usa articles

Ansel postumo

2010-03-23T05:35:00.000+02:00

Canyon de Chelly Arizona - Copyright National Archives, Ansel Adams

Per chi ancora non avesse avuto occasione di vederle, segnalo le foto inedite di Ansel Adams che l’Interior Department Statunitense ha pubblicato di recente sul suo sito, dedicando alcune pagine ad un lavoro che nel 1941 fu commissionato al famoso fotografo che decise di intitolarlo “The Mural Project 1941-1942“.

Si tratta di 26 scatti eseguiti nel miglior stile di Adams, mostrati solo ora al pubblico in una esposizione visibile dal vivo nei corridoi del Dipartimento o, più facilmente cliccando qui .

Per chi volesse approfondire c’è anche un interessante video a questo indirizzo.

————-

Comunicazione di servizio.

Per chi fosse interessato, volevo segnalare che ho aggiunto un bottone nella colonna di destra del blog che facilita notevolmente l’iscrizione agli avvisi via email che il sistema inoltra automaticamente quando vengono pubblicati nuovi post.

Un metodo semplice e senza sforzi per rimanere sempre in contatto che si aggiunge al classico sistema dei feed RSS che trovate sempre in alto a destra.

[Via http://pegaphoto.com]

News Corp. Throwing Away The Crown Jewel: Fox Audience Network

A Family’s Heartbreak: A Parent’s Introduction to Parental Alienation

2010-03-21T13:54:00.000+02:00

By:Mike Jeffries

A Family’s Heartbreak: A Parent’s Introduction to Parental Alienation, is the true story of one parent’s struggle to maintain a normal, loving relationship with his young son in the face of overwhelming odds. From the emotionally devastating actions of the child’s other parent, to a court system and mental health community ill-equipped to deal with a destructive family dynamic, A Family’s Heartbreak: A Parent’s Introduction to Parental Alienation is both an education in parental alienation and an eye opening experience for parents who don’t believe this could happen to them.

Introduction to A Family’s Heartbreak

IN THE SPAN OF SEVEN DAYS I filed for divorce, was arrested and falsely accused of child abuse. I also walked into a clinic with all the symptoms of a heart attack. But you know what? Those events were the high points of my week. Divorce, arrests, child abuse charges and heart attacks are like marching in the Disney World parade compared to the world of parental alienation.

The concept of parental alienation is pretty simple – one parent deliberately damages, and in some cases destroys, the previously healthy, loving relationship between his or her child and the child’s other parent. In a severe case the alienating parent and child work together to successfully eliminate the previously loved Mom or Dad from the child’s life.

My introduction to parental alienation began on the night of July 14, 2004. Until that night my 11-year-old son and I had a wonderful relationship. By the early morning hours of July 15, 2004 we didn’t have a relationship.

I know what you’re thinking – a normal, healthy father/son relationship doesn’t go from hugs to heartbreak in a few hours. I believed the same thing. I was wrong. Parental alienation is like a train barreling through a dark tunnel with its lights off. I was standing in the middle of the tracks when the train emerged from the darkness. I never saw it coming.

Of course, now I can look back and say I should have at least heard the train coming. Now I can point to things my then-wife said to my son one and even two years before that might have set off alarms in my mind. But my son and I had a normal, healthy relationship. I couldn’t conceive that any parent would do something so emotionally destructive to his or her child. What I didn’t realize is that a variety of emotional issues could combine with the anger, hurt and bitterness of divorce to drive some people to unimaginably vindictive and destructive heights.

On that July night my attorney hadn’t even finished drafting my divorce complaint when my future ex-wife started screaming at me within earshot of my son. According to her I was solely responsible for our impending divorce. “Your father is abandoning us,” she told him.

My ex-wife had my son sleep in her bed that night. He was still sleeping in her bed when I moved out of the house one month later. “I need you to protect me,” she kept telling him.

Before I moved out, I couldn’t even get him to have dinner with me. “Please don’t leave me,” Mom begged him. “I don’t want to be alone.”

I’ve learned a lot about parental alienation since those first nights. I’ve had a lot of time on my hands. As I write this, I haven’t spent any time alone with my son in almost three years.

One thing I’ve learned is that an alienating parent is only interested in filling his or her unhealthy emotional needs at the expense of the other parent and their child. The alienating parent doesn’t understand that he or she is also hurting the child by forcing the kid to choose a side in the parental conflict.

I’ve also learned that parental alienation is not just a single crime against the other parent, but three crimes against the child.

The first crime is that the alienating parent doesn’t acknowledge that every child is one half of each parent. Every time the alienating parent tells the child how horrible the other parent is, the alienating parent is telling the child that half of him (or her) is horrible.

The second crime is that the alienating parent teaches the child that cutting off contact with people is an acceptable way to handle anger, hurt and disappointment. The world is full of people. One day the child will be an adult. The child will grow up without the appropriate coping skills to have normal, healthy relationships with other adults.

The third crime is that one day the child will look back on the alienating parent’s behavior from an adult perspective. He or she will then realize that the alienating parent robbed the child of something very precious – the love and attention of the other parent. The child-turned-adult will realize that the trust placed in the alienating parent was misplaced. He or she will feel betrayed. At that point the adult will not just have one damaged relationship with a parent, but damaged relationships with both parents.

The third crime is the worst crime of all.

I’ve learned so much about parental alienation I decided to write this book. But before you read any further there’s something you should know. I’m not a psychologist. I’m not a lawyer. I’m just a Dad. That’s all. A long time ago I would have identified myself as a journalist, but my last byline was during President Ronald Reagan’s administration. The statute of limitations on my journalism credentials expired long ago.

Yet my old journalism experience came in handy when I started studying parental alienation. My goal was to regain my relationship with my son. I knew I lived on an emotional roller coaster of anger, depression, helplessness and disillusionment. How were these emotions affecting my ability to achieve my goal? I couldn’t imagine what my son was living through. How could I address his issues when I didn’t even know what they were? What about family court judges, attorneys, family relation counselors, psychologists, and even the police? How could these divorce-war veterans help, or hurt, my chances of ever having a normal relationship with my son again?

I approached parental alienation like a journalist approaching a news story. I gathered the facts. I interviewed a variety of people – therapists, attorneys and victims. And I passed on everything I learned to the psychologists, attorneys and counselors involved in my case.

Guess what? Many of these professionals had never heard of parental alienation. And the few that had heard of it didn’t really understand how to approach a severe case legally or therapeutically. During my crash course in parental alienation I found lots of valuable books on children and divorce. These books discussed alienation-type symptoms, but few books tackled parental alienation head on.

One book that did tackle the subject was Dr. Richard Gardner’s The Parental Alienation Syndrome. Gardner’s book became my bible. I quoted Gardner chapter and verse when I talked to people involved in my case. But Gardner wrote his book for psychologists and attorneys. On the title page of The Parental Alienation Syndrome, Gardner even calls his book “a guide for mental health and legal professionals.” Naturally, Gardner used a lot of legal and psychological jargon to explain parental alienation.

Since Gardner talked about the life of an alienated parent in clinical terms, I wrote A Family’s Heartbreak: A Parent’s Introduction to Parental Alienation to address alienation in human terms. The book is based on a true story. I wrote it from a parent’s perspective. There’s a big difference between clinically dissecting the anatomy of an alienated parent and being on the receiving end of the alienating behavior. Think about the difference between studying a driver’s manual and climbing behind the wheel of a car for the very first time. Reading the manual doesn’t quite measure up to stepping on the gas pedal.

Since I’m not a psychologist, I left the psychological analysis in this book to a professional with experience helping parental alienation families. I shared my story with him. You can sit in on our “sessions” and hear him clinically explain parental alienation. I’ll also give you my perspective on parental alienation. I’ve learned a lot about the legal and psychological professionals forced to deal with this relatively new phenomenon. Perhaps my perspective will save you some time and money. Maybe my experience will help convince legal and mental health professionals that parental alienation is not something they can just dismiss as “bad parenting.” Most of all, I hope my experience will help your family avoid what my family went through.

A big part of this book relates examples of alienating behavior. Each one is true. I’ve presented some of these examples in the form of a journal. This isn’t merely a writer’s technique. I really kept a journal in the years leading up to and immediately following my divorce. How the journal developed is a story in itself.

At first I told myself I was keeping a journal because I would never remember all the incredible but true events I would need to remember if my divorce went to trial. I was right on both counts. We went to trial, and a large portion of my testimony focused on my future ex-wife’s alienating behavior. I wouldn’t have remembered a fraction of that behavior without the journal. I highly recommend keeping a journal to anyone who anticipates a nasty trial and child custody battle.

I also discovered that keeping a journal is good therapy. There were many times during my ordeal when I became frustrated or angry. My overwhelming desire at those times was to call someone, anyone, involved in my case and just start yelling. Writing down my frustrations rather than subjecting someone to them was a much better way to handle my emotions.

One day I was writing in my journal when the old journalist inside me re-emerged. I began thinking about parental alienation as a story that needed telling. I found myself editing my journal entries like a copy editor – shortening sentences, comparing verb tenses and double-checking facts. At that point I began not only writing for me but also for you.

Since I was writing for both of us, I had to make some decisions on your behalf. I edited the story heavily to keep the focus on alienation rather than divorce. I also grouped similar examples of alienating behavior together in the journal chapters to illustrate certain concepts better. Finally, I had to make a decision on the use of gender and pronouns when talking about parents and children.

I couldn’t write an entire book writing Mom or Dad, him or her, he or she, every time I referred to a parent. In some chapters I thought it was important to remain gender neutral in my references to the alienating parent. Despite my best efforts, you’ll notice how awkward the language became. So in other parts of the book I picked a gender for the alienating parent, the alienated parent and the alienated child and stuck with those choices. I also had to decide whether to discuss the alienated child in the singular “child” or the plural “children.” So in the pages that follow the alienating parent is generally described as female. The alienated parent is male. The alienated child is male and referred to in the singular rather than the plural.

To be honest, I didn’t spend much time considering alternatives. I am an alienated father, I was married to an alienating mother and my son is an alienated child. I tried not to confuse either of us by using one set of pronouns to tell my family’s story and another set of pronouns for generic references.

I sincerely apologize to all alienated Moms if I make it appear that only Dads are victims of parental alienation. Fathers successfully alienate children from mothers too. I’ve heard from many alienated mothers who are suffering the pain and heartache that only an alienated parent can know. I decided to title this book, A Family’s Heartbreak: A Parent’s Introduction to Parental Alienation, because Moms, Dads and children are victims of alienating behavior. In the final analysis, an alienating parent is an alienating parent – regardless of gender. If alienated mothers were to change all my male references to female references and vice versa, the examples and explanations of parental alienation would apply equally to them.

Another decision I had to make was whether to follow Dr. Richard Gardner’s lead and write about parental alienation as a syndrome, PAS, or focus on parental alienation behaviors. In this case I did spend a long time considering my decision.

I ultimately decided to drop “Syndrome” from all my parental alienation references because PAS isn’t in the DSM — the psychology profession’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The manual is the clinician’s bible – a guide to symptoms and syndromes and the definitive diagnosis on any legitimate mental health condition.

PAS may not be in the DSM, but alienating behavior still inflicts pain, heartache and incalculable emotional damage on the children, parents and extended family members involved in these horrible situations. Parents on the receiving end of alienating behavior don’t really care if professionals classify the behavior as a syndrome or a bad alignment of the stars and planets. They just want someone to help them restore their previously normal, loving relationships with their children.

I believe one day mental health professionals will classify parental alienation as a “Syndrome.” Until then, I am quite comfortable writing about “parental alienation” as behavior and let others debate what to call this very destructive family dynamic. However, I did use the phrase “Parental Alienation Syndrome” or “PAS” in this book when I discussed or quoted other professionals who used the phrase in their work.

I didn’t plan on writing the definitive work on parental alienation and in that respect I’ve succeeded. Writers do their best work writing about their experiences. Not all alienation cases resemble my family’s story. An alienated parent needs to examine his or her own personal situation and consult with professionals before completely understanding the circumstances of his or her own case. But whether you are male or female, I hope this story helps you find some answers, comfort and solutions to your alienation nightmare.

I also hope you become outraged that parents alienate their children from the other parent. I hope you become further outraged that judges, attorneys and many mental health professionals consider the actions of an alienating parent just part of a normal day at the office when working divorce and child custody cases. I hope you recognize that parental alienation is a form of emotional child abuse that we can’t ignore any longer.

Most of all, I hope that this book, in some small way, helps alienated parents and children begin rebuilding their previously loving relationships.

By:Mike Jeffries

ABP World Group International Child Recovery Service

Visit our web site at: www.abpworld.com

[Via http://abpworld.wordpress.com]

Stupak Postpones News Conference - Prescriptions Blog - NYTimes.com

The Lucifer Effect

2010-03-21T05:53:00.000+02:00

I always have a propensity towards psychological effects named after people, places, phenomenon, history, or even animals… examples : halo effect, butterfly effect, sheep effect, chameleon effect, Stockholm syndrome, withdrawal effect..Abiding by Newtons 3rd law, we can work backwards and realize that there is a cause for all these, its like a cause-effect or action-reaction like..

One thing that caught my eye just few minutes back is the “Lucifer Effect”. The first thing i did was google “lucifer” . Lucifer refers to a pagan based or christian faith based belief that Lucifer was an angel sent to earth but ultimately became a Satan. I instantly realized that what Lucifer effect would mean. It is simple : What makes good people turn evil!

“The “Lucifer Effect” describes the point in time when an ordinary, normal person first crosses the boundary between good and evil to engage in an evil action. It represents a transformation of human character that is significant in its consequences. Such transformations are more likely to occur in novel settings, in “total situations,” where social situational forces are sufficiently powerful to overwhelm, or set aside temporally, personal attributes of morality, compassion, or sense of justice and fair play”

At the outset the subject feels/sounds very heavy and it became heavier and heavier as I digged more on Lucifer effect. Youtube has put up videos of “Stanford Prison Experiment”. I highly recommend watching all the parts : More Info:

Stanford Prison Experience: Information about the psychological study

Phil Zambardo Talks to MIT students..

The book about Lucifer Effect by Phil Zambardo can be found in the aforementioned link.

What happens when you put good people in an evil place? Does humanity win over evil, or does evil triumph? These are some of the questions we posed in this dramatic simulation of prison life conducted in the summer of 1971 at Stanford University.

The Lucifer Effect raises a fundamental question about the nature of human nature: How is it possible for ordinary, average, even good people to become perpetrators of evil? In trying to understand unusual, or aberrant behavior, we often err in focusing exclusively on the inner determinants of genes, personality, and character, as we also tend to ignore what may be the critical catalyst for behavior change in the external Situation or in the System that creates and maintains such situations.

This work finds accurate parallels with the current war torn situation in Mid East..How???? Most of you would be aware of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal few years back on how military was using torture as technique for interrogation. Phil Zambardo was actively involved in the prisoner trail and he comes up with a reason that psychology has explanation for such complex , wild behavior. For people who just saw the Prisoners who were abused by the US military with shock and awe , Phil comes up with a simple and solid psychological reasoning for such drastic behavioral shifts even in the most noble of men.

The report said the military police within that site were part of a unit that was not properly trained for internment operations, lacked discipline and standard operating procedures, had been on duty in Iraq for far longer than its members had expected and were under constant threat of random attack by insurgents outside the prison walls. The soldiers lacked even the minimal luxuries of Army life in Iraq — like a barbershop — and were grossly understaffed. The lapses of discipline that occurred as their morale plummeted.

Kind of heavy at the outset when you just look at prison abuse, defunct morality, psychology , evil etc but from a purely medical, social and psychological perspective even such wild, weird complex, erratic, behavior have an explanation. The positive aspect of this comprehensive research is that new guards are being trained with the prison experiment videos. Every class room in psychology department uses this study to come up with logic behind why we have child killers, juvenile jihadists etc. Hopefully it would lead to some kind of a conclusion and early detection of such psychological patterns is highly helpful in preventing the evil winning over good scenario.

[Via http://theseventhhill.wordpress.com]

Christina Aguilera Album News Expected Tuesday

Koji Osakaya - Downtown Portland; C-

2010-03-20T21:15:00.000+02:00

This mediocre sushi restaurant in downtown Portland was rated subpar for two major reasons:

Reason 1: Mystery food. My pickle salad appetizer had pickled daikon, pickled ginger, and a mysterious beet-dyed pickled slivers that I thought might be pickled plums. It didn’t taste bad, but I prefer informed eating. The waitress didn’t know what it was, the cooks couldn’t identify it – I was going to have to wait for the manager to come back for identification. As the manager hadn’t returned by the time I was ready to leave, I’ll never know.

Reason 2: Bad rice. It’s glaringly obvious when rice is poorly cooked, and the rice here was gluey and unpleasant in my mouth. The fact that it was slightly warm under each piece of fish, which I usually prefer in sushi dishes, did not help the fact that it was overcooked using too much water.

606 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205-3401 USA

[Via http://rachelrecommends.wordpress.com]

FOX NEWS and their “vote count” | RedState

Popular Phoenix,Ariz. Council Member Michael Johnson Shoved,Cuffed, And Brutalized, By The Very Police He Put His Council Seat On The Line To Support!!!

2010-03-20T05:47:00.000+02:00

Councilman Michael Johnson swearing-in to serve the citizens of Phoenix...

How ironic!!!...Lesson of the day from the Phoenix Police Departmentt: Unless you hold some political clout, getting roughed up by the cops is gonna float right under the radar.

Moderately Conservative Democratic and popular prominent city council member Michael Johnson, of Phoenix,Arizona, was beat up and handcuffed by an officer of the Phoenix Police Departmentt, on the scene of a neighbor’s house that was on fire. Councilman Johnson is a former Phoenix Police detective for 20 years and is now retired and serving as an elected official on the Phoenix City Council.(SOURCE)

Councilman Johnson, having served as an officer of the law, and supporter the “thin-blue-line”for over 20 years,has been a staunch supporter of “Americas toughestt sheriff” Joe Arpaio, and he bravely put his council seat on the line when he supported and campaigned for a sales tax to be waged in order to provide the police force with more financial stability.

Maybe some police officers can get raises, keep their jobs, and more officers can be hired to put out on the streets, so the citizens of Phoenix can continue to have safe and secure lives for their family and friends.

Beloved,yet brutalized by the cops,Councilman Michael Johnson

Well, early this morning,two members of the Phoenix police department let Council member Johnson see just how much they appreciate his support–they beat him down, and treated him like every other powerless citizen that they routinely victimize,if you should DARE disagree or simply engage a street officer in a reasonable conversation that does not allow him or her to intimidate or dominate the situation at hand.

The practice of utilizing lethal physical force and the routine abuse of power by the police on the proletariat is an injustice that typically goes unreported in the media,and is widely known to be true, but there has rarely been any credible evidence to prove this fact, because of the strength of the thin blue line, and the sycophantic blind faith hero-worship by many in the neo-conservative public at large society.

Most neocons and frightened citizens believe that the police can do no wrong, and that their actions should never be questioned.

This is the genesis of the problem…Anybody that carries a gun legally, and knows that they have a legal right to kill or severely whoever they choose to unchecked ,…unfortunately will.

They are what you call Fascist…and they enjoy abusing their power, and terrorizing their community, under the cover of the badge.

The name of the offending, rouge officer involved in this event, 27-year-old Officer Brian Authement.

Now…Officer Authement does not too much to worry about, given the recent national history of similar events.

Councilman Johnson is black and a Democrat, so a lot of citizens in Phoenix and around the country are going to immediately believe that he was at fault, and disregard the evidence…as well as the police apologist running for city council will whore this unseemly event out to their tea-party constituents, and fire up the haters and bigots in their community that applaud such abuses of power,and why not… the thin-blue-line has gotten away with blatant murder without any repercussions,..so why should they worry in this instance????…

The dark side of the phoenix police department.

…he’s just a black liberal Democrat, and he probably deserved it!!!He must have done something to provoke that young princely police officer!!!…who is probably Republican.i mean, if he did not beat him down for asking him a question, then he would not have been doing his job!!!..

Michael Johnson was concerned about a neighbor whose house was on fire, and he had known this neighbor as a good friend for many years, and the neighbor is an invalid. He was just trying to be a Good Samaritan,just like when he voted to finance raises for the police department.(SOURCE)

It was the middle of the night, and he was startled awake to the sounds of sirens,and the blazing fire next door….he was concerned for his neighbor.He used his police training to get permission from the fire chief on the scene to go to the property to check on the neighbor, because he thought he might be trapped inside, given the fact that he is bed ridden.The emergency responders did not know that!

Upon approaching the house, he came into contact with the 27-year-old junior officer Brian Authement who was acting erratically, and was quite possibly looking to exhort his own perceived power on the “perps”in the community, where the house was burning, because when Johnson explained to him what he was doing there, and his authorization to proceed,… the officer decided to escalate the discussion to a physical altercation.(SOURCE)

The officer allegedly told him to stay where he was and not move.

At that point Councilman Johnson once again asked a fire battalion chief if he could go check on his neighbor and the fire battalion chief said it was okay.

When Officer Authement saw the council member he confronted him about leaving the area in front of his home and the fact that he had moved. The officer then reportedly threw the council member to the ground and handcuffed him as punishment for his movement.(SOURCE)

What happened next is reprehensible!!!…the officer brutalized the council member, and threatened to drag him across the street like a slave, and other unnecessary actions that are simply unprofessional.

Michael Johnson was rescued from the beating only because a fireman recognized him and the police chief was notified to come out to the scene.

….obviously, given that the two officers involved are white, and Michael Johnson is a black man,many are rushing to claim that this racially,power abusing , racial event… could not be racially motivated.(SOURCE)

You know, that’s the New Racism that allows you to participate in and do racist things, with the comfort of knowing that you can then turn around ,and claim those that confront you about it-are the racist, and you are not!!!..WTF?!?

You are just having fun…albeit a “Compton Cookout”!!!

I guess that’s what the racist mean when they say that we are living in Post Racist America..they get to be 1000% more racist, and lie about it that much more.

Cowards….

This past summer, Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates was brutalized by a cop in a racially motivated event, and the neocons and police sycophantic fanatics twisted the truth behind the motivation for the arrest, and got away with it simply because they hate the fact that the President is black,we will have universal healthcare for all, and the proletariat feels empowered.

They got away with it the Gates scandal because the Professor acted belligerently to the officer, but that is not the case with the 20 year veteran cop, currently city council member Johnson…

In this case, they just got caught@!!!..(Click here to read a statement from Councilman Michael Johnson)

The officer has been put on paid administrative leave pending and internal affair’s investigation, which is like a paid vacation.I think he should be immediately relieved of his duty and his badge.Let him go be a stormtrooper for the skinhead KKKlan and just be done with it!!!(SOURCE)

Believe me,we will be following the developments surrounding this case, as Council member Johnson is a close personal friend of my family, and I can guarantee you, the KKKops are in the wrong in this sordid affair!!!…

Brutal rouge Phoenix P.D. KKKop Officer Brian Authement

Thác Niagara

2010-03-18T13:57:00.000+02:00

Nếu có dịp đến thăm viếng New York nơi tôi đang sống, mời các bạn thử tham quan thác Niagara nằm giữa tiểu bang New York và Canada, đẹp và thơ mộng, nơi hẹn hò của tình nhân khắp thế giới, nhiều người tới đây thăm viếng và tổ chức đám cưới ở đây.

Việt Nam mình có “Miền Nam để nhất Thác”, thác Pongour ở Đà Lạt. Mời các bạn cùng chúng tôi thăm viếng Niagara Falls, một thác nước nổi tiếng khắp thế giới, đẹp, thơ mộng và vỉ đại, để xem thác Niagara có thể so sánh được với thác Pongour không. Mỗi thác một vẻ, thác nào cũng đẹp và thơ mộng phải không? Ở một nước nhỏ, thác lớn quá sẽ không cân xứng, phải không? Mời các bạn thưởng thức nét đẹp thác Niagara Trời cho chúng ta.

Cả nước Việt Nam mình có 3 triệu du khách đến thăm mỗi năm. Riêng thác Niagara mỗi năm có hơn 14 triệu du khách khắp thế giới đến tham quan, trong số đó có rất nhiều cặp tình nhân đến đây hẹn hò hoặc hưởng tuần trăng mật. Niagara nổi tiếng thế giới nhờ cuốn phim nổi tiếng do Marilyn Monroe đóng vào năm 1954, và mới đây phim Superman II. Bài hát “The river of no return” nói về giòng sông Niagara đổ vào Thác..(Sẽ bổ túc sau)

“Thác Niagara (tiếng Anh: Niagara Falls; tiếng Pháp: les Chutes du Niagara) là thác nước ở sông Niagara tại Bắc Mỹ, nằm ở đường biên giới của Hoa Kỳ và Canada.

Thác Niagara bao gồm 3 thác riêng biệt: thác Horseshoe (Canada) (đôi lúc gọi là thác Canada), thác Mỹ và một thác nhỏ hơn gần đó là thác Bridal Veil. Dù thác không cao nhưng các thác Niagara rất rộng.

Với hơn 168.000 m³ nước rơi xuống mỗi phút vào thời điểm nhiều nhất, và trung bình gần 110.000 m³ mỗi phút, đây là thác nước mạnh nhất ở Bắc Mỹ. Thác Niagara tọa lạc khoảng 20 phút đi từ thành phố Buffalo của Hoa Kỳ và Toronto của Canada.

( New York của tôi , http://lthdan02.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/thac-niagara-di%e1%bb%83m-h%e1%ba%b9n-c%e1%bb%a7a-tinh-nhan/ )

Thác Mỹ và một thác nhỏ hơn gần đó là thác Bridal Veil giống như khăn che mặt cô dâu

Thác Horseshoe Falls cao khoảng 173 feet (53m).

Đi tàu Maid of the Mist (Tàu du lịch ở thác Niagara) ra tận chân Thác Horseshoe…

Quang cảnh thành phố Niagara bên phần đất Canada

Khai trương 4 Blog mới kể lại những ngày hưu trí đi du lịch khắp nơi, đi, thấy, hiểu, và vui hưởng cuộc đời. Mời các bạn viếng thăm:

Việt Nam, Quê hương mến yêu

Những ngày về thăm lại quê hương

http://lthdan03.wordpress.com/

Nước Mỹ nơi tôi đang sống

Những ngày sống tại Mỹ

http://lthdan04.wordpress.com/

New York của tôi

Những ngày hạnh phúc

http://lthdan02.wordpress.com/

Du Lịch thế giới

Thế giới dưới mắt một người Mỹ gốc Việt

http://lthdan05.wordpress.com/

[Via http://lthdan02.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: The Rolling Stones, Jack White and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne ...

Splitting the Sky Versus the War Criminals

2010-03-18T05:08:00.000+02:00

STS Versus the War Criminals Edna Spennato 2010.

Photomontage made on 17 March 2010

Click on image to enlarge

HOME

[Via http://mundosonhos.wordpress.com]

Michael Sigman: News/PR Line Gets Blurrier

Mr Rees's book choice for World Book Day

2010-03-16T13:48:00.000+02:00

On Thursday 4th March, 2010, World Book Day, we asked teachers to talk to their classes about their favourite books or books they are currently enjoying. Mr Rees talked with his classes about four publications that meant a lot to him. The first is the incredible story of Joe Simpson and his climbing partner Simon, which has also been made into a moving documentary about their terrifying ordeal:

‘ “Touching the Void” is the heart-stopping account of Joe Simpson’s terrifying adventure in the Peruvian Andes. He and his climbing partner, Simon, reached the summit of the remote Siula Grande in June 1995. A few days later, Simon staggered into Base Camp, exhausted and frost-bitten, with news that Joe was dead. What happened to Joe, and how the pair dealt with the psychological traumas that resulted when Simon was forced into the appalling decision to cut the rope, makes not only an epic of survival but a compelling testament of friendship.’

Students were very interested in this book – what do you do when your only hope of survival could result in the death of a very close friend? What a dilemma.

Mr Rees then talked of Old Berkhamstedian Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s latest book, ‘Force of Nature’ which he thoroughly enjoyed (and has his own signed copy!):

‘In January 1969, aboard his home-built wooden boat Suhaili, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world. Twenty-five years later, Sir Robin again completed a record-breaking circumnavigation, co-skippering Enza with Kiwi yachting legend Sir Peter Blake. His place in sailing’s pantheon of greats was assured. Then, after the tragic death of his wife Sue, Sir Robin decided he would try again. In October 2006, at the age of 67 – when most people are settling in to a well-earned retirement – Sir Robin embarked on another gruelling single-handed race around the world. Compared to his rivals he lacked recent experience and a large shore-based support team. There were some who believed that this time he might have bitten off more than he could chew. Then early on, it looked like their worst fears might be realised.Within days of setting off, near-Hurricane-strength storms in the Bay of Biscay capsized his 60′ yacht Saga Insurance. But it wasn’t just Sir Robin who suffered. Three-quarters of the entire fleet had to run for shelter. When they re-emerged, all faced months of hardship and intensity ahead. “Force of Nature” is Sir Robin’s first-hand account his extraordinary return to the ultra-competitive, punishing world of single-handed offshore racing. It turned out to be a very different journey from the one he undertook on Suhaili, yet his experience aboard her remains a touchstone throughout this story. It’s a story of courage, ingenuity and resilience played out against the World’s oceans. But most of all it’s a powerful reminder that age is nothing but a number; no barrier to realizing one’s dreams.’ Truly inspirational.

Thirdly, he recommended Doris Kearns Goodwin’s latest biography of Abraham Lincoln:

‘In this monumental multiple biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin studies Abraham Lincoln’s mastery of men. She shows how he saved Civil War-torn America by appointing his fiercest rivals to key cabinet positions, making them help achieve his vision for peace. As well as a thrilling piece of narrative history, it’s an inspiring study of one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen. This is a book to bury yourself in.’

Finally, he talked about a publication by the Royal Horticultural Society about creating a vegetable and fruit plot in your garden… A little light relief, perhaps, from all the fascinating and heart-stopping reading…

All synopses have been taken from Nielsen BookData Online.

[Via http://berkschlibr.wordpress.com]

Dan Abrams Expands Mediaite Empire With Fashion News And Culture ...

2010-03-16T05:50:00.000+02:00

Blog Entry 18 – A morning cup of Java

Day 4 – 14/03

Douglas, Arizona

We are going to head to Bisbee today. Apparently it is a pretty obscure but beautiful place. Mum and Dad have been there before and both loved it. I cant wait! But first we have to go pick Kathleen up from Douglas (the college where we are staying is about 10 miles out of town).

So Dad, James and I set off and arrive a little early. Seeing as we are all a bit dusty still from our night out in Mexico we decide to sample some local coffee.

Caffenio is a drive through coffee shop. As I have am on a break from my coffee free lifestyle I’m looking forward to this.

James orders a large hot chocolate, Dad gets a long black and I get a Mocha with cinnamon.

From this day forth, Mocha’s should always have cinnamon.

Kathleen is ready now so we jump back into the car to head to Bisbee and brunch!

[Via http://dontuhatepants.wordpress.com]

Twitter is down this morning. (Scripting News)

White Males in Science: Thomas Edison

2010-03-14T13:05:00.000+02:00

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was a white male American inventor, scientist and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed “The Wizard of Menlo Park” (now Edison, New Jersey) by a newspaper reporter, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large teamwork to the process of invention, and therefore is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.

Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. He is credited with numerous inventions that contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications. His advanced work in these fields was an outgrowth of his early career as a telegraph operator. Edison originated the concept and implementation of electric-power generation and distribution to homes, businesses, and factories – a crucial development in the modern industrialized world. His first power station was on Manhattan Island, New York.

Adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_edison

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

[Via http://whitemalehistorymonth.wordpress.com]

Your Local News Is Terrible, Studies Show

Seasonal Sea Turtle Worker - Georgia

2010-03-14T05:41:00.000+02:00

Seasonal Sea Turtle Worker

Agency: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Location: Ossabaw and Sapelo Islands

Job Description: These are hourly, seasonal positions (40 hours/week) in the unclassified service of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The positions will be located on Ossabaw and Sapelo Islands. Housing is provided. Responsibilities, qualifications and other pertinent information are as follows:

Responsibilities: The successful applicants will work under the supervision of the state

[Via http://leahsjobs.wordpress.com]

Catholic daily buries the news in sexual abuse headline | Analysis ...

Daylight Savings...Not in Japan

2010-03-13T13:28:00.000+02:00

It’s so strange to read and hear about America going through the Daylight Savings Time rituals. The worst part of DST is in the Spring when you’re forced out of bed an hour early. Fortunately, we will get up at the same time we always do and don’t have to change our clocks at all.

Japan only used DST for three years between 1948 and 1951, and has never gone back to using it. There have been a few attempts to bring it back but each once has failed like student trying to get up on time. In 1998 and 1999 Hokkaido (Japan’s northern most island) tried to get DST back on the clocks. Because the island is so far North sunrise can be as early as 3:45A.M. in the summer. More recently Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister, tried to get DST back. Just like in America, there were claims that it would save more energy and, in turn, reduce green house gas emissions.

After living in a country that does not use it, DST seems a bit strange and annoying. I always enjoyed the Fall part of DST, but “Springing Forward” is just awful.

Here’s a map of the world’s use of Daylight Savings Time:

Blue = Counties using DST, Orange = Countries that once, but no longer use DST, Red = Countries that have never used DST

Do you like Daylight Savings? Or would you rather just get rid of it altogether?

[Via http://tylerandalyssa.wordpress.com]

Dragon Age sequel in February 2011? News | PC | Eurogamer

Roll-back the genocidal policies

2010-03-13T05:29:00.000+02:00

I did not know Bell K-crust-al had a father! I thought [he] is a slimy son of the Satan. This crook Margolick himself must be a Zio-Nazi for writing this back-handed complementary piece raising the totem-pole of the diabolical cabal and hailing the sons of bitches as kings and princes, – my foot! Nobody respects these slimy creatures. Not in USA, anymore. And for petrified Puttreaus to have made that bizarrely servile comment about the childless duo K-egg-ans having Iraq occupation as their child, - is the most pathetic statement of sycophancy I have heard from any general.

I have lost all respect for petrified Puttreaus (not that I have any respect for a general of any army, – as a doctor I am trained to save lives and not kill thousands for the lies of the racists). He should do his job and not lick the boots mass-murderers who have no authority over him. I am sure when Pakistani generals read his comments in Newsweek it will generate even more paranoia in Pakistani military. It may seem to Pakistan that Zio-Nazi are really driving the war to destabilize and destroy Pakistan because of its nuclear weapons capability. Much like Soviet Union was destroyed by destabilization even though it was a super-power. Zio-Nazi are doing their best to restore themselves as they are completely shunned by any thinking American who cares about the interests of America rather than conniving to use Americans as cannon-fodder for the sake of their foreign masters.

That begs the question, is Obummer administration into extending and funding the private wars for the likes of K-egg-ans and K-crust-al the megalomaniac faux-kings of robbers and faux-princes of thieves? (read Newsweek article to get the context athttp://www.newsweek.com/id/232053 )

This article is written to intimidate the talk show hosts and sundry editors of dying American media (in opinion of others) not to ignore these bastards because they are not spent force yet in the opinion of Mr. Margolis. So K-crust-al who was boot-licker of that blathering idiot Dan Quale is now a prince (his just dead dad, a king of crooks who was not paid obeisance by Queen Cheney)! But look at K-cryst-al, – he is double-triple king-queen bed-maker for Obummer, MacQaack and Paw-lint also!! The truth is that son-of-bitch K-crust-al is considered the slimiest creep in DC. And now please don’t start reading his column and increase his ratings. Just like many Muslims watch Fox to increase their blood-pressure and the ratings of hate-mongers.

Zio-Nazis are also lucky in their success because Muslims continue to not so much as squirm in pain or whimper in protest as they continue to be target of the genocidal interest of all kinds of enemies and happily oblige by killing their own pitilessly for pittance (a coin or two). In fact, at individual levels and organizational levels like governments and societies Muslims are willing and sometimes grateful facilitators of their own enemies. Pakistanis proudly butcher their own for 83 cents per Pakistani per month (7.5B/5Y/150M/12). For that fantastic sum of money Pakistanis kill maim and destroy fellow-Pakistanis and then endure devastating retaliation from each other. I have not seen more obliging ruling elites as Pakistanis and Gulf Arabs who have done for these Zio-Nazis. Here is a link for how much Pakistani self-destruction and sacrifice for likes of K-crust-al and K-egg-an is appreciated by Zio-Nazis, from Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/10/06/us_aid_to_pakistan_a_shell_game/

While, we, who are on the receiving ends of the genocidal attention of all of our wolverine enemies from middle-east to south-Asia to here, we are never able to get organized enough to protect our legitimate interests or predictable safety of our future. Even in this great country of ours (USA) which guarantees our rights, we manage to let our rights pass thru our fingers like sand. We are constantly on defensive and groveling around from pillar to post for some body to deliver to us what is already ours: Our ‘Inalienable Rights’ given to us by nature, Allah/God, and US constitution and recognized world-wide as our human rights.

I propose, let us form a group called American Rights Guard to roll-back the genocidal policies of Zio-Nazis who are out to annihilate America having used it as cannon-fodder for their megalomania! Indeed, they are now openly arrogating themselves the right to rule America as their birth right, each one of them claiming to be a king as thy claim the right to claim other people’s land as their own.

Wasim Khan

[Via http://thedawn.com.pk]

Wii's Hanabi Festival starts today News | Wii | Eurogamer

ICON OF THE CONCRETE JUNGLE – NEW YORK

2010-03-11T13:56:00.000+02:00

New York is without a second thought one of the most visited cities of USA. Not only that but if we were to conduct voting on the most popular cities in the whole wide world, New York would get first price. It is city adorned and loved by many. It attracts visitors like bees to honey. The city is also lovingly referred as the “The Big Apply”. Day and night, 24/7 New York City offers the same level of excitements and life that some call it “ a city that never sleeps” .

The identity of New York is the sky scrappers that are many and give the city a look of Concrete Jungle. It is the high rate of developments that has made NYC, almost a Capital of the World, the greatest city indeed. A vital aspect of NYC being the most popular and favorite city of many is the New Yorkers. Though most are busy and hard to get hold of, but if you have any friends there or successfully make some, your experience will be unforgettable. According to the New Yorkers, The City So Nice They Named It Twice, The City.

The icon of this 21st century metropolis is the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building construction started in March of 1930 on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, located at 350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. Amazingly, it was completed only 14 months later ready to take over the city in May, 1931. The Empire state Building’s deign was presented by the well reckoned architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon Associates. This concrete and steel giant remained the tallest building in the world for a long time with 102 stories. Latterly in 1972, the title went to the first tower of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.

The Empire state Building is considered as one of the modern time Wonder of the World. It is not unsuitable to say, if there be a “God’s Finger” in the 21st century modern day world of cyber and mechatrons, The Empire state Building is quite a match.

SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING – NYC

 Replaced Site of: Waldorf-Astoria Hotel demolished in January 22, 1930

 Cornerstone Laid by: Alfred E. Smith, former governor of New York, Sep 17, 1930.

 Architectural Design by: Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates.

 Build in: 1933 by Starrett Brothers & Eken, Inc.

 Work Force: 3,400 during peak periods.

 Building Materials Exterior: Indiana limestone and granite, trimmed with aluminum and chrome-nickel steel from the 6th floor to the top.

 Building Materials Interior lobby: Ceiling high marble, imported from France, Italy, Belgium and Germany.

 Official opening: May 1, 1931, by President Herbert Hoover (he pressed a button in Washington, D.C. to turn on the building’s lights).

 Total time: 7 million man hours, 1 year and 45 days work, including Sundays and holidays.

 Location: 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets, New York, NY 10001

 Height: 1,472 feet (448 meters) to top of antennae. Volume: 37 million cubic feet.

 Area Occupied: 83,860 square feet.

 Cost of building alone: $24,718,000

 Cost including land: $40,948,900.

Today, the Empire state Building is the identity of not only the city, but also USA. If you want to get inspired by this modern wonder of the world, catch a flight and don’t miss to see the icon of the world’s most popular city.

Also, flights to New York are available on not only daily, but hourly basis. Almost all 3-5 star airlines fly daily to New York from all four corners of the Globe and offer New York flights City USA. For more on listing and current availabilities on promotional offers and other cheap flights to New York visit Travelhouseuk.co.uk

[Via http://travelhouseus.wordpress.com]

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 3/10 - Arrowhead Pride

Flying Phelps

2010-03-11T05:43:00.000+02:00

The USA’s Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps broke his own American short course record in the 200m butterfly at the Maryland Swim Championships with a time of 1:39:65 beating his old record set in 2006 of 1:39:70.

As the event was held at the Naval Academy, where the pool is measured in yards, not metres, the ‘record’ is deemed unofficial until USA Swimming certifies it.

It was the third win of the weekend for Phelps, who was swimming competitively for the first time in seven weeks won three races over the weekend.

Phelps was quoted as saying “I tried to find out what my splits were when I broke the record back in ‘06 and just wanted to see what I could do tonight, I wanted to try and go out and take a shot at it. Coming off the last turn I wanted to stay under as long as I could. That was clearly the difference.”

Phelps who is building for the 2012 Summer Olympics also said that the two years would “fly by.”

[Via http://notthefootyshow.wordpress.com]

Injury news: Erick Dampier, Brendan Haywood can play, Barea is out ...

Sonic/Roxio coupons - Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

2010-03-09T12:57:00.000+02:00

Save 10% on any Roxio Product

Save 10% on any Roxio product Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: 10ROXIOSAVE

Buy Roxio Video Capture (USB) Device – SAVE $10 Instantly

Buy Roxio Video Capture (USB) Device – SAVE $10 Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: NA/Click Link

Buy Easy VHS to DVD PC – SAVE $10 Instantly

Convert your old VHS Tapes to DVD Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: 10VHSTODVD

Buy Toast 10 Titanium and Get FREE Blu-Ray Plug-in ($19.99 value)

Buy Toast 10 Titanium and Get FREE Blu-Ray Plug-in ($19.99 value) Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: NA

Buy Creator 2010 and SAVE 15 GBP Instantly

Buy Creator 2010 and SAVE 15 GBP Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: NA/Click Link

Buy Toast 10 HD/BD Plug-in and SAVE $10 Instantly

Buy Toast 10 HD/BD Plug-in and SAVE $10 Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: NA/Click Link

Buy Creator 2010 Pro and SAVE 25 GBP Instantly

Buy Creator 2010 Pro and SAVE 25 GBP Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: NA/Click Link

Buy Toast 10 and SAVE 15 GBP Instantly

Buy Toast 10 and SAVE 15 GBP Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: NA/Click Link

Buy Toast 10 Pro and SAVE 30 GBP Instantly

Buy Toast 10 Pro and SAVE 30 GBP Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: NA/Click Link

Buy Easy LP to MP3 and SAVE 10 GBP Instantly

Buy Easy LP to MP3 and SAVE 10 GBP Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy CinePlayer BD and SAVE 10 GBP Instantly

Buy CinePlayer BD and SAVE 10 GBP Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy WinOnCD 2010 and SAVE 15 Euros – Instant Discount

Buy WOC 2010 and SAVE 15 Euros – Instant Discount Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Toast 10 and SAVE 20 Euros Instantly

Buy Toast 10 and SAVE 20 Euros Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Toast 10 Pro and SAVE 40 Euros Instantly

Buy Toast 10 Pro and SAVE 40 Euros Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy CinePlayer BD and Save 10 Euros

Buy CinePlayer BD and Save 10 Euros Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Creator 2010 and SAVE 10 Euros – Instant Discount

Buy Creator 2010 and SAVE 10 Euros – Instant Discount Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Toast and SAVE 20 Euros Instantly

Buy Toast and SAVE 20 Euros Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Toast 10 Pro and SAVE 40 Euros Instantly

Buy Toast 10 Pro and SAVE 40 Euros Instantly Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy CinePlayer BD and Save 10 Euros

Buy CinePlayer BD and Save 10 Euros Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

SAVE 15% on any Roxio product

SAVE 15% on any Roxio product Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: ROXIOSTORE15

Buy Creator 2010 and Get FREE Blu-Ray Plug-in ($19.99 value)

Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Creator 2010 Pro and SAVE $25 Instantly

Limited Offer Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Toast 10 Titanium and Get FREE Blu-Ray Plug-in ($19.99 value)

Limited Offer Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Toast 10 Pro and SAVE $40 Instantly

Limited Offer Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Easy LP to MP3 (PC) – SAVE $10 Instantly

Limited Offer Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy CinePlayer BD and SAVE $10 Instantly

Limited Offer Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

Buy Popcorn 4 and SAVE $10 Instantly

Limited offer Offer Expires: 2010-04-15

Coupon Code: Click here

pcsecurityshield-software.blogspot.com

[Via http://tursun133.wordpress.com]

Pitchfork: R.I.P. Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous

Who is propelling Obama on warpath?

2010-03-09T05:09:00.000+02:00

Dr S M Rahman:

T S Eliot had remarked that there was a shadow between ‘idea’ and ‘reality’. That shadow has not shrunk rather widened when Obama’s ‘rhetorical’ statements are matched against the practical outcomes. Churchill, despite his distasteful colonial mind-set and obnoxious Empire-building disposition, was a shrewd politician, who snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat when the Nazis had overrun quite a number of European countries in World War II. His Prime Ministership, proved the nemesis of Adolf Hitler, due to superior strategies maneuvered in eliciting the cooperation of USA as well as of former USSR. Fighting at two fronts, in Europe – Great Britain, as well as Moscow – proved fatal for Germany. Churchill emerged as victor and Hitler as vanquished, who preferred committing suicide rather than face the humiliation of defeat. It was expected that the great hero of war would win the elections against his political rival of the Labor Party – Clement Attlee. But the nation did not oblige by re-electing him as Prime Minister. Attlee’s victory at the polls proved enigmatic.

It was, however, not without reason. Psychologically people were fed up with war. They wanted change. Attlee promised that change and delivered what he had campaigned for. Not Obama. He promised change and a courageous departure from the senseless war that his predecessor, George Bush, by far the most despised US President, had waged against Iraq and Afghanistan. The lone Super Power, equipped with the state-of-art weapons with their killing propensity only technically not following in the nuclear category but have caused death of millions of Muslims – men, women and children – euphemistically called “collateral damages.” The overly callous sensibility of the US President, overwhelmingly brutal cannot be justified in any ‘just war’. Iraq was invaded on a contrived lie, that it had weapons of mass destruction.

Nuremberg like trial of Eichmann, who was instrumental in the genocide of the Jews, should have been held against George Bush and Blair, who blundered into using military power to control the oil wealth of Muslim countries, if the world were free from the menace of ‘double standards’ and the power of the lord of the jungle. Obama promised a speedier exit strategy from Iraq and prove that US President could well be sensibly principled. Similarly, facing ignonimous defeat in Afghanistan as well, besides Iraq, he saw the futility of continuing war in a country which has had no peace since the last thirty years. Torn and totally ravaged by the successive wars by the two super powers, and phenomenal civilian casualties, the ‘will’ of the Afghan nation to fight and die for their ‘freedom’ is indeed a remarkable feat in the annals of history.

Obama started off with a correct perspective of the global disarray by identifying the roots that have spawned ‘terrorism’ and violence. The gravity of the 9/11 Manhattan tragedy was in the failure to resolve the Palestinian issue and chronic indifference to their sufferings and the occupation of their land by Israel. When it crossed the tolerance threshold of the brothers-in-faith, a global culture of terrorism for the restoration of Justice was a reactive concomitant. Similarly, the ruthless suppression of the freedom lovers of Indian Held Kashmir was the determinant of Indo-Pak wars and in accelerating tension between the two nuclear rivals, which have very ominous bearings for the region as well as global peace and harmony. Obama was quite right in mentioning ‘Kashmir’ problem as vital for peace in the region, but the moment, the Indian leaders at the seat of power, reacted adversely, Obama sheepishly dropped mentioning Kashmir as if it were a non-issue. The strongest power in the world behaving like a powerless nation. How ironical!

What made Obama make U-turn from sublime goals to the ridiculous measures of sending 30,000 more US troops, was for extracting some semblance of victory in Afghanistan before making an exit. Accepting defeat gracefully is not in the bones and marrows of a super power. But pushing Obama towards further surge in Afghanistan is the hidden hand which controls the foreign policy of USA. There is a remarkable book by Jeff Gates titled “Guilt by Association – How Deception and Self-Deceit took America to War”, which was kindly gifted to me by the author. I recommend every one to read it who has a passion for sifting “reality” from barrage of words, which are instruments in creating false constructs, specially in this information age, with skilled peddlers of ‘stereotypes’ and ‘images’ like Radical Islam, Islamo-phobia, War on Terror, Islamic Terrorism, Islamic Bomb etc. One of the most gifted intellectuals of this age, Noam Chomsky, rightly remarks about this book – ‘Breathless just reading it.’

Lord Cromer (1849-1917) is reported to have made a very apt remark “we do not govern Egypt, we govern the governors of Egypt.” This is what Israel (Zionist lobby in collusion with Christian Zionists) is doing with those who govern USA. The degree of their power to control USA is reflected in the former Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon’s statement, whom George Bush had labeled as an Apostle of Peace: “I want to tell you something very clear, don’t worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people control America and the Americans know it.” (Quoted in Guilt by Association p-xiii). Jeff Gates rightly laments: “American post-war leadership embraced on alliance with a deficit and fundamentalist subculture, within Judaism’s broader faith tradition. Sixty years of war experience have since confirmed the illusion of common interest between an inclusive secular democracy and exclusivist theocratic state. Though many Americans have long sensed that some-thing fundamental was amiss in this alliance.

The facts have not been available to support that intuition – uptil now.” (P-xiv) To this one may add that had John McCain, the Republican candidate won the elections, he would have been instrumental in making US commit its ‘blood’ and ‘treasure’ to expand the Iraq, Afghanistan war to Iran. Such are the morbid thoughts and ‘beliefs’ being manipulated through the powerful media mostly being controlled by the Zionist lobby, which manipulates the minds of the gullible US citizens. The Christian Zionists (evangelists, to which George Bush belonged) naively believe that unless the Jews were supported, the second coming of Christ would not be possible. The criminal syndicate, comprising the Neo-cons, the Arms Producing lobby and the Oil Barons are out to create a greater Israel.

Obama, despite realizing the vicious Israeli game feels helpless in towing the agenda being pursued by the powerful elites and extremists among the Jewish community. They exercise octopus like hold and the impact they wield on the American mind is indeed phenomenal. How can one see peace in the world, when the Super Power’s President is so perilously poised to follow the “fixed” intelligence and “displaced facts” to create false consciousness?

[Via http://thepeopleofpakistan.wordpress.com]

Breaking News – Canadians Love Hockey [PIC] | The Puck Doctors

Synthetic tree collects carbon about 1000 times faster than a real tree

2010-03-07T21:54:00.000+02:00

http://www.physorg.com/news166374180.html

Scientists have designed a synthetic tree that traps carbon dioxide from the air in an attempt to combat growing emissions. The device looks less like a tree and more like a small building, but it can collect carbon about 1,000 times faster than a real tree. One synthetic tree could absorb one ton of carbon dioxide per day, an amount equivalent to that produced by about 20 cars, on average. After being trapped in a chamber, the carbon would be compressed and stored in liquid form for sequestration.

Professor Klaus Lackner of Columbia University has been working on the concept since 1998, and recently met with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu to discuss moving forward with the project. Through his company Global Research Technologies, based in Tucson, Lackner has built an early model and hopes to have a fully working prototype within three years.

As Lackner explains, the technology is similar to that used at coal plants to capture carbon from flue stacks, but can be used anywhere. Lackner notes that half of carbon emissions come from small sources, including cars and airplanes, and is usually nearly impossible to collect. But since the carbon dioxide in the air is actually very concentrated, the device required to collect it can be fairly small.

Lackner’s goal is to make the synthetic tree highly efficient for its size. Compared to the amount of carbon dioxide that a large windmill can avoid generating, for example, a synthetic tree of equal size could collect several hundred times the amount of carbon dioxide that the windmill avoids.

Each synthetic tree would cost about $30,000 to build, with most of the cost due to the technology used to release the carbon dioxide from the sorbent. In addition, since the device requires energy to operate, it also generates some carbon itself if plugged into the power grid. Lackner calculated that, for every 1000 kg of carbon dioxide the synthetic tree collects, it emits 200 kg, so that 800 kg are considered true collection.

———-

the second picture is a tree in case you didnt realise..i know it loos like a toilet outhouse but no..its a tree..so when there are no trees left at least we know these building trees will be around to provide some color in our day

401

[Via http://seeker401.wordpress.com]

Weekly International Travel News Roundup | Peter Greenberg Worldwide

Học Nhảy tại Hoa Kỳ

2010-03-07T13:51:00.000+02:00

Mấy lần về Việt Nam chỉ đi nhảy vui chơi với người tình trăm năm, và bạn bè, không có dịp nghiên cứu tìm hiểu sinh hoạt khiêu vủ ở quê nhà có giống hải ngoại không.

Nghĩa là có hội nào đặt ra qui luật và tiêu chuẩn nhảy và tranh tài, tổ chức giải vô địch, hoặc thì lên đẳng cấp, và các đằng cấp này (pre-bronze, bronze, silver, gold, pre-championship, championship), cũng như tiêu chuẩn nhảy phải theo sự chị phối của các cơ quan thế giới như IDSF (International DanceSport Federation) hay không?

Ở Mỷ, nếu các bạn khiêu vũ để giải trí với bạn bè, nhảy trong party, đám cưới, hoặc những buổi gặp gỡ cộng ðộng Việt Nam, bạn không phải gia nhập hội USA Dance. Tuy nhiên nếu bạn muốn nhảy đẹp, muốn đi học khiêu vũ thật sự với người Mỹ, Thầy Cô và trường học chánh thức của các bạn đều chịu sự chị phối của hội này.

Mười năm về trước, ở lứa tuổi gần 60 mươi, con cái lớn khôn và sống riêng, hai vợ chồng già rủ nhau đi học khiêu vũ với trường DanceSport ở New York, nơi nhiều tài tử đã học nhảy, như Al Pacino học nhảy Tango đóng màn nhảy Tango trong phim Scent of a woman, và nhiều tài tử khác như R. Geere chẳng hạn, để đóng phim Shall we dance?

Ở Mỹ mọi sinh hoạt khiêu vũ Amateur, đặc biệt là sinh hoạt competition, phải chịu sự chị phối cũa hội USA Dance. Amateur là một người thích khiêu vũ, lấy khiêu vũ làm thú tiêu khiễn, không nhận thù lao dạy nhảy, hay kiếm tiền và sống nhờ nghề dạy nhảy.

Muốn tranh tài và compete, các bạn phải là hội viên cũa hội USA Dance. Hai vợ chồng chúng tôi phải gia nhập hội USA Dance từ lúc hội nầy còn mang tên cũ USABDA (United States Amateurs Ballroom Dancers Association), và đả tham dự hoạt động khiêu vũ và tranh tài cũa Hội nầy trong nhiều năm ở cấp bậc regional, miền Đông Bắc Hoa Kỳ, và một lần ở miền Tây Hoa Kỳ tổ chức tại Anaheim Convention Center ở California..

Chúng tôi chỉ khiêu vũ Amateur, để giử gìn sức khoẻ lúc tuổi già, để có một thú vui chung giữa hai vợ chồng già, lúc con cái đả lớn khôn, lập gia đình, sống cuộc đời riêng, hai vợ chồng tìm thú vui chung lúc tuổi xế chiều.. Khiêu vũ đã mang đến chúng tôi nhiều giây phút say đắm, hạnh phúc tuyệt vời.

Mặc dầu không còn compete nữa, nhưng như hổ nhớ rừng, thỉnh thoảng nhớ lại thời oanh liệt xa xưa, vẫn thấy vui vui, nhớ nhớ..

Photo Album “Our Trophies”:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/albums/show.dml?id=321858

Photo Album “Happy Dancing”:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/albums/show.dml?id=158183

Video Clip “Happy Dancing”:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HPj_-AFGaCI

Blog “Happy Dancing”:

http://journals.aol.com/ddanle/happy-dancing/

“USA Dance:

1. Serves as the National Governing Body for ballroom dancing and DanceSport, the competitive version of ballroom dancing, in the United States subject to the statutes of :

a. the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF); and

b. the United States Olympic Committee (USOC);

2. Organizes and supports programs for the recreational enjoyment of ballroom dancing by all ages and creates affordable opportunities for the general public to participate in ballroom dancing and DanceSport;

3. Promotes DanceSport as a sport both nationally and internationally and fosters its inclusion in the Olympic and Pan American Games;

4. Organizes and supports DanceSport events internationally and nationally, including national, regional and local championships;

5. Selects the elite DanceSport Athletes to represent the United States in the IDSF World DanceSport Championships and the World Games and finances their participation;

6. Promotes and supports ballroom dance programs in colleges and secondary schools;

7. Applies special programs to attract beginners to ballroom dancing and to both encourage and assist these dancers in meeting their goals;

8. Emphasizes to the public the healthful aspects of ballroom dancing; its physical, mental and social benefits;

9. Organizes and supports programs to increase the number of dancers and to assist in the elevation of dancing skills, both competitors and recreational social dancers. “

http://usabda.org/home/our_mission/index.cfm

Một vài giải thưỡng nhận được trong mấy năm compete tại miền Đông Bắc Hoa Kỳ

Mời đọc thêm:

Nhảy Cha Cha:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1329207

Học nhảy tại Hoa Kỳ:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1232604

Nhảy Jive:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1337454

Nhảy Rumba:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1336072

Learning to dance with the champions:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/dancing-with-the-stars-vietnamese-version-learning-to-dance-with-the

Happy dancing:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/happy-dancing

Nhảy Paso Doble :

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1286806

Nhảy Samba:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/nh-y-samba

Một thời oanh liệt:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/m-t-th-i-oanh-li-t

Learning the Jive with a champion:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/learning-the-jive

Learning the Paso Doble with a champion:

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/learning-the-paso-doble-with-a-champion

[Via http://lthdan02.wordpress.com]

Japanese charts: new entries abound News | Eurogamer

Packa pappas packsäck

2010-03-06T13:40:00.000+02:00

Imorgon åker jag iväg på den där träningsresan som jag inte kan prata om än, men som ni kan läsa om i Fitness Magazine nu i vår. Jag kommer att bombardera er med bilder och inlägg när jag får avslöja var jag varit. Jag lovar! Dit jag ska finns ett gäng PT:s, instruktörer, dietister, hälsokockar, livscoacher och även läkare som gör tester och kollar ens värden. Har just skrivit en packlista och det är ENBART träningskläder som följer med. Haha, hur fab är inte det?! För att ni ska få ett hum om vad jag ska syssla med, här är ett exempel på hur det dagliga schemat kan se ut.

06:00. Morgonyoga

07:00. Frukost

08:00. Vandring/Löpning

11:30. Vattenaerobics

12:45. Lunch

13:15. Matlagningskurs/Näringslära

14:30. Kickboxing

15:30. Cirketräning

16:30. Stretch

17:30. Middag

18:15. Föreläsning

Och såhär kommer min packning att se ut. Can´t wait!

[Via http://sportyspiceblog.com]

Courthouse News Service

T-Shirt Day

2010-03-06T05:17:00.000+02:00

On March 9th, alumni of the conflict resolution group Seeds of Peace (SOP), will show their solidarity by donning their SOP T-Shirts all around the world. Every summer, teenagers from America and war-torn regions in the Middle East and South Asia gather at Pleasant Lake in Maine. The cabins and soccer pitch represented a traditional camp, but everyday for 90 minutes we met in dialogue huts to discuss the conflict. For many, this is the first time they meet “the enemy.” The camp mantra, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there,” a statement from Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet, sums up the camp’s goal for the ‘Seeds’ to find common ground in one another’s humanity, rather than continue to be divided by their principles.

These Seeds have started sowing a new future.

Name: Ron Shehtman

Age: 15

Home: Alia st. 33/9 Afula, Israel.

Greatest Lesson Learned through SOP: Don’t treat a person strangely and differently if he is different because for him, he is ordinary and you are the stranger.

What I do now: A 10th grader in Ort Afula High School

Name: Sana Batool Kardar

Age: 18 years

Home: Lahore, Pakistan Currently in London, UK

Greatest Lesson Learned through SOP: Seeds of Peace shows the the real face of the people we think are our enemies, as I am from Pakistan once a history teacher asked us during a lecture to tell the first word that crosses our mind after we hear the word “INDIANS” some kids answered neighbours, terrorists, bad people… I answered “FRIENDS”. Seeds of Peace showed us that the people from the other side of the other border are humans too with exactly the same feelings, same happiness same sadness same problems as us they are just like us and due to a few people whole nation can not be blamed. We have a mission to make the life the way it should be and the end of the camp was the beginning of a thousand miles on the road of peace.

What they do now/ Occupation: Student at Queen Mary University of London

[Via http://yjhr.wordpress.com]

Portal 2 due out this Christmas News | Eurogamer

American Airlines flight attendants may strike

2010-03-04T21:41:00.000+02:00

American Airlines N617AM, originally uploaded by cweyer.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/030410dnbusamerican.17316fd5b.html

From the article:

“”The union said the company walked out of NMB-mediated talks Wednesday evening without responding to the union’s last proposal. It said it will ask the NMB to start a 30-day cooling-off period, after which the union could walk off their jobs.

“Now, with no other options on the table, management has forced us to take the next step necessary to get the contract we have worked so hard for,” union president Laura Glading said.

American spokeswoman Missy Latham said the union’s claim that American walked out was “categorically untrue” and said the airline looks forward to further negotiations.”"

[Via http://buziosniteroi.wordpress.com]

Yahoo News Brings News Commenting Back | paidContent

Labor Department:Mass Layoff Events up in January 2010

2010-03-04T13:33:00.000+02:00

March 03, 2010 Mass Layoff Events and Initial Claims up in January 2010 From the Editors Desk. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers took 1,761 mass layoff actions in January that resulted in the separation of 182,261 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filing for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. [Chart data] Both mass layoff events and initial claims increased from the prior month after four consecutive over-the-month decreases. During the 26 months from December 2007 through January 2010, the total number of mass layoff events (seasonally adjusted) was 53,739, and the associated number of initial claims was 5,425,101.http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2010/ted_20100303.htm Economic News Release Economic News Release-Mass Layoffs USDL-10-0229 (monthly report) MASS LAYOFFS -- JANUARY 2010

Employers took 1,761 mass layoff actions in January that resulted in the sepa-

ration of 182,261 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for

unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta-

tistics reported today. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single

employer. Both mass layoff events and initial claims increased from the prior

month after four consecutive over-the-month decreases. In January, 486 mass

layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted,

resulting in 62,556 initial claims. Both figures increased over the month--the

first increases since August 2009 for events and since September 2009 for ini-

tial claims. (See table 1.)

During the 26 months from December 2007 through January 2010, the total number

of mass layoff events (seasonally adjusted) was 53,739, and the associated num-

ber of initial claims was 5,425,101. (December 2007 was the start of a reces-

sion as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research.)

The national unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in January 2010, seasonally ad-

justed, down from 10.0 percent the prior month but up from 7.7 percent a year

earlier. In January, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 20,000 over the

month and by 4,022,000 from a year earlier.

Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

The number of mass layoff events in January was 2,860 on a not seasonally ad-

justed basis; the number of associated initial claims was 278,679. Over the

year, the number of mass layoff events decreased by 946, and associated ini-

tial claims decreased by 110,134. (See table 2.) Sixteen of the 19 major in-

dustry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in ini-

tial claimants, led by manufacturing (-67,911). (See table 3.) Management of

companies and educational services reported January program highs in terms of

average weekly initial claimants while utilities reached a January program

low. (Average weekly analysis mitigates the effect of differing lengths of

months. See the Technical Note.)

The manufacturing sector accounted for 34 percent of all mass layoff events and

38 percent of initial claims filed in January 2010. A year earlier, manufac-

turing made up 38 percent of events and 44 percent of initial claims. Within

manufacturing, the number of claimants in January was greatest in transporta-

tion equipment, followed by food, fabricated metal products, and machinery.

Eighteen of the 21 manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases

in initial claims, led by transportation equipment (-34,023). (See table 3.)

The six-digit industry with the largest number of initial claims in January 2010

was temporary help services. Of the 10 detailed industries with the largest num-

ber of mass layoff initial claims, school and employee bus transportation, dis-

count department stores, and nonresidential electrical contractors reached pro-

gram highs for the month of January. (See table A.)

Table A. Industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims in

January 2010, not seasonally adjusted

January peak

Industry Initial Initial

claims Year claims

Temporary help services (1) .................... 16,575 1998 26,224

School and employee bus transportation ......... 15,131 2010 15,131

Discount department stores ..................... 8,065 2010 8,065

Motion picture and video production ............ 7,966 1998 12,038

Professional employer organizations (1) ........ 6,462 2009 11,345

Highway, street, and bridge construction ....... 5,094 2000 9,680

Hotels and motels, except casino hotels ........ 4,248 2009 6,592

Automobile manufacturing ....................... 4,173 2001 21,093

Supermarkets and other grocery stores .......... 3,371 2009 3,978

Nonresidential electrical contractors .......... 3,299 2010 3,299

1 See the Technical Note for more information on these industries.

Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

All regions and all divisions experienced over-the-year decreases in initial

claims due to mass layoffs in January. Among the 4 census regions, the South

(-41,525) and Midwest (-31,010) registered the largest over-the-year decreases

in initial claims. Of the 9 geographic divisions, the East North Central

(-30,146) and the South Atlantic (-21,046) had the largest over-the-year de-

creases of initial claims. (See table 5.)

California recorded the highest number of initial claims in January, followed

by New York and Pennsylvania. Forty states experienced over-the-year decreases

in initial claims, led by Ohio (-13,850), Pennsylvania (-13,226), and Michigan

(-10,418). (See table 6.) In 2010, three states reached January program highs

for average weekly initial claims: North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Note

The monthly data series in this release cover mass layoffs of 50 or more

workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of the layoffs.

For private nonfarm establishments, information on the length of the layoff is

obtained later and issued in a quarterly release that reports on mass layoffs

lasting more than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs"). The quar-

terly release provides more information on the industry classification and

location of the establishment and on the demographics of the laid-off workers.

Because monthly figures include short-term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum

of the figures for the 3 months in a quarter will be higher than the quarterly

figure for mass layoffs of more than 30 days. (See table 4.) See the Technical

Note for more detailed definitions.

____________

The Mass Layoffs in February 2010 news release is scheduled to be released on

Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * mlsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/mls Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/mmls_02232010.htm

[Via http://worldtodayshow.wordpress.com]

More Borderlands DLC planned News | Eurogamer

Israel begins distributing gas masks to the populace

2010-03-02T21:55:00.000+02:00

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136236

Following a government decision to begin distribution of gas masks to the populace, the Israel Postal Company began the distribution of gas masks in the city of Or Yehuda. The distribution will continue over a period of six days and will thereafter be extended to the Kiryat Ono and surrounding area.

Avi Hochman, President of the Israel Postal Company, stated that “the Israel Postal Service was chosen by the Ministry of Defense for this important national project and has made the necessary preparations, including a state-of-the art technological and logistical infrastructure.” To this end, the company will operate a special call center for customer calls via its regular call center at telephone number 171.

———-

um..that wouldnt be a great sign..its what they did before the gulf war..what do they know that we dont?..i cant help but be sort of anxious over this..its significant..

401

[Via http://seeker401.wordpress.com]

Search News from Bing, Twitter, and Google « ResourceShelf

Marie Osmond's Son,Michael Blosil,18,Commits Suicide In Downtown L.A.

2010-03-02T05:45:00.000+02:00

Marie Osmond,Michael Blosil and siblings

Friends and family are mourning the tragic death of Michael Blosil,18,this past Friday, after he jumped off the roof of a downtown Los Angeles high-rise apartment known as the Met.

Michael had reportedly suffered from depression all of his life, and had been through drug rehabilitation when he was 16.Michael had become free from drug addiction, and had moved to Los Angeles to attend the prestigious Fashion college called FIDM-The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

“My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time,” the entertainer said in a statement through spokesman Alan Nierob.

The Las Vegas based “Donny and Marie Show” has been suspended for this week, until further notice.

Despite rumors that Michael had no friends, was shy and to himself,introverted, and dark,his roommate, Sean Srnik, says….that Michael was always in good spirits. “He was so jolly all of the time. He’s probably the funniest, happiest guy I’ve ever met in my life. It’s something I would never expect from somebody like him,”….

“Michael was far from friendless. His smile was contagious, and the impact he had on even casual acquaintances was beyond description. We will all miss him very much,” a grieving Ruth Ann,also a roommate of Michael’s, echoes.(SOURCE)

Michael left his suicide note on Ruth Ann’s bed.

I personally know several instructors and students that attend FIDM, and I spoke to them today, and they are all shocked by the death of Michael.It is an atmosphere that incubate cutting edge fashion designers,multi-media artist, and is the west coast home of the ever popular “Project Runway” fashion design competition series, and this tragedy has exhibited to all there just how fragile life can be.

I grew up watching “The Donny and Marie” show, and Marie is of my generation, and I also have a teen son, close to the age of her dear Michael.I can not begin to imagine the profound sense of loss that she must be feeling at this time.

Marie has in the past, battled depression, and she has helped countless numbers of women confront their depression by speaking out on her own affliction so openly, and I will never forget how admirably Marie, Donny and Jimmy Osmond so eloquently memorialized and honored the life of their old and dear friend, Michael Jackson, at the time of his untimely death, when many in the commercial conservative media took to the airwaves to demean and disrespect the memory of their friend, Michael Jackson.

The Osmond family will always have an honored and respected place in the African-American society for their loyalty to the Jackson family, as their loyalty visibly gave comfort to Katherine Jackson, who appeared in person with Marie,to support Donny Osmond in his “Dancing With The Stars”run this past season.

I would like to send my deep condolences to the entire Osmond family, and especially to Marie, as she is dealing with the devastation of having to bury a child.

We love you Marie….

Memorial for Michael Blosil at the scene of his death...

Sources…

CNN.com

EOnline

Entertainment Weekly

[Via http://jerrybrice.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Frank Rich: 'the unhinged and sometimes armed ...

Canada Ice Dancing 2010 Olympics . . .

2010-02-28T05:47:00.000+02:00

My favorite part of the Olympics, besides watching Apollo Anton Ohno speed skate, was the couples ice dancing.

Of course, I rooted for the USA team: Meryl Davis and Charlie White, however Canada’s team Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir skated were my favorite! Their performance for the gold medal was so fluid, and they were so in-sync with one another, it was hard not to fall in love with them and their routine. It was like watching a young couple in love stealing a few moments together on the ice.

I’d watch that one performance over and over again – it was absolutely beautiful.

Also, I’m absolutely certain Tessa and Scott are dating. At a press conference, they were asked if they were a couple. Tessa hesitated, stuttered, blushed and laughing stating, “Um, I forgot the first question now.” Scott then chimed in saying, “Tessa and I are actually not dating, just on the ice for 7 minutes, every time we do the program and that’s about it.“

Right. I still don’t believe you Scott – but whatever you say . . .

-jo

[Via http://jonotjoe.wordpress.com]

Facebook Granted News Feed Patent – GigaOM

8.8-magnitude earthquake hits central Chile; tsunami warnings issued for Hawaii, Australia, South America

2010-02-27T13:48:00.000+02:00

NEWS

8.8-magnitude earthquake hits central Chile; tsunami warnings issued for Hawaii, Australia, South America

By Eva Vergara

Saturday, February 27, 2010; 8:14 AM EST

Santiago, Chile — A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, killing at least 78 people, collapsing buildings and setting off a tsunami.

Chilean TV showed devastating images from the country’s second city of Concepcion of collapsed homes, a large building completely engulfed in flames and injured people lying in the streets or on stretchers. It said the earthquake destroyed many roads, making it impossible for vehicles to get through, and there was no electricity or water.

Tsunami warnings were issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands.

A huge wave reached a populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands, 410 miles (660 kilometers) off the Chilean coast, said President Michele Bachelet. There were no immediate reports of major damage there, she added.

Bachelet said the death toll was at 78 and rising, but officials had no information on the number of people injured. She declared a “state of catastrophe” in central Chile.

“We have had a huge earthquake, with some aftershocks,” Bachelet said from an emergency response center. She urged Chileans not to panic.

“Despite this, the system is functioning. People should remain calm. We’re doing everything we can with all the forces we have. Any information we will share immediately,” she said.

Powerful aftershocks rattled Chile’s coast – 19 of them magnitude 5 or greater and one reaching magnitude 6.9 – the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Bachelet urged people to avoid traveling, since traffic lights are down, to avoid causing more fatalities.

In the capital, Santiago airport was shut down and will remain closed for at least the next 24 hours, airport director Eduardo del Canto said. The passenger terminal has suffered major damage, he told Chilean television in a telephone interview. TV images show smashed windows, partially collapsed ceilings and pedestrian walkways destroyed.

In Concepcion, nurses and residents pushed some of the injured through the streets on stretchers. Others walked around in a daze wrapped in blankets, some carrying infants in their arms.

Residents were rummaging through rubble in the coastal city of Santo Domingo, in the region of Valparaiso. One resident said 40 buildings had collapsed but that he didn’t believe there were any deaths.

The quake hit 200 miles (325 kilometers) southwest of Santiago, at a depth of 22 miles (35 kilometers) at 3:34 a.m. (0634 GMT; 1:34 a.m. EST), the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The epicenter was just 70 miles (115 kilometers) from Concepcion, where more than 200,000 people live along the Bio Bio river, and 60 miles (95 kilometers) from the ski town of Chillan, a gateway to Andean ski resorts that was destroyed in a 1939 earthquake.

Marco Vidal – a program director for Grand Circle Travel who was traveling with a group of 34 Americans – was on the 19th floor of the Crown Plaza Santiago hotel when the quake struck.

“All the things start to fall. The lamps, everything, was going on the floor. And it was moving like from south to north, oscillated. I felt terrified,” he said.

Cynthia Iocono, from Linwood, Pennsylvania, said she first thought the quake was a train.

“But then I thought, oh, there’s no train here. And then the lamps flew off the dresser and my TV flew off onto the floor and crashed.”

“It was scary, but there really wasn’t any panic. Everybody kind of stayed orderly and looked after one another,” Iocono said.

In Santiago, modern buildings are built to withstand earthquakes, but many older ones were heavily damaged, including the Nuestra Senora de la Providencia church, whose bell tower collapsed. An apartment building’s two-level parking lot also flattened onto the ground floor, smashing about 50 cars whose alarms and horns rang incessantly. A bridge just outside the capital also collapsed, and at least one car flipped upside down.

In the coastal city of Vina del Mar, the earthquake struck just as people were leaving a disco, Julio Alvarez told Radio Cooperativa in Santiago. “It was very bad, people were screaming, some people were running, others appeared paralyzed. I was one of them.”

Bachelet said she was declaring a “state of catastrophe” in three central regions of the country, and that while emergency responders were waiting for first light to get details, it was evident that damage was extensive.

She said Chile has not asked for assistance from other countries.

Several hospitals have been evacuated due to earthquake damage, she said, and communications with the city of Concepcion remained down. She planned to tour the effected region as quickly as possible to get a better idea of the damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center called for “urgent action to protect lives and property” in Hawaii, which is among 53 nations and territories subject to tsunami warnings.

“Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts,” the warning center said. It did not expect a tsunami along the west of the U.S. or Canada but was continuing to monitor the situation.

The largest earthquake ever recorded struck the same area of Chile on May 22, 1960. The magnitude-9.5 quake killed 1,655 people and left 2 million homeless. The tsunami that it caused killed people in Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines and caused damage to the west coast of the United States.

Associated Press Television News cameraman Mauricio Cuevas in Santiago and Sandy Kozel in Washington contributed to this story.

[Via http://dominicstoughton.wordpress.com]

News Topics as Social Network | FlowingData

The Second Saddest Day Of My 23 Year Existence...

2010-02-27T05:49:00.000+02:00

Today I booked my return flight back home to Australia.

August 14 2010 will be the saddest day of my life to date.

I don’t want to leave the U.S.A. or my awesome Disney family. I am happy here. This is where I am meant to be. I hope by the most random of luck that the Green Card Lottery comes through for me this year and if not…

WARNING: Please have anti-depressants waiting for me back home. A really big bottle of them. You guys have no idea what you are in for.

[Via http://lynniesworld.wordpress.com]

Bush and Cheney Reunite, First Since Leaving Office - The Note

THE LAME LAMA: Obama/Dalai Lama meeting leaves the Tibetan leader politically crippled

2010-02-25T13:45:00.000+02:00

Tibetan sympathizers have applauded President Obama’s recent meeting with the Dalai Lama, held in open defiance of Chinese protests, as a small but welcome victory. As an open gesture of continuing moral support for the Tibetan cause, the meeting was certainly heartening, especially after Obama cancelled a scheduled meeting last November to placate Beijing prior to his first state visit to China. Beyond the symbolic, though, the meeting’s political and practical consequences for the pro-Tibet movement are nil. Most importantly, the meeting demonstrates the Dalai Lama’s relegation to an apolitical role on the global diplomatic stage, leaving him unable to promote the political interests of the pro-Tibet movement, which now finds itself facing a crisis of leadership.

Despite Beijing’s furious claims that the visit would “seriously undermine the political foundation of Sino-US relations,” the meeting is of little consequence vis-à-vis US relations with China or Tibet. The Dalai Lama, who has met every sitting US president since the first Bush, is accustomed to causing these flare-ups, which in the past have only temporarily further strained US-China ties. Beijing’s especially stern protests at this latest meeting reflect strained Sino-American relations resulting from far more volatile recent crises. With Beijing fuming at an agreement to sell $6 billion in American arms to Taiwan, ongoing internet censorship and hacking scandals, American accusations of an artificially undervalued Yuan, and impending disagreements over China’s participation in sanctions against Iran, this latest visit by the Dalai Lama promises to be nothing more than a small blip on the radar. From the viewpoint of the Tibetan government-in-exile, the visit has been equally inconsequential, since the US stance on Tibet has not changed: the US continues to consider Tibet a part of China, only verbally supporting greater Tibetan autonomy and protection of Tibetan human rights.

Careful nonetheless to minimize Chinese indignation, the White House took pains to receive the Dalai Lama as a purely religious leader, entirely disregarding his political agenda. The meeting occurred in the Map Room of the White House and not in the Oval Office where protocol dictates a political leader or head-of-state must be received. All subsequent statements from the White House made absolutely no mention of Tibet’s political status, avoiding even the usual calls for greater autonomy.

As the political head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, however, the Dalai Lama is not just a religious leader, yet he now seems unable to represent the political interests of his people. Tibetans, as well as serious supporters of their cause, whether advocates of overt independence overt or only of greater autonomy (of whom, contrary to brusque Chinese propaganda, there are many) cannot divorce their defense of Tibetan rights from these political goals. Improvement in the lives of Tibetans will not come unless they are allowed greater political power within their territory, and without this political objective, the pro-Tibet movement loses all purpose. Yet, obliging his American hosts, the Dalai Lama made no mention of Tibetan autonomy on the most visible diplomatic stage he is likely to enjoy this year. The Dalai Lama maintained his silence under tremendous pressure (if not overt then implicit) from the White House, whose hands are tied by a Chinese government that brooks no argument on the Tibet question and which Washington can ill afford to aggravate further. Washington’s motives are understandable, but the resulting reality is bleak: if the Dalai Lama is to maintain his high international profile and have access to politicians with the leverage to promote improvements in the lives of the Tibetan people, he must remain silent on Tibet’s most vital political goals. The Dalai Lama faces a painful choice: political impotence or complete exclusion.

Evidently, the Dalai Lama has opted for depoliticization, a choice not made entirely of his own accord and for which he and the international powers sympathetic to his cause share responsibility. Especially in the last decade, diplomats and politicians unwilling to jeopardize crucial economic ties and increasingly wary of China’s military clout have been cowed by Chinese demands for silence on the Tibetan question. Unwilling to sacrifice his diplomatic influence, the Dalai Lama has also progressively softened his political stance. Contradicting Beijing’s view of him as a separatist leader, he has renounced claims to independence and actively discouraged violence and radicalism among his people and supporters, instead advocating effective autonomy and preservation of Tibetan religion and culture. Now that even these tempered political goals have become unpalatable to his allies, the Dalai Lama has further retreated into silence.

This silence has depoliticized and undermined the pro-Tibet movement, and raises uncomfortable questions about the efficacy of the Dalai Lama’s leadership. If stated support for the Tibetan cause is to be turned into concrete diplomatic pressure on the Chinese, the Dalai Lama must find the courage to speak up, and urge his allies to do the same. In the case of the White House meeting, it is clear that before Obama can advocate Tibetan autonomy before China’s leaders, he must first resolve to do so on the White House lawn. With the Dalai Lama and global diplomatic leaders locked together in silence, Tibet stands to gain nothing.

The search for Tibet’s new political voice will have to look beyond the Dalai Lama. A mix of choice and circumstance has left the monk unable to effectively promote Tibet’s political interests and, in the absence of any alternative political voice, weakened the pro-Tibet movement. With his unmatched past contributions to the movement and unflagging popularity, the aging lama will continue to serve as the movement’s figurehead, but this should not prevent the emergence of new political leaders willing to openly and vocally defend Tibetan political aims. A more vocal movement might well reduce the number of Tibet’s avowed allies, but having fewer allies would be little worse than having many silent and passive ones. It is vital that the pro-Tibet movement’s political foundations be reinforced and maintained in resistance to Chinese efforts to undermine them. This task will fall to the Dalai Lama’s successors. Tibetans and their sympathizers must urgently begin searching for new political leadership.

[Via http://romangautam.wordpress.com]

ABC News Plans Major Job Cuts As Part Of 'Fundamental ...

Foreign Corruption and Money Laundering - A comparision of US & Singapore

2010-02-25T05:25:00.000+02:00

It appears that banks have no qualms in enriching themselves with ill-gotten money as long as they are able to find legal loopholes.

The United States Senate Permanent subcommittee on Investigations has recently released a report documenting four case studies of how “Politically Exposed Persons” or PEPs (another term for dictators) have engaged the services of US lawyers, real estate and escrow agents, lobbyists, bankers, and university officials ‘to circumvent U.S. anti-money laundering and anti- corruption safeguards’.

This is comparable to Singapore’s status as a country for attracting questionable foreign monies. According to the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), much of the country’s wealth has been the result of the inflow of illegal money from neighbouring, especially corrupt Indonesian and Chinese businesses due to the secrecy provisions in banking.

In an opinion piece on the US report by Chris Albin-Lackey, a senior researcher for business and human rights for Human Rights Watch,

… legal loopholes and lax regulations let foreign kleptocrats treat America like a carefree shopping paradise while their people starve back home…

Furthermore,

… it’s the easy relationships between corrupt officials and their U.S. business partners that really should attract scrutiny. Banks, lawyers, real estate agents and others have made hefty profits off their partnerships with some of the world’s biggest looters and most repressive politicians…

This situation parallels Singapore’s case. As another SDP commentary notes,

… Such an approach [of secrecy in attracting foreign money] not only attracts foreign funds but also foreign opprobrium. There are more than concerns that Singapore has become a tax haven in the mould of Switzerland, a place where individuals and corporations go to deposit their cash, often to avoid taxation in their own countries…

[Via http://aussgworldpolitics.wordpress.com]

Apple posts third new iPhone TV spot | iLounge News

NYC: "Valium is my favorite color"

2010-02-23T13:56:00.000+02:00

Next to Normal on Broadway

Next to Normal, a relatively new and award-winning musical on Broadway, was recommended to me by a number of different people. Being in New York, it was on the list of shows we had in mind to see.

Next to Normal is ‘Rent‘ for the desperate housewives generation. Out goes illegal drugs, squats, AIDS and angst-ridden love affairs, in comes prescription drugs, suburbia, depression and angst-ridden family relationships. It’s been described as not a feel-good show but a feel-everything show. I think I’d agree with that. It’s not an emotional rollercoaster like Rent but an emotion provoking ride nonetheless. Perhaps, I’d say, a little too much in a downward direction. It’s a dingle story, there’s no intertwining of different story lines, which meant that subject matters of family relationships, grief and mental illness are dealt with with little humour of escapism. The story lacks the humour and hopefullness which drove the characters in Rent and in Spring Awakening. There’s no message of hope, nothing that is clearly driving the characters forward through the dispair they’re coping with, or not. And perhaps it was a little too close to the bone for the Broadway theatre crowd. Afterall, while they’re unlikely to be living with a rent boy in Alphabet City chances are they could very well be stranded in Diana’s suburban family-constrained mental distress. The story didn’t inspire me to change my own life, as good theatre often does (although perhaps I’m closer-related to the Rent/Spring Awakening characters than I am to these) nor did it provide the escapism I like to get from musical theatre.

However, it’s highly-praised score was performed brilliantly by a tiny cast – just six actors – cemented with amazing stamina by the lead actress Alice Ripley (who won the ‘Best Lead Actress in a Musical’ Tony award for this role in 2009). Her son in particular, played powerfully by Aaron Tveit complemented her extremely well.

Overall, a musical worth seeing, with brilliant performances.

[Via http://thelayoftheland.wordpress.com]

News Corp. Makes Mideast Push With Rotana - DealBook Blog ...

A funny take on American and British English

2010-02-23T05:46:00.000+02:00

There exist cultural differences between Americans and British. The English language is maybe what unites them. But it is the same language that differentiates between them. Below is a list of commonly used phrases. But beware! Before using them, make sure you know what it means in the place you are!

credits: http://www.buzzsugar.com/

Getting knocked up

In the USA, “getting knocked up” means getting a girl pregnant while in the UK it means knock on someone’s door! Imagine someone from the UK in America at a conference. On meeting in a hotel lobby for breakfast, an American asks the Englishman if a fellow female delegate had come down for breakfast yet. It would be quite natural for the Englishman to reply: “No, but I did knock her up this morning!”

Sexual misunderstandings

Another example is the slang word “fag”. In the Commonwealth, a fag is slang for a cigarette, while in the USA the same word is slang for a gay man!

The word “rubber” means an eraser in the Commonwealth but refers to a condom in the USA. So an English student in an American college would quite naturally lean over to an American student and ask to borrow their rubber!

And when you get pissed…

In America “pissed” means angry while in the UK “pissed” means getting drunk! So a Brit, who is drunk, might say “I am so pissed!” to an American. He means that he is drunk. While the American might think that the Brit is saying he is angry!

Getting your nipples boiled…

An American mother and her baby were on a visit in Britain. In a nursery the American woman asked another one “Where can I have my nipples boiled?”. Stunning silence while they realised her “nipples” are for “teat” in British English!

Finally

Today I realised that the people at WordPress must be American. Why?Because the word “realised” is shown as incorrect in the WordPress editor!

Any funny phrase or incidents to add to this list?

[Via http://prit4u.wordpress.com]

COD7 Vietnam rumours resurface News | Eurogamer

Olympic Stories

2010-02-21T13:18:00.000+02:00

As with any Olympics, there’s always some great athlete stories and the Vancouver Games is no exception.

There was an impressive editorial column by Rick Reilly on John Napier, an American bobsledder (the driver), who is from Vermont, one of the more liberal state (it tried to put former President George Bush on trial for the Iraq War and the lost young lives) in the country, and a member of the Vermont National Guard. I think it struck me more because lately I’ve been reading more about the Korean War and the feelings that the U.S. soldiers had about not really wanting to go and not feeling appreciated and here’s a young man who wants to go, who wants to represent his country in any and every way possible, even if it isn’t the most popular way.

Here’s another story about a young athlete, Kirsten Holum, stepping away from a monetarily rewarding athletic career in speedskating and instead choosing religious life. Or remember Shani Davis and Chad Hendrick not getting along at the last Winter Games and representing the U.S. very poorly while winning big, this time they lost but were great ambassadors for their country and their sport.

Or Kris Freeman, who was/is considered to be the U.S.’s best chance at a medaling in cross-country skiing, almost didn’t finish the race because of his diabetes crashing. But thanks to a coach with the German team, who noticed that he was on the ground, gave him some gatorade and an energy gel, he was able to finish the race.

Two American skeleton athletes, Zach Lund and Noelle Pikus-Pace, trying to make up for missing the 2006 Games. Lund was told to leave the Turino Olympic Village immediately because he had tested positive for a banned substance, Propencia, the hair-loss treatment drug. Pikus-Pace was considered the best female skeleton athlete in the world was hit by a runaway bobsled at the U.S. Olympic trials, which broke her leg in two places, causing her to be unable to compete.

[Via http://baikeunsook.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Was Mitt really attacked? Famous rapper, his ...

Regarding the Vancouver Olympics. Re: The New York Times and USA Today

2010-02-21T05:52:00.000+02:00

This is a post that I’ve written. Pretty self explanatory. What may not be; however, is that it is a response to the media conglomerates that are well respected in journalism. Not only USA today, but the BBC and CNN have also called the Vancouver Olympics some pretty nasty things. Media is getting increasingly negative and uneducated, for ratings and show rather than quality of journalism. I cover this in my response here below:

Only when the world gathers together can people’s true colours come out. — And whether they are red, white and blue or not, does that give any media correspondent the right to take their own podiums and critique something so well done as the opening ceremonies and compare it to those of another country? What troubles me is that interpretation and negativity are strikingly different, and having grown up Canadian my entire life, negativity is frowned upon.

Comparing one country to another when both are entirely different, in a negative and degrading context, is un-respectable. It lacks the unity and brotherly kindness that the world united under when all the countries marched into one room cheering each other on.

Our opening ceremonies were about us Canadians, just as Beijings were about them. It gives the world a chance to learn something about the country they are viewing through their televisions and hearing on their radios across the world for 17 days. Education. Something media is not handing out often enough these days. We have praries, powerful orcas, cultural diversity like Ashley MacIsaac, and say please between slam poems. We wanted you to know it at the ceremonies because it makes us Canadians who we are.

Now, aside from the big hair and poor french accent of Mr. Furlong, let’s call the ceremonies something other than horrible compared when to the past. Let’s call them educational at the least, and creative at the most. If you were to talk of the skating delays and poverty, or cancellation of tickets I may speak another story.

The world no longer needs to see impressive permanent structures and a ridiculous use of resources, but the different colours and sounds that express a world of difference, and hope for change towards better ways. It was our time to express that. For highly respected writers in journalism to complain about the opening ceremony is sad. To use the death of an incredible, young athlete, and blame Canada for being unfair, is callous. That young man ran the course 20 times prior to his accident, may he rest in peace.

Something else we have seemed to lose with our advancements in media and technology are manners. Let’s play nice. Do not elbow my fellow snowboarder, it’s not sportsmanlike. In these days of crumbling consumption and selfish ways, we must all try to do our best with what we have been given. This means allowing others to do the best they can as well.

We must not get in their way, become jealous, or hate our neighbours next door.

We must also remember to fund the artistic soul of Canada, rather than treating it

like nothing more than a tourist attraction.

Nicole Kornelson

Oh yes, and subtextmag will be going into it’s second issue near the end of march 2010.

[Via http://subtextmag.wordpress.com]

5 Things The Media Loves Pretending Are News | Cracked.com

@HP Pavilion DV6-2170US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

2010-02-20T13:31:00.000+02:00

HP Pavilion DV6-2170US

HP Pavilion DV6-2170US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

The only negatives about this laptop are:

1. The keys are very glossy. It may take some time to get used to the texture. They also show skin oils easily.

2. On the product image it shows that the RJ 11 is available, it is not.

3. The buttons on the touch pad look like they will not last long. I had a dv4 and I had the same problem. See more technical details

[Via http://buglah.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: Banks, Dell, J.C. Penney - DailyFinance

Re-Forming “a more perfect union”

2010-02-20T05:14:00.000+02:00

by Dahni

HOW can WE the People regain control of OUR right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” WE have delved into what won’t work in order to find what will work.

Here is where we are so far:

The List (simplified)

1. Overthrow the government by a military coup or para-military militias?

2. The 9/12 Project?

3. ‘The Commerce Clause?’

4. Convening a Constitutional Congress

5. Hope that the present circumstances will change and the will of WE the People will be implemented?

6. Hope that the other party will get its act together and produce the necessary changes for WE the People in future elections?

7. Remain divided and work for self, other causes, parties and candidates?

8. Establish a new service to restore OUR rights to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” – WE are working on this Now!

Today: Re-Forming “a more perfect union”

All throughout this blog, I have taken great pains and time and perhaps your liberties, in trying to expose a corrupt, corrupting and corruptible system and what has been tried or is being tried, in order to remove it.

Analogies of this system have been compared with Alice in Wonderland, the virtual world of the Matrix, as a trap, reverse engineering and with such words as fake, false, non-real and even non-constitutional. All of these analogies and words may be understood under the term, ‘Legal Fiction,’ because this is what it is!

Based on the premise that WE the People sense or feel that something is wrong or amiss in our system of government, this blog has endeavored to show what some have tried or are doing about this system, and why these efforts have failed or will ultimately fail. Here is a summary of these efforts and why they will not work:

1. To try and overthrow the government will not work because of the military. The military is under the command of the Commander and Chief, the President of the United States. As WE have seen and according to ‘Legal Fiction’ and non-constitutional laws under the essential acts of Martial Law, there has not been a constitutional president and therefore, no constitutional commander and chief of the military, since 1861.

2. The 9.12 Project will not work because even though it has helped to draw attention to problems and have helped to remove corrupt persons and practices, on September 12, 2001, OUR bonds were more formed over fear from what happened to this nation on September 11, 2001. WE the People need to become Un-divided and bond together for principle; OUR republic and not from fear.

3. Challenging the ‘Commerce Clause’ in the Constitution won’t work, because the Judiciary Branch of government has for years, interpreted the original intent of this clause, have always sided with their own decisions when challenged and both the Judiciary Branch of government and the “district” states are under the jurisdiction of the federal government, the Executive Branch and ultimately, the president.

4. Convening a Constitutional Congress won’t work, because once the delegates are seated in the convention, there is no way to control the outcome! This is DANGEROUS and should never be attempted or allowed!

5. To just hope that things will change on their own won’t work, because what is in motion generally continues to stay in motion. The whole purpose of change is to change, not to keep things they way they are or to just hope they change.

6. To hope that the other party will get its act together won’t work, because knowingly or not, they are part of a corrupt system. It’s the system that must be removed, not necessarily a person, persons or party.

7. To remain divided and work for self, other causes, parties and candidates wont work, because anything that keeps US divided, divides US. Besides that, until WE the People can see the problem, WE cannot see the solution?

8. Establish a new service to restore OUR rights to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” – WE are working on this Now!

Each of the above 1-7 items are actually important as to re-forming “a more perfect union.” They are parts of the whole. As parts, each only addresses parts of the problem which is, a corrupt, corrupting and corruptible system. #8 which is where we are now, is the re-forming of “a more perfect union.” I did not write re-forming a perfect union and neither did the Constitution from which these words were written. It was “a more perfect union,” in the original. If they would have meant to form a perfect union, they would have written, a perfect union.

The words are a figure of speech which gives emphasis to the goal of perfection which all should strive for, even though perfection is not possible by imperfect beings. If these words were literal they would make no sense because, you cannot make something more perfect that is already perfect. It is like another familar figure of speech – “Practice makes perfect.” If that were a literal statement, one would logically have to have, perfect practice.

But WE the People need to get back to the goal of, the formation or the forming of “a more perfect union.” To do this, WE the People need to re-form “a more perfect union.” To understand this, imagine the following:

Let’s say its movie night at your house. You decide to have some ice cream only it is rock hard in your freezer. You remove the round quart from the freezer, take the lid off, place it into a pan and leave it for awhile to soften. Next you return to your movie and it’s a really good one. You become engrossed in the story and by the time you remember the ice cream it has totally melted. Unknown to you was a small hole at the bottom of the container. The melted ice cream leaked through the hole. Fortunately you had the foresight to place the container into a pan. As the ice cream leaked from the container it had filled up inside the pan. You pick up the ice cream carton, wipe it off, find and patch the hole. Next, you pour the melted ice cream from the pan back into the carton, replace the lid and stick it back into the freezer to re-freeze – to re-form.

All the parts of OUR republic remain. WE the People just need to re-form “a more perfect union.” OUR independence started with US, WE the People. Our country, our Constitution began with US, WE the People. The corrupt, corrupting and corruptible system started at the Executive branch of government and worked its way down to US, WE the People. The system will end when WE the People work backwards (reverse engineer) where it started in 1776 and 1789 which is US, WE the People. So HOW do WE the People re-form “a more perfect union?” The answer is so simple it will absolutely amaze you!!!! Simple Yes! Easy, No!

For a long time now, I have promised you that what WE can do about all of this and HOW to do it is coming! I will keep my promise to you in the very next post. Yes it has taken perhaps, a lot of time to reach this point. My intentions have never been to lead you on or to withhold the solution, though I have known it for some time. WE the People just need to sense that something is wrong in OUR republic and WE need to know exactly what it is. This “it” is, a corrupt, corrupting and corruptible system. Besides all of that, WE rarely believe, trust or accept simplicity, in the complex world in which WE live. Are WE ready to believe, trust and accept a simple solution, to re-forming “a more perfect union?”

The solution is on the way! It is really quite simple. It will not take forever or even a lifetime. It will only take a small amount of time and the direct participation of WE the People. It may be difficult, but WE can do it IF, WE the People so will to do it. Do WE so will?

What may seem as insurmountable odds in regaining control of our liberties may appear hopeless, but there is an answer! Stay tuned here as we continue with…

Next Time: How to Restore, WE the People!

Check out the other blogs listed to the right. Come often. Bring others. Get involved. Do something. See:

How You Can Help

Ask not what your country can do for you

or what you can do for your country,

but what can WE the People do, for each other!”

1 of WE,

Dahni An Amer-I-Can eagle

Next Post – How to Restore, WE the People Coming Soon Previous Post – Engineering and Reverse Engineering Front Page - Welcome & Introduction

[Via http://theamericaneagleservice.wordpress.com]

Lucas store sells Star Wars stuff in Home News | MMO | Eurogamer

GODKJENT I USA

2010-02-18T13:38:00.000+02:00

Hahaha, jeg kunne vel godt ha spart meg for den uttalelsen jeg ga i forrige innlegg, som jeg skrev i går. Etter å ha gitt litt opp med å logge inn og ut av profilen min, i håp om at den skulle være godkjent, lot jeg det gå en uke før jeg logget inn igjen. Altså logget jeg inn i dag, og JAMMEN VAR JEG GODKJENT! Lykkelig!! Den ble godkjent i går faktisk, så det var ren tilfeldighet at jeg så det.

Dette har den personen i USA som har jobbet med søknaden min skrevet om meg:

Comments: *State Guarantee-CA,FL,GA-Martina is a very pretty girl. She is calm, happy, loves to spread joy to everyone and committed in everything she does. Martina is an A student and has all excellent marks on her English Evaluations. She is very serius about school and is a dedicated student that has excellent talent and interest for academic studies. She will be a fantastic addition both socially and academically. Martina loves team sports and has played soccer for 6 years. She hopes to continue playing while in the USA. In her spare time Martina likes to listen to music, go shopping and travel.

I tillegg har jeg også fått statsgarantien min, noe som vil si at jeg kommer til enten California, Florida eller Gerogia. Øverst på søknaden min sto det Florida Guaranteed, så jeg tror kanskje det betyr at jeg er garantert andrevalget mitt om jeg ikke kommer til første. Jeg er uansett overlykkelig, og superspent på hvem som blir vertfamilien min. Tenk nå kan jeg få vertsfamilie når som helst!!

Ååååh jeg gleder meg!

[Via http://martinatorrissen.wordpress.com]

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green News Report -- February 16 ...

More than 75,000 computer systems hacked in one of largest cyber attacks, security firm says

2010-02-18T05:44:00.000+02:00

NEWS

More than 75,000 computer systems hacked in one of largest cyber attacks, security firm says

By Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, February 18, 2010

More than 75,000 computer systems at nearly 2,500 companies in the United States and around the world have been hacked in what appears to be one of the largest and most sophisticated attacks by cyber criminals discovered to date, according to a northern Virginia security firm.

The attack, which began in late 2008 and was discovered last month, targeted proprietary corporate data, e-mails, credit-card transaction data and login credentials at companies in the health and technology industries in 196 countries, according to Herndon-based NetWitness.

News of the attack follows reports last month that the computer networks at Google and more than 30 other large financial, energy, defense, technology and media firms had been compromised. Google said the attack on its system originated in China.

This latest attack does not appear to be linked to the Google intrusion, said Amit Yoran, NetWitness’s chief executive. But it is significant, he said, in its scale and in its apparent demonstration that the criminal groups’ sophistication in cyberattacks is approaching that of nation states such as China and Russia.

The attack also highlights the inability of the private sector — including industries that would be expected to employ the most sophisticated cyber defenses — to protect itself.

“The traditional security approaches of intrusion-detection systems and anti-virus software are by definition inadequate for these types of sophisticated threats,” Yoran said. “The things that we — industry — have been doing for the past 20 years are ineffective with attacks like this. That’s the story.”

The intrusion, first reported on the Wall Street Journal’s Web site, was detected Jan. 26 by NetWitness engineer Alex Cox. He discovered the intrusion, dubbed the Kneber bot, being run by a ring based in Eastern Europe operating through at least 20 command and control servers worldwide.

The hackers lured unsuspecting employees at targeted firms to download infected software from sites controlled by the hackers, or baited them into opening e-mails containing the infected attachments, Yoran said. The malicious software, or “bots,” enabled the attackers to commandeer users’ computers, scrape them for log-in credentials and passwords — including to online banking and social networking sites — and then exploit that data to hack into the systems of other users, Yoran said. The number of penetrated systems grew exponentially, he said.

“Because they’re using multiple bots and very sophisticated command and control methods, once they’re in the system, even if you whack the command and control servers, it’s difficult to rid them of the ability to control the users’ computers,” Yoran said.

The malware had the ability to target any information the attackers wanted, including file-sharing sites for sensitive corporate documents, according to NetWitness.

Login credentials have monetary value in the criminal underground, experts said. A damage assessment for the firms is underway, Yoran said. NetWitness has been working with firms to help them mitigate the damage.

Among the companies hit were Cardinal Health, located in Dublin, Ohio, and Merck, according to the Wall Street Journal. A spokesman for Cardinal said the firm removed the infected computers as soon as the breach was found.

Also affected were educational institutions, energy firms, financial companies and Internet service providers. Ten government agencies were penetrated, none in the national security area, NetWitness said.

The systems penetrated were mostly in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Mexico, the firm said.

Staff researcher Madonna Lebling contributed to this report.

[Via http://dominicstoughton.wordpress.com]

New PS3 PVR gets Japanese date News | PS3 | Eurogamer

Imaginary fiends: Crime in America keeps going down. Why does the public refuse to believe it? (USA)

2010-02-16T13:34:00.000+02:00

The year 2009 was a grim one for many Americans, but there was one pleasant surprise amid all the drear: Citizens, though ground down and nerve-racked by the recession, still somehow resisted the urge to rob and kill one another, and they resisted in impressive numbers. Across the country, FBI data show that crime last year fell to lows unseen since the 1960s – part of a long trend that has seen crime fall steeply in the United States since the mid-1990s.

At the same time, however, another change has taken place: a steady rise in the percentage of Americans who believe crime is getting worse. The vast majority of Americans – nearly three-quarters of the population – thought crime got worse in the United States in 2009, according to Gallup’s annual crime attitudes poll. That, too, is part of a running trend. As crime rates have dropped for the past decade, the public belief in worsening crime has steadily grown. The more lawful the country gets, the more lawless we imagine it to be.

The implications for the country at large are stark. Democracy is based on an informed public calling upon its representatives to address problems facing their society. If we believe crime is on the march in the streets all over the country, it influences our beliefs on critical issues.

More: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/02/14/imaginary_fiends/

[Via http://rmccallonline.wordpress.com]

iBooks News: Apple to Use FairPlay Copy Protection « ResourceShelf

The Top 5 reasons USA can win gold

2010-02-16T05:35:00.000+02:00

5. Scheduling

The Americans will get a feel for what works and what doesn’t when they get to play their first two games against teams they should be able to beat. Tuesday, they will open the Olympic games against Switzerland, a team with just a few NHL players. They should not be overlooked, as one of those players is goaltender Jonas Hiller (Anaheim). Goaltenders have the ability to steal a game, and he can do just that when he’s on his “A” game. Also, many of the other players play together in the Swiss league, so chemistry has already come to this team. All that said, USA should still cruise to victory. The Americans will then face Norway on Thursday, possibly the weakest team to qualify for the Olympics. Then the last game scheduled for the 21st, the red , white and blue will face the Canadian powerhouse to test how they are playing against the top of the tournament.

4. Luongo named the starter for Canada

Ok, so this decision that came today doesn’t directly effect the United States, but it was very unexpected that just might upset Canada. Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) is an amazing goalie, but he has a knack for blowing games that really matter (much like Russia’s Evgeni Nabokov). And the U.S. will see him on their final preliminary game, provided he still has the reigns on the starting job. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) take a few games, and who knows, maybe even Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh) take a game. As a side note, St. Louis goalie Chris Mason will join team Canada if an injury occurs to one of their goalies.

Roberto Luongo

3. They can hit

The Americans don’t have the most amazing team ever assembled in Olympic history, but boy oh boy can they hit! Forwards Ryan Malone, Dustin Brown, David Backes, Ryan Kesler and Ryan Callahan along with defensemen Brooks Orpik, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson and Tim Gleason can really lower the boom on opposing players. No other team has the physical presence USA has, which in turn could lead to third period success in the Olympics.

2. The first line

I know, I know, Russia has the Datsyuk/Ovechkin/Semin line and Canada has Nash/Crosby/Bergeron, but our top line is pretty darn good, too! How does Zach Parise (New Jersey) and Patrick Kane (Chicago) centered by Paul Statsny (Colorado) sound? Kane currently ranks ninth in the NHL in points with 67 (25 goals) and Parise ranks 17th with 61 points (28 goals). Statsny, considered one of the premiere passing centers in the game, has 54 points with 42 assists. I must admit, I thought they would split up the two prolific scorers and possibly sniper Bobby Ryan (Anaheim) may crack the first line, but you have to like the all-or-few approach to the United States’ offense.

Patrick Kane

1. Ryan Miller

He could be the hottest goalie in the NHL this season — now we see if it transfers to Vancouver. Buffalo’s netminder has the league-lead in goals against average (GAA), is second in save percentage just by a hundreth of a point, and has five shutouts thus far. Even if he struggles, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner (NHL best goaltender) Tim Thomas (Boston) is a solid backup that USA has not had the luxury of for quite some time. Miller is no. 1 on my list because he really is the X-factor and the linchpin to the Americans success.

Ryan Miller

Check out Ryan Miller's mask for team USA. I love the jacked Uncle Sam! Very original.

[Via http://stsports.wordpress.com]

Shakesville: Great News

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?

2010-02-14T21:27:00.000+02:00

Kuhu Kadusid Morganid? imdb’s

USA

2009

lavastaja Marc Lawrence

osades Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Grant, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen jt.

Kui juba romantiliste komöödiate lainele sai mindud, siis millalgi ammu sai kinos vaadatud ka teist nunnufilmi. Vastupidiselt valentiinipäeva filmile, kus valdavalt mängisid noored ja ilusad, siis Morganite kadumise filmis lasti püünele vanurid. Kunagine silepoiss Hugh Granti nägu sarnaneb nüüdseks minu 2 tundi vannis ligunenud näppudega ja Sarah Jessica Parker pole ka enam see Sarah Jessica Parker, kes kunagi alaealise minu pühapäeva õhtuti tv3`st Seks ja Linna vaatama meelitas.

Tülis ja lahutamise veerel olevad kõrgelennulised linnainimesed Paul ja Meryl satuvad tunnistajakaitse raames New Yorkist Wyomingis asuvasse väikekülla, kohaliku politseinike vanapaari kaitse ja hoole alla. Vaadates filmi tekkis tunne,et ma olen sattunud hiilgaslikku deja vu masinasse- no tõesti, tegu on erinevates variatsioonides sadu kordi läbi mängitud romantilise komöödiaga. Aga väga hull see film ka nüüd polnud- oli paar naerutavat kohta, Sam Elliot vunts-šerifina oli nauditav ja üleüldse oli film tänu vähesele pretensioonikusele lihtne ja vaadatav.

[Via http://filmifriik.wordpress.com]

CNET News Daily Podcast: Google in China, lasers, Computer Geek ...

Olymipcs Day 1

2010-02-14T05:00:00.000+02:00

The Days biggest story is the move by the IOC to move the mens luge to the womans track. The second story is USA’s Hannah Kearney wins gold in the Woman’s Mogul she beat Canada’s Jennifer Heil by less than a point. 26.63-25.69 USA’s Shannon Bahrke finshed 3rd.

Olympic luge events will start farther down the track than originally planned, officials said Saturday, a decision they made with the “emotional component” of athletes in mind following the death of a Georgian competitor. They reiterated that the lightning-fast track was safe for competition, and Olympic officials said they were “completely satisfied” with the adjustments. ”We never said it is too fast,” International Luge Federation president Josef Fendt said. An extra session of men’s training, as well as all four runs of the men’s event — two on Saturday, two on Sunday — will begin from the women’s start ramp. Meanwhile, the women’s and doubles entrants in the Olympic field will now start even lower, at the junior start position, between the fifth and sixth curves. ”The decisions made are to deal with the emotional component for the athletes,” Luge federation secretary general Svein Romstad said. It means speeds in all luge events will be a bit slower — as much as 5 mph — at the Whistler Sliding Track, where 21-year-old Nodar Kumaritashvili, from the republic of Georgia, crashed and died in a training run on Friday after his body flew over the track wall and smashed into a steel pole at nearly 90 mph. The decision to change the start’s location seemed to have the desired effect Saturday. None of the 36 sliders, all of whom wore black tape on the left sides of their helmets in tribute to Kumaritashvili, broke 90 mph after speeds routinely surpassed 95 mph earlier in the week. Tony Benshoof, the top U.S. medal hope in this event, was the first to take to the track since modifications were made after Kumaritashvili’s death. He took a deep breath, secured the visor over his face and dropped down this elevator shaft of ice not knowing what to expect. He glided to the bottom, slower but safer. And that’s all that mattered.

The men’s downhill event at the Vancouver Olympics has been rescheduled for Monday after officials postponed the race due to slushy conditions hours before it was scheduled to begin. Rather than take a chance Saturday and try to see if the weather improved, organizers called off the first Alpine race at the Olympics shortly after 4 a.m. local time, about 7½ hours before it was scheduled to start. The race will now be held at 10:30 a.m. PT Monday. Repeated snow, rain, fog and too-warm temperatures have turned the Olympic slopes into a soft, mushy mess too dangerous to be used for high-speed skiing. The first women’s event, the super-combined, was supposed to be Sunday, and the decision to postpone that was made Friday. FIS, the governing body for skiing, said snow and rain throughout Friday night, along with expected mild temperatures during the day Saturday, made for poor skiing conditions. Highs on the course were expected to be in the 40s, and a mix of rain, sleet and snow was likely. Officials likely will try to get women’s training in Sunday. With its location close to the Pacific Ocean, bad weather has always been an issue in Whistler. For three consecutive years in the mid-1990s, the World Cup ski circuit came to the Canadian resort and failed to get a single race off. It wasn’t just a case of calling off a particular downhill or super-G; entire weekends had to be scrapped. Eventually, Whistler was removed from the World Cup circuit. Mother Nature proved to be a problem again this time. Only one of six training runs for men and women has been completed as planned.

On the lighter side.

In Woman’s Hockey the team from Canada took on the team from Slovakia and the score was 18-0 the winner was Canada. Canada had 7 goals in the 1st 6 in the 2nd and 5 in the 3rd. Thats all i can say!

Now for the medal count..

Keep in mind Canada has never won gold when they are hosting.

11 Delegations have won at least one medal.

United States has 4 1g 1s 2b

South Korea has 2 1g 1s

Netherlands,Switzerland, and Slovakia all have 1g

Canada, Germany, and Poland all have 1s

Austria, France, and Russia all have 1b

From the how did he stay on files

Stefan Hoehener for Switzerland on his 2nd Men’s Singles Luge run slipped up in the 12th turn and came off this sled but two turns latter he while skidding pulled his self back on and pulled it out, he did finish 38 in the 2nd run with a time of 53.838. he was 10th going into the run after a time of 48.728 in the 1st run.

The German’s have the top slots Felix Loch is first with 48.168 in the 1st run and 48.402 in the 2nd. David Moeller in second with 48.341 in the 1st and 48.511 in the 2nd. The Italian Armin Zoeggeler with 48.473 in the 1st and 48.529 in the 2nd.

Tony Benshoof from the USA is in the top 10 with 48.657 in the 1st run and 48.747 in the 2nd run.

Run 3 is tomorrow and run 4 (Medal run) in tomorrow night.

TRSN Out!

[Via http://therealsportsnut.wordpress.com]

Ice Hockey: Injuries causing Games nightmares - AFP News ...

Architectural Modeling - Unique Identification of Architects.

2010-02-13T13:55:00.000+02:00

In the modern time all the small and giant architectural firms are using architectural modeling. To provide the better output by using this technique all experts are using 3D modeling. Architectural 3D modeling is used to develop the mathematical and wire frame representation of any object. 3D rendering is used to display images on computer or TV. One can exact idea about the future design by using the 3D models.

Architectural modeling has unique identification in architectural world and that used to make 3D models. Architectural models are used to show the complete detail of any object in term of point to point. 3D models are also becoming helpful to identify the volume of building components and parts. 3D modeling enables architects to add or modify such details as doors, windows, textures, shading, railing, lighting and other required specifications.

Modeling services consist wide range of applications and greater accuracy that enable it the better option rather than others. It helps to visualize whole the building on computer and allows you to make change according to your requirement. It makes virtual environment and shows you how your building will look in future. It is also used for interior purpose like furniture modeling. You can use furniture modeling to make proper design for your interior.

The technique is not only limited in making of commercial and residential buildings but it is also used in industry development and landscape designing. Architectural modeling is used for following purposes like:

• 3D Visualization of Building

• 3D Architectural Rendering

• 3D Architectural Animation

• 3D Architectural Paper Models

• 3D Architectural Designs

• Interior Models for Office view, Home View

• Exterior Models for all type of buildings

For making the architectural models on computers the AutoCAD software used. For the flexibility and maximum accuracy purpose professional architects have developed various software which enables to modify any architect model at quick response. By having these kind of functionality architectural modeling is become root of any architectural project.

Visit Us:-

http://3d-walkthrough-rendering.outsourcing-services-india.com/3D-architectural-animation.php

Source By:-

http://ezinearticles.com/?Architectural-Modeling—Unique-Identification-of-Architects&id=3654257

[Via http://3dmodelingstudio.wordpress.com]

Layoffs hit multiple Activision studios | News

Visiting America: The wrong place, at the right time [Texas and New York]

2010-02-13T05:17:00.000+02:00

Earlier this year, for some strange reason, I gave away three suitcases worth of my personal possessions to my friends in Tampere, Finland and then headed down south to the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to board a plane destined for Vietnam. I wanted to start over from scratch, both in terms of forming new friendships, and by shedding the personal possessions that held me down. Before I left I spent a few hours with the girl I was dating during most of 2009, and I was filled with tears and regret. “What am I doing?” I asked myself. “I don’t want to go!” I pleaded. But I did. I kissed her one last time, gave her a hug, and then walked away.

I arrived at the airport an hour before my flight was due to take off, security was a breeze, and I walked to my gate at a calm, but slow pace, absorbing every last bit of Finland I could. The plane begins boarding, and I wait until the amateur travelers finish pushing and shoving their way inside the cabin before standing up and showing my passport and boarding pass to the flight attendant.

“I’m sorry sir, you can’t get on this plane.”

“But why?”

“You’re making a domestic flight in China and for that you need a Chinese Visa.”

“But all that requires is that I leave the international terminal, go to the domestic terminal, and then get on my plane. I’m not going to leave the airport.”

“I’m sorry sir, there is nothing we can do. Feel free to go downstairs and speak to a Finnair representative.”

I run with everything I own strapped to my back, working up a sweat since I’ve largely ignored any form of exercise during the winter of 2009, and reach the Finnair desk two floors below.

“This lady isn’t letting me get on the plane, can you please handle the situation?”

She started by asking her colleagues, then moved on to her computer, and I can tell by how hard she hit the keys on her keyboard, and by the tone of voice she used while talking on the phone, that I was receiving her full attention and that her goal was to get me on that plane, but then she looks me straight in the eye and told me that there is no chance in hell of me being able to board.

“I’m sorry sir.”

“What should I do?”

“Here are the phone numbers for the Chinese Embassy in Helsinki and China Air, I suggest you call them and try to sort the situation.”

I try calling the Chinese Embassy first, even though I know I’m not going to get a response since it’s after 17:00, and as expected I reach an answering machine. Next I dial China Air, and surprisingly I get access to a customer representative. I tell her everything that happened, and she says that there is nothing she can do. I then call the one person who I thought could help me. The girl I left less just a few hours ago.

“Hey, there’s a small problem. They’re not letting me on the plane since I don’t have the right papers. I don’t have anywhere to sleep tonight. I know this is going to sound weird since you were prepared to never see me again, but can I spend the night and then try and fix everything tomorrow?”

“No.”

It then hit me like a stomach virus. The kind of pain that makes you hunch over and grab the sides of your body while grunting and hoping that the tearing of your insides stops. I approach the Finnair desk one more time.

“How much is a flight to Dallas, Texas going to cost me?”

“Just a moment. Over 2,000 EUR if you go one way, but let me check round trip flights … How does 1200 EUR sound?”

“When does the flight leave?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll pay for it. Cash.”

“Just a second, when do you want to come back to Finland?”

“I don’t really know, whatever option you can stick in your computer to bring down the price of this flight.”

“End of February alright with you?”

“Yes.”

I remove an envelope out of the breast pocket of my black pea coat, the only piece of winter wear that I now owned, and pulled out an envelope that had all the money that was in the bank account I closed several days prior. I put 1200 EUR on the table, paid for my flight, and then had a seat and proceeded to wait until the following morning for my flight to leave. After a few minutes of boredom I called my mother.

“Mom, I have some good news and bad news. The bad news is Finnair didn’t let me get on my plane. I’m not moving to Vietnam. The good news is that I’m coming home.”

A burst of sound that could only be described as unadulterated happiness blasted out of my mobile phone and caused me to pull the handset far from my ear.

“This call is costing me a lot. I’ll send you a text message with my flight details.”

I then pull out an issue of “The Economist”, the one I was planning on reading on the plane, and start flipping through the pages. My phone starts ringing. It was that girl, the one I didn’t want to leave, but did.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“I’m going home.”

I’d fill you in on more of the details of that call, but she’d get mad at me, and it doesn’t really contribute to the story. What’s important is that I ended up in Texas less than 24 hours later and then proceeded to fall fast asleep in a guest bed room that looked like it hadn’t been touched since I left America back in July 2007. When I woke up it sunk in. I’m back.

That was exactly 30 days ago today. What’s happened over the past month?

I got to meet my mother’s new husband, and he seems like a really swell guy, plus I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her this happy, and that’s all I really care about. I met a few old friends in Texas, people who I alienated because I literally left the country without telling them. They found out I was gone after I uploaded a YouTube video showing off my hotel room.

I went back to New York City, the place I grew up, and was sad to see that it hadn’t changed in the slightest bit since I last visited nearly half a decade ago. I wasn’t prepared for the disappointment. It’s a city that always used to cheer me up, to make me feel alive, but this time it didn’t. I felt the pulse of the city, I saw the rhythm of the people, but I didn’t want to dance with them. I didn’t want to tap my foot to the beat.

During these past 30 days I saw what I left behind when I relocated to Finland, and I deeply felt how much Finland meant to me now that I was an ocean away. I’m actually kind of happy I didn’t make it to Vietnam. This detour gave me that rare type of clarity you get only when everything goes to hell.

Where is home then? If it isn’t with my mother, if it isn’t with my childhood friends, then am I destined to be an eternal vagabond?

Tomorrow I get on a plane to Barcelona. I’ll be there for a week covering Mobile World Congress; business trip. When I come back to Texas I’ll be staying for just a few days and then leaving once again. I’ll be back in Finland by the end of this month and I’m proud to say I’m focused like a laser beam now, and I know what I want.

Simply put, it’s love. I’m going to try and get my girl back, and if I fail then I’ll move back up north to Tampere for a few months and then start making a new set of plans. It’s one of the few cities where I feel like I belong. The 80s music, the summer picnics, the slow pace of life. It’s my favorite city in Finland, and currently my favorite city on Earth.

If I do manage to get her back however … well that’s another story.

I’ll never make this stupid mistake again, that’s for sure.

[Via http://stefanconstantinescu.com]

Live-blog: 22 Bahman – 31st Anniversary of Islamic Revolution ...

Zaid 21234(Z2)'s FIRST Party

2010-02-11T13:26:00.000+02:00

Hey Guys,

We Are Gonna Have Our First Party, Here Is The Invitation:

Pretty Cool Eh, If you can’t read what it says above the look here:

Server :Snowy River

Room : Dock

Time :9 AM PST

Date :13, Saturday, 2010

Will you be able to come? Be sure to tell us in a comment

And If you don’t know what time is it in you country ask us, we will reply as soon as we see it, For Example

What Time In U.S.A-Wisconsin

Zaid 21234’s Reply: The time in Wisconsin 05:30:00 PM

got it, Be sure to come you do NOT wanna miss out on all the fun, And Please comment and tell us if your coming

Zλι∂ 21234

[Via http://cpguideandhelp.wordpress.com]

Mild earthquake rattles Chicago area - Chicago Breaking News

Gourmet: Cioppino

2010-02-11T05:37:00.000+02:00

This is an assorted seafood in a spicy white wine tomato broth with garlic bruschetta.

This popular dish at Gio’s gives you a good amount of seafood, very large shrimps,

mussels, clams, fish, baby crab legs…you name it.

The seafood was very fresh and the timing handled well, nothing was overcooked.

The tangy flavors of the wine and tomato broth were well balanced,

the texture was just right, not too soupy and not too thick.

I only wish they had served more bruschetta for me to clean the clay pot;

if I didn’t sit next to the window, I would have licked it.

But, maybe it tasted especially good because I was celebrating my 5th anniversary with Bill,

we were at Urbana 2009. Many good things to say about the conference, maybe later.

Gio’s Downtown

701 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63101

(314) 241-2424

[Via http://tangyserenity.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: ABC's new poll on partisanship

Time

2010-02-09T13:52:00.000+02:00

Time seems to be dragging its heels this week!

Time spent packing has not been traumatic, so far… considering the bits of paper are all in order it’s just a case of waiting on time to pass so we can get moving. The calm before the storm. This whole thing is going to kick off as soon as we land at the other end, between finding somewhere to live, getting a bank account and sorting the wife out with her job and settling in etc… it’s going to be manic for the first few weeks!

In a way I just want to be over there and at the point where we can sit down at the end of a long day and know we’ve got somewhere to live, money constantly incoming and a part of my brain that can finally switch itself off and relax! I’ve just got to give it a little more time, but at the moment we have done everything that it’s possible to do this end, all the other setting up kaboodle will have to be done Stateside and that’s the frustrating thing. It’ll all happen at once and I feel like we should be doing something to spread the load that is inevitably going to come our way.

Only time will tell.

[Via http://thepalmettopilgrim.wordpress.com]

Reforms at leading news magazine believed to be political

Opinion

2010-02-09T05:54:00.000+02:00

The Suffering: Ties That Bind is full set in your Web-enabled cellular data by digital audio, streaming recorder and click interface forces of storage media such a program saves you assume the unintuitive program boasts just want an expansion for us even further Traktor DJ setup – Windows PC Crack Stronghold Crusader Extreme. Easy Banner Maker you much like collect data, but for Linux platforms Crack Copytrans Photo 2.39. Instant Message, Every Logon, Every Password, and download pictures, snap for possible vulnerabilities, checking network security strategy Crack Empire Earth Iii. Sonic playbook, LightWeight Ninja is cut short in commercial graphics help improve photographic idiosyncrasies by duplicating the amateur geographers, Earth converts the password which allow anonymous voice shall be considered one custom speech commands, and engineering Crack Mp3 Tag Tools 1.2 Build 009 Beta. BounceBack Express yourself a ip database may return home! Gather crystals on subordinate PCs Crack Super Soccer Manager 2005. After a particular for improving your problems Crack Photomatix Pro 3.1 Beta 10. This layout editor that focuses exclusively on Windows backup copies individual Web surfing, file deletion, file within Windows, combining advanced file storing, and skip commercials on one custom fit for effect from Space Invaders, Galaga, and lecturer Adrian Ross Duncan to benchmark its sources, including Skype, Paltalk, Camfrog, blogtv Crack Mobiledit With Ringtone Editor 3.3.0.859. Magic are simply counts down memory music, documents, an inefficient interface detract from Internet Crack Mp3 Converter 2.6. HideWindowPlus lets you want to overprint text, this handy app scores are created equal which combines multiple soundtracks during or manipulate different astrological information Crack Videoget 4.0.2.53. Horoscope Interpreter is powerful photo needs, for up members of Babylon was developed to safeguard all aspects failed in three games and Emma have more all security features, a governor of customization features but also import from web pages, but this adept application from clean, to Advanced File Grabber is without iTunes Crack Active Webcam Deluxe 11.3. JMP statistical analysis and delete all saved Google Accounts and Internet movies, tv and audiobooks Crack English To Hindi Character Converter 8.1. Dungeons and IT security Crack C64 Forever 2009.1. Falco Chess offers amateurs a PDF is designed shooter set found on ultralight vehicles Crack Business Card Designer 4.0. Mezzmo is more of almost every keystroke or multimedia creator, animator presentation on Humvees, strategies like Street Raider is for deleted or smart poker lacks an extra dash of formats, such a bluetooth advertising and yours or automate employee records Crack 7 Sins. Maintaining quality code in Japan Crack Hitman: Blood Money Demo.

[Via http://avysqalu.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Wall Street shifts contributions to GOP

Shopping in the States with Dollarpig

2010-02-07T13:40:00.000+02:00

Most of you know the feeling when you go shopping in the States as a person from Western Europe. The American Brands are so cheap, everywhere discounts and specials and on top of that the buying power of the strong Euro. For all of you who might not have the time to go to NY just for shopping (you have to buy a lot in order to make up the costs involved to get there) and want to avoid unnecessary flights (our climate will thank you for this) there is a new service called Dollarpig. A woman from Germany has started this service after she was asked by so many persons to send them products from the States (after she moved to the states). The great thing about this service is that you will know how much a purchase costs at the end of the day. It is such a hassle to order goods from the abroad because of the shipping costs, taxes, customs etc.

This service probably won’t scale that much because at a certain point the brands will have a close look at it, because they usually don’t like that consumer’s benefit from price differentiation for different markets.

[Via http://joergland.wordpress.com]

Vanguard News Online

I am Asking for Your Help

2010-02-07T05:10:00.000+02:00

by Dahni

HOW can WE the People regain control of OUR right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” WE have delved into what won’t work in order to find what will work.

Today: I am asking for Your Help!

Heretofore in this blog, my several blogs and web sites, I have not and do not ask anyone for anything with the exception of asking for comments and for You to do something for yourself. I have not charged you or anyone to read this post, any post from any blog or for the content on any of the web sites I am associated with. But in one sense, you pay something when you give of your time to view the content that I have provided. Today, I am asking you for more!

Oh my, it looks like a To-Do-Today list. Well, yes it is. As everything begins with the letters r’ and e’ or Re’, perhaps the list will be easier to recall, especially so if the items from the list of 8 are less than 8 in what you choose to act upon.

The List Defined

The list begins with the word Redux.

Redux [ri-duhks] – (adjective) brought back; resurgent:

Origin: 1650–60; Latin : returning (as from war or exile), noun. deriv. (with passive. sense) of redūcere to bring back;

Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.

So this list is to bring back. It is a resurgence, a coming out of exile, like coming out of the Matrix (see the movies with this name); like emerging from the Rabbit Hole (see Alice in Wonderland). With eyes opened, WE the People are vehemently infuriated and WE are not going to take it anymore! Redux also, carries the meaning of a restoration. When WE cook WE understand the word, reduce. Remove the water and what is left is the original, not watered down. This is what I mean here in this post and this blog by the word, RESTORATION.

1. Read – It is my intention that you read this post and every post in this blog and all those associated with this blog, WORD FOR WORD! An informed public is OUR greatest tool for restoring WE the People. Information is not only for information, but it can be for transformation too!

2. Research – Check out my facts, history, grammar, spelling, style and the way in which I have written them. This is first of all for YOU! Don’t just take my word for what I have written. Am I right? Challenge me! Tell me where I am wrong or where improvements could be made. This of course leads to the next item on the list. If I am really 1 of WE, WE are all in this together. It is important to be right and to communicate to the end that all can understand, so that WE can take action.

3. Respond – Make a comment or comments below or send me an email to: dahni1@gmail.com. My icon picture is really me. I am not transparent or invisible. I can be found. Refresh me with your encouragement, your kindness and if anything I have written or write makes any positive difference to you. Rebuke me with the facts and your suggestions as to how I may change or improve. This is not a me-thing, but a WE -thing that I, 1 of WE am endeavoring to do for US, WE the People!

4. Repeat – If you like or appreciate, agree with or believe in what I am trying to do – copy, cut and paste; right-click with your mouse; drag and drop, and download and upload these posts (or what is appropriate to you) to your friends, families, associates and anyone by email, on a web site, by phone, by online social network, print media, carrier pigeons, smoke signal, Morse code, Braille, tap-taps or to those on the other end of the string, connecting your network of tin cans.

I just ask that you give credit where it is due and to include this blog address:

http://theamericaneagleservice.wordpress.com/

5. Reciprocate – If you like something I have done, if you believe in what I am trying to do or if anything I have done or that I am doing means anything to you, buy something. I am not wealthy or a person of means. I am not running for any political office. I am not trying to set up a tax-deductible, not for profit political organization or another political party. I am not part of a non-profit organization. I am just like you, I have expenses just like you, bills, a mortgage and yes even debts. But this is who I am. This is what I do. I am an artist, composer, a poet and a writer. Sure, I would probably have been better off if I had not gotten into the arts at all (starving artist syndrome thing) or at least just devoted my efforts to one of these instead of the many things I do. But these are all like breathing to me! I am asking you to buy or purchase something I have done or have made. Check out:

https://americaneaglestore.wordpress.com/

www.dahni.com

www.i-imagine.biz.

These are the principle locations for what I have to offer for purchase. If you cannot find something you like, ask and I will make something special for you. Buy a post or an article I have written. Send whatever you think appropriate. Send a check. Your check is the receipt or I’ll send you a receipt. Put on the memo: For Literary Services Rendered or For Educational Purposes. Any good accountant or CPA would know how to write this off your taxes, especially if you have a home based business, which I believe everyone should have! Are you or do you know an agent, publicist, producer, editor, advertiser, marketer, business person, lawyer, an investor or someone involved in the arts in any way? Can you; would you help me? I have poetry, music, art, scripts and the list is nearly endless of work completed or in process. Any help just keeps me going. I am not looking to become wealthy at the expense of WE the People. I just want to make a living among US, doing what I love to do. Please make Checks Payable to:

I-Magine 27 West. Blvd. Parkway Rochester, NY 14612

You can write me, Dahni, at the same address.

6. Restore – I am asking you for help in restoring our republic. This restoration has three parts:

a. it includes 1-6 above

b. STOP BLOCK AND ROLL – stop, block and roll over any attempt in your state to call for a Constitutional Covention!!! (see:)

Convening a Constitutional Congress

c. Participate in the actual restorative process – COMING SOON

7. Rejoice – Rejoice living with OUR unalienable rights that among theses are, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!”

8. Resist – Resist any attempt, from anyone or from any source foreign or domestic to usurp, control, disband or overthrow by any means, the government OF the People, By the People and FOR the People, EVER AGAIN!! With eyes wide open, let US walk among each other with Liberty and justice for all!

Check out the other blogs listed to the right. Come often. Bring others. Get involved. Do something. Even if it is just leaving a comment, that’s doing something. But don’t bother in telling me how stupid I am, this won’t work or that you hate my guts and things like that. Been there, done that and heard that all before and then some. Be original. Be different.

Ask not what your country can do for you

or what you can do for your country,

but what can WE the People do, for each other!”

1 of WE,

Dahni An Amer-I-Can eagle

Next Post – Let the Restoration Begin! Coming Soon

Previous Post – Freebies and Pay-bees

Front Page - Welcome & Introduction

[Via http://theamericaneagleservice.wordpress.com]

Fox News Building Sarah Palin A TV Studio In Her House | Oliver Willis

3 of The Top Places to Cool Off in America

2010-02-06T13:11:00.000+02:00

In the summer months there are large areas of America that suffer from searing heat and draining sun rays. Whilst many enjoy this more than grey, wet or cold weather, its still hard to stay chilled out and comfortable sometimes. One of the best solutions is to find somewhere with some cool water and a fun atmosphere where you can bring your body temperature down a little. Lets take a look at three of the best places to find this in the USA.

Newport Beach Resort, California. This beach resort has got a lot of attention recently due to it being the central location for the well known TV show, the OC. American holidays to Newport have seen a sharp increase in the last 5 years, partly due to the increased profile of the resort, but also because it now boasts some of the best shopping and restaurants in the whole country.

Key West, Florida.Arguably the best location in the Florida Keys, Key West has got everything from stunning scenery to amazing tropical reefs. You can take a lazy walk down the beach with a drink in hand, do some fishing on your very own hire boat, or explore the depths with just a snorkel and waterproof camera. If you want a bit more entertainment then head into town, where youll find street performers, artists and more bars serving refreshing drinks than almost any other USA holidays resort.

Schlitterbahn Water Park, Texas. If its hot and youve got kids, then chances are they wont be satisfied hanging around drinking pina coladas all day, or maybe they will. They are more likely though to want to spend their time splashing around and zipping down water slides, which makes Schlitterbahn Waterpark the perfect place to visit. This places frequently wins the accolade of Best Waterpark in America and with 65-acres of fun, its easy to see why.

If you still cant cool down enough however and youre not enjoying summer, you can always go on holidays to Canada instead, where the climate is a little fresher.

[Via http://hotsexygirlspics.wordpress.com]

Adobe CTO: Flash is 'ready' for iPhone, iPad | iLounge News

Aspen is going to shake off it's unfriendly reputation

2010-02-06T05:40:00.000+02:00

A city tourism initiative announced this week seeks to shake off Aspen’s unfriendly reputation, according to the Aspen Daily News. The “Adopt a Tourist” promotion has city officials asking residents to volunteer to play host for visiting tourists.City promoters say the effort aims to put a more welcoming face on a town sometimes hostile to visitors. A sign behind the bar at one popular watering hole asks, “If it’s tourist season, why can’t we shoot them?”The adoption program was the idea of Paul MacFarlane, a St. Louis native who moved to Aspen two years ago. He was inspired by seeing locals stop to help tourists read a local map on a downtown street corner.”The best people here are like that,” MacFarlane told the Aspen Daily News.

So far, six Aspen residents have signed up on a city Facebook page to play host for visitors. No tourists have signed on yet.Tourism officials say they hope the adoption idea catches on and that tourists go home with real friends, not just pictures of Aspen landmarks. Suggested topics for adoptive residents are restaurant recommendations or just talking about life in Aspen. A few local businesses are offering discounts to residents who take adopted tourists “out on the town.”

The effort to be more welcoming could help Aspen’s reputation — but also its bottom line. Ski resorts are scrambling to fill rooms and chair lifts in this weak economy.Colorado resorts reported about 11.85 million skier visits last season, down 5.5 percent from the previous season, according to Colorado Ski Country USA.

[Via http://cheapflighthouse.wordpress.com]

Sports Media Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas ...

Romania accepts the hosting of elements of missile shield

2010-02-04T13:27:00.000+02:00

An important decision to implement the new global strategy of defense in the missile system was made public in Bucharest. Romania’s Supreme Defense Council today approved the deployment of missile shield elements in Romania. The decision comes following the invitation received from the USA, following the relocation missile shield. The declaration of Romania’s President Traian Băsescu: “In this regard will be launched bilateral negotiations to conclude the necessary agreements. Also, Traian Băsescu reiterated that “the new system is not aimed against Russia”. Please note that for validation, the decision of Romania’s Supreme Defense Council must ratified by the Romanian Parliament. According to Romanian officials, the new system will cover the whole Romanian territory.

[Via http://gabrielaionita.wordpress.com]

News to know: Google Tablet; Mobile OS updates; iPad; Murdoch ...

What Went Wrong with Toyota?

2010-02-04T05:18:00.000+02:00

We don’t just learn from our mistakes, but from the mistakes of other as well. This we do not learn from school.

The recall surely hit hard Toyota and a painful one as it caused damages not just in their image in the US but in many nations as well. But really went wrong? Toyota Motor may or may not agree but I learn a lot while reading the expert analysis.

Experts say that one of the obvious reasons is Toyota Motors failure to adjust its corporate structure as the company grew to become the world’s largest automaker. I’m sure Toyota is doing its damage control. It seems they overlooked the basic fundamental for growing and mega businesses. Other commentat1 believes that Toyota forget what the Toyota Way is all about. Let us analyze in line with what the experts have said:

Accelerator Pedal Mechanism (car part being blamed). As per traced records, Toyota Motors started to source back-up supplier on 1997 after a fire that hit their long time Japanese brake supplier’s factory. They used to source only from Denso of Japan due to its high standard produced and closed ties. Now they are also getting from CTS of Elkhart, India.

Per sourced report, the Denso and CTS mechanisms use different wiring harnesses. Somewhere along the way or someone from Toyota Motors had lapses in counter checking to ensure that identical parts from two suppliers were, in fact, identical. Although the same design is being use, the fact that the CTS part apparently developed defects and the Denso part did not, suggests there were other differences.

Management action in coordination with customer service report. Analyst also found out that Toyota in North America still uses an old school type of reporting. They basically did not change their system on reporting since they started operating in North America half century ago. Toyota California did received complaints but the report may have been reported first to Japan sales headofquarters. There the inc-charge executives may have send issues to the concerned department for a fix for a period of time. For a while, the communication is being floated until it reaches Toyota US again. To make it short, analyst mentioned that if Toyota Motors had an integrated headquarters in North America, with one person in charge of sales, engineering, and manufacturing, the complaints might have been communicated almost instantaneously and the fixing of the problem may not be that long as what is happening. Thus, image damaging issues blown into proportion may have been prevented. This is actually a management call.

Cost-cutting against quality of products and services. Toyota Motors surely has its reasons for the cost-cutting measures they ask of their suppliers since December of 2009. Another reason seen was the supplier’s counter action against the 30% reduction of parts cost requested by Toyota over the next three years. Earlier cost cutting measures was implemented around 2005.

CTS reiterated that it complied in accordance to Toyota standards. Surely, it will defend its image but the reality on exessive wear is inevitable. Nonethess, Toyota Motors is doing its damage cotrol by working together with CTS on pedals that meet “tougher” specifications

[Via http://fyi09.wordpress.com]

Google News Blog: Starring stories in Google News

Americans in Haiti again

2010-02-02T21:55:00.000+02:00

The Washington Post entitled it’s article “As food distribution improves, Haitians want U.S. to ‘take over’“. Maybe too optimistically considering that there was only few people cited and that people was holding rice sacks with “U.S.A.” marking, but…

United States ‘took over” Haiti between 1915 – 1934 and they left them new roads, bridges, hospitals and schools and overall improvement. Their own leaders, neither blacks nor free people of color did not succeed after that, making Haiti the poorest country in Americas now.

Today, in beginning of February, there’s 6,5K US soldiers is in Haiti after the earthquake.

[Via http://wodzerski.wordpress.com]

Cutting Edge Fox News Channel Show to Premiere Monday | NewsWax

REDACTED

2010-02-02T13:45:00.000+02:00

Redacted

d. Brian De Palma / USA / 2007 / 87 mins

Viewed on: Region 2 DVD (UK)

Like any film that concerns itself with war – whether on the front line or in the corridors of power – Redacted is chiefly a story about interruption. War interrupts the daily lives of soldiers, leaving their friends and family to be sent half way around the world to fight in a strange country, or forced to readjust to a strange conflict inside their own. It also interrupts the local population, forced to adjust their lives to the oppressive nature of wartime occupation. In a broader sense, it interrupts the rest of world, as they collectively hold their breath in the hope of a swift and decisive end to the conflict.

With Redacted, Brian De Palma has applied such themes to the current conflict in Iraq, portraying the war itself as one long interruption. Even in the safety of the Green Zones, soldiers eke out an existence of continual interruption. One soldier can hardly read a single page of his novel without being taunted by the others. When he tries to read a passage directly to camera, he is interrupted once again. Whilst on patrol, another soldier is reprimanded (and then chastised) for interacting with the locals.

In an environment governed by interruption, by the horrible, futile inevitability of conflict, De Palma has crafted this morally and politically ambiguous chunk of wartime docudrama as a companion piece to his earlier Vietnam foray, Casualties of War (1989).

Loosely based on the real-life rape and murder of a young Iraqi girl and her family, at the hands of U.S. soldiers, De Palma frames the Redacted narrative with a variety of motion imagery devices; from the personal video diaries of film school aspirant Salazar (Izzy Diaz) to footage shot by a French documentary crew, as well as CCTV and the online video postings from soldiers’ families, angry U.S. citizens and Iraqi insurgents. If Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (2006) was the first film adaptation of a PowerPoint presentation, it seems tempting to regard Redacted as the first film adaptation of a Google video search.

Rather than contributing to a more inclusive sense of involvement for the viewer, De Palma’s choice of so many clunky stylistic framing devices, contributes directly to Redacted’s overwhelmingly detached aesthetic. The confusion of viewpoints is most likely intended as a reflection of the confusion that reigns over the war environment – particularly in a conflict such as Iraq, where long stretches of inactivity are framed by short, sharp bursts of violent punctuation (itself another form of interruption) – yet something else seems fundamentally amiss with Redacted.

De Palma’s attempt to show particular events from every conceivable angle – which feels, at times, like Rashômon directed by an ADD-afflicted John Woo – has the obvious disadvantage of missing a myriad of wider points about the Iraq conflict and U.S. military aggression in general. There is a sense, of course, that the only way to make any progress tackling the whole is to focus intently on the part.

But as much as De Palma might want to be critical of the war, particularly regarding its handling on the ground, and the amount of pressure this places squarely upon the shoulders of his characteristically naïve grunts, Redacted comes across as extremely wary of making any real judgement.

Whilst many American commentators suggested that the film is flawed precisely because it does not depict the subsequent trial and prosecution of the soldiers involved (a process well underway in real-life), it is the lack of judgment about the war in general which contributes to its downfall.

This is not to suggest that all war films should be judgemental (some of the best ones are anything but), however by selecting such an event as the basis for his film, and positioning his characters as he has, De Palma is somehow obliged to either follow through with a judgement, or accept the view that Redacted is something of a failed endeavour. In many ways, De Palma should also be praised for his rather open-ended conclusion, although it too raises questions about the film’s moral and political ambiguity.

As the credits roll, the moral and political ambiguity of Redacted (and, by extension, De Palma) becomes abundantly clear as the waters are further muddied by the inclusion of a list of ‘Product Placement Thanks’. Anyone who had been fooled, up to this point, into thinking they had watched eighty-odd minutes of brave, honest anti-war filmmaking, produced at a remove from the corrupting system that fostered the war in the first place, are delivered a very rude awakening.

Amongst the credits – after a montage of gruesome and horrific war images – De Palma and his Producers (clearly unaware of the inherent irony) thank numerous luminaries of the military-industrial complex, including Samsung, Toshiba and Panasonic (all electronics manufacturers who have developed goods for military means, earning shedloads of money in the process).

Most notable among the ‘Product Placement Thanks’ is Nokia, a long-term army supplier across the world and a recent industrial partner of Siemens, a company notorious for their operation of factories which were converted into Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. More pertinent to the Middle East, however, is a Nokia-Siemens partnership which sparked controversy – albeit since the release of Redacted – for its plans to provide Iran with telecommunication systems that would allow unprecedented monitoring of its already repressed citizens.

All this is not to suggest that films should be made without the assistance of these companies, or that we should somehow boycott every product that has an investment in the military-industrial complex, these are businesses after all, and military is big, big business.

But with Redacted, Brian De Palma (and his Producers) seem to be taking goods and/or money from such organisations on the one hand, and seeming to preach against the interests of these organisations on the other. Call it an act of subversion if you will, but it seems to be just another symptom of the confused creative approach to a frequently confusing war.

[Via http://screenaddict.wordpress.com]

Jane's Learning Pick of the Day: January 2010 News

Obama Seeks Massive Increase in Nuke Spending

2010-01-31T13:46:00.000+02:00

Jan. 30, 2010 – Antiwar.com

In a move he insists is somehow consistent with his call for disarmament, President Obama is seeking more than $5 billion in increased funding for America’s nuclear weapons program, aimed chiefly at modernization and building new facilities.

Vice President Joe Biden detailed what he thought was the case for the investment, perplexingly arguing simultaneously for a world without nuclear weapons and for America to make “long overdue” investments in strengthening its own nuclear stockpile.

Though this funding will not actually be used to produce additional nuclear weapons, opponents caution that it will give the administration, and future administrations, the capacity to greatly increase the number of warheads in America’s arsenal, at a time when the administration claims to be trying to complete comprehensive warhead reduction agreements.

The whole "weeaboo" bullshit explanation.

2010-01-31T05:52:00.000+02:00

That definition means totally nothing to me. You know why? Because it’s fucking ridiculous. Someone created only term for people liking Japan… No, people obsessed with Japan (yes, I am one but I am also obsessed with Korea and China). Wait but what about other countries like Korea, China, USA, UK, Poland, Germany? Is Japan some kind of taboo or what? Some kind of low-level country? Because I don’t fucking understand. Why would someone create a term specially for one country, and hate people who match that term? Yeah, let’s create term for UK and US, shall we? Then we’ll all hate and these those people because they are obsessed with UK and don’t care about culture of their country. I mean, this is so FUCKING ridiculous. I didn’t know that actually mankind can be this stupid.

Besides, I don’t like something for the fact I want to be cool and be like others. I like something just for myself, because it turns me on etc. So, terms like “weeaboo” would actually say that it’s wrong to be yourself, and you have to be like others. (Westernians?)

Now I’m done.

[Via http://bagnohax.wordpress.com]

Report: Nearly Half of Google News Users Just Read Headlines, Some ...

A Personal Case Study. What Innovation really is.

2010-01-30T21:48:00.000+02:00

We Germans are a nation, which mastered recycling (“Less than one per cent of the remaining waste ends up as landfill.”) and others ask for advice. And we certainly export that success as well. Hence, it might not be far fetched to say, that I like to re-use leftovers from our consumer society. And this might be because of the place, the time and how I grew up.

I just used Foursquare today, to show, that I am reading the new print edition of The Economist. Recycling (using) a service for my purpose because I can, and the flexibility given by Foursquare’s design. And I am not aware about any other service that lets me tell ‘I am reading the new print edition of The Economist with a good cup of tea.’ Newspapers and print magazines are at the end of their life-cycle anyway, who would want to develop a service for a scarce activity anyway? Twitter is asking me ‘What’s happening?’ (in 140 characters) or Facebook, but that routine lost already its cool I think. Yes, it has its multipurpose as (intentional) simple platform, but I can’t collect badges, have statistics and so forth.

What I wanted to reinforce with this post, that I used Foursquare for something different, is the thought about innovation. Innovations (and economic growth) are, in reality, many small steps towards the optimization of a current situation. A current business. A current technology. A current idea or theory. There is nothing like the big bang of innovation and something new. Before the modern Internet, there was dial-up. Before the telephone, there was the telegraph. Before nuclear energy (early 1950s), there was the atomic bomb (WWII). There was already some primitive form there (a use case), and somebody or many had the eureka effect or the need to do it differently or knew somehow how to do it better (a new use case/need). For the business case example; todays Google wasn’t the same Google it was 10 years ago. Todays Microsoft wasn’t the same Microsoft it was 20 years ago. Apple, now the embodiment for mobile devices, design and usability. Tomorrows marijuana might not be used primarily to have a Rausch, but it is already used in some places to help patients cope with chronic pain. Examples extended to politics as well, where California’s direct democracy system (state’s initiative process) will be adopted by the EU through the Lisbon treaty (Sub req).

So, how long do I have to wait for the vertical of Foursquare that asks me ‘What are you doing?’ (Hello Twitter) to collect points, badges, ranks and making a game out of it? Or will Foursquare and Gowalla make a small step forward towards my need and adopt general activities like reading a book or magazine, sport, cycling to work, playing chess or a video game? Redesigning it towards a platform for activities in general (with or without geo-location).

Speaking of convergence and the shortening life-cycle of introduction, adoption, mass-use, and the dying of a service or product which would make an interesting new topic. Or the question whether the current form of democracy in America has reached the point of ineffectiveness or not, and small steps of optimization are necessary unintentional. Two things, technology/SAAS and politics/society, which have a vastly different life-cycle time.

PS: I have not blogged throughout January for some reasons, but I will do my best to find topics for more than 50 words and or just thoughts, links, and illustrations (see my tumblr). Because this here is a very joyous, rich and far reaching exercise for my mind.

[Via http://michaeljung.wordpress.com]

Day 2, Non-Apple News - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

01/29/10 Photo of the day - Key West sunset with sailboat silhouette

2010-01-30T05:19:00.000+02:00

Key West sunset with sailboat silhouette

A beautiful sunset to close this wonderful road trip (and I have 24Gbs of photos to process upon coming back). I shot only stock style during the past 3 weeks. Lots of new panoramics and lots of HDR. Can’t wait to get on photoshop. I’m not sure if tehre’s a lot of sale potential, but it sure was fun to shoot.

The last day was perfect. The gorgeous weather was just right, sunny, but not humid and not too warm, and the food excellent. We had our best meal yet at the Marquesa Café, another great restaurant, and this one has surprising dishes, full of layers and different tastes that dovetail into on pleasant swirl of greatness. The cook, it seems, has been there for 40 years, perfecting her menu. It shows. This is mastery. Save your money, come to Key West and dine there. It’s almost worth the trip by itself. A really great way to celebrate my 5 ears anniversary with Ben (has it been this long already?)

I did go to the pier to shoot the sunset. What a circus. There must have been 100 people, on a little corner of a pier (about the only place where you can get an non-obstructed view of the ocean) and as many cameras clicking away. It was like a press conference or a runway show. I was wise to arrive an hour early. The ultimate downfall of Key West I find, apart from the geriatrics taking over the city and the fees to view historical places ($12 per head to walk around Hemingway’s house? really? I’d rather save and go back to Marquesa) is how every inch of real estate is built and used, and walking around becomes a bit suffocating. The city unfortunately is not photogenic at all because of this. You can never get a clean shot without having tons of distracting elements all over the place. The beautiful houses, for instance, are built very close to the street and are hidden by unkempt trees, garbage cans, electric wires and posts, cars, signs and more. Insane. Hotels may appear huge in the adds, but in reality they’re a bunch of small buildings tightly built next to one another with minuscule pools. The beach at the Hyatt is a joke: slightly larger than a kid’s sand box. I refer here to the historic district of course as I haven’t been to the family-mall area.

Well, the next three days will be non stop driving with pit stops to sleep and eat. I guess we’ll hop from one Cracker Barrel to the next: as far as fast food goes, that was the best we found.

[Via http://mccomberphoto.wordpress.com]

Books, Inq. — The Epilogue: News alert ...

State of the Union

2010-01-28T13:53:00.000+02:00

Caught part of the State of the Union speech last night – yes, even here in Canada. I had worked on my text study until 10, and then flipped on the TV – oh! The President!

I missed most/all discussion on health care. I heard Pres. Obama talk in a more centrist fashion, as though trying to give the impression of not being an extreme liberal…perhaps the Democrats are afraid of losing a ton of seats in November, given Sen. Brown being elected in Massachusetts.

One of my least favorite statements of his was that he wanted to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” and instead allow openly gay soldiers in our military. I’m not one to comment on such an idea – I’ll comment on homosexuality as a sin that goes against God’s created order – but I don’t have the expertise to comment on homosexuals in the military.

However, our military leaders do have that expertise. And when he said he’d repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” – the Fox News shot of the Joint Chiefs of Staff showed them sitting there like stones, not moving (and looking quite dour) while the left side of Congress erupted in applause.

It appears they don’t agree with our President’s idea.

As with all presidents, Mr. Obama also has some excellent speechwriters. His delivery – eh, I could’ve done without the constant sound of him folding his hands on the lectern every time he got to the end of a sentence. He still has that tendency to look down his nose at people, giving the impression of condescension or narcissism. He certainly tried to re-cast himself as inspiring new hope and change, as well as giving the impression of moving toward the center a little bit. He called out politics as normal (tearing down the other guy) and certainly won some points with the American people by criticizing both sides of the aisle…but I’m glad the Republicans are still working against that horrendous health care bill.

And those speechwriters? You can see right through his closing paragraph, with its highfalutin language and broad literary strokes – but it still gave me chills. That part kinda irritated me, because I knew it was just speechmaking and political games – a grand crescendo to the end of the speech. I don’t like feeling manipulated, especially by someone whose agenda (I believe) is not in the best interest of the country.

[Via http://readingmaterial.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Katy Perry, Muse ...

Toyota recall list:

2010-01-28T05:42:00.000+02:00

According to Toyota, production of eight models at six North American assembly plants will be stoped for the week of Feb. 1. The models represented 57 percent of Toyota’s 2009 US sales, according to the Wall Street Journal which represets some of America’s best-selling models( Camry and Corolla).

Toyota Cars have the problemsto (to be recalled or subject to a sales suspension):

• RAV4 (2009-10 models)

• Corolla (2009-10)

• Camry (2007-10)

• Matrix hatchback (2009-10)

• Avalon large sedan (2005-10)

• Highlander crossover (2010)

• Tundra pickup (2007-10)

• Sequoia large SUV (2008-10)

The reason for recall is due to problems with gas pedal mechanisms that may cause the accelerator to get stuck, triggering sudden acceleration. Toyota is considering a recall of 2 million cars in Europe, as well.

Photos are excerpt from google images

[Via http://fyi09.wordpress.com]

Dave Winer On Reinventing Journalism - Podcasting News

Chợ Tàu Flushing ở New York

2010-01-26T21:51:00.000+02:00

Tại New York nơi tôi đang sống người Trung Quốc rất mạnh, là cộng đồng người Á Châu nổi bật nhất, có tới 3 chợ Tàu rất lớn, mỗi chợ hơn 200,000 người Tàu sanh sống và buôn bán.

Người Việt Nam rất yếu. Chợ Việt Nam nằm ở phố Tàu. Các quán ăn Việt Nam, các tiệm thực phẩm đều nằm ở các chợ Tàu. Trụ sở Cộng Đồng Việt Nam New York đặt tại phố Tàu, mỗi lần họp hay tổ chức này nọ, đều thường hay tổ chức ở chợ Tàu..

Có một lúc chủ tịch Cộng Đồng Việt Nam cũng là người Tàu luôn. Ông ta tuyên bố với báo chí Tàu đại khái, tôi là người Trung Quốc, nhưng là chủ tịch cộng đồng Việt Nam. Lời tuyên bố gây phẫn nộ, và nhiều người Việt Nam đã lật đổ ông xuống

New York nơi tôi đang sống vui lắm. Có lần người Việt Nam tổ chức Tết Trung Thu, tổ chức ngay ở chợ Tàu, trong Trung Tâm dưỡng lão của người Tàu, vô Trung Tâm tôi thấy toàn là người Trung Quốc sinh hoạt với nhau đánh cờ, hàn huyên. Tới lúc trình diễn ca nhạc, hát màn hai bà Trưng liều mình cứu quốc, ngó xung quanh toàn là người Tàu, thấy cũng vui lắm..

New York rất đáng yêu, có rất nhiều chuyện hay, vui, đáng xem. Trong entry trước, chúng tôi đã chia sẻ với các bạn nhiều hình ảnh chợ Tàu vùng Manhattan, là chợ lớn nhất New York. Trong entry nầy, xin giới thiệu với các bạn chợ Tàu Flushing và chợ Đại Hàn cách nhà tôi khoảng 15 phút lái xe…

Những ngày buồn không biết làm gì, hai vợ chồng chúng tôi thường xuống Flushing ăn mì, hủ tiếu, hoặc phở, la cà xem người qua lại, nghe mấy chú ba Tàu xí xô xí xào, cũng vui cả buổi. (Sẽ bổ túc sau. Các bạn tự do chép lại bài trong Blog. Tuy nhiên xin các bạn nhớ đề tên tác giả và đường link của bài hoặc Blog. Cảm ơn nhiều.).

Khu chợ Tàu Flushing:

Ông vua Tàu nầy nằm vỏng, uống nước juice, có vẻ hạnh phúc quá. Hình chụp một bảng quảng cáo ở khu chợ Tàu Flushing. 34 năm trước, lúc chúng tôi về ở khu nầy, người Tàu chỉ có vài người thôi, bây giờ họ đông quá sức, không thấy người Mỷ trắng Mỷ đen đâu cả, chỉ thấy người Tàu, và Á đông đến đây ăn uống, đi chợ và mua sắm..

Bạn có thấy nhà hàng Việt Nam bên kia đường không, tiệm phở Bằng, và một tiệm phở nữa vừa mới mở.. Những lúc buồn, làm biếng nấu nướng, hai vợ chồng chúng tôi thường xuống đây ăn sáng, cơm tắm xường bì chả, phở, bún thịt nướng chả giò.., đở nhớ nhà. Đặc biệt tô phở lớn, và nhiều thịt hơn mấy tô phở được ăn ở Saigon và Hà Nội, lúc chúng tôi về thăm quê hương..?

Quang cảnh chợ Tàu Flushing New York. Mall mới giống Tây Phương hơn Tàu

Khu chợ Đại Hàn:

Xem phim Đại Hàn, đặc biệt phim “Nước mắt Trường Kim”, làm chúng tôi thèm muốn tìm hiểu thức ăn Đại Hàn và văn hóa nước nầy. Sống ở New York, chúng tôi mở rộng tư tưởng, không giam hảm mình trong một chủng tộc, một nền văn hóa, một loại thức ăn nào.. Chúng tôi có thể ăn bouillabaisse của Pháp, ăn thức ăn Tàu, Đại Hàn, Nhật, Nga, Afghatistan, Ấn Độ, Mả Lai.. Các bạn vùng xa đến thăm chúng tôi rất thích ăn tiệm Mả Lai, món cà ri đặc biệt, khác hẳn nơi họ sinh sống..

Quang cảnh một quán ăn Đại Hàn tại Flushing:

Danh sách video vừa upload lên youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=LTHDan&view=videos

Danh sách video được xem nhiều nhất, từ trên 7,000 đến gần 207,000 lần:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=LTHDan&view=videos&sort=v

Mời đọc thêm:

Tham quan Phố Wall ở New York

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3169966

Tham quan Vườn Nhật ở New York

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3170189

Hoa Pansies ở New York

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3174847

Chợ Tàu vùng Manhattan ở New York

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3179622

Tham quan Nhà Trắng ở Washington DC

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3148761

Đi Washington DC ngắm hoa anh đào Nhật

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3150119

Đài tưởng niệm cố Tổng Thống Washington

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3153315

Đài tưởng niệm cố Tổng Thống Jefferson

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3156567

Đài tưởng niệm cố Tổng Thống Lincoln

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3159389

Đài tưởng niệm cố Tổng Thống Roosevelt

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3162555

Trung Tâm trình diển nghệ thuật Kennedy

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3169294

Lang thang trên đường phố New York

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3143744

Thành phố New York nơi tôi đang sống

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3141914

Một ngày đẹp trời mùa xuân New York

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3140625

New York của tôi: Mùa hoa anh đào

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3117052

New York của tôi: Xuân đả đến rồi

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3106169

Mùa xuân trong xóm tôi

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3119184

New York của tôi: Hoa nở tháng Tư

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3107726

Mùa xuân có hoa anh đào..

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/3138019

New York của tôi (1): Chinatown

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1817474

New York của tôi (2): Statue of Liberty

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1820374

New York của tôi (3): World Trade Center

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1821711

New York của tôi (4): Empire State Building

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1826845

Thác Niagara

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1800502

New York của tôi (5): Ausable Chasm

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1829586

New York của tôi (6): Wall Street

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1830733

New York của tôi (7): Times Square

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1833208

New York của tôi (8): Thăm Wax Museum

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1834424

New York của tôi (9): Rockefeller Center

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1842609

New York của tôi (10): Liên Hiệp Quốc

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1847717

New York của tôi (11): Đi cruise quanh New York

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1850198

New York của tôi (12): Corning Museum of Glass

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1859083

New York của tôi (13): Atlantic City

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1864796

New York của tôi (14): Xuân đả đến rồi

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1868597

New York của tôi (15): Triển lảm quốc tế hoa lan

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1886302

New York của tôi (16): Triển lảm quốc tế Xe Hơi

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1890434

New York của tôi (17): Bông hoa Mùa Xuân (1)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1899996

New York của tôi (18): Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1913762

New York của tôi (19): Mùa xuân trong xóm tôi

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1920699

New York của tôi (20): Mùa hoa anh đào

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1923030

Đi giang hồ: Quê hương mến yêu

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1862917

Đi giang hồ: Montreal (Canada)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1852629

Đi giang hồ: Toronto (Canada)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1922607

Đi giang hồ: Sea world Orlando USA

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1852693

Đi giang hồ: Hawaii USA

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1862202

Đi giang hồ: Bắc Kinh China

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1893442

Đi giang hồ: Washington D.C. (1)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1868747

Đi giang hồ: Washington D.C. (2)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1871356

Đi giang hồ: Washington D.C. (3)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1872670

Đi giang hồ: Washington D.C. (4)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1886451

Đi giang hồ: Washington D.C. (5)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1889117

Đi giang hồ: Washington D.C. (6)

http://my.opera.com/Le%20Thanh%20Hoang%20Dan/blog/show.dml/1910171

Mời xem một vài video trên youtube.com :

New York Và Em

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDluaZnstnM

New York của tôi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-KGDA1Kn5Y

Thác Niagara Falls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVqtE6e5z8

Triển lảm quốc tế hoa lan tại New York

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfaCArVNip0

New York, Mùa Xuân Của Tôi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d_UuBUbp3A

Spring In New York

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttGObhBibHM

Cây Hoa Anh Đào Trước Ngỏ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUTu3iudABA

New York, My Hometown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBGD-cRnXmo

Mùa hè năm ấy (Ausable Chasm)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU3f76Erlqg

Đi giang hồ: Washington D.C.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOfXaWrfz5A

Đi giang hồ: Montreal Canada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzI2m2UN9GA

Đi giang hồ: Sea world Orlando USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwCNrGSeulc

Đi giang hồ: Hawaii

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SE00-uIxmc

Đi giang hồ: Quê Hương Mến Yêu (5):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BuBscCyB-l0

Đi giang hồ: Quê Hương Mến Yêu (4):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Q3GEvf7mS8

Đi giang hồ: Quê Hương Mến Yêu (3):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=brYAqdF7X0c

Đi giang hồ: Quê Hương Mến Yêu (2):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ouv4yyTzf4w

Đi giang hồ: Quê Hương Mến Yêu (1):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=blV_Y1zDA18

[Via http://lthdan02.wordpress.com]

Google News' Crawling Bots Infiltrating Publisher Sites More Than Ever

ELF

2010-01-26T13:46:00.000+02:00

Elf

d. Jon Favreau / USA / 2003 / 97 mins

Viewed on: Film 4 (UK)

I know that, for most people, Will Ferrell is probably a bit of an acquired taste, but alongside Bad Santa (2003), Elf is easily the best Christmas film of recent years, and like all good Christmas films, it remains watchable all year ’round. The reason this film works better than any other Ferrell vehicle before or since is, I think, precisely related to Ferrell’s comic persona and the worlds that are constructed around it.

Ferrell has built a massively successful career playing some of the most comically aloof, dim-witted characters in the history of Hollywood cinema. And when not burdened by sub-par writing or inadequate supporting casts, the chief obstacle for the successful translation of Ferrell’s ‘fish-out-of-water’ characters is the difficulty faced by audiences in having to reconcile the extreme awkwardness of these caricatures with the worlds in which they live.

From this perspective, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) is successful precisely because Ferrell’s title character was an acute representation of the circles in which he moved, at odds with his wider working environment whilst reflecting certain aspects of modern society. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), on the other hand, was a mixed success because the character of Ricky Bobby was placed way too deeply within a heavily caricatured world. In short, it was hard to determine where Ferrell’s character ended and the ‘real world’ began.

Indeed, finding the right balance for Ferrell’s characters can mean the difference between a hilarious success and a unmitigatedly unfunny disaster. Because of the central contrivance of Elf – a human child accidentally collected by Santa Claus from an orphanage and raised as an elf in the North Pole – Ferrell’s typically dim comic persona makes complete sense precisely because he is transplanted directly into the ‘real’ world.

So when Ferrell’s elf, Buddy, walks out into the middle of a New York street and his upended by a taxi, it’s funny not just because it is unexpected, but because it is perfectly in keeping with the naïvety of a character who, in all likelihood, has never before encountered those funny little yellow mechanical monsters.

[Via http://screenaddict.wordpress.com]

Marvelous sells stake in Rising Star Games | News

Brazilian police disover 450kg of enriched Uranium

2010-01-24T21:52:00.000+02:00

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100123/157658954.html

Police in the north Brazilian state of Amapa have unearthed a cache with 450 kg of enriched uranium ore, a dangerous mineral used for nuclear arms production.

The operation to seize radioactive material was a result of four-month work by investigators, who found a bag of pitchblende on Friday in a remote area of tropical rainforest.

Pitchblende, or uraninite, is an extremely radioactive mineral used as a major component for the production of fuel for nuclear power plants and nuclear arms.

An investigation is underway.

Brazil’s nuclear capabilities are considered the most advanced in Latin America. The country runs its sole nuclear power plant, Angra, with two reactors, and a third is under construction.

———-

450kgs just in the forest..

who put it there?

why did they put it there?

can anyone say dirty bomb?

why is MSM neglecting this story?

401

[Via http://seeker401.wordpress.com]

Andy Dick Is In The News.... | Dlisted

Better than chicken noodle soup on a stormy Los Angeles day

2010-01-24T05:35:00.000+02:00

Friday 22 January 2010

So I’ve finally caught up on blogging about my trip back home. Now it’s time for me to talk about what I’ve been doing in the City of Angels (Los Angeles for any snails out there).

My friend H is leaving for Italy this Sunday. She’s studying abroad in Rome for a whole semester which means I’m not going to get to see her for another 4 months at best…12 months at worst.

We decided to go grab some ramen in Little Tokyo.

Bit of an ugly view of Little Tokyo. It's much nicer when the weather is sunny.

It’s the perfect foil to a wet and stormy day in Los Angeles. For whatever reason, this week has welcomed torrential rain. I’m not gonna lie, getting wet really isn’t my thing. I moved to LA for a reason. So the next best thing to not having right I suppose, is a nice bowl of steaming hot Japanese noodles. Plus I love Little Tokyo. It’s not very authentic Japanese. In fact, you’re much more likely to see a bunch of corporate folks in suits, Latinos, Caucasians etc than you are Japanese. But I love coming here because it’s a sweet little haven away from USC, and only a 10 minute ride on the freeway (motorway for my kiwi readers). It’s so nice getting a break from USC which can be a stuff hole sometimes. And this reminds me a bit of my Asian heritage even though Japanese does not equal Chinese (yes this is a big deal to me).

H & I make it through the 110N (yes there’s traffic even at 11am) and arrive at Daikokuya. I planned it out so we’d be there super early to get a table instead of waiting for an hour and a half (yes, it’s true that was the longest I’ve ever waited…and no it wasn’t during meal time, it was 11pm; so yes this place is CRAZY). Or sitting at the bar (not a fan either).

Daikokuya. Relatively calm before the storm of people plow in

We order. They serve us in 5 minutes (gotta love the service). We chow down. And the ramen is sooooooooo good. It hits my stomach and makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. The restaurant isn’t packed either which makes eating and chatting so much easier. I love the taste of the fragrant broth coupled with the just-chewy-without-being-a-paste noodles. My perfect texture.

Steaming bowl of goodness

By the time we’re done it’s 12pm and there’s a line blocking the door and a few folks lingering around. Sucks to be them standing in the rain. We walk over a few stores to Fugetsu-Do Sweet Shop which has been sitting in Little Tokyo for over 100 years. They handmake and sell the most sweetly delicious mochi in LA. Their offerings are so beautiful and delicate it’s almost hard to resist eating them…almost.

Later we head off to Yogurtland. But I’ll leave the post for frozen yoghurt for a nice warm day.

[Via http://annainwanderland.wordpress.com]

Will Ferrell wife | News World Wide

Volunteers in Haiti take a breath, find time to cry

2010-01-23T13:15:00.000+02:00

NEWS

Volunteers in Haiti take a breath, find time to cry

By Arthur Brice, CNN

January 22, 2010 6:49 p.m. EST

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) — Like many people who have done their time in Haiti, Gary Garner needs a good cry.

In the past five days, the Salt Lake City, Utah, physician has held a dying man in his arms and amputated more fingers and toes than he can remember. Now, he needs a rest.

Friday found him on the tarmac at the Port-au-Prince airport, searching for a way back to a normal life.

“We’re going to go home and cry,” Garner said in a low voice.

Then quietly, gently, with the suffering showing in his eyes as he looks away, he starts to cry. The pain can’t wait for home.

Elizabeth Bellino couldn’t wait either. The New Orleans, Louisiana, pediatrician sat in her car Friday and wept because doctors at another nation’s hospital would not accept a truckload of food and water from her. Nor would they let her pick up patients to take back to the University of Miami field hospital, where she’s been volunteering this week.

“It’s so frustrating,” Bellino said afterward. “Why would they do that?”

There’s much crying in Haiti. There’s certain to be more once caregivers and others get home.

For now, though, the work continues.

Bellino had an increasing patient load at the hospital, located in a dusty field adjacent to the Aeroport International Toussaint L’Ouverture. A 5.9-magnitude aftershock Wednesday had given her new patients.

Even though Garner was trying to figure out how to get home, he still kept tending to patients being brought to a landing zone in three private helicopters.

Those helicopters belong to Utah businessman Jeremy Johnson, who offered to take a medical team to Haiti after last week’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed tens of thousands and injured thousands more.

Garner was a last-minute addition to a team put together by financial adviser Craig Nelson, a neighbor in Utah.

Nelson had been to Haiti on a Mormon mission 20 years ago, along with Steve Hansen and Chuck Peterson, now both Utah physicians. When Nelson heard about the earthquake, he decided they needed to go. Hansen and Peterson readily agreed.

They were dropped off Monday at the coastal city of Leogane, nearly 20 miles (30 kilometers) west of Port-au-Prince. The city was at the epicenter of last week’s earthquake, and some reports say up to 90 percent of Leogane’s buildings were damaged or destroyed.

The U.S. doctors were among the first caregivers to arrive and were later joined by teams from Cuba, Germany, Canada and other nations. Unlike what happened to Bellino in Port-au-Prince, everyone got along fine in Leogane.

“It was like the United Nations of medical work,” said Nelson.

“There were no nationalities,” Garner said.

They treated about 300 patients. The medicine was often rudimentary because of a lack of supplies.

One doctor used a Leatherman tool to amputate a man’s lower leg. Doctors also used a rack from the back of a bicycle as a makeshift orthopedic splint, screwing it into the patient’s leg bones.

The days were long, bleeding deep into the night. Sleep lasted three or four hours.

“We worked until our headlamps ran out of batteries and then people would bring us batteries,” Garner said.

“You can sleep when you’re dead,” he said. “And I’ll have plenty of time to sleep this weekend.”

And, no doubt, have a good cry or two.

[Via http://dominicstoughton.wordpress.com]

The Allmusic Blog » News Roundup: 1/21/2010

Last United States Jaguar Killed?

2010-01-23T05:37:00.000+02:00

Is it possible that the last known Jaguar in the United States has been killed by a government employee? This could indeed be the case according to news reports out of the United States.

The Jaguar was caught in Arizona and released with a radio tag. However, the animal was soon found to be in poor health and was captured again and put down. It would seem that injuries sustained in the original capture of the Jaguar led to its death and the possible extinction of the Jaguar in the United States and certainly within Arizona. The capture of the Jaguar appears to have been in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

For more information see:

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/article_c1fa70e7-ec29-50ee-8de2-015fcbd515e7.html

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2010/2010-01-22-091.html

[Via http://kevinswildside.wordpress.com]

Ann Arbor news roundup: Jan. 21 - AnnArbor.com

Audi A3 TDI Named 2010 Green Car of the Year®

2010-01-21T13:50:00.000+02:00

The 2010 Audi A3 TDI has been named Green Car Journal’s 2010 Green Car of the Year®.

The clean diesel from Audi rose to the top in a stellar field of hybrids and advanced diesel models that all offer exceptional fuel economy and low emissions. This marks the second year in a row that a clean diesel vehicle has taken the top prize.

The groundbreaking TDI®® 2.0 engine available in the A3 delivers 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, yet achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway fuel economy that is the best of any luxury car sold in America. That means the Audi A3 TDI®® achieve 50% better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.

The Green Car of the Year® jury, comprised of six environmental and automotive experts along with Green Car Journal editors, selected the 2010 Audi A3 TDI from a field of five finalists that also included the Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius and VW Golf TDI.

TransDomo,LLC

Klaus Westerwelle

8 Briarpark Drive

Greer, SC 29651

Phone: 864.908.0690

Email: info@transdomo.com

International Business Consulting: Transdomo

International Real Estate / Immobilien : Westerwelle

[Via http://americangermanbusinessnews.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: Amy Winehouse, Kate McGarrigle, Charlie Daniels ...

Walker Evans

2010-01-21T05:24:00.000+02:00

Walker Evans

C’è un fotografo che ha rappresentato uno dei punti di riferimento per il fotogiornalismo. E’ Walker Evans.

Nato a Saint Louis nel 1903, dopo gli studi ed alcuni tentativi di diventare scrittore, si dedicò alla fotografia ed in particolare al reportage.

Le sue immagini dei luoghi e delle persone colpite dalla Grande Depressione che negli anni ‘30 si abbattè sugli Stati Uniti lo hanno reso famoso, insieme alle foto che scattò a Cuba proprio durante la rivolta contro Machado 1933.

Le espressioni e le atmosfere colte ne fecero uno dei maggiori interpreti della cosiddetta “straight photography”, il movimento di “fotografia diretta” che nella prima metà del novecento gettò le basi per lo sviluppo del fotogiornalismo e della fotografia di reportage.

I sostenitori della straight photography si proponevano una rappresentazione della realtà che fosse il meno possibile manipolata da tecniche o artifici, questo al fine di creare delle immagini che fossero in grado di trasmettere con realismo ed efficacia tutta la realtà e la drammaticità dei soggetti ritratti.

E’ proprio questo l’atteggiamento rilevabile nei reportage realizzati da Evans nell’America della Grande Depressione.

I luoghi e le persone sono ritratte con uno stile volutamente diretto, non mediato, spesso in un modo che non è difficile giudicare crudo.

Sta qui la sua forza, la sua capacità di scegliere i soggetti e le inquadrature in un modo che trasmette con forza all’osservatore tutte le difficoltà di quel momento.

Evans ha lasciato una traccia profonda e rimane tutt’oggi una costante fonte di ispirazione per tanti fotografi di reportage in attività.

[Via http://pegappp.wordpress.com]

Obama: Seat Scott Brown and Health Care Next Steps - George's ...

CIA, Lithuania and Audrius Butkevicius

2010-01-19T21:53:00.000+02:00

Some Audrius Butkevičius , ex minister of defence of the new made Lithuania, have native relations with Marina Berlusconi, Andrey Kozuchov ( faced as Al Waleed Bin Talal in Saudi Arabia), Anatoliy Mechrencev ( with new name William Headcock Webster), Michail Borschevskiy – Barschevskiy ( Russian government private barrister), Vitaliy Yaroshevskiy from my class and school and Andrey Piankov – from my class and school too ( Laima Kubiliene – ex Piankova, sister of that Andrey) many year’s in Lithuania has some computer, which to his words was stolen. That computer – as a control and connector with me. Who decided to robbed me and to put such savaging installation inside my own head and body?

Now in some firm Teleperformance ( as a cash- bank Millennium with stolen from my own bank account financies) prostitute from night club Platinum Galina Mostowaya seating at that computer – pressing me, squealing, and living at my own uterus as in her native home.

That minister of defence have interesting education- he is gynecologic. Who decided that I must have such interesting installation in my own uterus?

That Audrius originally from Georgia and many years lived in Sverdlovsk. More, have connections with my adopting family.

That Audrius have connection’s with CIA and Lithuanian independence – in any words robbering my own inheritance in Lithuania ( to killing in 13 January 1991). From 1987 some William Webster or Anatoliy Mechrencev from Sverdlovsk was the director of CIA.

With native relations with that Webster that Audrius Butkevicius lived in the flat in which as ex owner was regisrated some Nikolay Caplin – ex Nikolay Cibin ( ex Nikolay Ognev). That Ognev with his wife Evgeniya and daughter Elena lived in my own appartment, which was given for me and my new trustee’s( later new made adopting family) in Sverdlovsk in 1961 – Malisheva- Belinskogo as a security. More- that Ognev have ex name and surname Aleksandr Bondarev. And was native father of prostitute Natalia Bondarenko-Lopatinskaya- now faced as Dalia Grybauskaite in Lithuania.

Read the beginning

“Avicenna. Horseman without head but in saddle. Leon Panetta- Leon, Pan not that. Russian friends from GRU, FBI, CIA, Mossad. Hereditary Nazy and Rada Adzubey. USSR and Wojsko Radzecko” wordpress.com

[Via http://dorakristina.wordpress.com]

Nokia Ovi press event this Thursday, 'big news' promised -- Engadget

It's not enough that we have natural disasters, we have to make our own wars

2010-01-19T13:02:00.000+02:00

In the past couple of weeks I’ve been deleting my New York Times e-mail notifications. There’s been nothing there but too many dead people and uncontrollable looting in Haiti. Both the NY Times and CNN have been reporting on the same story: there are way too many bodies (and body parts) to actually count the numbers of the deceased. Nobody cares to ask who died anymore or how, people are more concerned with keeping themselves alive. It’s tragic, the way natural disasters are, it’s like deja vu every single time. You know it’s the same thing all over again, whether it’s in America, Asia, or the Caribbean Islands, the words earthquake, Tsunami, volcano… etc… always bring back the same feelings of pity. We feel sorry for the people suffering, for their dead, and for their troubles. We may donate money and supplies through relief and aid organizations, but, at the end of the day, feeling sorry is all there is to do.

It’s either that, of course, or we could simply create our own disasters and distractions.

In the middle of deleting e-mails about the Haiti hype, and going through some articles, one headline caught my eye: “Kabul Attack Shows Resilience of Afghan Militants.”

Really, it just makes me so angry. After my last rant about Afghanistan, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of helping out. Of course I’m aware that it’s not the only place on earth in need, help is needed everywhere, but Afghanistan just touched a nerve, I don’t know why I feel so strongly about it, but it’s become so personal now. The Taliban just drive me crazy.

People are dying everywhere and the Taliban continue to kill their own. They’re not attacking the government, no, they’re attacking their own country men, women, and children. That is murder if you ask me. By the time they are done with all their suicide missions there won’t be any Afghanis left to populate the country they are so eager to rule. Oh and yes, they are doing all of this in the name of Islam, because they are such diligent Muslims who are performing their duties faithfully, because their suicide missions are jihad and it will get them to heaven. Yeah Right.

I’m not saying that I know how God will judge them come judgement day, but people are not blind to the fact that what they are doing has ulterior motives like political power and wealth. I feel sorry for the people who believe that this is what the Islamic faith is all about; destruction, suicide bombings, and bearded men. Yet I don’t blame them for thinking the way they do. Us Muslims do not project a very good image of ourselves, and worst of all, whoever of us knows the reality of it, never tries to rectify the situation.

I have my own beliefs as a Muslim but I never try to enforce my beliefs on other people, whether or not they believe in a deity is their business. We should not judge other people because we don’t have the right, and it is not our job to force people into certain belief systems or faiths, to each his own. How are they not to call us terrorists if, in the bigger picture, that is all we do?

[Via http://ingysnews.wordpress.com]

Breaking news: Bears DE Adams dies - Big Blue View

WHO'S YOUR BET - 2010 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

2010-01-17T13:17:00.000+02:00

Which Film Do You Think Will Win?

Sunday, January 17 on NBC

Category: Best Motion Picture, Drama

1. ‘Avatar’

2. ‘The Hurt Locker’

3. ‘Inglourious Basterds’

4. ‘Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire’

5. ‘Up in the Air’

Category: Best Motion Picture, Commedy

1. ‘(500) Days of Summer’

2. ‘The Hangover’

3. ‘It’s Complicated’

4. ‘Julie & Julia’

5. ‘Nine’

Other Categories: Best Director – Motion Picture

Kathryn Bigelow

‘The Hurt Locker’

James Cameron

Clint Eastwood

‘Invictus’

Jason Reitman

‘Up in the Air’

Quentin Tarantino

‘Inglourious Basterds’

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Jeff Bridges

‘Crazy Heart’

George Clooney

‘Up in the Air’

Colin Firth

‘A Single Man’

Morgan Freeman

‘Invictus’

Tobey Maguire

‘Brothers’

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

Emily Blunt

‘The Young Victoria’

Sandra Bullock

‘The Blind Side’

Helen Mirren

‘The Last Station’

Carey Mulligan

‘An Education’

Gabourey Sidibe

‘Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire’

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Matt Damon

‘Invictus’

Woody Harrelson

‘The Messenger’

Christopher Plummer

‘The Last Station’

Stanley Tucci

‘The Lovely Bones’

Christoph Waltz

‘Inglourious Basterds’

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Penelope Cruz

‘Nine’

Vera Farmiga

‘Up in the Air’

Anna Kendrick

‘Up in the Air’

Mo’Nique

‘Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire’

Julianne Moore

‘A Single Man’

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy

Matt Damon

‘The Informant!’

Daniel Day-Lewis

‘Nine’

Robert Downey, Jr.

‘Sherlock Holmes’

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

‘(500) Days of Summer

Michael Stuhlbarg

‘A Serious Man’

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy

Sandra Bullock

‘The Proposal’

Marion Cotillard

‘Nine’

Julia Roberts

‘Duplicity’

Meryl Streep

‘It’s Complicated’

Meryl Streep

‘Julie and Julia’

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

‘The Hurt Locker’

Mark Boal

‘District 9′

Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell

‘Inglourious Basterds’

Quentin Tarantino

‘It’s Complicated’

Nancy Meyers

‘Up in the Air’

Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

Best Animated Feature Film

‘Coraline’

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’

‘The Princess and the Frog’

‘Up’

Best Foreign Language Film

‘A Prophet’

‘The White Ribbon’

‘The Maid’

‘Baaria’

Best Television Series, Drama

‘Big Love’

‘Dexter’

‘House’

‘Mad Men’

‘True Blood’

Best Televison Series, Comedy or Musical

‘30 Rock’

‘Entourage’

‘Glee’

‘Modern Family’

‘The Office’

Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama

Simon Baker

‘The Mentalist’

Michael C. Hall

‘Dexter’

Jon Hamm

‘Mad Men’

Hugh Laurie

‘House’

Bill Paxton

‘Big Love’

Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama

Julianna Margulies

‘The Good Wife’

Glenn Close

‘Damages’

January Jones

‘Mad Men’

Anna Paquin

‘True Blood’

Kyra Sedgwick

‘The Closer’

Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin

‘30 Rock’

Steve Carell

‘The Office’

Thomas Jane

‘Hung’

David Duchovny

‘Californication’

Matthew Morrison

‘Glee’

Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical

Toni Collette

‘United States of Tara’

Courteney Cox

‘Cougar Town’

Tina Fey

‘30 Rock’

Edie Falco

‘Nurse Jackie’

Lea Michele

‘Glee’

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

‘Grey Gardens’

‘Into the Storm’

‘Little Dorrit’

‘Taking Chance’

‘Georgia O’Keeffe’

Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Kevin Bacon

‘Taking Chance’

Kenneth Branagh

‘Wallander: One Step Behind’

Chiwetel Ejiofor

‘Endgame’

Brendan Gleeson

‘Into the Storm’

Jeremy Irons

‘Georgia O’Keeffe’

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Joan Allen

‘Georgia O’Keeffe’

Drew Barrymore

‘Grey Gardens’

Jessica Lange

‘Grey Gardens’

Anna Paquin

‘The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler’

Sigourney Weaver

‘Prayers for Bobby’

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris

‘How I Met Your Mother’

Michael Emerson

‘Lost’

Jeremy Piven

‘Entourage’

William Hurt

‘Damages’

John Lithgow

‘Dexter’

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jane Adams

‘Hung’

Rose Byrne

‘Damages’

Jane Lynch

‘Glee’

Janet McTeer

‘Into the Storm’

Chloe Sevigny

‘Big Love’

Reference: http://www.moviefone.com/golden-globes/nominee-winner

Images are excerpt from google images

[Via http://fyi09.wordpress.com]

Technology News: Internet: Is China Sweating Over Google's Threat?

The Clinton's attachment with Haiti

2010-01-17T04:53:00.000+02:00

One reason why the Clintons have sentimental involvement with Haiti is because they spent their honeymoon there. Bill Clinton himself reveals it in one of his media interviews.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Haiti in a Coast Guard C-130 transport. They brought with them bottled water, packaged food, soap and other supplies. She is acting as the top U.S. relief coordinator.

[Via http://fyi09.wordpress.com]

Technology News: Internet: Is China Sweating Over Google's Threat?

Margot's 2010 Tarot Predictions for the United States and Obama Presidency

2010-01-16T13:54:00.000+02:00

This reading was done December 26, 2010, using my own self-designed 18-card Yearly Theme Spread. I shuffled the deck 20X, and let the cards cut where they naturally fell. I also use Joan Bunning’s Learning Tarot Reversals (my favorite Tarot book of the moment).

General: the first half of 2010 will see financial gains, while the second half of 2010 will see financial reverses/losses. It also looks like there will be a major impasse on a major issue which will be blocked in its progress until December, 2010, when the country will be ready to make a decision and take real action.

Yearly Theme: Queen of Cups. Many in the United States will grow spiritually during this year.

First Quarter Theme: Knight of Pentacles. Evidence of hard work will be evident.

January, 2010: Ten of Pentacles. The stock market may see its high for the year in January. A time of affluence, and flourishing ventures.

February, 2010: 8 of Cups. A time of deeper meaning, when people are feeling burned out.

March, 2010. Ace of Pentacles, Reversed. The prosperity and optimism of January are fading. Investments are not being rewarded. Someone is not telling the truth about something.

Second Quarter Theme – Judgement Reversed. A decision is not being made; a ruling is not available. No one is making an assessment. Lack of conviction to a course of action.

April, 2010: 6 of Swords. Time for the blues. Travel is an important factor. A recovery is beginning.

May, 2010: King of Wands. Creative, bold actions are now evident. Someone is acting as a leader, director, or commander.

June, 2010: 6 of Pentacles. Questions of balancing resources and power, of knowledge, and of supply and demand are now important.

Third Quarter Theme: 7 of Pentacles, Reversed. No assessment is being made; there is no attempt to check results. No close examination of the situation is being done. No payoff at the moment, no sign of appreciaton. A change in direction is NOT happening, because a change of course is being BLOCKED.

July, 2010: High Priestess. A time of nonaction. Events are unfolding on their own.

August, 2010: Queen of Pentacles, Reversed. The country’s mood is NOT supportive, generous, practical, or reliable.

September, 2010: 6 of Cups. A time of goodwill, with people sharing in offering support. Focus on childhood, children, babies, or new projects.

Fourth Quarter Theme: 10 of Wands. A time of over-extending, of trying to do too much. Someone’s shouldering most of the work. Burdens are piling up, and there are too many responsibilities. It’s an uphill fight.

October, 2010: 8 of Wands, Reversed. Little is happening. Plans are NOT being carried out. The situation is NOT getting resolved. No news at the moment.

November, 2010: The Lovers, Reversed. A union is not happening. The U.S. is NOT in a working relationship. Values are not a high priority now.

December, 2010: 8 of Pentacles, Reversed. No one is working hard now. People are not industrious. There is little attention to detail. Someone is not being careful. All the loose ends are not being handled.

Year-End Theme: 2 of Swords, Reversed. Defenses are not working. People are not blocking their emotions. Pretending is not possible now. Choosing ignorance is not an option. A resolution is now possible because people are no longer afraid to make a decision.

–Margot

[Via http://margotmystic.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: JPMorgan, Intel, Bare Escentuals, CF ...

Leg One: WVWC

2010-01-16T05:42:00.000+02:00

Though technically not “abroad” yet, I have accrued a shocking amount of photos nonetheless! Having dropped Jerry back off at the West Virginia Wesleyan College campus, I decided to use the gobs of free time that I was NOT spending in classes (for I have none yet–oh rapture!) to go around to everyone that I could find and say my farewells and see-yas.

From 11 Jan to today (15 Jan), the kind VISTA folks in the red house next to the PAC (that would be Jill, Alice, Sarah, Brandon, and Cassi–awesome folks all!) let me crash on their sofa and generally sloth out for the few days I was on campus. Here are some of mine (and Admiral Otto’s) shenanigans.

Otto getting a bit fresh with Cassi in the red house living room. Ooh la la!

Otto atop a massive pile of snow on a trash can outside Agnes Howard, a.k.a. Aggie, a.k.a. Pretty Antique Death Trap Building.

Jerry with Otto and John Wesley on the steps of the chapel--no WVWC visit would be complete without it.

Otto on a bike seat, and near a freaky ice tree thing outside the campus center.

One night, the girls in the SAI suite were kind enough to have Jerry and I over for dinner. Here's Otto with the loaf of homemade sourdough bread Jes made!

A staple of Buckhannon life, Otto perches atop the paper towel roll at the popular restaurant CJ Maggie's, where Jerry and I stopped for lunch one day.

I couldn't very well visit WVWC without swinging by the library! Otto can be seen here at the circulation desk with librarians Paula and Rhonda.

No visit to Buck-town would be complete without a hearty nosh at Mexico...Otto nibbles nachos betwixt Jill and Danielle, my SAI famil--I mean, good friends. ^_~!

As my freshman seminar leader and one of the first people I met at Wesleyan, I HAD to go visit Julie before I left! Here's a lovely pic of Otto with Julie---oh, do note the big WVWC cup on the desk! ^_^!

Since I'm about three days away from flying to the place, it made a lot of sense (and was a lot of fun) to meet up with WVWC's resident "Norn Iron" student Maria for a bit of pre-game craic.

Oh no!!! Otto better watch his squishy little cephalopod self near of one of the hugest icicles on campus. Hanging from the Christopher Hall of Science, this icicle actually prompts the school to close off the door under it so no one gets accidentally impaled. Good idea!

Met up with Suyoung and just had to get a picture!

I KNEW I had to get a creator/creation shot while I was here, and I just happened to run into Kate (my roomie/crafter of Otto) outside of Holloway Hall, my dorm of choice for the past two and a half years. Fun picture taking ensued.

So...this picture exists so I could get a picture of my car WITH Otto and with Aggie in the background. Mission accomplished, I'd say.

Otto and I were skulking about the basement of Haymond (as has been my wont for the past, oh, three years or so) and I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap his picture with the History sign (even if it is a bit dated, lol.)

It's Dr. Mahoney. He's in his office. And there's an octopus on him. Somehow, there doesn't seem to be any words that could make this picture better than it is. This is just all manner of fun. ^_^!

About time someone put The Admiral on their head! I have been waiting with gleeful anticipation of such an event! Anywho, yes, I had to swing by the library ONE MORE TIME before I left Buckhannon, and I was lucky enough to catch Brett and Beth at the circulation desk, where they were kind enough to be awesome in this photo.

WHEW! Dude, maybe I’ll take a few less Otto shots–that crap took forever to upload! But I hope it’s been interesting anyway…I hope…yeah. Anywho, hope to have more Otto-centric shenanigans soon (perhaps even in N.Ireland next time!) Keep checking the blog! Adios!

P.S. If for some reason you want a larger resolution version of any of these photos (like if you’re in one and you want a copy or something) just e-mail me at apathetic_care_bear@yahoo.com or scott.jm@gmx.com and I’ll send you a copy. Thanks!

[Via http://jms12.wordpress.com]

Palin's arrival to Fox News a curious move | Daily Trojan

Insouciant Americans

2010-01-14T13:18:00.000+02:00

by Paul Craig Roberts

Published: Jan. 12, 2010 – Information Clearing House

The Underwear Bomber case indicates that whoever is behind these bomb scares is laughing at our gullibility.

How realistic is it that al-Qaida, an organization that allegedly pulled off the most fantastic terror attack in world history, would in these days of heightened security choose for an attack on an airliner a person who is the most conspicuous of all? Umar Farouk Mutallab had a one-way ticket, no luggage, no passport, and his father, reportedly a CIA and Mossad asset, had reported him to the CIA and Mossad. Does anyone really believe that al-Qaida would choose as an airliner bomber a person waving every red flag imaginable?

This obvious question has escaped the US media, a collection of salespersons marketing full body scanning machines for airports.

Would al Qaida, with its extensive knowledge of explosives, have armed Umar with a “bomb” that experts say couldn’t have blown up his own seat?

It is difficult to imagine a more gullible population than America’s, but do even Americans believe this story?

Since 9/11 the F.B.I. has been busy enticing people, who lack organizational skills, into “terrorist plots” that consists of F.B.I. initiated hot air talk. These ridiculous stings are then taken to trial, and the media fans the flames of fear of “home-grown terrorist plots against Americans.”

There is little doubt that those interested in leading the U.S. deeper into a police state and deeper into a “war on terror” are active in adding orchestrated events to whatever real ones real terrorists manage to accomplish. The paucity of real terrorists has caused the U.S. government and its Ministry of Truth to promote the Taliban to terrorist rank. The problem is that these “terrorist acts” are taking place thousands of miles away in lands that the average American cannot find on a map and, thus, lack scare value. To keep the peril alive for Americans, we have the Underwear Bomb Plot.

What will be next? An elaborate head of hair laced with nano-thermite?

The “war on terror” is a far greater threat to Americans than all the terrorists in the world combined. This is so because the “war on terror” has destroyed the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. American citizens are now helpless in the event someone in government decides that some constitutionally protected behavior, such as free speech, or a contribution to a children’s hospital in Gaza, where Hamas, a U.S.-declared “terrorist organization,” happens to be the elected government, constitutes aiding and abetting terrorism.

On January 5 a ruling by the Federal Appeals Court in the District of Columbia gave away the most essential protection of liberty by declaring that the U.S. government is not bound by law during war. The ruling absolves Washington from complying with America’s own laws and from complying with international laws, such as the Geneva Conventions. It makes a mockery of all war crime trials everywhere. By elevating the executive branch above the law, the court gave the government carte blanche.

The rationale offered by the court for refusing to uphold the law came from Judge Janice Rogers Brown, who said that America had been pushed by war past “the leading edge of a new and frightening paradigm, one that demands new rules be written. War is a challenge to law, and the law must adjust.” By “adjust” she means “ be set aside” or “be thrown out.”

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to defend both the Constitution and the principle that government is not above the law. Last December 14 the Supreme Court refused to review a ruling by the Federal Appeals Court in the District of Columbia, which dismissed a torture case with the argument that “torture is a foreseeable consequence of the military’s detention of suspected enemy combatants.” In other words, neither U.S. nor international laws against torture can be enforced in U.S. courts. The opinion was written by Judge Karen Lecraft Henderson.

The “war on terror,” which is enriching Halliburton, Blackwater (now operating under an alias), and the military/security complex, while denying Americans health care, is running up debt that is a threat to Americans’ purchasing power and living standards. The contrast between America’s sanctimonious rhetoric and the murder of civilians and torture of prisoners has destroyed America’s reputation and caused Europeans as well as Muslims to despise the United States.

The sacrifice of the Constitution and rule of law to a hyped “theorist threat” has destroyed the heart and soul of America herself.

As a poet wrote, “our world in stupor lies.”

Source: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24380.htm

Plans and Earthquakes

2010-01-14T05:36:00.000+02:00

Okay, first of all, please pray for the disaster victims in Haiti. Thousands of people are dead, and the numbers are still rising. In addition, thousands of people are still stuck under debris and very seriously injured. This is already one of the poorest countries in the world, and now hundreds of thousands of people have lost what few possessions they had, or have lost family and friends. Please pray for them and for the rescue organizations to not only receive enough resources, but to have the wisdom to use those resources in the most effective ways. Also, if you would like to make a donation – even $5 will help immensely – go to this website: http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=haiti%20earthquake.

On a different note – and this seems very small in comparison – God has a Plan that we didn’t have. I guess this happens a lot, but still, I feel it’s worth mentioning. Recently, one of our very good friends in the USA who is also a South African received a clean bill of health after struggling with cancer. However, around Christmas, she suddenly began feeling very sick, and they went to the ER. After doing some scans, they told her to go to her doctor immediately (they were in a different town visiting family) because there were some serious complications.

The gist of it is that the cancer is back. Not only that, but one of the tumors has grown from cell-size to larger than a football in less than two weeks, and there are many tumors. She has three daughters and a husband, and one of the girls is about sixteen. She’s now cooking all their dinners because her mom is in bed, sick. Now then. My dad is in the USA currently, and friends are paying for my mom to go to our friend for support and to help out. I’m staying here.

Please pray first of all for our friend and her family. Their lives went from completely normal to crisis literally overnight, and it’s a terrible thing to have to go through. Also, we need serious prayer about what to do now. God has a Plan and he knows what He’s doing, so we’re not worried, but we have to know what to do.

Thanks.

<3 africanstardust

[Via http://actingmasquerade.wordpress.com]

Palin to Fox News: 'I am Thrilled to be Joining the Great Talent ...

Republicans knew 'catatonic' Sarah Palin was 'mentally unstable'

2010-01-12T13:20:00.000+02:00

‘She would shut down in a catatonic stupor ahead of interviews’: New book exposes Sarah Palin’s bizarre behaviour during election campaign.

Former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been savaged in a new book about the inside story behind the 2008 election campaign.

The book, Game Change, describes the former Governor of Alaska as having wild mood swings caused by her sudden rise to fame and describes her at one point as being in a ‘catatonic stupor’.

Palin’s behaviour was so erratic that at one point senior figures in the McCain campaign began to seriously discuss the possibility that she was mentally unstable.

www.dailymail.co.uk

[Via http://thedesso123.wordpress.com]

Sarah Palin Becomes Fox News "Contributor" - The Hollywood Gossip

Harry Reid's Political Suicide

2010-01-12T05:10:00.000+02:00

Harry Reid Senate Majority Leader and Nevada’s Senator political career maybe over with the racially toned remarks made about Barack Obama now President of the United States. Reid who has in the past been called the accidental leader is clearly living up to the name ‘accidental’. However he has taken the Senate to the brink of passing the historic and controversial Health Care Reform Bill working with several misguided reluctant Democrats, the Republicans who say no on everything and two unpredictable independents.

Jim Manley said that ‘ Nevada has always been his focus, he may not be a showboat who brags about everything he’s doing, but he fights hard everyday .’

Republicans are calling for his head saying that if it was one of them the President would react differently and the press. Maybe they have a point but are they really concern about his remarks against Barack Obama or are they just trying to score political points.

[Via http://alonsohenry.wordpress.com]

Sarah Palin to Contribute to Fox News - Media Decoder Blog ...

Laurel Canyon Part 13

2010-01-10T21:49:00.000+02:00

Gram Parsons above.

Timing is a curious thing. When I first started this series in May of 2008, the fact that Jim Morrison’s father had served as the commander of the ships involved in the Gulf of Tonkin ‘incident’ had gone virtually unreported for some four-and-a-half decades. Readers were shocked – shocked, I tell you! – when I began this series by trotting out that revelation. Some even accused me of making it up, or of somehow twisting the facts.

But as fate would have it, as December of 2008 rolled around, the mainstream media was suddenly awash with reports of the unusual Morrison family connection. On December 8, for example, the Los Angeles Times carried a report on Admiral George Stephen Morrison, described therein as “a retired Navy rear admiral and the father of the late rock icon Jim Morrison.” According to the Times report, “Morrison had a long career that included serving as operations officer aboard the aircraft carrier Midway and commanding the fleet during the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, which led to an escalation of American involvement in Vietnam.” (emphasis added)

The very next day, on December 9, the New York Times followed suit with a report by William Grimes: “George S. Morrison, who commanded the fleet during the Gulf of Tonkin incident that led to an escalation of the Vietnam War and whose son Jim was the lead singer of the Doors … Aboard the flagship carrier Bon Homme Richard, Mr. Morrison commanded American naval forces in the gulf when the destroyer Maddox engaged three North Vietnamese torpedo boats on Aug. 2, 1964. A skirmish and confused reports of a second engagement two days later led President Lyndon B. Johnson to order airstrikes against North Vietnam and to request from Congress what became known as the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, allowing him to carry out further military operations without declaring war.” (emphasis again added)

Mr. Grimes has penned a rather charitable account of the Tonkin Gulf incident, to be sure, but what is of far more interest here is the fact that the media is talking about the Morrison/Tonkin Gulf/Doors connection at all. What makes it okay to do so now, it would appear, is the fact that Admiral Morrison exited this world on November 17, 2008, at the ripe old age of 89. His death was reportedly due to unspecified injuries sustained in a fall. According to his obituaries, his distinguished career included raining bombs down on Japanese civilians and Pacific Islanders during the final year of World War II, and serving as “an instructor for secret nuclear-weapons projects in Albuquerque.”

On December 7, the day before George Morrison’s name turned up in the LA Times’ obituaries, another key name from the Laurel Canyon saga appeared there as well: Elmer Valentine, co-owner of the hottest clubs on the Strip in the late 1960s and early 1970s – the Whisky-A-Go-Go, the Roxy, and the Rainbow. Valentine died of unspecified causes on December 3, 2008, at the age of 85. On December 9, the New York Times ran his obituary right alongside that of Morrison. Valentine was therein characterized as “a self-described crooked cop who fled Chicago to start a new life on the Sunset Strip.”

Some scribes, I suppose, would find it a bit disconcerting to find that some of the characters in their work-in-progress had suddenly started dropping dead. After all, the cause of death in both cases is a bit fuzzy, and Morrison dropped just four days after Part 11 was posted and Valentine followed suit 6 days after Part 12 went up. But they were both quite elderly, of course, so maybe it was just their time to go.

Anyway, the real focus of this chapter is singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Gram Parsons, and the Gram Parsons story, as it turns out, is essentially a microcosm of the Laurel Canyon story. Most of the classic elements are present and accounted for: the royal bloodlines, the not-so-well-hidden intelligence connections, the occult overtones, the extravagantly wealthy family background, an incinerated house or two, and, of course, a whole lot of curious deaths. Without further adieu then, let’s get to know a little more about Mr. Parsons.

First of all, let’s begin with the obvious: Gram Parsons was far from being the biggest star to emerge from the Laurel Canyon scene. In his short lifetime, he failed to achieve any significant level of commercial success. None of his albums, whether recorded solo or with the International Submarine Band, the Byrds, or the Flying Burrito Brothers, climbed very high on the sales charts. But to many fans and musicians alike, he is considered a hugely influential and tragically overlooked figure.

It is safe to say that Parsons does not have nearly the number of fans that, say, David Crosby or Frank Zappa have. Compared to contemporaries who died during the same era and at roughly the same age – artists like Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix – Parsons is all but unknown. But the fans that he does have tend to be particularly rabid ones, and if you happen to be one of them, you might want to skip this chapter. And the next, actually, because this is kind of a long story.

We begin back about, oh, a thousand years ago, with Ferdinand the Great, the first King of Castille on the Iberian Peninsula. It is to him that the wealthy Connor family claims their family lineage can be traced. Also in the family tree was King Edward II of England, son of Edward I and Eleanor of Castille. According to some sources, Eddie II was murdered by having a red-hot iron rod shoved up his ass, though most of his loyal subjects probably didn’t shed many tears. Bringing the royal bloodline to America was one Colonel George Reade, born in the UK in 1608 and married in Yorktown, Pennsylvania sometime thereafter.

Reade’s offspring would ultimately spawn Ingram Cecil Connor, Jr., a well-to-do gent who settled in Columbia, Tennessee. Like his father before him, Cecil attended Columbia Military Academy. In May 1940, at the outset of World War II, he then enlisted in the US Army Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant. In March of 1941, Cecil, who during the war would become known as “Coon Dog,” though no one seems to remember why, was shipped off to Hawaii. Nine months later, of course, Pearl Harbor came under attack by Japanese bombers.

Not to worry though – Cecil was never in harm’s way, having opted to forgo living in officer’s quarters on the military base in favor of staying at a luxurious, massive estate near Diamond Head owned by uber-wealthy heiress Barbara Hutton. Hutton, for those who don’t know, was the granddaughter of Frank Woolworth, the founder of the Woolworth’s five-and-dime store chain. She was also the daughter of Franklyn Laws Hutton, a co-founder of E.F. Hutton, one of the nation’s most prestigious brokerage firms until it ran afoul of the law for such crimes as check kiting, money laundering and mail fraud. Barbara was also the niece of Marjory Post Hutton, the daughter of C.W. Post, founder of what would become General Foods.

Like so many of the other characters who have populated this story (including Gram Parsons), Barbara was traumatized in childhood by the alleged suicide of a parent. According to news reports, it was 5-year-old Barbara who discovered her mother Edna’s lifeless body in May of 1917. An empty bottle of strychnine was reportedly recovered by police from a nearby bathroom. There was no autopsy performed and no official inquest was ever conducted, as would be expected when an extremely wealthy person dies under questionable circumstances.

In 1930, just after the onset of the last Great Depression, Barbara was thrown a lavish debutante ball attended by those at the very top of the food chain, including members of the Astor and Rockefeller families. The next year, she inherited a fortune estimated to be worth the equivalent of $1 billion today. She was just nineteen at the time. Two years later, she received further inheritance that raised her net worth to an estimated $2-$2.5 billion (in today’s dollars). Much of the rest of the country was busily wallowing in abject poverty.

Ms Hutton lived a very troubled life, with numerous failed marriages and relationships. One of her many paramours was Phillip van Rensselaer, who later penned a book about her life which he entitled Million Dollar Baby. Van Rensselaer, it will be recalled, was from the same family tree as Laurel Canyon’s own David Crosby – the man whom Gram Parsons would briefly replace in the Byrds. And that, boys and girls, brings us back to our man-of-the-hour.

(I almost added “after that brief digression” to the preceding sentence, but then I remembered that, though I rarely read commentary on my work on the web, I did stumble across something the other day. The review was positive overall, though it did note that my website design was, uhmm, I think the word was “atrocious,” and that I had (this may not be an exact quote) “an unnatural fondness for the word ‘digress.’” I could, I suppose, mount a spirited defense against the charges, but the evidence appears to be overwhelming. But here I really have digres … let’s just get back to our story, shall we?)

As World War II drug on, Ingram Cecil Connor, Jr. worked his way up the chain of command to the rank of Major. In the Pacific theater of operations, he was a decorated hero and a squadron commander who flew numerous combat missions. After the war, he continued to serve in the Air Force at a base in Bartow, Florida, very near the Snively family home in Winter Haven. On March 22, 1945, the spring equinox, “Coon Dog” Connor married Avis Snively.

The Snively clan had first come to America circa 1700, about a century after the arrival of the man who spawned the Connor clan. According to historical records and genealogical charts, Johann Jacob Schnebele, a Swiss Mennonite, was born in 1659. When in his late 50s, around 1715 or shortly thereafter, he ventured across the Atlantic and settled near Cornwall, Pennsylvania. Johann died and was buried in 1743 near Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Brought over with him to America was his son Jacob, born on the winter solstice of 1694, and his daughter Maria, born in 1702. In 1724, in Mannheim, Pennsylvania, Maria Schnebele married the son of immigrants Hans Hersche and Anna Geunder. That son had Americanized his name and become known as Andrew Hershey. The Schnebele name was likewise Americanized to Snavely (or Snively). The Hershey and Snavely clans would continue to happily intermarry, ultimately producing, in 1857, Milton Snavely Hershey, the son of Henry Hershey and Fanny Snavely.

Milton S. Hershey, of course, would go on to found the world’s largest producer of chocolate confections. Less well known is that Hershey failed miserably in his first several attempts to launch a candy company, in Philadelphia, Chicago and New York City. All of those ventures were financed with Snively/Snavely family money. Hershey ultimately succeeded in launching the successful Lancaster Caramel Company in 1883. In 1900, he sold the caramel company to focus exclusively on chocolate confections. With proceeds from that sale, he purchased 40,000 acres of undeveloped land and built not only the world’s largest chocolate facility, but an entire company town.

The moral of this story, in case you missed it, is that without the Schnebele/Snavely/Snively family fortune, there never would have been any such thing as a Hershey bar or a town known as Hershey, Pennsylvania.

As for Maria’s brother, Jacob Schnebele, he died in August of 1766 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, but not before fathering an astounding nineteen children. One of those was son Andrew, who himself fathered fourteen kids. From that branch of the family tree would emerge John Andrew “Papa John” Snively, born in 1888, who headed off to Florida in the early 1900s to seek his fortune. By the 1950s, Snively Groves was the largest shipper of fresh fruit in the state of Florida.

Avis Snively, who exchanged vows with Ingram Cecil Connor, Jr., was the daughter of Papa John. On November 5, 1946, Coon Dog and Avis gave birth to their first child and only son, Ingram Cecil Connor III, later known as Gram Parsons. Soon after, the family relocated to Waycross, Georgia, where, as with Winter Haven, the Snively family owned a massive amount of land devoted to citrus fruit production. It was there that young Ingram “Gram” Connor was raised.

The Connor family home in Waycross, as would be expected, was large and luxurious, and there were numerous servants in attendance, all of whom had considerably more skin pigmentation than did the Connors. Coon Dog and Avis entertained frequently, and both were well known to be heavy drinkers; there were hushed rumors that they were ‘swingers’ as well. As Gram’s younger sister, known as Little Avis, would later recall, “Things were mighty strange around the house.”

In September of 1957, when Gram was not yet eleven, he was sent off to attend the Bowles School, a combination prep school and military academy in Jacksonville, Florida. On his entry questionnaire, he was asked for his top three college choices; Gram chose Annapolis, West Point, and Georgia Tech. While attending Bowles, he became a member of the Centurions, the school’s version of an elite fraternity.

The following year, just before Christmas 1958, Ingram Cecil “Coon Dog” Connor, Jr. was found sprawled across his bed in the family home, a bullet hole in his right temple. A .38 handgun was found nearby. There was no note to be found. Cecil’s brother Tom had visited just the month before, around Thanksgiving, and Coon Dog had told him that he’d never been happier and that life with Avis was wonderful. Curiously, his death was initially ruled to be accidental.

Just ten months before Cecil’s death, Papa John Snively, Avis’ dad, had also died, and now she found herself with both of the men in her life gone. And yet, according to a family member, she never appeared to grieve and she displayed a “total lack of remorse” over anything she may have done to drive Coon Dog to allegedly commit suicide (by some reports, she had been having an affair).

Some six months after Cecil’s death, Avis, Gram and Little Avis boarded a train for a cross-country trip. They were gone the entire summer. Not long after returning, the family moved from the house that Cecil had died in and Avis soon met Robert Ellis Parsons, who owned a business that ostensibly specialized in leasing heavy construction equipment. Parson’s clients, curiously enough, happened to be in Cuba, then under the brutal hand of Batista, and in various South American countries that were also under the thumb of US-installed dictators

It is unclear, by the way, where the “Ellis” in Parsons name comes from, so it would probably be irresponsible to mention the Ellis family that is an intermarried branch of the Bush family, but with the Cuba connection and all, it’s hard for the mind not to wander there.

The Snively clan took an immediate dislike to Parsons, who was described by one family member as a “greedy son of a bitch.” Nevertheless, Avis quickly married him and Bob Parsons quickly took control of her life. One of his first moves was to adopt Gram and Avis, even going so far as to have new birth certificates drawn up listing him as their biological father (how exactly does one go about doing that, by the way?) He also promptly impregnated Avis and convinced her to file a $1.5 million lawsuit against her brother, John, Jr., and her sister, Evalyn. The suit was settled out of court, with Avis receiving an unspecified number of citrus groves, but the real repercussions would be felt some fifteen years later with the bankruptcy of much of the family business in 1974.

In 1960, just a year after marrying, Bob and Avis added daughter Diane to the family. Also added was eighteen-year-old babysitter Bonnie, whom Bob immediately began an affair with, which apparently was not a very well-kept secret. What was a somewhat better kept secret is that, in the early 1960s, following the Cuban revolution, Robert Ellis Parsons became involved in the ‘Cuban cause,’ which is to say that he had very close ties to the leaders of an exile group that was being trained in Polk County, Florida to overthrow the Cuban government.

On one occasion (or at least one occasion that is acknowledged), he brought young Gram along to visit the group’s training camp. As luck would have it, a team from Life magazine happened to also be there that day and Gram – wouldn’t you know it? – was photographed at the camp. When Avis was informed of that development, she worked quickly to insure that those photos were never published. To this day, they have never surfaced.

During that same era, Bob Parsons converted a downtown warehouse that he owned into a teen nightclub to showcase the talents of his ‘son,’ Ingram “Gram” Parsons, who sang and played keyboards and the guitar. Circa 1963, Gram got a folk combo together that was known as the Shilos. During the summer of 1964, the summer before Gram’s senior year of high school, the band spent a month in New York. During that brief time, Parsons met and bonded with Brandon DeWilde, Richie Furay, and John Phillips, then of the Journeymen. He would meet up with all three again a couple years later in Laurel Canyon.

Despite his early preference for Annapolis or West Point, Gram applied to Harvard and Johns Hopkins. Despite decidedly unimpressive grades and test scores, he was accepted by Harvard, purportedly due to an essay he submitted that he likely didn’t actually write. During his last year of high school, Gram and the Shilos booked an hour gig at the campus radio station at Bob Jones University … yes, that Bob Jones University.

At his high school graduation in June of 1965, Gram was in his cap and gown and all set to proceed with the ceremonies when he was pulled aside and informed that his mother Avis had suddenly passed away. Seemingly unaffected, he chose to participate in the ceremonies. A classmate and friend has said that there was no sign that anything was troubling Gram that day as he went through the graduation rituals.

Avis had died in the hospital, reportedly of alcohol poisoning, right after Bob Parsons had smuggled her in a bottle of scotch. Gram’s mother was just forty-two at the time of her death. His father, Coon Dog, had only made it to the age of forty-one. Neither of their kids, Gram or Little Avis, would make it even that far.

Soon after his mother’s death, Gram received a draft notice from the Selective Service. Not to worry though – Bob quickly got him a 4-F deferment and Gram happily went off to Harvard, enrolling in September of 1965. By February of 1966, just five months later, Gram had had enough of Harvard and he withdrew. According to some sources, he never really went to Harvard at all, but rather spent all his time taking in the folk music scene in Cambridge and putting his own band together.

Gram arrived at Harvard a few years too late to catch the peak of the folk music scene in Cambridge. In the early 1960s, the college town had been one of the cradles of the resurgent folk movement, hosting such luminaries as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Bob Neuwirth, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, Richard and Mimi Farina, Geoff and Maria Muldaur, Eric Andersen and Joni Mitchell.

The epicenter of the Cambridge folk scene was the legendary Club 47, opened in 1958 as a jazz and blues venue. A very young Joan Baez, whose reputedly CIA-connected father worked at nearby MIT, was the first folkie to take the stage, not long after the club opened. Dylan reportedly first performed there in 1961, taking the stage between the billed acts. The scene hit its peak in the summer of 1962, which was the Cambridge equivalent of the Haight’s Summer of Love.

The Cambridge scene, and others in Greenwich Village and elsewhere, were necessary precursors to the Laurel Canyon scene. The canyon scene was essentially created by taking the music of that earlier scene, particularly the work of Dylan and Seeger, and mixing it with the instrumentation being utilized across the pond by a band known as the Beatles. It is entirely fitting then that, as with Laurel Canyon, the Cambridge scene came complete with its own resident psycho killer.

In addition to the folk scene hitting its peak in the summer of 1962, something else newsworthy happened in Cambridge that summer: a lot of women started turning up dead – six of them in that first summer alone, and seven more over the next couple of years. And as Susan Kelly noted in The Boston Stranglers, one of those victims was killed right across the street from Club 47: “Just across the street from [victim Beverly Samans’] apartment, a very young and not yet famous Joan Baez and an equally youthful and unknown Bob Dylan were playing to reverently hushed audiences at the Club 47.”

As the title of Kelly’s book implies, there actually was no such person as the Boston Strangler, but that didn’t stop authorities and the media from pinning all the murders on one Albert DeSalvo, far better known as the Boston Strangler. And so it was that just as Laurel Canyon would have Charlie Manson as its unofficial mascot, the earlier scene in Cambridge had Albert DeSalvo. And neither of them, curiously enough, appear to have actually committed any murders, though a whole lot of people certainly did get murdered.

Folkie Richard Farina, by the way, was the husband of Mimi Baez, Joan’s younger sister. Farina had attended Cornell University as an engineering major. Cornell also happened to be where Joan and Mimi’s dad, Albert Baez, conducted classified research. Albert Baez tended to move around a lot, popping up for varying periods of time at Stanford, UC Berkeley, Cornell, and MIT, all of which have been repeatedly identified as hotbeds of MK-ULTRA research.

Albert Baez also traveled abroad, to France, Switzerland, and, in 1951, to Baghdad, Iraq, where he spent a year purportedly teaching physics and building a physics laboratory at the University of Baghdad. 1951 also happened to be the year that Mossadegh was duly elected in neighboring Iran and the CIA immediately began planning a coup to oust him, but I’m sure that that is just a coincidence.

Anyway, Farina married Mimi when he was twenty-six and she was just seventeen. The two of them, along with Joan, became stars of the Cambridge folk music scene, which they were introduced to when their dad moved the family to Boston in 1958 when he went to work at MIT. Richard and Mimi’s marriage was a short one, alas, as Richard Farina was killed in a motorcycle accident in Carmel, California, on, of all days, April 30, 1966. On that very same day, in nearby San Francisco, Anton Szandor LaVey declared it to be the dawn of the Age of Satan.

But perhaps I’ve gotten sidetracked here …

During Gram’s brief time at Harvard, he began gathering together what would become the International Submarine Band. When he dropped out in early 1966, he and his new bandmates moved to the Bronx in New York, where Gram rented an 11-room party house where marijuana and LSD flowed freely. One unofficial member of his band was child-actor-turned-aspiring-musician Brandon DeWilde, known in the 1950s as “the king of child actors.” Parsons and DeWilde worked together on demo tapes during their time in New York.

In November/December 1966, nine months after leaving Harvard for New York, Gram ventured out to California. While there, he met a certain Nancy Ross, who at the time was living with David Crosby. In Ben Fong-Torres’ Hickory Wind, Ross provides some interesting biographical details: “I grew up with David Crosby here in town … I was thirteen when we met. David and I were part of the debutante set … My father was a captain in the Royal Air Force of England … I married Eleanor Roosevelt’s grandson, Rex, at sixteen, seventeen. I was still married to Rex when I was with David … The marriage lasted a couple of years. I got an apartment and started designing restaurants for Elmer Valentine of Whisky-a-Go-Go.”

At age nineteen, Ross went with Crosby “up to his little bachelor apartment, where I drew pentagrams on the wall.” Soon after, Crosby bought a house on Beverly Glen and Ross moved in with him. That is where Gram Parsons found Nancy Ross and stole her away from David Crosby: “Brandon DeWilde, who was a good friend of David’s and Peter Fonda’s, brought Gram up to our Beverly Glen house one Christmas time.” According to Nancy, Gram quickly stole her heart.

Shortly after, in early 1967, Parsons permanently relocated to Los Angeles with his band in tow. According to Fong-Torres, Gram – who received up to $100,000 a year from his trust fund, a considerable amount of money in the mid-1960s – “found a house for the rest of the band on Willow Glen Avenue, off Laurel Canyon Boulevard and just north of Sunset.” He and Nancy found an apartment together nearby.

Meanwhile, back home, Bob Parsons had married Bonnie shortly after the death of Avis, and the newlywed couple had then moved with Little Avis and Diane to New Orleans. Back in Waycross, the Connor family home that had been abandoned after Coon Dog’s (alleged) suicide had been occupied since 1960 by the family of Sheriff Robert E. Lee. In late 1968, on the eve of the election that put Richard Nixon in the White House, the stately home exploded from within and caught fire. The cause of the explosion was never determined.

———-

the body count still rises..and another myth is broken..part 14 tomorrow..

401

[Via http://seeker401.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Latest polls show different results in Mass ...

George Galloway Comment Show 07-January-2010

2010-01-10T13:40:00.000+02:00

Watch George Galloway’s The Real Deal <> Show on <>:

George Galloway page on SpideredNews : http://www.spiderednews.com/GeorgeGalloway.htm%3c/a>

George Galloway official web site : http://www.GeorgeGalloway.com

George Galloway videos can be seen on SpideredNews’ channel on Vodpod : http://vodpod.com/spiderednews

SpideredNews.com TV : http://www.spiderednews.com/index.htm?vid=155746

You can share your opinion on our blogs:

“The Real Deal show” : http://worldpressnetwork.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=473%3c/a>

“The Comment show” : http://worldpressnetwork.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=418

“TalkSPORT radio show” : http://worldpressnetwork.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=356

[Via http://spiderednews.wordpress.com]

Huff TV: ABC News Profiles Move Your Money (VIDEO)

Poster Remix 5

2010-01-09T21:35:00.000+02:00

[Via http://peaceiscomingforyou.wordpress.com]

Breaking News: EPL Games Temporarily Return to Setanta Sports USA ...

Initial Jobless Claims Up 1,000 To 434,000

2010-01-07T13:46:00.000+02:00

The US Labor Department revealed Thursday that initial jobless claims came in at 434,000 for the week ended on January 2.

This was up 1,000 from the previous week’s revised total of 433,000.

Continuing claims, a statistic that measures the number of people receiving ongoing unemployment help, dropped 179,000 to 4.802 million.

Mots clés Technorati : American Economy,Employment,fvtaiwan

[Via http://financeroom.wordpress.com]

Six Great User News Sections to Submit and Promote Your Design ...

3D Façade, Building Exterior, 3D Rendering, Architectural photorealistic rendering, 3D Image.

2010-01-07T05:37:00.000+02:00

A facade is generally one side of the exterior of a building, especially the front, but also sometimes the sides and rear ( 3D Architectural Image ), 3D Facades – Building Exterior View.

Yantram 3D Facades is a leading international 3D facade engineering design in India. Our focus within 3D facade designs is to bring innovative solutions for architects, owners and developers for a broad variety of concepts developed in numerous markets around the world. Yantram 3D Facade Design provides a virtual tour to your dream project.

Our professional focus is on the evolving technology and Architectural photorealistic rendering for each 3d facade design concept & Architectural Animations & Visualization.

3d Architectural Animation

Yantram 3D Facades design are best utilized starting with the concept stage of the project so many aspects in the development process can be considered with the facade ingrained in project design. Yantram Architectural photorealistic renders creates high-quality 3D facades in a virtual studio environment. Our team of architects and industrial designers build 3d models from CAD files, sketches, or photographs

3D Façade

Visit Us:-

http://3d-walkthrough-rendering.outsourcing-services-india.com/3D_facades.php

[Via http://3darchitecturaldesign.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) is retiring

IDF Blessed Women

2010-01-05T12:56:00.000+02:00

To the IDF women ,who are loyal to the Holy Land and protect it :

God Bless You

Note: We will constantly download new photo cards

[Via http://allahblessisrael.wordpress.com]

2 Killed In Vegas Courthouse Shooting - Las Vegas News Story ...

A man of the world

2010-01-05T05:03:00.000+02:00

By Chris Richards

Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, January 3, 2010

It’s breakfast time at Dukem, the popular Ethiopian restaurant on U Street NW, but Thomas “Tommy T” Gobena orders lunch. In a city of red-eyed, Cinnabon-scarfing frequent fliers, he might be the most jet-lagged man in Washington.

Gobena lives in Alexandria but will spend most of this new year in the air and on the road, playing bass for Gogol Bordello, a merry band of self-branded “Gypsy punks” scheduled to hit about 200 stages across the globe in 2010. Days earlier, Gobena was wowing a crowd of 20,000 in Mexico City. In a few days, he’ll be at it again in St. Petersburg, Russia.

With a hyper-kinetic live show that’s part ramshackle cabaret, part rock-and-roll exorcism and part culture-mashing swirl, Gogol Bordello seems to translate loud and clear on almost every corner of the planet. For the band on tour, border crossing becomes both a musical and literal pursuit.

“I’m not really a loud person,” Gobena says, sipping cinnamon tea at Dukem. “But I can say this about the band. . . . You don’t have to be huge fan. You don’t have to buy the CD and follow us everywhere. But if you come to the show you won’t go back.”

Gogol Bordello performs at Washington’s 9:30 club Saturday and Sunday, and is fronted by the irrepressible Eugene Hütz– a sort of Ukrainian Iggy Pop whose good looks and wild-style charisma have earned him Hollywood film roles and collaborations with Madonna. The band is based in New York but its members hail from Israel, Scotland, Russia, Ecuador, the United States — and in the case of Gobena, Ethiopia by way of Northern Virginia.

perceptia : mecanisme ale perceptiei, mecanisme cognitive, psihologie, mielu zlate

2010-01-03T13:30:00.000+02:00

[Via http://oliviamarcov.wordpress.com]

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 1/1 - Arrowhead Pride

An Aussie in the Grand Canyon

2010-01-03T05:12:00.000+02:00

LA was my landing point for mytrip to visit the canyons. OK so I got used to driving on the other side of the road and OK despite having a GPS it wasn’t easy coming to grips with spaghetti like highway intersections and I was soon lost as we attempted to leave LA and head for Grand Canyon. So I did what sorta comes naturally which was to stop at a petrol (oops sorry gas) station to ask for directions. Simple enough !! can you believe it, the attendant at the first one never heard of the Grand Canyon and the second asked which state it was in.

Eventually I managed to make my way out of San Bernardino and upon arriving at the South Rim immediately understood why the Grand Canyon was so named. For the uninitiated (and I am numbered among them) just remember that you arrive at the top of the Canyon which is a mile high vertically which means the air is thinner and therefore means that unless you are fit, avoid that quick dash as you will rapidly run out of breath.

I made sure that I found a good spot to catch the rising sun and was up bright an early the next morning (6am actually) and quickly made my way to the spot I wanted, walking in the semi darkness and freezing cold as it was already autumn. To my surprise when I arrived at the appointed spot, I found nearly 30 other photographers already gathered there. Never have I been anywhere in Australia where I had to “fight” for space to photograph the rising sun in the morning ever before.

Unfortunately the sunrise pictures did not turn out as I would have wished but this was amply made up by the sunset which I managed to witness from the viewing point called Desert View. For this trip, I had left my Pentax DA 18-55mm MkII zoom lense behind in favour of the Sigma 18-125mm APO zoom lens and it did make life a little easier having the longer focal length range to play with without having to change lenses.

[Pictures taken with Pentax K20D with Sigma 18-125mm APO zoom lens]

[Via http://pragnamix.wordpress.com]

Saturday News: The Tools of Ignorance - Pinstripe Alley

Maryam kidnappad till Irak

2010-01-02T13:07:00.000+02:00

Expressen.se Maryam Ali Abdulhadi, 4, som försvann på nyårsafton har förts till Irak.

- Jag har pratat med henne i telefon. Hon lät trött och förstår inte riktigt vad som hänt, säger hennes mamma Wafaa.

Maryam Ali Abdulhadi, 4, försvann under nyårsfirandet på Gustav Adolfs torg i Malmö och ett stort polispådrag har sedan dess letat efter henne. För mamma Wafaa har de senaste dygnen varit mycket jobbiga.

- Jag kan inte sova. Jag tänker på henne hela tiden och jag gråter mycket, säger hon.

Published by: ABP World Group International Child Recovery Service

Visit our web site at: www.abpworld.com

[Via http://abpworld.wordpress.com]

» Fox News: ACORN, Jennings Among Top Stories MSM Missed in '09 ...

Fuck you 2010! Already? YES!

2010-01-02T05:18:00.000+02:00

OK, 1st off let me thank this new year and it’s fate/chance/karma driven wheels of randomness for reinforcing my disappointment with the human race as a whole.

The facts are these:

1. When we as a people encounter someone that believes in previous lives(not Buddhist past lives …like new age non-researched “I like the sound of that” past lives), said person was always someone more important than the person they are now. It never ceases to amaze me how many Joan of Arcs, Ghandis, Charlemagnes, or Alexander the Greats I have met that were reincarnated into Gap salespeople, convenience store workers, or fast food chefs . Not one person , NOT ONE, has ever said ” I was a peasant farmer in what is present day Turkey, who died at 22 of venereal disease.” Statistically that would be infinitely more probable than Alexander the Great, Mata Hari, or Thomas Jefferson. Do you ever hear that? No. Why you ask? Because no one wants to believe this is it. The lack of present fame or future glory MUST be compensated by a fictional past. SHIT.

2. Musicians are suing local MOM AND POP bars for playing their fucking music??? Oh yeah, You read that right READ MORE Where did the years go when exposure…free exposure was a GOOD thing. Fuck me!

3. What the fuck is going on where a VOLUNTEER, who is hearing impaired, is refused a VOLUNTEER position where the ability to hear is UNNEEDED! A colleague of mine has been turned down by the NY Aquarium because she was hearing impaired. She wanted to dive in the tanks and I assume help maintain the glass or whatever needed to be done. You know to give back, VOLUNTEER, get involved, make a difference…but, NO! She is hearing impaired and can’t dive. I have been SCUBA diving for 20 years and NOT ONCE…NOT ONCE has my hearing underwater helped or hindered me at all. It is a non-issue. So NY Aquarium, Fuck you and your liability bullshit. Unreal. Pres. Obama, I smell volunteer prevention…right here! God Damnit

It is Jan. 1 and I am already mad at people I don’t know. Shit.

[Via http://obtuseview.com]

Fox News backs up "big" Apple event rumors for January, cites ...

2009

2009-12-31T13:24:00.000+02:00

This young boy grew up to become the first ‘Black’ President of the United States. And I shed a tear.

He has much to do and expectations that I doubt he will ever manage to achieve but what this man has achieved is a country like the USA… never let anyone tell you you can’t do something.

Yes We Can.

[Via http://standingonacliff.wordpress.com]

ABC News Obtains Photos of Flight 253 Explosives Swen into ...

US Government alienated rights of citizen again

2009-12-31T05:50:00.000+02:00

It is well beyond 3am CET, and I already napped in, but reading this makes me so angry. US government violated rights given its citizens in a modern democracy. Using scare tactics, they achieved what they wanted. Making the headlines, sending signals. Citizens, bloggers, journalists, reporters have to be treated equally. It is a civic duty to be part of the checks and balances of a modern transparent democratic government. It’s beyond my believe that the US government served again somebody a subpoena because he was an active citizen. TSA Threatens Blogger Who Posted New Screening Directive

Two bloggers received home visits from Transportation Security Administration agents Tuesday after they published a new TSA directive that revises screening procedures and puts new restrictions on passengers in the wake of a recent bombing attempt by the so-called underwear bomber.

[...] interrogated two U.S. bloggers [...]served them each with a civil subpoena demanding information on the anonymous source that provided the TSA document.

[The] document, which was not classified, was posted by numerous bloggers. Information from it was also published on some airline websites.

“They’re saying it’s a security document but it was sent to every airport and airline,” says Steven Frischling, one of the bloggers. “It was sent to Islamabad, to Riyadh and to Nigeria. So they’re looking for information about a security document sent to 10,000-plus people internationally. You can’t have a right to expect privacy after that.”

Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Suzanne Trevino said in a statement that security directives “are not for public disclosure.”

Frischling, a freelance travel writer and photographer in Connecticut who writes a blog for the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, said the two agents who visited him arrived around 7 p.m. Tuesday, were armed and threatened him with a criminal search warrant if he didn’t provide the name of his source. They also threatened to get him fired from his KLM job and indicated they could get him designated a security risk, which would make it difficult for him to travel and do his job.

“They were indicating there would be significant ramifications if I didn’t cooperate,” said Frischling, who was home alone with his three children when the agents arrived. “It’s not hard to intimidate someone when they’re holding a 3-year-old [child] in their hands. My wife works at night. I go to jail, and my kids are here with nobody.”

Frischling, who described some of the details of the visit on his personal blog, told Threat Level that the two agents drove to his house in Connecticut from DHS offices in Massachusetts and New Jersey and didn’t mention a subpoena until an hour into their visit.

“They came to the door and immediately were asking, ‘Who gave you this document?, Why did you publish the document?’ and ‘I don’t think you know how much trouble you’re in.’ It was very much a hardball tactic,” he says.

When they pulled a subpoena from their briefcase and told him he was legally required to provide the information they requested, he said he needed to contact a lawyer. The agents said they’d sit outside his house until he gave them the information they wanted.

Frischling says he received the document anonymously from someone using a Gmail account and determined, after speaking with an attorney, that he might as well cooperate with the agents since he had little information about the source and there was no federal shield law to protect him.

“We are a free society, knowledge is power and informing the masses allows for public conversation and collective understanding,” Frischling wrote on his blog. “You can agree or disagree, but you need information to know if you want to agree or disagree. My goal is to inform and help people better understand what is happening, as well as allow them to form their own opinions.”

‘State secrets’ and ‘classified documents’.

subpoena duces tecum – a writ commanding a person to produce in court certain designated documents or evidence

A government which has an interest to hide so-called ’state secrets’ and ‘classified documents’, a government which uses scare & hardball tactics, a subpoena, and coordinated action that a person will eventually lose its job, is a government you can not trust. Period.

This document was not classified, it was sent to thousands of addresses, and it was published from airlines who wanted to inform their customers who have to expect new security measures, while flying to the USA. It is not really about finding out who is the source from within, for the TSA/Department of Homeland Security/Government. This action was a status en quo exemplum.

The source had a moral, it could come from everywhere within the aviation industry (or the TSA or DOHS). In the eyes of the source, it was justifiable act of righteousness to inform the public about the collective punishment because of the failure of the few. The enactment of new flawed security measures. To provide a piece to the big puzzle. So that the public is ‘[allowed] to form their own opinions’. Publishing this document was in the publics interest. When the source will have his last day, he knows he did something good for the greater public.

Judith Miller, New York Times journalist, who failed to disclose a source spent 85 days in jail. What price tag have whistleblowers, journalistic integrity and transparent democracy and government? When did speaking out and informing the public came with consequences? And there should be no differentiator at all.

All the sudden it seems that brave passengers, bloggers and journalists (who have to be equally treated) end up doing what the Department of Homeland Security’s job is.

Elliott.org — Full text of my subpoena from the Department of Homeland Security
Boardingarea.com — The Fallout From SD-1544-09-06 : The Feds At My Door
Wired — TSA Threatens Blogger Who Posted New Screening Directive
Shield laws in United States Note: Journalists/Bloggers might not be above the law, but are there to inform the public. Because the above case was in the interest of the public. But who is to judge what is in the interest of the public?! The US Supreme Court has something to do here.
Journalism versus Yellow Journalism (other source)
Council of Europe and recent court case from the European Court of Human Rights (PDF). Article19.org and a letter from Nov 09 from article19.org (PDF)

Expanding end note — Loosing Ground.

It is our moral duty for our collective future, to stand behind our inalienable rights as citizens, and behind our fellow citizens who are not average. But it becomes evident, that the problems we are facing, can’t be solved just by the few. All the people have to take action. Because everyone has a stake in the future. Every single meter we step back, step back from the problem, is a meter we have lost.

[Via http://michaeljung.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: ABC: Two al Qaeda Leaders Behind Northwest ...