Quote It Now: February 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Response to Obama State of the Union

RTR | Tonight we heard an eloquent speech presented by a master orator. He was polished, witty, and it seemed he was very sincere in his desire to help the American people. Once again the American people basked in the gentle glow of their televisions to hear the President of the United States slide around his oath to the Constitution.

Having said that; here is a man that less than 5 weeks ago swore an oath to "protect and defend the Constitution;" who spoke for 50 minutes on the many and costly programs that were totally outside the scope of the federal government.

This is not about saving money, or banks, or car companies, this is about saving the very principles this great nation was founded upon.

What we heard tonight was nothing more than a plea to race headlong toward socialism, to spread the wealth around, as he has said before. He wants to create federal lending funds and housing rescue plans to help individual home owners (wealth redistribution). He wants to swoop down from on high with the "full force of the Federal Government" whenever any bank may be having problems and bring them to task. And may we remind the reading audience; it was that very same federal government that mandated that these banks make those loans or loose their favored bank rating. They caused the problem by their very own regulations and offer to fix it by increasing regulation and control. What this really means is more power for the central government and less power to the states.

Then he tells us how he inherited this "Great Debt" and within 30 days of taking office created the largest governmental spending in the history of the nation.

He spoke of more money for education. In effect creating a cradle to career, (his words were birth to college) to get more college level workers into the system. He spoke of providing every child the opportunity for universal education to include a college education that will cost at least a half a trillion dollars in and of itself to educate those 7 million students.

He wants to immediately establish the electronic healthcare records program. As with every other electronic system in existence, the federal government will have its fingers fully intertwined within it. And anyone who believes the government will not utilize every bit of information it has at its disposal to fulfill any of its "missions" is either ignorant of the working of our government or a fool. A possible example how this would work is: Because terrorists, who may be bringing in lethal gases, viruses, nuclear material, etc. may potentially display symptoms requiring they receive medical attention, the records of all hospitals will be made available to the federal government to ensure the safety of our nation. From here it is a small step to tie into the Center for Disease Control so they can monitor the health of the nation and be able to more accurately determine when a pandemic is occurring. Then as the government becomes more involved in banking, health insurance, etc. they will need access to determine the status of their clients. After all they (feds) are paying for it therefore they have a right to know what "their" money is doing, right?

Then there was the quickly touted claim of enacting "preventive health care." One can only be lead to believe that because you are on the government's health care system you must comply with certain requirements to ensure proper cost saving measures. One could envision a required semi-annual checkup, weekly exercise program, and calorie and meal requirements for the obese. All of this in an effort to reduce the overall cost of the healthcare system and make people healthier. Of course they will now live longer because they are so much healthier, but don't fret the 750.00 month social security pension will see you through just fine.

The issue here is not what can be done but who should be doing it.

The federal government was created by a charter that enumerates the powers of the federal government, that charter is called the Constitution for the United States. Each and every item in the Presidents speech cannot be found supported by the Constitution. Who knows better what the people of a particular state need, the people of that state, or the President? Who would be in a better position to help those in need, a President in the White House, or the legislature of the state where they reside.

What we need is for our states to stand up on their own two feet and tell the federal government enough is enough. We, the states of this union, created you and we can dismantle you. Repeal every law, ordinance, and statute that is not founded in the enumerated powers of the Constitution, stand down and let the states handle their own domestic problems. The Tenth Amendment states that all powers not enumerated in the Constitution are reserved to the states or to the people and damn it it's time we stood up.

Obey the Constitution or else!

Written by Michael LeMieux and Gary Franchi

Today in Strangeness:

On the night of February 24th, 1942, the 'Battle of Los Angeles' took place. Eyewitness reports of an unknown object or objects over Los Angeles, California, triggered a massive anti-aircraft artillery barrage. A photo posted in the LA Times showed nine beams of light converging on an aerial object. source>>>

Thousands displaced after Nigeria riots between Muslims and Christians began on Saturday.

At least 4,500 people have been displaced by sectarian violence in the northern Nigerian city of Bauchi which left 11 dead and 100 hospitalised, police said Tuesday.

"About 4,500 people have been displaced and they have been camped at two army barracks in the city", Bauchi police commissioner Adanaya Tallman Gaya told AFP after rioting between Muslims and Christians began on Saturday.

"We have recorded 11 deaths and 100 casualties in the two-day violence and our men have succeeded in making 30 arrests in connection with the disturbance", Gaya said.

The city was calm but tense on Tuesday. Troops were deployed there and seven neighbourhoods affected by the violence were under dusk-to-dawn curfew.

"The curfew is still in force, it will only be lifted when normalcy is fully restored and anybody who defies it will certainly be apprehended and prosecuted", Gaya said.

Over 200 houses, six churches and three mosques were torched, according to Bauchi Red Cross secretary Adamu Abubakar.

"We have been providing food items to the displaced but our tent supplies have been exhausted and many of the displaced sleep in the open," Abubakar said at the Shadawanka barracks where 3,000 people were sheltered.

"I'm still apprehensive and afraid to go back to my house because the situation is still tense and I can't risk my life and that of my family," said Yohanna Moses who fled to the barracks from his home.

Muslim youths went on a rampage Saturday, attacking Christians and burning churches. They said their acts were reprisals for the burning of two mosques overnight in the state capital Bauchi.

Tensions have risen in Bauchi, a city of four million, since February 13 when Pentecostal Christians barricaded a pathway used by Muslims attending Friday prayers at a nearby mosque, residents said.

Bauchi suffered bloody sectarian strife in 2004 when Muslim-Christian violence in the town of Tafawa Balewa, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) away, spilled over to the city, and houses, mosques and churches were burnt. source>>>

President Obama To Address The Nation Tuesday night at 9pm.

It's not being called a state of the union speech, but all eyes are on President Obama Tuesday night as he goes before Congress in a nationally televised address.

The Obama campaign was about hope and that may well be what tonight is about.

The President is expected to focus on the economy in tonight's speech.

Ohioans in Washington said it is critical that President Obama reassure Americans that better times are ahead, and talk optimistically about success for his stimulus plan.

"I think the President will talk knowledgeably and forthrightly about the problems we're in. I think he also will say it's going to continue for awhile, but I think he also will say there's reason for optimism longer term," said Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

"I think he also needs to talk about how the stimulus is going to create shovel-ready jobs. I don't think enough people believe that's going to happen," said Republican Sen. George Voinovich.

Making people believe is the task Tuesday night. Even Ohio republicans who voted against the stimulus plan said it's an important opportunity to convince everyone the glass is half full, not half empty. source>>>

Lawmakers Assail Chicago Bank for Golf Junket

Northern Trust came under sharp criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday following reports that the Chicago-based bank flew hundreds of employees and clients out to Los Angeles last week for a golf tournament that it sponsors and put them up in luxury hotels.

The bank, which received more than $1.5 billion in federal bailout money in October, also hired such musical performers as Chicago, Sheryl Crow and Earth, Wind & Fire to entertain the employees and clients during the tournament, paying them tens of thousands of dollars, the entertainment Web site TMZ.com reported.

Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, along with 17 Democrats on the committee, sent a letter on Tuesday to Northern Trust's chief executive, Frederick H. Waddell, demanding that the bank repay what it spent on the entertainment during the golf tournament, which ended on Sunday.

"We are dismayed and angered to learn that Northern Trust recently spent millions of dollars on a PGA golf tournament sponsorship and associated parties at the same time it has taken over $1.5 billion" from the federal government, Mr. Frank's letter said.

"This behavior demonstrates extraordinary levels of irresponsibility and arrogance," the letter said. "We insist that you immediately return to the federal government the equivalent of what Northern Trust frittered away on these lavish events."

And Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, a senior Democratic member of the Finance Committee, sought tougher action, saying he planned to introduce legislation to end "the extravagant spending practices" of banks that received taxpayer dollars.

"I'm sick and tired of picking up the newspaper and reading about another idiotic abuse of taxpayer money while our country is on the brink," Mr. Kerry said in a statement. "It's an embarrassment that this legislation is necessary, but some companies clearly need a reality check to get their priorities straight so taxpayer money is used to get their house in order and not to pay for lavish parties."

Northern Trust defended itself, saying the entertainment was part of its long-standing commitment to sponsor the golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club.

"Northern Trust signed a five-year commitment to sponsor the Northern Trust Open in the fall of 2007," a Northern spokesman told The Chicago Tribune, noting that this was signed a year before the government created the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, to provide billions of dollars of aid to banks.

"The reason Northern Trust sponsors the Open is it's an integral part of its marketing program," the spokesman said. "It's about client relationships and showing appreciation for clients."

He insisted that taxpayer money did not pay for the golf tournament or entertainment. "Northern Trust last year had net operating income of $641 million so these events were paid for by Northern Trust," the spokesman told The Tribune. "These were paid by normal operating revenues."

Northern Trust, of course, is not the only financial company to come under fire for spending money on junkets and entertainment. Most notably, the American International Group was widely criticized in October for holding a $440,000 junket for top-performing agents at the St. Regis resort in California shortly after the government stepped in with tens of billions of dollars to keep the company from collapsing.

A.I.G. was also embarrassed by a hunting trip in Britain for a handful of top executives and clients that reportedly cost $86,000. source>>>

Christians the world-over begin the 40 days of Lent.

TODAY is Ash Wednesday, the day when Christians the world-over begin the 40 days of Lent.
Thousands of believers are expected to throng various Churches to be smeared with ash to launch the fasting and repentance season.

Bishop Matthias Ssekamanya of Lugazi Catholic diocese yesterday appealed to Christians to use the period to renew themselves spiritually.

�Let�s examine ourselves and find where we went wrong,� he said.
Ssekamanya, who is also the chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, urged the Christians to save the money that they would have spent if they were not fasting and offer it to God on Palm Sunday.
He said the offertory would be sent to Pope Benedict XVI to distribute to the most needy people.

Ssekamanya encouraged the faithful to renew their relationship with their neighbours and families.
�It is the time we must help the aged, the sick, the orphans and the displaced by donating to them,� he said.

Lent ushers in the Easter celebrations, which have this year coincided with 40 days of national prayer and fasting announced by church leaders to fight against human sacrifice. source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

On February 23, 1885, English authorities attempted to hang convicted murderer John Lee. Despite three attempts at execution, the hanging gallows would not work. Bewildered by this turn of events, the court considered the unexplained malfunction to be an "act of God" and spared Lee's life. source>>>

Single Carrot Theatre's production of KILLER JOE runs through March 15th,

In media, it is said, there are three "never fails"-kids, old people and animals. Have any of these at your event, and you'll make the 6 o'clock news.

In theater, you might say, there are five never fails-smoke, gunshots, nudity, violence and adult situations. Have any of these and people might forget the bad economy and pay the $10-$15 for a ticket.

And that's just what a packed house did on a Sunday afternoon as Single Carrot Theatre presented the Baltimore premiere of noted American winning playwright Tracy Letts' KILLER JOE. Those five special characteristics are listed as a warning to viewers in Single Carrot's program, but it's less a precaution and more an invitation, particularly if you're a fan of Letts' works.

As Letts proved with his Pulitzer Prize winning play, "August: Osage County," he is adept at unearthing dramatic gold from a mine some critics claim has long since run dry-the American dysfunctional family. Letts demonstrates his skill in KILLER JOE which has future Coen Brothers screenplay adaptation write all over it.

The entire play takes place in the Texas trailer park home of Ansel Smith (Elliott Rauh), a man with no greater aspiration than to drink beer and watch reruns of "Cannon." His son, Chris (Nathan A. Cooper), gets in trouble with the wrong people, and ends up needing $6,000 to avoid being buried alive. So, in Letts' world, what do trailer trash people with no ethics or morals do to make money fast?

Conduct an inventory of family members who have taken out big money life insurance policies and whom everyone agrees serves humanity no useful purpose-in this case, Chris' mom and Ansel's ex-wife.

But who to do the murderous deed? Enter police detective and hit-man-broker "Killer Joe" Cooper (Brendan Ragan) a man whose "eyes hurt"-not themselves, but in the pain they inflict when they fix their black stare on the one bit of innocence and beauty in the Smith household, Ansel's daughter, Dottie (Genevieve de Mahy).

Joe tells Dottie about a "domestic disturbance" call, explaining that, despite this seemingly innocent term, "they're the ones where you're most likely to get hurt." The story reflects the theme of the entire play, as what starts out as a simple plan soon becomes a world of pain for everyone involved.

Joe wants $25,000 up front to commit the crime, but since he must wait til the Smiths get The Life insurance payout, Joe claims Dottie as his "retainer." Sharla (Jessica Garrett), Ansel's current wife, expects a share of the blood money, but harbors a secret that may net her much more than that.

In Letts world, it's always raining, the dog is always barking, and the Smiths--the anti-Waltons--have yet to discover the household wonder which is a wastebasket. Dottie sleepwalks, overhears the plot to murder her mother, but is fine with it, seeing as Mom tried to suffocate her when she was a child.

As my theater companion noted, "It was like a Jerry Springer episode set on stage." The play--sprinkled with humor to relieve the tension--exhibits not one, but two climatic moments: when Sharla's betrayal is discovered and Dottie finds empowerment through the barrel of a gun. Letts has a knack for "disturbance," creating scenes not unlike the proverbial car wreck. It's awful, but you just can't look away. One thing about this play is for sure-you'll never look at a bucket of KFC in quite the same way again.

Director Giti Jabaily gets first-rate performances out of the Single Carrot company. Ragan as Killer Joe never smolders, never rages. His evil is banal, as for him, all this is just another day at the office. Rauh, despite looking the same age as his "son," demonstrates an evil of another sort: selfish cowardice. Every character in this play is missing some vital piece of humanity--that core of decency and empathy we believe (or hope) to be innate, which makes us civilized, something more than a wolfpack like the Smiths who live by only one rule: survival of the fittest.

Kudos to Paul Wissman, Joey Bromfield, Adam Stover and Genevieve de Mahy for their set work, creating as depressing a home environment as may be possible, right down to the stained, duct-taped couch and the battered general electric fridge which also serves as a coat rack.

Single Carrot Theatre's production of KILLER JOE runs through March 15th, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. at 120 W. North Avenue. Tickets are $10-$15. Call the box office at 443-844-9253 or visit www.singlecarrot.com. source>>>

Today in Strangeness

On this date in 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, circling the globe three times at more than 17,000 mph. In 1934, the Utopian Society in Los Angeles started a chain-letter campaign proclaiming that "profit is the root of all evil."
source>>>

A list purporting to reveal this year's Oscar winners has sparked a flurry of betting

A list purporting to reveal this year's Oscar winners has sparked a flurry of bets on actress Amy Adams, even though organisers insist it is a fake.

The document is circulating online and while it features some of the usual suspects - Kate Winslet for best actress, Mickey Rourke for best actor and Slumdog Millionaire for best film - it springs a surprise by naming Amy Adams as best supporting actress for Doubt. Bookmakers had made Penelope Cruz favourite in that category.

It also claims the best original song award will go to Peter Gabriel for Wall-E, although AR Rahman has two nominations for Slumdog Millionaire.

Since the "leaked" list appeared this week, bookmaker Paddy Power has taken nearly £40,000 in bets on Adams, who has won nothing so far this season for her role as a young nun in John Patrick Shanley's heavyweight drama about suspected child abuse in a Catholic school.

However, Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger dismissed the document as "a complete fraud", saying auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers were still counting the ballots when it was published online. "There are only two people there who will know the complete list of winners in advance of the envelopes being opened during the ceremony. The Academy's president is not advised of the winners in advance, and no such list is created," she said.

According to the list, Danny Boyle will win best director for Slumdog Millionaire, which also wins best cinematography. Heath Ledger is named as best supporting actor for The Dark Knight, and the best adapted screenplay award will go to The Reader. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins awards for best costume design and make-up.

British bookmakers are wary after losing £100,000 in a suspecetd gambling sting surrounding Paul Weller's win at the Brit Awards. A string of bets were placed on him triumphing in the best male solo artist category, which he duly won.

The Golden Globes was also at the centre of a supposed leak after a star was placed next to best actress nominee Anne Hathaway's name on the official website two days before the ceremony. However, it turned out to be meaningless as the award went to Kate Winslet.

Leaked List:

A list purporting to reveal this year's Oscar winners has sparked a flurry of betting

A list purporting to reveal this year's Oscar winners has sparked a flurry of bets on actress Amy Adams, even though organisers insist it is a fake.

It also claims the best original song award will go to Peter Gabriel for Wall-E, although AR Rahman has two nominations for Slumdog Millionaire.

Leaked List:

Vatican angered by `blasphemous' Israel TV show

The Vatican said Friday it has formally complained to the Israeli government about a private Israeli TV show that ridiculed and blasphemed Jesus and Mary.

In the program, the host farcically denied Christian traditions -- that Mary was a virgin and that Jesus walked on water -- saying he would do so as a "lesson" to Christians who deny the Holocaust.

It was a reference to the Vatican's recent lifting of the excommunication of a bishop who denied 6 million Jews were killed during World War II. The rehabilitation sparked outrage among Jews.

A statement from the Vatican press office said its representative in Israel complained to the government about the show, which was broadcast recently on private Channel 10, one of Israel's three main TV stations.

The statement said the government quickly assured the Holy See that it would intervene to interrupt the transmission and get the broadcaster to publicly apologize. But it wasn't immediately clear how the government could do so since Channel 10 is a private station and is not subject to government censorship, except in matters of security.

Calls to Channel 10 seeking comment weren't successful Friday. The Israeli foreign ministry had no comment.

The Vatican said that in the clip, Mary and Joseph were "ridiculed with blasphemous words and images" that amounted to a "vulgar and offensive act of intolerance toward the religious sentiments of the believers in Christ."

In the show, hosted by well-known Israeli comedian Lior Shlein, Mary is said to have become pregnant at 15, thanks to a schoolmate. It said Jesus could never have walked on water because "he was so fat he was ashamed to leave the house, let alone go to the Sea of Galilee with a bathing suit."

The clip was a sarcastic response to the Vatican's rehabilitation of Bishop Richard Williamson, who said in an interview broadcast on Swedish state TV that no Jews were gassed during the Holocaust and that only 200,000 or 300,000 Jews were killed.

The Vatican's rehabilitation of Williamson sparked outrage that only abated after Pope Benedict XVI met with Jewish leaders at the Vatican last week. During his audience, the German-born pope issued a strong denunciation of anti-Semitism and said it was unacceptable for anyone -- particularly a clergyman -- to deny or minimize the Holocaust.

The Vatican has demanded that Williamson, a member of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, recant before he can be admitted as a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. On Thursday, the government of Argentina, where Williamson had been living, ordered him expelled within 10 days. It cited an immigration problem but also said his comments about the Holocaust had profoundly insulted Argentina, Jews and all of humanity.

The British-born Williamson had already been removed as director of the society's La Reja seminary. He has apologized for causing distress to the pope but has not recanted. He has said he would only correct himself if he is satisfied after a review of the evidence, but has said that would take time. source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

Born on this date in 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus is said to be the founder of modern astronomy with his heliocentric model that displaced Earth as the center of the universe. In 1847, the first rescuers reached the Donner Party in Northern California. source>>>

Comments Attorney General Eric Holder's "nation of cowards".”remarks

Attorney General Eric Holder delivered a speech yesterday to Department of Justice employees in which he said, "in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards."

The reaction from many on the right has been -- how best to put this? -- about the same as the reaction would be from many on the left if, say, the New York Post ran a cartoon depicting two white cops shooting a chimpanzee dead while making stimulus jokes.

Jimmie at The Sundries Shack:

As for his "nation of cowards" line, well, he can just kiss the fattest part of my backside. America has done more than any nation, ever, to rid itself of racism. We put the very existence of the country at risk to end slavery. We have an entire month dedicated to the history of Black Americans (who, by the way, do come from places other than Africa, thanks very much) and our televisions, radios, and newspapers do far more during that month than they do during, say, the month of May (anyone know what May is?). We still teach schoolchildren about Crispus Attucks, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King, and Harriet Tubman, to mention only a very few. We have elevated a black man and a black woman to the position of Secretary of State. We have rejected our racist past more thoroughly than any nation ever has and we have done more to atone for it than any ever will. No people have ever afforded people of every race and creed a greater opportunity to attain their dreams and live in freedom than we have right here. None ever will.

Holder disgusts me, not merely because of his apparent ignorance, but because of his arrogance. He believes that he, a man who sold his integrity for a little political gain when he pardoned killers, has the moral standing to lecture us Americans. He stood there as the Attorney General of the United States of America and slandered every single one of us without a bit of hesitation.

Jonah Goldberg at the Corner:

I find Eric Holder's comments on race both hackneyed and reprehensible. He says that America is "essentially a nation of cowards" because it doesn't talk about race enough.

First, I think this is nonsense as we talk about race a great, great, great deal in this country. Endless courses in colleges and universities, chapters in high school textbooks, movies, documentaries, after-school-specials and so on are devoted to discussing race. We even have something called "Black History Month" -- the occasion for Holder's remarks to begin with -- when America is supposed to spend a month talking about the black experience.

Second, to the extent we don't talk about race in this country the primary reason is that liberals and racial activists have an annoying habit of attacking anyone who doesn't read from a liberal script "racists" or, if they're lucky, "insensitive."

Thus "cowardice" is defined as refusal to do as your told when that would in fact be the cowardly thing to do.

At Big Hollywood, Bill Willingham writes:

Dear Mr. Holder: serious and thoughtful conversations about race aren't possible in today's American culture, where name-calling and hurled epithets are the acme of discourse. Name-calling is a conversation ender. Always. And here's some more cold water to pour on your notion: Name-calling is the proprietary weapon of the left. There's no equality of blame, no comparison. We on the right aren't "just as bad." . . .

Your side has taken itself out of the game, and until such time as you on the left can get your house in order, you aren't worth a reasonable man's time or effort.

Here's a hint though. Calling everyone a coward isn't a good place to start.

Ace at Ace of Spades:

I think the more pernicious, though less shocking statement in the speech is, "Simply put, to get to the heart of this country one must examine its racial soul." That is profoundly wrong. The soul of America is not race, it's freedom. America is an idea, a shared set of assumptions more than anything else. We are not loyal to clan, tribe, race, religion or even the land. We are the descendants of people who believed in an idea and welcomed (often imperfectly) those who shared that ideal.

That's not to say race isn't a very important element of America it clearly is. That's mainly because it's one of the most obvious ways in which the rhetoric of America did not match the reality. Yet no one who is remotely honest denies that astonishing progress has been made and continues to be made (see Obama, Barack and Holder, Eric for proof of this) despite the efforts of those who would live only in the past.

Paul at Powerline:

Here is Holder on the crucial issue of "affirmative action" (a coward's name for race-based preferences):

"There can, for instance, be very legitimate debate about the question of affirmative action. This debate can, and should, be nuanced, principled and spirited. But the conversation that we now engage in as a nation on this and other racial subjects is too often simplistic and left to those on the extremes who are not hesitant to use these issues to advance nothing more than their own, narrow self interest."

Gov.Palin will visit Native Alaskians on Friday with Samaritan's Purse CEO Franklin Graham

After weeks of criticism for allegedly not responding soon enough to fuel and food shortages in some Alaska communities, Gov. Sarah Palin has now decided she will visit a few of the struggling villages for herself. And not only that: Palin has invited a Christian relief group, run by the son of evangelist Billy Graham, to come along with her to help Alaska Natives.

The group is called Samaritan's Purse, which describes itself on its website as an "international Christian relief and evangelism organization" that "provides spiritual and physical aid to victims of war, poverty, natural disaster, and disease."

In a press release Thursday, the administration said Palin and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will travel with Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, to the communities of Marshall and Russian Mission on Friday. "Samaritan's Purse is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid across the world," the press release says. "Working with private sector and nonprofit resources, an estimated 10,000 pounds of food will be distributed to more than 200 Alaska families in need."

This response seems to kill two birds with one stone: Palin can finally say she visited the frontlines of the rural crisis, and she can hobnob with one of America's more influential evangelists, shoring up her political base with Christians across the nation who have been among her biggest supporters.

This approach will surely anger her critics, however.

The press release fails to credit the hundreds -- perhaps thousands -- of Americans who have already been donating food and money to villages like Emmonak, the community that's come to symbolize the crisis this winter. This grassroots, non-faith-based effort was prompted by several Alaska bloggers and independent journalists, and it was in direct response to allegations that the Palin adminstration had been slow in reacting to pleas from the far-flung corners of western Alaska. The results this past month have been stunning, with donations of thousands of pounds of food, diapers, clothing and other household items, as well as thousands of dolllars.

But in some ways, these results are also embarrassing. This is a rich state sitting on top of the biggest oil fields in North America, with an oil-wealth savings account of more than $30 billion. Why can't Alaska take care of its own? Why do Alaskans have to rely on ordinary Americans, or Christian groups, or the federal government, or anybody else from Outside, to ensure its rural families don't starve? This is a 100-year-old problem that Alaskans -- Native and non-Native -- must solve on their own.

The Palin adminstration insists it never turned a blind eye to these communhities, saying that "for several weeks the administration has been working with residents on the Lower Yukon in an attempt to identify their eligibility for various aid programs for communities and individuals." The press release goes on to say that, "Faith-based, non-profit groups, such as Samaritan's Purse, have partnered with state agencies and have been instrumental in providing assistance to Western Alaska in recent weeks."

The press release ends with a final note that Palin has no plans to head down to the Lower 48 this weekend:

"The governor's trip to Western Alaska, coupled with work on the economic stimulus certification requirements and budget amendments, will prevent her from attending the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., this weekend." source>>>

John Philoponus, Sixth Century Alexandrian Grammarian, Christian Theologian

John Philoponus took seriously with the Church of Jesus Christ the Light of the Word of God not only as the source of the Gospel's proclamation to the world but also as the source for the rationality of the physics of the Cosmos. The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ shone in the Creation as the 'Light of the World', and as such provided the personal reality by which both the universe and its mankind might be realized for what they ought to be in God. [1] The Mind of Christ confessed by the Church was not only the Mind of the Redeemer of the People of God but also the Mind of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The Incarnation of the Word of God and the Creation of the Speaking God in the Beginning were inseparably bound up with one another for any full explication of Christian Dogma and Theology and the physical explanation of the nature of the Cosmos. Because of the Anathema pronounced against him in 680 AD by the 6th Ecumenical Council of the Church, Philoponus' treatise on the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, the theological works of this great commentator on Aristotle have remained for the most part in obscurity for most of us. [2] The Grammarian has recently, however, begun to gain the kind of credit he deserves for his contribution to the history of science. [3] Professor Thomas F. Torrance of Edinburgh has championed the significance of the great Alexandrian for the debates about the relationship between theology and science. He argues that the way Philoponus understood the relationship would be instructive for our own time. It is through Torrance that I became acquainted with the works of Philoponus. [4]

Philoponus ('Lover of Work', 490-580 AD) belonged to the Academy at Alexandria as a Grammarian (professor) during the Emperor Justinian's reign over the Christian Empire. Debates about the Person of Jesus Christ at that time could cause great turmoil in the cities over which he attempted to rule. Monophysites and Diophysites in their struggles to understand and articulate the nature of the personal reality of the revelation of God in Christ could argue with godly passion against one another. The Empress Theodora and Justinian even differed from one another in these debates. Theodora was friendly to the eastern monophysites. Justinian tended to favor the diophysites of Rome. The problem persisted because at the Council in Chalcedon (450 AD) Pope Leo's letter on the two natures of Christ and Cyril of Alexandria's famous confession of 'the one incarnate nature of God the Word' were said to mean to say the same thing. Just how it was possible that they could mean the same thing held the Christological secret the resolution of which still occupies the Church even to our own time. How the unity of the two become one in union and communion with each other and the Father by the Spirit is not easy to explain. For his part, Justinian asked Philoponus to write a treatise that might settle the issues that had arisen, so that some closure to these debates that could rage and cause riots even in the streets of the Empire. The Church needed to reach a clear resolution of the problem so that the violence among the various parties in the disputes could be ended and the peace of the Empire might be firmly established. Thus, 'The Arbiter' came to be written around 553 AD for the 5th Ecumenical Council of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Anathema against this work came some one hundred years later. St. Thomas Aquinas thus came to know Philoponus only as a heretical Monophysite and knew nothing of his arguments against Aristotle. [5]

But Philoponos was, in his time, a consummate commentator on Aristotle. [6] The philosophical world, struggling then to harmonize Plato with his great student, the teacher of Alexander the Great, the master Aristotle, was centered in the city of Alexandria. John the Grammarian labored at its Academy purged of pagans by the Emperor Justinian. There he attempted to think together the theological and physical significance of the Word of God in relationship to the world. Because of John's belief in the teaching of Moses, that the Creation was created out of nothing by the Word of God, he could argue at crucial points with the Master of Greek Philosophy and Physics. Against the Greek vision of the world and the kind of necessities it had posited between the Creator and the Cosmos, Philoponus sought to argue for the rational contingency of the intelligibility of the cosmos based upon its creation out of nothing by the speaking of God in the Beginning. The contingency of the world's Beginning out of nothing was transcendently grounded, independent of God's nature, in God's divine freedom to speak into existence all of created reality, the heavens and the earth, its mankind as His Image, and His Sabbath relationship with them in the Creation. [7] The Cosmos was given existence and motion by the Creator in the Beginning with the divine freedom of His holy love and will and as such was absolutely dependent upon Him for its independent nature and being. As such, it possessed in and of itself no necessity for its existence and subsistence. It could not have been or it could have been something other than it is. The Creation possesses actuality and potentiality that is something out of nothing, the impossibility for Greek thought. But because of the speaking of the divine and sovereign will of a free God, the world is what it is with its mankind in it. It possesses neither an arbitrary 'nature' nor a necessary 'nature' in its relationship with its Creator. It is what it is in its independent 'nature' dependent absolutely upon the divine will for being what it is. It thus possesses a contingent necessity in relation to God, the rationality and intelligibility of which reflects the created and creative freedom of the will of the freely speaking God. The nature of the universe is a contingent nature utterly different from God's nature and yet absolutely dependent upon Him for its being. [8]

This concept of God in His relationship to the world may be contrasted with the god who is the immutable First Cause and the impassable Unmoved Mover in a divine and necessary relationship with the Cosmos of Greek philosophy. As such, the God of the Judeo-Christian traditions may be mutable but He is utterly constant. He may be changeable but He is absolutely faithful in His relationship to the world and its mankind. Without being arbitrary, God is free with Himself in relationship to His Creation to be faithful and constant to what He has created and made and sustains in its existence as being independent from His own life. The Greek concept of God caused a deep confusion between cosmology and theology and was a dead-end to science, as we know it in our time. The Judeo-Christian God provides the ground upon which a scientific culture can be pursued. This is a fact not well enough appreciated in our time.

The Christian doctrine of God affirms that God and the universe must be distinguished from one another and that there is no necessary relationship between them, without positing any possibility that they can be divorced from one another or by some mythology related to each other. As such, this concept of God gives permission and perhaps even makes it a duty of mankind to develop a scientific culture free from the phantom necessities of the Greek aberration regarding the heavens and the earth and the relationship of their wholeness to their Creator. [9] God related Himself to His Creation with the same transcendent freedom with which He created the Beginning. With the same freedom, He sustains it in its being independent of Himself, and with that same freedom He gives telic significance to its destiny with Himself. Creation out of nothing means Creation for something. [10] But for the Greeks, nothing could be created out of 'nothing' and the world, longing for the Golden Age of Man in the past, must possess a necessity that ties up its rationality eternally with the Divine Logos of the Creator God. [11] To let go of this 'necessary' relation between the Creator and the Cosmos was for the Greek Mind blasphemous. John Philoponus' rational contingency of the universe was unintelligible to many and his argument for it won him many enemies both pagan and Christian.

But with this doctrine well in hand, Philoponus could deny cogency to Aristotle's concept of the 'Eternity of the World' and the fifth substance, sometimes called the 'aether', he posited for the divine nature of the celestial orders of the Cosmos. He also conceived of an 'impetus theory' against Aristotle's theories of motion that would be eventually employed and developed by Copernicus, Galileo, and the great Isaac Newton. He thought that the light of the heavens with the light that was produced by creatures upon the earth both belonged to a wholeness that was the Creation of the Logos of the Creator. The split between heavenly form and motion and earthly experiences of temporal matters, common in Aristotelian logic and physics, could not and did not belong to the eyes of the Christian faith. Professor Sambursky on John Philoponus is worth quoting here: [12]

"However, of greatest important is Philoponus' cosmology, based upon his monotheism. Believing that heaven and earth were both created by God ex nihilo he vehemently attacked Aristotle's assumptions with regard to the eternity of the universe and its dichotomy into a heavenly and sublunary region. In particular he tried to disprove by physical considerations Aristotle's belief that the sun and the stars consisted of aether, and claimed that they were sources of fire of the same kind as terrestrial fires, being like those subject to creation and decay. Moreover, he declared that all matter everywhere is nothing but tri-dimensional extension and in this respect, too, there is no difference between heaven and earth. Philoponus' philosophy found no echo in his time, and twelve hundred years had to pass until the impact of Galileo's ideas brought about a complete change in scientific thought."

Because of these ideas, Philoponus was much maligned by one Simplicius, who considered the Grammarian something of a maniac. Simplicius' opposition to John was so fierce that Galileo named his adversary in the 'Dialogues' Simplicio, after the old adversary of Philoponus. [13] But history has recognized the cogency of Philoponus in these disputes. His concept of the nature of the Cosmos as coming from the Hand of the Creator made known to us in the world through the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ still finds resonance even with some of the cosmologies emerging since the development of the science of the great Albert Einstein and his theory of light and gravity in our modern scientific culture. [14] In any case, it seems clear that the fecundity of the concept of the contingent rationality and intelligibility of the creation in the beginning out of nothing is evident for science as well as for theology. The speaking of God can be heard with benefit for the development of science across the centuries. The speaking of in His Incarnation in time and space may be heard fruitfully even in our scientific speculations. In the ancient world, John Philoponus definitely championed this doctrine in theology and science with great success, as we are beginning to see.

It was the kinetic application of this doctrine that provided the dynamical thinking of Philoponus with a way to understand both the nature of God and the nature of the world. The doctrine of the Incarnation of the Word of the Triune God gave the Alexandrian the ground upon which he sought to build up his concept of the one personal reality of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. With the same divine freedom that God created in the Beginning, He became a man in the world for the purpose of giving mankind a new beginning in His new creation. The nature of the Creation was conceived as open to God in such a way that God was free not only to sustain it in its existence but also to enter into it with His own Being and Nature. The contingent nature of the Creation was open to the divine interaction of the non-contingent nature of the Word that had created it in the Beginning. The nature of the Cosmos possessed a contingent intelligibility and rationality that was, even in its independence of the nature of God, absolutely dependent upon Him for its nature's existence, subsistence, and destiny. Thus, Philoponus brought to the table of theoretical thought a new concept of nature>. [15] It was a term that could refer to a created reality that was freely rooted with its being in the uncreated reality and freedom of the Creator and Redeemer of the world. Nature was a term that possessed a double significance, depending upon that reality to which it sought to refer its reader, whether in theory or in experience. [16] Thus the term nature in the thought of John Philoponus depended for its meaning upon that to which it was intended to point its readers. This could be said equally for all the terms that became important to the arguments about the divine and human natures of the Person of Christ. If we attempt to interpret John according to definitions obtained from Aristotelian categories, we will inevitably misunderstand him. His use of the genus and species categories of the class-exclusion way of defining a thing never employed in any static, merely logical, manner by the Alexandrian. He might employ terms borrowed from these categories, but he transformed their significance to serve, dynamically and kinetically, what he wished to confess about Jesus Christ and the light that He provided for understanding these terms. [17] Without appreciating this point, it is difficult to expect any reader of Philoponus to understand the way he attempted to meet the appointment of his Emperor to write an argument for Christ that would allow monophysite and diophysites alike to come to some agreement in the Empire.

Chalcedon's confession had proclaimed the two natures of the one person of Jesus Christ in line with Nicea's homoousial relation between the Father and the Son of God. Its hypostatic union of the natures was to be conceived as a unity that was one in being with the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. The two natures were to be conceived as a union without confusing or mixing them and without separating or dividing them. Pope Leo's Tome at the council and Cyril of Alexandria's confession were thus said to mean the same thing. The 'one incarnate nature of God and the Word' and the two natures of the Word become flesh both intended to witness to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The council thought that it had thus resolved the issues and was adjourned. However, the question about the two natures in Leo's Tome and the one incarnate nature of Cyril's confession persisted. What did the Church mean when it confessed the two natures as the one incarnate reality of the Word become flesh, Jesus Christ, in the world? Chalcedon with its four adverbs surely taught the Church how not to think about Christ. Over against every docetic or adoptionistic notions about Him, He was proclaimed a unity that possessed both a divine nature and a human nature without changing the one into the other and without positing anything that could divorce them from one another in their real union. Obviously, here was a knot not easily untied with any a priori notions about the way the divine was free to relate Himself with the humanity of His Creation. Philoponus attempted to articulate the reality he faced with a dynamical way of thinking I believe was far ahead of, too far perhaps, of his contemporaries. I believe we should associate his thought with the disciplines he enjoyed as one of the 'Philoponoi', zealots devoted to a godliness of life that by faith in Christ might witness to the Blessed Trinity of the One God, the great God who was the Creator and Redeemer of the All, heavens, earth, and its generations, including mankind made in His Image.

For Philoponus, the problem of thinking of the Incarnation in relationship with the Creation of the Lord God was bound up with the problem of thinking together the whole and its parts. He illustrated his thought by referring to various ways the problems are resolved with specific matters. The parts of a house, for instance, were related to their whole by summation. Each of the parts of a house occupy their own place in the space of the house and one only need add up these places together in a specific manner in order to arrive at the whole that the house defines. The bronze statue of a man, on the other hand, did not resolve the problem of its whole and its parts in the same manner. The parts of the statue did not occupy their own space. The metal and the form of the man both occupied the same space. The whole was not achieved merely by numerating the parts in any way. We may say the whole is an aesthetic whole and not merely a numerable whole. We grasp the whole not by summation but by artistic appreciation. [18] In the case of the Incarnation, we are faced with a reality that neither number rationality nor spatial intelligibility can actually grasp. The divine nature of the Incarnation is bound up with the divine freedom the Word of God to achieve a union and communion between the non-contingent reality of God and the contingency of all created reality. This union and communion is achieved in order to fulfill the ancient covenanted promises of the Lord God with Israel and the Church. Human nature is that which the Word has freely and holily assumed with His own divine power and purposes in that covenanted history with Israel and the House of David. Outside of this assumption, the freedom of the race is employed, even though sustained by the Creator, in opposition against Him and His history with Israel. In Him, the divine and human freedoms of the natures are given union and communion with the nature of God Himself. Human freedom is what it ought to be, then, as embedded in the divine freedom of God to act to make freedom correspond to Himself in relationship with His Creation. Torrance has written: [19]

"His creation of the universe out of nothing, however, far from meaning that the universe is characterized by sheer necessity either in its relation to God or within itself, implies that it is given a contingent freedom of its own, grounded in the transcendent freedom of God and maintained through his free interaction with the universe. It was this doctrine of the freedom of the creation contingent upon the freedom of God which liberated Christian thought from the tyranny of the fate, necessity, and determinism which for the pagan mind was clamped down upon creaturely existence by the inexorably cyclic processes of a self-sufficient universe. Just as there is an order in the universe transcendently grounded in God, so there is a freedom in the universe transcendentally ground in the freedom of God."

It was this freedom that was implicit in the thought of John Philoponus and his efforts to articulate in the coming of the Word of God, the Creator in the Beginning, as the man Jesus Christ into the world. In Him, the non-contingent freedom and the contingent freedom were made to resonate in the Light God is in the world in order that the Creator might be known for who He truly is by the human race.

For such an assumption as this, there is no analogy to be found in the space and time of the Cosmos. Every effort to interpret the Incarnation from within the Creation without the Light of this Word is lost upon the reality it intends to convey to us. The relationship of the Incarnation to the Creation is fundamental for understanding the relationship of God's freedom to the world. This is the Word that lives eternally without space and time and that has assumed a human nature within space and time with His own being and nature from the wholeness of God's being and nature. The wholeness of the Incarnation is embedded in the wholeness of the Lord God and in the nature of the freedom of His Being as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Blessed Trinity and the Great I-AM He truly is in covenanted promise in the history of His People in His Creation. I believe it is this freedom, inherent in the meaning of the new reality the Incarnation signifies with us, that causes us so much difficulty. We want to sum the parts based upon an interpretive framework of thought that does not belong to freedom of the Word of God to make Himself heard within the dynamical structures of the orders of a free Creation. We need to develop concepts that are faithful to this freedom in all of its dimensionality. [20]

Thus, the particular nature of the humanity of the Word is, like the creation out of nothing in the Beginning, a created reality that is what it is as this Word of God in His freedom with us. He is free to go outside of Himself and become what He is not, a man, while remaining who He truly is, the Eternal Son, and as such to relate Himself redemptively to a world that is His Creation. No space or time travel is conceived for the Incarnation of this Word. Rather space and time are defined anew by the flesh of this Word. This is the Word who has chosen with Himself in His divine and creative freedom to interact with Man in His Creation in order to keep in His flesh the promise made to Israel and the House of David. The resolution of the problem of the whole and the parts is resolved in the actuality of this new reality in the world, a reality that is new for God as well as for mankind. No doubt, it is this freedom's singularity and newness that we must face that gives us so much difficulty. Uniqueness, singularity, and the rationality of the reality of the world in this freedom cause us deep problems with what existence is in this world.

It is important to remember in the freedom of this way with us that the Father did not become incarnate. Nor did the Spirit become incarnate in this world. But the Eternal Son and Word of God became incarnate among us. With the same divine freedom that belonged to the Creator in the Beginning, the Redeemer has made space and time for Himself in the face of Jesus Christ. In this particular nature, the Word become flesh, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth is to be known as the Revelation of His Father among us. It is by the Spirit of this Word's revelation of the Father that we may know Him for who He truly is, the Lord God within a Cosmos that is His Creation. Thus, He is the Light of the World. He is the Great I-AM the Lord God is with His People in His Creation. The Incarnation is to the New Testament in this way what the Voice in the Burning Bush in to Moses and the Old Testament. He is the Creator and Redeemer in real relation with the world. He is thus in Himself the resolution of the problem of the whole and the parts for us, in which resolution there is realized with us the reality of the being and nature of the Word of the Blessed Trinity Himself come in the fullness of time to the town of Bethlehem in the God's world. Thus, the Incarnation brings without analogy among the created realities of the world the great peace of God with us.

We need to understand that number rationality cannot grasp this wholeness for us. Spatial or temporal rationality cannot define the intelligibility of this reality with us. The secret of its nature is hidden in the very nature of God Himself, One Being as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not a whole with its parts in such a way that it can be pictured or imaged in any analogy we might seek to find within the Creation. Some sort of image-less knowing is uniquely necessary and must occur with us if we are to understand the actuality of its being and nature in existence in the world. [21] A dynamical and structured way must be found to hold together the experience and the theory of the history and transcendence of this reality. This is what Philoponus sought to do. As we have already said, his thought was unintelligible to many in his own time. The fact that this way of knowing was difficult for people to understand then I believe gained for the theological work of Philoponus the condemnation his work eventually experienced in the history of the Church. But given the progress we have made in our scientific culture today, are the dynamical structures of his thought really all that beyond us in our time? Given the way we are learning to deal with the invisible structures of space and time in relation to our experience of them in General Relativity and Quantum Theory and our modern struggle to understand the wholeness and particulars of our universe, would not the Alexandrian's efforts be much more within our grasp now? Could we not get over the tendency towards reductionism in our way of interpreting realities and give ourselves to an open structured understanding of the relationship of God to the world, one disciplined by the reality of the actual way he has taken to make Himself known among us?

If we are able, with Philoponus' thinking on the Incarnation, to take seriously the image-less kind of knowing that is necessary to think together the divine nature of God Himself and the human nature He has become for our sakes in the world, then I believe we will be in a much better position to learn to proclaim the Gospel to our modern scientific culture in our future. It was with this way of knowing that allowed Philoponus to seek for Justinian a resolution to the debates about the Person of Jesus Christ. He sought to articulate the real unity and compelling union of the nature of the uncreated Light of the Word from God's own Eternity come to be with the particular nature of an individual man who with his created light in our time and our space revealed His Father to all mankind. With this new reality and its unity and union in place, with its hour come round at last, when eternity and time were made to meet as one, and God and man were made as one in the space of a symphony of light whose resonance was heard as the light of the light of our Creator, the Word of God was proclaimed to all the world. There is in this symphony a profundity to be heard that I believe the world hungers for today. To hear in this unity of opposites in their actual resolution reaching with its meaning to take us with its real knowledge of God far beyond ourselves into our destiny with the coming of our Creator and Redeemer for us is to know what is good and why we were made as men and women in this world. Here we are made able to think in terms of the significance of those real transcendent relations by which God rules over our space and time and by which our space and time are given actual relationship with His freedom to make Himself present in our space and time. In this freedom, we may understand that our space and time are given actual relationship with God's space and time for us. Here, we may actually be able to learn to hear the meaning of our space and time as embedded in the space and time where the light of the Light of the Word of God, our Creator and Redeemer, actually gives significance to us in His New Creation. It seems to me that, if we were able to follow the thought of John Philoponus along these lines, we could find that, at the boundaries of the being of the natures of mankind and the universe, there is a Word of God for us, and there is a freedom for us, a human freedom for us, actually embedded in the divine freedom of the Great I-AM to be who He truly is with us. There we would be in touch with a creativity that has steadily, whether we believe it or not, been the source of our development and progress in understanding the world where we have our being and the significance of humanity within its dynamical structures and orders.

Perhaps now that the Anathema is being removed and the condemnation that has veiled this great man's work has begun to be lifted, the time has come for a fresh reading of 'The Arbiter' and a new grasp of the wholeness of Man with the wholeness of the Lord God in the wholeness of the Universe, when every particular reality will be understood in the light of its wholeness in God's Word for us. Perhaps, as Philoponus proves himself to be a forerunner in the ancient world to our modern scientific culture, we may gain from him also some real progress for our theological understanding. He may yet prove himself to be a great help to us in understanding the Incarnation of our Savior and His relationship with the space and time of the Lord's Creation, in which we live our lives today. source>>>

Today in Strangeness ( from Coast to Coast)

The dwarf planet Pluto was discovered on the same day in 1930 as a cow flew-- in an airplane, that is. The creature known as Elm Farm Ollie was milked in mid-flight, with her milk sealed in paper containers and dropped by parachute over St. Louis. source>>>

Text size: increase text sizedecrease text size Removing the stink from politics

One of the greatest metaphors in American law is the one about the poisonous tree. It's about evidence. You cannot admit evidence that was not legally obtained. It is like fruit that falls from a poisonous tree, so tainted that it is dangerous to consume. It has to be rejected.

I think we have reached that stage now in the troubling story of Illinois' attempt to appoint a replacement for President Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. Everyone connected to the process has been tainted, poisoned beyond any use.

The latest chapter in this strange story has Sen. Roland Burris, apparently the last mess former Gov. Rod Blagojevich left on the desk before he was impeached, admitting he actually did discuss fundraising with the governor's brother in advance of his Senate appointment.

The parsing of this will no doubt take quite a while. The story is likely to change again, a clear sign that someone is not being truthful someplace.

It is very easy to lie. Telling it is not the hard part.

It is not very easy to get away with a lie because, forevermore, you have to remember exactly what you said. When you get beyond simple statements, "I like cheese," for example, and into "Sometimes, I like cheese in casseroles and on pizza but not necessarily by itself," it gets too complicated to remember. A cheesy embarrassment is likely to ensure.

That's what we have here, a cheesy embarrassment.

I think we need to recognize the nature of what the people of Illinois are facing in the wake of the former governor's behavior, and for that matter, the governor before him too.

I fear the metaphor of the poisonous tree applies as well to Illinois politics as it applies to law. Anyone who touched that man or his way of doing business has become tainted beyond repair. There is no soap strong enough to get rid of that blemish.

Illinois (and certainly Chicago) has been through these kinds of embarrassments before. We love to label these things, "pay to play" and so on. But we are reluctant to attack them with the aggression they deserve because, in cutting out that tumor, you frequently find you have killed the patient.

What happens to Burris happens to Burris. My sense is he deserves whatever is coming.

But I think to address this problem, the state has to recognize two realities: 1) It was not created solely by the despised former governor, and 2) It has tainted just about everyone you can think of, either directly or by association.

Walk through this system and you get dirty. This, of course, is not true of everyone. But we have no way of sorting out the mess. So I think we should just change the conversation.

In the old days (and in this case, I'm referring to the very old days) a panel of clear-minded and decent citizens would have emerged to sound the clarion and push so hard for reform that it would have to happen.

We need that now, call it a Panel of 50, call it whatever you want. It should find some way to form itself from the ether and tap a candidate for the Senate position first and for the governor's race later and for any other significant race in the interim. It should urge boycotts of any fundraising efforts but its own. It should put tight limits on what money it can raise and how it can be used.

It should be nonpartisan and exist beyond the network and control of contemporary Democratic or Republican politics in Illinois. Its issue should be corruption and it should make loud noises until that problem is solved.

It should present a slate of candidates for public office who are in no way connected to the poisonous tree that has sprouted and thrived and now infests government and politics, root and branch.

New faces, please. It's time. source>>>

Shocking report; "Adolf Hitler Had Terrible Table Manners" This Is The Last Straw!

Adolf Hitler's uncouth behavior and shocking table manners appalled his wartime dining companions, according to a secret intelligence report discovered while cleaning out a house.

The papers, marked "Must be destroyed within 48 hours of reading", include a psychological profile of the Nazi dictator based on the interrogation of one of his closest aides.

The aide, an officer who kept the appointments diary at Wolf's Lair, Hitler's military headquarters at Rastenburg in East Prussia, described how the Führer bit his nails during meals, gorged on cakes and was often lost in his own thoughts, paying little attention to the conversation around him. He also spoke about the rages that kept Hitler's senior officers in a state of constant terror.

The papers are part of an intelligence summary prepared as the war neared its end and are believed to have been saved by a British officer. They were found at a house in the South West and are to be sold at auction next month.

The unnamed German officer, a lieutenant colonel referred to as PW -- prisoner of war -- was based at Wolf's Lair for several months in 1943. He dined with Hitler at least 30 times and observed his daily routine. He told the Allies that Hitler would eat only vegetables and stewed fruit and banned smoking in his presence. His meals would be accompanied by one or two glasses of beer.

"Hitler eats rapidly, mechanically, for him food is merely an indispensable means of subsistence," PW said. Conversation at the dinner table relaxed Hitler and stimulated his thoughts. When he spoke it was "in mellow baritone, without that raucous, unpleasant stridency of his public speeches."

Infinite Love heals; A Christian Science perspective on daily life.

For Christians, reliance on prayer for healing is nothing new. It goes back to the time of Christ Jesus and his apostles. Jesus healed the sick without drugs, and he set an example for all, declaring that his method of healing physical disease by spiritual means was not for him alone.

The Bible teaches the importance of looking to the divine consciousness for deliverance from distress. For example, Philippians states, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (2:5), and Romans declares, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (12:2).

It's possible to get rid of wrong thinking or mentality, and embrace within us the mind "which was also in Christ Jesus." To do this involves recognizing, at least to a degree, that we are spiritual, not material - that we are the children of divine Mind. In this Mind there is not a single negative quality or any superstition or limited belief. The human consciousness is renewed by replacing matter-based beliefs about life and health with a Christ-like consciousness of all good coming from infinite Mind. The Christ is universal, the voice of divine Truth, which is always speaking to us of God's love. As this renewing process goes on, sickness, suffering, and other discordant conditions begin to disappear and give place to healing and salvation.

For over a century, students of Christian Science have been healing through prayer, including some cases deemed incurable by physicians. Christian Science healing in every case is spiritual, resulting from the operation of divine Truth in human consciousness. It involves a shift of thought from the basis of material thinking to divine consciousness, which reveals the universal laws of God, good, always in operation. It is not from the action of one human mind on another, or from human will, hypnotism, or mental suggestion.

Spiritual being is briefly summarized in this passage in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy: "Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual" (p. 468). Since God is Spirit, it follows naturally that His creation or likeness is spiritual and good, not material and sinning or even sick. This follows strictly the Scriptural teaching in Genesis: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.... And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (1:27, 31). Knowing this is true healing prayer, in which we acknowledge God, divine Mind, as the source of intelligence, strength, health, life, and our very existence.

Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, concluded that a God who possesses infinite wisdom and goodness could not operate through laws that produce both good and evil. She understood that God is only good and governs His children and His universe through spiritual, not material, laws. After a critical injury in 1866, she found comfort and transforming inspiration in the healing works of Jesus, and, as she put it, "...the healing Truth dawned upon my sense; and the result was that I rose, dressed myself, and ever after was in better health than I had before enjoyed" ("Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896," p. 24). She described that moment of enlightenment: "That short experience included a glimpse of the great fact that I have since tried to make plain to others, namely, Life in and of Spirit; this Life being the sole reality of existence."

Mrs. Eddy became a prominent Christian healer and teacher. She devoted her life to that mission and founded a Church "designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" ("Manual of The Mother Church," p. 17). Today, Christian Science healing is practiced throughout the world. source>>>

House, Senate Plan Ticketmaster Hearings

About a week after promotion giant Live Nation formally announced its intention to buy Ticketmaster, a company that does much of its concert ticket business on the Internet, Congress is getting involved. Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl, D-Wis., has announced a Feb. 24 hearing that will examine the deal and what it means for consumers and the future of the concert business. He and the subcommittee's top Republican, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, issued a statement shortly after the company's announcement saying the merger should be closely reviewed. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy has also announced a similar hearing on Feb. 26. Witnesses for the hearings have not yet been announced.

"Any merger between two companies who would otherwise compete against each other raises significant antitrust concern when those companies already have significant market power," House Subcommittee Chairman Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said, noting the proposed merger "deserves serious scrutiny for any anticompetitive impact." House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers added the hearing would be the first test of the Obama administration's antitrust policy. Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., was the first to speak out about the deal as well as recent allegations that Ticketmaster sent Bruce Springsteen fans to a subsidiary Web site that sold concert seats at a premium cost. source>>>

Beheading in New York Appears to Be Honor Killing, Experts Say, (oh!not just a Pycopathic Killing)

The beheading of 37-year-old Aasiya Hassan has all the markings of an honor killing, psychologists and Islamic experts tell FOXNews.com, as the upstate New York woman's husband awaits a preliminary hearing on murder charges.

Muzzammil Hassan, 44, remains jailed after being charged with the second-degree murder of his wife, whose body was found Thursday at the office of Bridges TV, their television station in Orchard Park, near Buffalo.

Orchard Park Police Chief Andrew Benz said Hassan has not confessed to the crime, despite media reports to the contrary.

"He came in and said his wife was dead," said Benz, who declined to elaborate on the particulars of his conversation with the suspect.

But Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita III left no doubt that he believes Muzzammil Hassan killed his wife. Hassan will appear for a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Orchard Park. If convicted of second-degree murder, he faces up to life in prison.

"He's a pretty vicious and remorseless bastard," Sedita told FOXNews.com Tuesday. "Whether he was motivated by some kind of interpretation of his religious or cultural views, we don't know. We'll look into everything in the case."

Asked if the murder is being probed as an honor killing, Benz replied, "We've been told that there's no place for that kind of action in their faith, but I wouldn't say that there's anything that's being completely ruled out at this point."

But psychologists and some American Muslims said the slaying has all the markings of an honor killing.

"The fierce and gruesome nature of this murder signals it's an honor killing," said Dr. Phyllis Chesler, an author and professor of psychology at the Richmond College of the City University of New York. "What she did was worthy of capital punishment in his eyes."

Following multiple episodes of domestic violence, Aasiya Hassan filed for divorce on Feb. 6 and obtained an order of protection that barred her husband from their home, according to attorney Elizabeth DiPirro, whose law firm, Hogan Willig, represented Aasiya Hassan in the divorce proceeding.

Chesler, who wrote "Are Honor Killings Simply Domestic Violence?" for Middle East Quarterly, said some Muslim men consider divorce a dishonor on their family.

"This is not permitted in their culture," said Chesler, whose study analyzed more than 50 reports of honor killings in North America and Europe. "This is, from a cultural point of view, an honor killing."

Chesler said honor killings typically are Muslim-on-Muslim crimes and largely involve teenage daughters, young women and, to a lesser extent, wives.

But Chesler said the "extremely gruesome nature" of the crime closely matches the characteristics of an honor killing.

"Leaving the body parts displayed the way he did, like a terrorist would do, that's very peculiar, it's very public," Chesler said. "He wanted to show that even though his business venture may have been failing, that he was in control of his wife."

Chesler called on U.S. and Canadian immigration authorities to inform potential Muslim immigrants and new Muslim citizens that it's illegal to abuse women in the two countries.

"As long as Islamist advocacy groups continue to obfuscate the problem, and government and police officials accept their inaccurate versions of reality, women will continue to be killed for honor in the West, such murder may even accelerate," Chesler wrote. "Unchecked by Western law, their blood will be on society's hands."

M. Zuhdi Jasser, founder and chairman of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, agreed with Chesler.

"It certainly has all the markings of [an honor killing]," Jasser told FOXNews.com. "She expressed through the legal system that she was being abused, and at the moment she asked for divorce, she's not only murdered -- she's decapitated."

Muzzammil and Aasiya Hassan founded Bridges TV in November 2004 to counter anti-Islam stereotypes, touting the network as the "first-ever full-time home for American Muslims," according to a 2004 press release.

Jasser said he was concerned that Aasiya Hassan suffered such a barbaric death after she and her husband were seen as a couple focused on bettering the "Islamic image" in the United States.

"The most dangerous aspect of this case is to simply say it's domestic violence," Jasser told FOXNews.com.

In a 1,300-word statement, Islamic Society of North America Vice President Imam Mohammed Hagmagid Ali said the organization was "shocked and saddened" by the killing.

"This is a wake up call to all of us, that violence against women is real and can not be ignored," the statement read. "It must be addressed collectively by every member of our community."

Ali called on imams and community leaders to take a "strong stand" against domestic violence, and he denounced the link of shame and divorce among Muslims.

"Women who seek divorce from their spouses because of physical abuse should get full support from the community and should not be viewed as someone who has brought shame to herself or her family," the statement continued. "The shame is on the person who committed the act of violence or abuse. Our community needs to take a strong stand against abusive spouses."

Meanwhile, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, a producer and host for Bridges TV who worked alongside the Hassans, said "now is not the time" to debate the cultural and religious context of the murder that appears to be an honor killing inspired by Aasiya Hassan's desire to divorce her husband.

"There will be time for that later," Hirschfield said in a statement obtained by FOXNews.com. "I will only say to those who leap to the conclusion that this kind of thing is intrinsic to Islam, ask yourselves if you think that drunkenness is intrinsic to Irish Catholics, or cheating in business is to Jews?"
source>>>

Tarantino Gives Nazi-Haters a Different Type of Holocaust Movie

Nobody does bloody like Quentin Tarantino, with his chatty rat-a-tat dialogue that matches a machine gun that makes the same noises. All you have to do is look at the scene in "Pulp Fiction" where Marvin buys the farm in an old-style sedan (violent clip), and you'll remember what I mean.

Now QT's applying his evisceratingly violent lens to the new film (which is correctly spelled, even though it seems like it isn't) "Inglourious Basterds," as he kills Nazis like no filmmaker has before. In fact, in PageSix, they describe the film as "a slaughterfest in which hundreds of Nazis are gleefully executed in the most gruesome ways possible"-- including machine gunning and scalping.

According to the article, the titular Basterds are "a team of 'Bowery Boy Jews seemingly right from the heart of Hell's Kitchen' who are out to collect 100 Nazi scalps each." Still reading?

An insider said: "The Nazis really get their comeuppance. It's a big change from all the downbeat Holocaust films over the holidays," referring to "The Reader," "Valkyrie," "Defiance," "Good," "Adam Resurrected" and "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas."

Tarantino told Empire magazine that one Scene, set in a basement bar, will resemble " 'Reservoir Dogs' but with Nazis and in German." He adds: "The Basterds are acting like the Apaches in a no-win situation."

Most of us have no sympathies for Nazis (and their sympathizers), but is the world ready for such graphic violence, even if Brad Pitt's helming the scalping, and the scalpees are Hitler's followers? People are still people, and much of Holocaust behavior has been explained as "man's inhumanity to man." So what does this kind of violence-- even within the context of an understandable vengeance on evil-- achieve? Should we revel in a victim's revenge over his oppressors? I guess we'll see soon enough: The crowd at Cannes will catch the film first this spring, and then QT will unleash it on the rest of the world. source>>>

Pope Benedict tells US Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Reject abortion support

Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday told U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development."

Pelosi is the first top Democrat to meet with Benedict since the election of Barack Obama, who won a majority of the American Catholic vote despite differences with the Vatican on abortion.

The Vatican released the pope's remarks to Pelosi, saying Benedict spoke of the church's teaching "on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death." That is an expression often used by the pope when expressing opposition to abortion.

Benedict said all Catholics -- especially legislators, jurists and political leaders -- should work to create "a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."

In an e-mail issued by her office, Pelosi did not mention the allusion to abortion.

She said it was with "great joy" that she and her husband, Paul, met with Benedict.

"In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church's leadership in fighting poverty, hunger and global warming, as well as the Holy Father's dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel," she said.

The 15-minute meeting was closed to reporters and photographers. The two met in a small room off a Vatican auditorium after the pope's weekly public audience.

The Vatican said it was not issuing a photo of the meeting -- as it usually does when the pope meets world leaders -- saying the encounter was private. The statement said the pope "briefly greeted" Pelosi and did not mention any other subject they may have discussed.

A number of the bishops in the United States have questioned Pelosi's stance on abortion, particularly her theological defense of her support for abortion rights.

Benedict has cautiously welcomed Obama's new Democratic administration, although several American cardinals have sharply criticized its support for abortion rights. The new stance is a sharp break from government policy under former President George W. Bush.

Pelosi had meetings with Italian leaders in the past few days, including Premier Silvio Berlusconi. source>>>

Copenhagen's Little Mermaid going to China in 2010

The Little Mermaid will leave Denmark for the first time in its nearly 100-year history.

The City of Copenhagen decided Wednesday to send the landmark statue to next year's World Exhibition in Shanghai, where it will stand at the center of Denmark's official pavilion.

The statue has been sitting in Copenhagen's harbor since 1913, and draws at least 1 million visitors a year. It was created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen as a tribute to Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.

Her international fame grew after she was first beheaded in 1963. Since then she has been vandalized and repaired repeatedly. source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

It was on this date in 1795 that a man yanked a 17 lb. potato from his garden in Chester, England. Hello tater tots!... Drifting back further to the year 1600, Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for his heretical views on the plurality of worlds. source>>>

Fears about shots are endangering our kids

You can feel deeply for parents of autistic children and still applaud a court decision finding no link between autism and the MMR vaccine. Piles of studies reach the same conclusion. A new London Times report casts doubt on the original research. Meanwhile, alarmed parents skip their kids' shots. And measles, nearly conquered, is back. source>>>

Israel's tangled political trio sorting out election results

The three big players in Israel's leadership struggle first crossed paths in 1996, when a rising politician named Avigdor Lieberman helped a former intelligence agent land her first high-level government job.
Discuss
COMMENTS (6)

Avigdor Lieberman has the power to determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu or Tzipi Livni will become Israel's next prime minister.

NEXT MOVE

Lieberman, who was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-hand man at the time, resigned the following year and became his bitter rival. But Lieberman and the ex-spy, Tzipi Livni, then both 39, remained friends.

Today Lieberman has the power to determine almost single-handedly whether Netanyahu or Livni will become Israel's next prime minister. Their tangled relationships in the intimate world of Israeli politics suggests that his choice is not clear-cut.

Both Netanyahu, the conservative opposition leader, and the more moderate Livni, who is now foreign minister, are claiming victory in last week's national election. Both are feverishly courting Lieberman, whose ultranationalist party finished third in the voting. The bargaining intensifies this week as they compete to gather a majority of the 120 members of the new Knesset, Israel's parliament, into a governing coalition.

Whomever Lieberman sides with, if he sides with anyone, is almost certain to prevail.

"Both are promising the world," said Danny Ayalon, who was elected to Knesset on Lieberman's ticket.

Netanyahu is said to have offered Lieberman any Cabinet post he wants. Livni has pledged to adopt key planks of his platform. Neither is deterred by a police investigation of Lieberman for alleged money laundering.

So far, the pivotal player is noncommittal.

The election is seen as a triumph for right-wing and religious parties that prefer dealing with Israel's adversaries by military force rather than negotiation. Although Livni's centrist Kadima Party won 28 parliament seats to finish first, the center-left majority that had sustained a Kadima-led government collapsed. Six parties identified with the right won a total of 65 seats, including 27 for Netanyahu's Likud and 15 for Lieberman's Israel Is Our Home.

Viewed close up, however, the picture is more complicated. In Israel, feuds within the two ideological camps can be more vicious than feuds between them. It is an insular place of strange bedfellows and fragile coalitions.

Lieberman's advocacy of civil marriage and the sale of pork, for example, alienate the ultra-Orthodox Shas party. Netanyahu wants both on his team, but the Shas spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, declared that anyone who supports Lieberman "will give strength to Satan" and be "punished more than he can bear."

President Shimon Peres must decide whether to give Netanyahu, 59, or Livni, 50, the first shot at forming a government and becoming prime minister. He will start consulting tomorrow with heads of the 12 parties in Parliament to figure out who has the better chance of success.

Conventional wisdom is that Lieberman, 50, will endorse Netanyahu, whose party easily won the most seats in the right-wing camp. Netanyahu's prospects of forming a government are no doubt higher than ours, but things could change," said Nachman Shai, a new member of Parliament from Livni's party. "We know Lieberman well. He's not an easy politician to deal with."

Lieberman put it bluntly last week. "I am not in Bibi's pocket," he told supporters, using the nickname of his onetime boss.

The two men distrust each other, associates say. Lieberman, once a nightclub bouncer in his native Moldova, alienated Netanyahu allies with his abrasive demeanor as director-general of the prime minister's office.

He was forced out, but the political fallout lingered. Netanyahu's government collapsed in 1999.

From Likud, Lieberman moved further to the right, founding Israel Is Our Home that year. Livni moved in the opposite direction, following then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2005 when he set up Kadima as a centrist ruling party. That left Netanyahu in charge of a shrunken Likud.

Ideology aside, Livni and Lieberman have remained on good terms. They refrained from criticizing each other in the recent campaign. When the daughter of an Israel Is Our Home activist who works in her office got married, Livni danced with Lieberman at the wedding.

Metrics of National Decline By Pat Buchanan

"Bush Boom Continues" trilled the headline over the Lawrence Kudlow column, as George W. Bush closed out his seventh year in office.

"You can call it Goldilocks 2.0," purred Kudlow.

Yes, you could. But what a difference 12 months can make.

Final returns are now in on the eight years of George Bush. Charles McMillion of MBG Information Services has crunched the numbers. And, pace Kudlow, the only relevant comparison is to Herbert Hoover.

From January 2008, right after Kudlow's column ran, through January 2009, the U.S. economy lost 3.5 million jobs. The private sector loss of 3.65 million jobs was slightly offset by 148,000 jobs created by federal, state and local governments. Say what you will, the Bush years were boom times for Big Government.

And the private sector? Beginning and ending in recession, the Bush presidency added a net of 407,000 private sector jobs over eight years, less than 51,000 a year, the worst eight-year record since 1927-35, which includes the first six years of the Great Depression.

By January 2009, the average workweek had fallen to 33.3 hours, the lowest since record keeping began in 1964.

From Jan. 31, 2001, through Jan. 31, 2009, 4.4 million manufacturing jobs, 26 percent of all of the manufacturing jobs in the United States, disappeared.

Semiconductors and electronic component producers lost 42 percent of their jobs. Communications equipment producers lost 48 percent of their jobs. Textile and apparel producers lost, respectively, 63 percent and 61 percent of their jobs.

As a source of American jobs, manufacturing, for the first time in our history, fell below health care and education in 2001, below retail sales in 2002, below local government in 2006, below leisure and hospitality, i.e., restaurants and bars, in 2008.

Between this unprecedented loss in manufacturing capacity and jobs, and the $3.5 trillion in trade deficits in manufactured goods alone, run up by George W. Bush, the correlation is absolute.

Last week, final trade figures for 2008 came in. They make for riveting reading for Americans who yet believe that manufacturing is an indispensable element of national power.

With China exporting five times the dollar volume in goods to us as she imports from us, Beijing's trade surplus with the United States set yet another world record: $266 billion.

In those critical items the Commerce Department defines as advanced technology products (ATP), our trade deficit with China in 2008 reached an astonishing $72 billion. Since Bush took office, our total trade deficit with China in ATP exceeds $300 billion.

Which of us, China or America, has the trade profile of a mature industrial and technological power?

Americans deplore our deepening dependence on foreign regimes for the vital necessity of oil. Are they unaware that the U.S. trade deficit in manufactured goods, $440 billion, is $89 billion greater than our all-time record trade deficit of $351 billion in crude oil?

Why is a dependence on Canada, Mexico, Venezuela or Saudi Arabia for oil a greater peril than a reliance on China and Asia for vital necessities upon which our prosperity and military depend?

A week ago, the Washington Times ("Volcker Blames Recession on Trade Imbalances") reported that ex-Fed Chair Paul Volcker told Congress the "massive trade-related imbalances in the United States economy were the source of the financial crisis."

Pressed by Sen. Chris Dodd, Volcker said, "Go back to the imbalances in the economy. The United States has been consuming more than it has been producing for many years."

What "imbalances" was Volcker referring to? Perhaps these.

Since 1982, the United States has run $5.7 trillion in trade deficits in manufactured goods, and $2.1 trillion in trade deficits in auto parts, trucks and automobiles. In the Bush years alone, the United States ran more than $1 trillion in trade deficits in auto parts, trucks and cars.

These statistics, these realities -- factories closing in the United States, manufacturing jobs being outsourced in the millions to China and Asia, enormous, endless trade deficits in goods -- testify to a painful truth: America is a receding and declining world power.

And in dealing with this systemic crisis, Obama's stimulus package is as irrelevant as were the Bush tax cuts.

How do we correct those "trade-related imbalances" of which Volcker spoke? We must export more and import less, save more and spend less, produce more and consume less. We need to emulate the ants and behave less like the grasshoppers of summer.

But how do you tell that to two generations of Americans who have been raised in an era of entitlement?

America needs an Industrial Policy.

But how do you tell that to Americans indoctrinated in the hoary myth that Reed Smoot and Willis Hawley caused the Great Depression and anything that sounds like America First risks a rerun of the 1930s? source>>>

Newt Gingrich looks at "THE PLAN"

Democrats in Congress have made a $1.14 trillion bet on big government.

With less than 48 hours notice, they passed a 1,073 - page collection of special interest spending and dared to call it a "plan."

With interest, the $787 billion bill will cost us, our children and their children about $1.14 trillion. That works out to about $30,000 in new debt for each American household. Worse, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) asked the Congressional Budget Office to estimate the cost of permanently extending the twenty most popular provisions in the bill. The cost? $3.27 trillion.

But we've seen Washington bet on big government and big bureaucracy over the American people before. In each case these bets have failed. And when this latest wager fails, America will need a plan.

I'm writing today to tell you about such a plan.

The Bush-Obama Spending Frenzy, Part IV

Like I said, we've seen this kind of high stakes, big spending, big government and big bureaucracy gambling before. This isn't the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Spending Frenzy , this is the Bush-Obama Spending Frenzy, Part IV.

The first three parts of the Bush-Obama Spending Frenzy were on President Bush's watch.

The $180 billion stimulus program in the spring of 2008 failed.

The $345 billion housing bailout from the summer of 2008 failed.

And the $700 billion Wall Street bailout from the fall of 2008 failed.

All told, just last year, Washington wagered $1.2 trillion in spending and lost. And like a problem gambler, Washington isn't walking away from the casino, it's doubling down.

What Would Reagan Have Done? Bet on the American People

My nonpartisan, citizen-based organization, American Solutions, has developed an alternative plan, called "12 American Solutions for Jobs and Prosperity."

It takes its inspiration from Ronald Reagan. Our plan doesn't bet on government. It bets on the American people.

Callista and I recently completed a movie about the life and vision of Ronald Reagan. And what we found was that Reagan's approach to the economy was more thoughtful than most of his critics -- and even some of his admirers -- give him credit for.

President Reagan had great compassion for the victims of economic crisis. He spoke often of the Christmas Eve in the midst of the Great Depression when his father learned that he had lost his job. "To be young in my generation was to feel that your future had been mortgaged out from under you, and that's a tragic mistake we must never allow our leaders to make again," he said.

But even as he understood the need for leadership to help Americans suffering from economic hard times, Reagan also understood that government's role wasn't to create economic prosperity -- it couldn't then and it can't now.

"Government Can and Must Provide Opportunity, Not Smother It"

Government's role, as Reagan understood it, was to give Americans real incentives to work hard, invest and create jobs -- incentives like keeping more of what we earn and the power to create and own our own businesses.

This is how Reagan put it in his first inaugural address:

"Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it."

In the spirit of Ronald Reagan, 12 American Solutions for Jobs and Prosperity puts its faith in the people, not the government.

Our plan isn't more money for more government, more power for politicians and more make-work for bureaucrats.

It's a clear and decisive alternative that creates jobs, rewards work and encourages savings and investment.

12 American Solutions for Jobs and Prosperity

1. Payroll Tax Stimulus. With a temporary new tax credit to offset 50% of the payroll tax, every small business would have more money, and all Americans would take home more of what they earn.
2. Real Middle-Income Tax Relief. Reduce the marginal tax rate of 25% down to 15%, in effect establishing a flat-rate tax of 15% for close to 9 out of 10 American workers.
3. Reduce the Business Tax Rate. Match Ireland's rate of 12.5% to keep more jobs in America.
4. Homeowner's Assistance. Provide tax credit incentives to responsible home buyers so they can keep their homes.
5. Control Spending So We Can Move to a Balanced Budget. This begins with eliminating congressional earmarks and wasteful pork-barrel spending.
6. No State Aid Without Protection From Fraud. Require state governments to adopt anti-fraud and anti-theft policies before giving them more money.
7. More American Energy Now. Explore for more American oil and gas and invest in affordable energy for the future, including clean coal, ethanol, nuclear power and renewable fuels.
8. Abolish Taxes on Capital Gains. Match China, Singapore and many other competitors. More investment in America means more jobs in America.
9. Protect the Rights of American Workers. We must protect a worker's right to decide by secret ballot whether to join a union, and the worker's right to freely negotiate. Forced unionism will kill jobs in America at a time when we can't afford to lose them.
10. Replace Sarbanes-Oxley. This failed law is crippling entrepreneurial startups. Replace it with affordable rules that help create jobs, not destroy them.
11. Abolish the Death Tax. Americans should work for their families, not for Washington.
12. Invest in Energy and Transportation Infrastructure. This includes a new, expanded electric power grid and a 21st Century air traffic control system that will reduce delays in air travel and save passengers, employees and airlines billions of dollars per year.

I've already heard from thousands of Americans who believe that this is the kind of change our economy needs right now.

I'd love to hear from you. Please send me your thoughts about 12 Americans Solutions for Jobs and Prosperity using the suggestion box at www.americansolutions.com/jobs.

It's not too late to be a part of real change for America. When Washington's latest big government gamble fails, we'll be ready to put our money on a sure thing: Real solutions for the American people source>>>

P.S. If any readers use Twitter, you can now follow my updates at http://twitter.com/newtgingrich.

Founder of Muslim TV network beheads wife

The founder of a TV network aimed at improving the image of Muslims in the United States didn't help his cause after chopping his wife's head off. Bridges TV, (get it, building bridges) the station with the goal of improving the image of Muslims in the United States, is probably covering this event in a fair and balanced way. These were the guys on the front lines of shutting people down who said anything negative towards Muslims. Do they do more damage by ignoring the heads rolling on the floor than those who point out the bad ones? source>>>

As Obama Signs $787 Billion Stimulus, the Question Is, Will it Work?

The roughly $787 billion shot in the arm for an economy in crisis is proof of the power of Barack Obama's salesmanship, signifying a key victory in his less-than-a-month-old presidency. The package of tax cuts and spending was delivered to the White House in time for the Presidents Day deadline he and congressional Democrats set, and Obama is signing the bill in Denver today.
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But even as lawmakers hammered out a final compromise after long, frenzied weeks of negotiations, tough realities emerged. Most economists believe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be strong medicine, but not a cure, for the crisis. They caution recovery won't come overnight. And they warn that if and when the economy perks up, the government still must confront enormous fiscal challenges.

One expert frequently summoned to Capitol Hill for his views is Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody's Economy.com. He calls the stimulus a "reasonably good, helpful plan" that will, in fact, result in more jobs. Democratic architects of the plan estimate that 3.5 million jobs would be saved or created, or 100,000 fewer than the number slashed since the crisis began.

Zandi, though, was among economists pushing for a trillion-dollar-plus injection, and he worries the new package "is not big enough to jump-start the economy sufficiently. To some degree it's laudable that lawmakers would get it all together as quickly as they did, but at the end of the day, it probably won't be enough. The stimulus will have to be visited again late this year or in 2010."

At best, the stimulus will give a vital boost to the flagging economy, but it won't erase the recession, he says. With gross domestic product, employment, industrial output, and retail sales all falling sharply, even the stimulus might not be enough to halt the slide in an economy that appears to be headed toward the worst downturn since the Great Depression.

The gargantuan package is a mix of new spending, tax relief for individuals, tax incentives for business, and help for the jobless. Billions will go to infrastructure, science, energy, and education. The bill, of course, is just one leg of a three-legged stool. The others are Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's just-announced shoring-up of the financial system and forthcoming foreclosure mitigation.

For President Obama, the stimulus was a must-win battle. After he was sworn in, Obama threw himself into selling the plan, chanting "bipartisanship" as if it were a mantra. Efforts to woo Republican lawmakers were met with a frosty reception. He then dived into Plan B, using his first prime-time news conference in the East Room of the White House as an elegant bully pulpit. "I can't tell you for sure that everything in this plan will work exactly as we hope," he told the nation, "but I can tell you with complete confidence that a failure to act will only deepen this crisis."

His hard talk, delivered to a TV audience of nearly 50 million, was underscored by road trips to places where the pain is acute. He hit America's heartland, touting the stimulus in Elkhart, Ind., a city reeling from 15 percent unemployment, and Fort Myers, Fla., an overbuilt enclave whipsawed by home foreclosures. There, a weeping homeless woman, telling Obama she lived in her car, begged for assistance in plain, tangible terms. "We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom," she said. "Please help."

Last week, Obama kept up such campaign-style events, hitting Springfield, Va., before a tentative deal was struck by Senate and House negotiators. Then it was on to Illinois, to visit Caterpillar, a heavy-equipment manufacturer planning to ax 20,000 jobs. On the same day, Obama's bipartisan efforts took a blow when his latest pick for commerce secretary, Republican Sen. Judd Gregg abruptly withdrew.

Many GOP lawmakers dug in their heels. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, saying that the much-touted tax cut for middle-class workers adds up to $7.70 a week, condemned the package. "The taxpayers of today and tomorrow," he insisted, "will be left to clean up the mess." Over in the House, Republican Mike Pence of Indiana attacked the stimulus as a "long wish list of big government spending that won't work to put Americans back to work."
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Christian Science perspective on daily life: In a marketing culture, the Truth becomes a product.

Living in a consumerist culture means being marketed to, paraded with brands, encouraged to buy and buy again, and educated to think that people are defined by the products they purchase. Some would say this is the ultimate economic model. And, yes, one indication of a healthy economy is the exchange of goods and services. But one common model is built on the premise of selling satisfaction and then breeding dissatisfaction - the idea that you want a particular product, and eventually you'll need more. Several questions underlie this marketing model that can influence the consumer. Questions like: How does this product define me? What will it give me? What do I have to do to get it? How long will it last? Can I have it now?

A recent Christianity Today article, "Jesus is not a brand" by Tyler Wigg-Stevenson (January), pointed out that with so many people accustomed to such a consumer mentality, it can be difficult to separate this from our religious lives. He puts forward this sobering observation: "In a marketing culture, the Truth becomes a product. People will encounter it with the same consumerist worldview with which they encounter every other product in the American marketplace."

A closer look at how a consumerist approach applies to our thinking - and impacts our spiritual lives - can be eye-opening, especially when the "product" is our understanding of God or Jesus' teachings.

To truly know the Christ is to understand and selflessly practice the truths Jesus taught. His message, he promised, would satisfy forever. To the woman from Samaria, whom he met at a well, he said: "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life" (John 4:13, 14, Contemporary English Version). Jesus' message of truth changes the consumer questions to emphatic statements of truth: I am defined by God. I am satisfied and need nothing to complete my life. I have all that I need right now, and it is forever new and fresh. I am patient and whole. These statements point to one's spiritual identity and defy the materialistic model.

Perhaps the ultimate "salesman" of Jesus' teachings - someone whose very existence focused on spreading a message - was St. Paul. He put his life in peril, traveled over land and sea, and spoke to people who'd already made up their minds on the subject of their faith, and on their lifestyle choices. Yet, he delivered the same message of health, wholeness, and satisfaction as Jesus did. Paul's message must have been far from a sales pitch. He couldn't just talk about healing. He had to practice it!

At one point - after Paul's message caused an uproar in Ephesus and he traveled to Troas (cities in the Anatolian region of Turkey) - he gave a speech, which the Bible records "continued ... until midnight." Then, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep in a window as he listened to Paul's long talk. Soon, Eutychus plummeted to the ground and was "taken up dead" (Acts 20:7-12). While the Bible doesn't record Paul's words, it's quite possible he was recounting Jesus' healings, and he must have been explaining the Master's mission and teachings. Now, Paul had to prove it - the Truth that heals - himself. And he did. Eutychus was healed.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote: "The best sermon ever preached is Truth practised and demonstrated by the destruction of sin, sickness, and death. Knowing this and knowing too that one affection would be supreme in us and take the lead in our lives, Jesus said, 'No man can serve two masters' " ("Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," p. 201). Putting Spirit at the core of life brings about the healing we yearn for. Taking care not to adopt a state of thought that becomes easily dissatisfied denies the materialistic marketing mentality any power. True satisfaction lies in the understanding that spiritual ideas have such a profound effect on our lives that they lift the lives of others, too, and provide uncountable blessings. source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

On this date in 1959, Fidel Castro officially became Prime Minister of Cuba. He would hold the position for the next 49 years, until he turned the post over to his brother in 2008. Additionally, on February 16, 1878, Pamela Colman Smith was born. Smith is credited as the artist who drew the images on the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card deck, which, to this day, remains the world's most popular set. source>>>

The rise of the alphabet kids

When Lisa Jordan's son Daniel began experiencing social problems at play group, a specialist concluded that the boy was suffering from an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). At 7, his behavioural difficulties led him to a paediatrician, who diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Now 10, Daniels suffers long, wakeful nights and serious tantrums. Health professionals have suggested that he also has sleep disorder (SD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Daniel is an "alphabet kid", one of a growing population of British children with a trail of diagnostic letters after their names. But does a clutch of acronyms help or hinder?

No central figures are held on the number of children in Britain with mixed behavioural diagnoses, but Colin Troy, a Lancashire-based educationalist who has worked with children with special needs for 30 years, says: "They have been around for some time and are definitely on the increase. It used to be thought that you could not have a student with conditions such as Asperger's and ADHD overlapping, but that belief has completely changed." Indeed, a recent report in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that half of the children with autism studied also had hyperactivity symptoms.

Research in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that ADHD often occurs alongside disorders such as ODD and conduct disorder. Another study, led by Simon Baron Cohen, a professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge, found that children with autism have a raised risk of Tourette's syndrome.

Robbie Woliver, the American author of the recently published book Alphabet Kids: From ADD to Zellweger Syndrome, claims that millions of children in the US (including two of his own) are "plagued by clusters of disorders". The numbers are rising, he says, "because of growing awareness, ongoing strides in research and improved diagnosis techniques. And because so many alphabet kids are just beginning to be included in published studies, the rates will rise even more dramatically."

In Britain, the Department of Health cites 2004 research indicating that one child in ten has at least one clinically diagnosable mental disorder. But the figures seem to be rising fast. For example, a report last July produced by Wandsworth Primary Health Care Trust in Southwest London revealed that cases of autism in its area had risen from 161 in 2001 to 448 in 2007. Countless others are on the fringes of the diagnosis, according to a study last month by the UK's Institute of Child Health in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Professor David Skuse, one of the researchers involved, says that many children exhibit elevated levels of autistic traits, and that "our research suggests that these children are at slightly greater risk of developing behavioural and emotional problems".

Lisa Jordan, who lives in Southeast London and cares full time for her son, hopes that growing awareness of multiple behavioural conditions could help to reduce some of the stigma that she feels is associated with her situation. "A lot of professionals are supportive and interested, but I definitely get the impression that others think I've been out shopping for Daniel's diagnoses because I'm either needy or neurotic."

But Colin Troy, who has worked as a head teacher at two special schools, says that there can be pitfalls in multiple diagnoses: "The difficulty for the parents is that it can be very confusing. They may see one professional who has a bee in his or her bonnet at the time about a certain condition, and will say that's what the child has got. Then the parents will see another specialist and are given another diagnosis, and so on.

"As more and more children develop these overlapping conditions, new spectrum disorders are turning up, such as 'sensory interpretation dysfunction' and 'pathological avoidance dysfunction'.

"The argument against multiple labels is that we are offering lots of medical excuses for children's behaviour, because they have 16 letters behind their names. I work with parents, health professionals and teachers. "I tell them, 'Never mind the labels'. These children are people first, then they are these characteristics. Sometimes when talking to groups, I literally cover myself with sticky labels to reinforce the point."

But why are such disparate diagnoses growing exponentially? One possible explanation is that we notice maladies more readily. Before the advent of the NHS in 1948, many families were reluctant to pay for medical help for anything other than serious contagions such as typhoid and tuberculosis. Behavioural disorders featured far less on the diagnostic radar. A related argument says that our increasingly made-over society is less tolerant of difference and more keen to diagnose and medicalise "unnormality". This may lead to parents seeking a multiplicity of different conditions to explain their children's aberrant conduct, says Troy. "Some parents don't want their children to have conditions associated with learning disorders or extreme behaviour problems diagnosed.They are looking for more medical labels, so that they can say, 'It's not just autism'. They are looking for more specific reasons."

Aggressive marketing by drug companies "is absolutely a contributing factor" to the rise in behavioural problems, according to a report published last May by researchers at Brown University, in Rhode Island. They say that their evidence indicates that fewer than half of the patients who had bipolar disorder diagnosed actually suffered from the condition. The lead researcher, Mark Zimmerman, told the British Medical Journal: "You cannot go to a meeting on bipolar disorder that doesn't have a big discussion right at the start about how underdiagnosed this illness is and how doctors need to ensure that patients are treated. These meetings are usually sponsored by drug companies, and I think that they must be having an effect on doctors." Clinical updating meetings for doctors in the UK are likewise sponsored by drugs brands.

Ellen Leibenluft, who runs the paediatric bipolar research programme at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Maryland, also believes that overdiagnosis and misdiagnosis are becoming rife. In her studies at the NIMH, only 20 per cent of children identified with bipolar disorder were found to meet the strict criteria for the condition.

Woliver acknowledges that many alphabet disorders can be so blurringly amorphous that they can blend into a kind of diagnostic soup. They "have similar symptoms, some are even interchangeable and most interconnect", he says. But he adds that each mix creates a child with unique problems and biological causes. And these causes, he claims, often originate in allergic reactions.

"There needs to be some sort of predisposition in the child for factors such as toxins or vaccines to have their ill effects. We must continue supporting research studies that determine why these disorders are so prevalent and growing exponentially, how they are related and how to cure or treat them."

Another contributing factor to the proliferation of alphabet behavioural diagnoses may be 21st-century lifestyles. Professor Jim Horne, of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, says that children aged 5 to 8 are particularly vulnerable to sleep problems as a result of "electronic distractions" such as computers and mobile phones in bedrooms. "Children who persistently go to bed late get into hyperactive states and learning becomes a problem at school the next day," he says. Research indicates that up to 20 per cent of children who have midle ADHD diagnosed may in fact be suffering from a regular shortage of sleep.

One worry, though, is that drug treatment for one psychiatric condition may set off another problem. For example, a study in the journal Bipolar Disorders in 2005 reported that children given antidepressants go on to develop a bipolar disorder at an earlier age (at 10, on average, rather than 14), and with greater severity, than those not prescribed such drugs. The physical side-effects of treatment may cause long-term problems, too: a book published last month, The Metabolic Effects of Psychotropic Drugs, says that antipsychotics and antidepressants can cause weight gain and possible type 2 diabetes.

Although multiple diagnoses can prove problematic, Troy stresses that we should also acknowledge that they can be helpful: "There is a balance to be struck. All of these different associated conditions are real and they are specific, and from a parental point of view they may be helpful signposts to specific interventions. If a child has a kind of Asperger's that also involves semantic pragmatic difficulties, then the way in which we work with that should be in terms of language and communications because it's more precise."

But Troy, who runs his own consultancy, CT Training, believes that the best support for alphabet parents such as Jordan often lies in diverting some of their attention away from the world of health professionals, drug companies and multiple medical labels. "I'm keen to help these parents to form their own self-help groups.," he says. "The sort of 'I've been through that' advice that they can offer each other is often the best of all." source>>>

Nighthawkers raid nation's archaeological heritage to sell on eBay

Britain's archaeological heritage is being plundered by metal detector users who are illegally raiding protected sites across the country, it has been claimed.

Heritage executives want the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to crack down on "nighthawkers", who use the latest equipment to find antiquities, which they then sell on websites such as eBay.

English Heritage said that 88 of its protected ancient sites, a third, had been raided, with looters concentrating their activities at high-profile Roman settlements. Looters had also raided a further 152 agricultural plots of land, causing damage to crops or fields as well as to archaeological digs authorised by the Culture Secretary.

Police said that some thieves had formed loose networks to trade information, often in online forums, about new and vulnerable sites.
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Nighthawking is defined as the search and removal of antiquities from the ground using metal detectors without the permission of landowners or where the practice is banned. The maximum penalty is three months in prison and a £1,000 fine but most cases do not even reach court.

Speaking before today's conference at the British Museum on the problem, Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe, acting chairman of English Heritage, said that the practice was destroying the country's heritage.

"Nighthawkers, by hoarding the finds or selling them on without recording or provenance, are thieves of valuable archaeological knowledge that belongs to us all," he said.

"Even in the case where the finds are retrieved, the context of how and where exactly the finds were found has been lost, significantly diminishing their historical values."

Most of the illicit digging takes place between 10pm and 3am on areas of soft soil in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Oxfordshire and Yorkshire.

Chief Inspector Mark Harrison, of Kent Police, said: "The offenders are in two categories - they are people who like to build up a private collection, who keep a secret museum of heritage artefacts in their home, or they are in it for financial gain."

He said that many scoured newspapers and council minutes for planning applications for new roads or other developments. "Once the bulldozers and excavators have broken through the top soil, they have access to 4,000 years of history," he said. "They are not armed with guns or weapons but they are robbing that knowledge from the nation when they steal and hide away ancient coins, axes or other artefacts."

There had been cases, he said, of farmers being threatened after confronting groups of men trespassing on their land at night.

English Heritage said that the 240 raids reported by police between 1995 and 2008 probably represented only a fraction of the amount of nighthawking going on in Britain. According to a survey it carried out, only one in seven landowners targeted by nighthawkers informed the authorities.

Researchers also found that about one in every 20 archaeological excavation sites was targeted by thieves.

The traffic of antiquity sales on the web is monitored, but experts say that it is impossible to know if items on sale are legitimate or if they have been stolen from a protected site or other land.

Heritage bodies believe that this trade could be halted if new powers under the Treasure Act made it an obligation for anyone in contact with a treasure to report it to the authorities, and for finders and sellers to prove that they have legal ownership of the items. They also want eBay to introduce more stringent checks on antiquity sales in the UK, a practice already in force in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Case study: The farmer

John Browning, 64, regularly patrols his 250-acre farm armed with night sights and thermal imaging equipment. His land at Icklingham, Suffolk, is a magnet for heritage thieves because it is home to a Roman settlement and a designated ancient monument site.

He said that trespassers arrived every fortnight to dig holes on his land and use metal detectors. A few had been caught and prosecuted but he thought the penalties were paltry and that magistrates and judges had no real understanding of the magnitude of the crime.

"When a defendant says he has only taken a few corroded coins that have no value, the courts don't understand that these people are damaging history. It's not coin theft, it's not treasure theft, it's heritage theft."

He said that stiff fines should be given to anyone caught plundering ordinary land and a double penalty for raids at protected sites. Until then all landowners should report every nighthawking incident to the police and lobby for a crime number so that police data can show the scale of the crime across the country. source>>>

Ticketmaster Shareholders Sue

Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit claiming the Hollywood company sold itself too cheaply to Live Nation Inc.

Ticketmaster, the world's largest ticket broker, announced on Feb. 10 a merger with Beverly Hills' Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter, to form Live Nation Entertainment.

In the suit, which was filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Ticketmaster shareholders allege in court documents that Ticketmaster executives exploited the temporary downturn in the company's share price, off almost 40 percent in the last three months, and secured benefits for themselves outside of the deal to the detriment of Ticketmaster's public shareholders.

The $2.5 billion all-stock deal calls for Ticketmaster shareholders to receive 1.38 shares of Live Nation Entertainment stock for every share of Ticketmaster they own.

Neither the San Diego attorneys representing Ticketmaster shareholders nor Ticketmaster representatives returned calls seeking comment.

Ticketmaster shareholders are asking a Los Angeles state court judge to block the deal, which is pending regulatory review by the Justice Department's antitrust division.

Before last week's announcement, Ticketmaster and Live Nation were more rivals than the partners. Live Nation entered the ticketing business a little over one month ago, and Ticketmaster made a push into managing music talent in October when it took a controlling stake in Front Line Management Group Inc. However, analysts said that the nation's economic problems likely prompted the deal. source>>>

Los Angeles City College Student Alleges Professor Censored Speech on God

A Christian student is suing a speech professor at a California community college, alleging the teacher discriminated against his beliefs when he censored a classroom speech on God and marriage.

Joseph Lopez, a student at Los Angeles City College, said the professor of his speech class, John Matteson, called him a "fascist b**tard" mid-way through his speech last November and refused to let him finish.

The professor then said that anyone offended by Lopez's speech could leave the class. When no one left, the professor dismissed the class early, according to a suit filed Feb. 11 against the Los Angeles Community College District.

During the speech, Lopez spoke about God and the ways in which he has seen God act both in his life and in the lives of others through miracles. On the topic of God and morality, he read a dictionary definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman and recited two Bible verses.

Lopez said he received his evaluation form on the informative speech assignment back without a grade.

On the paper, the professor wrote several comments including, "Ask God what your grade is" and "Proselytizing is inappropriate in public school."

One week later, after seeing Lopez talking to the college's dean of academic affairs Allison Jones, Matteson told Lopez that he would make sure he'd be expelled from school.

The suit, filed on behalf of Lopez by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom, alleges Matteson violated Lopez's free speech rights by engaging in viewpoint discrimination and retaliation because he disagreed with the student's religious beliefs.

"Public institutions of higher learning cannot selectively censor Christian speech," said ADF Senior Counsel David French. "America's public universities and colleges are supposed to be a 'marketplace of ideas,' not a hotbed of intolerance."

The suit seeks an injunction against the school from restricting student speech in the classroom when students are given open-ended assignments, a declaration that states the school violated Lopez's rights to free speech and due process of law, and compensatory damages of $5,000.

An initial complaint letter to LACC stated Matteson was free to disagree with students' religious viewpoints but he could not "express that hostility ... through the means of imposing unique limitations upon speakers ... who disagree."

In a response letter to ADF by Jones, the dean of Academic Affairs at LACC, she said she had already discussed the matter with Lopez and had started a "progressive disciplinary process" against Matteson after Lopez submitted a written complaint.

ADF, however, said the school should have publicly repudiated the professor. It also called into question Jones' impartiality in the case because she repeated allegations by two students who described Lopez's speech as "hateful propaganda." She had noted in the letter that the students were "deeply offended" by the speech. An ADF litigation counsel wrote to Jones, calling the charges irrelevant to Matteson's behavior.

According to court filings, Matteson has made other disparaging comments to Lopez in class.

In December, Lopez inadvertently entered the classroom late when another student was speaking in front of the class. He was told by Matteson before his classmates that it was "not very Christian of you" to enter when someone was speaking.

The Los Angeles Community College District is the largest community college system in the United States. ADF said that a defeat of its unconstitutional speech code would be a victory for more than 135,000 students who attend the district's schools.
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Today in Strangeness

On this date in 1949, an Ecuadoran mob burned down a radio station following their broadcast of War of the Worlds. In 2004, astronomers announced the discovery of a huge diamond-like object in the galaxy, a pulsating white dwarf star, nicknamed Lucy, after the Beatles' song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
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Obama and the Great Game

The day before Richard Holbrooke arrived in Kabul, eight suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the Justice and Education ministries, killing 26 and wounding 57.

Kabul was paralyzed, as the Taliban displayed an ability to wreak havoc within a hundred yards of the presidential palace.

The assault came as President Obama is both conducting a strategic review and deciding how many additional U.S. troops to send.

Earlier, there was talk of 30,000, bringing the U.S. total to 63,000. Now, there are reports Obama may commit no more than the three brigades promised in 2008, and only one brigade now.

Clearly, the United States is checking its hole card. Can we draw to a winning hand? Or is this hand an inevitable loser -- and we must cut our losses and cede the pot? No longer, anywhere, is there talk of "victory."

Nor is the diplomatic news good.

Last week, Kyrgyzstan gave us six months to vacate Manas, the air base used to resupply U.S. forces. A week before, guerrillas blew up a bridge in the Khyber, cutting the 1,000-mile supply line from Karachi to Kabul. Before that, guerrillas bombed U.S. truck parks in Pakistan.

While in Pakistan, Holbrooke was told by all to whom he spoke that, while U.S. Predator strikes may be killing Taliban and al-Qaida, the deaths among tribal peoples are turning Pakistan against us.

What would winning Afghanistan for democracy profit us, if the price were losing a nuclear-armed Pakistan to Islamism?

The expulsion from Manas, after Kyrgyzstan received a reported $2 billion in aid from Moscow, raises a question.

Is Russia restarting "The Great Game" she played against Victoria's Empire in Central Asia, which ended in 1907 with a British-Russian entente, dividing Iran into spheres of influence, with both sides agreeing to keep hands off Afghanistan?

As Russia has as great an interest in preventing an Islamist Kabul, and has assisted NATO's resupply of its forces, why would Moscow seek to expel us from a base vital to the war effort?

Does Russia simply seek to be recognized by the United States as the hegemon of Central Asia, the sole great power that decides who can and who cannot use former Soviet bases?

For if Manas is closed and the Karachi-Khyber-Kabul supply line is compromised or cut, Obama would seem to have but three options.

First would be to go back, hat-in-hand, to Islam Karimov, the Uzbek ruler charged with grave human rights violations, and ask him to reopen the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) air base, from which we were expelled in 2005. And what would be Karimov's asking price?

Second is the Russia option. If Moscow now holds the whip hand in the old Soviet republics, what is Moscow's price to let us remain in Manas or use other Soviet bases over which it wields veto power?

The answer is obvious. Neither Georgia nor Ukraine is to be brought into NATO. The independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, won in the August war with Georgia, is not to be challenged. The U.S anti-missile missiles planned for Poland are not to be deployed.

In turn, Russia will cancel any missile deployment in Kaliningrad, recommits to the terms of all conventional forces agreements in Europe and assist in the effort in Afghanistan. Russia rejoins the West, and the West stays off Russia's front porch.

Be not surprised if the Russians come trolling before an overextended American empire an end to the Great Game in Central Asia like the one the ministers of Nicholas II offered the ministers of Edward VII.

And the third option? It is Iran.

Before 9-11, Iran was more hostile to the anti-Shia Taliban than we, and it has no desire to see them return. Indeed, Tehran was a supporter of the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as both were ruled by mortal enemies.

The long way for U.S. and NATO war materiel to reach Kabul via Iran would be through a Turkey-Kurdistan-Iran supply line. The shorter would be from Iranian ports straight into Afghanistan.

Price of an entente? An end to the 30-year U.S.-Iranian cold war and a strategic bargain whereby Iran is allowed to develop peaceful nuclear power, under supervision, the United States lifts its embargo, and regime change is left to the Iranian people.

President Ahmadinejad, no fool, and facing an uncertain election this year, is already signaling interest in negotiations with Obama.

A complication. How would "Bibi" Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman regard a U.S.-Iran rapprochement -- to prevent a Taliban triumph in Kabul?

Yet, if the Taliban's enemies in Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia will not assist us, this war cannot end well. And if they will not help, Obama should cut America's losses, come home and let their neighbors deal with a triumphant Taliban. source>>>

primary school receptionist facing the sack after she sought spiritual support from her church

The Archbishop of York has spoken out in support of the primary school receptionist facing the sack after she sought spiritual support from her church when her daughter was scolded for talking about Jesus.
Dr John Sentamu said it was an "affront to the sensibility" of Christians everywhere that Jennie Cain is being investigated for alleged professional misconduct after she sent a private email to 10 friends asking for prayer.

He said her case, and that of Caroline Petrie, the nurse suspended for offering to pray for an elderly patient, represented a "seeming intolerance and illiberality about faith in God which is being reflected in the higher echelons of our public services".

As The Daily Telegraph disclosed yesterday, the 38-year-old had been shocked when her five-year-old daughter Jasmine was reprimanded for talking about God and Heaven to a friend in her class.

Her private prayer email was passed to her employer Gary Read, the headmaster of Landscore Primary School in Crediton, Devon, and he launched an investigation.

Although she was not suspended initially, Mr Read told Mrs Cain yesterday to "stay away" from school after her case was reported in this newspaper.

However she has received support from the highest levels of the Church of England.

Dr Sentamu, the second most senior cleric in the Church and its first black archbishop, said: "Asking someone to leave their belief in God at the door of their workplace is akin to asking someone to remove their skin colour before coming into the office.

"Faith in God is not an add on or an optional extra. For me, my trust in God revealed in Jesus Christ is part of my DNA, it is central to who I am and defines me and my place in the world.

"The intolerance and ignorance of those who would relegate the Christian faith to just another disposable lifestyle choice, argue that they operate in pursuit of policies based on the twin aims of 'diversity and equality'.

"Yet in the minds of those charged with implementing such policies 'diversity' apparently means every colour and creed except Christianity, the nominal religion of of the white majority; and 'equality' seemingly excludes anyone, black or white, with a Christian belief in God."

Mike Judge, a spokesman for the Christian Institute, which has pledged to support Mrs Cain at an employment tribunal if she loses her job, said she was being treated dreadfully by the school.

"It is tantamount to suspending her," he said. "Frankly this is just bullying this poor Christian.

"She had to publicise her case and now she is being penalised for doing that - when is this bullying going to end?"

Mrs Cain, who works part-time at the primary school, said she decided to keep her daughter and son away from school for the day.

"They are at home with me," she said. "It was my choice to keep them but I decided as I was not going to work today they would have wanted to know why mummy wasn't there.

"Mr Read rang me and left a message on the answer machine. He said he wanted me to stay away from the school on Thursday.

"I just feel bewildered by the whole thing. All I wanted was to keep the children protected and keep their lives as normal as can be.

"I am worried for them. I am not sure what the new rules are, who you are allowed to be or what you are allowed to say."

Mrs Cain, who is still waiting to know if she will keep her job, said she had received a large amount of support from her local community.

"I have had so many lovely cards from many friends, people have been ringing me up, neighbours have been coming round - they have just been amazing."

The school has insisted the Jasmine was threatening an older girl, saying that she would "go to hell" if she didn't believe in God.

Mr Read said Mrs Cain's email contained a false allegation about the school but would not discuss it.

Mr Read said he believed the school had responded appropriately to the incident.

"We are a very, very open school and are in no way intimidating people.

"Unfortunately the context of the conversation between the two girls had a religious nature, but it could have been over any issue. When one pupil is upset by another and is crying, we take action.

"In absolutely now way are we trying to supress discussion or making it difficult for pupils to discuss or express faith. The school has had a lot of support from teachers and parents."

Mr Read said Jasmine had "frightened" a seven-year-old pupil by telling her that she would "go to hell" because she did not believe in God.

He said a complaint had been made which was his duty to investigate.

Mrs Cain denied that her daughter had "frightened" another student by telling her she would go to hell.

She said Jasmine had been discussing God and going to Heaven with a friend, when an older girl joined in and asked "so how do you get into Hell then".

Mrs Cain claimed her daughter then replied: "By not believing in Jesus," but added she never mentioned the words herself.

She added: "She is only five - she has a childlike faith."

The Christian Institute said Christians had believed in Heaven and Hell for 2,000 years. source>>>>

Impoverished Haiti to recover millions stolen by The Duvalier family.

UK-based international development agency Christian Aid, along with and the Jubilee Debt Campaign, have welcomed the Swiss government's decision to hand over approximately $6 million to Haiti. The money had been frozen in a Swiss bank account since 2002 in order to give the family of the former Haitian dictator, Jean-Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier a chance to prove the money was legitimately theirs.

The Swiss Justice Ministry today announced it would pass the 7 million Swiss francs to the Haitian government for use in humanitarian projects, after the Duvalier family failed to prove its claim.

The money was frozen by the Swiss government as part of efforts to prevent the Swiss financial system being used to store stolen assets, in a process that has already seen hundreds of millions of dollars returned to Nigeria and the Philippines in recent years. Duvalier, who is believed to be living in exile in France, was removed from power in 1986.

The announcement is welcome news for Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, following devastation caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike and Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna in August. These storms exacerbated the food crisis Haiti was already experiencing as a result of the steep rise in the price of rice, which led to riots earlier in the year.

Sarah Wilson, Caribbean specialist at Christian Aid, said: "This is an important first step. Unfortunately, this $6 million is not the only money illegitimately appropriated by the Duvalier family.

"Haiti is still struggling to recover from the widespread flooding caused by the summer storms. The agricultural sector suffers from years of under-investment. But the country is nonetheless forced to make massive payments towards the odious debt to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank built up during the Duvalier period."

Nick Dearden, Director of Jubilee Debt Campaign, added: "This is great news for the people of Haiti in their struggle to get back what is rightfully theirs. However, Haiti is scheduled to give $10 million to the World Bank over the next six months to pay off its massive debts, many of which were contracted under Duvalier's rule. So Haiti may get back some of the money that Duvalier stole, only to spend it, effectively, on paying off his debts.

"Some creditors have agreed to suspend most of Haiti's debt payments in this time of crisis. The World Bank needs to do the same. We call on the UK Government, as one of the largest funders of the World Bank, to press for Haiti's debt cancellation to be completed immediately."

Anne McConnell, of the Haiti Advocacy Platform Ireland-UK, added: "The restitution of these few millions to the people of Haiti will be of huge symbolic significance, and will send the message that dictators who steal from their citizens cannot get away with it - even after 20 years!"

The Swiss authorities have mandated that the funds must be used for humanitarian purposes. They will be unable to transfer the funds to Haiti immediately, as the Duvalier family will now have 30 days to appeal to Switzerland's Federal Criminal Tribunal. source>>>

We Really Can learn from France, where government loans 8 Billlion to France’s two big automakers,

It's going to be a real mess, having the U.S. government intimately involved with running Chrysler and GM, based on what's happening in France, where government loans to France's two big automakers, Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen have touched off a chain reaction of controversies in less than a week.

The French government on Feb. 9 approved about $8.4 billion worth of loans to the two companies, reportedly on condition that the companies preserve production and jobs in France.

The ink was barely dry when according to Bloomberg, PSA CEO Christian Streiff announced the company is cutting 3,000 jobs, on top of 3,500 job cuts already announced in December.

The government loans and the job cuts are creating problems both inside and outside France. Outside France, officials in other European countries are quick to question whether the French government loans could be seen within the European Union as anti-competitive, if the idea is to support jobs in France. France's EU partners are watching to see whether PSA's job cuts fall disproportionately on workers in their countries.

Within France, the job cuts put PSA in the position of justifying job cuts on the heels of at least an implied promise not to cut jobs. If Renault tries to get around that by limiting cuts in France to voluntary separation packages, that could further inflame critics, if the job cuts in other countries are involuntary.

There's even a contrary aspect to all this. Streiff said in published reports he intends to keep pursuing a strategy where PSA builds cars outside France. That could offend the economic nationalists who like the idea of French protectionism. Everyone can find something to dislike about these loans.

U.S. politics aren't going to be any better, with Chrysler and GM due to submit business plans to the Treasury Department next week. The still-unnamed "car czar" will have the power to force Chrysler and GM into bankruptcy. The presidential appointee will also need to approve all expenditures over $100 million.

What's going to happen if the company in question is quote-unquote "exporting jobs" to other countries? Also, $100 million isn't a whole lot by auto industry standards. Prior to the recession, that was enough to pay for a decent-sized marketing launch for one major new model.

What's going to happen if a government appointee signs off on the money for an advertising campaign that offends some group, or generally pushes the bounds of bad taste?

Don't say it can't happen here. Remember the Lingerie Bowl, which Chrysler was going to run against the Super Bowl in 2004? Chrysler backed out of the Lingerie Bowl, but only after a howl of protest. Now imagine the reaction if a presidential appointee had signed off on the expense, as one item buried within a big marketing campaign. Ooo-la-la.
source>>>

Muslim Jihadist says,“Take your knife and cut the throat of each Christian around you, No pity.”

They firebombed a Jewish school and left a warning there calling upon Westerners to convert to Islam. They dreamed of murdering Christians and gays, and practiced the minutiae of Islamic prayers and ablutions.

"How the Montreal Police nabbed two would-be terrorists," Tu Thanh Ha for the Globe and Mail, February 12 (thanks to Lewis):

He was a small-time hoodlum with a big chip on his shoulders, a man who spoke of Jihad, researched bomb-making techniques and looked at a nuclear plant, the Montreal Stock Exchange and a military base as possible terrorism targets.

In the end, Omar Bulphred, a 23-year-old native of Algeria, and an accomplice settled for firebombing two Jewish institutions before getting arrested after police heard them talk about abducting a gay man at random to rob him and cut his throat.

The troubling story of the two Montreal terrorist wannabes can be told following Mr. Bulphred's guilty plea on three counts of arson and two of uttering threats.

His accomplice Azim Ibragimov, 25, of Kazakh origin, had already pleaded guilty last year. [...]

Also troubling was the fact that, thanks to a job-training program from welfare authorities, Mr. Bulphred attended a trade school for the local aerospace industry.

In addition, the court heard that police found inside Mr. Bulphred's apartment, hidden within a box of Q-tips, a computer diskette with bomb-making instructions, details on how to make TNT, information about the Montreal Via Rail train station and the Gentilly II plant, Quebec's only nuclear facility....

The case began around midnight, Sept. 2, 2006, at the Skver-Toldos Orthodox Jewish Boys School in the Montreal district of Outremont.

A security camera recorded a masked man tossing a Molotov cocktail at the school. A matchbook was later recovered outside.

A letter claiming responsibility on behalf of the "Islamic Jihad" was later delivered, which warned of further attacks. "Convert to Islam. It would be better for you Westerners," the letter added, demanding the release of 17 Muslim terror suspects arrested earlier that year in Toronto.

Ten days later, a parked Chevrolet was firebombed, apparently picked at random, and another letter was found, demanding the release of the Toronto suspects....

The Algerian-born Mr. Bulphred already had run-ins with the law.

In 2004, he was arrested for pointing a pellet pistol at the janitor of his rooming house. During his detention, jail officials found a letter in his cell ranting against Americans and Jews and stating that he was "ready to die in the name of Allah."

Two years later, during the summer of 2006, the provincial police investigated him for stealing the cell phone of a housemate and using it to call 911 and make bogus terrorist threats. He wasn't charged for lack of evidence.

After the fire at his home, police began watching Mr. Bulphred. It ended soon because his handwriting didn't match that of the letters claiming responsibility for the firebombs. He was brought to the attention of CSIS, however.

Two months later, police found a handwriting match in one of his friends, Mr. Ibragimov, a grocery bagger of Kazakh origin.

Mr. Ibragimov was put under surveillance. At the supermarket where he worked, a new employee, Francis, befriended him.

Francis was in fact Montreal police Constable Claude Thibault. He told Mr. Ibragimov that he was a member of an anti-capitalist group.

Mr. Ibragimov in return boasted that "his buddies" had firebombed a Jewish school. "The guy who did it burned himself on the hand," he said, before refusing to talk further about the incident....

The pair's telephones were wiretapped. A microphone was installed in Mr. Bulphred's apartment one day while he attended classes at the Aerospace Trade School of Montreal.

The conversations they heard suggest that Mr. Bulphred played a leading role with Mr. Ibragimov being a follower.

If Mr. Bulphred appeared to be a rootless, marginal character who found an outlet for his resentments in terrorist rhetoric, Mr. Ibragimov was the diffident underling.

Still living with his parents, in a non-practising household, he was heard being schooled by Mr. Bulphred in the minutiae of Muslim prayers and ablution.

During past court hearings, Mr. Ibragimov's relatives noted that the family had Jewish friends and that he was even engaged to a Jewish woman at one point.

The woman testified that he often picked her up after her dance classes at the YM-YWHA Ben Weider Jewish Community Centre in the Côte des Neiges district.

Obama administration has moved quickly to reverse or delay Bush policy on drilling and pollution.

Less than a month into his administration, President Obama is making good on campaign promises to move toward a comprehensive approach to US energy and to broaden environmental protections. The administration has moved over the past few weeks to undo many of Bush's last-minute drilling and environmental decisions, including putting the brakes Tuesday on a plan to open up vast new areas off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to offshore drilling.

In swift succession, the Obama administration has:

- Ordered the Environmental Protection Authority to reconsider its decision to deny California permission to set standards controlling greenhouse-gas emissions from motor vehicles - if permitted, this would allow 13 more states to follow suit.

- Abandoned a Bush administration legal appeal in a major air pollution case - signaling it will allow tougher rules to cut mercury emissions from power plants.

- Canceled 77 Bush-era oil and gas leases over 100,000 acres of public land near national parks in Utah.

- Announced an intent to develop an offshore energy plan that includes renewable resources, giving states and the federal government more time to study and assess the future of offshore energy planning.

"There's clearly a new kid in town. The Obama administration is moving quicker on the environment than anything else," says Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies. "They are concerned that untoward things are going to happen before they can get new policies in place, so they are trying to reverse old ones."

In the most recent move to stall Bush policy, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Tuesday that the time period for public comment on a draft five-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing would be extended for another 180 days. He also ordered the US Geological Survey and the Minerals Management Service to develop an extensive profile of the nation's resources offshore.

The plan, which was proposed by the Bush administration on its last day in office and published the day after President Obama took office, originally allowed 45 days for scoping and comment.

Describing the plan as "a headlong rush of the worst kind," Mr. Salazar said that "Bush's "midnight action" accelerated by two years the regular process for creating a new plan for the outer continental shelf.

"It opened up the possibility for oil and gas leasing along the entire Eastern Seaboard, portions of offshore California, and the far eastern Gulf of Mexico, with almost no consideration of state, industry, and community input and ... with very limited information about the nature of offshore resources," he said.

The new administration will look at offshore drilling as part of a comprehensive energy plan, he said. The changes are to "fulfill President Obama's commitment to a government that is open and inclusive and makes decisions based on sound science and the public interest."

"I intend to do what the Bush administration refused to do; build a framework for offshore renewable-energy development so that we incorporate the great potential for wind, wave, and ocean current energy into our offshore energy strategy."

In a similar move last week, the Interior secretary announced that the Bureau of Land Management would withdraw drilling leases that were offered on 77 parcels of US public land near national parks in Utah. The leases, on land totaling 103, 225 acres, are under litigation in district court.

Development of oil and gas supplies was needed to help reduce dependence on foreign oil, but it must be done in a "thoughtful and balanced way that allows us to protect our signature landscapes and culture resources," said Salazar, adding that the BLM would return $6 million in bids from an auction last December.

Also last week, the Justice Department said it is withdrawing a US Supreme Court appeal filed by the Bush administration against a court ruling governing mercury emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants.

The Obama administration has also told the EPA to reconsider denying California the power to regulate vehicular pollution. The Bush administration's EPA in 2007 had denied California the waiver needed to authorize its special status under the Clean Air Act. That law gives California the authority to regulate vehicular pollution because the state began doing so before the federal government did.

Leading environmental groups, which were often at odds with Bush, are breathing a palpable sigh of relief. "We are encouraged by Obama's announcement that he is going to restore order to a broken system and that is what this is," says Kristina Johnson, deputy press secretary for the Sierra Club.

"This five-year offshore drilling program that Bush tried to push through wasn't based on sound science, and there was no public input," she said. "It's part of a new way of doing business. [The Obama administration understands] that the answer to America's energy problems isn't more drilling and that we need to be investing in clean energy." source>>>

It is likely that President Shimon Peres will give Netanyahu the nod to form Government

Center-Left voters showed more prudence in the Israeli elections Tuesday than Center-Right voters. Enough of the former switched from Ehud Barak's Center-Left Labor Party and the smaller left-wing Meretz to enable Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima to beat -- possibly -- Bibi Netanyahu's Center-Right Likud by 28 Knesset seats to 27 (out of 120). The still-uncounted soldiers' and other votes could yet push Likud into a tie or even, just possibly, a lead over Kadima.

But the Center-Left voters' prudence came at the price of very poor showings by Labor (13 seats) and Meretz (3). As of Wednesday afternoon, Barak and other Laborites were claiming Labor was headed for the opposition benches and wouldn't join any coalition. The demise of Labor -- once the spearhead of Zionism and the party of mythic figures like David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, and Moshe Dayan -- correlates with its shift from values of democratic socialism, land settlement, and moderate hawkishness to the peace-at-any-price values of the emergent Israeli chattering class.

The Center-Right voters, for their part, did exactly what Netanyahu pleaded with them not to do in the last phase of the campaign: they divided their votes widely enough -- among six parties and particularly Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home), which won support by demanding loyalty of Israeli Arabs -- to enable Likud's narrow loss to Kadima.

But with the Center-Right as a bloc now totaling 64 seats to the Center-Left's 56 -- and with 12 of those 56 belonging to anti-Zionist Arab parties -- it is thought likely that President Shimon Peres will give Netanyahu the nod, rather than Livni, to try and form a coalition. If so, Bibi's task will be hard but by no means impossible.

The six right-wing parties share a hawkish outlook but little else. Likud and Israel Our Home (15 seats) are mainstream secular parties representing the pragmatic Right, with Israel Our Home -- whatever the distortions about it in the international media -- also pushing a liberal/anticlerical agenda. National Union (4) and Jewish Home (3) are national-religious parties, the former in particular ideologically committed to the Land of Israel. Shas (11) and Torah Judaism (4) are ultra-religious parties representing sectoral interests.

But while Netanyahu is certain to seek a coalition beyond, and probably not including all of, this sextet, he will -- particularly if Labor sticks to its commitment to head for the wilderness -- have nowhere to turn but Livni and Kadima. Netanyahu is said to be adamantly opposed to a rotating prime ministership with Livni but willing to offer Kadima a parity of ministerial appointments, including hawkish Shaul Mofaz at defense and Livni herself to continue as foreign minister. Considering that Livni -- at least up to the Gaza war when she suddenly morphed into a hawk -- is a good deal more dovish than Netanyahu, that too would be problematic; but not impossible in the difficult, unwieldy world of Israeli coalition politics.

The ongoing instability and fragmentation of that world -- clearly reconfirmed by Tuesday's results -- leads some to call for a coalition consisting only of larger parties while eschewing the smaller and sectoral ones. Such a coalition -- probably comprised of Likud, Kadima, and Israel Our Home (currently totaling 70 seats between them) and possibly also Labor -- would, it is claimed, tend to Israel's most urgent priority: reforming the electoral system. But Netanyahu, who knows Israel has an even more urgent priority -- dealing with imminent Iranian nuclearization -- is likely to prefer as broad a coalition as possible in the interest of national unity and governmental stability.

Compared to the government elected in 2006, in which the Center-Left bested the Center-Right, the country has shifted emphatically in the latter direction. The three years of the Kadima-led coalition have seen the failed war in Lebanon and the rise of Hamas rule in Gaza. All parts of the country that have suffered rocket attacks from Gaza clearly favored the Right in the voting.

More broadly, Tuesday's results represent an awakening from the Oslo-era fantasy that the lack of Palestinian sovereignty in the West Bank and Gaza was the Arab-Muslim world's last remaining issue with Israel. That fantasy was shattered by ongoing rejection in the language of bombs and rockets. In the current perilous reality, Netanyahu's true task is not just to cobble together a coalition but, in the negotiations, to convince enough faction leaders of the gravity of the hour and the urgent need for national responsibility.

That is likely to include disabusing Kadima of its fantasy that it has won and still has a right to be at the helm or to share it. source>>>

Not everyone is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth.

Not everyone is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth. Some are protesting. A Christian ministry called Answers in Genesis is holding anti-Darwin conferences on the East and West coasts this month, aimed at helping Americans "understand that Darwinian evolution is wrong and that it has undermined the Christian faith and has fueled social ills like racism and abortion." Faith-based opposition to Darwin is hardly consigned to the religious fringe. A recent Pew survey found that fewer than 10 percent of evangelical Christians believe life evolved through natural selection. Secular Americans were the only respondents who voiced majority support for the theory.
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Recommendations by Loomia

A new book, Darwin's Sacred Cause, argues that Christian antagonism toward Darwin is misplaced. Acclaimed Darwin biographers Adrian Desmond and James Moore portray a Christian Darwin who was driven by his faith-based opposition to slavery to prove the common origin of the human race. A theory of common human decency, Darwin believed, would undermine a key precept of the slave trade: that blacks comprise an inferior race separate from whites. Moore talked to U.S. News this week. Excerpts:

You write that Darwin hailed from an actively abolitionist family but that he was quieter about his antis lavery views than most of them.
You could say that he was more outspoken in that he made a lot bigger noise than they did, because he published Origin of Species and we're talking about him today. But Darwin was personally reticent. He followed events in the United States very keenly, but his abolitionism -- and I think it's fair to say abolitionism -- took the form of undermining the ideological foundations of race segregation and slavery -- or, as people have come to call it today, scientific racism -- by showing the common descent of all races.

Why do you call Darwin's antislavery views a "sacred cause"?
The phrase "sacred cause" is Darwin's. He didn't mean it was a spiritual, otherworldly pursuit. It was a sacred cause because it had already been called a sacred cause among English abolitionists. The word came up so many times that we had to purge it from our book -- sacred this and sacred that.

The tradition that Darwin belonged to, Unitarianism, taught that all believers die and are resurrected at the end of time to face the final judgment and to live forever in perfected creation. There was no heaven or hell in a sense, only a future state or perfection. Darwin's end was never about getting people off a sinking ship and into a spiritual realm where everything was perfect. Darwin and his family were interested in perfecting this world.

The unity of his faith and his humanitarianism was instilled in him from his youth. Darwin acquired his foundational belief in the brotherhood of all humans of all races when he was baptized, at 9 months. Even when he couldn't believe all the things he had been taught -- he certainly gave up belief in Adam and Eve and, eventually, in the Bible as a moral authority -- the unity of the human family was his bottom line.

How religious was the young Darwin?
When Darwin goes to Cambridge, he is expected to become an ordained clergyman in the Church of England. At Cambridge, he mixed with men whose theological views were indistinguishable from modern-day American fundamentalists: belief in the Bible, even if not as a textbook of science, and Adam and Eve. When he embarked on the Beagle voyage [his global fact-finding mission], he said he was so in captivity to the word of Scripture that he was able to quote the Bible as a moral authority. He was so priggish that his shipmates laughed at him for it.

How did a religious idea like the brotherhood of man meaningfully influence Darwin's scientific quest?
Science always begins with certain assumptions. Darwin took certain things for granted, like laws of nature, regularities established by God. Laws of creation, that's what Darwin wanted to find. Another thing Darwin took for granted was the brotherhood of man. It was the air he breathed. It would be immoral for him to believe otherwise. The really key statement that Darwin makes in his notebooks is where he says, "Man in his arrogance thinks himself a great work, worthy the interposition of a deity. More humble & I believe true to consider him created from animals." What that brings together is a moral, theological, and scientific judgment.
Today, lots of theologically conservative Christians see Darwin as a villain . Did the religious establishment see him that way when he published Origin of Species?
Darwin today differs in significant ways from the challenge in Darwin's time because the debate is being orchestrated and publicized by people who simply have not taken the time nor have the patience to understand Darwin's works and intentions in the way that his contemporaries did. In his own day, Darwin didn't give back [to church authorities] in terms of humanity as much as he took away in terms of God's activity in the world and what he took away from human nature in relating us to animals. People still wanted to believe that humans are unrelated to any other species. That is Adam and Eve. And that's what Darwin subverted.

How did D arwin's theory of evolution through natural selection affect his own faith?
Darwin's active religious faith faded. He seems to have glided fairly easily into a freethinking way about religion before he was 30 years old. But as he said later in life, he never gave up Christianity until he was 40 years old. There came a time when Darwin could no longer accept the Bible as the word of God or Jesus as the son of God. But when he was researching Origin of Species, he says his belief in God was as strong as that of an Anglican prelate. source>>>

Muslim Call to Boycott Valentine's Day

"I don't think this will have any impact," the Rev. Tut Mai of the Presbyterian Church in Sudan told Ecumenical News International on 12 February. Still, he warned, "They may want to isolate those who go on to celebrate the day."

The Sudan Ulema Authority, a group of Muslim leaders group in Khartoum issued a statement on 10 February urging the country's lovers to boycott the day that celebrates romantic love on 14 February - once a Western occasion but that has spread to many parts of the world.

"Valentine's Day comes from Western countries. I call on Muslims not to imitate Christians," a Muslim preacher, Sheikh Hassan Hamid said in a statement quoted by the Reuters news agency.

The Ulema authority is viewed as responsible for the imposition of Islamic Sharia law in Sudan's Muslim north since the 1980s, and the group said the expense spent on Valentine's Day could be used for weddings.

About 40 percent of Sudan's 40 million people are Muslims, found mainly in the north of the country. Christians are found mostly in the south and a significant number in Khartoum, and together with Sudanese holding animist beliefs, they make up about 30 percent of the population.

On Valentine's Day people with romantic thoughts for others express their affections by sending each other cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages.

"Valentine is a day of big love, joy, harmony, peace all over the world. It doesn't belong to any domination, Muslim or Christian," commented Robert Amoko in the Sudan Tribune on 12 February following the Muslims leaders' statement. source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

On this date in 1858, the apparitions at Our Lady of Lourdes began. A 14-year old French girl, Bernadette Soubirous saw the appearance of a "lady" in a cave-- the first of 18 visions of what many believe was the Virgin Mary. Soubirous was eventually canonized as a saint, and a sanctuary was built on the site, where water from a spring is said to have remarkable healing power. source>>>

New York parents, teachers, kids rally in D.C. for education spending

WASHINGTON - Three busloads of New York City parents, teachers and kids arrived on Capitol Hill Tuesday to plead for more education funding in President Obama's massive economic rescue plan.

"Once you let young teachers go, you don't get them back," said Dave Pecoraro, 49, a math teacher at Beach Channel High School in Queens.

Mayor Bloomberg has warned 15,000 teachers could be laid off without major infusions of state and federal money.

"I don't want to happen to my kids what happened to me," added Pecoraro, who saw teachers let go when he was a student during the city's 1970s financial crisis.

The city group, which bounced off the buses with the chant "Show Us the Money," urged Congress to restore more than $80 billion in school funding.

Chauncey Young, 33, who was carrying his daughter Isabelle, 6, on his shoulders, said he worried her dual-language class at Public School 75 in Manhattan would be cut while class sizes are increased. "The cuts would just have a devastating effect," he said. "We need more money for our schools."

Luz Minaya, 37, who teaches Spanish and technology at Intermediate School 528 in Brooklyn, said, "We might have to double up on class sizes." Congress needs "to know that they just can't cut. We need to reduce class sizes," added Minaya, whose group, organized by the United Federation of Teachers, later met with local lawmakers.rsisk@nydailynews.com source>>>

Visa fires back at Ticketmaster for 'glitch' statement

Already busy defending its planned merger with Live Nation and fighting a class action lawsuit in Canada, Ticketmaster Entertainment now finds itself walking back statements Chairman Barry Diller made about credit card company VISA and its alleged role in the recent Bruce Springsteen ticket fiasco.

During an investor conference call Tuesday, February 10, to discuss the merger, Diller said that problems with the sale of Springsteen tickets was due in part to a computer "glitch" with Visa's technology.

Angered by the characterization, Visa Inc. fired off a statement saying that it was inaccurate to partially blame the company.

"We were surprised by the comments of Ticketmaster CEO Barry Diller regarding their recent ticket issues," Joe Carberry, spokesperson for Visa Inc., said in the statement. "Ticketmaster's characterization that an earlier technical 'glitch' impacting its online ticket sales was related to Visa's systems is inaccurate. Visa's processing network was fully functional on February 2 with no authorization issues. In fact, VisaNet has run with nearly 100 percent reliability for the past decade."

Carberry added, "VisaNet is the world's largest retail payment network, securely and reliably facilitating the transfer of value and information every minute of every day of the year. We operate four processing centers on three continents that are fully synchronized and operate identical authorization platforms. This enables Visa to reroute transaction volume from one data center to another as needed. Our multiple and redundant systems help ensure that VisaNet can continuously meet the processing demands of all our customers worldwide."

Over the past year, since acquiring secondary ticket company TicketsNow for $265 million, Ticketmaster has been criticized for redirecting fans to the secondary Web site when tickets sell out on Ticketmaster's site. The company has denied purposely doing this, but has admitted that artists and their representatives have quickly resold tickets on TicketsNow.

Ticketmaster Entertainment CEO Irving Azoff issued an apology for the mix up to Springsteen and his fans last week, and Tuesday released an open letter to take Visa off the hook, and further explain what happened:

AN OPEN LETTER TO TICKETMASTER AND TICKETSNOW CUSTOMERS:

Ticketmaster regrets any confusion surrounding the recent sale of Bruce Springsteen concert tickets in New Jersey and the misunderstandings that have resulted about the ticket-selling relationship between Ticketmaster and TicketsNow.

Here are the facts: On February 2nd, tickets for a number of Bruce Springsteen concerts went on sale, including two in New Jersey and one in New York. Because of Mr. Springsteen's popularity, there were many more fans trying to buy tickets through Ticketmaster.com than there were tickets available. Consequently, many ticket order requests could not be filled. Also, during the sale, a software issue resulted in some fans who were trying to buy tickets for the New York and New Jersey shows seeing a system maintenance-related error message and certain credit card transactions locked up during the payment process causing the consumer to be unable to complete the transaction. In both cases the fans involved had to return to the Ticketmaster.com site to start another search.

Consistent with our policy at the time to provide consumers with other ticket purchasing options in the event we are unable to fulfill a specific ticket request on Ticketmaster.com, fans who were unable to secure tickets responsive to their search were given three choices - either to search again using different parameters, come back later, or click on a link to see inventory available on TicketsNow. Some consumers who chose to link to TicketsNow and then completed a purchase of tickets on that website, however, have complained that they were confused and believed they were instead purchasing tickets from the initial on-sale on Ticketmaster.com.

While we believe the messaging on the site was clear when consumers chose to switch to the TicketsNow web page, we nevertheless took immediate action to offer refunds to Bruce Springsteen ticket purchasers who told us they were confused by the process by refunding the difference between the TicketsNow purchase price and the face value of the ticket. In addition, to address the concerns we have received from our consumers, we have removed all links to TicketsNow from our Ticketmaster website. We will now only provide an option to link to our TicketsNow site when the venue and artist request that we do so as a service to fans, and when we do, it will be very clear that this option offers tickets that are posted on TicketsNow for resale.

Since that time, additional questions have emerged regarding Ticketmaster and TicketsNow which we would like to address directly: Ticketmaster does not set ticket prices or control ticket availability - those decisions are made by the artist and the venue. Ticketmaster sells tickets directly to fans and does not divert tickets to brokers or others reselling tickets, including our affiliate TicketsNow. TicketsNow does not receive any preferential access to tickets that Ticketmaster is selling on behalf of its clients. Effective February 5th, TicketsNow no longer accepts ticket postings for events that have not yet gone on sale, and we have urged other ticket resellers to adopt the same consumer-friendly position. Consumers searching for tickets for an event on Ticketmaster.com are never, and have never been, offered the option of searching for available inventory on the TicketsNow secondary marketplace if the specific ticket request they submitted could be fulfilled in the primary on-sale through Ticketmaster.

Our goal is to deliver the best live entertainment experience to all consumers and we will continue to strive for improvements going forward. source>>>

Stimulus Plan and Political Philosophies

The Senate voted 61-37 to pass a multi-billion dollar stimulus bill Tuesday, but the debate on the stimulus plan has just begun.

The Senate's plan is a combination of $838 billion worth of spending and tax cuts. That's bigger than the $819 billion bill that passed in the House.

It's hard to wrap your head around numbers like that, but that's what lawmakers will be doing in the weeks ahead in an effort to bring the country out of the worst recession in decades. The Senate's version of the bill made it through with Democratic support, and just three Republicans were behind it.

At the heart of the debate on Capital Hill is a fundamental difference in political philosophy. UVA professor Herman Schwartz says Democrats, including President Obama, support channeling money into government programs and projects, aimed at creating jobs.

"When you build schools or rebuild highways or when you improve the electricity grid, you're employing people who would otherwise be unemployed. They can go out to spend money that's new money because they now have job again," said Schwartz.

Schwartz explained that Republicans favor tax cuts as the answer, believing if the taxpayers keep more of their income, they'll buy more goods and services.

"The argument would be the basic problem with the economy is that the government is too big and, therefore, you want to put money into people's hands, and they will go out and spend that money and that will help stimulate the economy," said Schwartz.

Now comes the task of reconciling the House bill, which includes more spending, with the Senate's version, which has more tax cuts than the House's bill. Cordel Faulk with UVA Center for Politics says it may be weeks before a final bill is ready for the President.

"It's going to be interesting to see how the two are reconciled. The House plan is different from the Senate plan. The Senate plan had to be pared back to get those few Republican votes the Democrats needed to prevent a filibuster," says Faulk.

So where does the government get over $800 billion dollars, and how would the stimulus package help the economy?

Schwartz explains it this way: The administration goes to the Federal Reserve, and asks them to buy more than $800 billion worth of treasury funds. The Federal Reserve then gives the administration $800 billion in cash. That money winds up in the public's hands for them to buy goods and services. The value of the goods produced equals out to the investment.
source>>>

Obama doesn't represent change

After eight years of President Bush, I am amazed at how ecstatic and overly trusting people seem to be about the new president, Barack Obama. Did we not learn to be cautious and skeptical of our leaders? Have we not learned that political candidates will say anything to get elected, only to deliver their own self-serving agendas?

There is a difference between perceived "change" and actual change. Isn't anyone bothered that Obama received more corporate financing than John McCain? Or that he wants to increase the size of the military and expand more militarily into Afghanistan and Pakistan? Are you not concerned that he wants to have a militarized civilian task force, just as funded, just as strong as the military?

Bush planted the seeds for a militarized police state, and now Obama can grow it to whatever his handlers want. I thought that these ideas were contrary to what Democrats are supposed to believe. Then again, both political parties are owned by the same multi-national corporate interests. Many people have not learned yet that government does nothing to alleviate their problems and mostly only causes them to be worse.

Many Americans are waking up to this reality, while also becoming aware of the opportunity to reach from within ourselves to actualize the change we want to see in the world.

I very much doubt that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would embrace a slicker-talking, more charismatic version of George Bush, even if he was African American. While King warned us about the power of government, Obama embraces it.

We must not allow ourselves to be conditioned into blindly believing in and worshipping people in positions of power because they are likable or cool. Citizens should be skeptical of rhetoric promising "change," especially when it comes from a president who represents an extension of the same policies and the same globalist status quo agenda. source>>>

Christian Broadcasters Face 'Dark Clouds'; Affirm Commitment to Preach

The nation's largest association of Christian media professionals is sending a strong message to Washington, making clear their intention to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of what government restrictions there may be in the future.

"The day has come when we need to say, 'We will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ whether some government makes it illegal to do so or not,'" affirmed Dr. Frank Wright, president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, during a press conference this past weekend.

Since Saturday, thousands of NRB members have been gathering in Nashville for the association's annual convention - the world's largest gathering of Christian broadcasters. The event draws participants ranging from A-list Hollywood producers and award-winning talk show hosts to overseas broadcasters and small-town pastors for four days of networking, fellowship, training, and product scouting.

Though every year religious broadcasters have been faced by looming threats including the Fairness Doctrine, hate crimes laws, and the Employment Non Discrimination Act, this year the "dark clouds on distant horizons" feel like they are much closer for many with Democrats dominating the government's legislative and executive branches and as some experts predict the appointment of two or three new Supreme Court justices over the next few years that may shift the judicial branch toward the left.

"[W]ith the change in the political landscape, and the domination of the Congress of the United States and now with the change in the White House, the domination of the administration and the administration agencies, we are facing a new day," said Wright on Saturday, according to Christian Web News.

"And we're facing a day that is going to be challenging for us to continue to maintain the ability of Christian broadcasters to freely proclaim the Gospel," he added.

With threats now looming more closely, Wright announced the NRB's unanimous decision to adopt a Declaration of Unity in the Gospel in order to re-affirm what the NRB is and what it stands for.

He read the entire declaration to the convention later that night, stating "We declare our deeply held belief that religious liberty is the cornerstone of any truly free society and commit ourselves to work within the bounds of our nation's laws to defend and preserve it."

But, as the declaration concluded, "We fully accept our charge to faithfully obey the command of Christ to preach the gospel even if human governments and institutions attempt to oppose, constrain, or prohibit it."

Following the reading of the declaration, Wright called on all those present to affirm their agreement with the declaration by standing - which all convention attendees did as they broke out in unanimous applause.

Established in 1944, the National Religious Broadcasters is an association of over 1,400 organizations dedicated to spreading the Gospel through electronic media.

Its annual convention, which was held Feb. 7-10 in Nashville this year, is touted as a "must attend" on the broadcast industry's calendar and is the largest internationally recognized event of its kind.
source>>>

Justice Deptartment to probe Ticketmaster deal

he Justice Department says it will investigate the proposed merger of ticketing giant Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. with Live Nation Inc.

Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona said Wednesday the department will vigorously enforce antitrust laws and therefore thoroughly investigate the proposed deal.

Some lawmakers are already calling on the government to reject the deal.

The deal would match the world's dominant ticket seller, Ticketmaster, with Live Nation, which was once it's biggest client and is the world's No. 1 concert promoter.

A Justice Department investigation could take months or longer, and the department has probed Ticketmaster in the past. source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

On this date in 1870, the U.S. Weather Bureau was authorized by Congress. In 1902, Dr. Eugene-Louis Doyen of Paris successfully operated on Siamese twins from the Barnum and Bailey Circus. source>>>

Quebec Lawmakers May Impose Gambling On Unwilling City

The government in Quebec is facing much scrutiny over a proposal for the Montreal racetrack. They are attempting to turn the track into a gambling complex, and the city feels that the government is breaching a prior agreement by doing so.

According to City Councillor Marvin Rotrand, the government had promised that the racetrack and all gambling activity would be moved out of the area. In its place would be the development of a residential neighborhood.

"It (housing) would not only give young families the opportunity to remain in the city, it would attract suburbanites back in the city. It's nonsense for a valuable piece of land of this size and scope so close to downtown, so close to the airport, across for the metro, near to several autoroutes to lie empty year after year," said Rotrand.

The government has proposed the gambling complex as part of a bigger bailout package. The opposition to the package has come fast and furious and on Monday several groups are expected to publicly oppose the bail out.

"The government would have to impose this on us," said Rotrand, who has been a city councillor for a long time. He believes he has enough support to stop the governments efforts and use the land for what it was intended for.

There is still a possibility that the bail out package for the racetrack could fall through. Breeders and horsemen are against the current version of the bail out, which could cause it to fall apart all together. source>>>>

Tia Carrere Hits Grammy Red Carpet In Dress She Bought On eBay

Tia Carrere picked up her first ever Grammy - for Best Hawaiian Music Album - but she did it with the sinking U.S. economy in mind.

"This actually is the whole outfit," Tia said of her Grammy Awards ensemble - a skin-tight black number with jewel embellishment, and a fancy purse, which she purchased on eBay. "This is less than $100 dollars, my whole outfit. It's my statement for the economic times."

As a cheer erupted backstage in the pressroom when Tia revealed her fashion-forward move, and she quickly offered advice for looking good in tough financial times.

"You know what, look fabulous and feel fabulous at any price," she laughed.

And, of course, a shining gold gramophone complimented the outfit.

"This is awesome, this is so awesome and I can't believe I'm holding this priceless artifact with a $30 dress," Tia laughed. "I guess coming from Hawaii it's really ingrained [in you that] the blessings that you have come from earth." source>>>

Garage Sales & Ebay

Garage Sales will be starting up soon. Typically Springtime is the season for everyone to clean out the garage. It is an awesome way to make a little extra money, sometimes a lot of extra money. But keep in mind that the economy has people in such a state right now that the market is saturated with used stuff. Right now they are practically giving away their items just to make a sale. If you happen to be among those with money then you are in an ideal position to buy whatever you want if you are looking to save money on used stuff.

The paper is a great place to start, also online, to look for garage sales in your area. I have a friend, April, known as the Queen of garage sales. She goes usually every Friday when they start up so as to get the best choice available. She checks the local paper and online and maps out her day according to neighborhoods. You would not believe the stuff this gal has purchased! Just about all of her children's clothing and all of their toys come from garage sales, not to mention some of her clothing and household items etc. Children outgrow their clothes so fast it makes no sense to buy everything new. I used to shop garage sales often, but to tell the truth, my children are now grown and gone, so I don't go as often as I used to. My home is already full of stuff. When you are a young family it makes perfect sense, but as you get older, it isn't as important anymore. At least not for me. If I am looking for something specific that is a different story. I did find some used bicycles for my grandchildren last summer that were in perfect condition, a Schwinn for $20. and a Mongoose for $35.00 and some clothing for my granddaughter that was near new. I walked away with about four bags of clothes for twenty bucks. I felt really good about those purchases. If you can get the clothes down to say .25 cents per piece for play clothes that is great. (If they are in great condition and there is an abundance, I make an offer to buy the whole lot. But when people are asking $3-$5 for children's clothing, most of the time I walk away. If it is a specialty item like a suit or a beautiful dress, I will rethink it.

I love it when a neighborhood is having a garage sale or yard sale. That makes it worthwhile when you don't have to drive around all over the place. So if your HOA allows a neighborhood garage sale that is a great time to have one. The advertising is usually shared and the attraction is so great your chances of success are increased tremendously.

If you don't care for the hassle of doing a garage sale then by all means donate your stuff to a charity / thrift store. It is tax deductible and you will probably be allowed more for the donation than you would have made doing all of that work trying to sell it, unless of course you need the cash now.

Ebay is an awesome way to buy stuff online and you can get incredible deals. Most things are marked at least 30-50% off the original price. I bought my grandson a Thomas the Tank Engine set for under $300. brand new. Then I found the table at a garage sale for $50. I was thrilled with my purchases. The set I bought including the table was close to $1000.00 retail. So I was a happy grandma. source>>>

Canada Files $500 Million Class Action Lawsuit in Ontario Against Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc., the biggest ticketing company in the world, was sued in Canada for selling popular tickets at inflated prices, in violation of provincial laws.

The suit, filed in Toronto by Sutts, Strosberg LLP and Branch MacMaster Barristers and Solicitors on behalf of all people who purchased event tickets in Ontario from Ticketmaster or through reseller TicketsNow.com, seeks C$500 million ($411 million) in damages, said Luciana Brasil, a lawyer at MacMaster.

"We expect a very large number of claimants," Brasil said. "We're just estimating the damages."

Fan complaints that they were steered to TicketsNow, which offers tickets that are priced hundreds of dollars above face value, prompted a New Jersey congressman to call for a federal antitrust investigation into Ticketmaster sales practices. Attorneys general in that state and in Connecticut are looking into the matter. Bruce Springsteen has condemned the company for having "a pure conflict of interest."

The Canadian lawsuit was filed on behalf of Henryk Krajewski, a Toronto resident who bought two concert tickets for C$533.65, when their face value on Ticketmaster's Web site was C$133, Jay Strosberg, who with Brasil represents the plaintiff, said in a telephone interview.

Ticketmaster spokesman Albert Lopez didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the Canadian lawsuit.

Strosberg and Brasil plan to ask an Ontario judge to allow Krajewski to represent all the other ticket buyers in a group lawsuit. A hearing for the certification motion hasn't been set.

Ontario Law

Ticketmaster's fees and handling charges violate an Ontario law that prohibits the resale of tickets to events at a price that's greater than that printed on the ticket, Brasil said. The law also prohibits TicketsNow, which is owned by Ticketmaster, from selling tickets at greater-than-face value, she said.

Similar laws are in place in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the lawyers said they plan to file similar suits in those provinces.

Ticketmaster, based in West Hollywood, California, issued an apology Feb. 4 for having steered Springsteen fans to TicketsNow and vowed to refund them the price difference between the face value of tickets and those purchased through the reseller. Fans also will no longer be shown a link to the resale market unless the artist agrees, Ticketmaster said. source>>>

the new mega concert giant could face a long antitrust investigation before final approval

While the Live Nation and Ticketmaster merger could be completed within the next few days, the new mega concert giant could face a long antitrust investigation before actually getting approval. According to Billboard.biz, both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission would have to review the case, and Ticketmaster's previous monopoly accusations could mean it might take up to a year for the merger to be completed.

Senator Schumer D-N.Y. pushes for federal investigation of Ticketmaster

Calls for a probe into the online sale of Bruce Springsteen tickets gained momentum Sunday when Sen. Chuck Schumer demanded an investigation by Congress.

Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., appeared at Madison Square Garden to criticize Ticketmaster for doing a "bait-and-switch" when it distributed tickets to Springsteen's upcoming "Working on a Dream" tour.

Angry fans of the Monmouth County rocker contacted the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs with allegations of scalping last week after they were unable to buy tickets at Ticketmaster's online store, and were instead directed to an affiliated seller's far pricier Web site.

Schumer joined Pascrell in demanding that Congress probe Ticketmaster for a possible violation of antitrust laws. Pascrell first called for the investigation last Tuesday.

Ticketmaster, which acquired TicketsNow last year for $265 million, describes the reseller as "its leading online marketplace where buyers and sellers meet in open exchange."

Schumer and Pascrell said the partnership - along with Ticketmaster's potential merger with one of the world's largest concert promoters, Live Nation - could potentially increase ticket prices even further and create a monopoly in the ticketing industry.

"There is great potential for abuse when two companies of this size join forces," Schumer said. "We must protect consumers against these practices."

Attempts to reach officials at both Ticketmaster and Live Nation were unsuccessful.

Pascrell has already written the Federal Trade Commission and other government authorities, asking them to investigate whether Ticketmaster and TicketsNow have a conflict of interest.

Pascrell said Ticketmaster leads customers to believe TicketsNow is their only option if they're unable to purchase tickets through the standard methods.

In a Feb. 5 letter to the House Judiciary Committee, Pascrell said the potential merger with Live Nation could allow for "an incredible potential for abuse when one company controls the primary and secondary market for concert tickets.

"That potential will surely be magnified exponentially should one company be able to control every aspect of recording, record sales, licensing, venue ownership and ticket sales," Pascrell wrote in his letter.

Though most Springsteen shows sold out within minutes, Ticketmaster prompted many customers to go to TicketsNow, where hundreds of tickets were immediately available but at prices far above face value.

Seething fans contacted the state Division of Consumer Affairs with allegations of scalping. One woman, in an e-mail to The Record, said her husband was unwittingly charged more than $1,900 - "over 6 ½ weeks' worth of grocery money!"

Ticketmaster has attributed the Internet lockout to a software issue isolated to three show dates, and said it was contacting customers whose orders were canceled mid-transaction.

Nine-year-old Lim Ding Wen, from Singapore, creates Doodle Kids app for Apple's iPhone

He's only nine years old, and he's already done something most of us could never do: create an iPhone application.

Lim Ding Wen, a Singapore native, created a new app for the iPhone called Doodle Kids, according to Fox News.

Fox News also reported:

The program lets users draw pictures with their fingers right onto the iPhone's touchscreen. To clear the screen, you just shake the phone.

Doodle Kids has already been downloaded more than 4,000 times.

"I wrote the program for my younger sisters, who like to draw," Lim said.

Lim, who is now in fourth grade began using a computer at age 2. He has already created about 20 computer programs.

"Every evening we check the statistics emailed to us (by iTunes) to see who has more downloads," Lim Ding Wen's father said.

Lim Dinf Wen is already working on a new iPhone app - a sci-fi gamed called "Invader Wars." source>>>

man attempts to auction off debt

One Milford man was attempting to say goodbye to his family's debt by auctioning it off on eBay.

The 29-year-old husband and father is an engineer who was recently laid off. His wife, 26, is currently out of work. The couple has a two-year-old daughter.

The couple has no income coming in and they have accumulated almost $22,000 in credit card debt.

Having just missed their first mortgage payment, the couple fears they may miss another if things don't pick up. The man is desperately searching for a job and is willing to relocate to provide for his family.

In an attempt to provide financial stability for his family, the man made an eBay auction containing 2,500 "thank yous" with a starting price of $10 each. The 29-year-old thought if he could get 2,500 bidders at $10 each, he would make enough to cover all of his family's debt and fees.

Each bidder would have gotten a picture of the family and a thank you card for helping them in their time of need.

However, eBay took the auction down. Officials contacted the man and told him he wasn't really selling anything and that he was just looking for charity.

Frustrated that the auction was taken down, the man did not give up. He created a Web site: http://www.helppaydebt.webs.com/ and is hoping for the best. source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

On this date in 1971, Alan Shepard hit a few golf balls with a six iron on the surface of that gigantic golf ball known as the moon. The first ball landed in a nearby crater. The second was hit further, and in the one-sixth gravity of the moon, Shepard said it traveled "miles and miles and miles." source>>>

Octuplet Mom Looks Just Like Another Baby-Obsessed Lady

Well this is weird. The California woman who recently gave birth to a set of octuplets, Nadya Suleman, was interviewed by Ann Curry on NBC, and the single mother of 14 is an Angelina Jolie clone. It's not just her dark-haired looks looks that are all Angie - she's got that child-loving, serene, pretentious, robotic thing down to a tee! If the Jolie-Pitts ever need a babysitter or a wet nurse, we know who they should call.

Suleman is now busy defending her decision to have 14 kids via sperm donor, while she is unemployed and living with her parents in a 3 bedroom house. Not surprisingly, people are kinda creeped out by this. source>>>

Thinking Christian: Challenging Darwin

A billboard honoring Charles Darwin's birthday on Feb. 12 debuted this week on Route 74 in York County, just north of Dover, where a 2005 federal court ruling halted the local school board's attempts to integrate intelligent design into science curricula.

Sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and PA Nonbelievers, the billboard reads, "Praise Darwin, Evolve Beyond Belief." Annie Laurie Gaylor, foundation co-president, said in a statement, "We want to 'Praise Darwin,' to give credit to human intelligence, not the supernatural, for answering the question, 'Where do we come from?' And who greater than Charles Darwin?"

The foundation said the phrase "Evolve Beyond Belief" is directed toward the 55 percent of Americans who, according to a 2004 CBS News poll, believe God created life.

Predictably, the billboard is stirring controversy among York-area Christians, particularly among members of the Dover school board who rallied in favor of intelligent design.

Christians devoted to promoting balanced science education in public schools have every reason to be disgruntled. According to the same CBS poll, 65 percent of Americans -- both Christian and non-Christian -- favor teaching both evolution and creationism in public schools. But this majority is overruled by the scientific elite, a group remaining staunchly committed to evolution.

Ben Stein examines the stigma associated with intelligent design and creationism in his documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." After interviewing nine scientists who were either fired or ostracized for professing a belief in intelligent design, Stein proposes academic freedom no longer exists in America.

During one of the most shocking interviews in the documentary, Stein discusses the origin of life with Richard Dawkins, author of "The God Delusion" and hailed as one of the most prominent atheists in the world. Surprisingly, Dawkins readily admits life may have come about through some means of intelligent design.

"It could be that at some earlier time somewhere in the universe a civilization evolved to a very, very high level of technology and designed the form of life on this planet," he said in the interview. "Now that is a possibility and an intriguing possibility. I suppose you might find evidence for that if you look at the details of biochemistry and molecular biology. You might find a signature of some sort of designer."

Ironically, Dawkins perfectly explains the motivating factor for scientists who choose to study intelligent design and creationism: every part of this world, down to the tiniest molecule, is more complex than man's greatest inventions and points to a powerful creator.

Perhaps in realizing his admission, Dawkins quickly said, "That designer could well be a higher intelligence from elsewhere in the universe, but that higher intelligence would have had to come about through an explicable process. It couldn't have just jumped into existence."

It seems laughable Dawkins is willing to credit a higher intelligence such as aliens as the creators of the world, as opposed to a God who is infinitely more powerful and intelligent than aliens and who exists, according to 92 percent of Americans in a 2008 Pew Forum study.

Indeed, Dawkins would never acknowledge the existence of an omniscient, omnipresent God, as doing so would mean human life has intrinsic value, moral absolutes exist and humanistic evolution is null and void.

The battle for academic freedom in the scientific arena is far from over, but Christians can take active measures to combat the evident bias against intelligent design and creationism.

Stein and Discovery Institute, a non-religious research group devoted to intelligent design, have teamed up to promote the Academic Freedom Act. If passed, the act would protect the rights of students, professors and scientists to debate evolution in an appropriate manner.

To support the act, Discovery Institute's Center for Science & Culture is hosting Academic Freedom Day on Feb. 12, Darwin's birthday, encouraging students to set up displays on their campuses to promote awareness about the shunning of intelligent design and creationism.

Even Darwin said in his first edition of "On the Origin of the Species," "A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question."

Only when intelligent design and creationism are protected in academia can the fundamental freedoms of all Americans -- including the 55 percent who believe God created life -- be restored. source>>>

Two jailed over Tunisia bombing

A French court has sentenced a German convert to Islam to 18 years over an attack on a Tunisian synagogue that killed 21 people in 2002.

Christian Ganczarski, who prosecutors believed had links with al-Qaeda, was arrested in France in 2003.

The court also sentenced Walid Nouar, the brother of the suicide bomber, to 12 years for his part in the attack on the synagogue in Djerba.

Both men denied the charges and are expected to appeal against the verdict.

The Djerba bombing - which killed 14 German tourists, five Tunisians and two French nationals - was claimed by al-Qaeda.

French prosecutors believe it was organised by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed - the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on the US - who is being held at the Guantanamo detention centre.

Phone call

Under French law the death of the two French nationals means the three men could be tried in France.

But the French court decided not to rule on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's alleged role in the attack until he could appear in person.

According to court documents, suicide bomber Nizar Nouar called Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Christian Ganczarski just before he drove a gas-laden truck into the synagogue.

The calls were allegedly made on a telephone brought into Tunisia by the bomber's brother, Walid Nouar.

The bomber's uncle, Belgacem Nouar, was jailed in 2006 for his role in the attack. source>>>

Free 'Valentines for Veterans Concerts' Honor Veterans Across the Country

Help Hospitalized Veterans Co-Sponsors Concert Series in Support of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week

WINCHESTER, Calif., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- As Valentines Day approaches, thousands of Americans will look for ways to express their love for family, friends, and significant others. Whether it's a thoughtful gift or a nice evening out, Valentines Day is about spending time with loved ones and showing them your appreciation. Such gestures and sentiment come as no surprise on February 14th, yet several organizations are working together to spread the Valentines Day spirit a little early this year.

Sunday, February 8th kicks-off National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. In support, Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV), a non-profit organization that works to physically and psychologically rehabilitate veterans through programs and events that foster active hands and minds, and increase self worth and confidence, will co-sponsor four "Valentines for Veterans Concerts" with local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospitals.

The concerts span over three days, February 12-14, and will take place in four different cities across the United States. Cities hosting the concerts include: Cleveland, OH; Tampa, FL; Charleston, SC; Prescott, AZ. "We'd like to thank the four different venues for everything they've done in hosting this years 'Valentines for Veterans Concerts,'" said Mike Lynch, Executive Director of HHV. "These great concerts would not be possible if it weren't for the tremendous support given by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Florida State Fair Authority, The Cultural and Civic Auditorium (Old Sterett Hall), and Yavapai College Performance Hall."

A broad range of musical talent will be performing at each concert, including performances by The Spinners, The Tams, The Embers, Russell Thompkins, Jr. and The New Stylistics, and 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Little Anthony & The Imperials. The concert series is free of charge to all military personnel, as well as the general public. "The purpose of these concerts is to show respect and appreciation to America's veterans as well as their families," Lynch continued. "Our hope is that the concerts will boost awareness of local VA Medical Centers, increase understanding of the issues facing severely wounded veterans as well as their families, and encourage people to visit hospitalized veterans or consider volunteering at their local VA."

National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week is an official VA program that is celebrated at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country. While this annual week long celebration, formerly called "No Greater Love Week," dates back as far as 1978, the "Valentines for Veterans Concert" series was conceived in 2007, and was inspired by a love story between a severely wounded Iraq combat veteran and his wife.

Concert organizers met the young man and his wife on Valentines Day, when he was being treated at the local VA in Prescott, AZ. They were so compelled by the couple's story that they wanted to do something the following Valentines Day to honor the two and all the young men and women who've been injured from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The "Valentines for Veterans Concerts" were the result. After the success of prior concerts and the overwhelmingly positive reception from veterans, their families and community members alike, concert organizers have already begun looking to add additional cities across the United States for the 2010 series.

In addition to the "Valentines for Veterans Concerts," HHV sponsors several other high profile national events with the VA such as the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival and the National Veterans Golden Age Games. HHV's sponsorship of these events demonstrates continued support of two important goals that drive their mission: to help aid American veterans in their recovery and to increase community awareness of the many ways in which to get more involved in helping the troops that have served our country.

"Valentines for Veterans Concert" Series Particulars:

TAMPA, FLORIDA
When: Thursday, February 12, 2009
Where: Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa Florida
Featuring: The Spinners and Little Anthony and The Imperials
Expected: 5,000+

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
When: Friday, February 13, 2009
Where: The Cultural and Civic Auditorium (Old Sterett Hall),
Charleston, South Carolina
Featuring: The Tams and The Embers (popular groups of the southern
region)
Expected: 1,000+

CLEVELAND, OHIO
When: Friday, February 13, 2009
Where: Cleveland, Ohio Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Featuring: Little Anthony and The Imperials
Expected: 800+

PRESCOTT, ARIZONA
When: Saturday, February 14, 2009
Where: Yavapai College Performance Hall, Prescott, Arizona
Featuring: Russell Thompkins, Jr. and The New Stylistics
Expected: 1,500
source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

On this date in 1974, the Mariner 10 took the first close-up images of Venus. In 1981, in Brisbane, Australia, two men created the world's largest Jell-O, filling a tank with 7,700 gallons of pink Jell-O. source>>>

British Christians launch pro-God ads after atheist blitz

A British Christian group is to run a pro-God poster campaign on the side of London buses, to counter a recent atheist advertising blitz which claimed there was no deity, it said Thursday.

The two-week campaign from next Monday is being organised by the Trinitarian Bible Society, which has published copies of the Bible in various languages for more than 150 years.

The Christian adverts -- countering atheist slogans urging people to relax and enjoy themselves in a God-free world -- will feature a Biblical verse on 183 London buses, as well as details of how to obtain a free copy of the Bible.

David Larlham, the society's assistant general secretary, told AFP that it was spending 35,000 pounds (39,800 euros, 51,300 dollars) on the campaign, adding that it might expand the initiative depending on the response.

Larlham acknowledged the atheist bus campaign had "helped put the thought in our minds," -- but noted that the society had already displayed adverts at railway stations adorned with Biblical verses.

Doing the same on the capital's buses was not a major leap.

"I was pleased to see (the atheist) campaign, because its good that the country is a free country where people can voice their opinion and declare their belief," Larlham said.

The atheist campaign saw adverts with slogans like "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" on the side of 800 buses across the country, as well as 1,000 posters in London's Underground trains.

Similar initiatives have been organised or are in the pipeline in other countries including Spain, Italy, Canada and Australia. source>>>

50 De-Stimulating Facts Chapter and verse on a bad bill.

Senate Democrats acknowledged Wednesday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill in its current form. This is unexpected good news. The House passed the stimulus package with zero Republican votes (and even a few Democratic defections), but few expected Senate Republicans (of whom there are only 41) to present a unified front. A few moderate Democrats have reportedly joined them.

The idea that the government can spend the economy out of a recession is highly questionable, and even with Senate moderates pushing for changes, the current package is unlikely to see much improvement. Nevertheless, this presents an opportunity to remove some of the most egregious spending, to shrink some programs, and to add guidelines where the initial bill called for a blank check. Here are 50 of the most outrageous items in the stimulus package:

VARIOUS LEFT-WINGERY
The easiest targets in the stimulus bill are the ones that were clearly thrown in as a sop to one liberal cause or another, even though the proposed spending would have little to no stimulative effect. The National Endowment for the Arts, for example, is in line for $50 million, increasing its total budget by a third. The unemployed can fill their days attending abstract-film festivals and sitar concerts.Then there are the usual welfare-expansion programs that sound nice but repeatedly fail cost-benefit analyses. The bill provides $380 million to set up a rainy-day fund for a nutrition program that serves low-income women and children, and $300 million for grants to combat violence against women. Laudable goals, perhaps, but where's the economic stimulus? And the bill would double the amount spent on federal child-care subsidies. Brian Riedl, a budget expert with the Heritage Foundation, quips, "Maybe it's to help future Obama cabinet secretaries, so that they don't have to pay taxes on their nannies."

Perhaps spending $6 billion on university building projects will put some unemployed construction workers to work, but how does a $15 billion expansion of the Pell Grant program meet the standard of "temporary, timely, and targeted"? Another provision would allocate an extra $1.2 billion to a "youth" summer-jobs program -- and increase the age-eligibility limit from 21 to 24. Federal job-training programs -- despite a long track record of failure -- come in for $4 billion total in additional funding through the stimulus.

Of course, it wouldn't be a liberal wish list if it didn't include something for ACORN, and sure enough, there is $5.2 billion for community-development block grants and "neighborhood stabilization activities," which ACORN is eligible to apply for. Finally, the bill allocates $650 million for activities related to the switch from analog to digital TV, including $90 million to educate "vulnerable populations" that they need to go out and get their converter boxes or lose their TV signals. Obviously, this is stimulative stuff: Any economist will tell you that you can't get higher productivity and economic growth without access to reruns of Family Feud.

Summary:
$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
$380 million in the Senate bill for the Women, Infants and Children program
$300 million for grants to combat violence against women
$2 billion for federal child-care block grants
$6 billion for university building projects
$15 billion for boosting Pell Grant college scholarships
$4 billion for job-training programs, including $1.2 billion for "youths" up to the age of 24
$1 billion for community-development block grants
$4.2 billion for "neighborhood stabilization activities"
$650 million for digital-TV coupons; $90 million to educate "vulnerable populations"

POORLY DESIGNED TAX RELIEF
The stimulus package's tax provisions are poorly designed and should be replaced with something closer to what the Republican Study Committee in the House has proposed. Obama would extend some of the business tax credits included in the stimulus bill Congress passed about a year ago, and this is good as far as it goes. The RSC plan, however, also calls for a cut in the corporate-tax rate that could be expected to boost wages, lower prices, and increase profits, stimulating economic activity across the board.

The RSC plan also calls for a 5 percent across-the-board income-tax cut, which would increase productivity by providing additional incentives to save, work, and invest. An across-the-board payroll-tax cut might make even more sense, especially for low- to middle-income workers who don't make enough to pay income taxes. Obama's "Making Work Pay" tax credit is aimed at helping these workers, but it uses a rebate check instead of a rate cut. Rebate checks are not effective stimulus, as we discovered last spring: They might boost consumption, a little, but that's all they do.

Finally, the RSC proposal provides direct tax relief to strapped families by expanding the child tax credit, reducing taxes on parents' investment in the next generation of taxpayers. Obama's expansion of the child tax credit is not nearly as ambitious. Overall, his plan adds up to a lot of forgone revenue without much stimulus to show for it. Senators should push for the tax relief to be better designed.

Summary:
$15 billion for business-loss carry-backs
$145 billion for "Making Work Pay" tax credits
$83 billion for the earned income credit

STIMULUS FOR THE GOVERNMENT
Even as their budgets were growing robustly during the Bush administration, many federal agencies couldn't find the money to keep up with repairs -- at least that's the conclusion one is forced to draw from looking at the stimulus bill. Apparently the entire capital is a shambles. Congress has already removed $200 million to fix up the National Mall after word of that provision leaked out and attracted scorn. But one fixture of the mall -- the Smithsonian -- dodged the ax: It's slated to receive $150 million for renovations.

The stimulus package is packed with approximately $7 billion worth of federal building projects, including $34 million to fix up the Commerce Department, $500 million for improvements to National Institutes of Health facilities, and $44 million for repairs at the Department of Agriculture. The Agriculture Department would also get $350 million for new computers -- the better to calculate all the new farm subsidies in the bill (see "Pure pork" below).

One theme in this bill is superfluous spending items coated with green sugar to make them more palatable. Both NASA and NOAA come in for appropriations that properly belong in the regular budget, but this spending apparently qualifies for the stimulus bill because part of the money from each allocation is reserved for climate-change research. For instance, the bill grants NASA $450 million, but it states that the agency must spend at least $200 million on "climate-research missions," which raises the question: Is there global warming in space?

The bottom line is that there is a way to fund government agencies, and that is the federal budget, not an "emergency" stimulus package. As Riedl puts it, "Amount allocated to the Census Bureau? $1 billion. Jobs created? None."

Summary:
$150 million for the Smithsonian
$34 million to renovate the Department of Commerce headquarters
$500 million for improvement projects for National Institutes of Health facilities
$44 million for repairs to Department of Agriculture headquarters
$350 million for Agriculture Department computers
$88 million to help move the Public Health Service into a new building
$448 million for constructing a new Homeland Security Department headquarters
$600 million to convert the federal auto fleet to hybrids
$450 million for NASA (carve-out for "climate-research missions")
$600 million for NOAA (carve-out for "climate modeling")
$1 billion for the Census Bureau

The Media's Favorite 'Untouchable'

I learned from the news Tuesday that the stock market went down 64 points for exactly one reason: some fools in Congress have dared to question the Lord Obama's perfect $1 trillion "stimulus" plan.

This new and improved stimulus is not be confused with the previous $1 trillion bailout from just a few weeks ago, or the $151 billion stimulus checks from a few months before that, or even the $45 billion bailout of auto makers that came in between, or especially the regular federal spending for the year of a whopping $3 trillion. No, this is a new plan to borrow and spend money on a gargantuan scale, and one that will somehow work better than all those others because the man in the White House now "cares" about us peons.

Unfortunately for the people selling this snake oil, someone noticed at some point that the "new" stimulus was really just a collection of stale old pork barrel pet projects that had been relabeled as a carefully considered plan. And opposition to it as nothing but a historic waste of money began to grow. Such obvious interference with supreme wisdom then, apparently, caused everyone who owns stocks (all of whom believe that the plan is just great) to run out and sell stocks randomly in a tantrum. At least that is what the media would have you believe.

"Just give Obama his next trillion and no one gets hurt." (Wasn't that from a scene in that movie about Chicago titled, The Untouchables?) Obstruct his masterstroke over little concerns like "we don't have any money left" or "this won't really help" and unspecified bad things will happen to us all. This technique of threatening people with a message of doom in the background noise reminds me of a minute detail from the expensive over-education my parents bought me.

The ancient Romans, having not yet been cursed by television commentary, had a foolproof system for determining the will of the Gods: a special authority (known as a Heruspex, if you care) would kill a chicken and stare at its liver. From the appearance of the liver, major geopolitical pronouncements could be discerned, but only by the Heruspex, who owed his position in society to the leaders of Rome.

Strangely, the message of the Heruspex often boiled down to "Do what the leader wants!" If this incredible advice was not followed carefully, all sorts of malevolence might then befall the fools who didn't do as they were told. Why, Heaven might just rip the whole civilization off its foundations and hurl it into some sort eternal "downturn."

Now, of course, we have a much better system, in which a special authority (called a journalist, if you care) stares at mysterious things like stock market fluctuations and tells us, definitively, why it did what it did on a minute-by-minute basis and what we must do to stop it from becoming any worse.

Take a moment to consider how truly incredible this is. The stock markets are made up of thousands of companies, traded by millions of people in dozens of countries who decide to buy or sell for reasons as disparate as:

1. A careful multivariate analysis of Chinese coal usage vs. the Baltic Dry Index
2. Man! That one's going up (or down)!
3. Pick out any engagement ring you like, Honey.
4. Look, the symbol spells my name!

Yet out of all this, repeated about one billion times a day, some people claim to understand the inner meaning of the net 0.1% move one way or the other. It's not impossible, of course. Sometimes the reason for a move is obvious, such as the huge decline when the markets reopened after September 11. But such times are rare. Trying to attribute a few hours of movement to a particular reason is usually just stupid.

But no one ever got paid to say "Photcom declined 3% in late afternoon selling today for, uh.... I dunno." So instead, making up plausible reasons became a staple in the business press. "Photcom declined 3% in late afternoon selling today in an apparent profit taking dip." Such nonsense was bad enough when contained only to CNBC and the Nightly Business Report. But then the television Obamabots got involved back in October and began issuing explanations for every market move up or down, all of which fell into two molds:

1. The market rose a billion points this morning because people were just so happy/confident/reassured that Obama would be elected/get his Treasury Secretary/ pass his Spendulus Bill.
2. The market declined a zillion points this afternoon as people became worried/panicked/desperate that Obama might not be elected fast enough/ get his Treasury Secretary/ win his Spendulus Bill.

The market can move up and down over the same range 3 times in 4 slow news days and yet someone in the press knows exactly what pro-Obama message the markets really meant each time.

I'm done fighting this crap. I am now just going to pull an Obama and use it to justify everything I want. Unless I get my way, with no questions asked, there could be serious metaphysical consequences.

Look! The market declined 64 points today after I failed to receive a needed back rub. The markets then rose in after-hours trading on hopes that I might receive said back rub.Markets will be unsteady tomorrow until I know whether or not anyone cuts me off in traffic. Now is not the time to risk cutting me off, especially as the markets are still recovering from their frightening 5% decline a few days ago that resulted from investor panic over a speeding ticket I received from a uniformed opponent of speedy "change."

Every reader must contribute a dollar to my auto bailout fund (I need a new car) or our fragile way of life could be destroyed forever. Oh No! The Nikkei is declining in morning trading. I warned you people! Send me those dollars.
source>>>

Miley Cyrus Offends Asian-Rights Group With Slanted-Eyes Photo

After a series of scandals involving photographs on the Internet, you'd think that "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus would be careful about the photos she poses for. But the Disney superstar is in hot water again, this time for a snapshot that leaked online late Monday in which she is pictured pulling at the corners of her eyes in a mock-Asian gesture amid a group of squinting friends, including an unidentified person of Asian descent.

George Wu, executive director of the national Asian Pacific American nonprofit OCA released a statement on Monday in which he criticized the 16-year-old singer for her actions.

"The photograph of Miley Cyrus and other individuals slanting their eyes currently circulating the Internet is offensive to the Asian Pacific American community and sets a terrible example for her many young fans," Wu said. "This image falls within a long and unfortunate history of people mocking and denigrating individuals of Asian descent. Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans."

And, despite the fact that one of the men pictured in the photo appears to be of Asian descent, Wu said that alone does not make the gesture "acceptable." The OCA called for Cyrus -- who recently performed at the "Kids' Inaugural" concert in Washington, D.C. -- to apologize to her fans and the Asian Pacific American community for her "lapse in judgment."

A spokesperson for Cyrus had not responded to requests for comment at press time.

Last summer, the Spanish Olympic basketball team was similarly ridiculed for making the gesture in a series of team photos, as was the Spanish tennis team. source>>>

Working class penalization by Corporate America

My father had a frequently used threat for us children when we didn't stay in line. Although, to his credit, he never followed through with the threat, it comes into my mind as I watch all us working-class folks struggle up the financial hill and then get knocked back down again. That phrase was "I'm going to whip you until you cry and then whip you for crying." That is exactly what is happening now to the working poor.

Many of us have fallen into an apathetic depression because we know in our hearts that we "can't do anything about anything." We are being whipped into financial insolvency and then whipped for being poor.

New laws need to be legislated to protect us from two of the largest offenders who knock us back down the hill. I am not speaking of the pharmaceutical companies and all the "Big Boys" - the Lobbyists, the CEOs who play stocks with our monies, nor the crooked politicians who help them. I am speaking of two entities who undermine us from achieving on a grass-roots level: The utility companies and the "big three" credit reporting agencies.

Both of these entities exploit the working poor. Although the working poor are hard working and honest, these two corporate giant "life eaters" punish them as if they were felons. They are truly "whipped until they cry and then whipped for crying."

Saving on Auto Insurance Puts Money Back in Your Pocket
Super Cheap Winter Cruise Specials
Computer Slowing Down? What to Do About It
Jane and John Doe are wonderful people, by anyone's standards - The "Salt of the Earth" people that make America what it should be in its most idealistic form. Jane grew up on a small truck farm in Eastern Kentucky where her father worked in the coalmines and the family sold fresh vegetables to survive. After her father died of black lung disease, Jane quit school in the tenth grade to help her mother, financially, to raise the younger children. She took a job as a waitress, and has worked as a waitress ever since, only taking time off to give birth to two beautiful daughters.

John is a mechanic, and most folks say he is a good one. Everyone says he is an honest one. He works in his yard from daylight till dark, replacing transmissions, doing tune-ups and oil changes, and even changing engines with the help of a homemade come-along and his two little girls handing him wrenches.

Jane and John report every dime they earn to the IRS. They attend Sunday school and church every week, and give one-tenth of their gross earnings to their small church. They always pay their bills, but with the small amount of earned money, they sometimes run a bit behind.

Their utilities have never been shut off. They have received disconnection notices, but have always scraped the money together to pay the bills before the disconnect date. A few months ago, they receive notices from both utility companies that, because their payments usually run late, they must pay another deposit (to both the electric and the gas company). The "additional deposit" to the electric company was six hundred dollars, or, "per their policy, two and a half imes the average bill." The gas company was not as compliant in revealing their "policy," but told them that the additional deposit was to be $400.

Jane was in disbelief, since they had never had their utilities cut off; but both companies assured the Doe family that "whether the current bill was behind or not, their utilities would be cut off if the additional deposits were not paid by the due dates." The electric company did offer to let them pay the deposit in three two hundred dollar payments, in addition to their regular bill, which "must be paid in a timely fashion."

This alone devastated the little family for months, but more persecution for being poor was yet to come:

John was given a car with a blown engine by one of his customers in payment for mechanic work. John changed the engine, got the car in tip-top running shape and had it registered. A neighbor recommended that John and Jane call his insurance broker for insurance on their new vehicle. They were given a really good quote in view of their good driving history; Jane had had a speeding ticket in 1995, paid it, and her record was clear. John had backed into a parked car in a parking lot in 1997, and his insurance company had paid the amount of $567 to have the car fixed. Both John and Jane have current and clear driver's licenses.

The insurance company called a day after the original good quote and told John and Jane that the company was very sorry, but the original quote was in error and the amount to secure the insurance would be twice the originally quoted amount. John and Jane were not only unpleasantly surprised, they were horrified! When they asked the reason for the increase, they were told that they had a "less than average credit report."

$3 Million for Super Bowl Ad. and $3 A DAY for Workers Who Paid For It

Nearly 100 million football fans across the country will be tuning in to watch Bruce Springsteen belt out his trademark songs celebrating America's workers during halftime at the Super Bowl this evening. They also will see two new 30-second commercials -- estimated to cost at least $3 million each -- from Bridgestone Firestone, the world's largest tire company and the halftime sponsor.

But none of the viewers will see Austin Natee and his fellow workers. Natee is president of the union that represents the thousands of Liberian rubber workers who earn $3 on a good day, but whose hard labor creates the profits that Bridgestone Firestone uses to pay for the halftime spectacular.

When he was in Washington, D.C., last year to accept the 2007 Meany-Kirkland Human Rights Award on behalf of the rubber workers, Natee explained how Bridgestone Firestone continually exploits workers and pollutes the environment. Saying the workers live in modern-day slavery, he explained that rubber tappers work 14 hours a day and must tap 750 rubber trees and accumulate 150 pounds of latex daily -- all for little more than $3 a day and a monthly 100-pound bag of subsidized rice if quotas are met.

Tappers walk for miles with more than 140 pounds of rubber in metal buckets on their backs, Natee says, and the company fails to provide them with basic safety equipment such as goggles to prevent the latex from dripping into their eyes and blinding them.

Concerned sports fans can click here to send an e-mail to National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell and Bridgestone Americas CEO Mark Emkes urging justice for the Liberian rubber workers.

Emira Woods, co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, says for less than the cost of a Super Bowl sponsorship, Bridgestone Firestone could make a difference in its workers' lives.

Bridgestone Firestone spends millions to sponsor the Super Bowl, yet a small fraction of that amount could alleviate the heavy burden of exploitation of workers and the environment in Liberia. After three years of pressure from the workers, the adjacent community, and government officials, it is past time for Firestone to do the right thing. The NFL has a responsibility to sports fans across the country to not mire its marquee event with endorsers like Firestone that also sponsor labor and environmental abuse around the world.

Since 1926, Bridgestone Firestone has operated the world's largest rubber plantation in Liberia, with widespread child labor, abuse of workers' rights and environmental damage, according to activists with the Stop Firestone Coalition. Representatives of the United Steelworkers (USW) and the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center found horrid living conditions on the plantation.

The USW, which represents Bridgestone Firestone workers in the United States, has supported the Liberian workers for the past two years through training programs, workshops and education in partnership with the Solidarity Center.

After a long struggle, workers finally held the first free and fair union election and signed their first contract negotiated by an independent union leadership in August 2008. The agreement was a major step forward in the long struggle of workers to protect their rights.

But Firestone has failed to implement many of the important improvements in the new contract. For example, the new contract reduced the size of the production quota, but many workers report that they are still being forced to produce at the old quota level, which means they must hire subcontractors or use the labor of their family members in order to finish their work and be paid.

Firestone also has not fully implemented health and safety improvements in the new contract and has not provided transportation. The new contract also mandated improved conditions for children, including transportation to school; yet Firestone has neglected these provisions almost entirely.

Bama Athreya, executive director of the International Labor Rights Forum, said, "Bridgestone Firestone needs to stop playing games with workers and their families in Liberia."

The halftime show sponsor should immediately honor its commitments in the historic contract signed with the workers in Liberia, and the NFL should refuse to renew any contracts with Bridgestone until they can play fair in Liberia. source>>>

woman in California just had a litter of 8 babies

So this woman in California just had 8 babies at once...yes, 8. That is like giving birth to the entire Jackson Family. Then she reveals she already has 6, has no job, and is single. Nice! Love that. She's asking for $2 million to sell her story for an interview. Yup, she'll get it and then surprise, surprise she doesn't have to work! Her plan went perfectly. I'm glad she kept the babies but she knew what she was doing for all the wrong reasons.

There has got to be a point where you realize your body is not a clown car. source>>>

Newt Gingrich; Today's Message to Young Entrepreneurs: Get a Nice, Safe Government Job Instead

Imagine you are a young Bill Gates. You're smart. You're ambitious. You're thinking about starting a business to put your talents to their best use for you and for society.

Then you turn on the television and see President Obama say that "now is not the time" for entrepreneurs to make profits and get bonuses.

You hear Vice President Joe Biden say of corporate CEOs: "I'd like to throw these guys in the brig."

You pick up the newspaper and read about a bill sponsored by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) to cap the salaries of top executives ("idiots" in her words) of firms that accept government bailout money.

And you read about another bill speeding through Congress that will allow judges to alter the terms of mortgage contracts after the fact; to unilaterally reduce the amount of principal borrowers agreed to pay back when they signed their mortgage contracts.

The Vice President is Threatening to Throw Businessmen in the Brig. Why Take the Chance?

What lessons does a young entrepreneur learn from listening carefully to the voices advocating more and more government regulation and intervention in our economy?

He learns that the President has more faith in government to save the economy than free enterprise. So why not get a nice, safe government job instead?

She learns that starting a business and creating jobs may put her in the cross hairs of the Vice President. Maybe he means that part about throwing her in the brig, maybe he doesn't. Why take the chance?

He learns that when politicians like Claire McCaskill get involved in economic enterprises, politics -- not economics -- rules. Why risk everything to have your future controlled by Washington?

And she learns that contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on. When judges can unilaterally re-write contracts, lenders will charge more to lend. So why even try to get that small business loan?

Biden and McCaskill Should Be Outraged With Themselves

Vice President Biden, Sen. McCaskill and others who are advocating greater and greater government intervention into private business are rightly outraged at reports of corporate CEOs receiving billions in taxpayer bailout dollars and then turning around and awarding themselves and their cronies lavish corporate bonuses.

This outrage is entirely justified. Politicians are understandably looking for someone to blame for this breach of the public's trust.

But they should be looking at themselves. Vice President Biden and Sen. McCaskill should be outraged with themselves.

The reason is simple: If there had been no big government bailout of these companies, their CEOs would have no fiduciary duty to the taxpayers. It wouldn't be any of Sen. McCaskill's business how they compensate themselves.

But government offered the money, and private companies took it. So now government is in charge.

The Rules for Spending Taxpayers Money Don't Work in the Private Market

The great management guru Peter Drucker taught us that there is a set of rules for spending the taxpayers' money that is antithetical to the proper functioning of a private business.

For instance, when taxpayers are footing the bill, it's perfectly legitimate for the people, through their representatives in government, to set limits on compensation.

2 Huge No Way Out Matches Revealed, Ric Flair/RAW Update

For those who missed it last night, it was announced during last nights RAW that Ric Flair would be appearing on next week's show to respond to Chris Jericho's comments earlier in the evening. This will be Flair's first appearance on WWE television since his requested release from the company this past summer. Flair last appeared on WWE television back in June during a "McMahon Million Dollar Mania" segment.

John Bradshaw Layfield announced on RAW that at No Way Out, he will be wrestling Shawn Michaels with the stipulation that if Michaels wins, he is free from being employed to him not to mention that he keeps the money in his "contract." However, if Michaels loses, he loses the rights to his name to Layfield for life.

It was announced on RAW this week that Shane McMahon would be facing Randy Orton in a No Holds Barred Match at the No Way Out pay-per-view in two weeks.

It was also announced on RAW that the official theme song for No Way Out is "Hunt You Down" by Saliva. source>>>

Muammar Gaddafi Takes Over as African Union Chairman

President Muammar Gaddafi whose public statements have had the potential of worsening the delicate Muslim-Christian relations in Africa was on Monday elected chairman of the African Union (AU).

The Libyan leader replaces Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete in the one-year-term position that is held on a rotational basis by a head of state from Africa's four regions. His pet subject is greater African unity.

"I shall continue to insist that our sovereign countries work to achieve the United States of Africa," Gaddafi said in his inaugural speech, but admitted that African leaders were "not near to a settlement" on the issue.

Gaddafi, on his 40th year in power, has for the past decade pushed the unity agenda, but without sensitivity to the continent's religious reality. Christianity and Islam are Africa's main religions.

The man who has previously dismissed the Bible as a forgery and Christianity as a religion not meant for Africans will for the next year be the spokesman for a continent where religious tensions have sometimes erupted into violent confrontations.

On the other hand, Christian minorities, especially in North Africa, do not enjoy freedom of worship and continue to suffer official discrimination.

In the past two years, Gaddafi has used celebrations to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed to disparage Christianity. Last year while visiting Uganda, he delivered a tirade against the Bible, dismissing it as a forgery.

"The Bible we have now is not the one that was revealed to Issa [Jesus], and the Old Testament is not the one that was revealed to Musa. Mohammed is mentioned in both (original versions), but in the Torah and Bible we have now, there is no mention of him," he said.

"It means that it (Bible) has been forged. Prophet Mohammed was sent to mankind. Allah wanted mankind to have one religion. The Koran that we have is the only book that was sent by Allah."

In 2007, the Libyan leader said it was a mistake to believe that Jesus had been crucified and killed. "It is not correct to say that. Another man resembling Jesus was crucified in his place," Gaddafi told a mass prayer meeting in Niger to mark the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

Christianity, he added, was not a universal faith alongside Islam. "There are serious mistakes - among them the one saying that Jesus came as a messenger for other people other than the sons of Israel," he said.

"Christianity is not a faith for people in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Other people who are not sons of Israel have nothing to do with that religion."

"All those believers who do not follow Islam are losers," Gaddafi said. "We are here to correct the mistakes in the light of the teachings of the Koran."

The Libyan leader seized power in a military coup d'état in 1969, deposing the monarchy and imposing socialism and Islamic orthodoxy on the country. source>>>

Ultimate Concerts pulls the plug on proposition for Cleveland County 2,800 Jobs vanish

Up by 6:20 a.m. and on the road by 7.
A Lincolnton resident dressed to impress, Shereka Nixon spent 40 minutes driving Monday morning, but for good reason - or so she originally thought.
Like hundreds in or around Cleveland County who applied, Nixon hoped to land work with Ultimate Concerts Inc., a company she'd hoped was coming to the area.
Her first step toward a paycheck was orientation at the Restoration Learning Center in Shelby. When she arrived around 8 a.m., her hopes fell after spotting a padlocked gate.
"I felt like I had a chance at least," said Nixon. "It was an opportunity that I was willing to seize since they made it so promising."
Ultimate Concerts President Napoleon Brewer revealed in December his intention to bring his company and 2,800 jobs to Shelby - a welcome relief to those seeking employment.
But Brewer announced late Friday - less than 72 hours before orientation - his decision to pull the plug on his original proposition for Cleveland County. He claimed investigations into his company and its product, the "super concert access card," sparked negativity toward the project.
While Brewer said he now looks to the community to speak out in support of the jobs and said there's still a possibility of a small Ultimate Concerts office in Shelby, not everyone is ready to hop on the bandwagon just yet.
"I think it wasn't professional at all," Nixon said of Brewer's announcement.
Like Nixon, Rosalind Dawkins didn't learn of the canceled Ultimate Concerts orientation until she pulled onto Millsap Road, where the event was to be held. Locked out, tired and miles from home, Dawkins left minutes after she arrived.
Brewer previously told The Star upwards of 1,000 potential hires were expected to attend orientation Monday morning. Only a few arrived following Friday's cancellation announcement.
"It was probably on the news, but me myself, I don't watch the news that often," Dawkins said. "I had to hear it by mouth that nobody was going to be here."
Dawkins, a Gaffney, S.C. resident, said it didn't matter what position Ultimate Concerts had to offer, "as long as it was a job."
"I needed one," she said. "It's a downfall because you're thinking you're going to have a job right now. The economy's down and it's a promised job. It feels like you're going back to the beginning now."
Marty Blodgett didn't make a trip to Shelby Monday; she stayed home in Blacksburg, S.C., instead after learning of the cancellation.
Blodgett said there could be significant backlash from recent events surrounding Ultimate Concerts.
"The community as a whole - I think they're going to rally and protest," she said.
"People are hurting, bottom line."
With a few "strong winners" by Brewer's side, Blodgett believes the project might have come to fruition.
"I thought it could pass with the right clientele," she said.
Noelle Talley, public information officer with the N.C. Attorney General's office, confirmed the agency is still looking into Ultimate Concerts.
Considering the circumstances, Jackie Mitchell voiced concern over what might happen to the applications the company received.
"What are they going to do with all this information people have put on these applications?" asked Mitchell, a Shelby resident. "There's a lot of information they could use to ruin a lot of people."
Mitchell believes a return policy should be in order.
"I would like to tell the people in general, let's get behind this thing, get all our information back, and whatever they're doing, they can continue to do, but send the information back to the people that filed the applications." source>>>

Today in Strangeness:

Welcome to February, which takes its name from Februa, the ancient Roman festival of purification. On this date in 1046, monks recorded the onset of a severe cold snap which may have been the start of the Little Ice Age. The Cardiff Giant, the supposed petrified remains of a human, was revealed in court to be made of carved gypsum (1870).
source>>>

Michael Phelps Calls Photo of Him Smoking Marijuana 'Regrettable'

-- Olympic great Michael Phelps has acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after a photo in a British newspaper showed him smoking marijuana.

Click here to see the photo.

In a statement released to The Associated Press, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games conceded the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World.

Phelps said: "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again." source>>>

Dick Cheney Dunk Tank Raises $800 Billion For Nation at The 44th White House Carnival

Do you honestly think that we'll get this kind of mileage out of Biden? I doubt people ever let Dick Cheney fade into history. I suspect he'll become an element of folklore. like Dracula, Bigfoot and the "Where's the Beef?" lady...

Organizers reported Sunday that the 44th White House Carnival was a rousing success, raising a record $800,000,066,845 for the federal government -- $800 billion of which came from a dunk tank featuring former vice president Dick Cheney...

According to carnival sources, a visibly irritated Cheney, clad in sandals and a white cotton robe, arrived at the one-day event shortly before 10 a.m. After removing his robe to reveal a black, 1940s-style bathing suit, the vice president reportedly touched his hand to the water, muttered something to himself, and was then helped up the tank's ladder by several members of his Secret Service detail.

"All right, you candy arms, let's go," Cheney shouted at the line of people, which consisted of Americans, non-Americans, out-of-work autoworkers, teachers, luminaries from the science community, gays, lesbians, military personnel, members of Congress, children, and the entire Arab-American population. "Hey [former British prime minister Tony] Blair. I see you back there. Think you'll be able to stop crying long enough to throw the ball?"

And my personal favorite part...

One contestant who struggled to hit the target was Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). After nearly 20 unsuccessful tries, several of which involved Kerry standing well ahead of the thrower's line, carnival officials finally allowed Kerry to just walk up and press the button with his hand.

Oh, John Kerry. I'll miss you most of all. source>>>

Court hears Christian school's bid to join league

A Christian school is asking a federal appeals court to revive the lawsuit it filed in a bid to sue its way into the athletic league for Texas public schools.

A federal judge dismissed the suit that Cornerstone Chr

Quote It Now

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Response to Obama State of the Union

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Today in Strangeness:

Thousands displaced after Nigeria riots between Muslims and Christians began on Saturday.

President Obama To Address The Nation Tuesday night at 9pm.

Lawmakers Assail Chicago Bank for Golf Junket

Christians the world-over begin the 40 days of Lent.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Today in Strangeness:

Single Carrot Theatre's production of KILLER JOE runs through March 15th,

Friday, February 20, 2009

Today in Strangeness

A list purporting to reveal this year's Oscar winners has sparked a flurry of betting

A list purporting to reveal this year's Oscar winners has sparked a flurry of betting

Vatican angered by `blasphemous' Israel TV show

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Today in Strangeness:

Comments Attorney General Eric Holder's "nation of cowards".”remarks

Gov.Palin will visit Native Alaskians on Friday with Samaritan's Purse CEO Franklin Graham

John Philoponus, Sixth Century Alexandrian Grammarian, Christian Theologian

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Today in Strangeness ( from Coast to Coast)

Text size: increase text sizedecrease text size Removing the stink from politics

Shocking report; "Adolf Hitler Had Terrible Table Manners" This Is The Last Straw!

Infinite Love heals; A Christian Science perspective on daily life.

House, Senate Plan Ticketmaster Hearings

Beheading in New York Appears to Be Honor Killing, Experts Say, (oh!not just a Pycopathic Killing)

Tarantino Gives Nazi-Haters a Different Type of Holocaust Movie

Pope Benedict tells US Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Reject abortion support

Copenhagen's Little Mermaid going to China in 2010

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Today in Strangeness:

Fears about shots are endangering our kids

Israel's tangled political trio sorting out election results

Metrics of National Decline By Pat Buchanan

Newt Gingrich looks at "THE PLAN"

Founder of Muslim TV network beheads wife

As Obama Signs $787 Billion Stimulus, the Question Is, Will it Work?

Christian Science perspective on daily life: In a marketing culture, the Truth becomes a product.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Today in Strangeness:

The rise of the alphabet kids

Nighthawkers raid nation's archaeological heritage to sell on eBay

Ticketmaster Shareholders Sue

Los Angeles City College Student Alleges Professor Censored Speech on God

Friday, February 13, 2009

Today in Strangeness

Obama and the Great Game

primary school receptionist facing the sack after she sought spiritual support from her church

Impoverished Haiti to recover millions stolen by The Duvalier family.

We Really Can learn from France, where government loans 8 Billlion to France’s two big automakers,

Muslim Jihadist says,“Take your knife and cut the throat of each Christian around you, No pity.”

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Obama administration has moved quickly to reverse or delay Bush policy on drilling and pollution.

It is likely that President Shimon Peres will give Netanyahu the nod to form Government

Not everyone is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth.

Muslim Call to Boycott Valentine's Day

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Today in Strangeness:

New York parents, teachers, kids rally in D.C. for education spending

Visa fires back at Ticketmaster for 'glitch' statement

Stimulus Plan and Political Philosophies

Obama doesn't represent change

Christian Broadcasters Face 'Dark Clouds'; Affirm Commitment to Preach

Justice Deptartment to probe Ticketmaster deal

Monday, February 09, 2009

Today in Strangeness:

Quebec Lawmakers May Impose Gambling On Unwilling City

Tia Carrere Hits Grammy Red Carpet In Dress She Bought On eBay

Garage Sales & Ebay

Canada Files $500 Million Class Action Lawsuit in Ontario Against Ticketmaster

the new mega concert giant could face a long antitrust investigation before final approval

Senator Schumer D-N.Y. pushes for federal investigation of Ticketmaster

Friday, February 06, 2009

Nine-year-old Lim Ding Wen, from Singapore, creates Doodle Kids app for Apple's iPhone

man attempts to auction off debt

Today in Strangeness:

Octuplet Mom Looks Just Like Another Baby-Obsessed Lady