Current Event chat | Arthritis Information

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I decided to start a current event chat.  L.A. Times article yesterday said Jay Leno is doing a fundraiser tonight at the Mirage in Las Vegas to raise money for the Midwest flood victims. SOOOOO GLAD.  He can be a nice guy.

 
Jan
I am glad the Supreme Court finally discovered we have a 2nd Amendment yesterday. [QUOTE=Jan Lucinda]I decided to start a current event chat.  L.A. Times article yesterday said Jay Leno is doing a fundraiser tonight at the Mirage in Las Vegas to raise money for the Midwest flood victims. SOOOOO GLAD.  He can be a nice guy.
 
Jan
[/QUOTE]
 
The Midwest flood victims, especially those without flood insurance, will need all the help they can get.  A levee broke near my home town, flooding the entire community and my parents home, which sat in 4 feet of water.  At the time my RA wasn't that severe, so my sister and I helped my elderly parents when we were allowed to go back to our home after a week.  The house was on a raised foundation, but was surrounded by over a foot of water.  Everything that had become damaged and soaked had to be put into wheelbarrels, pushed through the water and loaded into my Dad's pickup and driven to a dump site in town.  Little was salvageable because it was an agricultural area, and the flood waters were contaminated w/pesticides and animal waste.  My sister and I had to cut the soaked carpet into pieces to carry it out.  As the waters receeded and more roads into town became passable, more people were able to come and help.
 
The community hall became the flood center.  Red Cross brought water and meals.  We had no water or electricity at our homes.  There were various groups of volunteers, but the ones I remember the most were the Menonites.  The Menonite women worked in the community hall, and the Menonite men did carpentry and electrical work in damaged homes.  All the sheetrock, insulation, and most of the electrical wiring had to be replaced, and the Menonite men did a lot of it.  Stores in the area provided materials like sheetrock for free or at reduced prices. 
 
Despite all the damage and stress of the flood, I still have some fond memories of that time.  Since the community hall was the only place with porta pottys, water and food, residents and their families congregated there, and I ran into old schoolmates and friends that had returned to help their parents.  Everyone wore those knee high black rubber boots.  I remember my sisters and I, riding in the back of my Dad's pickup as we drove home, and someone saying, hey, there go joe's girls.  Poor Dad, I think this may have been one time when he may have wished he had sons.
 
Floods are devastating, and these Midwesterners will be dealing with cleanup and rebuilding for awhile.   Donating to a group like the Red Cross would help.
 
For those out there that may live in a flood zone, I have some advice -- get rid of all those old copies of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC -- the are a pain to get rid of when they get water logged.   
 
 
 
I've filled, tied and hauled many sandbags in my life here in the Midwest.  Nothing like being out all night long with your buddies, filling sandbags, and drinking beer chilled in the river.  I still have scars on my hands from the blisters. [QUOTE=JasmineRain]I've filled, tied and hauled many sandbags in my life here in the Midwest.  Nothing like being out all night long with your buddies, filling sandbags, and drinking beer chilled in the river.  I still have scars on my hands from the blisters. [/QUOTE]
 
One positive thing about times like floods, people pitch in and work together, and it seems to bring out the goodness in folks.  And despite all that may have been lost, one's thankful for family and friends.
 
[QUOTE=Joie][QUOTE=JasmineRain]I've filled, tied and hauled many sandbags in my life here in the Midwest.  Nothing like being out all night long with your buddies, filling sandbags, and drinking beer chilled in the river.  I still have scars on my hands from the blisters. [/QUOTE] Continued prayers for Midwest flood and northern CA fire victims.  Now Schwarzenegger is asking Bush for federal help here.
 
Jan
It's not as smoky or hazy this morning.  Visibility is better , for the first time in 5 nights, I saw the city lights in Sacramento last night.   Glad the air is better up there.  Beautiful Big Sur is really in trouble.  Hope it can be controlled.
 
Jan
We had a little 5 acre fire a mile from me a few weeks ago, but our local fire depts got on top of it and had it under control despite the winds that day and the dry grasses up here.   I asked my neighbor, whose in the know, that with all the recent fires in California, how that had affected our local fire departments and he said they were down to skeleton crews.  Gulp. 
[QUOTE=JasmineRain]I am glad the Supreme Court finally discovered we have a 2nd Amendment yesterday. [/QUOTE]
 
Well, I must admit today I was very grateful for the right to bare arms.  It was really hot here today!  Joie-
 
How are things today up there? 
 
Jan
Hi Jan,
 
The air is better here today thank goodness -- it's been a week now since the fires started.  There is a high haze, but you can see a little blue sky.   There still is a health advisory for kids, the sick and seniors not to be outdoors much and several outdoor sport-like events were cancelled, but with the slight winds, air quality should be better tomorrow.  Still a lot of fires not contained, the firefighters are really putting in long days.  Hoping they get things under control soon and everyone stays safe.
 
[QUOTE=JasmineRain]I am glad the Supreme Court finally discovered we have a 2nd Amendment yesterday. [/QUOTE]

I'm amazed that we still have four members on the bench who haven't passed their remedial reading lessons class.
My brother fights the wildfires in Ca. He has been away from home for over a month now and said it will be another month before he can come home - it's usually  only for a day or two before he has to go out again. He does call, and last time said they had the help from 32 other states so far...
 
I have a question... Do we have the right to bear arms or arm bears? Just wondering.
 
deb
owiemom-
 
Good luck to you brother.  Is he in the National Guard?
 

Joie-
 
Glad you are O.K.  Still praying for containment of the fires. 
 
Jan
Denver Colorado.....Rene Marie ( jazz singer ) was at a governement run event there. They bought the Colors out , the pledge was said and she was suppose to sing the National Antem. She sang whats called the " Black National Anthem ". Disgracefull. Our Nat. Anthem is for all Americans. It knows no race or religion. Just one more thing to divide black/white relations [QUOTE=6t5frlane]Denver Colorado.....Rene Marie ( jazz singer ) was at a governement run event there. They bought the Colors out , the pledge was said and she was suppose to sing the National Antem. She sang whats called the " Black National Anthem ". Disgracefull. Our Nat. Anthem is for all Americans. It knows no race or religion. Just one more thing to divide black/white relations[/QUOTE]

Actually she sang the words to "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (also known as the "Black National Anthem") to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner."  She was invited to sing our National Anthem.  She clearly did not do that.  Her response?

"An artist does not ask permission to express themselves artistically," said Marie. "You just do it and then you deal with it."

Nice.
Lift Every Voice and Sing  
by James Weldon Johnson 

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,

Till earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.



Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chast'ning rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.



God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who hast by Thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.

I never knew of this song, thanks for bringing it to my attention. 

 

Nice song, but not scheduled for this occasion.
Jan[QUOTE=Joie]
Lift Every Voice and Sing  
by James Weldon Johnson
So I guess your OK with this song replacing our Anthem ?
Lift ev'ry voice and sing,

Till earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.



Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chast'ning rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.



God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who hast by Thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.

I never knew of this song, thanks for bringing it to my attention. 

 

[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Joie]
Lift Every Voice and Sing  
by James Weldon Johnson 

So I guess your OK with this song now replacing our National Anthem?
 
 
Lift ev'ry voice and sing,

Till earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.



Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chast'ning rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.



God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who hast by Thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.

I never knew of this song, thanks for bringing it to my attention. 

 

[/QUOTE] Joie,

My problem is not with the lyrics... it is with the arrogant disregard for her audience and for the agreement she had with the folks in Denver.  She has a beautiful voice, but she disrespected two wonderful works with her self-centered arrogance.  She should have used her God-given gift to perform the National Anthem like she agreed to do.
I agree Jasmine.  It was totally inappropriate and people should be upset with her.
 
"So I guess your OK with this song now replacing our National Anthem"
 
Now where did I say that?  This occurred in Denver, Colorado where the mayor was going to give the State of the City address, yet its getting national attention?  Does it warrant it?
 
She was suppose to sing the National Anthem, and she should have, but she made the personal choice for whatever reasons, political/social, to sing this song.  She will suffer the consequences, as I imagine she will have less invitations to sing at public events. But its a free country, right?  She's took that opportunity to make a statement.
 
I personally don't feel offended or insulted or outraged.  She is one black person.  Blacks have fought and died in our wars, have been national heros and inspirations to our country -- I'm thinking of Jesse Owens at the Olympics in Germany with Hitler in the audience, and was that Joe Lewis, the black boxer that beat that Germany dude?
 
I'm just wondering whose fueling this story making it a bigger issue than it is, when there are so many bigger events in our country and the world that need our attention.
 
As far as replacing the national anthem, I am partial to America the Beautiful, nice lyrics and much easier to sing. 
   
Joie2008-07-02 12:37:52 [QUOTE=Joie]

I'm sure there are blacks that disapproved of her actions, as not all of the same racial background think a like. 

I don't perceive this as being racially divisive, I see this as one individual, who not out of self-centered arrogrance, but out of a pride and a social or political need, chose to sing this song.  I haven't read anything about what motivated this one woman to do this, and I'd be interested in hearing why she did.

What I'm concerned about is this judgement that if a black person does something controversial like this, that they are unAmerican, unpatriotic, racist, divisive.  Oh, and thanks for pointing out that "talk radio" is fueling this one-sided view of this story.
 
So all talk radio stations are right-wing strongholds?  I'm sure they'd be surprised to hear that at the local station.

I'm sick of seeing the race card played whenever someone finds fault with the actions of a non-white person.
[QUOTE=JasmineRain]So all talk radio stations are right-wing strongholds?  I'm sure they'd be surprised to hear that at the local station.

I'm sick of seeing the race card played whenever someone finds fault with the actions of a non-white person.
[/QUOTE]
 
From May 11, 2008, SACRAMENTO BEE:
 
" . . . .in the 2007 Free Press and Center for American Progress study, "The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio." Nationally, 90 percent of commercial talk radio is conservative; only 10 percent is liberal. (This study does not include Public Radio, which by statute is required to provide differing points of view. One is as likely to hear a Republican's views as a Democrat's. And NPR hosts don't beat up on anybody.)
 
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/927485.html
 
Race card?  I did not bring this story to this thread, the person who did, brought the issue of race into the discussion.  I have stated this singer was wrong in doing this, and should and will suffer consequences for doing this, but I am also interested in why she took this controversial action which could jeopardize her popularity and career as a singer, she must have had some serious reasons.
 
 
I find all main stream media very biased.  I think Fox news is best.  My OPINION.
 
Jan
[QUOTE=Joie]
  AS usual the Liberal response is " her choice " etc. You should feel insulted. She insulted all races and the country by doing this. I don't expect you to get it but people will.
 
 
"So I guess your OK with this song now replacing our National Anthem"
 
Now where did I say that?  This occurred in Denver, Colorado where the mayor was going to give the State of the City address, yet its getting national attention?  Does it warrant it?
 
She was suppose to sing the National Anthem, and she should have, but she made the personal choice for whatever reasons, political/social, to sing this song.  She will suffer the consequences, as I imagine she will have less invitations to sing at public events. But its a free country, right?  She's took that opportunity to make a statement.
 
I personally don't feel offended or insulted or outraged.  She is one black person.  Blacks have fought and died in our wars, have been national heros and inspirations to our country -- I'm thinking of Jesse Owens at the Olympics in Germany with Hitler in the audience, and was that Joe Lewis, the black boxer that beat that Germany dude?
 
I'm just wondering whose fueling this story making it a bigger issue than it is, when there are so many bigger events in our country and the world that need our attention.
 
As far as replacing the national anthem, I am partial to America the Beautiful, nice lyrics and much easier to sing. 
   
[/QUOTE] How about this for some uplifting news:

MSN news:
Colombia tricks rebels into freeing hostages
Mission rescues Betancourt, 3 Americans and 11 others in jungle

updated 6:01 p.m. MT, Wed., July. 2, 2008
BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors Wednesday in a daring helicopter rescue so successful that not a single shot was fired.
Betancourt, who was seized on the campaign trail six long years ago, appeared thin but healthy as she strode down the stairs of a military plane and held her mother in a long embrace. She said she still aspires to the presidency
"God, this is a miracle," Betancourt said. "Such a perfect operation is unprecedented."
Eleven Colombian police and soldiers were also freed in the rescue, the most serious blow ever dealt to the 44-year-old Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which considered the four hostages their most valuable bargaining chips. The FARC is already reeling from the deaths of key commanders and the loss of much of the territory it once held.
The Americans — Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell — were flying directly to the United States to reunite with their families, Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said. They had been the longest-held American hostages in the world.
Infiltrating the guerrillas
Santos said military intelligence agents infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and led the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, to believe they were going to take them to Alfonso Cano, the guerrillas' supreme leader.
The hostages, who had been divided in three groups, were taken to a rendezvous where two disguised helicopters piloted by Colombian military agents were waiting. Betancourt said her hands and feet were bound, which she called "humiliating."
July 2: Colombia said its military rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and 11 other hostages from leftist rebels. NBC's Mark Potter reports.
The pilots, she said, were posing as members of a relief organization, but "they were dressed like clowns," wearing Che Guevara shirts, so she assumed they were rebels.
But when they were airborne, she looked behind her and saw Cesar, who had treated her so cruelly for so many years, lying on the floor blindfolded.
"The chief of the operation said, 'We're the national army. You're free,"' she said. "The helicopter almost fell from the sky because we were jumping up and down, yelling, crying, hugging one another. We couldn't believe it."
The operation, Santos said, "will go into history for its audacity and effectiveness."
"We wanted to have it happen as it did today," added armed forces chief Gen. Freddy Padilla. "Without a single shot. Without anyone wounded. Absolutely safe and sound, without a scratch.


Rest of story on MSNBC.comI've been watching the news stories about this.  Pretty amazing.  LindyI found an interesting website www.dickmorris.com/blog/  He has alot to say about the current situation.
 
Jan
Well I see that our Congress has an approval rate of 9%. Wow. Just want to say to Pelosi and Reid Thanks for all their hard work....YikesStill praying for fire and firefighters in northern CA.  News said help was coming from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  Glad for that!!!!!!
 
Jan
Stop our Pain.......Leave with your SPAMI read today that in Newsweek's latest poll, McCain is only 3 percentage points behind Obama.  He was down by 15 just last month.  I don't put a whole lot of stock in polls.  Still, this is interesting.  :)Maybe that New Yorker Cover will have some effect. Any normal person can see it's a joke, but some may not. I'm sure the Libs are fumingI see that today was Tony Snows funeral. Very sad to die so young. I loved watching him. RIP TonyHappy Bastille Day, belated (July 14)!!!!!!
 
Regarding the French, at Euro Disney in Paris, all the dwarfs are Grumpy!!!!
Heard that from a friend.
 
Jan
Hey Jan.......While out driving I was coming down a side street. My cell phone rang and it fell to the floor. I reached down and picked it up, only to find a car stopped at a stop sign right in front of me. I almost made it but did hit the car in front. To my surprise a dwarf got out. We both went to the impact area. I was starring at him since I never really see Dwarfs. He looks up at me and says " I'm not Happy " I say " which one are you then ". Thats when the fight startedFUNNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
 
Jan
There is a Pirate Days Festival in Ventura Harbor VIllage, CA this weekend.  Sounds adventurous www.venturaharborvillage.com .
 
Jan
Fox news is the most right wing biased news on tv. They make up their "facts". Watch Verdict with Dan Abrams on MSNBC. He is always busting Fox News for their inaccuracies and biases.ROxy-
 
That is your opinion.  Mine is different.
 
Jan
[QUOTE=roxy]Fox news is the most right wing biased news on tv. They make up their "facts". Watch Verdict with Dan Abrams on MSNBC. He is always busting Fox News for their inaccuracies and biases.[/QUOTE]
 
Actually I looked up the word Biased. A picture of Dan Abrams appeared....
 
They bust on FOX because they alweays are # 1 in the ratings.....Cooking shows have a higher rating the MSNBC 
[QUOTE=6t5frlane][QUOTE=roxy]Fox news is the most right wing biased news on tv. They make up their "facts". Watch Verdict with Dan Abrams on MSNBC. He is always busting Fox News for their inaccuracies and biases.[/QUOTE]
 
Actually I looked up the word Biased. A picture of Dan Abrams appeared....
 
They bust on FOX because they alweays are # 1 in the ratings.....Cooking shows have a higher rating the MSNBC 
[/QUOTE]
 
Interesting ... and [QUOTE=6t5frlane][QUOTE=roxy]Fox news is the most right wing biased news on tv. They make up their "facts". Watch Verdict with Dan Abrams on MSNBC. He is always busting Fox News for their inaccuracies and biases.[/QUOTE]
 
Actually I looked up the word Biased. A picture of Dan Abrams appeared....
 
They bust on FOX because they alweays are # 1 in the ratings.....Cooking shows have a higher rating the MSNBC 
[/QUOTE]
 
 
The tv show "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" had great ratings too, though I wouldn't necessarily call that great tv.  So with Fox News, again maybe great ratings, but not high level journalism, maybe yellow journalism.  See post from July 2, 2008 "Media Matters":
 

Fox News airs altered photos of NY Times reporters

Summary: During a segment in which Fox & Friends co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade labeled New York Times reporter Jacques Steinberg and editor Steven Reddicliffe "attack dogs," Fox News featured photos of Steinberg and Reddicliffe that appeared to have been digitally altered -- the journalists' teeth had been yellowed, their facial features exaggerated, and portions of Reddicliffe's hair moved further back on his head.

On the July 2 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade labeled New York Times reporter Jacques Steinberg and editor Steven Reddicliffe "attack dogs," claiming that Steinberg's June 28 article on the "ominous trend" in Fox News' ratings was a "hit piece." During the segment, however, Fox News featured photos of Steinberg and Reddicliffe that appeared to have been digitally altered -- the journalists' teeth had been yellowed, their facial features exaggerated, and portions of Reddicliffe's hair moved further back on his head. Fox News gave no indication that the photos had been altered.

After putting up the photos of Steinberg and Reddicliffe, Fox & Friends also featured a photograph of Steinberg's face superimposed over that of a poodle, while Reddicliffe's face was superimposed over that of the man holding the poodle's leash.

See link below for screenshot of Fox & Friends featuring the photo it used of Steinberg, with the original photo on its left. Comparing the two photos, it appears that the following changes have been made: Steinberg's teeth have been yellowed, his nose and chin widened, and his ears made to protrude further.

 
 
At this same site, you can watch online a video of this segment of Fox & Friends that used these, altered, disfigured photos of New York Times journalists, in their "news" story.
 
Joie2008-07-21 11:26:53I heard Tammy Bruce on talk radio last week. www.tammybruce.com  She interviewed Tarina Tarantino who has a jewelry business and raises money for children's charities www.tarinatarantino.com .   I looked at the site and the jewelry is really nice, for children and adults.
 
Jan
[QUOTE=Joie][QUOTE=6t5frlane][QUOTE=roxy]Fox news is the most right wing biased news on tv. They make up their "facts". Watch Verdict with Dan Abrams on MSNBC. He is always busting Fox News for their inaccuracies and biases.[/QUOTE]
 
Actually I looked up the word Biased. A picture of Dan Abrams appeared....
 
They bust on FOX because they alweays are # 1 in the ratings.....Cooking shows have a higher rating the MSNBC 
[/QUOTE]
 
 
The tv show "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" had great ratings too, though I wouldn't necessarily call that great tv.  So with Fox News, again maybe great ratings, but not high level journalism, maybe yellow journalism.  See post from July 2, 2008 "Media Matters":
 

Fox News airs altered photos of NY Times reporters

Summary: During a segment in which Fox & Friends co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade labeled New York Times reporter Jacques Steinberg and editor Steven Reddicliffe "attack dogs," Fox News featured photos of Steinberg and Reddicliffe that appeared to have been digitally altered -- the journalists' teeth had been yellowed, their facial features exaggerated, and portions of Reddicliffe's hair moved further back on his head.

On the July 2 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade labeled New York Times reporter Jacques Steinberg and editor Steven Reddicliffe "attack dogs," claiming that Steinberg's June 28 article on the "ominous trend" in Fox News' ratings was a "hit piece." During the segment, however, Fox News featured photos of Steinberg and Reddicliffe that appeared to have been digitally altered -- the journalists' teeth had been yellowed, their facial features exaggerated, and portions of Reddicliffe's hair moved further back on his head. Fox News gave no indication that the photos had been altered.

After putting up the photos of Steinberg and Reddicliffe, Fox & Friends also featured a photograph of Steinberg's face superimposed over that of a poodle, while Reddicliffe's face was superimposed over that of the man holding the poodle's leash.

See link below for screenshot of Fox & Friends featuring the photo it used of Steinberg, with the original photo on its left. Comparing the two photos, it appears that the following changes have been made: Steinberg's teeth have been yellowed, his nose and chin widened, and his ears made to protrude further.

 
 
At this same site, you can watch online a video of this segment of Fox & Friends that used these, altered, disfigured photos of New York Times journalists, in their "news" story.
 
 
The pic just looks darker to me.  The New York Times. All the News Fit to make up .....Can't say I've watched the fifth grader show. Are you a fan? MSNBC has the level of the National Enquirer Magazine journalism. I think they picked Aug, 9th National Obama Day BTW and they crown him King 
[/QUOTE] Oh and Joie does Jayson Blair now work for mediamatters? For those that don't know he was the gent that " Made up " stories for the Times
Mining for a Fox News Grudge at the NYT

  • Is there bad blood between Fox News and the New York Times? That's what TV-news blogs FTVLive and The Cable Game seem to suggest. But it's got nothing to do with the supposed ideological differences between the liberal Times and conservative Fox; this grudge, say the blogs, is personal. "It seems like Times television editor Steve Reddicliffe is still bitter about losing his gig at News Corp (Fox Parent Company) owned TV Guide," says FTVLive. Circulation fell 40 percent at TV Guide while Reddicliffe was there and he was let go, only to be scooped up by the Times in 2004, the site recalls. His former gig is said to have paid a whopping 0k. Yes, 0,000. To edit TV Guide! The suggestion that an editor has acted out a three-year-old grudge against an arm of the parent corporation which fired him seems like a bit of a stretch, but if you consider that he's probably yet to earn at the Times what he made in a single year at TV Guide, you've got yourself a neat little conspiracy theory.
    • And now.....The Rag NY Times tells John McCain to re write his response to Obama's op ed....How far more up Obamas butt can the times get?if you can get it on your TV..
     
    watch BBC news.. it is the LEAST slanted in any way... informative.. and straight up.
    BBC programming is really good.  My opinion.
     
    Jan
    Estelle Getty passed away.  She was in GOlden Girls.  Funny, entertaining show.
     
    Jan
    Dalai Lama writes McCain to thank for his concern about Tibet. blog.washingtonpost.com   Later reports showed him meeting the Dalai Lama in Aspen. CO.
     
    Jan
    Well it looks like Democratic Presidential hopefull is in hot water. Everyone felt so bad for him and his wife with her battling cancer. Thery were the perfect couple. Him talking about Family etc. So it looks like old John did a Bill Clinton/Jesse Jackson and had a girlfriend and a CHILD by her.....wowDo you rely on the National Enquirer for all your news stories? This will be too bad if this it true. But I will hold my tongue until a legit news source comes out and talks about this. I'm not going to let the enquirer lead me.It was on Channell 11 in NY ( NYC ). I was shocked . I'll leave the Nat. Enquirer to youIs someone filming a sequel to Grumpy Old Men in here? If marital fidelity is important to the voter or if one is intrigued by the "alleged" affair of Edwards, than one should be interested in McCain's first marriage.  Upon returning from Vietnam, McCain came home not to his beautiful, former swimsuit model wife, but to a woman severely injured and disfigured in a car accident.  Carol McCain said, "My marriage ended because John McCain didn't want to be 40 - he wanted to be 25." McCain himself admitted he was unfaithful to her in his memoir, "Faith of My Fathers," blaming the marriage's collapse on "my own selfishness and immaturity. … I cannot escape blame by pointing a finger at the [stress of] war. The blame was entirely mine."  A month after their divorce was final, McCain married his second wife, 17 yrs his junior.
     
    And if one is concerned how this "alleged" affair affects Edward's wife w/cancer, one must also be sympathetic to Newt Gingrich's first wife, who when recovering from cancer surgery, had to deal w/divorce papers brought to her by Newt while still in the hospital.
     
    Seems like husbands from both political parties, have strayed.  If we're looking for marital faithfulness in our political candidates, then we should have backed Hillary. 
     
     
     
     
     
    Joie, In case you missed it this is the CURRENT EVENT thread[QUOTE=Hillhoney]Is someone filming a sequel to Grumpy Old Men in here? [/QUOTE]
     
    Sorry I thought Lorster was a female. I don't find her grumpy at all
    I recently saw Faith of My Fathers by John McCain which came out  Aug. '99.  I read the profits were given to charity.  Don't have time to give review now.  Maybe later.
     
    Jan
    My old home town had a major mafia bust last week........  ties to Phila Mafia were discovered and a gambling parlor w/ other activities was uncovered by a 5 year FBI investigation..
     
    I was shocked!!!
    Tell us more Babs !! And now, The House of Representatives is discussing a formal apology to Blacks for Slavery and Jim Crow laws. So with a war, No energy bill, healthcare and 50 other issues on peoples minds these idiots spend time on non issues. Everyone is long gone since the slavery days. I would think everybody agrees it was wrong, but it's 2008 guys? Spend your time wisely please. If passed then we can apologize  to Japenese. Irish, Italians etc......nuts[QUOTE=6t5frlane]Tell us more Babs !! [/QUOTE]
     
    07/22/2008
    'Operation Delco Nostra' targets gambling operation; 13 busted
    By the Times Staff

    A six-year-long investigation of illegal gambling operations in Delaware County resulted in charges being filed against 13 people in what is being dubbed "Operation Delco Nostra" by state police.
    Troopers held a press conference Tuesday morning to detail the charges involved in the multi-million dollar betting ring with ties to organized crime. The gambling operation is alleged to have cleared as much as generated more than million a month, and was centered in Delaware County and Philadelphia, according to state police and the attorney general's office.

     
    Officials say the probe, "Operation Delco Nostra," began taking shape in February 2002, when a man arrested on bookmaking charges in Montgomery County began cooperating with state police and the FBI.

    A grand jury heard testimony and received evidence for a year, from April 2007 until April 2008.

    Officials say the operation involved an illegal casino in Folsom, where poker games and other gambling activity such as illegal betting on horse racing occurred.

    Authorities filed charges including bookmaking, loansharking, fencing and drug violations against a series of people, most of whom turned themselves in at Lima District court.

    Police allege the operation was headed by Nicholas Cimino, also known as "Nicky the Hat." He's a South Philadelphia native who now lives in Wallingford. Cimino and his girlfriend both turned themselves in yesterday.

    State police said that to get an idea of the size and scope of the ring, the suspects handled more than 0,000 in bets in just a one-week period from Dec. 23-29, 2004.

    Information on the ring was developed through an investigating grand jury and involved wiretaps, surveillance and informers.

    Many of those charged Tuesday are alleged to have ties to organized crime.

    babs102008-07-29 10:19:32admittedly a little dramatic in the presentation.. but no surprise there w/ media:
     

     

    Threats of violence always near for Delco Nostra, say officials

    By Kathleen Brady Shea, Mari A. Schaefer and Joelle Farrell

    Inquirer Staff Writers

    The type of alleged bookmaking ring apparently uncovered by authorities in Delaware County represents an "enormous moneymaker" for organized crime, a former prosecutor said yesterday.

    Barry Gross, who led cases against four past mob bosses - Nicky Scarfo, John Stanfa, Ralph Natale and Joey Merlino - said bookmaking and loan-sharking generate funds that often provide "seed money" for more serious crimes, such as extortion and murder.

    On Tuesday, 17 defendants surrendered to authorities in Delaware County and Philadelphia on charges ranging from solicitation to commit aggravated assault to gambling and drug-dealing. All are free on bail.

    Police, who conducted a lengthy probe that ended with a year-long investigation by a Montgomery County grand jury, dubbed the operation "Delco Nostra" - for Delaware County La Cosa Nostra.

    Whenever an operation generates more than million a month, as the Delaware County operation reportedly did, "disputes over money are inevitable," said Gross, now in private practice at Drinker Biddle & Reath.

    James Jacobs, a criminal law professor at New York University who has written four books on the Mafia, described loan-sharking as "a violent crime" because it can lead to bloodshed.

    "In general, I don't think the Mafia has a lot of violence in it, as surprising as that is," he said.

    The threat of violence generally suffices, he said, adding, "Most of the violence has got to do with internal discipline, punishing people who are disloyal."

    Court records in the case against the Delco Nostra, allegedly led by Louis Monacello, 41, a South Philadelphia mob associate known as "Bent Finger Lou," and Nicholas "Nicky the Hat" Cimino, 49, of Wallingford, indicate internal mob violence was threatened.

    For example, Monacello discussed having another mob operative killed, according to grand-jury documents.

    Although Monacello told a witness he sought a hit man to kill Marty Angelina, a convicted racketeer, Monacello later changed his mind, documents said.

    "Monacello indicated that, instead, he wanted Angelina beaten so badly that he would have to be hospitalized," documents said, adding that Monacello "wanted people to talk about it and realize that Angelina was a nobody."

    Asked by an informant what Monacello would say if Joseph Ligambi, the alleged head of the South Philadelphia mob, found out about Monacello's plans for the beating, he said he would deny his involvement and say: ". . . If it was me, I would have just . . . killed him, OK?"

    The Delaware County operation spread out from Philadelphia and operated from 2002 until March 2007, authorities said,

    Cimino, who allegedly paid Monacello a monthly "tax" to operate a basement casino on MacDade Boulevard in Folsom, also asked Monacello to help collect gambling debts when routine coercion failed, documents said.

    Cimino initially used a "mild approach" to persuade debtors to pay, according to the grand jury presentment. When they resisted, he allegedly told his workers to say: "Look, you know, I got a partner and, you know, he pays everybody but, you know, somebody don't pay, he don't like it. You're jammed up, OK. . . ."

    When that failed, Cimino would pay an "intimidating" visit to the debtor with Monacello and "Frank the Plumber," documents said.

    Yesterday, in Cimino's neighborhood, a condo development on a tree-lined private road in Wallingford, neighbors were not eager to discuss the case.

    One man suggested that anyone with good sense would refuse to comment considering the allegations. He said Cimino had lived there for several years and kept to himself, never attending the annual meet-your-neighbors event the condo association holds.

    In the meantime, lawyers for the Delco Nostra defendants are still assessing their clients' alleged roles in the operation.

    "Most of the attorneys have asked for a continuance," said Walter A. Strohl, the district judge who set a preliminary hearing date for Tuesday.

    Chief Deputy Attorney General Erik L. Olsen, the prosecutor, said 12 of the 13 Delaware County defendants would be tried together "if logistics and schedules allow."

    Carmen DellaPolla Sr., 73, of Folsom, the owner of DellaPolla's Family Tavern, is charged with lesser offenses such as pool selling and bookmaking, and will be tried separately, Olsen said.

    "Busts rarely stop enterprises like gambling," said Arthur T. Donato Jr., a Media defense attorney.

    Crimes such as bookmaking and other forms of gambling can lead to violence, but do not always, Donato said.

    "There are plenty of people who get together for the purpose of taking bets and laying off bets," he said. "That is all they do."

    Jacobs said illegal gambling and loan-sharking were unlikely to disappear soon, thanks to organized crime.

    "They've always done this; it's been a core part of their business model," he said.

    Hope they rot in jail. [QUOTE=6t5frlane]Hope they rot in jail. [/QUOTE]   
     
    ME TOO..
    Interesting editorial in L.A. Times by writer Eric Lucas in Seattle, title Sobering up on Ledger. He says:
     
    It's time to stop canonization of Heath Ledger.  He's not a tragic hero.  He's not a beautiful martyr.  He's just a pretty good actor who did away with himself and broke the hearts of his family (3 yr. old daughter) and friends, and he shouldn't get an Academy Award to memorialize his death.
     
    He concludes:
     
    Film critic Ty Burr wrote, "This is less about hype than about the gentle madness of crowds."  Nothing gentle about it:  Each year more than l00,000 Americans die of alcohol or drug abuse.  It would be madness to commenorate one such death with the greatest honor in cinema.  Please give the Academy Award to someone who's had the courage to stick around.
     
    I agree with Eric Lucas.  Definitely agree.
     
    Jan
    I'd hope that the academy award goes to the most deserving..but there's politics in everything isnt' there?
     
    I thought Heath was a troubled soul who took prescribed meds and that he overdosed accidently??  I really didn't read all that much about the situation at the time.

    Lucas says he repeatedly read the death was "accidental".  But the medical examiner's toxicology report listed a bucket of addictive, mood-altering substances in his body, from antihistamines to Xanax.  None of them got there by accident.

    Lucas says it is a simple thing to find help for drug and alcohol abuse these days.  Millions have dont it, including himself, and though not easy, it represents the only way to live with the integrity we owe ourselves, our families and the world around us.
     
    I wish I could post the whole thing but don't know how technically.  Will see if I can find a site.
     
    Jan
    The article by ERic Lucas if interested is:
     

    WRong URL

    www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lucas1-2008aug01,0,6044412.story

     

    [QUOTE=6t5frlane] And now, The House of Representatives is discussing a formal apology to Blacks for Slavery and Jim Crow laws. So with a war, No energy bill, healthcare and 50 other issues on peoples minds these idiots spend time on non issues. Everyone is long gone since the slavery days. I would think everybody agrees it was wrong, but it's 2008 guys? Spend your time wisely please. If passed then we can apologize  to Japenese. Irish, Italians etc......nuts[/QUOTE]


    I totally agree.I disagree.  Think about it - we're still pissed that the Japanese have refused to admit their culpability for WWII.  How can we jump on them if we don't rectify the skeletons in our own closets.
     
    Pip
    Nope, don't agree with you on this one Pip.   I don't think we CAN apologize for the actions taken by people in another time.   I certainly wouldn't expect my great, great grandchildren to be apologizing for my actions.  We are each responsible for our own decisions and actions, and we make them based upon the times we live in and the world as it is at the time.
     
    In Connecticut I saw people's homes and property forced away from them, to be given "back" to the Native Americans who it was taken from, to make restitution for actions taken 150 years ago or more.  Except that the Native American tribe doesn't truly exist anymore, and the definition of who descends from it is a subject of great controversy.  But the chosen few are owners of a fabulous casino and are wealthy beyond belief, while most Native Americans are left out. 
     
    I think we should be students of history, and understand how things happen and try not to make the same mistakes again.  I think we need to be responsible for our own actions, and be involved members of society, speaking out when we see things happening that we believe are wrong.  But I don't feel responsible for the actions of those who came before me.  Hindsight is always 20/20 is the saying, but I don't think that is necessarily true.  Because we didn't walk in their shoes and truly understand why they made the decisions they made. 
     
    How pompous it is to presume we can apologize for their actions.
    AMEN, Hilly! I don't know, guys.  Think of it this way.  Have you ever received an apology that wasn't sincere.  You know, something off the cuff but you can tell it wasn't 'from the heart'.  I think the same thing applies here. 
     
    I've seen a lot of stories/articles on forgiveness.  And how it's impossible if we don't believe its 'from the heart'.  And a lot of stuff on the stages of forgiveness and all say you have to cover all bases.  Realization, Remorse, Restitution.
     
    We've done some crappy things in our history.  Interring Japanese in Internment camps.  Lynchings.  Ghettoization.  The entire Native American Reservation system. 
     
    We can say 'I wasn't born then so it's not my problem' and by that logic we can wash our hands of the atrocities that happened but the victims don't get 'closure' and they don't get to heal.  When we take a symbolic action as the USA it has a lot of power - power I might add that other countries do not seem to do. 
     
    If we aren't part of the solution, then we are part of the problem. 
     
    Pip
    If was interpreting 6t5 right, I was reading that he felt our government has more important fish to fry than to apologize for wrong doings by people many generations ago. I am sorry that these things have happened to people of all races, religions ethnicities across all times but many people are wronged across the board. It happens daily still today. Do we just start apologizing to everyone? When does it stop? And then what is next after that? Lets start focusing on what really matters right now...and then in their spare time, they can work on that. I don't want my tax dollars spent on crap like that. Sorry.Depends on what you think the 'problem' is in America.  I see it as a bunch of overgrown children that never accepted responsibility for their actions or the actions of their respective groups.
     
    Baby Boomers, mostly.
     
    Pip

    Guilt is not a productive means to a better world.  I cannot accept guilt for something I did not do, nor do I think my apology for it would have any meaning.

    Have you or your family benefited from the backs of others?  Have you inherited things that you hold dear that came at the expense of others?  Have you stood up to prejudice in all its forms?  Did you join any society that was built upon entry by previous generations?  Like oh, maybe going to college?
     
    I don't care when you got here - there is no country on earth that hasn't exploited one class for another.  My family didn't arrive in this country until after WWI.  But we grew up in a country that had water fountains for 'colored' only and restrictions that were only for those 'other' groups.  People freaked if those other groups tried to use the public pools.  The list is endless.  If you used those public facilities that were restricted...then you do owe an apology.  My opinion.
     
    Unless you and your family arrived here yesterday and have never used or benefited in any way from a class system that was designed to keep people down, then you should be involved in the apology. 
     
    Not guilt - personal responsibility.  The difference from being a victim to being pro-active.
     
    Pip

    Pip,

    Who is this "we" group that still want the japanese to admit their culpability for wwII? I have not heard one person, up until your post, that thinks that the japanese people of today are responible for wwII. What planet do you live on?

    During the american period of slavery only three percent of americans owned slaves. Most others did not agree with slavery since it took away from employment. Twenty five percent of "free blacks" owned slaves. If you really feel that "you" need an apology from those whose families owned slaves, ask them for it. Those rich families are still around and still rich, whites and blacks. Why bother the ninety seven percent that didn't agree with slavery?
     
    Who is going to ask the blacks for an apology for stealing and destroying the homes and dreams of the polish people of Hamtramk, Michigan. When will the blacks apologize for stealing and destoying the homes and dreams of the white Detroiters. Oh yeah, we can't talk about that can we?
     
    And yes Pip,
     
    With all the problems needed to be resolved not just in the United States but the whole world, apologies for history should be top ptiority, good grief.
     
    LEV
     
    In 1988, President Reagan signed the Japanese Reparation Act, which apologized for the US government internment of Japanese American citizens during WWII. If our government passed this legislation addressing the injustices Japanese suffered during the 1940’s, then why should our government not apologize for the injustices Black Americans were subjected to, often with the legal sanction of the federal, state and local governments, for hundreds of years?

    Individually, we or our ancestors, may have not played a role in the exploitation and disenfranchisement of Blacks, but we as a country have economically benefitted. The southern states’ economy was built on slavery; and the North also benefitted from this cheap source of labor. The Civil War did free slaves, and from 1865-1876, Blacks received the full protection of citizens under the law, but with the passage of racist Jim Crow laws Blacks were defined as inferior to whites, denied civil rights, and through a system of segregation, denied opportunities of economic, educational and social development.

    Thousands of lynchings took place between 1880-1905, but no one was every found guilty. Race riots, such as in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921 and Rosewood, Florida, in 1922, drove Blacks out of communities they had established, leaving behind livelihoods and property. In Doublas Blackmon’s book "Slavery by Another Name," he looks at an "age of neoslavery" that thrived from the end of the Civil War up until WWII. The illegal arrest of Blacks provided a source of labor as prisoners were sold as forced laborers to coal mines, lumber camps, brickyards, railroads, quarries and farm plantations.

    The complete story of this part of our American history is one many may not know of, many wish not to think about -- it’s in the past -- and many do not want to acknowledge. But I would support an apology. I don’t see an apology from our government as a matter of placing blame, but an acknowledgement of the inhumanity of slavery and the subsequent discrimination that disenfranchised a people politically, economically and socially. I don’t see reparations as practical, but would rather see a committment of our society, our government, to foster equality for everyone, not just Blacks, in supporting better schools, educational opportunities for all Americans.

    The link below is to a website about a documentary called "Traces fo the Trade, A Story from the Deep North" about a woman’s discovery that her ancestor, a former US Senator,  was part of the largest slave trading family in US history. Human trafficking not only enriched her family, but was a key part of the North’s economy. This film retraces the Triangle Trade, which brought slaves to Cuba and the US, and also discusses these descendants' feelings about their social and economic status built on human trafficking.

     http://www.tracesofthetrade.org/synopsis/

    Pip, I am a product of my ancestors, and of the history of this country, both good and bad.  I do not deny that horrible things happened, and that mistakes were made.  I carry the DNA of ancestors who were slave owners and slaves, who were Native American and who were slaughtered by Native Americans.  I "benefited off the backs" of my grandparents who spent every day of their life two miles underground on their bellies mining coal and died when the roof collapsed on them or they coughed up a lung from black lung.   But I don't feel I deserve an apology from the descendants of the mine owners who got rich off of their blood and sweat! 
     
    I am fully aware of atrocities against humanity throughout the history of our nation and every other nation.  I try to live my life as a good person, helping others when I can, being politically active and knowledgeable and "personally responsible". 
     
    My point is that I can't change history by a lame apology.  And no one should be made to feel guilty for someone else's actions.  Each generation must live within the context of their times, undertstanding how they came to be, learning from the past and moving forward.  If I do something personally offensive or which takes advantage of another person, yes absolutely, I should be held accountable for it and should apologize. 
     
     
     
    Well then, maybe this is what the whole country can do. Instead of saying hello to someone you pass by, just say, I'm sorry. If we all do this for a week, will that cover it? Instead of apologies, we need to acknowledge that it has happened and make sure we can learn and grow from it and certainly not repeat it. Our country is 230 years old and it is about time we moved forward instead of staying stuck in the past. I'm sorry Lorster.I prefer to just say "Hi."

    Back when I worked at Dairy Queen, I would play a little game.  I would see if I could get a smile out of our crabbiest customers.  Some of these people looked like they hadn't smiled in ages, or were just looking for someone to blame for whatever was pissing them off in life.  I was often that person.  One event in particular always stands out.  Birthday Cake Man was a 20-something gangbanger-type who often came in with his gangbanger-type friends.  He earned his name because of his hairstyle - tiny braids that sprouted from his head like birthday candles.  Since we often didn't know customers by name, we would often have descriptive nicknames to describe the regulars (never to their faces!).  One day, BCM and his friends were in the store and it was my turn to wait on them (my co-workers always avoided waiting on them because they tended to be rude).  One of them asked for something, and I didn't quite catch what it was, so I said with a smile, "could you please repeat that."  Well, BCM replied that I should stop being such an uptight white girl... implying that I didn't understand him because of his urban speech pattern (I can't remember exactly how he put it, but it wasn't nice).  I rolled my eyes at him, with a smile, and told him I had no problem understanding Black English, but it was sometimes hard to hear over the noise of the ice cream machines, freezers, air conditioning, grill, and traffic outside. And I had trouble hearing out of my left ear.  One of his friends biffed him upside the head and told him to stop being such an @sshole, and he actually cracked a smile and apologized.  Since then, Birthday Cake Man was pleasant to wait on and would even engage in smalltalk.  My co-workers were amazed... they were all afraid of him. 
    [QUOTE=lorster]If was interpreting 6t5 r