Booman Tribune Diaries

Talking Race at the Tea Party Convention - by The Opportunity Agenda

Mon Feb 8th, 2010 at 12:28:32 PM EST

A unique challenge faces advocates for meaningful dialogue on racial inequality and injustice in America. As people of color have made even modest gains in education, economic security, and professional opportunities over the past few decades, some Americans have increasingly insisted that racial discrimination is largely a thing of the past. Today that sentiment is more widespread and vocal than ever, with the election of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th president.

A shocking example of remaining racial inequality took place at the first ever National Tea Party Convention. Former Representative from Colorado, Tom Tancredo decried "the cult of multiculturalism," and argued that President Obama was elected because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country."

Mr. Tancredo had to know that literacy and civics voting tests with impossible answers were notoriously used to prevent African Americans from voting during segregation—and were banned by the Voting Rights Act of 1964.

Here Goes the Brodog

by brodog
Mon Feb 8th, 2010 at 05:31:31 AM EST

Hi, this is just like a first entry type of thing into this diary mainly so I can see what it looks like and get the feel for the place. Not going to say too much here except this looks like a cool place to hang out with a coffee and a sticky bun and have a casual browse around to see what I can see.

Well, that said, I guess I'll just go do that browsing whilst munching said bun and sipping said coffee...

Brodog @ Blogsmack

sydney escorts - by Sm453Jack

Mon Feb 8th, 2010 at 02:09:31 AM EST

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RECOMMENDED - My Excellent Super Bowl Adventure-The Art of Socioprophecy - by Arthur Gilroy

Sun Feb 7th, 2010 at 11:43:07 PM EST

Now first off...I must tell you that I do not give a good goddamn who wins any big time American hypnomedia-sponsored sports event. Not in terms of being a "fan", anyway. It don't mean shit to me which group of overpaid, coddled-from-puberty motherfuckers wins a game of this sort on a purely sports or competition-based level. Two or three weeks from now no one except people who have nothing better to occupy their minds will even be able to remember which two teams played the game.

But still...the universe works in strange and mysterious ways, and anything that receives as much hype as the Stupor Bowl has a function in the grand scheme of things on this planet.

OK.

That said?

Here goes....

Read on.

Eyeglasses: the New Love of the Female - by clarence

Sun Feb 7th, 2010 at 09:04:07 PM EST

Once talking about women with reading glasses , the first thing coming into people's mind is that they are women with four eyes or they are ugly women. Since contact lens and laser vision correction were invented, most women have deserted far away the glasses frames without any mercy. Even now, the hot American play "Ugly Betty" also uses women's glasses and tooth set to show women's unbeautiful traits.

Nevertheless, when those unremarkable objects such as hats and gloves become popular because of some fashionable people, glasses now finally turn over and become popular as well. It seems that glasses do not be related to fashion, but they suddenly appear at the fashionable accessories palace frequently. First is that those big-name models wear specially-designed glasses to give catwalk shows, then some woman stars of hollywood show up with eyewear. It seems that the glasses frames have become popular again, do you have a crash on them?

before,we used to name glass glasses. But, today the fashion magazine called them as eyewear. The distinguish between the two is obvious. the former pay more attention on function. And the later upgrades glasses to fashioning dress for eyes.

More and more top brands introduce the series of Eyewear, such as Gucci, Chanel. Some professional glass brands are in fresh demand, such as France's Alain Mikli. At the same time there are some lady glass shop appeared online, for example olglass.com. Nowadays people buy several pairs of prescription eyeglasses just like shoes or handbags.

The Development Of Sun Glasses Being Symbol Of Vogue - by clarence

Sun Feb 7th, 2010 at 09:03:17 PM EST

The glasses have been the must-have articles for fashion guys in summer. As to the invention of sunglasses, there are many different versions. It is easy to understand that all of the countries want to be the cradleland of the sunglass now that it is so popular now. But there can be only one mother country, and which can it be?

Now, there are at least three countries claiming that they invented eyeglasses firstly. 500 years ago, a Spanish missionary mentioned in his book that he had brought eyeglasses from China to Spain. While, there is no real object as evidence. Another version has it that the Eskimo had used a kind of woody goggles 500 years ago, which were actually a long piece of board with two finedrawings on it. Obviously, this kind of article can not be seen as sunglasses.

It is convincible that modern sunglasses were invented by European. The image of Douglas MacArthur, the American General of the Air Force, with a corncob pipe in his mouth and a pair of AO black sunglasses, has been deeply rooted in people's heart. At the same time, more and more hollywood stars have begun to be fond of wearing this kind of dark glasses. So the eyeglasses became popular among common people. The flyer sunglasses have become the forever classics.

In 1950s, Elvis Aron Presley's music was conquering the world. His iconic ducktail hair style, together with his dressing up wearing a pair of goose egg style dark glasses connected with a piece of downward-pointing triagle iron, was being imitated by an army of young people. In 1960s, a vigorous movement of music culture led by the Beatles swept the entire world, and at the same time buried the Presley Dynasty completely.

The small round glasses with thin metal frame which were usually worn by John Lennon and sunglasses in the same style also affected the trend of sunglasses appearance in that age. Eyeglasses were becoming rounder and rounder, plumper and plumper; their design also became more and more courageous.

While in 1970s, the exterior of glasses developed back to the angular style little by little. Plastic sunglasses with slick broadside and round corners were more and more popular. The lenses came with gradual changing colors as well. The famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was wearing a pair of this kind of eyeglasses at that time.

When it came to 1980s, it was the time for the square frame eyeglasses with obvious coners. The designer Karl Lagerfeld who took over Chanel in 1983 and always weared such a pair of slightly squared dark glasses, was a representative. The image of his wearing dark glasses had early been applied to brand designing, and Karl Lagerfeld, Teddy Bear and Karl Lagerfeld Bag were the best examples.

In 1990s, the trend of fashion became more and more diversified day by day, not only the glasses style of prolate and evolution color lens, but also goggles and ski goggles have ever been the most popular fashionable accessories. And the old borderless sunglasses are no longer grandparents' monopoly. Various rimless prescription eyeglasses with embedded objects, gold, wood, gem or leather, all can be the trend.

George Willoughby - by Al Price

Sun Feb 7th, 2010 at 08:19:55 PM EST

"War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."

~ John F. Kennedy (Letter to Navy friend. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. retrieved 01-07-2009)

"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind."

~ John F. Kennedy Speech to UN General Assembly, Sept. 25, 1961.

January 5, 2010

George Willoughby, December 9, 1914 - January 5, 2010

Today I said goodbye to a man who, though a man small of stature, was a giant of a man. Whether life imitates art or visa versa, George Willoughby was like Yoda, the Jedi Master in Star Wars. He was almost elfin like in appearance, with a wry wit, twinkling eyes and a grin that told you he understood deeply the ironies of life. He was a rare man who quietly led a life devoted to his own beliefs, but imposing none on others. I say that not without great qualification, as George was a man who could not be silenced when standing up for what he believed while simultaneously embracing the Quaker value and wisdom of consensus. His whole life shone like a brilliant star, so bright that it became like a mirror, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of all who were fortunate to have had some contact with him. It was by belief and example, and the moral persuasion of both his words and deeds that gave action to his life.

I shall miss him and his words of insight immensely. I suspect that the whole world will miss him immeasurably more.

To All,

Those words I wrote on the day of his passing. Most of you will not be familiar with the name of George Willoughby. In 1957 George, along with Lawrence Scott, a radical Quaker activist, A. J. Muste, Albert Bigelow, and Bayard Rustin formed the Committee for Non-Violent Action. The CNVA made public a letter to President Dwight Eisenhower as follows:

We write to tell you of our intended action regarding the announced spring test explosion of American nuclear weapons.
    Four of us, with the support of many others, plan to sail a small vessel into the designated area in the Pacific by April 1st. We intend, come what may, to remain there during the test period, in an effort to halt what we feel is the monstrous delinquency of our government in continuing actions which threaten the well being of all men. We recognize the equal guilt of the Russian authorities in this matter and plan parallel action to carry the same moral and political message to them...
    There will be no deception in our effort. All action will be taken openly and trusting in the Gandhian spirit of non violence to effect the needed change by speaking to the best in all men.
    For years we have spoken and written to the suicidal preparations of the Great Powers...We mean to speak now with the weight of our whole lives...We, by our action, would be asking our fellow citizens to accept the lesser dangers and the greater opportunity that such an approach implies.
    We hope our presence in the test area will speak to that which is deepest in you and in all men: that all men are capable of love.
    Please consider us,
Sincerely, your friends,
For the crew of the ketch, "Golden Rule"

A Biography of Lillian and George Willoughby, Twentieth-Century Peace Activists, Gregory A Barnes, page 51.

They then set sail to the South Pacific only to be stopped in Honolulu and eventually jailed after the Atomic Energy Commission made an emergency ruling that made it illegal to sail into the test area. The sailing of the Golden Rule towards the South Pacific nuclear testing area is considered to be one of the earliest direct non-violent actions of the Nuclear Age and is cited as an inspiration for the same tactics used by Green Peace on their web page.

This was just one of many actions in the lifetime of George and his wife Lillian, who partnered with him in his quest for peace. George spent his early childhood years on a military base in the Panama Canal, as his father was a contractor for the military. Yet George became a pacifist. As a youth living in the American Zone of the Panama Canal, he saw the segregation of the of the U. S. personnel from the indigenous Panamanian population, not only in culture but also in diet. He once mused to me about how crazy it seemed to him about how in an area which was lush with fruits and vegetables that all you could get in the American Zone was pretty much just meat and potatoes. In fact, he noted that even though there were Panamanians that worked in the American Zone, very little Spanish was spoken. He understood the depth of lost for both cultures, especially his own.

George has organized and/or walked much of the world for peace. From San Francisco to New Delhi to Peking to Moscow to Washington, George's presence in the name of peace was felt. He both talked and lived by the Gandhian principals in which he believed and practiced. In addition to peace, these same principals drove him to establish the Old Pine Land Trust in Deptford, New Jersey despite being a frugal Quaker of limited means. He deeply understood the binds that held him both to his local community and to the larger community of the world.

Tomorrow, February 7, 2010 a memorial will be held for George at the Friends Meeting House @ 2PM located at Race and Cherry Streets here in Philadelphia. This memorial was originally scheduled for today, but the gigantic snow storm which has pummeled the East Coast forced the postponement to Sunday. I suspect that despite the postponement and the snow, there will be many from all over the world to pay their last respects to a man who though slight in stature, was a giant among men.

Growing Discontent with Democrats & Access-Bloggers Leaves an Opening for Genuine Progressives - by Archangel M

Sun Feb 7th, 2010 at 03:06:36 PM EST

Lately there has been a spate of diaries at such web sites as FireDogLake and "Open" Left wherein lay members -- typically under attack from site moderators, who act as Democratic Party hacks and gatekeepers -- have sought ways to bring back the Progressive Party, or join the Greens, or build up some other institution, that will allow progressives to act together as a cohesive political unit. (I posted an entry there myself, only to end up being attacked by site moderators, threatened with banishment, and ultimately banned when I refused to back down against their incessant bullying.)

FDL's iphelgix explains the reason for leaving the Democrats.

Fellow FDLer TalkingStick points out the wisdom of studying the teabaggers for ideas about how we progressives can rebuild our own movement.

Mason calls for progressives to join him in building a Progressive Party from the ground up, apparently not aware that it already exists in states such as Vermont and Washington, and as Green Party affiliates inMissouri and Wisconsin. He is joined in this effort by MadHemingway, who posted the 1912 platform the Progressive Party ran on.

FDL members are not alone in Left Blogsylvania in expressing their utter disgust with the Democrats; at "Open" Left, such lay members as Arthur Lukas gripe about where progressives are and asks where we should go from here. Even at the Daily Obama, whereupon I also post, a poll I put up asking if it is time for progressives to break away from the Democratic received a fifty percent yes-vote.

Such discontent is often met by moderators and site owners with derision, insults, threats, and banishments of the "offending" members. Nevertheless, it has grown more difficult for the access-bloggers to bully progressives into submission, a lesson FDL's Jason Rosenbaum refused to learned after the beat-down his contemptuous post before the Massachusetts special election received. In short, no one on the left is buying into the Big Lie that Democrats are any different from Republicans in terms of substantive policies, nor are we responding to threats and insults anymore for "failing" to be bullied into supporting Democrats no matter what.

This discontent and refusal to be bullied has created an opening for progressives seeking to organize the left back into a cohesive and more importantly, effective movement in opposition to the far right. There are angry voices aplenty, people outraged by the betrayals of the man they though they were electing president in '08 and the endless capitulations to the GOP made by Democrats. Here we have an advantage.

The only thing lacking in the new political environment is effective leadership among progressives. We will not find it among the self-appointed "leaders" of the 'netroots, the access-bloggers like Chris Bowers, Markos Moulitsas, and the aforementioned Rosenbaum whose only real goal is to gain access for themselves -- and only themselves -- to the inner circles of "serious" political power and corporate media recognition. It is therefore up to us to take on leadership roles and organize the left.

If we can take charge, we the progressive base, then we can finally begin the work of taking back America from the fascist elements that have usurped it for their own ends to the detriment of everybody else. The Full Court Press is one tool for doing that, and it's a very good start.

Reverse Lookup Phone Directory - by asyrafazmin

Sat Feb 6th, 2010 at 07:50:19 PM EST

Here's The Best Of Reverse Lookup Phone Directory Compilation

We've found Reverse Phone Detective to be a great resource for many different services. In fact, you would never know they have so many benefits for members. Here are just a few:

Reverse Cell Phone lookup- This allows you to get the name and address of the cell phone user that called you.

Reverse landline lookup- This allows you to get the name and address of the landline phone user that called you.

Tracer reports- This will pull up full contact details of unlisted phone numbers for both landlines and cell phones.
Read more

how to orgasm female - by roxyrohit

Sat Feb 6th, 2010 at 01:13:28 PM EST

As one study ponders evolutionary reasons for some women's difficulty reaching climax, another draws a map of modern romance

* Buzz up!
* Digg it

* David Adam, science correspondent
* The Guardian, Wednesday 8 June 2005 02.16 BST

Women who fail to orgasm during sex may be genetically programmed to weed out unreliable men who are a flop between the sheets, according to new research.

Scientists who have studied the ability of thousands of women to climax say it is largely written in their genes - the most compelling evidence so far that the female orgasm has a biological role.

The findings suggest the failure of some women to orgasm regularly is not a dysfunction, but a sophisticated mate-selection strategy that evolved during prehistoric times.

Tim Spector of St Thomas's hospital in London, who led the research, said: "The theory is that the orgasm is an evolutionary way of seeing if men can prove themselves to be likely good providers or dependable, patient and caring enough to look after the kids."

Women who orgasm very easily may be more likely to be satisfied with poor quality men.

"Perhaps women who had orgasms too easily weren't very good selectors," Professor Spector said. "It paid women to be more fussy and this is one way of doing it. The simple fact is that it takes women on average 12 minutes and men two and a half minutes to reach orgasm. Adjusting to that imbalance is a test."

His team used a national register of twins to ask 4,037 women, aged 19 to 83, about their sex lives and to compare their DNA. About half were identical twins, who share all their genes. The others were non-identical twins, who do not. Assuming twins are brought up in similar environments allows scientists to tease out the differences that are down to genes.

Thirty-two per cent of the women said they never or infrequently experienced an orgasm during sex, and 21% during masturbation. Only 14% said they always had an orgasm during sex.

Genetic comparisons showed that 34% of the variation during intercourse was inherited. In the case of masturbation, 45% of the difference was down to genes. The findings appear today in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.

Prof Spector said these were low estimates because they were based on answers to intimate questions. In reality, genes are probably the greatest single factor involved in whether women have an orgasm or not.

The genes could work on a physical level, perhaps causing variations in the G-spot, the angle of the vagina, or the clitoris. They could work psychologically, to alter a woman's confidence or mood, or they might vary the activity of enzymes or hormones.

"It's likely to come from the mother's side but we can't say that it doesn't come from the father, if, for example, it's a psychological state rather than purely anatomical," he said.

The research opens the door to further studies to identify the relevant genes and perhaps develop treatments to help more women reach orgasm. "If the motivation and funding were there you could find a number of the genes involved within a few years. Each of those would show you a new mechanism that, in theory, you could make drugs to interact with. But there's so little research, it's really a taboo area."

The genetic control over how easily women experience an orgasm during sex shows it is subject to evolutionary pressure, which means it must confer a biological advantage.

One theory is that orgasms promote fertility. Studies have shown that women are slightly more likely to have an orgasm when they are ovulating. There is also evidence that the uptake of sperm is increased when a woman climaxes. But if this were the only explanation, all women would have orgasms.

"The theory I prefer is the mate selection theory," Prof Spector said. "If a man is considered powerful enough, strong enough, or thoughtful enough in bed or in the cave, then he's likely to hang around as a long-term partner and be a better bet for bringing up children."
how to orgasm female

Living In The Age Of The Exploit - by danps

Sat Feb 6th, 2010 at 05:26:00 AM EST

Shameless leaders have created a culture of impunity. Those who want accountability might need to adapt their expectations and keep an eye on the long run.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.235 - by boran2

Sat Feb 6th, 2010 at 12:01:41 AM EST

Hello again painting fans.

RECOMMENDED - Clarke (D-NY): Mea culpa, I will support Eretz Israel - by Oui

Fri Feb 5th, 2010 at 05:18:38 PM EST

Yvette Clarke Open Letter to Constituents

Brooklyn, NY -- Open Letter to Constituents:

For three millennia the land of Israel has been at the heart of the Jewish people; the Homeland from where the ancient traditions, culture and values emanated.

The state of Israel has served as a refuge for Jews the world over, a country rebuilt following the horrors of the Holocaust on the principles of freedom and democracy.

The United States and the State of Israel share a special relationship and, as a Member of Congress, I am committed to working to strengthen this relationship.

Brooklyn's 11th Congressional District, which I have the honor to represent ...

Gentle Persuasion: A delegation of Orthodox constituents and other Jewish leaders met with Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) and convinced her to renounce her support for a congressional letter calling on President Obama to press Israel to ease its blockade of civilian goods and raw materials moving in and out of Gaza. [Photo: COLlive.com]

Fixing the Economy Means Fixing Immigration - by The Opportunity Agenda

Fri Feb 5th, 2010 at 01:57:52 PM EST

During the past week, much has been made of President Obama’s 38-word mention of immigration during his State of the Union address. Understandably, some advocates were disappointed that immigration reform did not get nearly as much air time as the rebuilding the economy – the perception being that this administration will address the latter before the former. But even though the economy is likely to be the dominant political topic in 2010, there are avenues that reform advocates can take to inject immigration into that conversation.

Last month, the Immigration Policy Center together with the Center for American Progress released a study finding that legalizing the approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States would add $1.5 trillion to the GDP over 10 years. In December, a coalition of House lawmakers said that immigration reform could actually protect American workers, raising the floor for wages across the country. And research conducted in Texas and California found that immigrants add far more to the economy than they take out.

If Congress and President Obama are going to turn the economy around, they will need to consider all sensible solutions. Fixing the nation’s broken immigration system is indeed the right thing to do; but if lawmakers are too wary of the subject to address it on moral grounds, advocates need to capitalize on the sense of urgency that surrounds the economy. The more they see immigration reform as an economic solution, the more likely it is that the country will see real change on either issue sooner rather than later.

Read more at The Opportunity Agenda website.

Prescribing Improved Nutrition to Combat HIV/AIDS in Africa - by borderjumpers

Fri Feb 5th, 2010 at 09:57:28 AM EST

Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

Everywhere I travel in Africa, there's increasing acknowledgement about the importance of nutrition when it comes to treating HIV/AIDS. Many retroviral and HIV/AIDS drugs don't work if patients aren't getting enough vitamins and nutrients in their diets or accumulating enough body fat.

According to Dr. Rosa Costa, Director of the Kyeema Foundation in Mozambique, many farmers are often too sick to grow crops, but "chickens are easy."

The International Rural Poultry Center of the Kyeema Foundation and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics are working with farmers--most of them women--to raise chickens on their farms. Because women are often the primary caregivers for family members with HIV/AIDS, they need easy, low-cost sources of both food and income.

Unlike many crops, raising free-range birds can require few outside inputs and very little maintenance from farmers. Birds can forage for insects and eat kitchen scraps, instead of expensive grains. They provide not only meat and eggs for household use and income, but also pest control and manure for fertilizer.

Friday Foto Flogging - by AndiF

Fri Feb 5th, 2010 at 05:02:26 AM EST

Welcome to Friday Foto Flogging, a place to share your photos and photography news. We were inspired by the folks at European Tribune who post a regular Friday Photoblog series to try the same on this side of the virtual Atlantic. We also thought foto folks would enjoy seeing some other websites so each week we'll introduce a different photo website.

This Week's Theme: Walls, fences and fields. h/t boran2 and Wilderness Wench

Website(s) of the Week: 40 Striking High Resolution Photography Wallpapers Or just enjoy striking photos from the National Geographic.

AndiF's Walls, Fences, and Fields

	Brick and Wrought Iron Fence, Columbus, Indiana Click image for larger version
	Rail Fences and Fields, near Stanley, Idaho Click image for larger version
	Riding Ring Fence, Brown County, Indiana Click image for larger version

olivia's wall, fence, field

	wall Click image for larger version
	fence Click image for larger version
	field Click image for larger version

Next Week's Theme: Black or White or Black and White Interpret the theme literally, symbolically, or like a shot from an old brownie camera

Info on Posting Photos

When you post your photos, please keep the width at 500 or less for the sake of our Bootribers who are on dial-up. If you want to post clickable thumbnails but aren't sure how, check out this diary: Clickable Thumbnails. If you haven't yet joined a photo-hosting site, here are some to consider: Photobucket, Flickr, ImageShack, and Picasa.

Previous Friday Foto Flogs

FFFs 1-36 Random Skies School's Out

Flowers Weather Disrepair Random

Simplicity What is it? Vacation, Staycation Brown

Sparkle Random Purple Differences

What moves you? Colors Random What is it?

Self-portraits Up Where work is done Transitions

Random Gates, Doors Aphorisms and Quotes Bridges

What is it? Random

Health Care: Why not the best? - by Shockwave

Thu Feb 4th, 2010 at 08:10:41 PM EST

Healthcare is a basic human right. The current healthcare system in America is dysfunctional and expensive. The bill that will pass in DC, eventually, will at best point in the direction of the need to make further changes, but most probably it will be the last time healthcare is tackled at the national level for quite a while.

We know that a Single Payer system is by far the best because it pays for itself by cutting down administrative costs to about 3%. And we understand that by allowing a government run insurance company to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies the cost of medicines will be reduced dramatically. In California these two items account for about 50% of all costs.

Single Payer Senate Bill 810 has a chance of becoming a reality in the most populous State. It is being discussed in the California Assembly as we speak.

When this happens other states may follow. And then we will all have healthcare at reasonable costs while maintaining the same quality of a privately run healthcare provider system paid by health insurance managed by the government.

Most Americans support this once they understand how it works.

Below I explain how you can help make SB 810 a reality and prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Living the Past in the Present: Voter Intimidation Tactics Still Thrive in America - by Project Vote

Thu Feb 4th, 2010 at 06:42:19 PM EST

Cross-posted to Project Vote's blog, Voting Matters

In observance of Black History month, it is fitting to revisit America's less than stellar record in the ongoing effort to move toward true equality. The key to equality was recognized more than 100 years ago when newly freed African Americans were given the basic rights of citizenship and voting under the 14th and 15th Amendments, though it was not until the 1960s that equality for African Americans and other disadvantaged groups was finally acknowledged on both a legal and cultural scale with the passage of the cornerstone Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. Yet citizens of color continue to be underrepresented in U.S. electorate, and as recently as 2008 have been the target of thinly veiled voter intimidation and suppression efforts.

RECOMMENDED - Booman...demon sheep? You betcha. Brilliant!!! - by Arthur Gilroy

Thu Feb 4th, 2010 at 04:47:50 PM EST

In Thursday's (1/4) Open Thread Booman asked the magic question "What the hell was that?" regarding Carly Fiorina's California Ratpublican gubernatorial primary ad that has come to be known as "The Demon Sheep" ad throughout the media.

Yeah.

That one.

My preliminary answer?

It was brilliant advertising.

My full answer below.

Read on if you are interested.

In winning.

Thursday Immigration Blog Roundup - by The Opportunity Agenda

Thu Feb 4th, 2010 at 04:28:09 PM EST

This week's Immigration Blog Roundup will cover the President's FY2011 budget proposal, new reports on immigration, and more...

The President has released his FY2011 budget proposal:
-$368 million proposed to keep 20,000 border patrol agents watching over 6,000 miles of U.S. borders.
-$110 million to improve the E Verify program, which distinguishes between workers legally able to work in the United States and those who are not.
-$18 million to support integration for new immigrants (preparation for citizenship, ELL).
-Additional resources to relieve overburdened immigration courts nationwide, which are strained by case backlogs and staffing shortages.
-Funding to support reforming our immigration detention system.
-Funding to USCIS to improve and lower the cost of processing immigration applications.

Recently released Immigration reports:

“Reforming the Immigration System: Proposals to Promote Independence, Fairness, Efficiency, and Professionalism in the Adjudication of Removal Cases” submitted to the American Bar Association.

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released their final work in their series of "Solutions Papers" called "Future Flow: Repairing our Broken Immigration System" which highlights principles for visa reform.

"Children in the Aftermath of Immigration Enforcement" released by the Urban Institute examines the effects of parental arrest, detention, and deportation on the well-being of the children involved in these situations.

Also in immigration news, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced their new partnership in strengthening immigrant integration efforts in Los Angeles through citizenship awareness, education, and outreach activities.

Galen Carey, Dir. of Government Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals discusses the many efforts that Evangelicals are putting forth in making immigration reform a priority. The NAE, along with various partner organizations have held events all over the country as a call to action claiming that the "current system contradicts our nation's deepest values."

Lastly, in a federal lawsuit against Signal International, depositions revealed that immigration authorities worked with the marine oil-rig company to discourage the organization and protests of skilled Indian workers contracted to work under the H-2B Temporary Worker Program.

Using Daily Kos to promote Israeli propaganda - by shergald

Thu Feb 4th, 2010 at 11:40:25 AM EST

The Institute for Global Jewish Affairs did a study and found that Salon, Huffington Post and Daily Kos, large left wing blogs, were hotbeds of anti-Semitism! This belabored notion, that the left wing or the left wing blogosphere is anti-Semitic, of course, was immediately dismissed by Muzzlewatch, the anti-propaganda arm of Jewish Voice for Peace.

In contrast, however, it is also the case that left wing blogs like Daily Kos are being used by bloggers intent on plying Israeli propaganda in an apparent attempt to justify Israel's occupation and colonial activity under the guise of being left wing writings.

Biweekly Public Opinion Roundup: State of the Union and the 2010 Census - by The Opportunity Agenda

Wed Feb 3rd, 2010 at 02:12:38 PM EST

The State of the Union speech given last Wednesday by President Obama was a major event and the focus of several polls. Though Gallup reported that, historically, support for the President is not affected by the State of the Union, a before-after survey conducted by CNN shows that the address bolstered viewers confidence in the administration. How long this boost will last, and whether it can be generalized to the entire public, remains to be seen. Another significant upcoming event receiving increasing attention is the decennial census which will be conducted in March.

Breeding Respect for Indigenous Seeds - by borderjumpers

Wed Feb 3rd, 2010 at 11:23:40 AM EST

Cross posted fromNourishing the Planet.

Jessica Milgroom isn't your typical graduate student. Rather than spending her days in the library of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, her research is done in the field--literally. Since 2006, Jessica has been working with farming communities living inside Limpopo National Park, in southern Mozambique.

When the park was established in 2001, it was essentially "parked on top of 27,000 people," says Jessica. Some 7,000 of the residents needed to be resettled to other areas, including within the park, which affected their access to food and farmland. Jessica's job is to see what can be done to improve resettlement food security.

But rather than simply recommending intensified agriculture in the park to make better use of less land, Jessica worked with the local community to collect and identify local seed varieties. One of the major problems in Mozambique, as well as other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is the lack of seed. As a result, farmers are forced to buy low-quality seed because nothing else is available.

In addition to identifying and collecting seeds, Jessica is working with a farmer's association on seed trials, testing varieties to see what people like best. In addition, farmers are learning how to purify and store seeds (see Innovation of the Week: Investing in Better Food Storage in Africa).

Weevils, the farmers tell Jessica, are worse than ever, destroying both the seed and crops they store in traditional open-air, granaries. But the farmers are now building newer granaries that are more tightly sealed and help prevent not only weevils but also mold and aflatoxins from damaging crops.

Today, farmers and breeders alike have a greater respect for Mozambique's indigenous seed varieties. According to Jessica, one of the biggest accomplishments of the project has been getting breeders and farmers to talk to each other. "It's been interesting for both groups," says Jessica, "and it needs to be a regular discussion" between them.

Small Banks, Big Impact - by The Opportunity Agenda

Tue Feb 2nd, 2010 at 04:21:29 PM EST

President Obama faced a remarkable political challenge in his recent State of the Union. Beset on all sides—by populists on the left and right who are highly suspicious of him and all of institutional Washington, by an economy that can produce GDP growth but not jobs, by an increasing consensus that he has failed to connect his legislative priorities to core values since the election—he succeeded in, if nothing else, reminding us of the energy and passion that helped him build a network of committed volunteers, grassroots campaign staff, and small dollar donors. In the speech he offered a litany of new financial policy prescriptions, including one—rolling $30 billion of TARP funds that big banks have already repaid into smaller, local banks—that has not garnered many headlines, but which represents an affirmation of the critical role that our communities play in our economic vibrancy.

Improving Access to Livestock Disease Prevention - by borderjumpers

Tue Feb 2nd, 2010 at 01:37:59 PM EST

This is the first in a two-part series about my visit to the Kyeema Foundation in Maputo, Mozambique. Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

Although avian influenza and H1N1 have dominated the news for the last few years, many other serious diseases can ravage livestock and rural communities. Newcastle disease, which can wipe out entire flocks of chickens and can spread from farm to farm, is especially devastating for rural farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Vaccines for Newcastle used to be hard to come by in Africa. They were imported and usually expensive, putting them out of reach of small farmers. And even when they were available, they required refrigeration, which is not common in many rural villages.

Today, however, thanks to the work of the International Rural Poultry Center of the Kyeema Foundation in Mozambique, villages have access not only to vaccines, but also to locally trained community vaccinators (or para-vets) who can help spot and treat Newcastle and other poultry diseases before they spread.

With help from a grant from the Australian Government's overseas aid program (AusAID), Kyeema developed a thermo-stable vaccine that doesn't need to be refrigerated and is easier for rural farmers to administer to their birds. Dr. Rosa Costa, Kyeema's director in Mozambique, explained that vaccinations take place three times a year and farmers are taught--with cleverly designed flip-charts and posters--how to apply the vaccines with eyedroppers.

In addition, according to Dr. Costa, the community vaccinators try to link the control of Newcastle with efforts to address avian influenza because the symptoms of the two diseases--coughing, diarrhea, lethargy, runny eyes, mortality--are often similar.

Community leaders help Kyeema identify people who are well respected in the community to be community vaccinators, who then receive training. The vaccinators aren't compensated by Kyeema, but they can make a small profit from each bottle of vaccination. Typically, women are chosen as vaccinators, says Dr. Costa. Not only do they tend to stay in the villages more than men, but the money they earn usually does much more to help the family because they use it to buy food or schoolbooks for their children.

Because more birds are surviving because of vaccinations, Kyeema is also working with farmers to build better housing for their poultry and to find additional sources of feed.

Stay tuned for more on our visit to Kyeema later this week.

Is US culpable for Gaza war crimes? - by shergald

Tue Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:32:28 AM EST

...even as an accessory?

Did the US (via Bush) tacitly or even by verbal understanding give Israel the go ahead to use phosphorous bombs, flechette bombs, and DIME munitions, all manufactured in the US, licensed to Israel, and provided free, on the Gaza population?

The answer to this question could give rise to US culpability for Gaza war crimes. As far as anyone is aware, US officials never denied Israel permission or criticized its use of these weapons against civilian targets, either in Gaza or Lebanon earlier. What use are such weapons in Israel's conflicts against Lebanese (Hezbollah) or Gaza militants (Hamas)? Previous military invasions by Israel routinely ended in the massacre of mostly innocent civilians (e.g., Lebanon, Gaza, 2006, before Gaza, 2009).

Corporate Cash Breeds Inequality - by The Opportunity Agenda

Mon Feb 1st, 2010 at 12:09:56 PM EST

When the founding fathers gathered to declare independence, they were responding to consolidated power in the form of the monarchy and the church. The system that they designed to govern the United States was intentionally complex and diffuse, with checks and balances in place to prevent any single individual or group from exerting undue influence over the process. This past Thursday, with their ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court violated these intentions, enhancing the influence of a small handful of very powerful institutions and providing them with the tools to crowd out diverse voices.

Many critics of the ruling in favor of Citizens United, which lifted a six-decade-old ban on corporations using their profits to endorse or oppose political candidates as well as a set of rules about the timing of corporate-sponsored political advertisements, have focused on the degree to which it will further strengthen the power of special interests over policy decisions. While this is true, it is also important to note that the ruling will almost certainly further limit the representation of women and people of color, who traditionally have more trouble raising the sums of money necessary to effectively compete in increasingly expensive elections. By and large, the candidate who spends more money wins, and this has long contributed to the political underrepresentation of many communities. Having to compete with not only a better funded opponent, but with freer-spending corporate interests as well, will cause many candidates not to run and many candidates who do choose to run to lose against the increasingly long odds. And, as the voices of underrepresented communities are stranded further and further away from the halls of power, existing disparities in opportunity will almost certainly worsen.

Enough waiting. Let's rebuild the Progressive Party of the United States. - by Archangel M

Mon Feb 1st, 2010 at 10:31:02 AM EST

At what point do progressives stop being Democrats' whipped dogs and start acting like a movement capable of putting the Dems in their proper place as the party of the people? David Sirota wrote today about Obama's latest call to increase war spending beyond its already ludicrous proportions.

How many of the extreme right-wing and criminal policies of Bush-Cheney has Obama adopted? How many of those extreme right-wing policies has he exceeded? Last month, knowledge that Obama has gone a step further than Bush, authorizing the executive branch to murder American citizens on the flimsiest of rationales. This sh__ has GOT to end.

My political activities now are focusing on the building of a viable third party as a tool of a reinvigorated and independent progressive movement. No efforts to reform the Democratic Party from within can succeed so long as the upper-level of the party establishment is able to crush dissent from within, as is explained here.

[T]the Democratic primaries will be where the action is ... Maybe someone like Kucinich, Feingold ... It will be a "good liberal," not a radical, advocating positions that are reasonable but declared "unrealistic." ("You'll throw the race to the Republicans, we can't have that!") The basis of the campaign will not be a sudden embrace of Bolshevism, but rather Obama's embrace of Wall Street. It will be a mix of angry rank-and-file and disgruntled party machine.
The insurgent candidate will lose. The candidate will not call for a 3rd party, will support Obama after the primaries -- will make a concession speech that would shame the Moscow Show Trials. Many of her or his followers will follow suit. The candidate will not personally work to create an independent infrastructure within the Democratic Party. Obama will probably win, not because of his impressive performance but because the foaming-at-the-mouth Republicans will be splitting. After the election, the Democratic challenger will not lead a 3rd party.

This has been the pattern for decades. There is no one within the Democratic Party willing to lead a progressive breakoff. The day Dennis Kucinich kisses all party support for his re-election to Congress goodbye is the day I will rejoice, but it's not going to happen. So it's on lay progressives to take charge, organize from the ground up, and lead the way to building both the movement and the political organization that will bring it to power within the halls of our nation's capital.

This won't happen overnight; it will take decades for a fully functional progressive political organization to be built, and we will be opposed every step of the way by Democrats, Republicans, and corporations now empowered to spend as much money as their executives want to sway public opinion against us. But we have got to start sometime, and now is as good a time as any.

Those who claim this isn't the right time will not tell us that the "right time" is never going to come -- there will always be the enxt election cycle to worry about, too much at stake to "risk throwing it to the GOP." Never mind that all Democrats ever do is throw elections to Republicans simply by behaving like they're members of their counterpart political party. We must ignore such admonitions and press on. There is no such thing as perfection in politics, to be the enemy of good things that will never come to fruition so long as the existing political structure continues. And there is nothing more to be lost by doing what is right and necessary to take back our country.

The good news is that a Progressive Party already exists in some states. In Missouri, Vermont, and Washington, progressives began rebuilding the political party that bears their name from the ground up, and they used smart strategies and tactics to gain power first at the local level and then at the state level. They are now starting to branch out into national-level politics by running candidates for the House of Representatives, with a Vermont Progressive having run for the House of Representatives in 2008 on a platform that included calling for Bush's impeachment. And David Sirota has written previously about New York's Working Families Party, which has gotten results at the local and state levels.

So the foundation exists for progressives to rebuild our movement. The will is there. What's lacking is leadership. If no one in the 'netroots is willing to assume vital leadership roles, then it is up to each and every one of us to take charge and lead. Enough is enough. Progressives must stand up to the far right, which dominates both major political parties, and end its rule. No more excuses, no more capitulations, no more waiting. Let's get it done.

Greening the Golden Arches - by borderjumpers

Mon Feb 1st, 2010 at 09:40:48 AM EST

Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

McDonald's is hoping to change the way consumers view fast food. In partnership with the E-CO2 Project, an independent U.K. consulting firm, the company is launching a three-year study to assess methane production from beef cows in the United Kingdom, as well as ways to reduce livestock production of the greenhouse gas.

A burger joint famous for drive-thru windows and Happy Meals is certainly not the first business that comes to mind when one thinks about environmental sustainability. But with increasing mainstream awareness of the negative consequences of beef production for both human health and the environment, the fast-food giant is looking to reposition itself as leader of green business models.

McDonald's purchases beef from more than 16,000 British and Irish farmers, who raise their cattle in large feedlots. The methane gas produced by livestock accounts for an estimated 4 percent of the U.K.'s total carbon emissions. McDonald's hopes that the results of the study will help guide efforts to reduce suppliers' methane production. The initiative also will likely help "green" the corporation's image in the minds of an increasingly environmentally conscious public.

RECOMMENDED - Israel accused of playing the Holocaust card - by shergald

Mon Feb 1st, 2010 at 08:47:14 AM EST

War on Goldstone now deploys human-rights orgs and, you guessed it, the Holocaust

This Philip Weiss report (January 25, 2010) goes after Israel for playing the Holocaust card (part of Israel's framing itself as a victim) in an attempt to dismiss the UN Goldstone Report on the Gaza massacre last year. 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians including over 300 children were killed. Questions that seem to stump Israeli apologists remain unanswered: how did so many Palestinians die and why did Israel break the ceasefire negotiated by Egypt.

LQD: Energy policy for slow learners - by Frank Schnittger

Mon Feb 1st, 2010 at 08:30:20 AM EST

Or hot air from slow burners? After 12 years of destroying the infrastructure for the production and distribution of energy in the UK in the name of market liberalisation, Labour has a deathbed conversion and finally sees the light...

Labour prepares to tear up 12 years of energy policy

The Government is drawing up plans for a wholesale reform of Britain's energy markets that could wind back the clock on 12 years of deregulation.
In an interview with The Times, Ed Miliband, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said that Britain's existing, highly liberalised market regime, introduced under Labour in 1998, was failing to deliver the investment needed to cut UK carbon emissions by more than a third by 2020.
A market structure was being designed to boost long-term investment in low-carbon sources of electricity, including wind parks, nuclear reactors and fossil fuel stations equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
Mr Miliband said: "We are going to need a more interventionist energy policy to deliver the low-carbon investment we need."

America's Sorry History in Haiti - PART II - by Real History Lisa

Mon Feb 1st, 2010 at 01:19:01 AM EST

Excerpted from the second part of my article on Haiti at http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/013110d.html.

The Haitians have a saying in their native créole language: Piti, piti, wazo fe nich li. "Little by little, the bird builds its nest."
Freed of the powerful grip of the Duvaliers in 1986, and despite a dysfunctional system, little by little, the Haitians undertook the difficult work of rebuilding their nation into a more democratic place from within.
They formed trade unions, created independent radio stations, initiated literacy programs, and built silos to store their grain so they could wait for better prices before selling their crops.
Meanwhile, a quiet, small Haitian man who spoke eight languages and who had declared capitalism a "mortal sin" was espousing a brand of liberation theology too radical for the Catholic Church that had ordained him.
In 1988, the Catholic Church expelled Jean Bertrand Aristide for preaching class warfare in a move that, ironically, made him far more powerful.
Undaunted, Aristide, called affectionately by the diminutive "Titide," opened a medical clinic, ran a children's shelter, and continued to speak to the people.
As Haiti headed into its first internationally supervised election, the U.S. was banking on Marc Bazin, now their chosen candidate for president. But the majority of the Haitians saw Bazin as "America's Man" and refused to support him.
The strongest leftist candidate, however, was considered lackluster, and the other candidates were too little known to win.
On Oct. 16, 1990, just two months before the elections were to be held, Aristide entered the race. He called his movement and its followers the Lavalas, a créole word for torrents of water that rushed down gullies, sweeping away everything in their path. He summed up his platform in three words: "participation, transparency, justice."
Predictably, the U.S. government, then headed by President George H. W. Bush, was disconcerted. One businessman probably summed up a lot of businessmen's thoughts when he called Aristide "a cross between Fidel and the Ayatollah."
Just before the election, Ambassador Andrew Young, at the request (he said) of former President Jimmy Carter, tried to persuade Aristide to sign a letter accepting Bazin as president if Bazin should win, in the hopes of forestalling a violent reaction from Aristide's followers. William Blum, in his book Killing Hope, noted the Bush White House likely had a hand in this as well.
Hope, Then Tragedy
On Dec. 16, 1990, in the country's first internationally supervised election, Aristide won with over two-thirds of the vote, proving the Lavalas worthy of their name. The margin also gave him the largest majority of any democratically elected leader in the Western Hemisphere.
But in a sad parallel to some recent U.S. elections, when the time came to vote for the legislature and other offices, turnout was light. An opposition-dominated legislature then thwarted much of the legislation that Aristide proposed.
Still, Aristide upset the status quo. He initiated "programs in literacy, public health, and agrarian reform," Blum wrote. Aristide also sought to increase the minimum wage; he asked for a freeze on the prices of basic necessities; and he created a public works program to generate jobs.
Aristide also criticized the business class, accusing some of the Haitian elite of corruption. He also sent a youth group from Haiti on a friendly visit to Haiti's neighbor to the west, Castro's Cuba.
Aristide, who had survived assassination attempts in the past, created a private force that he could trust. He further antagonized the military by making temporary appointments to key positions rather than permanent ones. He hoped this would encourage good behavior, but instead it rankled those stuck in tenuous situations.
But perhaps Aristide's greatest affront to the military was to crack down on smuggling and drug-running, which were rampant in Haiti. According to Robert and Nancy Heinl in their book Written in Blood, Aristide's actions "were putting a dent in many officers' life styles."
Janus-faced America
Any student of real history can guess what happened next. The military overthrew Aristide a short nine months into his five-year presidential term.
And as Blum notes, while there is no direct evidence that the CIA or the United States supported the coup, given the CIA's role in training and supporting the Haitian military, the coup could hardly have come as a surprise.
Bob Shacochis supports Blum's suspicions in his book The Immaculate Invasion, where he wrote that President George H.W. Bush "swiftly announced that the coup would not stand, then just as quickly receded into embarrassed silence when informed by his staff that his own crew in Port-au-Prince not only had foreknowledge of the putsch but had allowed it to advance without a word."
Shacochis decried how America had been essentially "Janus-faced" toward Haiti due to a the split between those in the U.S. willing to support a true democracy, no matter how messy, and those whose knee-jerk reaction was to decry the leftist president, despite the fact that "the Haitians democratically chose Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the only Haitian president who ever attempted to lead his people out of darkness; the only Haitian chief of state who seemed to display an ideology beyond self."

Read the rest at the link above. It gets worse.

TARP Creates More Risk in System - by Oui

Sun Jan 31st, 2010 at 04:12:34 PM EST

Watchdog: Bailouts Created More Risk in System

(ABC News) - The government's response to the financial meltdown has made it more likely the United States will face a deeper crisis in the future, an independent watchdog at the Treasury Department warned.

The problems that led to the last crisis have not yet been addressed, and in some cases have grown worse, says Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for the trouble asset relief program, or TARP. The quarterly report to Congress was released Sunday.

"Even if TARP saved our financial system from driving off a cliff back in 2008, absent meaningful reform, we are still driving on the same winding mountain road, but this time in a faster car," Barofsky wrote.

Barofsky also said his office is investigating 77 cases of possible criminal and civil fraud, including crimes of tax evasion, insider trading, mortgage lending and payment collection, false statements and public corruption.

Much of Barofsky's report focused on the government's growing role in the housing market, which he said has increased the risk of another housing bubble.

Over the past year, the federal government has spent hundreds of billions propping up the housing market. About 90 percent of home loans are backed by government controlled entities, mainly Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration.

The Federal Reserve is spending $1.25 trillion to hold down mortgage rates, and millions of homeowners have refinanced at lower rates.

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

But...LOOK AT THE PICTURE!!! (Obama On The Street) - by Arthur Gilroy

Sun Jan 31st, 2010 at 11:03:26 AM EST

So gotterdemerung wrote a mildly snarky piece titled Caption This on Wild Wild Left featuring a pic of Barack Obama goofing with a black guy on a street somewhere in mixed-race America. A piece which received several equally mildly snarky replies.

But...LOOK AT THE PICTURE!!!

Really.

LOOK at it, goddammit!!!

Look at Obama's mouth.

Look at his stance.

Look at his comfort zone.

And read on.

CIA's Revenge, Hakimullah Mehsud Dead - by Oui

Sun Jan 31st, 2010 at 07:53:33 AM EST

Pakistan Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud dead - state television

Pakistan's military trying to verify reports that Taliban leader, who had been targeted by drone attacks, has been killed.

An elder in the Mamuzai area of Orakzai tribal agency said he attended Mehsud's funeral on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. Speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation, the elder said Mehsud died at his in-laws' home.

A Reuters report, quoting a Pakistani intelligence official, said the Taliban leader may have been fatally wounded following a 17 January drone attack on two vehicles in North Waziristan.

Mehsud's fate has been the subject of intense speculation since a drone attack on 13 January on a remote madrasa on the border between South and North Waziristan.

A Taliban spokesman admitted that Mehsud had been present in the building moments earlier, but insisted he left before the American missile struck.

Days later Mehsud quelled rumours of his demise by phoning several Pakistani journalists in Peshawar. But he was apparently targeted a second time in a drone strike on two vehicles in North Waziristan on 17 January.

Unconfirmed reports since then have suggested Hakimullah was seriously injured in that strike and was shifted to his former stomping ground of Orakzai tribal agency for treatment.

America's sorry history with Haiti - Part 1 - by Real History Lisa

Sat Jan 30th, 2010 at 03:12:33 PM EST

[This excerpt crossposted from http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/013010a.html ]

America's Sorry History with Haiti

By Lisa Pease
January 30, 2010

With all the talk of America taking charge of Haiti for a while, it would be prudent for us to take a step back and review the history of our various interventions in Haiti, and the outcomes of those efforts.

For there is another kind of aid that the people of Haiti need that isn't being talked about. They need us to understand their real history, their culture and their potential.

They need us to stop patronizing them and interfering with their progress so they can realize the freedom they are still seeking two centuries after officially casting off the shackles of slavery. [For more on that era, see Consortiumnews.com's "Haiti and America's Historic Debt."]

Will the Real Obama Stand Up? - by Oui

Sat Jan 30th, 2010 at 08:36:40 AM EST

Obama's Cairo speech highlights Palestinian issue
By Robert Dreyfuss

(The Nation) - I watched President Obama's Cairo speech from Dubai, the sprawling and frenzied city of gold and shopping malls on the shores of the Arabian Gulf.

Based on early returns from a decidedly unrepresentative sample of Arab public opinion, Obama hit a home run. I agree. In Dubai, at least, and in its media, Obama's speech was topic one, two and three all week.

That's good and bad. Obama's arrival in Saudi Arabia and Egypt was greeted in two ways. First, it had the trappings of a visit by an all-powerful but distant Great White Father - okay, he's black, but anyway - on whose words the fate of the Arab and Muslim world hangs - which is understandable in light of the fact that American troops and sailors are everywhere.

Palestinians commemorate the 61st anniversary of Nakba, Arabic term for "the catastrophe", in Aida refugee camp in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

And second, in contrast, sophisticated Arab opinion was truly hopeful that Obama's remarks would make concrete the sharp break with the Imperial America as represented by the administration of George W. "Crusader" Bush. I think the latter prevailed. Obama was appropriately humble, and he laid down important markers that signal a new US approach to the Middle East and beyond.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.234 - by boran2

Sat Jan 30th, 2010 at 08:03:34 AM EST

Hello again painting fans.

Thomas Hoenig Will Save Us All! - by danps

Sat Jan 30th, 2010 at 06:36:25 AM EST

If Ben Bernanke's nomination to head the Federal Reserve gets scuttled, the head of the Kansas City Fed might be an attractive alternative.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

War Crimes - by Wattree

Sat Jan 30th, 2010 at 04:08:51 AM EST

BENEATH THE SPIN * ERIC L. WATTREE

War Crimes

It's been suggested more than once that the only reason I'm so passionate about having the Bush Administration charged with war crimes is because I'm a liberal, and therefore, harbor some sort of deep-seated hatred for George Bush. But that's not true. The fact is, I neither hate George Bush, nor any other conservative. I'm a progressive, not an ideologue, so I have no ideological motive to see any adversity brought into Bush's life, or anyone elses. My passion stems from the fact that because I am progressive, I have a progressive's lust for justice.

As I've mentioned in previous articles, progressives have but one guiding philosophy, one that entails the primacy of humanity, justice for ALL, and the search for truth - wherever that truth may lead, and regardless to whose ox is gored as a result. It's just happens that in this case, the ox that must be gored is in our own backyard.

'the bodacity of hope' Updated - by shergald

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 08:06:41 PM EST

'the bodacity of hope' is Philip Weiss' cynical play on the title of Obama's book, the Audacity of Hope, because there is apparently much less boldness left in Obama after one year's experience facing off with Israel in the Middle East. We know he just gave the Republicans a licking in Maryland, but at a Tampa, FL town hall meeting one day after the SOTU address, "everyone is talking about Obama's meltdown..," as Philip Weiss put it somewhat disgustingly, but it was done by a college student when she asked Obama about Palestinian human rights.

Last night in your State of the Union address, you spoke of America's support for human rights. Then, why have we not condemned Israel and Egypt's human rights violations against the occupied Palestinian people and yet we continue to support financially with billions of dollars coming from our tax dollars?

why we never learn anything - by rootless2

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 07:41:22 PM EST

Written about Ireland, but more generally true.

It is remarkable how little attention is devoted to interrogating the political economy model that has led us into the present crisis; indeed, it is rare indeed to even find acknowledgement that such exists. For example, in reading the range of recent books by journalists and commentators on the present crisis, what is striking is the personalist nature of the analysis advanced. By this I mean that the many ills analysed - the poor quality of governance, the too close relationship between politicians and so-called `developers', the failures of regulation, the growth of a banking culture that threw caution to the winds in its lending practices - are ultimately attributed to the failures of individuals. There is a deeply ad hominem quality to it all.

http://www.progressive-economy.ie/2010/01/interrogating-irish-model.html

I found this on ET http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2010/1/28/11468/2683

Three Steps We Can Take to Ensure Speedy Job Growth in Today's Economy - by The Opportunity Agenda

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 03:28:46 PM EST

At this moment in our nation’s history, it is important that we close America's gaps in opportunity by ensuring speedy job growth and marshalling the resources of all groups and communities in our efforts to rebuild the national economy.

Three steps we can take to expand opportunity for all people in the United States include: (1) investing in community health centers in neighborhoods with few health providers; (2) supporting formally incarcerated people in their efforts to obtain employment; and (3) assisting skilled immigrants in obtaining jobs commensurate with their qualifications.

I. Invest in Community Health Centers in Neighborhoods with Few Health Providers

Health is central to both opportunity and economic security. In our efforts to rebuild America’s economy, we need to do everything possible to support the health of all people here.

But, in this time of economic uncertainty, America’s unmet health needs are growing. 45.7 million Americans are uninsured, and approximately 60 million people—many of whom have health insurance—have no accessible primary health care home because of a local shortage of doctors.

Looking to Agriculture to Help Rebuild in Haiti - by borderjumpers

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 09:50:36 AM EST

Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

A recent article in the New York Times highlights the critical role that agriculture will play in rebuilding Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake of January 2010.

Food security is not a new problem in Haiti, and development organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme, as well as nongovernmental organizations like Heifer International and Oxfam, have been forced to halt food programs in the country as these groups themselves attempt to recover from the disaster.

Before the quake, FAO alone was implementing 23 food and agriculture projects in Haiti, hoping to improve access to food in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Prior to the disaster, an estimated 46 percent of Haiti's population was undernourished, and chronic malnutrition affected 24 percent of children under five.

Right now the most urgent need is to get food and water to millions of people in the capital city of Port au Prince and elsewhere in Haiti. But as the country looks to the future, the need for sustainable sources of food, such as those we are learning about in sub-Saharan Africa, is more important than ever.

54 Members of Congress who don't give a damn about AIPAC - by shergald

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 08:49:12 AM EST

In spite of Obama's historic speech in Cairo early last year finding Israel's siege "intolerable," the siege remains intact and deprivations worsened by Israel's three week attack a year ago continue. At least 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians and roughly 300 children were killed. Israel has since ignored Washington pleas to permit sufficient humanitarian aid and building materials into the Strip.

Now, two Congressmen, Rep. Jim McDermott and Rep. Keith Ellison, have acted to create a letter to President Obama calling attention to the devastating humanitarian impact of Israel's illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip

54 Members of Congress have signed on, irrespective of possible repercussions from the Israel Lobby, AIPAC, in particular.

Wild Wild Left Radio #50 State of the Unions: Security and Spin - by Diane G

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 07:34:05 AM EST

Tonight at 6PM Eastern Time, WWL Radio!!!!!

Gottlieb and I will be alive and in color (or is that off color?) on WWL radio tonight to guide you through Current Events taken from a Wildly Left Prospective.

Hear the Unreported & Under Reported Headlines stories you should be paying attention to, from US Politics, to the all of the Americas to our South, to the farthest reaches of the Earth.

After the News briefs, our Headline Stories this week are the Two State of the Unions: News of developments in the Security State, and news Of the Spin State... that being the SOTU Address.

Start your weekend off with brain food served with humor. So, grab a cocktail, pull a log up by the fire and join our conversation.

We welcome your calls, to add opinions or questions during any of our segments.

Join Gottlieb and Diane tonight at 6pm EDT on Wild Wild Left Radio, via BlogtalkRadio, for News from the Real Left. No hand-wringing, no PC, just straight talk from reality based politics.
WWL Radio: Free Speech in Practice.
The call in number is 646-929-1264

The live chat link will go live around 5:20.
CHAT LINK:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashChat/Chat.aspx?cohost=y&HostUserURL=DianeG

Friday Foto Flogging - by olivia

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 07:18:38 AM EST

This Week's Theme: Random. Your choice.

Love on Tiffany - by stellu96

Fri Jan 29th, 2010 at 02:49:52 AM EST

Women are all fond of jewelry, just as men are fond of cars. The jewelry represents the status and wealth of women. In many occasions, you don't need to open your mouth; the jewelry you wear has already spoken for yourself. This is the very wealth the jewelry demonstrates. At the mention of jewelry, Tiffany is always the best love for women. Next I would like to introduce something about Tiffany.

Tiffany, the queen of the jewelry industry, is famous for the diamond and silver products.

Tiffany Corporation, founded in 1837, firstly gained its fame from the silver tableware. In 1951, Tiffany produced its first silver 925 ornamentation, which brought more popularity for the brand. The movie "Tiffany breakfast" whose leading cast was Audrey Hepburn, which was very popular at that time among the girls, not just because the leading cast but also for those jewelry in the movie. It is clear that how famous Tiffany was.

Tiffany is the symbol of American design. It has been prevailing for about two centuries for its theme of love, beauty, romance and dreams. It fulfills all the women's fantasy and desire with luscious beauty and gist of soft and slander.

The concept of Tiffany is always purposed to design the unparalleled works since its foundation. The facts have proved that Tiffany can explain the heartfelt wishes for the lovers, and are fantastic for its unique designs of stationeries and tableware. Classic design, the definition of the Tiffany works that means the amazing masterpiece of Tiffany can be passed on from generation to generation. The Tiffany works never customize the fashion up and down, so it is never out of date. The brief, distinct lines relate the aloof, unexcitable perspicuity and heartful elegance. Harmony, scale, and orderliness can all naturally combine together and demonstrate in every work. The Tiffany works pay great attention to constant strives for perfection. It can absorb the essence and inspiration from the natural creations as it is pleased and leave behind the unnatural parts, and every work reflects the American's inherent characteristic of optimism, frank and wisdom.

For its unique collection and memorable values, Tiffany jewelry is very suitable for presents, engagement jewelry and so on.

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New Brief Discusses Improvements for Counting Provisional Ballots - by Project Vote

Thu Jan 28th, 2010 at 06:19:27 PM EST

Cross-posted to Project Vote's blog, Voting Matters

Although the Help America Vote Act of 2002 provided "fail-safe" provisional voting to prevent the unnecessary disenfranchisement of eligible citizens who show up at the polls to find that they are not on the rolls, there are still thousands of voters whose ballots are not being counted.

Thursday Immigration Blog Roundup - by The Opportunity Agenda

Thu Jan 28th, 2010 at 04:52:51 PM EST

This week's Immigration Blog Roundup includes the State of the Union Address, state news, new research on immigration, and more...

While immigration advocates are calling on California city councilman Bob Kellar to apologize for his "proud racist" comment at an anti-immigration rally, residents turned out in support of Kellar during a council session this week.

The deportation of immigration activist Jean Montrevil has been postponed due to the earthquake in Haiti. After serving 11 years for a felony conviction from 1990, Montrevil, married to a U.S. citizen and father of four U.S. born children, was detained for deportation a week before the earthquake. Click here to hear his interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now.

Nearly 1,000 immigration advocates gathered and marched in Van Nuys, California this weekend to attend a panel discussion organized by the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition. Furthermore, in a protest against the lack of progress on immigration reform, 150 immigration advocates gathered outside of ICE headquarters to deliver their own version of the "State of the Union" address.

New census figures reveal changing perceptions of race and ethnicity. This change in perception is largely driven by immigration with growing birthrates among the foreign-born and a rising number of children being raised by at least one foreign-born parent.

At the Migration Policy Institute, ICE Assistant Secretary John Morton outlined his vision for immigration detention center reform consisting of reducing the number of detention facilities and contractors and launching an online detainee locator system among other alternatives to detention.

The California Immigrant Policy Center has released a study documenting that the Latino immigrant community has a higher rate of self-employment than native-born U.S. citizens. Click here for more research on "Immigrants Contributions to the Golden State."

On the other hand, California Representatives Duncan Hunter (R - 52nd District) and Tom McClintock (R - 4th District) among 18 other cosponsors have proposed the BRIDGE (Bipartisan Reform of Immigration through Defining Good Enforcement) Resolution which supports greater border security enforcement, mandating E-Verify among all business, and discourages any means of granting legal status to the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living in this country.

Lastly, mixed feelings resulted from President Obama's mention of immigration reform in his State of the Union Address last night--"we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system - to secure our borders, enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation." Click here to see New America Media's coverage of what Latino Media are saying.

Fanaticism in American Politics - by parvenu

Thu Jan 28th, 2010 at 03:56:40 PM EST

Watching Supreme Court Justice Alito's performance last night at the State of The Union speech by President Obama, I was struck with the sudden revelation that America has entered into a new and dangerous era of political fanaticism. Political fanatics are nothing new in America, some of them came over right after the Mayflower. However, what is new and disturbing is this fanaticism has infiltrated the very foundational governing fabric of this country. More about my concern below the fold.

State of the Union: Rhetoric to Reality on Expanding Opportunity - by The Opportunity Agenda

Thu Jan 28th, 2010 at 03:06:26 PM EST

President Obama’s State of the Union address and the Republican Response by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell each called, as they should have, for a renewed focus by government on jobs and the economy. Within that broad charge, however, there was another, more surprising, point of agreement—at least at the rhetorical level. Both speeches challenged our government to focus simultaneously on creating greater and more equal opportunity.

The President declared that “we need to invest in the skills and education of our people,” and announced initiatives that The Opportunity Agenda has long promosted, including sidestepping banks to provide increased college aid directly to disadvantaged students through Pell grants and tax credits instead of loans, doubling the child care tax credit, incentivizing job creation through our tax code, and moving forward on commonsense immigration reform.

At the same time, he invoked “the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all created equal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you will be protected by it; that if you adhere to our common values you should be treated no different than anyone else.” In this connection, he announced strategies that we’ve long called for, including vigorous equal opportunity enforcement by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department, abolishing discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans in the military, and pursuing full compliance by employers with equal pay laws for women and men doing the same jobs.

Governor McDonnell was even more explicit—though less specific—in declaring the government’s responsibility to pursue both greater and more equal opportunity for all Americans. He said that “government should have this clear goal: where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone.” Though he was sketchier on the details than was the President, McDonnell was expansive in declaring that “all Americans should have the opportunity to find and keep meaningful work, and the dignity that comes with it,” and that “a child’s educational opportunity should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code.” He said that “Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all.”

Obama's State of the Storyboard Speech - by Arthur Gilroy

Thu Jan 28th, 2010 at 12:49:32 PM EST

State of the Union my royal Irish ass.

State of Obama's role in the dumbshow.

State of the Storyboard.

And I am beginning to realize that Mr. Obama doesn't even understand his own role in the story.

He thinks he's the writer.

He ain't even the associate producer.

He's just part of the cast.

Just another hired celeb.

Deep.

Read on.

Building a Methane-Fueled Fire: Innovation of the Week - by borderjumpers

Thu Jan 28th, 2010 at 12:40:17 PM EST

Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

For half the world's population, every meal depends on an open fire that is fueled by wood, coal, dung, and other smoke-producing combustibles. These indoor cookfires consume large amounts of fuel and emit carbon dioxide and other dangerous toxins into the air, blackening the insides of homes and leading to respiratory diseases, especially among women and children.

Biogas, however, takes advantage of what is typically considered waste, providing a cleaner and safer source of energy. Biogas units use methane from manure to produce electricity, heat, and fertilizer while emitting significantly less smoke and carbon monoxide than other sources of fuel. Access to an efficient, clean-burning stove not only saves lives--smoke inhalation-related illnesses result in 1.5 million deaths per year--it also reduces the amount of time that women spend gathering firewood, which the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) estimates is 10 hours per week for the average household in some rural areas.

The IFAD-funded Gash Barka Livestock and Agricultural Development Project (GBLADP) helped one farmer in Eritrea, Tekie Mekerka, make the most of the manure his 30 cows produce by helping to install a biogas unit on his farm (similar to the unit that Danielle saw in Rwanda with Heifer International). Now, says Mekerka, "we no longer have to go out to collect wood for cooking, the kitchen is now smoke-free, and the children can study at night because we have electricity."Additionally, Mekerka is using the organic residue left by the biogas process as fertilizer for his family's new vegetable garden.

In Rwanda, the government is making biogas stove units more accessible by subsidizing installation costs, and it hopes to have 15,000 households nationwide using biogas by 2012. While visiting with Heifer Rwanda, Danielle met Madame Helen Bahikwe, who, after receiving government help to purchase her biogas unit, is now more easily cooking for her 10-person family and improving hygiene on the farm with hot water for cleaning.

In China, IFAD found that biogas saved farmers so much time collecting firewood that farm production increased. In Tanzania, the Foundation for Sustainable Rural Development (SURUDE), with funding from UNDP, found that each biogas unit used in their study reduced deforestation by 37 hectares per year. And in Nigeria, on a much larger scale, methane and carbon dioxide produced by a water purifying plant is now being used to provide more affordable gas to 5,400 families a month, thanks to one of the largest biogas installations in Africa.

To read more about how waste can be turned into a source of fuel, energy, and nutrition see: Making Fuel Out of Waste, Growing Food in Urban "Trash," ECHOing a Need for Innovation in Agriculture, Keeping Weeds for Nutrition and Taste, and Vertical Farms: Finding Creative Ways to Grow Food in Kibera.

If you know of other ways people are making the most of their waste and would like to share it with us, we encourage you to leave a comment or fill out our agriculture innovation survey here.

A New Beginning? - by The Opportunity Agenda

Wed Jan 27th, 2010 at 03:11:00 PM EST

For months we’ve been arguing that President Obama’s failure to convey a core narrative, rooted in shared values, has been a major impediment to his success on health care reform and other progressive priorities. At long last, he seems to be coming to the same conclusion. As he told George Stephanopoulos last week:

OBAMA: If there's one thing that I regret this year, is that we were so busy just getting stuff done and dealing with the immediate crises that were in front of us, that I think we lost some of that sense of speaking directly to the American people about what their core values are and why we have to make sure those institutions are matching up with those values. And that I do think is a mistake of mine. I think the assumption was, if I just focus on policy, if I just focus on the, you know this provision, or that law, or are we making a good, rational decision here –

STEPHANOPOULOS: That people would get it.

OBAMA: That people will get it. And I think that, you know, what they've ended up seeing is this feeling of remoteness and detachment where, you know, there's these technocrats up here, these folks who are making decisions. Maybe some of them are good, maybe some aren't, but do they really get us and what we're going through? And I think that I can do a better job of that and partly because I do believe that we're in a stronger position now than we were in a year ago.

Let's hope he means it.

For more, watch this.

Journalism's Role in Educating Africa About What it Eats - by borderjumpers

Wed Jan 27th, 2010 at 11:19:13 AM EST

Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

This is the second in a two-part series of my visit to Africa Harvest in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Daniel Kamanga, the Director of Communications of Africa Harvest, and former journalist, says that journalism in Africa has to overcome many challenges, including a general lack of coverage on agriculture issues--let alone a deeper understanding about who is funding agricultural development in Africa. "No one knows who Bill [Gates] is in Africa," lamented Kamanga. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the biggest and most influential funders of agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa. (See Filling a Need for African-Based Reporting on Agriculture).

"You can't have a revolution in Africa if people aren't briefed," says Kamanga, referring to the call for a Green Revolution in Africa by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Although agriculture makes up about 98 percent of the economy in Kenya, it's barely covered in the country's newspapers. And there are not any agricultural editors at any of the newspapers on the entire continent.

But it's not just a question of reporters having more knowledge, according to Kamanga. It's also a matter of compensation. African journalists are typically paid very little compared to journalists in other countries. In Burkina Faso, reporters receive just 160 dollars per month. As a result, many journalists see bribes as a way to supplement their income.

Yet with newspaper and media consolidation, fierce competition for advertisers, and lackluster economic conditions in Africa and all over the world, it's a trend that might only get worse.

Obama's State of the Union Speech - by Real History Lisa

Wed Jan 27th, 2010 at 09:30:52 AM EST

BooMan asked yesterday what we wanted to hear in Obama's State of the Union speech. Here's some of what I'd like to hear.

I wanted to come before you tonight with a different story.
I wanted to tell you that people on the right and left have come together to do what's best for this country, that people put aside their fears, their dislikes, and reached down and found a common goal in truly helping the least fortunate among us.
I wanted to tell you that right and left worked together to pass landmark health care legislation.
I wanted to tell you that the bankers had seen the evil of their ways, that greed is on the decline, that common decency and goodness was on the rise.
There is so much I wanted to tell you by now that I can't. Because it wouldn't be true.
The Republicans have obstructed our efforts from my first month in office. While my door has always been open, and I've actively reached out to the Republicans on the hill, they have never once reached back.
Their spokesman, Rush Limbaugh, has stated the goal from the start: They want to see me fail. And I wouldn't mind that, if it was just me. I'd be willing to take the hit, if it would help the rest of you. But the truth is, if I fail, we all fail. Our country rises or falls together. We do not have the option to have winners and losers in government. Either we are all winning together, or we are all losing separately.
So I have to be honest. The state of the Republic tonight seems tenuous, at best. I don't know if this experiment in democracy, so conceived, will survive the ravages of those who would destroy this country for private profit.
Too many people are out of work. And while many say I should have focused on jobs from the start, look, no one ever died from losing a job. But people die in this country every minute -- every minute -- from a lack of health care.
My own mother died in part due to our inability to cure a disease we've studied for over 100 years. Think about that. We can kill someone remotely via a drone, but we can't save a woman from cancer after 100 years. What is wrong with our priorities?
I can't fix everything. But I can fix some things. And I haven't been doing enough. I told you we had ended torture. But our definition of torture is still too broad. I'm going to narrow that definition.
I told you I would fight for you. But I appointed the same people who brought us this fiscal crisis in the first place to craft a solution.
I was wrong. I admit it. And I'm pledging to you right here and now, I will do better.
Starting tonight, I have asked Tim Geitner to resign. This is not a symbolic move. I am not just sending a signal, or making a gesture. I firmly believe we have not pursued the best possible course, and that Geitner is too close to the problem to craft an appropriate solution.
I invited Paul Krugman, but he turned me down. [Laughter.] I can't say I blame him. [More laughter.] But I am asking him to make recommendations. I am listening to many voices. And your voices are going to be more important than the beltway voices, going forward. This I promise to you.
I'm asking Congress to please do the right thing. Pass the health care bill. And let's be honest. We all know this is not really a health care bill. It's an insurance reform bill. But until we can change the political discourse in this country, we can't make more radical changes. And this bill will save lives.
Let me repeat that. It will save lives. We can change it later. But we must put a stake in the ground now, while we still can. This bill will save lives.
Now. Let's talk about the wars. I told you I'd bring the troops home from Iraq starting in August of this year. I'm not waiting that long. Starting in June, the troops who have been on tour the longest will be home, for good. They will get not only whatever medical care they need. I will personally ensure they receive mental health care as long as they need it.
There is nothing more horrific than having to kill another human being, and to see people kill each other. I want to ensure that those people who put their lives on the line for us every day know what we will honor their commitment to them in return the fullest. We will find them jobs. We will help them return home. We will help them in any and every way they need, because they were willing to give everything for us. We owe them no less.
Afghanistan. I know many of you have doubts about why we are there. But make no mistake, we have a vital interest in securing the border region from actual terrorists. I know you've heard that before. But I'll ask you to trust me on this a little longer. I don't want to give away what we know. But I promise you, our goal remains not to tame the region, but to train those who live there to control it themselves. It's a difficult mission, and it's possible we will not succeed. That's why I've given the military a short timetable. If we can't fix it in a year and a half, we can't fix it in five years, or fifty.
I promise you that before my term is up, our troops will be back from the Middle East.

There is so much more I'd like to hear him say. But in the end, this is only a speech. I'm much more interested in what Obama will actually do, going forward. Only then will I know if our ship of state is truly under repair, or sinking.

Son of NYT Jerusalem bureau chief enters Israeli Army - by shergald

Wed Jan 27th, 2010 at 07:18:31 AM EST

Alison Weir, author and journalist, and founder of the site, If Americans Knew, has been ranting about censorship and bias in the American press on matters concerning Israel for years. To say the least, this censorship, bias, and even pro-Israel spin has helped Israel cover up its occupation and colonialism of Palestine as well as the slow ethnic cleansing of its people. Other sources (no links) have unabashedly called the New York Times (and the Washington Post) part of "the Zionist press" in America.

The Electronic Intifada (EI) just broke this important story about the New York Times, and Alison Weir has written the following commentary on it, posted on her blog.

H8ters, What's Your Point? - by me knows best

Tue Jan 26th, 2010 at 04:41:27 PM EST

A summary of the news from the first two days of the defense (anti-gay side) in the Boies/Olson federal lawsuit going on right now:

Gays Are Discriminated Against, But They're So Popular That It Shouldn't Matter!

Or am I reading the headlines wrong? More below...

Oliver Willis diary on Huffington Post - by eastcoastmoderate

Tue Jan 26th, 2010 at 02:09:18 PM EST

Oliver Willis penned a diary on Huffington Post today that should be require reading for all liberals everywhere.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oliver_willis/the-liberal-blogosphere-g_b_436471.html

Beautifully written piece about how liberals have a cow now that Obama has not turned out to be the dream candidate you thought he would be.

I Give Up - by Forgiven

Tue Jan 26th, 2010 at 01:21:30 PM EST

I support the Weak and Feckless Approach. Trust is based on mutual respect and reciprocity. If, at this moment of rage and cynicism, the ruling class goes even further and snubs popular opinion, then that will set off an ugly, destructive, and yet fully justified popular rebellion. Trust in government will be irrevocably broken. It will decimate policy-making for a generation. - David Brooks, NY Times

I had promised myself that I wasn't going to blog about the lessons of Massachusetts or the direction the President should take in its wake. But leave it to David Brooks to bring out the worst in me. First let me begin by saying that what happened in Massachusetts was a message but not the one that the talking heads and pundits in the media are determined to sell us.

For Bigots, Israel Can Do No Right - by shergald

Tue Jan 26th, 2010 at 10:38:35 AM EST

Alan Dershowitz, the bane of human rights advocates in the US and every where else, has been given his day in court to vent for Israel on Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington's left wing blogosphere newspaper.

Alan is not my favorite Democrat, far from it, mainly because his hypocrisy is so evident. When you discuss Israel, he falls into the deepest abyss of right wing Zionist ethnocentricism. He appears liberal and humanistic, and even advocates for human and civil rights, but when it comes to Israel, he falls into the exceptionalist trap. Alan is so rightward in his support of Israel, he is even able to justify the killings of Palestinian children, who he implies are terrorists.

Still let's give Alan his day in court, even though he uses the occasion to ply Israeli propaganda by the barrel full and gives the usual exceptionalism to Israel's occupation, colonialism, and state terrorism, the root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Rotary 5100 Oregon Supports Akha Child Removals - by Akha Drug War

Mon Jan 25th, 2010 at 05:39:51 PM EST

After getting Rotary International to quit supporting David Stevenson of Childrengoldentriangle.org we suspected they would continue on at first chance or maybe never even ended funding.

Rotary knew quite clearly our concerns because we had told them what was going on. Most of these children were not orphans, and they were being used to raise money.

Witness statements:
http://www.akha.org/content/missions/cgt/index.html

US Support for Saddam and Chemical Ali - by Oui

Mon Jan 25th, 2010 at 03:55:46 PM EST

.
US Ambassador Glaspie's cable on her meeting with Saddam reports that President George H.W. Bush "had instructed her to broaden and deepen our relations with Iraq." Saddam, in turn, offered "warm greetings" to Bush and was "surely sincere" about not wanting war.

Glaspie: "Saddam told her he had assured Mubarak that he would try to settle the dispute."
... and that is what Saddam and his sons did by invading Kuwait.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, the eldest son of Hassan al-Majid, a full brother to Saddam Hussein's father, was born in Tikrit in 1941. Like Saddam Hussein, his immediate family belonged to the Sunni Muslim al-Bejat clan, part of the al-Bu Nasir tribe, which was dominant in the Tikrit region.

Before the 1968 revolution, Ali Hassan was a motorcycle messenger in the army. Under Saddam Hussein, he served as Chief of Security; Secretary, Office of Northern Iraqi affairs; Military Governor of Kuwait (1990-1991); Director of the Revolutionary Command Council; Defence minister (91-95) and finally Director of Intelligence and Interior Minister.

He was called Chemical Ali and the Butcher of Kurdistan for allegedly ordering a poison gas attack in 1988 that killed thousands of Kurds (the Halabja poison gas attack).

Peter Galbraith: One man's battle to stop Iraq

On March 16, 1988 Saddam's horrific plan became clear to the entire world. Saddam's helicopters [Bell helicopters delivered by the US for "crop dusting" - Oui] swept over the Kurdish city of Halabja leaving clouds of chemical gas behind. Five thousand innocent civilians died in the first few hours. The images of bodies piled on the streets were broadcast around the world. (read more)

Galbraith went to northern Iraq to document the terrible toll.

The ten-year plan to destroy campaign finance reform - by Real History Lisa

Mon Jan 25th, 2010 at 02:30:50 PM EST

"We had a 10-year plan to take all this down," he said in an interview. "And if we do it right, I think we can pretty well dismantle the entire regulatory regime that is called campaign finance law."
"We have been awfully successful," he added, "and we are not done yet."

I don't have time to explain this. But perhaps BooMan will. These guys have a long-term plan and are running it.

We have NO plan, and are running that too.

Who do you think is going to win, under those circumstances?

Just heinous.

Read the whole thing: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/us/politics/25bopp.html

Building Knowledge About Biotechnology in Africa - by borderjumpers

Mon Jan 25th, 2010 at 11:42:36 AM EST

This is the first of a two-part series to Africa Harvest, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

In our Nourishing the Planet project we're looking at how farmers and researchers all over the world are combining high-tech and low-tech agricultural practices to help alleviate hunger and poverty. One place they're trying to do this is at Africa Harvest/Biotech Foundation International. The organization's mission is "to use science and technology, especially biotechnology, to help the poor in Africa achieve food security, economic well-being and sustainable rural development."

And while the biotechnology component of their mission may be controversial to some, Africa Harvest is determined that Africa will not be left behind when it comes to the development--and use-- of the technology by African researchers and farmers. As a result, the organization is focusing on breeding African crops for Africans. "If you want to make a difference on this continent," says Daniel Kamanga, communications director for Africa Harvest, "you have to look at African crops." These include staples such as banana, cassava, and sorghum, which are all important sources of nutrients for millions of Africans.

But these are also crops that are heavily impacted by diseases and pests. Bananas, for example, are susceptible to sigatoka virus, fusarium, weevils, nematodes, and others. To combat these problems, Florence Wambugu, the CEO of Africa Harvest and a scientist who formerly worked with Monsanto, helped develop Tissue Culture Banana (TC banana). Banana diseases are often spread through "unclean" planting material. But TC banana technology allows scientists to use biotechnology for the "rapid and large scale multiplication" of disease free bananas--a single shoot can produce 2,000 individual banana plantlets.

Africa Harvest is also working on biofortifying sorghum with Vitamin A, creating "golden sorghum."

"But of course, there remains the thorny issue of control--among the biggest stumbling blocks for sharing any technology across countries and regions. Biotechnology has so far been largely owned by the private sector." So, in addition to researching crop production, Africa Harvest is also working to improve capacity building for scientists all over Africa. "If we're going to have GMOs on the continent," says Kamanga, "we want scientists who know how to do it." Along with that, Africa Harvest is working to strengthen regulatory systems for biotechnology.

And how does Africa Harvest respond to criticism about the development and use of biotechnology in agriculture? According to Kamanga, it's an "old debate" and one that takes place in 5-star hotels, not in farmers' fields. The issue now, he says, is how we make the best use of this technology.

My comment to the Supreme Court: Corporations Are Not "People" - by btchakir

Sat Jan 23rd, 2010 at 11:21:50 AM EST

I have personally created several corporations in my time, and never once have I thought any of them to be separate "people" - if I had I would have been granting myself more than the "one man, one vote" concept of our Constitution and all related laws.

Now we have the Supreme Court allowing Corporations (and, yes, Labor Unions - also not separate "people") the ability to spend unregulated amounts of money on elections... because they are "people" within the law.

An Outrageously Funny Vid-Hitler on Obama - by Arthur Gilroy

Sat Jan 23rd, 2010 at 06:19:24 AM EST

Sorry.

Gotta share this one.

Perfect.

Pitch perfect.

Is a Tea Party Dynamic Growing on the Left? - by danps

Sat Jan 23rd, 2010 at 05:13:37 AM EST

Martha Coakley's defeat was largely about the candidate and local issues, but a restless national environment should raise some troubling parallels to Democrats.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.233-Plastic Surgery Edition - by boran2

Sat Jan 23rd, 2010 at 12:17:26 AM EST

Hello again painting fans.

Afghan Opium Issue Solvable.. ..on WEED! - by anarchronarchist

Fri Jan 22nd, 2010 at 04:07:20 PM EST

Why not replace opium farming with marijuana farming, supplying legitimate medical marijuana needs and legal markets in US and Europe with fair prices? The CIA could still do their drug running, but with less inhumane effects on the local/world populace.

http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/12/marijuana-replacing-poppy/

New Statistical Profiles of Immigrants and Hispanics in the U.S. Just Released - by The Opportunity Agenda

Fri Jan 22nd, 2010 at 03:23:40 PM EST

The Pew Hispanic Center just released updated statistical profiles of immigrants (38 million foreign-born residents) and Hispanics (47 million) in the U.S. The profiles include a large spectrum of information such as occupation, industry, income, poverty, or educational attainment by race and ethnicity in 2008, and how that compares to 2000.

The data is available at here.

Read more at The Opportunity Agenda website.

Six Israeli peace plans that lead to Apartheid - by shergald

Fri Jan 22nd, 2010 at 11:59:05 AM EST

View any one of them and you will have seen them all.

Allon Plan

Netanyahu Plan

Generous Offer

Sharon Plan

Ehud Olmert I

Ehud Olmert II

More of Your Responses Are In - by borderjumpers

Fri Jan 22nd, 2010 at 09:50:26 AM EST

Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet.

For the past few months, we've been collecting information about agricultural innovations from all over the world (survey in English and French). We shared the initial responses in September and even more responses in November, but continue to receive interesting information and recommendations from farmers, NGOs, research groups, and policymakers in a multitude of countries. Below are a few tidbits we'd like to share.

The following projects, already featured on the Nourishing the Planet blog, have recently provided information for our survey, further describing their agricultural innovations and helping us as we seek to define innovations that best nourish people as well as the world in our upcoming report, State of the World 2011.

From our friends at the Developing Innovations in School Cultivation project in the Mukono District, Uganda: Describing the innovation as spreading a "passion for producing local foods to the next generation," Edward Mukiibi helped flesh out the details of his project by filling out the survey after Danielle's visit. You can read more here: Cultivating a Passion for Agriculture, Conversations with Farmers: Discussing the School Garden with a DISC Project Student, and How to Keep Kids "Down on the Farm."

From Never Ending Food in Lilongwe, Malawi: The Nordins are educating others about permaculture and growing indigenous crops to increase income and improve food security. You can read about Danielle's visit to their home and farm here: Malawi's Real "Miracle" and Sweeping Change.

Please continue to share your agriculture innovations with us. We look forward to featuring your success stories on our blog and in Nourishing the Planet. Stay tuned for more updates from the survey--maybe next time it will be your innovation we highlight!

Book Review: Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama Did It - by Reading on Walden Bookstore

Fri Jan 22nd, 2010 at 07:25:12 AM EST

Columnist's note: The book review below has been reprinted in its entirety with the permission of the book reviewer, Dr. Quina Whitted, Associate Professor of English and African-American Studies at the University of South Carolina. I am grateful to Dr. Whitted for the kind and generous words about my upcoming book, Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers Did It. You can read Dr. Whitted's great literary blog at www.Literary Obama.com.

Friday Foto Flogging - by AndiF

Fri Jan 22nd, 2010 at 05:15:03 AM EST

This Week's Theme: What is it? This is a game invented by NorthDakotaDem. All you do is post a picture and have people guess what it is. It can be a close-up of something that makes it tricky to recognize or something unusual that people might not recognize or a different view of a known scene or place or anything else you can dream up that you think will be fun to guess.

Website(s) of the Week: Animal Mimicry. It's really fun to see how many you can spot.

See comments section below for Andi's and olivia's What is it?

Next Week's Theme: Random Your choice.

Info on Posting Photos

When you post your photos, please keep the width at 500 or less for the sake of our Bootribers who are on dial-up. If you want to post clickable thumbnails but aren't sure how, check out this diary: Clickable Thumbnails. If you haven't yet joined a photo-hosting site, here are some to consider: Photobucket, Flickr, ImageShack, and Picasa.

Previous Friday Foto Flogs

FFFs 1-36 Random Skies School's Out

Flowers Weather Disrepair Random

Simplicity What is it? Vacation, Staycation Brown

Sparkle Random Purple Differences

What moves you? Colors Random What is It

Self-portraits Up Where work is done Transitions

Random Gates, Doors Aphorisms and Quotes Bridges

Is Larry Summers (or Bernanke or Geithner) about to be let go? - by btchakir

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 10:59:24 PM EST

The move by President Obama to follow the ideas of Pal Volcker seems to push directly into the face of heretofore financial advisor Larry Summers.

Summers was not in favor of ANY of the things Volcker has brought into view. He did not want to regulate the banks. He did not want all things happening in the open. And he certainly didn't want to put any size restrictions on banks that become "Too big to fail."

The Conservative Corruption of Progressive Thought - by Wattree

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 09:03:19 PM EST

The Conservative Corruption of Progressive Thought

As one who has always tried, with varying success, to be progressive in my thinking, I'd like to make a few personal observations on the contemporary progressive movement. I want to preface my remarks with the assurance that I have long since recognized that I corner the market on neither knowledge, wisdom, nor intellect, but I'd like to share my thoughts nevertheless - not as a condescending edict handed down by a self-appointed pundit, but in the hope that the thoughts of an average man, with common facility, are worthy of public discussion.

It is my firm belief that the appropriate attitude for a progressive to bring to every discussion is a firmness of thought, and an open mind to divergent ideas. A progressive, by definition, should have the intellectual capacity to recognize that one can neither scream, nor insult, one's way to a solution to any problem. And what should always set a progressive apart from all others, is an affinity for the people, independence of thought, and a fierce determination to remain a seeker of truth above all else, regardless to where that truth may lead.

American Values and Gun Sights for Military - by Oui

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 07:19:57 PM EST

Morality
We believe that America is great when its people are good. This goodness has been based on biblical standards throughout our history and we will strive to follow those morals.

Michigan firm will remove Bible references from gun sights
WASHINGTON - A Michigan defense contractor will voluntarily stop stamping references to Bible verses on combat rifle sights made for the U.S. military, a major buyer of the company's gear.
In a statement released by Trijicon of Wixom, Mich., says it is also providing to the armed forces free of charge modification kits to remove the Scripture citations from the telescoping sights already in use. Through multimillion dollar contracts, the Marine Corps and Army have more than 300,000 Trijicon sights.
The references to Bible passages raised concerns that the citations break a government rule that bars proselytizing by American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, which are predominantly Muslim countries.
A spokesman for U.S. Central Command initially said the Trijicon sights didn't violate the ban and compared the citations on the sights to the "In God We Trust" inscription printed on U.S. currency.
On Thursday, however, Army Gen. David Petraeus, Central Command's top officer, called the practice "disturbing."
"This is a serious concern to me and the other commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan," Petraeus told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
Markings included "JN8:12," a reference to John 8:12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,' " according to the King James version of the Bible.
The Trijicon Reflex sight is stamped with 2COR4:6, a reference to part of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," the King James version reads.
New Zealand army to remove Wixom company's Bible citations on gun sights
New Zealand announced that they would remove the citations from the sights they have, and Australia, which also uses the sights, is assessing what to do.
New Zealand defense force spokesman Maj. Kristian Dunne said Trijicon would be instructed to remove the inscriptions from further orders of the gun sights for New Zealand and the letters would be removed from gun sights already in use by troops.

106 Haitian Orphans Arrive in The Netherlands - by Oui

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 06:26:35 PM EST

Dutch cut red tape and welcome 106 orphans

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- Slashing red tape or ignoring ordinarily required paperwork, officials in the United States and the Netherlands have cleared the way for scores of Haitian orphans to leave their earthquake-ravaged homeland, according to officials from the two countries.

All of the children had adoptions pending with prospective parents in the two countries before Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude quake, and government officials said paperwork was expedited or put on hold to make transfers happen on an emergency basis.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has chartered a plane to pick up about 100 children, according to spokesman Aad Meijer. The children arrived today, see report and photo's.

President Préval gave his personal approval for the flight of the orphans for adoption. (NRC)

Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin over the weekend granted the children entry into the country, although their paperwork, including travel and adoption documents, was incomplete, Justice Ministry spokesman Patrick Mikkelsen told CNN.

300 children have pending adoption cases with American families. Six children arrived in Florida Sunday night, met by their adoptive parents with hugs and tears of happiness.

Haiti quake creates thousands of new orphans

Haiti is home to about 380,000 orphans, according to the United Nations Children's Fund, and that number is expected to grow in the wake of Tuesday's earthquake. And those who lived in orphanages before may be homeless now, as reports of destroyed orphanages have come throughout the quake zone.

Some children who lost parents in the quake or were separated from parents are being relocated to the Dominican Republic, a child advocacy group Kids Alive International said.

Thursday Immigration Blog Roundup - by The Opportunity Agenda

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 02:59:56 PM EST

In the case of Kucana vs. Holder, the Supreme Court ruled <font>yesterday that individuals who seek to reopen their deportation orders have the right to appeal to the federal courts if the immigration court refuses to hear the appeal.

In a letter to Janet Napolitano, Sen. Chuck Schumer made a case for not shutting down the Varick Federal Detention Facility in lower Manhattan and </font>transferring its 300 detainees arguing that it would be a blow to their right to due process.

Tensions escalated toward the end of a demonstration on Saturday by thousands of immigration advocates protesting against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio outside of a county jail in Phoenix, Az.

Full Disclosure Network (FDN) has released a 10-minute documentary covering the well known conflict between Federal and local law enforcement agencies in enforcing immigration policy and the lesser known LAPD policy called "Special Order 40" that prohibits local police officers from enforcing U.S. Immigration laws. Watch the documentary here.

The offer of temporary protective status for Haitians living the U.S. is proving to be a difficult challenge for many. The process requires people to supply documents such as passports or national identification cards, proof that they were living in the U.S. before the earthquake occurred, as well as fees amounting to $470.

As part of their series of "Solution Papers" the Immigration Policy Center has released "Family Immigration: Repairing our Broken Immigration System" which lays out the key principles for family immigration within the context of comprehensive immigration reform.

A report released by the Social Security Administration details the various errors incurred in implementing E-Verify, an electronic employment verification program that attempts to determine whether a new hire is authorized to work in the U.S.

Under the EB-5 visa program, the number of immigrants willing to invest $500,000 to $1 million in a U.S. business has tripled over the past fiscal year. Read this blog from the Immigration Policy Center to see how other investments by immigrants in American business are on the rise.

Last week, Reform Immigration for America kicked off its campaign bringing together more than 600 organizations in an effort to obtain comprehensive immigration reform. There were 152 launch events throughout the country to which 17,000 showed up in support of CIR.

Lastly, in light of Republican Scott Brown winning the Massachusetts State Senate elections, the Immigration Policy Center has released its research regarding the economic impact of immigrants, Latinos, and Asians in the Bay State:

-12.7% (or 403,915) of registered voters in Massachusetts were "New Americans"-naturalized citizens or the U.S.-born children of immigrants.

-The state's foreign born population represents over 14% of state's total population and 17% of the state's workforce.

-The 2009 purchasing power of Asians totaled $12.7 billion and Latinos totaled $12.4 billion in Massachusetts.

-Immigrants in the Bay State paid $1.1 billion in state income taxes in 2007.

See more information regarding New Americans in the Bay State here.

Efforts to Engage Youth Voters through Preregistration Underway - by Project Vote

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 01:22:04 PM EST

Cross-posted to Project Vote's Voting Matters Blog

Last week, the Arizona Legislature introduced a Preregistration bill in the House, bringing it one step closer to allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote. If passed, Arizona would join Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina, and soon, Rhode Island in their efforts to engage youth before they may legally vote.

Organizing around Fascism - by Real History Lisa

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 01:03:44 PM EST

Now that the Supreme Court has stuck a stake in the heart of the constitution, rendering the quaint little notion of one man, one vote a thing of the past, by allowing corporations to contribute unlimited amounts,

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Actually, a lot.

Channel 2's Mike Flannery asks "Will Illinois Dems Lose U.S. Senate Seat?" - by Reading on Walden Bookstore

Thu Jan 21st, 2010 at 11:04:57 AM EST

Mike Flannery, Political Director of Channel 2 News in Chicago (CBS), is one of the most astute and articulate political reporters on the Chicago political scene today and he asks a legitimate question, "Will Illinois Dems Lose U.S. Senate Seat?"

As I discuss in my recently released book, Mr. and Mrs Grassroots, candidates become complacent and feel a sense of entitlement. There is the "entrenched incumbent" syndrome, and many of the "entrenched incumbents" are not the incumbents at all. But they feel a sense of entitlement for a variety of reasons.

FFFs 1-36	Random	Skies	School's Out
Flowers	Weather	Disrepair	Random
Simplicity	What is it?	Vacation, Staycation	Brown
Sparkle	Random	Purple	Differences
What moves you?	Colors	Random	What is it?
Self-portraits	Up	Where work is done	Transitions
Random	Gates, Doors	Aphorisms and Quotes	Bridges
What is it?	Random