mercredi 31 mars 2010

Cameron Dabaghi, Yale University Junior, Commits Suicide By Jumping from Empire State Bldg 86th Floor

Cameron Dabaghi, a Yale University junior, commits suicide by jumping from Empire State Building's observation deck on 86th floor.

Another student suicide has hit the mainstream media. This time Cameron Dabaghi, a junior at Yale University, jumped from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building's observation deck, Tuesday shortly before 6:30 p.m.

According to the student newspaper, the Yale Daily News, Dabaghi, who was expected to graduate in 2011 was majoring in East Asian studies.

It is a sad commentary that some students are driven to a point of no return where they see their only option as suicide. This comes on the heels of two student suicides at Cornell University.

Federal Appeals Court Rules "Okay" for Cops to Taser Pregnant Woman, Malaika Brooks, Over Traffic Ticket

Washington state appeals court rules that it is okay for cops to taser pregnant woman, Malaika Brooks, over her refusal to sign traffic ticket.

It's now okay in the state of Washington for cops to taser a pregnant woman. A federal appeals court ruled that three Seattle police officers were justified when they used a stun gun to subdue a pregnant woman, Malaika Brooks, who refused to sign a traffic ticket. This sets a very dangerous precedent that you can be tasered and thrown in jail over disputing with the officer that a traffic ticket was not warranted.

Ms. Brooks was reportedly driving her son to Seattle's African American Academy in 2004 when she was stopped for doing 32 mph in a school zone. According to media reports, she insisted it was the car in front of her that was speeding, and refused to sign the ticket because she thought she'd be admitting guilt.

To read the entire article from the Associated Press, CLICK HERE.

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Four People Killed, Six Wounded in Drive-By Shooting in Southeast Washington D.C., Three People in Police Custody

Mayhem in Southeast Washington D.C. as four people killed, six injured in drive-by shooting. Three suspects in police custody.

SHOCK: Four people have been killed and six others wounded after a drive-by shooting in the 4000 block of South Capitol Street in Southeast Washington D.C. This mayhem unfolded around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night when a car reportedly drove by and bullets were sprayed into a crowd standing outside an apartment building, striking ten people, according to ABC 7. Authorities say they were a group of friends.

Six males and three females were shot. Fire Department spokesman Pete Piringer says four of the shooting victims have serious injuries, but don't appear to be life-threatening. Fire officials say all of the victims are in their 20s and 30s except one person who is a teen.

Police Chief Cathy Lanier said three people are in custody, but police say they are not being called suspects. Police also said a weapon had been recovered.

Police are looking into a possible motive and whether it could be a case of retaliation. Sources say one of suspects in custody is also wanted in connection with the murder of 20-year-old Jordan Howe, who was laid to rest Tuesday. At least some of the nine people reportedly had attended his funeral. Source: ABC 7
This is unconscionable and it is a sad commentary to see that there are so many high-powered weapons on the streets. How does one, with a criminal history, purchase a gun? There should be zero tolerance where gun violence is concerned.

This is a developing story. More to follow.

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mardi 30 mars 2010

Fox News: Arrested Hutaree Militia Leader, David Brian Stone, is a Ron Paul Fanatic

Hutaree militia leader, David Brian Stone, is a Ron Paul fanatic, his ex-fiancee, Andrea Harsh, told Fox News. He was ticked off by the historic election of President Obama.


It seems that the Fox News has uncovered something very interesting about Hutaree Militia leader, David Brian Stone. His ex-fiancee, Andrea Harsh, said Stone, who was recently arrested for plotting against police in Michigan, was ticked off by the election of President Barack Obama and that he was a Ron Paul fanatic, who thought the government would try to take away his guns. Ron Paul fanatic. That's very interesting since this isn't the first time we have heard his name associated with racist people. You see, some of the hatemongers who were big supporters of Paul include Holocaust Museum shooter, James von Brunn; Pittsburgh cop killer, Richard Paplowski and Pentagon shooter, John Patrick Bedell.

If that revelation doesn't cause one to stop and think, then I don't know what else will. Why am I not surprised that this barbaric plot to harm Michigan police officers was hatched in a trailer home in a rural area of the state. According to Fox News, David Brian Stone's personal theology partly destroyed his marriage, at least that's how his ex-wife put it. The aim of these scumbags was to kill police officers in the hope of sparking an uprising against the government. So, while we worry about al-Qaida and other extremists from the Middle East, we have to worry about the homegrown terrorists in our midst. For all those Ron Paul supporters out there, you'd better think twice about the scumbags that support him and his philosophy. So when Sarah "Tea Party" Palin says "lock and load," she's talking to people like these nine domestic terrorists who believe the literal interpretation of her words.

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State Sen. Jack Murphy (R-GA) Sponsors Bill to End Multilingual Driver's Tests, Critics Say it's Anti-Immigrant

Georgia State Senator Jack Murphy sponsors bill to end multilingual driver's tests. Critics charge it is anti-immigrant and anti-economic development.

The Georgia legislature is taking aim at multilingual driver's tests. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, State Sen. Jack Murphy (R-Cumming) said there are 13 languages in which someone can test for their Georgia driver's license. He believes that a dozen too many.  He revised and got the Senate to approve a bill, SB67, that would make English the only language one can use to get a driver's license. That will certainly unnerve many non-English speaking residents of Georgia and it may even be called anti-immigrant.

From a safety-issue, I agree with the legislation. If you can't read the street signs, then how can you be expected to obey traffic laws? You would pose a great danger to other motorists and pedestrians too. The reality is I can't go to Greece or South Korea and get a driver's license because I don't speak the language of either country. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the naysayers of the bill are quick to point out that illiterate Georgians are still allowed to drive and are helped with the test.
Their overriding concern is that the bill is anti-immigrant and could stunt economic development in the state. They even have a name for it: the “Kia Go Home Bill,” named after the South Korean automaker that builds cars in Georgia with a sizable Korean work force.

“This bill would tell Kia that it is OK to invest a billion dollars here in Georgia, but your employees cannot drive here,” said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director for the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. “This is sending the wrong message and would make Georgia the only state in the country with a law like this. It is anti-immigration, anti-Latino and anti-economy development.”

SB 67 was actually a bill from the last legislative session that many thought was long dead. It passed the Senate and the House last year, but lawmakers failed to agree on language before the session ended. Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution
It should be noted that the bill only affects permanent residents and temporary license seekers are exempt. Here's where I have a problem with this bill. Murphy said the bill targets non-English-speaking people who can’t read traffic signs and emergency messages, but it doesn’t account for illiterate Georgians. So, they would be in the same boat as the non-English speaking immigrants. Sorry, Rep. Murphy, you can't have it both ways. You are, in essence, showing a bias towards people who speak another language. Still, I don't think this bill will have an effect on the state's economy.

Georgia Southern Baptist Convention Wants to Remove Church from Rolls Because Pastor is a Woman

Georgia Baptist Convention wants to remove church from rolls because pastor is a woman, Rev. Mimi Walker.


The Georgia Baptist Convention wants to remove Druid Hills Baptist Church from its rolls because its co-pastor is a woman. As we living in the dark ages? The pastor in question is Rev. Mimi Walker, who was ordained in 2003 and has been co-pastor for the church since 2008. Her husband, Rev. Graham Walker is also a co-pastor.

The GBC’s executive committee made the recommendation to sever ties with the church at a March 16 meeting. If its recommendation is approved at the annual convention in November, the GBC would no longer accept money from Druid Hills for missions and programs, nor would the church be able to send delegates — called messengers — to future annual meetings.

“...Druid Hills Baptist Church of Atlanta is not a cooperating church as defined in Article II, Section 1 of the constitution because a woman is serving as co-pastor of the church,” the GBC said in a statement.
“We are keeping faith with the Baptist Faith and Message with regard to women serving as pastor,” GBC executive director J. Robert White said in a statement. “The GBC has never been opposed to women serving in ministry positions other than pastor.” Source: AJC
It seems disingenuous for the church to tout inclusivity on one hand and then penalize Druid Hills Baptist Church for having a female pastor. Then they wonder why people are getting turned off from organized religion.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

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Glenn Beck Fill-in host, Doc Hollywood, Says Tanning Salon Tax is Racist Because "Dark-Skinned People" Don't Use Them

Doc Hollywood, fill-in host for Glenn Beck, says tanning salon tax is racist.


Glenn Beck and his posse have really outdone themselves this time. Fill-in host Doc Hollywood says tanning tax is racist. Here's his ridiculous rant:

For years I've suggested that racism was in decline and yeah, there are some, you know, incidents that still happen with regards to racism, but most of the claims I've said for years, well, they're not really real. But I realize now that I was wrong. For I now too feel the pain of racism. Racism has been dropped at my front door and the front door of all lighter-skinned Americans. The health care bill the president just singed into law includes a 10 percent tax on all indoor tanning sessions starting July 1st, and I say, who uses tanning? Is it dark-skinned people? I don't think so. I would guess that most tanning sessions are from light-skinned Americans. Why would the President of the United States of America -- a man who says he understands racism, a man who has been confronted with racism -- why would he sign such a racist law? Why would he agree to do that? Well now I feel the pain of racism.
Why do people continue to take these wingnuts seriously? Let's not forget that using tanning bed can lead to skin cancer. Gee, funny that logic is lost on these idiots over at Faux News.

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Fitzgerald Jolly Stabs Pregnant Wife, Sister Over Her Refusal to Have an Abortion

SHOCK: Fitzgerald Jolly stabs pregnant wife and her twin sister because she wouldn't have an abortion.

Fitzgerald Jolly, enraged over the fact that his pregnant wife, Petrona Kates, refused to have an abortion, slashed her throat and then stabbed her twin sister, Patricia Kates, Monday night in front of children in Jamaica, NY, police and relatives told the NY Daily News.
The Kateses' cousin Lesia Wickham, 32, said that according to family members' account, Petrona Kates' husband, Fitzgerald Jolly, became furious after he returned from Philadelphia and learned his wife was pregnant. "I guess he didn't want her to carry on with the pregnancy," said Wickham, shocked over the bloodshed, which took place in front of at least six children, including Petrona Kates' young son.

"They were arguing. He left, then came back inside, took a knife from the kitchen and started to attack them." Wickham said that as Jolly stormed out of the house, he "dropped the knife in a neighbor's yard and jumped in his vehicle and drove off." Cops later found the vehicle abandoned on the Whitestone Bridge, but Jolly's whereabouts are unknown, police said. Source: NY Daily News
If he didn't want his wife to have another baby, then he could have also practiced safe sex and used a condom or had a vasectomy. He may have had legitimate concerns about having another child given the tough economic conditions in this country, but resorting to violence isn't the answer. If you see this man, please call police and have him taken off the streets. He needs to be behind bars. You don't solve a problem with violence.

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Norris Daniels Arrested & Charged with Third-Degree Felony for Barking at Police Dog

Norris Daniels arrested and charged with third-degree felony for barking at a police dog.


There's always a crazy story in the news on a daily basis, but this one takes the cake. Norris Daniels, a Princedale, Pa., man, was sentenced to jail for barking at a police dog. Monessen police said Daniels, also known as "Big Dog," was taunting a police dog named Ibo in the back of a police cruiser. He kept barking after an officer told him to stop. According to The Pittsburgh Channel, Daniels said he was barking at some nearby pit bulls, not at the police dog. This is laughable, but Officer Brian Vitale told Channel 4 Actions News that it is a serious matter because the animals become unpredictable when they are angered. Illegal taunting of a police animal is a third degree felony.

Daniels agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to two to 12 months in jail by a Westmoreland County judge, who immediately paroled him. He had been jailed since his arrest on January 27, because he could not post bond. He was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

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Sidra Qureshi, Muslim Student, Leads Group Trying to Force Trinity University to Remove "Our Lord" From Diplomas

Sidra Qureshi, a Muslim student at Trinity University, leads group to force university to remove of "Our Lord" from diplomas.

A group of students at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, is lobbying trustees to drop a reference to "Our Lord" on their diplomas, arguing that it does not respect the diversity of religions on campus. What's interesting is the fact that the group is led by Sidra Qureshi, a Muslim. So, does she prefer to see a reference to Allah on the diploma? The reality is that each school has a historical basis -- Georgetown University was founded by Jesuits, Indiana Wesleyan University has a Christian tradition and Trinity University, also has a Christian tradition, therefore, the students who attend these institutions should understand this and ascribe to the beliefs of the school. Again, would Sidra Quireshi feel better if it said, "In the Year of Allah?"

According to the Houston Chronicle, Qureshi, president of Trinity Diversity Connection, said, “A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes.” “By having the phrase ‘In the Year of Our Lord,' it is directly referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.” This is nothing but hogwash and Trinity University should not budge one iota and capitulate to the wishes of this movement. Sidra Qureshi knew exactly what the school was all about when she applied for admission. Trinity University was founded by Presbyterians in 1869, and has been governed by an independent board of trustees since 1969 but , according to the Houston Chronicle, maintains a “covenant relationship” with the church. The trustees are expected to consider the students' request at a May board meeting.

Craig Malin, City Administrator of Davenport, Ia., Overruled in Decision to Change "Good Friday" to "Spring Holiday"

Craig Malin, City Administrator of Davenport, Ia. & Civil Rights Commission, overruled in bid to change city holiday, "Good Friday" to "Spring Holiday."

Where's the religious right when you need them? One week before the most solemn day in the Christian year, the city of Davenport, Ia., has removed "Good Friday" from its municipal calendar. It's now called "Spring Holiday." The City Administrator, Craig Malin, sent a memo to municipal employees informing them of the name change. This was done on the recommendation of the Davenport Civil Rights Commission, who felt the name should be changed to something more ecumenical. This is political correctness gone crazy. Here's my question, how in the world was Craig Malin allowed to make such a change on his own accord without consulting the city council?

Thankfully, Malin was overruled and the name was reinstated. According to ABC News, the Civil Rights Commission said it recommended changing the name to better reflect the city's diversity and maintain a separation of church and state when it came to official municipal holidays. Really? Was there some atheist on the commission who felt that it was time to change the name to suit a small pocket of the state?

Good Friday is celebrated globally and commemorates the day Jesus was crucified and died. As far back as I can remember it is always a solemn affair. Jesus' resurrection is celebrated the following Sunday, popularly known as Easter Sunday.

The reality is that these wingnuts chose the wrong time of year to even propose a name change. This is one of the most significant times on the Christian calendar. Wait, there's more. The Commission also discussed changing Christmas but decided other religions celebrate Christmas too. America was built on Christian principles and should remain as such.

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lundi 29 mars 2010

SHOCK: Erykah Badu Strips Naked Near JFK's Assassination Site in Her New Music Video

R&B singer Erykah Badu strips naked near JFK's assassination site in latest music video.


Singer Erykah Badu has sparked controversy with her new music video. She strips naked near former President John F. Kennedy's assassination site. Erykah Badu has lost her mind. This unsightly act occurred near in Dallas near Dewey Plaza. This isn't how a decent entertainer should behave. One would think she would lead by example, especially since she is a parent. The reality is that this woman hasn't had a hit song in years, so she must be crying out for attention or more money. Erykah Badu needs to take a page out of the book of entertainers such as Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Barbara Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, for example. These women would never have done what this trifling wannabe has done. She should have been charged with a misdemeanor.

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David J. Murphy, Delaware County, Pa., Judge, Charged Identity Theft, Other Charges in Petition Forgery Case

David J. Murphy, a Delaware County judge, arrested and charged with forgery, identity theft, tampering with records, among other charges, in petition forgery case.

David J. Murphy
David J. Murphy, a Delaware County, Pa., Republican magisterial judge has been arrested and charged with forging signatures on nominating petitions for his campaign, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Murphy, who has been a district judge since 1991, reportedly told an unidentified witness in August that he had forged the signatures for the 2009 primary.

Murphy, a Republican, allegedly said he was concerned there were not enough signatures to qualify as a candidate on the Democratic ticket. It is a common practice for judicial candidates to appear on Democratic and Republican ballots. One hundred signatures are needed to be placed on the ballot as a candidate for magisterial district judge in Delaware County.

Investigators found 64 signatures had been forged on petitions for Murphy, according to court documents. He has been charged with forgery, tampering with records, identity theft, perjury, and other related charges. The charges were filed on March 9.
This is a disgrace, especially for a sitting judge. He should be kicked off the bench and disbarred. There is no excuse for this behavior, especially from a judge.

Robert Krentz, Arizona Rancher, Found Shot to Death After Confrontation With Illegal Immigrants

Robert Krentz, southern Arizona rancher, found shot to death on his ranch, shortly after confrontation with illegal immigrants. Death under investigation.


Robert Krentz, 58, a well-known southern Arizona rancher was found shot to death, along with his dog, shortly before midnight Saturday on his ranch, located 35 miles northeast of Douglas, KPHO said. According to media reports, he was reportedly murdered shortly after a confrontation with illegal immigrants. Krentz, was reportedly inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame one year ago. He has served as president of the Cochise-Graham Cattlegrowers Association. This murder points to the need for stricter border patrols and an overhaul of the current immigration system. We can't sit and watch the drug wars in Mexico, coupled with the illegals sneaking across our borders. We have to act now and with force that this will not be tolerated.

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C-SPAN Caller Complains Too Many Blacks Calling in on Republican Line

C-SPAN caller, identified as Bill, rails against blacks calling in on Republican line. Says C-SPAN should be renamed Black-SPAN.


A caller to C-SPAN's Washington Journal, who was identified as Bill from St. Pauls, North Carolina, complained that too many blacks calling in on Republican line. Says they should change the name to Black-SPAN. He also said "they act like Obama is Jesus Christ and they don't like when anybody criticizes him."

SHOCK: Jacksonville, Fla., Police Shoot 42 Bullets Into Car Wounding Daniel Crichton, 2

Jacksonville, Fla., police fired 42 bullets into car wounding Daniel Crichton, 2, and his mother, after the vehicle was carjacked by a thug during a bank robbery.


Kirk Crichton is understandably distraught after his two-year old son, Daniel, was critically injured after being shot by Jacksonville police Friday. According to the Times-Union, the boy, who was shot in the chest and arm, is listed in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville hospital, according to media reports. The boy's mother, Joann, 35, was also shot in the incident and is in fair condition. It is unconscionable that the police could shoot so many times at a vehicle with multiple occupants. The suspect was shot and killed.

Plenty of questions remain after police fired 42 shots at a still unidentified armed bank robbery suspect, killing him and wounding Daniel and his mother. The boy and his mother were in a vehicle carjacked by the suspect at a Wendy's drive-thru on Baymeadows Road shortly after a nearby bank robbery.

Sheriff John Rutherford had few solid conclusions about the complex sequence of events that played out Friday afternoon at a suburban commercial strip. Five officers fired during the shooting, which Rutherford characterized Saturday as a "very volatile situation." Source: Times-Union
This is a tragedy of untold proportions and this is one time I have to say that I agree with the NAACP for calling for an independent inquiry into this matter. The Times-Union states that Sheriff's Office policy prohibits officers from firing at a moving vehicle other than as a last resort to prevent death or great bodily harm to the officer or another person; as a last resort to prevent escape of a felon who would pose imminent threat of death or great bodily harm; and when authorized by a watch commander or higher authority. So, with that said, I wonder what defense the officers in question will use in this horrific shooting.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele Spent GOP Funds Lavishly, Expenses Include $1.9K to Bondage-Themed Club

RNC chairman Michael Steele spent GOP funds lavishly, even at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub. Where's the outrage?

DRAMA: RNC head honcho Michael Steele is in the news, thanks to the Daily Caller's Jonathan Strong. It seems that Steele has a penchant for spending donations of Republican supporters lavishly. In view of the latest developments, it's time for Michael Steele to exit the stage. He has just reinforced the opinions of many, including me, that he is tone deaf.

Here's an excerpt from Jonathan Strong's article:

While Steele has not purchased a plane, he continues to charter them. According to federal disclosure records, the RNC spent $17,514 on private aircraft in the month of February alone (as well as $12,691 on limousines during the same period). There are no readily identifiable private plane expenses for Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine in the DNC’s last three months of filings.

The RNC explains that Steele charters jets only when commercial service is unavailable, or when his tight schedule requires it. “Anytime the chairman has taken any private travel has been a either to a route that doesn’t exist or because of connections and multiple travel to where he just wasn’t able to do so,” Heye said. Yet Steele’s office repeatedly refused to explain in specific terms the circumstances of the February charter flights.

Once on the ground, FEC filings suggest, Steele travels in style. A February RNC trip to California, for example, included a $9,099 stop at the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped at the nearby Four Seasons, and $1,620.71 spent [update: the amount is actually $1,946.25] at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex.

RNC trips to other cities produced bills from a long list of chic and costly hotels such as the Venetian and the M Resort in Las Vegas, and the W (for a total of $19,443) in Washington. A midwinter trip to Hawaii cost the RNC $43,828, not including airfare.
It's also interesting to learn some of the receipts point to shenanigans at a bondage-themed nightclub. I am sure that's one detail the RNC didn't want the general public to learn about. The RNC has issued a statement saying the Steele had no knowledge of the bondage-themed nightclub. Really? That raises eyebrows. You draw your own conclusions, but donors should be rather upset at this juncture. It undermines any effort the Republican Party is pushing to fool the us into thinking they are fiscally responsible. They are big spenders of other people's money. It's also ironic that this story is nowhere to be found on the Drudge Report. Here's a screen shot to back this up.
The Drudge Report
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/29/high-flyer-rnc-chairman-steele-suggested-buying-private-jet-with-gop-funds/#ixzz0jaCNzwlD

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British Author, Philip Pullman, Risks Offending Christians with Latest Book, "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ"

Bestselling British author Philip Pullman's latest novel, "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ," may offend many Christians.

According to Reuters, bestselling British author Philip Pullman risks offending Christians with his latest book, a fictional account of the "good man Jesus" and the "scoundrel Christ." This will no doubt rile Christians, as much as "The DaVinci Code" did when the book was first released and then opened old wounds when the movie was released to box office acclaim. The same holds true for "Passion of the Christ," which sparked widespread controversy.
The 63-year-old, an outspoken atheist, angered some members of the Catholic Church with a thinly veiled attack on organized religion in his hugely successful "His Dark Materials" trilogy, the first of which was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster.

But "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ" is a far more direct exploration of the foundations of Christianity and the church as well as an examination of the fascination and power of storytelling. In the novel, Jesus has a twin brother called Christ who secretly records and embellishes his brother's teachings.

Speaking about the book to an audience in Oxford on Sunday, Pullman acknowledged that it was likely to cause offense. Source: Reuters
The controversy the book will most likely spark, will undoubted push it to the top of the bestsellers' lists across the globe.

CLICK HERE to read more. 

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Robert Groves, Census Bureau Director, Apologizes for Use of the Word "Negro" on 2010 Census Forms

Census Bureau director, Robert Groves, apologizes to a caller on C-Span's "Washington Journal" for the use of the word "negro" on 2010 Census forms.



From the Huffington Post:

On Friday's edition of C-SPAN's "Washington Journal," Census Bureau Director Robert Groves apologized to a caller for the "negro" classification on the 2010 census form.

"I am black. I did not appreciate the Black, the Afro-American and Negro. That is back when I used to live in Nashville, Tennessee, when people were called Negro. I do not like that, that is out of character, and it really hurt my feelings ... that to me is racist," the caller said before hanging up.

"First of all, let me apologize to you on behalf of all my colleagues," Groves responded.
He explained why the Census Bureau chose to keep the word "Negro" on the forms: "The intent of every word on the race and ethnicity questions is to be as inclusive as possible so that all of us could see a word here that rings a bell for us ... it was not to be offensive and again I apologize on that. My speculation is that in 2020 that word will disappear and there are gonna be other words that are gonna change."

Groves also said that the Census Bureau had done research about what terms people used to identify their own racial classification. In a large portion of the study, Groves said, people chose or wrote "Negro" as their race, which prompted the Bureau to continue to use word on the 2000 census. Still, Groves acknowledged that the research was outdated.
Some people may not accept his apology, but I do. At least he recognizes the fact that many were taken aback with the word "negro" on the Census form. It is time we stopped using that word. In my opinion, it is outdated.

Singer/Actress Jill Scott Says Interracial Dating Causes "A Bite, No Matter The Ointment, That Has Yet To Stop Burning"

Singer/actress Jill Scott sparks a debate over her recent article in Essence magazine in which she decries interracial dating.

Singer/Actress Jill Scott
Singer/actress Jill Scott sparked a debate over her recent article in Essence magazine entitled "Commentary: Jill Scott Talks Interracial Dating." She believes that black men should date and marry black women based on the treatment meted out to our ancestors during the darkest days in America's history where denigration of people of color was the norm. She stated that she "felt a little wince" when her African-American friend, who is a wealthy athlete, told her he had married a white woman. In the article, Scott explains that she believes the "wince" she felt does not come from her personal upbringing, but rather from the belief "that for women of color, this "wince" has mainly to do with the story of blacks in America, along with the historical implications behind interracial relationships.

When our people were enslaved, "Massa" placed his Caucasian woman on a pedestal. She was spoiled, revered and angelic, while the Black slave woman was overworked, beaten, raped and farmed out like cattle to be mated. She was nothing and neither was our Black man. As slavery died for the greater good of America, and the movement for equality sputtered to life, the White woman was on the cover of every American magazine. She was the dazzling jewel on every movie screen, the glory of every commercial and television show. She was unequivocally the standard of beauty for this country, firmly unattainable to anyone not of her race. We daughters of the dust were seen as ugly, nappy mammies, good for day work and unwanted children, while our men were thought to be thieving, sex-hungry animals with limited brain capacity.

We reflect on this awful past and recall that if a Black man even looked at a White woman, he would have been lynched, beaten, jailed or shot to death. In the midst of this, Black women and Black men struggled together, mourned together, starved together, braved the hoses and vicious police dogs and died untimely on southern back roads together. These harsh truths lead to what we really feel when we see a seemingly together brother with a Caucasian woman and their children. That feeling is betrayed. While we exert efforts to raise our sons and daughters to appreciate themselves and respect others, most of us end up doing this important work alone, with no fathers or like representatives, limited financial support (often court-enforced) and, on top of everything else, an empty bed. It's frustrating and it hurts! Source: Essence Magazine

dimanche 28 mars 2010

Russia's Pravda Says Sarah "Tea Party" Palin is the Last Resort of the GOP

Russia's Pravda says "Sarah Tea Party Palin is the last resort of the GOP."

I came across an interesting article about Sarah Palin on Russia's Pravda website. I generally ignore Sarah Palin's rants on television, but it is ironic that John McCain couldn't wait to get rid of her during his failed presidential bid, but was only too happy to welcome her with open arms to campaign for him in Arizona. Well, if the truth be told, that was a combination that failed miserably the first time around and should have the same outcome a second time. Sarah Palin isn't taken seriously outside the borders of the United States.

Here's an excerpt of Pravda's article.
What is wrong with the Republican Party of the United States of America? After eight long years of the Bush regime insulting every fiber of the Founding Fathers’ precepts, the Grand Old Party is now reduced to one screaming and intellectually challenged female called Sarah Palin.

Sarah Hockey Mom Palin, Sarah Tea Party Palin, Sarah OMG I don’t have a clue what I am talking about Palin is Middle America’s answer to President Obama. Barack Obama is intelligent, articulate, focused, and worldly-wise. Sarah Palin is…er….

"We realize that more and more Americans are starting to see the light there and understand the contrast. And we talk a lot about, OK, we're confident that we're going to win on Tuesday, so from there, the first 100 days, how are we going to kick in the plan that will get this economy back on the right track and really shore up the strategies that we need over in Iraq and Iran to win these wars?" Sarah Palin, suggesting we are at war with Iran , FOX News interview, Nov. 1, 2008

Whoops! Not so worldly-wise, eh? Hey this is the same woman who said: "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." --Sarah Palin, explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008. Did she really say that? No actually what she said was:

"Well, it certainly does because our -- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia ... We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state." --Sarah Palin, asked by Katie Couric how Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, CBS News interview, Sept. 24, 2008

So not that hot on foreign policy. Iraq, Iran, just a letter’s difference. And what an intelligent statement on prime Minister Putin, referred to as “they”. Hmmm.
So, Sarah Palin would certainly be a laughingstock of the world and she wouldn't be taken seriously. So she can sling all the mud she wants against President Obama being a "constitutional law teacher," because we had a MBA in the White House and he, along with his Republican lawmakers, ran this country in the ground. I wonder if Sarah Palin stopped to think that the bottom of the bucket fell out under the Republican party's watch. Surely the American people are jaded into thinking that the Republican Party will really fix what ails this country.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

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President Obama Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan

President Barack Obama makes surprise visit to Afghanistan.  The president landed in Afghanistan Sunday morning after flying overnight. According to media reports, he flew by helicopter from Bagram Air Field to the capital, where he met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who was notified of his visit an hour before he arrived.

This is President Obama's second trip in a war zone as commander-in-chief. He made a similarly secretive trip to Iraq about a year ago.

More to follow.....

In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan
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Rep. Nick Levasseur (D-NH) Under Fire for Facebook Joke About Bombing Japan

New Hampshire lawmaker Nick Levasseur, a Democrat, is under fire for Facebook joke about bombing Japan. He has since offered an apology for his comments.


New Hampshire lawmaker, Nick Levasseur, a Democrat, is under fire for comments about bombing Japan. He has since apologized for saying, "Anime is a prime example of why two nukes just wasn't enough," on Facebook. He backpedaled by saying, "I would like to deeply apologize for the insensitivity of this post. It was a poorly thought out comment, posted jest on my private Facebook page." There is absolutely no excuse for these offensive comments.

SHOP AMAZON:  Inferno: The Fire Bombing of Japan, March 9 - August 15, 1945

New York State Sen. Eric Adams Launches "Stop the Sag" Campaign to Discourage Sagging Pants Fad

New York state senator Eric Adams launches "Stop the Sag! We are better than this!" campaign with six giant billboards in New York City.

State Sen. Eric Adams' sagging pants billboards (NY Daily News/Kristopher Radder)

"We are better than this!" and "Stop the Sag!" It is a shame that some young men don't realize how distasteful their sagging pants look to most people. New York state senator Eric Adams is so taken aback by this trend that he will announce Sunday the posting of six giant billboards in Brooklyn as a result. The billboards will be erected on Monday.

It is time these young people realize that no one will take them seriously, much less to give them a good job if they cannot dress more tastefully. It is just wrong when someone thinks it's okay for the general public to see their underwear. The sagging pants are such a distraction that they impede their walking abilities. It is time for the "stop-the-sag" movement to gain more traction. This ridiculous fad needs to come to an end.

"This whole sagging pants culture seems to have swept the city and the country," said Adams, a Democrat. "Children will be children. But as adults, we need to be on record and tell them they're doing something wrong." The 22-foot-tall billboards will be erected along heavily traveled streets, primarily in Crown Heights. Each billboard features two male models whose pants are hanging so low their underwear is showing. The message: "Stop the Sag!" and "We are better than this!" Source: NY Daily News
This disgusting fashion trend was reportedly started among prison inmates. Wow, young people aspiring to be just like criminals. There's something very wrong with that picture.

SHOP AMAZON.COM: Pants On the Ground

NY Times' Frank Rich Says "Tea Party Outrage isn't About Reform" it's About the "Rise of Minorities"

New York Times columnist Frank Rich says Tea Party Movement isn't about health care reform, but about the "rise of minorities" and the white establishment losing power.

Tea Party Outrage (NY Times/Barry Blitt)

New York Times columnist Frank Rich wrote a riveting article in Sunday's paper about the fear among whites in this country that they are becoming a minority, from a demographically speaking. He claims that the uproar and Tea Party demonstrations are really about health care reform, but are a result of the prospective of the rise of "minorities" in this country. Here's an excerpt from the article:

In fact, the current surge of anger — and the accompanying rise in right-wing extremism — predates the entire health care debate. The first signs were the shrieks of “traitor” and “off with his head” at Palin rallies as Obama’s election became more likely in October 2008. Those passions have spiraled ever since — from Gov. Rick Perry’s kowtowing to secessionists at a Tea Party rally in Texas to the gratuitous brandishing of assault weapons at Obama health care rallies last summer to “You lie!” piercing the president’s address to Congress last fall like an ominous shot.

If Obama’s first legislative priority had been immigration or financial reform or climate change, we would have seen the same trajectory. The conjunction of a black president and a female speaker of the House — topped off by a wise Latina on the Supreme Court and a powerful gay Congressional committee chairman — would sow fears of disenfranchisement among a dwindling and threatened minority in the country no matter what policies were in play. It’s not happenstance that Frank, Lewis and Cleaver — none of them major Democratic players in the health care push — received a major share of last weekend’s abuse. When you hear demonstrators chant the slogan “Take our country back!,” these are the people they want to take the country back from.

They can’t. Demographics are avatars of a change bigger than any bill contemplated by Obama or Congress. The week before the health care vote, The Times reported that births to Asian, black and Hispanic women accounted for 48 percent of all births in America in the 12 months ending in July 2008. By 2012, the next presidential election year, non-Hispanic white births will be in the minority. The Tea Party movement is virtually all white. The Republicans haven’t had a single African-American in the Senate or the House since 2003 and have had only three in total since 1935. Their anxieties about a rapidly changing America are well-grounded.

If Congressional Republicans want to maintain a politburo-like homogeneity in opposition to the Democrats, that’s their right. If they want to replay the petulant Gingrich government shutdown of 1995 by boycotting hearings and, as John McCain has vowed, refusing to cooperate on any legislation, that’s their right too (and a political gift to the Democrats). But they can’t emulate the 1995 G.O.P. by remaining silent as mass hysteria, some of it encompassing armed militias, runs amok in their own precincts. We know the end of that story. And they can’t pretend that we’re talking about “isolated incidents” or a “fringe” utterly divorced from the G.O.P. A Quinnipiac poll last week found that 74 percent of Tea Party members identify themselves as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents, while only 16 percent are aligned with Democrats.
 It is interesting to note that when Social Security, Medicare and the Civil Rights Act passed, there was widespread anger and it showed in demonstrations across the country. What I find interesting is the fact that many Tea Party demonstrators are on Social Security and Medicare and some are even collecting unemployment benefits. So, clearly, this isn't really about a government take-over of health care. It's a little disingenuous to claim it is. The hate-mongering of some Tea Party supporters proves it's all about race and gender. How dare a black president, a female Speaker of the House of Representatives and the gay head of a powerful House committee dare tell them what to do? Shameful and disgraceful, but it is the reality of the fringe element of the Tea Party movement, with their de-facto leaders -- Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck.

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Frank Rich, The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The Decline and Fall of Truth in Bush's America.

samedi 27 mars 2010

Obama Bumper Sticker Sparks Violent Political Road Rage in Nashville, Tennessee

Harry Weisiger arrested and charged with felony reckless endangerment after ramming Mark Duren's car from behind over Obama bumper sticker.

Harry Weisiger was charged with felony reckless endangerment after his hatred of President Obama got the better of him on Nashville's streets. Friday afternoon while Mark Duren was driving home he was suddenly and deliberately rear-ended by Weisiger, who was enraged at the sight of Duren’s Obama bumper sticker. According to WKRN, Weisiger gave Duren “the bird” and then hit him from behind, leading to a violent series of events.

“He pointed at the back of my car,” Duren said, “the bumper, flipped me off, one finger salute.” But it didn’t end there. Duren told News 2 that Weisiger honked his horn at him for awhile, as Duren stopped at a stop sign.

Once he started driving again, down Blair Boulevard, towards his home, he said, “I looked in the rear view mirror again, and this same SUV was speeding, flying up behind me, bumped me.”

Duren said he applied his brake and the SUV smashed into the back of his car. He then put his car in park to take care of the accident, but Weisiger started pushing the car using his SUV. Duren said, “He pushed my car up towards the sidewalk, almost onto the sidewalk.”
Isn't this a real disgrace? The sad reality is that there are many more wing nuts just like Harry Weisiger roaming the streets all across this country looking for trouble.

Valleys Of Neptune
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Redding Radio Show Host Ray Roberts Under Fire for "Presidential Fried Chicken" Comment

Ray Roberts, Redding radio show host under fire over comments made on air about "fried chicken and throwing bones over their shoulders" in the White House.

Patricia Sansom, the president of the Shasta County-Redding branch of the NAACP has expressed outrage at comments made Thursday by KQMS radio show personality Ray Roberts. He said, "Ronald Reagan wouldn't go into the Oval Office without wearing a coat and tie," he said during his morning talk show. "Now we have people going in there and eating fried chicken and throwing the bones over their shoulder."
Roberts, who denied that his comments were racist, said Thursday that he was not speaking about President Barack Obama when he complained on air about what he perceived as a degradation of respect for the Oval Office.

Roberts, who bristled at the suggestion his comment could be taken as a racial slur, said he never mentioned Obama in his talk. In fact, he said, he was speaking about former President Jimmy Carter, who served as president before Reagan. "He (Carter) made a big joke about it" eating chicken in the Oval Office, said Roberts. "Nobody said anything about Obama."  Source: Record Searchlight
Funny, he didn't utter Jimmy Carter's name during his comments, so couldn't we make the argument that he was just trying to deflect the fact that those comments were meant to denigrate President Barack Obama? The fact is, those comments can be considered offensive, whether or not he meant it in a malicious way.

Click here to listen to a clip of Robert's remarks on Thursday.

In the Shadow of FDR: From Harry Truman to Barack Obama
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Andrew Breitbart Offers $10K for Proof Rep. John Lewis Was Called a Nigger at Capitol

Andrew Breitbart offering $10,000 for proof Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)was called a nigger by Tea Party demonstrators on Capitol Hill last Saturday. Says black lawmakers' walk to Capitol was meant "to goad" demonstrators.

Andrew Breitbart is offering $10,000 for proof that U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) was called a nigger by one of the Tea Party demonstrators at the Capitol last weekend. Breitbart, on his Big Government web site, is no stranger to smear tactics. You will recall he was front and center in the ACORN pimp scandal in Baltimore, in which some staffers gave advice on how to avoid paying taxes on cash acquired through prostitution. Andrew Breitbart has the nerve to infer that Rep. Lewis, a man who has fought tirelessly for civil rights in this country, would stoop so low as to say he was called a nigger by a white person.

Here's an excerpt from his Big Government website:
As I have said over and over and over, the left has one trick that it will use again and again when its back is in the corner: shout ‘racist’ in a crowded country.

On Saturday, during the peaceful and patriotic tea party protest at the Capitol, the Democrats staged a series of symbolic acts meant to manipulate the media to do its bidding. The Congressional Black Caucus pulled the Selma card and chose to walk through the crowd in the hopes of creating a YouTube incident.

There is no reason in 21st century America on an issue that is not a black or white or a civil rights issue to have a bloc of black people walk slowly through a mostly white crowd to make a racial point. The walk in and of itself — with two of the participants holding their handheld cameras above their heads hoping to document “proof” — was an act of racism meant to create a contrast between the tea party crowd and themselves.

This is the same failed symbolism that Janeane Garofalo and MSNBC have been trying to implant for the last year. The only supposed evidence of white-on-black racism at a tea party that MSNBC was able to find was a man carrying a gun at an Arizona Obama rally. But, wait, MSNBC cut off the man’s head with a photo editing software. That Second Amendment fan was actually black. Never mind.
So, in his eyes, the beating that John Lewis took in Alabama was his fault. You know, he had no right to stand up for his rights against the racist white establishment. Give me a break.

Dick Gregory- Wake Up Call DVD
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Barbara York, Maine Selectwoman, Under Fire for Sending Racist Email Denigrating First Lady Michelle Obama

Babara York, Maine Selectwoman under fire for sending racist emails portraying First Lady Michelle Obama and a monkey with similar facial expressions.

It's safe to say that most people have never heard of Casco, Maine, but they are now being featured prominently on the news. Some racist emails sent by Selectwoman Barbara York July 31, portraying Mrs. Obama and a monkey with similar facial expressions, have surface. According to the Portland Press Herald, it also contained a joke that has been widely circulated on the Internet, alluding to Obama's ancestry. Is is unclear why the email became public knowledge during last Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting. Mary-Vienessa Fernandes, a black resident of Casco, told the board she came home from work recently and found a printed copy of the email in an envelope that had been placed on her door, according to the Portland Press Herald. Fernandes called for York to resign from her position.
"I would hate to think that somebody might find fun in thinking I come from apes and not from Adam and Eve,” she said. “I do apologize,” York replied. “It was sent to me, and I sent it on. I’m sorry if it offended anybody.” York, who is in her 70s, is a prominent member of the community. She has served on the Board of Selectmen since the early 1990s. She recently was president of the Casco Village United Church of Christ.

Fernandes, 56, who works at group homes for the mentally disabled and moved to Casco three years ago, said York’s apology is not enough. She wants the board to ask York to resign. “I won’t allow them to push this under the rug,” she said. Antonio Jackson, 37, an African-American who attended the meeting, said York needs to apologize to the entire town, not just its black residents.

The Board of Selectmen plans to discuss the issue April 6. Town Manager David Morton said Selectman Carroll Morton showed him an inappropriate e-mail that York had sent to someone in July. The town manager said he spoke to York and told her that the e-mail was offensive and that she shouldn’t be sending e-mails like that to anybody. Source: Portland Press Herald
Ms. York needs to be censured. With all the racial tensions abound lately, one has to wonder if we are we living in the dark ages of racial oppression that clung to the fabric of America's being for so long.

SHOP AMAZON: LIFE Michelle Obama: A Portrait of the First Lady (Life (Life Books))

Former GA State Senator Nancy Schaefer, Husband Bruce, Found Shot to Death in Possible Murder-Suicide

Former Georgia state senator Nancy Schaefer (R) and husband, Bruce, found shot to death in possible murder-suicide.

Former Georgia Republican state senator Nancy Schaefer and her husband, Bruce, died in a possible murder-suicide Friday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. According to the Gainesville Times, the couple was found shot to death in their home in Habersham County in Turnerville. Though the GBI said preliminary investigations point to a murder-suicide, autopsies will be performed to confirm the causes of death. The GBI is reporting that Bruce Schaefer shot his wife in the back before turning the gun on himself. He died of a gunshot wound to the chest. The authorities have found several letters , including a suicide note, and a handgun.

Schaefer, 73, who is a prominent conservative,  was a vocal pro-life supporter and was a staunch opponent of same-sex marriage. She decided against challenging Rep. Paul Broun due to her husband's illness. According to the Gaineville Times, she was elected to the state Senate in 2004 and served two terms, but she made several unsuccessful bids for public office prior to that.

"The state of Georgia has lost two fine God-fearing people," said state Rep. James Mills, R-Chestnut Mountain. "We should all pray for the family." Really? I just can't understand how a God-fearing person could commit suicide. If you believe in the Bible, doesn't it speak specifically against suicide and that it means eternal damnation? Or are we so selective in our reasoning by saying some will make it into Heaven, while others will be banished to damnation? I just don't get it. Schaefer has been active in conservative Christian causes for many years and served as the president of Family Concerns, at one point.
She once hosted a daily commentary show on WNIV-AM, an Atlanta Christian radio station, according to her state Senate biography. She was a former first vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, a frequent speaker to churches of all denominations, a speaker to civic and political organizations and a frequent guest on radio and local and national television programs. Source: Gainesville Times
The couple is survived by their five children and 13 grandchildren. This is a sad end to a life that made so much difference in local politics.

vendredi 26 mars 2010

Patrick Brennan: Harvard Doesn't Need "Ethnic Studies," Says Contributions of Blacks of No Importance to College Education

Harvard University's decision to expand "Ethnic Studies" seen as foolish by windbag Patrick T. Brennan, who says contributions by African Americans have no place in a college curriculum.

Harvard University is expanding its curriculum, specifically ethnic studies. Well, Patrick T. Brennan thinks its a foolish move. To paint Africa as insignificant to history is an affront and a disgrace to Harvard and everything it stands for. Here's an excerpt of his highly flawed argument:
When the University agrees that its curriculum needs to change to address “the growing diversity of our campus” or any other imaginary concern of its students, it opens itself up to politically motivated efforts like ethnic studies. Tragically, worthwhile academic subjects like Egyptology have also been subsumed into the larger effort of emphasizing diversity and ascribing significance to the insignificant, as demonstrated by Professor Christopher P. Jones’s comments that “Egypt is a major African civilization,” and that “it is very important that Africa should be a part of what everyone thinks about the modern world.”

Egypt is a worthwhile subject not because it is an African civilization, but because it represents an incredibly sophisticated and important ancient civilization that happens to be African—let alone the fact that the Egyptians pharaohs, with the exception of 75 years of Nubian rule, were about as “African” as Ian Smith. Harvard should have an Egyptology department, or at least devote some of its resources to the study of a civilization which has had such profound influence on the world. It need not offer a course on African civilizations if there is none worthy of study. The progressive priorities of Harvard’s curriculum usually do not coincide, however, with the promotion of meaningful areas of study.

Ethnic studies is a good example of an academic subject entirely driven by a leftist political agenda. While it is not absurd to suggest that there are some worthwhile topics that fall under the heading of “ethnic studies,” the area is certainly not important enough to merit a secondary field. The Undergraduate Council’s original proposal for the field states that it will examine “how people of color in the United States have historically experienced social and political institutions and how, as growing populations, they will continue to encounter life in the United States.”
Americans of color have undoubtedly done some things of note, but their “encounters” and “experiences” are not of paramount importance to a university education. The ethnic studies movement is motivated by an attempt to direct more attention to a topic that deserves no more attention than it already gets, and probably a good deal less. Other similarly useless departments, like Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality serve similar purposes—no one would deny that Macbeth’s wife is an interesting study in the construction of femininity, but such occasional instances of relevance do not justify an entire academic field.

Curricula ought to be naturally conservative rather than progressive. The necessary elements of an educated man’s curriculum have not changed much over two thousand years of Western education—the Trivium of grammar, rhetoric, and logic, and the scientific Quadrivium of geometry, arithmetic, music, and astronomy should still be the basic foundations of education. It is quite difficult for academia to justify an attempt to free the sciences from a “Eurocentric” perspective, given that, with rare exceptions like the Abbasid Caliphate, little scientific and mathematical thought of consequence has occurred outside the Western world. Ironically, the first man to delineate officially the seven liberal arts, Martianus Capella, was from Roman Africa; he apparently did not feel his contributions to the world should be more or less important because of his Berber provenance. Source: Harvard Salient
According to Brennan, we should just ignore the contribution of Africa to civilization as we know it. Really? I always thought people of African descent played a role in history and there's absolutely nothing wrong with educating our young people about the contributions of all ethnic backgrounds. He also states that African Americans have made no contributions worth teaching in an institution of higher learning. Wrong on all counts. This piece amounts to ranting by a narrow-minded conservative windbag.

BREAKING: Several South Korean Sailors Dead, After Naval Ship Hit by Torpedo, Possibly Fired by North Korea

Several South Korean sailors killed, naval ship sinking, after being hit by torpedo, possibly fired by North Korea.

URGENT: Several South Korean sailors were killed and one of its naval ships with more than 100 aboard was sinking Friday after being possibly hit by a North Korean torpedo, Reuters is reporting.

A South Korean vessel fired at an unidentified vessel towards the north and the South's presidential Blue House was holding an emergency security meeting, Yonhap news agency said.

South Korea's YTN TV network said the government was investigating whether the sinking was due to a torpedo attack by the North.
If the North Koreans are involved, then all hell is going to break loose. T

More to follow.....

Kendall Berry, Florida International Univ. Running Back, Stabbed to Death After Altercation

Kendall Berry, Florida International University running back, was stabbed to death late Thursday night after getting into an altercation.

Florida International University running back Kendally Berry was stabbed to death on the school's Miami campus late Thursday evening. The university president, Mark B. Rosenberg, said in a video message that officials “will not rest” until his attacker is found.

According to media reports, Berry was stabbed late Thursday night, after the 22-year-old junior from Haines City, Fla., got involved in an altercation with another man outside the front doors of the school’s student recreation center, which is one of the spots where the football team trains. Miami-Dade Police Detective Javier Baez said several witnesses to the incident were being interviewed.

Baez said Berry died on the way to a hospital, He also said that he did not know if Berry and his attacker knew each other. A person was reportedly “detained and questioned” but was released and “is not a currently a suspect,” Detective Aida Fina-Milian said Friday morning.

This shocking tragedy has led to the postponement of spring football practices. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased.

UPDATE#1: Police said 22-year-old Quentin Rashad Wyche turned himself in. They said Wyche would be charged with second-degree murder and held without bond. What a shame. Black on black crime.
Jackie Robinson Biography: The Brooklyn Dodgers, Pioneer Black Athletes & Famous Major League Baseball Player Inspirational Stories: The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

Source: Miami Herald

jeudi 25 mars 2010

URGENT: Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) Says Package Containing White Powder Sent to his Queens Office

BREAKING:  Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), a vocal supporter of health care reform and the public option, said his office received a package containing a white powder.

More to follow.......

Coffin Placed on the Lawn of Rep. Russ Carnahan's (D-MO) Home

Coffin placed on the lawn of Rep. Russ Carnahan's home, as extremist behavior continues in the aftermath historic health care reform bill.

The extremism continues. A coffin was placed on the lawn of Rep. Russ Carnahan's (D-MO) home, a spokesman for his office said Wednesday evening. According to Politico, the coffin was from a prayer vigil and protesters say that the coffin symbolized babies who would be aborted due to the health care law and was not a threat to the congressman. Really? Then why was it placed on his lawn?

This latest incident comes after the gas lines of Rep. Tom Perriello's (D-VA) were cut, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) received death threats and Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) received a message saying snipers were being deployed to kill children of those lawmakers who voted for the health care reform bill.

Georgia Lawmakers Threaten to Impeach AG Thurbert Baker After His Refusal to File Anti-Health Care Lawsuit

Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker faces impeachment after refusing to file anti-health care lawsuit.

Georgia lawmakers are threatening to impeach Attorney General Thurbert Baker, a Democrat, over his decision to not sign on to a multi-state lawsuit to block the health care bill. The blog Peach Pundit reports that the resolution to impeach Baker, who is also a candidate for governor, has at least 30 signatures and is still going forward. The basis for his "impeachment" is his alleged violation of Article V, Section 3, Paragraph IV of the state Constitution and OCGA §45-15-35, both of which stipulate that the AG take on matters of the state in court at the direction of the governor, who happens to be Sonny Perdue, a Republican.

Baker basically told Perdue no when he was petitioned to sign on the the joint lawsuit filed by more than a dozen attorneys general across the United States earlier this week that seeks to shield states from the effects of the new health bill, including the "individual mandate," which forces most people to buy insurance or face a fine if they don't comply. In a two-page response to the governor, Baker said, "I cannot justify a decision to initiate expensive and time-consuming litigation that I believe has no legal merit.""In short, this litigation is likely to fail and will consume significant amounts of taxpayers' hard-earned money in the process," he added.

Well, this so-called impeachment of Thurbert Baker is nothing more than a distraction. The reality is that for the process to be successful, it needs a vote of one-half of the State House and two-thirds of the State Senate, so it's a longshot that he will be impeached. I have my reservations about Thurbert Baker and would not vote for  him in any election for any public office because of what he did to then-teenager Genarlow Wilson. He was only too happy to keep this young man locked up on a 10-year prison sentence for a consensual sexual encounter he had as a teenager. Wilson has since been released.

Gas Line Cut at Home of Congressman's Brother After Nigel Coleman, Black Tea Party Member Posts it Online

Gas line cut at the home of Rep. Tom Perriello's brother after Nigel Coleman, a black Tea Party member, puts his address on blog and Facebook page.

Nigel Coleman, chairman of the Danville Tea Party, posted the home address of Rep. Tom Perriello's brother, on a blog and a Facebook page, both maintained by members of a local Tea Party group. The problem is, the actions of Coleman, who is black, led to a wingnut cutting a residential propane feeder line at the home, placing the entire family in jeopardy. It is simply reprehensible that he had the nerve to disclose the home addresses of elected officials, knowing that rising tensions in this country. It was careless and he should be charged with a crime of abetting some wingnut. Since when do we retaliate against a lawmaker in such a vicious way for voting against the perceived will of a small group of people? Perriello voted in favor of the health-care reform bill.

This idiot told Tamron Hall on MSNBC that he didn't want any harm, he just put the address up so that someone could go to the home and speak with the lawmaker. Really? Couldn't they have gone to the congressman's office? His apology was weak and an insult to the congressman's family and American voters. If this moron hasn't realized that many Democratic lawmakers and their families are being threatened with bodily harm, he is dumber than I thought. The FBI should pay him a visit.
One post said, "This is Rep. Thomas Stuart Price Perriello's home address," and added, "I ain't holding back anymore!!" The other urged readers to "drop by" the home and "express their thanks" for the vote.  
According to MSNBC, the cut in the gas line, which runs from a propane tank to a gas grill on a screened-in porch, was discovered Tuesday, the day after the address was posted. The address was removed from Facebook and the blog when it was discovered the address was incorrect. 

The chairman of the Lynchburg, VA, Tea Party, Mark Lloyd, told NBC News, "I learned what happened after the fact. We made an official statement on our Web site," saying that that his group "did not request, sanction, or endorse" posting the address, which appeared on a different Web site. The reality is that the Tea Party movement has attracted the fringe elements of the Republican Party, people only too happy to spew racist vitriol and harm people who don't agree with their views. 

Nigel Coleman is a disgrace to any decent person out there. He had no right to put what he thought was the congressman's home address on the Internet. How would he like someone to do the same to him? It is deeply disturbing that, once again, we have another black person advocating violence against the Obama Administration.