cards or foreign currency purchases. More recently, the FEC itself has flagged 16,639 potential foreign donations to Obama's campaign. The extent and amount of illegal campaign contributions will not likely be known since the majority of the FEC Commissioners are Democrats who are not likely to advocate an investigation.

Its Muslim Time Since Obama Claims Mag



Its Muslim time according to editor Nida Kahn claiming, "It's our time." The publication, Elan magazine, sporting Obama's familiarity with Islam from the daughter of Malcolm X and Benjamin F. Chavis Muhammad, the chief of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and his time attending an Indonesian Muslim school.

The magazine, which calls itself the "guide to global Muslim culture," is distributed in the U.S., Pakistan, Indonesia, Canada, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, as well as online.

Obama: "We are going to take a new approach"

Obama stated on ABC's This Week that he would meet with our enemies “without precondition.” With this shift he has moved U.S. interests into a position of weakness. Our enemies are quick to take advantage of his weakness: Hassan Qashqavi, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated “We are willing to talk to them directly and give them a clear choice and ultimately let them make a determination in terms of whether they want to do this the hard way or the easy way.” Qashqavi's tone is clear; they want to set the agenda of the meeting, they want to dictate to us what our choices are. In addition, the Iranian Vice President for Media Affairs Mehdi Kalhor said that Iran has set two preconditions for holding talks with the U.S. “(A)s long as U.S. forces have not left the Middle East region and continues its support for the Zionist regime, talks between Iran and U.S. is off the agenda.” The two statements form a cohesive whole indicating who is in control. Obama has unilaterally shifted the power base of the region from our allies to our enemies by allowing the United States to weaken its approach to talks and negotiations.


One of the main tenants of Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” is, “the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed by him.”


Obama does not grasp the wisdom of Sun Tzu.


During the Presidential debates, Obama tried to obviate his policy by stating what he really meant, was "preparation," rather than precondition.




Now, of course, he does not have a maverick challenging him in a debate, and Obama's policy is clear. He is now back to his real weakness as a negotiator, he legitimizes the position of America's enemies.


The best case scenario Americans can hope for, given Obama's deficiencies, is that
Hillary can take a harder, more realistic line, since she is more savvy and experienced in global affairs.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Now the Non-Existent Job Creation Plan Promises More Jobs

With each Saturday radio address the "job creation" number grows. Obama, try to create one more new job before inflating non-existing growth each week. The American people deserve results and transparency.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Obama's Priorities: Football, Not Politics

As the Hamas-Israeli conflict widens, which Obama had no comment about, he addressed his priority item of interest. "We need a playoff," Obama told reporters after being asked about Florida's 24-14 victory over Oklahoma in Thursday night's BCS championship game. "If I'm Utah, or if I'm USC or if I'm Texas, I might still have some quibbles." While the serious issues of state unfold, Obama is doing what he does best, show up and vote "Present." I would be delighted if someone could get him interested in the real game: politics.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Muslim Terrorist Evidence in Mumbai Released

The Mumbai evidence is available regarding the terrorist murders of civilians where their handlers cheered after hearing the gunfire over the phone. The material documentation was released after India accumulated a dossier for release. The documents were released by the Indian newspaper The Hindu. More than 170 people were killed and hundreds wounded during the 60 hour terror spree that shut down the city. The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group allied with al Qaeda and supported by powerful elements within Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence agency and the military, carried out the attack. The identity of the major handler has been identified as a current or former Pakistani military officer who appears to be Hamid Gul, the retired former chief of the ISI.

The Pakistan-based handlers provided real-time intelligence and directed the terrorists to killed specific hostages.

The released dialogue reveals that the terrorists planned and executed the attack for maximum media coverage, ordered the murder of hostages, and cheered after the murders were carried out.


They stated: “Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims,” the handlers stated. “Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.”


The handlers are heard cheering in the background.


Once that Indian officials were known to be hostages, they state: “Pray that we find them.”


The handler reiterates “Allah is helping you. The wazir (Indian minister) should not escape. Try and set the place on fire.”


They go on to state: “Keep in mind that hostages are of use only as long as you do not come under fire because of their safety.” “If you are still threatened, then don’t saddle yourself with the burden of the hostages. Immediately kill them.”


“Israel has made a request through diplomatic channels to save the hostages. If the hostages are killed, it will spoil relations between India and Israel.”


“So be it, God willing,” one of the terrorists responded.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Obama On Abortion

Jill Stanek has written a blog identifying Obama's views on abortion.

Bin Laden Expert Warns About Obama's Choice of Panetta



On CNN, Michael Scheuer, a former CIA officer in charge of the hunt for Bin Laden is critical of former President Clinton and the man reported as the President-elect Obama's pick to head the CIA, Leon Panetta:

"He clearly has nothing on his curriculum vitae that suggests he should be the candidate for this job," Scheuer said. "It's not apparent he has any talent that is pertinent to the job."

Scheuer said Panetta's lack of experience could damage the agency and jeopardize national security.

"What Mr. Panetta's appointment says is that there's no urgency in the mind of the Obama administration that they think they can send somebody over there who can learn on the job and that the enemy will wait to attack us," he said."


Appearing on the Fox News' "Special Report," Scheuer stated:

"The agency officers will be well aware that bin Laden is a problem today because Mr. Panetta and Mr. Clinton and their colleagues chose to do nothing to protect America."




You begin to get the impression that Obama does not grasp the threat that Bin Laden, et. al., represent. In light of the possible Panetta apparatchik appointment, Obama's words following 9/11 take on a haunting tone. He stated:


Obama recorded his response to the 9/11 attacks for The New Yorker magazine:


"Even as I hope for some measure of peace and comfort to the bereaved families, I must also hope that we as a nation draw some measure of wisdom from this tragedy. Certain immediate lessons are clear, and we must act upon those lessons decisively. We need to step up security at our airports. We must reexamine the effectiveness of our intelligence networks. And we must be resolute in identifying the perpetrators of these heinous acts and dismantling their organizations of destruction. We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence, and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.We will have to make sure, despite our rage, that any U.S. military action takes into account the lives of innocent civilians abroad. We will have to be unwavering in opposing bigotry or discrimination directed against neighbors and friends of Middle Eastern descent. Finally, we will have to devote far more attention to the monumental task of raising the hopes and prospects of embittered children across the globe—children not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and within our own shores."


Cf. The New Yorker.

Lightfoot v. Bowen Distributed for Conference

No. 08A524
Title: Gail Lightfoot, et al., Applicants
v.
Debra Bowen, California Secretary of State

Docketed:
Lower Ct: Supreme Court of California
Case Nos.: (S168690)

~~~Date~~~ ~~~~~~~Proceedings and Orders~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dec 12 2008 Application (08A524) for a stay pending the filing and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari, submitted to Justice Kennedy.
Dec 17 2008 Application (08A524) denied by Justice Kennedy.
Dec 29 2008 Application (08A524) refiled and submitted to The Chief Justice.
Jan 7 2009 DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 23, 2009.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Obama Releases Offishal Birf Certificat



I am pleased to see that the transparency is real and Obama has finally released the official record; we can all rest easier now.


Obama/Soetoro Divorce Decrees Available

Herein is a copy of the divorce decree between the Soetoros, Stanley Ann, and Lolo, parent and step-parent of Obama; the Obama - Dunham divorce decree has been available for some time.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Military Wary of Obama

A recent Military Times survey of active-duty service members found 6 of 10 U.S. soldiers polled said they were "pessimistic" or "uncertain" about Obama serving as commander in chief of America's armed forces.

Newbie Obama Hacked: Again, Tweeted



Newbie Obama's Twitter account was hacked. I realize how the MSM is touting Obama as technologically proficient, however, as we all know after having been around IT security for even a short time, these publicly available tools are eminently hackable. We should realize that there is no magic panacea and Obama is a newbie. So far, his Twitter account has been breached as his campaign web site was hacked earlier as well. Watch and learn America.

Total Pageviews

Popular Posts

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed/Site Meter

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Map

Where From?

site statistics

Search This Blog

Reading since summer 2006 (some of the classics are re-reads): including magazine subscriptions

  • Abbot, Edwin A., Flatland;
  • Accelerate: Technology Driving Business Performance;
  • ACM Queue: Architecting Tomorrow's Computing;
  • Adkins, Lesley and Roy A. Adkins, Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome;
  • Ali, Ayaan Hirsi, Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations;
  • Ali, Tariq, The Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads, and Modernity;
  • Allawi, Ali A., The Crisis of Islamic Civilization;
  • Alperovitz, Gar, The Decision To Use the Atomic Bomb;
  • American School & University: Shaping Facilities & Business Decisions;
  • Angelich, Jane, What's a Mother (in-Law) to Do?: 5 Essential Steps to Building a Loving Relationship with Your Son's New Wife;
  • Arad, Yitzchak, In the Shadow of the Red Banner: Soviet Jews in the War Against Nazi Germany;
  • Aristotle, Athenian Constitution. Eudemian Ethics. Virtues and Vices. (Loeb Classical Library No. 285);
  • Aristotle, Metaphysics: Books X-XIV, Oeconomica, Magna Moralia (The Loeb classical library);
  • Armstrong, Karen, A History of God;
  • Arrian: Anabasis of Alexander, Books I-IV (Loeb Classical Library No. 236);
  • Atkinson, Rick, The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945 (Liberation Trilogy);
  • Auletta, Ken, Googled: The End of the World As We Know It;
  • Austen, Jane, Pride and Prejudice;
  • Bacevich, Andrew, The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism;
  • Baker, James A. III, and Lee H. Hamilton, The Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward - A New Approach;
  • Barber, Benjamin R., Jihad vs. McWorld: Terrorism's Challenge to Democracy;
  • Barnett, Thomas P.M., Blueprint for Action: A Future Worth Creating;
  • Barnett, Thomas P.M., The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century;
  • Barron, Robert, Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith;
  • Baseline: Where Leadership Meets Technology;
  • Baur, Michael, Bauer, Stephen, eds., The Beatles and Philosophy;
  • Beard, Charles Austin, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States (Sony Reader);
  • Benjamin, Daniel & Steven Simon, The Age of Sacred Terror: Radical Islam's War Against America;
  • Bergen, Peter, The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al Qaeda's Leader;
  • Berman, Paul, Terror and Liberalism;
  • Berman, Paul, The Flight of the Intellectuals: The Controversy Over Islamism and the Press;
  • Better Software: The Print Companion to StickyMinds.com;
  • Bleyer, Kevin, Me the People: One Man's Selfless Quest to Rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America;
  • Boardman, Griffin, and Murray, The Oxford Illustrated History of the Roman World;
  • Bracken, Paul, The Second Nuclear Age: Strategy, Danger, and the New Power Politics;
  • Bradley, James, with Ron Powers, Flags of Our Fathers;
  • Bronte, Charlotte, Jane Eyre;
  • Bronte, Emily, Wuthering Heights;
  • Brown, Ashley, War in Peace Volume 10 1974-1984: The Marshall Cavendish Encyclopedia of Postwar Conflict;
  • Brown, Ashley, War in Peace Volume 8 The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia of Postwar Conflict;
  • Brown, Nathan J., When Victory Is Not an Option: Islamist Movements in Arab Politics;
  • Bryce, Robert, Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of "Energy Independence";
  • Bush, George W., Decision Points;
  • Bzdek, Vincent, The Kennedy Legacy: Jack, Bobby and Ted and a Family Dream Fulfilled;
  • Cahill, Thomas, Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter;
  • Campus Facility Maintenance: Promoting a Healthy & Productive Learning Environment;
  • Campus Technology: Empowering the World of Higher Education;
  • Certification: Tools and Techniques for the IT Professional;
  • Channel Advisor: Business Insights for Solution Providers;
  • Chariton, Callirhoe (Loeb Classical Library);
  • Chief Learning Officer: Solutions for Enterprise Productivity;
  • Christ, Karl, The Romans: An Introduction to Their History and Civilization;
  • Cicero, De Senectute;
  • Cicero, The Republic, The Laws;
  • Cicero, The Verrine Orations I: Against Caecilius. Against Verres, Part I; Part II, Book 1 (Loeb Classical Library);
  • Cicero, The Verrine Orations I: Against Caecilius. Against Verres, Part I; Part II, Book 2 (Loeb Classical Library);
  • CIO Decisions: Aligning I.T. and Business in the MidMarket Enterprise;
  • CIO Insight: Best Practices for IT Business Leaders;
  • CIO: Business Technology Leadership;
  • Clay, Lucius Du Bignon, Decision in Germany;
  • Cohen, William S., Dragon Fire;
  • Colacello, Bob, Ronnie and Nancy: Their Path to the White House, 1911 to 1980;
  • Coll, Steve, The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century;
  • Collins, Francis S., The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief ;
  • Colorni, Angelo, Israel for Beginners: A Field Guide for Encountering the Israelis in Their Natural Habitat;
  • Compliance & Technology;
  • Computerworld: The Voice of IT Management;
  • Connolly, Peter & Hazel Dodge, The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens & Rome;
  • Conti, Greg, Googling Security: How Much Does Google Know About You?;
  • Converge: Strategy and Leadership for Technology in Education;
  • Cowan, Ross, Roman Legionary 58 BC - AD 69;
  • Cowell, F. R., Life in Ancient Rome;
  • Creel, Richard, Religion and Doubt: Toward a Faith of Your Own;
  • Cross, Robin, General Editor, The Encyclopedia of Warfare: The Changing Nature of Warfare from Prehistory to Modern-day Armed Conflicts;
  • CSO: The Resource for Security Executives:
  • Cummins, Joseph, History's Greatest Wars: The Epic Conflicts that Shaped the Modern World;
  • D'Amato, Raffaele, Imperial Roman Naval Forces 31 BC-AD 500;
  • Dallek, Robert, An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917-1963;
  • Daly, Dennis, Sophocles' Ajax;
  • Dando-Collins, Stephen, Caesar's Legion: The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar's Elite Tenth Legion and the Armies of Rome;
  • Darwish, Nonie, Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror;
  • Davis Hanson, Victor, Makers of Ancient Strategy: From the Persian Wars to the Fall of Rome;
  • Dawkins, Richard, The Blind Watchmaker;
  • Dawkins, Richard, The God Delusion;
  • Dawkins, Richard, The Selfish Gene;
  • de Blij, Harm, Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America, Climate Change, The Rise of China, and Global Terrorism;
  • Defense Systems: Information Technology and Net-Centric Warfare;
  • Defense Systems: Strategic Intelligence for Info Centric Operations;
  • Defense Tech Briefs: Engineering Solutions for Military and Aerospace;
  • Dennett, Daniel C., Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon;
  • Dennett, Daniel C., Consciousness Explained;
  • Dennett, Daniel C., Darwin's Dangerous Idea;
  • Devries, Kelly, et. al., Battles of the Ancient World 1285 BC - AD 451 : From Kadesh to Catalaunian Field;
  • Dickens, Charles, Great Expectations;
  • Digital Communities: Building Twenty-First Century Communities;
  • Doctorow, E.L., Homer & Langley;
  • Dodds, E. R., The Greeks and the Irrational;
  • Dostoevsky, Fyodor, The House of the Dead (Google Books, Sony e-Reader);
  • Dostoevsky, Fyodor, The Idiot;
  • Douglass, Elisha P., Rebels and Democrats: The Struggle for Equal Political Rights and Majority Role During the American Revolution;
  • Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan, The Hound of the Baskervilles & The Valley of Fear;
  • Dr. Dobb's Journal: The World of Software Development;
  • Drug Discovery News: Discovery/Development/Diagnostics/Delivery;
  • DT: Defense Technology International;
  • Dunbar, Richard, Alcatraz;
  • Education Channel Partner: News, Trends, and Analysis for K-20 Sales Professionals;
  • Edwards, Aton, Preparedness Now!;
  • EGM: Electronic Gaming Monthly, the No. 1 Videogame Magazine;
  • Ehrman, Bart D., Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scriptures and the Faiths We Never Knew;
  • Ehrman, Bart D., Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why;
  • Electronic Engineering Times: The Industry Newsweekly for the Creators of Technology;
  • Ellis, Joseph J., American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson;
  • Ellis, Joseph J., His Excellency: George Washington;
  • Emergency Management: Strategy & Leadership in Critical Times;
  • Emerson, Steven, American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us;
  • Erlewine, Robert, Monotheism and Tolerance: Recovering a Religion of Reason (Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion);
  • ESD: Embedded Systems Design;
  • Everitt, Anthony, Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor;
  • Everitt, Anthony, Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician;
  • eWeek: The Enterprise Newsweekly;
  • Federal Computer Week: Powering the Business of Government;
  • Ferguson, Niall, Civilization: The West and the Rest;
  • Ferguson, Niall, Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power;
  • Ferguson, Niall, The Cash Nexus: Money and Power in the Modern World, 1700-2000;
  • Ferguson, Niall, The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Decline of the West;
  • Feuerbach, Ludwig, The Essence of Christianity (Sony eReader);
  • Fields, Nic, The Roman Army of the Principate 27 BC-AD 117;
  • Fields, Nic, The Roman Army of the Punic Wars 264-146 BC;
  • Fields, Nic, The Roman Army: the Civil Wars 88-31 BC;
  • Finkel, Caroline, Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire;
  • Fisk, Robert, The Great War For Civilization: The Conquest of the Middle East;
  • Forstchen, William R., One Second After;
  • Fox, Robin Lane, The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian;
  • Frazer, James George, The Golden Bough (Volume 3): A Study in Magic and Religion (Sony eReader);
  • Freeh, Louis J., My FBI: Bringing Down the Mafia, Investigating Bill Clinton, and Fighting the War on Terror;
  • Freeman, Charles, The Greek Achievement: The Foundations of the Western World;
  • Friedman, Thomas L. The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century Further Updated and Expanded/Release 3.0;
  • Friedman, Thomas L., The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization;
  • Frontinus: Stratagems. Aqueducts of Rome. (Loeb Classical Library No. 174);
  • Fuller Focus: Fuller Theological Seminary;
  • Fuller, Graham E., A World Without Islam;
  • Gaubatz, P. David and Paul Sperry, Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America;
  • Ghattas, Kim, The Secretary: A Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of American Power;
  • Gibson, William, Neuromancer;
  • Gilmour, Michael J., Gods and Guitars: Seeking the Sacred in Post-1960s Popular Music;
  • Global Services: Strategies for Sourcing People, Processes, and Technologies;
  • Glucklich, Ariel, Dying for Heaven: Holy Pleasure and Suicide Bombers-Why the Best Qualities of Religion Are Also It's Most Dangerous;
  • Goldberg, Jonah, Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning;
  • Goldin, Shmuel, Unlocking the Torah Text Vayikra (Leviticus);
  • Goldsworthy, Adrian, Caesar: Life of a Colossus;
  • Goldsworthy, Adrian, How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower;
  • Goodman, Lenn E., Creation and Evolution;
  • Goodwin, Doris Kearns, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln;
  • Gopp, Amy, et.al., Split Ticket: Independent Faith in a Time of Partisan Politics (WTF: Where's the Faith?);
  • Gordon, Michael R., and Bernard E. Trainor, Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq;
  • Government Health IT: The Magazine of Public/private Health Care Convergence;
  • Government Technology's Emergency Management: Strategy & Leadership in Critical Times;
  • Government Technology: Solutions for State and Local Government in the Information Age;
  • Grant , Michael, The Climax of Rome: The Final Achievements of the Ancient World, AD 161 - 337;
  • Grant, Michael, The Classical Greeks;
  • Grumberg, Orna, and Helmut Veith, 25 Years of Model Checking: History, Achievements, Perspectives;
  • Halberstam, David, War in a Time of Peace: Bush, Clinton, and the Generals;
  • Hammer, Reuven, Entering Torah Prefaces to the Weekly Torah Portion;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, An Autumn of War: What America Learned from September 11 and the War on Terrorism;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, Between War and Peace: Lessons from Afghanistan to Iraq;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of Western Power;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, How The Obama Administration Threatens Our National Security (Encounter Broadsides);
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, Makers of Ancient Strategy: From the Persian Wars to the Fall of Rome;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, Ripples of Battle: How Wars of the Past Still Determine How We Fight, How We Live, and How We Think;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, The End of Sparta: A Novel;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, The Soul of Battle: From Ancient Times to the Present Day, How Three Great Liberators Vanquished Tyranny;
  • Hanson, Victor Davis, Wars of the Ancient Greeks;
  • Harnack, Adolf Von, History of Dogma, Volume 3 (Sony Reader);
  • Harris, Alex, Reputation At Risk: Reputation Report;
  • Harris, Sam, Letter to a Christian Nation;
  • Harris, Sam, The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason;
  • Hayek, F. A., The Road to Serfdom;
  • Heilbroner, Robert L., and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained: Everything You Need to Know About How the Economy Works and Where It's Going;
  • Hempel, Sandra, The Strange Case of The Broad Street Pump: John Snow and the Mystery of Cholera;
  • Hinnells, John R., A Handbook of Ancient Religions;
  • Hitchens, Christopher, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything;
  • Hogg, Ian V., The Encyclopedia of Weaponry: The Development of Weaponry from Prehistory to 21st Century Warfare;
  • Hugo, Victor, The Hunchback of Notre Dame;
  • Humphrey, Caroline & Vitebsky, Piers, Sacred Architecture;
  • Huntington, Samuel P., The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order;
  • Info World: Information Technology News, Computer Networking & Security;
  • Information Week: Business Innovation Powered by Technology:
  • Infostor: The Leading Source for Enterprise Storage Professionals;
  • Infrastructure Insite: Bringing IT Together;
  • Insurance Technology: Business Innovation Powered by Technology;
  • Integrated Solutions: For Enterprise Content Management;
  • Intel Premier IT: Sharing Best Practices with the Information Technology Community;
  • Irwin, Robert, Dangerous Knowledge: Orientalism and Its Discontents;
  • Jeffrey, Grant R., The Global-Warming Deception: How a Secret Elite Plans to Bankrupt America and Steal Your Freedom;
  • Jewkes, Yvonne, and Majid Yar, Handbook of Internet Crime;
  • Johnson, Chalmers, Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire;
  • Journal, The: Transforming Education Through Technology;
  • Judd, Denis, The Lion and the Tiger: The Rise and Fall of the British Raj, 1600-1947;
  • Kagan, Donald, The Peloponnesian War;
  • Kansas, Dave, The Wall Street Journal Guide to the End of Wall Street as We Know It: What You Need to Know About the Greatest Financial Crisis of Our Time--and How to Survive It;
  • Karsh, Efraim, Islamic Imperialism: A History;
  • Kasser, Rodolphe, The Gospel of Judas;
  • Katz, Solomon, The Decline of Rome and the Rise of Medieval Europe: (The Development of Western Civilization);
  • Keegan, John, Intelligence in War: The Value--and Limitations--of What the Military Can Learn About the Enemy;
  • Kenis, Leo, et. al., The Transformation of the Christian Churches in Western Europe 1945-2000 (Kadoc Studies on Religion, Culture and Society 6);
  • Kepel, Gilles, Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam;
  • Kiplinger's: Personal Finance;
  • Klein, Naomi, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism;
  • KM World: Content, Document, and Knowledge Management;
  • Koestler, Arthur, Darkness at Noon: A Novel;
  • Kostova, Elizabeth, The Historian;
  • Kuttner, Robert, The Squandering of America: How the Failure of Our Politics Undermines Our Prosperity;
  • Lake, Kirsopp, The Text of the New Testament, Sony Reader;
  • Laur, Timothy M., Encyclopedia of Modern US Military Weapons ;
  • Leffler, Melvyn P., and Jeffrey W. Legro, To Lead the World: American Strategy After the Bush Doctrine;
  • Lendon, J. E., Soldiers and Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity;
  • Lenin, V. I., Imperialism the Highest Stage of Capitalism;
  • Lennon, John J., There is Absolutely No Reason to Pay Too Much for College!;
  • Lewis, Bernard, The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror;
  • Lewis, Bernard, What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East;
  • Lifton, Robert J., Greg Mitchell, Hiroshima in America;
  • Limberis, Vasiliki M., Architects of Piety: The Cappadocian Fathers and the Cult of the Martyrs;
  • Lipsett, B. Diane, Desiring Conversion: Hermas, Thecla, Aseneth;
  • Livingston, Jessica, Founders At Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days;
  • Livy, Rome and the Mediterranean: Books XXXI-XLV of the History of Rome from its Foundation (Penguin Classics);
  • Louis J., Freeh, My FBI: Bringing Down the Mafia, Investigating Bill Clinton, and Fighting the War on Terror;
  • Mackay, Christopher S., Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History;
  • Majno, Guido, The Healing Hand: Man and Wound in the Ancient World;
  • Marcus, Greil,Invisible Republic: Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes;
  • Marshall-Cornwall, James, Napoleon as Military Commander;
  • Maughm, W. Somerset, Of Human Bondage;
  • McCluskey, Neal P., Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples, and Compromises American Education;
  • McCullough, David, 1776;
  • McCullough, David, John Adams;
  • McCullough, David, Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt;
  • McLynn, Frank, Marcus Aurelius: A Life;
  • McManus, John, Deadly Brotherhood, The: The American Combat Soldier in World War II ;
  • McMaster, H. R., Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam;
  • McNamara, Patrick, Science and the World's Religions Volume 1: Origins and Destinies (Brain, Behavior, and Evolution);
  • McNamara, Patrick, Science and the World's Religions Volume 2: Persons and Groups (Brain, Behavior, and Evolution);
  • McNamara, Patrick, Science and the World's Religions Volume 3: Religions and Controversies (Brain, Behavior, and Evolution);
  • Meacham, Jon, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House;
  • Mearsheimer, John J., and Stephen M. Walt, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy;
  • Meier, Christian, Caesar: A Biography;
  • Menzies, Gaven, 1421: The Year China Discovered America;
  • Metaxas, Eric, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy;
  • Michael, Katina and M.G. Michael, Innovative Automatic Identification and Location-Based Services: From Barcodes to Chip Implants;
  • Migliore, Daniel L., Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology;
  • Military & Aerospace Electronics: The Magazine of Transformation in Electronic and Optical Technology;
  • Millard, Candice, Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey: The River of Doubt;
  • Mommsen, Theodor, The History of the Roman Republic, Sony Reader;
  • Muller, F. Max, Chips From A German Workshop: Volume III: Essays On Language And Literature;
  • Murray, Janet, H., Hamlet On the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace;
  • Murray, Williamson, War in the Air 1914-45;
  • Müller, F. Max, Chips From A German Workshop;
  • Nader, Ralph, Crashing the Party: Taking on the Corporate Government in an Age of Surrender;
  • Nagl, John A., Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam;
  • Napoleoni, Loretta, Terrorism and the Economy: How the War on Terror is Bankrupting the World;
  • Nature: The International Weekly Journal of Science;
  • Negus, Christopher, Fedora 6 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux;
  • Network Computing: For IT by IT:
  • Network World: The Leader in Network Knowledge;
  • Network-centric Security: Where Physical Security & IT Worlds Converge;
  • Newman, Paul B., Travel and Trade in the Middle Ages;
  • Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, The Nietzsche-Wagner Correspondence;
  • Nixon, Ed, The Nixons: A Family Portrait;
  • O'Brien, Johnny, Day of the Assassins: A Jack Christie Novel;
  • O'Donnell, James J., Augustine: A New Biography;
  • OH & S: Occupational Health & Safety
  • Okakura, Kakuzo, The Book of Tea;
  • Optimize: Business Strategy & Execution for CIOs;
  • Ostler, Nicholas, Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin;
  • Parry, Jay A., The Real George Washington (American Classic Series);
  • Paton, W.R., The Greek Anthology, Volume V, Loeb Classical Library, No. 86;
  • Pausanius, Guide to Greece 1: Central Greece;
  • Perrett, Bryan, Cassell Military Classics: Iron Fist: Classic Armoured Warfare;
  • Perrottet, Tony, The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Olympic Games;
  • Peters, Ralph, New Glory: Expanding America's Global Supremacy;
  • Phillips, Kevin, American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush;
  • Pick, Bernhard; Paralipomena; Remains of Gospels and Sayings of Christ (Sony Reader);
  • Pimlott, John, The Elite: The Special Forces of the World Volume 1;
  • Pitre, Brant, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper;
  • Plutarch's Lives, X: Agis and Cleomenes. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. Philopoemen and Flamininus (Loeb Classical Library®);
  • Podhoretz, Norman, World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism;
  • Posner, Gerald, Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK;
  • Potter, Wendell, Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans;
  • Pouesi, Daniel, Akua;
  • Premier IT Magazine: Sharing Best Practices with the Information Technology Community;
  • Price, Monroe E. & Daniel Dayan, eds., Owning the Olympics: Narratives of the New China;
  • Profit: The Executive's Guide to Oracle Applications;
  • Public CIO: Technology Leadership in the Public Sector;
  • Putnam, Robert D., Bowling Alone : The Collapse and Revival of American Community;
  • Quintus of Smyrna, The Fall of Troy;
  • Rawles, James Wesley, Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse;
  • Red Herring: The Business of Technology;
  • Redmond Channel Partner: Driving Success in the Microsoft Partner Community;
  • Redmond Magazine: The Independent Voice of the Microsoft IT Community;
  • Renan, Ernest, The life of Jesus (Sony eReader);
  • Richler, Mordecai (editor), Writers on World War II: An Anthology;
  • Roberts, Ian, The Energy Glut: Climate Change and the Politics of Fatness in an Overheating World;
  • Rocca, Samuel, The Army of Herod the Great;
  • Rodgers, Nigel, A Military History of Ancient Greece: An Authoritative Account of the Politics, Armies and Wars During the Golden Age of Ancient Greece, shown in over 200 color photographs, diagrams, maps and plans;
  • Rodoreda, Merce, Death in Spring: A Novel;
  • Romerstein, Herbert and Breindel, Eric,The Venona Secrets, Exposing Soviet Espionage and America's Traitors;
  • Ross, Dennis, Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World;
  • Roth, Jonathan P., Roman Warfare (Cambridge Introduction to Roman Civilization);
  • SC Magazine: For IT Security Professionals;
  • Scahill, Jeremy, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army [Revised and Updated];
  • Schama, Simon, A History of Britain, At the Edge of the World 3500 B.C. - 1603 A.D.;
  • Scheuer, Michael, Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War On Terror;
  • Scheuer, Michael, Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq;
  • Scheuer, Michael, Osama Bin Laden;
  • Scheuer, Michael, Through Our Enemies Eyes: Osama Bin Laden, Radical Islam, and the Future of America;
  • Scholastic Instructor
  • Scholastic Parent & Child: The Joy of Family Living and Learning;
  • Schopenhauer, Arthur, The World As Will And Idea (Sony eReader);
  • Schug-Wille, Art of the Byzantine World;
  • Schulze, Hagen, Germany: A New History;
  • Schweizer, Peter, Architects of Ruin: How Big Government Liberals Wrecked the Global Economy---and How They Will Do It Again If No One Stops Them;
  • Scott, Sir Walter, Ivanhoe;
  • Seagren, Eric, Secure Your Network for Free: Using Nmap, Wireshark, Snort, Nessus, and MRTG;
  • Security Technology & Design: The Security Executive's Resource for Systems Integration and Convergence;
  • Seibel, Peter, Coders at Work;
  • Sekunda N., & S. Northwood, Early Roman Armies;
  • Seneca: Naturales Quaestiones, Books II (Loeb Classical Library No. 450);
  • Sewall, Sarah, The U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual;
  • Sheppard, Ruth, Alexander the Great at War: His Army - His Battles - His Enemies;
  • Shinder, Jason, ed., The Poem That Changed America: "Howl" Fifty Years Later;
  • Sidebottom, Harry, Ancient Warfare: A Very Short Introduction;
  • Sides, Hampton, Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West;
  • Simkins, Michael, The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan;
  • Sinchak, Steve, Hacking Windows Vista;
  • Smith, RJ, The One: The Life and Music of James Brown;
  • Software Development Times: The Industry Newspaper for Software Development Managers;
  • Software Test Performance;
  • Solomon, Norman, War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death;
  • Song, Lolan, Innovation Together: Microsoft Research Asia Academic Research Collaboration;
  • Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays, tr. Robert Fagles;
  • Sound & Vision: The Consumer Electronics Authority;
  • Southern, Pat, The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History;
  • Sri, Edward, A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do In The Liturgy;
  • Sri, Edward, Men, Women and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights from John Paul II's Love and Responsibility;
  • Stair, John Bettridge, Old Samoa; Or, Flotsam and Jetsam From the Pacific Ocean;
  • Starr, Chester G., The Roman Empire, 27 B.C.-A.D. 476: A Study in Survival;
  • Starr, John Bryan, Understanding China: A Guide to China's Economy, History, and Political Culture;
  • Stauffer, John, Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln;
  • Steyn, Mark, America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It;
  • Strassler, Robert B., The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories;
  • Strassler, Robert B., The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War;
  • Strassler, Robert B., The Landmark Xenophon's Hellenika;
  • Strategy + Business;
  • Streete, Gail, Redeemed Bodies: Women Martyrs in Early Christianity;
  • Sullivan, James, The Hardest Working Man: How James Brown Saved the Soul of America;
  • Sumner, Graham, Roman Military Clothing (1) 100 BC-AD 200;
  • Sumner, Graham, Roman Military Clothing (2) AD 200-400;
  • Suskind, Ron, The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11:
  • Swanston, Malcolm, Mapping History Battles and Campaigns;
  • Swiderski, Richard M., Quicksilver: A History of the Use, Lore, and Effects of Mercury;
  • Swiderski, Richard M., Quicksilver: A History of the Use, Lore, and Effects of Mercury;
  • Swift, Jonathan, Gulliver's Travels;
  • Syme, Ronald, The Roman Revolution;
  • Talley, Colin L., A History of Multiple Sclerosis;
  • Tawil, Camille, Brothers In Arms: The Story of al-Qa'ida and the Arab Jihadists;
  • Tech Briefs: Engineering Solutions for Design & Manufacturing;
  • Tech Net: The Microsoft Journal for IT Professionals;
  • Tech Partner: Gain a Competitive Edge Through Solutions Providers;
  • Technology & Learning: Ideas and Tools for Ed Tech Leaders;
  • Tenet, George, At the Center of the Storm: The CIA During America's Time of Crisis;
  • Thackeray, W. M., Vanity Fair;
  • Thompson, Derrick & William Martin, Have Guitars ... Will Travel: A Journey Through the Beat Music Scene in Northampton 1957-66;
  • Tolstoy, Leo, Anna Karenina;
  • Trento, Joseph J., The Secret History of the CIA;
  • Twain, Mark, The Gilded Age: a Tale of Today;
  • Ungar, Craig, House of Bush House of Saud;
  • Unterberger, Richie, The Unreleased Beatles Music & Film;
  • VAR Business: Strategic Insight for Technology Integrators:
  • Virgil, The Aeneid
  • Virtualization Review: Powering the New IT Generation;
  • Visual Studio: Enterprise Solutions for .Net Development;
  • VON Magazine: Voice, Video & Vision;
  • Wall Street Technology: Business Innovation Powered by Technology;
  • Wallace, Robert, Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to al-Qaeda;
  • Wang, Wallace, Steal This Computer Book 4.0: What They Won’t Tell You About the Internet;
  • Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization;
  • Warren, Robert Penn, All the King's Men;
  • Wasik, John F., Cul-de-Sac Syndrome: Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dream;
  • Weber, Karl, Editor, Lincoln: A President for the Ages;
  • Website Magazine: The Magazine for Website Success;
  • Weiner, Tim, Enemies: A History of the FBI;
  • Weiner, Tim, Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA;
  • West, Bing, The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq;
  • Wharton, Edith, The Age of Innocence;
  • Wilcox, Peter, Rome's Enemies (1) Germanics and Dacians;
  • Wise, Terence, Armies of the Carthaginian Wars 265 - 146 BC;
  • Wissner-Gross, What Colleges Don't Tell You (And Other Parents Don't Want You To Know) 272 Secrets For Getting Your Kid Into the Top Schools;
  • Wissner-Gross, What High Schools Don't Tell You;
  • Wolf, Naomi, Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries;
  • Wolf, Naomi, The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot;
  • Woodward, Bob, Plan of Attack;
  • Woodward, Bob, The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House;
  • Wright, Lawrence, The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11;
  • Wright-Porto, Heather, Beginning Google Blogger;
  • Xenophon, The Anabasis of Cyrus;
  • Yergin, Daniel, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, & Power;

Computing Reviews

Handy Tools, Links, etc.

This Website is a Belligerent Act

Share |

SmileyCentral.com

Radical Christian

My secure contact form

Choice Reviews Online

techLEARNING.com

CIO and Strategy & Business magazines

Mil-aero info

Defense Systems

Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science

CIO

Choice Reviews Online

SD Times: Software Development News

KMworld

SC Magazine for Security Professionals

Bloggers' Rights at EFF

The Scientist


Missile Defense
33 Minutes

Government Technology: Solutions for State and Local Government in the Information Age

Insurance & Technology

What's Running is a great tool so that you can see what is running on your desktop.

Process Lasso lets you view your processor and its responsiveness.

Online Armor lets you view your firewall status.

CCleaner - Freeware Windows Optimization

Avast is a terrific scrubber of all virus miscreants.

ClamWin is an effective deterrent for the little nasty things that can crop into your machine.

Ad-Aware is a sound anti-virus tool.

Blog Directory & Search engine

For all your electronic appliance needs research products on this terrific site.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Recent Comments

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of this blogger. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited, before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but not hostile, libelous, or otherwise objectionable statements. Original writing only, please. Thank you. Subscribe with Bloglines

Blog Smith Headline Animator

Library Thing: Chicks Dig Readers

Blog Archive

National Debt Clock

"Congress: I'm Watching"

A tax on toilet paper; I kid you not. According to the sponsor, "the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act will be financed broadly by small fees on such things as . . . products disposed of in waste water." Congress wants to tax what you do in the privacy of your bathroom.

The Religion of Peace

Portrait of Thinking Hero

Portrait of Thinking Hero
1844-1900

Check out:

Check out:
Chicks dig readers.
@ Blog Smith. Powered by Blogger.