State of the Nation

Former Senator Chris Dodd Leading The MPAA Support Of SOPA

2012-01-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

The liberal Senator Chris Dodd, the Connecticut politician tied to the Countrywide financial scandal and sub-prime mortgage crisis, is now the Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) is blasting “Blackout Day”

Tomorrow the main pages of Google, Wikipedia, Reddit and other sites will go dark to protest support for the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), a piece of legislation in the House of Representatives which is so wide-ranging in effect that it threatens to curb not only piracy and illegal activity, but the method of information use which characterizes the internet.

If SOPA passes, however, the power to shut down web sites in the US will be unprecedented.

The US attorney general could shut down websites by asking courts to order ISPs to block access to them from within the US. And the fine print creates power to block sites — even legitimate sites — suspected or accused of copyright infringement, or those that link to sites that infringe copyright.

Here’s the blast from Senator Dodd:

“Only days after the White House and chief sponsors of the legislation responded to the major concern expressed by opponents and then called for all parties to work cooperatively together, some technology business interests are resorting to stunts that punish their users or turn them into their corporate pawns, rather than coming to the table to find solutions to a problem that all now seem to agree is very real and damaging.
It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information use their services. It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today. It’s a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests.
A so-called “blackout” is yet another gimmick, albeit a dangerous one, designed to punish elected and administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals. It is our hope that the White House and the Congress will call on those who intend to stage this “blackout” to stop the hyperbole and PR stunts and engage in meaningful efforts to combat piracy.”

Check out State of the Nation and this original post at: http://deskofbrian.com/2012/01/former-senator-chris-dodd-leading-the-mpaa-support-of-sopa/

Radio host says Obama could shoot animals or be evil and still beat Ron Paul

2012-01-12T16:02:00.000-08:00

From the Desk of Brian

The drive time talk radio host in Tampa is Todd Schnitt (aka MJ on the MJ Morning Show) and his banter with a caller Wednesday proved interesting and insulting.

It began as the caller accused Schnitt of being a party guy, an establishment honk and how he calls Ron Paul supporters “Paulsies”

“I think they are unreaonable…I don’t so (that it’s a derogatory term)…His name is Ron Paul. I guess I could call them Paul-ites.”

Schnitt added that he coined the term “Occupy Paul Street” before talking over the caller, bullying the conversation….

Herman Cain is described as a “non-serious clown in the (Presidential) race, completely unqualified and is “sideshow circus act” (Schnitt adds that he liked the 9-9-9 plan)

The screeching garden gnome (as DOB’s Robert Herriman affectionately and accurately nicknamed the talking head previously) includes Paul with the same description.

Then at 31:25

I’m for the candidate that can win. Ron Paul can’t win! Ron Paul can’t win!
Ron Paul doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell. (Caller interjects)
If Obama shoots kitties and puppies in the head with pellet guns on live national television in the oval office…he will still…he would still beat Ron Paul. (caller) If he ripped off doll heads and puked up green vomit and his head went DFDKDDKJ(gibberish imitating Exorcist) and spun around, he would still beat Ron Paul

Full audio imbed there, so go check it out

http://deskofbrian.com/2012/01/tampa-radio-host-todd-schnitt-obama-could-kill-animals-or-beat-satan-and-still-beat-ron-paul/

VIDEO Ron Paul Big Dog Ad

2012-01-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

Egypt church bombing one year later - still no answers

2012-01-05T03:27:00.000-08:00

A New Year's suicide bombing on a New Year's Eve Mass in the Saints Church in Egypt's Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria left 21 dead as the church was targeted. (Read more here as the riots took place right afterwards)

Now Amira Maurice, a 28-year-old pharmacist, is in Germany undergoing the surgeries to save her leg and deal with her burns. Her fiance was killed that dead and her story was reported by the Associated Press.

Another New Year's has passed since, and there are still no answers in Egypt's most dramatic anti-Christian attack. The investigation was halted 11 months ago and never picked up again. The only suspects ever detained were released, and it's not clear they had any role in it. No new suspects have ever been named.

"Nothing. Nothing at all has happened with the investigation," said Maurice's father, Nabil Roman. "It is ridiculous."

Roman suspects that the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the police, is dragging its feet in going after the case, but he doesn't know why.

"Something is not clear. All I can say is that God will deal with them," Roman said.

The attacks in Alexandria was soon lost in the news cycle as protests against Hosni Mubarak became headlines from the region. The police who failed during the Mubarak era of thirty years, are even worse after his collapse. (Fear is that it will get even worse for the Coptic Christians in Egypt - more here)

As noted in the AP report:

Police were notorious for doing little investigation of crimes — instead, their modus operandi was usually to detain possible suspects and torture them into confessions, rights groups and former police officials say. After the fall of Mubarak's regime, the police have been in disarray and resisting reform in their ranks.

Meanwhile a bomb ripped through a church that day, changing and ruining and taking lives.

One year later all they have left is their faith...in God, not their country.

Obama gains more power with defense bill signing

2012-01-02T05:02:00.000-08:00

“I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists,” President Obama said of the $662 billion legislation.

The propaganda.

The legislation includes a “national security waiver” that allows the president to transfer a suspect from military to civilian custody if he chooses.

The Truth

Full story: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/12/president-obama-signs-defense-bill-more-power-for-the-prez/

Best & Worse Movies 2011

2012-01-02T04:55:00.000-08:00

If you don’t know me well, it’s important to note that I’m a harsh critic. I firmly believe that the adjective “great” (as in 5 star rankings) is as overused in film as in sports.

Moreover, since I’m not a professional critic, there are several films which would make most lists, but I haven’t seen yet. “War Horse” and “The Adventures of Tintin” are two recent films which appear worthy to make most “Best of” lists, but I haven’t made time for as of this writing.

Biggest Surprise of 2011 – “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

As the release date was move forward and back during 2011, it truly signaled a warning that the film would be a flop – this was not the case.

The Andy Serkis motion-cap Caesar was amazing, engaging and a true highlight to the year in movies. The ending of “Rise” delivered a satisfying setup for sequels without a cheesy Hollywood spoon-feeding of cliches.

Biggest Disappointment of 2011 – “Super 8″

It’s my own fault.

Steven Spielberg…JJ Abrams…A great nostalgic 80′s feel and an amazing trailer – the result was a major let down.

Don’t get me wrong, “Super 8″ was a good film, especially in the theaters, but on further viewings falls short. The alien knockoff of “District 9″, “The Fly” and well, about a dozen other sci-fi films, should never have been shown. The creepy, suspense built by the filmmakers in the first half of the film were quickly lost once we learned what the kids were facing.

Worst excuse for a sequel – “Hangover 2″

This was one of the biggest disappointments of 2011 as director Todd Phillips recycled the first film plot point by plot point. A monkey replaced the baby, the boys lose a bride’s brother instead of the groom, and on and on (read my analysis here)

A missed opportunity in my opinion.

“The Muppets” – laugh, cry and if you watch ‘Big Bang Theory’ – truly get surprised

Countless cameos were sprinkled in with song and dance numbers as the “Gang got back together” in the best Muppet movie ever made. Well, in my opinion none the Muppet films were “great” movies and this one was…on many levels.

Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo – the whole gang is there with a two new additions: Walter and Jason Segel, both will entertain you.

Oh yeah, if you want to see that “surprise” I mentioned – check it out here.

Jack Sparrow, Captain America, Thor and the Source Code

All of these were worth a view in 2011.

Even my wife who avoids the comic book fandom at all costs found “Thor” to be particularly entertaining. Sure Chris Hemsworth is obvious eye candy for the female moviegoer, but Tom Hiddleston as Loki was so impressive, that the film deserved an extra star.

Johnny Depp’s fourth “Pirates” film returned to the excitement, fun and fast pace which made Jack Sparrow so appealing to audiences. Unfortunately Ian McShane was underutilized as Blackbeard in a hollow and bland role. Overall “Stanger Tides” was a treat during the summer a positive return for the Disney franchise.

The complex psychological thriller “Source Code” fell off the radar screen quickly after a Spring release. Jake Gyllenhaal and director Duncan Jones set a stage of increasing intrigue and excitement (check out a full review here), but it was “Captain America: The First Avenger” which truly shined.

I shared the skepticism of many fans who didn’t feel Chris Evans could ever pull off the iconic Marvel hero. Not only was it a success and highly entertaining, Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull was incredible. From the classic comic feel, the World War propaganda to the USO sequence, the nostalgic Cap was perfectly set up and evolved into the idealistic patriot that Jack Kirby and Joe Simon created. (The review of First Avenger – here)

Transformers & Twlight win at the box office?

So disappointing is that this mindless blother found the most viewers at the box office. Worse yet is that another film is set in both franchises.

Not surprising when audiences will pay to see Ryan Reynolds in a CGI fest disguised as “Green Lantern” and endure the inane gags in “Horrible Bosses” or possibly…quite possibly have sat through the worst film “Arthur”.

The Great Harry Potter wrap-up

It’s finally over.

Wow, what a ride.

The final film truly delivered as the CGI was awesome, the action was spot on with the book and it was truly engaging all the way to the end.

Best of the Year: “X-Men – First Class” & “Courageous”

I didn’t think they could pull off an X-Men prequel but James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender can’t make the sequels fast enough in my opinion. Set in the 1960′s during the Cuban Missile Crisis, it adds the history and intrigue as a backdrop to make the new cast blend to the Bryan Singer X-Men mythology.

“Courageous” is a must see for every father on the planet.

Alex Kendrick rips your heart out, twists and turns to force you to question “How good of a father am I really?”

You won’t find “Courageous” on these lists because it’s a Christian movie, but it was rewarding to see it make a huge profit – over $33M at the box office on a $2M budget.

Some other notables:

Recommended

“Contagion” – A great scientifically accurate interpretation of the super virus scare. There are a few loose ends and if the whole “Outbreak” film is NOT your thing, you will be bored.

“Battle: Los Angeles” – Aliens come, Marines fight back. Not much else to report here, but I found it surprisingly entertaining.

“Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” – I’m a bit biased for “Mission” films even though I loathe Tom Cruise. This is fast-paced, the secondary characters are entertaining and in IMAX – WOW!

Don’t Bother

“Sucker Punch” – How did Zack Snyder get the “Man of Steel” job after this mess.

“Priest” – Just boring. Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, vampires, action….still don’t care.

”Rango” – Okay, it’s not bad, it’s just not that good. I didn’t find it exciting or that funny.

“Green Hornet” – Horrible. Just awful. Seth Rogen can’t do fight scenes, he can’t act and he’s only funny about half of the time. Let’s add Cameron Diaz and see how bad this movie can’t get.

“Cowboys and Aliens” – James Bond, Indiana Jones, the director of Iron Man and the hot girl from Tron — the result: boring piece of poo.

http://deskofbrian.com/2011/12/best-worst-movies-for-2011/

Movie Talk: Spielberg references in Super 8

2011-11-19T05:46:00.000-08:00

From an article for SpielbergFanclub.com

DVD comes out on Tuesday

Set in small-town America circa the late ’70s, the film skillfully combines elements from the master’s greatest hits: a shaggy preteen hero coping with parental absence; a stirring, John Williams–y score (courtesy of Michael Giacchino); and plenty of close encounters. What’s missing, even with Mr. E.T. himself in the producer’s chair, is the sense that all this nostalgia means much to anyone involved.

Super 8 may be a deeply cynical act of tribute art, but for any dyed-in-the-wool Spielberg fanatic, there’s pleasure to be had in spotting its various references and callbacks. In keeping with the spirit of Abrams’s uncanny copy job, let’s take a close, minute-by-minute (and spoiler-intensive) look at the film’s most blatantly Spielbergian moments.

1:25 Our hero, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney), makes his first appearance. He’s a slightly older, sadder variation on E.T.’s Elliott, who also suffered from the loss of a parent. As in Spielberg’s film, Joe is introduced outside the circle of kids; he’s the lonely survivor of a broken home.

17:17 Super 8’s inciting incident is an F/X-heavy re-creation of the model-train derailment Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) uses to demonstrate a math principle to his son in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And the truck that barrels into the oncoming train is a dead ringer for the one Neary drives when he makes his first UFO sighting—at a railroad crossing, no less.
20:32 Elle Fanning’s survey of the wreckage from the train derailment recalls a shot from War of the Worlds, during which Fanning’s older sister, Dakota, gawks at the fiery remains of a downed airplane.

26:29 Mirroring the establishing shots of both E.T. and Close Encounters, Abrams offers a sprawling, nighttime overview of his small-town setting.

28:40 Joe and Charles (Riley Griffiths) ride bikes through town, evoking the big chase at the end of E.T.

34:39 Joe’s father, Deputy Lamb (Kyle Chandler), is a proxy for Roy Scheider’s alarmed sheriff in Jaws. In this scene, he tries to convince his skeptical boss that trouble is brewing.
37:03 A gas-station clerk listens to his Walkman while the town sheriff is attacked by…something in the parking lot. It’s reminiscent of the scene in The Lost World: Jurassic Park in which Peter Stormare meets a grisly demise not far from his oblivious, headphone-wearing buddy.
45:39 In another Jaws shout-out, Deputy Lamb holds a town meeting to address public concerns. If only he had a Quint to hunt down the rampaging monster in his community.

1:19:50 The alien assault on a bus dimly echoes the T. rex–on-vehicle attack scenes in both Jurassic Park and The Lost World.

1:26:05 Is this suburban-war-zone set piece, with Charles kneeling to help a wounded friend amid gunfire and explosions, a PG-13 allusion to Saving Private Ryan?

1:38:20 The community-farewell climax of Super 8 may remind you of Close Encounters’ utopian finale, but the UFO that eventually takes flight looks more like the one in E.T. Sadly, the magic of both movies is conspicuously absent here.

Half of citizens on some sort of government assistance

2011-10-08T03:11:00.001-07:00

There is no way to end entitlements and stop the pending doomsday bankruptcy when THIS MANY people are relying on the government!!!

WSJ: Nearly half, 48.5%, of the population lived in a household that received some type of government benefit in the first quarter of 2010, according to Census data. Those numbers have risen since the middle of the recession when 44.4% lived households receiving benefits in the third quarter of 2008.

The share of people relying on government benefits has reached a historic high, in large part from the deep recession and meager recovery, but also because of the expansion of government programs over the years.

Another 14.5% lived in homes where someone was on Medicare (the health care program for the elderly). Nearly 16% lived in households receiving Social Security.

High unemployment and increased reliance on government programs has also shrunk the nation’s share of taxpayers. Some 46.4% of households will pay no federal income tax this year, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. That’s up from 39.9% in 2007, the year the recession began.

Just 18.1% of households pay neither payroll nor federal income taxes and they are predominantly the nation’s elderly and poorest families.

US wants no fly zone for moon

2011-09-10T05:05:00.000-07:00

According to Science, by the end of this month NASA is expected to come up with a set of “recommendations” for spacecraft and astronauts visiting the “U.S. government property on the moon.” Of course, these recommendations will not be legally binding as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty makes it clear that the lunar surface has no owner.

Despite the lack of ownership, NASA is hopeful that other countries will respect the U.S. sentiments. Incidentally, the restriction list contains more than the historical sites. For instance, the list includes studying discarded food and abandoned astronaut faeces.

Read more:

Ron Paul Agrees With Americans: Two Party System Is Broken

2011-09-05T03:54:00.000-07:00

During the Florida Liberty Summit, Presidential candidate Ron Paul rallied supporters, cited errors of the current and previous administration, emphasizing why his leadership would correct the course of America. (Check out this article here)

“The evidence is in, their views have failed and our views, our ideals are appropriate to be put in place.”

Paul discussed the failures of the government bailout and how shifting that debt from the failed businesses to the consumers was nearly criminal and warning that there is no end to this behavior as “They will just raise the debt ceiling.”

“We don’t have a two party system. We have a one party system…they endorse the same ideals and the same policies.”

“Humanity has a long history of authoritative figures in society: dictators, czars, Kings….but we have to stop. Don’t depend on the bureaucrats and politicians to decide what’s best.”

The Texan drew some applause when challenged on how he’d get the two parties to cut the spending he’d propse: $1 trillion – THIS YEAR!

“Get ‘em to cut each others’ baby programs. Tell the Democrats to cut 500 billion of the Republicans’ favorite programs and do the same for the other group.”

“They always offer a five year plan…a ten year plan…Well, this is the only year that counts.”

Sounds better than some of the recycled sound bites you will hear from the President and party favorites across the aisle.

Pastor addressing sex & the church

2011-09-05T03:51:00.000-07:00

What a great article, check it out here

From a Christian Post article by Audrey Barrick, South Carolina megachurch pastor Perry Noble has stepped out to address a huge problem in the church – sex.

“Let’s just be honest. Sexual immorality is in the house,” he told his congregation, adding that he has seen sexual immorality at each of the three churches he has served.

“We can’t get mad at people that aren’t Christians because they act like they’re not Christians. But what we can do is talk about the mess we have in our own house and try to get it cleaned up.”

Perry started the two-week “Sex in the Church” series last weekend and will be concluding it on Sunday, Sept. 4.

Though an uncomfortable subject, he made it clear that the church should not be silent about sex especially considering the Bible “says a lot about the subject of sex.”

“The world is not silent about the subject of sex. They’re talking about it.”

Starting with the men, Perry urged those who have a playlist of songs that degrade women to delete them immediately.

“If we have a song on our iTunes playlist that refers to a woman as a bitch or a whore, we don’t listen to it. In fact, we delete it today because a godly man would never refer to a woman as a bitch or a whore,” the pastor said without hesitation.

read more http://deskofbrian.com/2011/09/south-carolina-trying-to-clean-up-sex-in-the-church/

Randall Whitney, Abortionist testifies: babies sometimes born alive, left to wiggle around & die

2011-08-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

In Orlando, during a disturbing testimony during court proceedings against a well-known Florida abortionist, a fellow abortionist reportedly admitted that some aborted children are delivered alive and left “wiggling around in the toilet,” where they are allowed to die.

The testimony occurred during proceedings against abortionist James Pendergraft, who was forced to pay over $36 million last week for a botched procedure that left its intended target alive, but severely disabled.

Pendergraft, who was convicted of felony extortion in 2001, was told by an Orlando County jury to pay $18 million in the civil suit itself and another $18 million in punitive damages, totaling over $36 million.

The jurors listened as abortionist Randall Whitney, one of Pendergrast’s partners, stated that yes, babies are delivered in the toilet all the time and many times are still alive, wiggling around in the toilet.

Horrifying imagery.

My biggest problem with abortion, especially the use of RU486, is the incredible disregard for life. It's more difficult to check out at a Super Wal-Mart on a Saturday than get an abortion.

The recent stats indicated that they is only 1 adoption for every 2300+ abortions - God help us! (read report here)

Now with Obamacare providing Federal Funding we will now have the government paving the way for this to become more commonplace.

Source LifeSiteNews

Ron Paul Iowa Debate

2011-08-13T12:31:00.001-07:00

WATCH both of the clips here

Mr President, please stop blaming everyone else for the economy

2011-08-10T03:58:00.000-07:00

Read the entire article on DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/08/president-obama-blames-economy/

There is not an ounce of leadership coming out of the mouth our President these days. Speaking last night at a Democratic fundraiser, where families paid $15,000 to have their picture taken with the celebrity President, Mr Obama defended his economic record and said problems in Europe were affecting the U.S. and still blaming the Bush administration.

‘We do have a serious problem in terms of debt and deficit, and much of it I inherited,’ Mr Obama said

Yep, “inherited” – translation: It was Bush’s fault.

Even though President Obama was in the Senate before campaigning and then taking the lead on the TARP Bill – it was Bush’s fault.

It was Bush’s fault that the $700 billion Stimulus did nothing but add to the debt balance sheets.
It was Bush’s fault that President Obama submitted budgets with $1-3.5 trillion dollar deficits?
Well, let’s be fair…he goes on to blame Europe.

‘What’s absolutely true, even before these last couple days in the stock market, is that recovery wasn’t happening fast enough,’ he said. ‘When you have problems in Europe and in Spain and in Italy and in Greece, those problems wash over into our shores.’

So again, after getting the greenlight to spend, spend, spend with the elevated debt ceiling, the President continues to lay the foundation of blame and accusations.

So, much for leadership….and I thought the last guy was bad.

US Post Office nearly broke again

2011-08-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

The report on Friday from the US Post Office was masked by the downturn in the Dow Jones, but the report stated:

The US Postal Service warned on Friday that it could default on payments it owes the federal government...The government’s mail service said it lost $3.1 billion in the period from April to June, blaming “the anemic state of the economy” and the growing popularity of electronic communications over old-fashioned letters.

Well, the Feds should just cut them off.

$3.1 billion shortfall in the real world = YOU'RE FIRED!

Ron Paul discussing "Super Congress"

2011-08-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Oops...Steven Spielberg gets carried away in yacht

2011-07-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Daily Mail: When you own a £220m luxury yacht, a 172 euro fine is hardly going to break the bank. But paying up without causing a fuss has certainly earned Steven Spielberg a few new fans among Italian coastguards.

Billionaire Spielberg, 64, was holidaying with actress Gwyneth Paltrow on his yacht Seven Seas when he was hit with the fine for venturing too close to the Sardinian coastline on his speedboat tender.

The director apparently breached the 900ft exclusion zone from the shoreline at La Maddalena, a picturesque beauty spot off the north east coast of Sardinia, which is renowned as being a millionaire’s playground.

Angry sunbathers called coastguards to complain about the noise from the tender’s powerful outboard motor and they quickly appeared on the scene to confront him.
The contrite film director, whose films include Jaws, Shindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, immediately apologised telling coastguards: ‘I’m sorry. I’m Steven Spielberg. I didn’t know the rules. It’s only right I pay.’

http://spielbergfanclub.com/2011/07/855/

Obama patronizes America’s citizens: we’re not ‘professional politicians’

2011-07-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

President Obama’s opponents have always described him as elitist, arrogant and condescending. Today, as the debt ceiling deadline looms, the President proved that his opposition may not be that far from the mark.

This is how the Washington Post described the scene:

In the course of the president’s press conference on raising the debt ceiling today, a questioner noted that 69 percent of the American public do not support raising the debt ceiling.

There is, President Obama responded, a difference between the public and professional politicians.

That’s good to know!

Well, let me distinguish between professional politicians and the public at large. The public is not paying close attention to the ins and outs of how a Treasury option goes. They shouldn’t. They’re worrying about their family; they’re worrying about their jobs; they’re worrying about their neighborhood. They’ve got a lot of other things on their plate. We’re paid to worry about it.”

I don’t think excessive spending escapes Americans…they’ve been doing it for years.

Of course, the President reverted to some ‘debt ceiling scare tactics’ :

“And that’s the fact. If we don’t raise the debt ceiling and we see a crisis of confidence in the markets, and suddenly interest rates are going up significantly, and everybody is paying higher interest rates on their car loans, on their mortgages, on their credit cards, and that’s sucking up a whole bunch of additional money out of the pockets of the American people, I promise you they won’t like that.

Read more: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/07/obama-patronizes-americas-citizens-professional-politicians/

Bill Maher leads the liberal sexist attacks on Michele Bachmann & Sarah Palin

2011-07-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

Over the last few years if you muttered the slight disagreement with President Obama, you were quickly branded a “racist”. In fact, a close friend of mine admitted that was the progressive perspective during the primary with Hillary Clinton.

Now, let’s fast forward and we will discover the blatant hypocrisy of the leftist who pretend to be tolerant and above the name calling. Bill Maher has been the torch bearer, leading the mainstream progressive attacks on Sarah Palin and now, Michele Bachmann.

Early last week Maher said on CNN’s Piers Morgan Show he wished Palin moved up in the polls:

“I would need a gun to my head. I hope Sarah Palin gets in so that they split the MILF vote.”

Yep, the MILF reference added to the pop culture lexicon from “American Pie”: “Mom I’D Like To F–k.”

Morgan found it humorous and let Maher continue unchallenged.

But I guess Bachmann, I don’t know. Who could say? Because, at least she’s somebody who can read. You know, she has a job. She was a lawyer. She’s in Congress. She’s not someone who just sits there and reads the prayers on her Blackberry like Sarah Palin. I mean, you know, we’re splitting hairs here.

Maher is the posterchild of liberal denial: “He’s not even a liberal!” – Maher says of President Obama.

“You know I love him,” Maher said. “You know you can’t not. I mean coming in after Bush, first of all, you have him there, you have a guy you can relate to. He’s intelligent, he can speak English. I don’t think about George Bush at all anymore, which is great. He’s like an uncle who molested me and I blocked it out. You know? And you could just tell, you know, you’d like to have dinner with Obama. He’s an erudite guy, he’s a constitutional law professor.”

Yes, he compared the former President to child molestation.

Maher returned to the sex theme on his HBO show attacking Bachmann Christian counseling clinic, well actually, attacking Michele Bachmann’s husband. Comic Marc Maron, part of the panel, says:

“I hope [he] takes all that rage that comes from repression and denial into the bedroom with her…and I hope he f***s her angrily, because that’s how I would.”

Sex advice columnist Dan Savage on the panel decided to diffuse the sexism bomb by throwing another Republican candidate under the insult bus:

“I sometimes think about f***ing the s*** out of Rick Santorum…I’m up for whipping up some Santorum in Santorum.”

Yes, that’s the same Dan Savage who said: “I wish (Republicans) were all f***ing dead”

A day or two later Maher attempts to address the sexism allegations:

And finally, New Rule: Republicans have to stop thinking up intricate psychological explanations for why liberals don’t like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann. Let me save you all some time. Are you ready? Because they’re crazy people, people who are not that bright and full of awful ideas. Pretty much the exact same reasons we didn’t care for George Bush and made jokes about him. So trust me, it’s not because they have breast. It’s because they are boobs.

Now, I’m not saying that sexism doesn’t exist and isn’t real. And we can’t, but we can’t throw around the word “sexist” just to stop people like me from pointing out that Michele Bachmann, now running second for the Republican presidential nomination, isn’t a dangerous nincompoop. And when I point out that Sarah Palin is a vainglorious braggart, a liar, a whiner, a professional victim, a scold, a know-it-all, a chiseler, a bully who sells patriotism like a pimp, and the leader of a strange family of inbred weirdos straight out of “The Hills Have Eyes,” that’s not sexist. I’m saying it because it’s true, not because it’s true of a woman.

So it’s clear to, Maher viciously attacks Palin and Bachmann not because he hates women, but because he hates the conservative positions in which these two women firmly believe. He has no respect for them, so dropping sexist insults or profanity is entirely acceptable.

My new question then is quite simple: why can’t Maher similarly “get it” that Tea Party supporters or anyone who strongly opposes President Obama not because he’s black, but because they hate the liberal positions in which Obama firmly believes?

read the original post at DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/07/bill-leads-liberal-sexist-attacks-michele-bachmann-sarah-palin/

Dear Michele Bachmann, careful what you say…the liberals make lists

2011-06-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Michele Bachmann, careful what you say…the liberals make lists

I find it amusing that the political divide love to only monitor their political enemies, keeping scorecards only on the opposition. President Bush is viewed as a bumbling simpleton who could barely get through a speech while President Obama’s miscues, especially away from his teleprompter, are only quoted by the extreme right.

So, now that Michele Bachman has officially announced her run for President, the liberals raced to put together a list of her errors called “The 9 Craziest Things Michele Bachmann has ever said”

“What I love about New Hampshire and what we have in common is our extreme love of liberty…You’re the state where the shot heard round the world in Lexington and Concord.” ~ March 12, 2011 speech to the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

Note: The 1776 Battles of Lexington and Concord took place in Massachusetts.

“We will talk a little bit about what has transpired in the last 18 months and would we count what has transpired into turning our country into a nation of slaves.” ~ July 9 2010 Western Conservative Summit in Denver.

On The First Black RNC Chairman: “Michael Steele! You be da man! You be da man!” ~ 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference

On The Census:

“I know for my family, the only question that we will be answering is how many people are in our home. We won’t be answering any information beyond that, because the Constitution doesn’t require any information beyond that.” – Interview with the Washington Times, June 17, 2009.

Note: The Constitution doesn’t say that. It’s illegal to not fill out the entire Census.

More On The Census:

“Take this into consideration. If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the Census Bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations at the request of President Roosevelt, and that’s how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps. I’m not saying that…that’s what the Administration is planning to do…”

On Government Spending:

“During the last 100 days we have seen an orgy. It would make any local smorgasbord embarrassed…The government spent its wad by April 26.” ~ Tax Freedom Day Rally, May 2, 2009

On The Swine Flu:

“I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter. I’m not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it’s an interesting coincidence.” ~ Interview with Pajamas Media, April 27, 2009.

Note: The 1976 swine flu outbreak occurred during Gerald Ford’s presidency. Ronald Reagan was president during another, smaller, outbreak in 1988.

Read more, the whole article: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/06/dear-michele-bachmann-careful-what-you-say-the-liberals-make-lists/

Catwoman, a black eye, & masked man on ‘Dark Knight Rises’ set

2011-06-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Check out the original posts on DeskofBrian: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/06/catwoman-a-black-eye-masked-man-on-dark-knight-rises-set/

Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises” consumes fans’ attention as news breaks on the Internet. After a week where star Anne Hathaway accidentally injured a stuntman and a new set photo goes viral, “Rises” again stirs up fans as extras on need in Pittsburgh. The audition process for extras was in full swing on Friday and are scheduled through next week.

The Omni Hotel is the setting of Batman fervor as the ad stated “prisoners/thugs, guards, police officers, business men & women and sports fans” as SWD Casting posted the open call with “no acting experience needed.”

“The Dark Knight Rises” continues to streak into movie headlines as Anne Hathaway, Selina Kyle and her alter ego Catwoman, went over the top while during a fight scene.

A source told The Sun: “Anne got a bit carried away during a fight scene and mistakenly shoved the butt of a gun right into the actor’s eye socket. He came away with a massive black eye. Anne was mortified. It was all in good humor but the poor guy took quite a pummelling.”

The Dark Knight Rises recently launched a new casting call asking for ‘prisoners and thugs’ to star in the film.

A casting call for a Warner Bros. production mysteriously titled “Magnus Rex” seeks extras to play “victims and perpetrators within a city besieged by crime and corruption. Take part in the urban action adventure ripping through the streets of Pittsburgh from July 28 through Aug. 21.”

“Magnus Rex” is believed to be the working title for “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Lastly, this week intrigue swirled around the ambiguous masked stuntman photo posted on Den of Geek. This photo was taken during the shoot at Croydon, London.

Donald Duck to celebrate his 77th birthday

2011-06-08T03:54:00.000-07:00

June 9th marks the birthday of the iconic cartoon character created from the imagination of Walt Disney – Donald Duck. Donald’s first appearance came in “The Wise Little Hen” which debuted June 9, 1934.

Today Walt Disney is widely regarded as a creative genius, but he endured failure after failure being told his ideas wouldn’t work. Then in 1928, after relocating to Los Angeles, Walt sold his car to fund his dream to bring a cartoon rodent to life – that was Mickey Mouse.

Disney triumphed when “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” became a box office hit after banks refused to finance his project and grand ideas for animation. The aspirations continued with the development of amusement parks and television programs.

"Somehow I can't believe there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence. When you believe a thing, believe it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably." - Walt Disney

So, while Mickey gets many of the headlines, a candle can be blown out to celebrate one of the other Disney creations: Happy Birthday Donald Fauntleroy Duck!

About the author:

Brandon detoured from pursuing a degree in history but never lost his love of knowledge embracing the famous George Santayana quote: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Brandon currently writes the National Comic Book Examiner, the Tampa Bay Comic Book Examiner as well as the National American history Examiner.

Hillary Clinton compares Arizona shooter to Islamic Extremists

2011-01-30T12:07:00.001-08:00

Read on Desk of Brian: http://deskofbrian.com/2011/01/hillary-clinton-compares-arizona-shooter-to-islamic-extremists/

Democrats, more than Republicans, seem more willing to go overseas and make outlandish statements and pretend we don’t know or won’t find out.

Our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, openly raised the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) on a trip to the Arab world, then compared the shooter Jared Lee Loughner to Muslim extremists. The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

“We have extremists in my country. A wonderful, incredibly brave young woman Congress member, Congresswoman Gifford[s], was just shot by an extremist in our country.”

Clinton made these remarks during an “interview” with students in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

“The extremists and their voices, the crazy voices that sometimes get on the TV, that’s not who we are, that’s not who you are, and what we have to do is get through that and make it clear that that doesn’t represent either American or Arab ideas or opinions.”

Now the EXTREMISTS are on TV?!?!

I wonder who she’s referring to?

The student during the interview had asked Clinton why many in the United States target the entire Arab world when assigning blame for the 9/11 attacks. The Secretary of State didn’t set the record straight by stating that WE NEVER MADE THAT ACCUSATION, oh no…Clinton drew a comparison between Arab terrorists that perpetrate violence and Loughner as well as those EXTREMISTS on TV.

The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

MSNBC, Olberman rants on Tea Party

2011-01-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

Read article on Deskofbrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/keith-olbermann-rants-over-tea-parties-further-reveals-vile-hypocrisy-of-far-left/

I found the post described as “A near-perfect 20-minute summary of the right-wing crazies who might triumph today”:

It is as if a group of moderately talented performers has walked on stage at a comedy club on improv night. Each hears a shout from the audience, consisting of a bizarre but just barely plausible fear or hatred or neurosis or prejudice.

And the entertainment of the evening is for each to take their thin, absurd premise, and build upon it a campaign for governor or congressman or senator. The problem is, of course, when it turns out there is no audience shouting out gags, just a cabal of corporations and the US Chamber of Commerce and political insider bloodsuckers like Karl Rove and Dick Armey and the Chicken Little Chorus of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

And the instructions are not to improvise a comedy sketch, but to elect a group of unqualified, unstable individuals who will do what they are told, in exchange for money and power, and march this nation as far backward as they can get, backward to Jim Crow, or backward to the breadlines of the Thirties, or backward to hanging union organizers, or backward to the trusts and the robber barons.

Result: the Tea Party. Vote backward, vote Tea Party. And if you are somehow indifferent to what is planned for next Tuesday, it is nothing short of an attempt to use democracy to end this democracy, to buy America wholesale and pave over the freedoms and the care we take of one another, which have combined to keep us the envy of the world.

You do not think your freedom is at stake next Tuesday?

The US Chamber of Commerce is now the enemy?

Beck and Limbaugh are Chicken Littles yet Olbermann claims the midterm victory will now lead to “backward to Jim Crow, or backward to the breadlines of the Thirties, or backward to hanging union organizers, or backward to the trusts and the robber barons.” — Really?

Beck, Limbaugh and others are hardly heroes in this campaign, proving to be late to the declaration of a socialist President with government takeover and control at the pinnacle of his agenda. No, hardly Chicken Littles, but how is that different that the King MSNBC fearmonger?

Olbermann’s fellow MSNBC anchor Lawrence O’Donnell proclaimed with pride his socialist commitments. Read here

Sure the staff at MSNBC fed the ESPN host Olbermann plenty of sound bites and innuendo for their liberal viewers to fear the loss of Social Security (“Bush’s scam to privatize” and Wall Street will “wipe out your retirement money”) or the possible ban on abortions. This Chicken Little mischaracterizes Rich Iott’s “reenactment of WWII scenes” as

“ran around in a Nazi uniform celebrating their military tactics” Read Iott story here

Olbermann and his MSNBC cronies completely lie about the inheritance tax implying it’s for only the uber-rich: Federal Inheritance Tax

I personally love the cringe induced pause as the association between Social Security and Ponzi scheme crosses over Olbermann liberal lips. I’ve made it clear how I feel Read here or here

This is why we are doomed. Social Security and other programs, glorified by the left, no matter if they are bankrupt or unsustainable, will be protected and defended. Olbermann says “Unconstitutional” as though it’s a four letter word – obviously NEVER reading or understanding what’s truly in the Constitution.

“Congress ending funding” strikes fear into the hearts and minds of liberals…why? Because it’s THEIR JOB and THEIR responsibility. I personally don’t believe any of these campaign promises will come to pass and the sound bites will just continue to fly in vain.

Thanks again for the lesson Mr. Olbermann. You have indeed schooled us all, yes indeed.

The Legacy of Betty White on her 89th Birthday

2011-01-25T19:11:00.000-08:00

Read the complete article : http://deskofbrian.com/2011/01/the-legacy-of-betty-white-on-her-89th-birthday-videos-quotes/

Born in the small Illinois town to Horace and Tess, Betty Marion White has amassed an amazing and lengthy resume including seven Emmy awards. From 1922 to 2010 the accolades continue to pile up as AP named her Entertainer of the Year in 2010. “It’s ridiculous,” White says of the honor, in an interview from her home in Los Angeles. “They haven’t caught on to me, and I hope they never do.”

Humility and grace…White is an expert and model of both.

How does an 88 year-old actress from “The Golden Girls”, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” win over the audiences in 2010? First, her success on the new show “Hot in Cleveland” has critics raving. Most important though, is her appearance on Saturday Night Live, a response to a Facebook petition, which was described by Entertainment Weekly as:

“Betty was funny, vulgar and totally charming.”

The feisty Sue Ann Nivens (the Happy Homemaker) from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to the naive and kindhearted Rose on “The Golden Girls” to appearing on game shows “I’ve Got a Secret” or “Match Game”: Betty White has done it all.

So to honor White on her birthday, I compiled a long list of clips and examples of her greatness to share with friends, to put a smile on your face or remember forgotten moments from an amazing career.

Arthur Suydam, artist for "Marvel Zombies", is coming to Tampa

2011-01-20T03:25:00.000-08:00

The Tampa Bay Comic Book Convention will feature Arthur Suydam, artist on "Batman", "Conan" and most notoriously, "Marvel Zombies" comic book titles.

From his website: "Arthur Suydam burst onto the scene in the seven-ties. Recently honored with the coveted Spectrum Award for Excellence in Illustration, Suydam’s immense body of written and illustrative work comprises an aesthetic that is as uniquely distinguishable as it is organic and poetic. Recent releases include Bedtime Stories for the Incarcerated; Arthur Suydam: The Art of the Barbarian; Skin Deep; Visions; Mudwogs, and The Adventures of Cholly and Flytrap—published worldwide and currently in pre-production for film."

Suydam's popularity skyrocketed with the series of covers for "Marvel Zombies" which were all homages to famous Marvel comic covers in the past. Some other fan favories are:

* Wolverine: Origins #10 (Variant cover)
* Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth
* Batman vs Predator
* Shrapnel
* Fantastic Four # 554 (Variant cover)
* Vampirella

The convention is Sunday, February 20th from 10am to 4pm. For more information see the convention's website: http://www.tampabaycomiccon.com/

To read the original post or follow regular updates: http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-tampa-bay/arthur-suydam-artist-for-marvel-zombies-is-coming-to-tampa

January 20, 1961 John F Kennedy inaugural address

2011-01-20T03:23:00.001-08:00

Fifty years ago, one of the most popular Presidents took office.

Read his entire speech (and a couple of photos) here : http://deskofbrian.com/2010/12/john-f-kennedy-inaugural-address-january-20-1961/

Review: "Batman: The Dark Knight #1"

2011-01-20T03:20:00.000-08:00

Batman: The Dark Knight #1 by David Finch (writer and artist), Scott Williams (inks)

Bruce Wayne has been missing until recently, so David Finch's number goal is to re-establish Batman, Bruce Wayne and reset the stage in Gotham for the Cape Crusader. The first issue is rather simple: someone from Bruce Wayne's childhood is missing so there's a crime to be solved. The new character, Dawn Golden, is palatable, but runs the risk of landing comparisons to Hush (a childhood friend who in turn became another Bat-villain.)

In fact, the dark, gritty feel of the art reminds the reader of the "Hush" storyline as the Finch drawn Batman seems like be inspired by the Jim Lee incarnation. Please don't misintepret my comparisoin: Finch's quality of art lives up to the hype with his detailed panels and sharp lines - all designed to explode off of the page.

The trail leads to Killer Croc, who has been injecting Venom to boost his strength. Finch's version of Croc is simply amazing: a monster reminiscent of the human at birth. While there's another villain who gets a redesign, it's best to leave that spoiler for a later date.

DC is handling the Batman mythology well, especially for fans of the Christopher Nolan film series. Finch's art is still his strength, so if you want a Grant Morrison story, please read "Batman Inc". "The Dark Knight" is rather simple: there has been a kidnapping and Batman will systematically battle through the rogue gallery of Bat villains to find the culprit.

For that reason, to see Finch's interpretation of the Batman universe even if it's in a relatively safe storyline, makes this a recommended read and follow-up in issue #2.

Read original post or follow on Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-tampa-bay/review-batman-the-dark-knight-1-review

Hillary Clinton compares Arizona shooter to Islamic Extremists

2011-01-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

Democrats, more than Republicans, seem more willing to go overseas and make outlandish statements and pretend we don’t know or won’t find out.

Our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, openly raised the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) on a trip to the Arab world, then compared the shooter Jared Lee Loughner to Muslim extremists. The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

“We have extremists in my country. A wonderful, incredibly brave young woman Congress member, Congresswoman Gifford[s], was just shot by an extremist in our country.”

Clinton made these remarks during an “interview” with students in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

“The extremists and their voices, the crazy voices that sometimes get on the TV, that’s not who we are, that’s not who you are, and what we have to do is get through that and make it clear that that doesn’t represent either American or Arab ideas or opinions.”

Now the EXTREMISTS are on TV?!?!

I wonder who she’s referring to?

The student during the interview had asked Clinton why many in the United States target the entire Arab world when assigning blame for the 9/11 attacks. The Secretary of State didn’t set the record straight by stating that WE NEVER MADE THAT ACCUSATION, oh no…Clinton drew a comparison between Arab terrorists that perpetrate violence and Loughner as well as those EXTREMISTS on TV.

The State Department clarified that she was not saying Loughner should be treated as a terrorist.

Pathetic.

Read more Hillary quotes: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/06/hillary-clinton-quotes/

“The Dark Knight Rises” rumors – Tom Hardy to play Hugo Strange?

2010-12-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

Collider.com reported “that the “Dark Knight Rises” is script expected in January and shooting set to start in May of 2011, the rumor mill for The Dark Knight Rises is cranking up. The latest speculation has the movie based on Prey, a story arc in the Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight graphic novel series.

This comic series is widely considered a follow-up to Frank Miller’s “Year One” and would easily be a good fit for the Christopher Nolan series. Nolan has confirmed that the Joker will not return and the Riddler will not be the villain in “Rises.

So, is this a manufactured frenzy to sell some comic book back issues?

Possibly.

At that same time Christopher Nolan describe this as the final chapter in his trilogy: “…complete a story that has begun. This is not starting over, this is not rebooting. We’re finishing something, and keeping a consistency with what’s come before has real value.”

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 11-15: Prey

A story by Doug Moench:

Gotham City’s new psychiatrist, Hugo Strange, is obsessed with Batman. He convinces the mayor to prepare a special task force to capture Batman with Commissioner Gordon as its head. Gordon deploys the seemingly not-too-bright, overzealous Sgt. Max Cort to lead the task force. Later, it is found that Strange hates the Batman because he loves what the Batman does, becoming a creature of the night but he can’t do it. He deduces the Batman’s identity and plays psychologically with him by placing life-like mannequins of his parents in Wayne Manor with audio tapes. He then hypnotizes Sgt. Cort into donning a costume & becoming another vigilante, who then kidnaps the mayor’s daughter. Batman rescues the mayor’s daughter, while Hugo Strange is shot several times before falling into Gotham Bay. His body is never recovered.1

So enter Tom Hardy, who is confirmed to be playing a villain, would be a nice fit from the psychopath Dr. Hugo Strange. The human experimentation and mental instability parallel the Scarecrow and the Joker, so I can see the appeal to the Nolan universe.

Read more: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/12/the-dark-knight-rises-rumors-tom-hardy-to-play-hugo-strange/

Christmas Memories: “Christmas Story” & the Leg Lamp

2010-12-20T16:16:00.000-08:00

“Christmas Story” remains one of my favorite Christmas movies because of the how well it holds up to multiple viewings. My children tease me because I watch the film with the captions “turned on” to discover amazing line after line.

Old Man Parker: In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.

One of the most famous scenes in the film is the arrival of the “major award”: the leg lamp.

[Mr. Parker reads a side of the box with the prize that he won]
Mr. Parker: Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.
Mrs. Parker: Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, dear.
Mr. Parker: Oh, yeah.

This is a list of my favorite quotes from “A Christmas Story”

* Only one thing in the world could’ve dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.
* Only I didn’t say “Fudge.” I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the “F-dash-dash-dash” word!
* We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice. (as Randy dives into the presents)
* Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. My personal preference was for Lux, but I found Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor – heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand…
* Grover Dill! Farkus’s crummy little toadie. Mean! Rotten! His lips curled over his green teeth.
* Scut Farkus! What a rotten name! We were trapped. There he stood, between us and the alley. Scut Farkus staring out at us with his yellow eyes. He had yellow eyes! So, help me, God! Yellow eyes!
* Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!
* All right, I’ll get that kid to eat. Where’s my screw driver and my plumber’s helper? I’ll open up his mouth and I’ll shove it in.
* The old man stood there, quivering with fury, stammering as he tried to come up with a real crusher. All he got out was…(Old Man) Naddafinga!!!
* I left Flick to certain annihilation. But BB gun mania knows no loyalty.
* Strange. Even something as momentous as the Scut Farkus affair, which it came to be known, was pushed out of my mind as I struggled to come up with a way out of the impenetrable BB gun web, in which my mother had me trapped.

Fantastic!

Read more at: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/12/christmas-memories-christmas-story-the-leg-lamp/

Leftists Delusions of Obama's Accomplishments

2010-12-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

Read the complete article here at www.DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/the-leftist-delusions-of-president-obamas-accomplishments/

This Facebook post is spreading through Democratic and leftist circles to mobilize support and tighten the buzzwords of support for their glorious leader.

Nancy Lloyd’s list is a utopian wishlist of campaign propaganda designed to program the disciples for the upcoming campaign without any serious analysis to truth or execution.

At the top of the list in “Ethics” is the Obama favorite – “Transparency”

Let’s forget for a moment that Congress pushed healthcare through Christmas sessions at midnight or the series of thousand page bills which were never read –no, let’s look at the President’s most recent move: Bob Bauer.

The “Ethics Czar” (Norm Eisen) has been relocated to ambassador detail for the Czech Republic leaving Bauer to head this “fictional” concept of “transparency” from the Oval Office. Bauer, a Democratic lawyer and opponent to Campaign Finance, has a reputation of ‘pushing the limits of how these rules are interpreted, he’s paved the way for more unethical outcomes.”

On a similar notion is the concept that there are “no lobbyists in the White House” – they use the phrase “placed limits on” them – no matter what color you paint the fence, it’s still designed to keep the chickens on the farm.

From President Obama’s State of the Union: “We’ve excluded lobbyists from policymaking jobs” which translates to “We told a bunch of people no, but we have 40 lobbyists currently working in the White House.” (Read Washington Examiner article here)

Nancy Lloyd Facebook article says: “* Note: After saying he would not hire lobbyists, a few have been hired in the Administration” — yes. “Few” = 40!

Promises broken are so easily redefined or ignored:

* Freedom of Information Act to be repealed – now, “respect” the act and overturn Bush era limits
* Close Guantanamo Bay Prison (“due to opposition”) – even though he’s had a super majority in Congress
* Afghanistan & Iraq: I love the spin here on “intentions and efforts” instead of results
* Ended the Bush-era “blackout” imposed on media coverage of the return of fallen US soldiers (CALVIN GIBBS!?!?!)
* On that same blackout: Wikileaks documents and the mysterious missile off the coast of California

Let’s continue the back and forth with Nancy’s proposed “Accomplishment” and the reality:

* Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office — apologized for America tour, bowed to Saudi and Japanese leadership and dissed Great Britain, our strongest ally on several occasions.
* Spoke on Arab television, spoke at an Egyptian university, and met with Arab leaders in an effort to change the tone of US-Arab relation — We’re Sorry
* Authorized a $789 billion economic stimulus plan – It’s NOT going to work because it was a spending bill for Democrat districts
* Authorized a continuation of the US financial and banking rescue plans initiated at the end of the Bush administration and authorized TARP funds to buy “toxic assets” from failing financial institutions — see Bush gets blamed for the mess, but Obama continued the horrible bailout bill, turning it into a slush fund for bankers
* Ended the Bush-era policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs – in India he describes outsourcing as having “enormous win-win potential” Read here

The post ends with “Share the Facts” – well, there are a ton of “half-truths” or skewed perspectives to share. So as I prepared for responses: “Let ‘er RIP!”

Read about the Calvin Gibbs case on DOB: http://deskofbrian.com/?s=calvin+gibbs

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=463254009536&id=1229467734&ref=mf

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/08/12/the-things-bob-bauer-was-doing-before-taking-over-ethics/

http://washingtonindependent.com/95343/good-government-groups-raise-questions-about-new-white-house-ethics-czar

MSNBC anchor Lawrence O’Donnell: “I am a Socialist”

2010-12-06T03:56:00.000-08:00

Read the complete article, with videos at www.DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/msnbc-anchor-lawrence-odonnell-i-am-a-socialist/

MSNBC Anchor O’Donnell: “I Am A Socialist. I Live To The Extreme Left Of You Mere Liberals!”

O’Donnell: “I don’t pretend that my views which would ban all guns in America, make Medicare available to all in America, have any chance of happening in the Federal government.”

Glory! Glory, is the truth.

Note: this is the first 40 seconds of the video and look at the face on that “poor Progressive liberal” – he’s in shock at the public pronouncement of their ideology.

Morning Joe – Kudos, praise…finally the truth!

O’Donnell: “If you think Socialism is bad, then you are against Medicare. You are against Social Security. Tell your Mother and Father to stop taking those Social Security checks.”

I want to personally thank Larry for his candor and honesty. Socialism is growing and the advocates are in the media, in our local governments and running the White House. They refuse to accept the history of failures and push this Marxist philosophy under a well-packaged, well-marketed campaign slogan of change.

Well, America doesn’t need change or transformation, it simply needs the Constitution.

Tonight is the night…the debut of the Teleprompter in Indian Parliament sponsored by US taxpayers

2010-11-21T18:04:00.000-08:00

A new precedent for President Barack Obama today as he will break the barriers and be the first to use a teleprompter in Indian Parliament.

Indian reports say: “Obama’s reliance on the teleprompter is unusual–not only because he is famous for his oratory, but because no other president has used one so consistently and at so many events, large and small.”

Well, here in America, we’ve gotten used to the fact that our President needs a crutch. After President Bush’s series of bumbles and gaffes, most Americans look the other way or naively praise his oratory skills.

The authorities are also leaving no stone unturned to give a red carpet welcome to Obama.

There have been wild rumors about the trip costing $200 or even $300 million per day — EACH DAY!

“The numbers reported in this article have no basis in reality,” said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor. “Due to security concerns, we are unable to outline details associated with security procedures and costs, but it’s safe to say these numbers are wildly inflated.”

So how much will it cost?

If security is such a HUGE issue – why is Michelle and the girls joining the President on the trip? Wouldn’t that be a greater risk, more to protect and again, more expensive?

Daily Mail reports:

“…the trip involves 40 planes, including Air Force One, and six heavily armored cars.
The president will be driven around in a Cadillac which has a built-in communications center. The car has the U.S. launch codes and the nuclear switch for the president. It can withstand a chemical, germ warfare or bomb attack.
The president’s entourage has booked the entire Taj Mahal Hotel for two days of his three-day visit, and the property will be a no-go area for non-hotel staff while he is staying there.
A heavy security cordon will surround the hotel. The Secret Service will have two command posts in Delhi and Mumbai for communications purposes. They will eye all movement by the president with real time satellite monitoring. Thirty dogs have been put in service to boost security arrangements during the visit.”

Well, it’s easy to see how a price tag in the millions came to be.

One reported comment by a staff member at the Parliament: “Thank god they won’t eat anything or have tea or coffee from our canteen. We would have to go through a tough security drill otherwise.”

Yes indeed.

Historic trip trip – yes. Maybe it’s not the most expensive trip ever, but it should be a nice vacation for the family as the President licks his wounds from the midterm elections.

If nothing else, he’ll have his faithful teleprompter there for comfort.

Read on www.DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/tonight-is-the-night-the-debut-of-the-teleprompter-in-parliament/

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_teleprompter-to-make-its-debut-in-parliament-when-obama-speaks_1456549
http://www.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/11/obamas-india-trip—-not-as-expensive-as-you-may-have-heard/1

30 Stupidest “Star Wars” characters – you decide

2010-11-21T17:59:00.000-08:00

Simon Kinnear over at TotalFilm.com delivered an interesting list entitled: “30 Stupidest Star Wars” characters and there might be some surprises for the Fanboys.

C-3Po, Greedo, Boss Nass join the half dressed Oola near the bottom of the list with interesting arguments before we get to a controversial entry: Mace Windu.

Mace Windu: “Controversial choice, but for bad-ass Jackson to be hoodwinked by Palpatine (who couldn’t have be more obviously evil if he stopped mid-scene to kick a passing Ewok) shows serious lapse in the cleverness stakes.”

So, this is not so much a “Stupid” character, but a reflection of how idiotic Mace’s death scene transpired.

A hysterial is Jaxxon. Who is Jaxxon? I’ll let TotalFilm speak for themselves.

Jaxxon
The Character: A Lepi smuggler and associate of Han Solo, introduced in Star Wars 8 comic.
Why So Stupid? Look at him. It’s another rabbit. Star Wars seems to have a bizarre obsession with giving heroes floppy ears, fluffy tails (and, for all we know, rampant libidos). Sadly, Jaxxon isn’t the last such creature on this list.

I remember being a kid and looking perplexed at my Marvel “Star Wars” comic at the rabbit fighting alongside Han Solo and somehow pressed on. Little did we know the Jar Jar Binks was rolling around in George Lucas’ noggin, so Jaxxon isn’t as shocking now as it was 30 years ago.
I let you browse the list via the link below, but it’s filled with several characters from the comics and books – quite a let down.

What is NOT a let down and rather controversial is the appearance of General Grievous.

TF: “Why So Stupid? Grievous is the anti-Darth Maul, an alleged bad-ass who is easy to defeat (Kenobi slices off two arms almost immediately) and who fails to heed Maul’s credo that silence is golden, given a cough that’s as irritating for us as it must be for him.”

Cough – stupid. Four lightsabers – awesome. Losing to Obi-Wan (like Darth Maul I might add) – for from stupid.

I loved the date with my kids about Walrusman, Greedo, Anakin himself and yes, Jar Jar Binks.

Have fun Fanboys.

Read the original post on www.deskofbrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/30-stupidest-star-wars-characters-you-decide/

Election Exhaustion and Voter Apathy

2010-11-11T04:09:00.000-08:00

It will soon be over.

With the vote today I expect to hear the GOP exaggerate their victories, Democrats to cry “fraud” or “recounts” and voters to shake their heads.

Just as President Obama was revealed to be another political ideologue, so it will be revealed that this midterm election will effect little other than deepen the wedge between the two sides and give credence to ignoring third party options.

There is a chasm between the far left and far right and that’s how our political leaders want it to remain. President Obama made a reference to Republicans as “enemies” (Read this and more of the President’s gems) and Sean Hannity’s condescending attitude bleeds down my TV screen if I wander onto FOX news.
If you’ve tried to follow the political races then your wading boots are covered in mud from the leeches slinging insults at one instead of discussing solutions. Alan Grayson for example felt it was acceptable to refer to his opponent as a terrorist and a draft dodger. (Read the article here) Republicans want us to ignore the years of spending and ignoring their electorate under Bush and empower them again.

Our media continues to fail us as they focus more on Christine O’Donnell’s dating habits nearly 20 years ago than our Floridians will pay for a high speed rail system.

So what’s new? Nothing.

In Winnipeg, this candidate attacks the incumbent, Sam Katz, for kicking children in the face (accidentally during a soccer game) — “nice” (Canadian attack ad – kicking child in the face)

So it’s everywhere.

Some districts will report the low voter turnout or report on the frustrations and apathy of voters.
Ashame they’ll never seek out “Why” or offer solutions by fairly covering third party candidates.
We will return to a daily grind, a struggle in today’s economy with a background of instance news, lies, deceit – until they need us to vote again in two years.

Don’t get me wrong, I hold the power to vote as sacred and a responsibility but I feel your pain and I’m exhausted from the campaigning.

Let’s take a deep breath and start anew tomorrow knowing that the cycle is about to start over.

Read State of the Nation at www.DeskofBrian.com are this article here: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/election-exhaustion-political-apathy/

Michelle Obama's speech divides right from left

2010-11-11T04:06:00.000-08:00

Michelle Obama’s stump speech for Harry Reid really reveals the emotional drive of the left and how separated the right is from those on the left. While her husband calls the opposition the “enemy” and horribly articulates a metaphor of “driving the car into a ditch” and “drinking a Slupee” (Read many of the President’s quotes: here)

We are not just here because of an election. We are not just here because we support Harry, and we do. We are here to renew that promise. We are here to restore that dream. We are here because we believe in some simple truths, that no child’s future should be limited because of the neighborhood they are born in. We believe that if you get sick in America, you should be able to see a doctor.
We believe that if you work hard you should make a decent wage and have a secure retirement. We believe that if you fulfill your responsibilities every day you should be able to provide for your family, just like our folks did.

”We believe” — insinuating the other guys, those “enemies” don’t share these beliefs?

I disagree Madam. Most Americans, right and left, share many of those beliefs, but we differ in application, means and the role of the Federal Government as the executor of these “beliefs.”

What dream is being restored?

One minute the Obamas are fundamentally “changing” America and then the next, they are “restoring” something. Which is it?

The talking points are all here:

Insinuate that Americans can’t see a doctor (presumably without Obamacare) but we have illegal immigrants in emergency rooms.
Insinuate that the “other side” doesn’t care about the future of those poor kids.
Insinuate that the Republicans don’t care about your retirement or your prosperity.

So Mrs. Obama can even wave a finger, lecture American voters, but all she is really conveying is that the Obamas are ideologues….far leftists….statists.

The means to insurance, prosperity and life style are simply defined in our Constitution: life, libery and the pursuit of happiness. “Pursuit” offers no guarantees of outcomes (an issue illustrated through guilt on the left) and the solution is simple: Big Government or Less Government.

This dates back to Andrew Hamilton versus Thomas Jefferson.

“We believe” in many of the same things, but we disagree on “HOW” to get there.

Read here on DeskofBrian.com: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/michelle-obama-helps-us-understand-right-vs-left/

Michelle Obama quote page on DOB: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/10/michelle-obama-quotes/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/michelle-obama/8104042/Midterms-2010-Michelle-Obama-makes-last-ditch-attempt-to-save-Democrats.html

Joy Behar's mental comments reveal liberal hypocrisy

2010-11-11T03:57:00.000-08:00

So Joy Behar doesn’t like Sharron Angle. The right-wing opponent of Harry Reid has infuriated Behar to the point of screaming that Angle is “going to hell” calling her a “bitch” and proclaiming her to be evil. Read and watch video here.

Meanwhile, on another show, Juan Williams explains he gets uncomfortable and nervous seeing fully garbed Muslims on a plane – Juan was fired.

So why the incredible double standard?

I’ve read the left-wing bloggers excusing Joy’s rants because she’s an “entertainer” but these are the same folks crucifying every talk radio blowhard from Glenn Beck to Rush Limbaugh.
The firing of Juan Williams by NPR has set off a firestorm to stop taxpayer funds from fueling this hypocritical agenda. Jim DeMint has led the charge to end the federal funding of NPR.

NPR received $4 billion in federal money since 2001 and will get $430 million in the 2011. Republican Minority Whip Eric Cantor and nearly every Republican running for office this year promised to seek an end to taxpayer subsidies for NPR and public television.

I seldom agree with Brit Hume’s narrow perspective, but Brit said: ”And I think it is simply this, that in the culture of NPR, appearing on Fox is a sin. And in the culture of NPR, for an African American man like Juan, regardless of his extraordinary stature, to be there and be kind of a Bill Cosby liberal, not a down-the-line liberal, is a sin as well.

A Bill Cosby liberal.

The progressives will tolerate the unhinged behavior of Joy Behar as long as the target is an enemy of the agenda. This is agenda is narrowly constructed that a slight misstep, one belief too close to Cosby or Williams and you can be banished from their playground.

Modern liberalism: intolerant, bigoted, mean spirited and most dangerous of all, without accountability.

Read "State of the Nation" at www.deskofbrian.com or this article at: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/10/behars-psychotic-name-calling-is-ok-but-juan-feels-nervous-and-hes-fired/

Joy Behar Quotes on Desk of Brian, DOB: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/07/joy-behar-quotes/

http://blog.nj.com/njv_john_atlas/2010/10/missing_from_the_juan_williams.html

Bill Mahers offers Democrats advice to win

2010-10-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

Bill Maher wrote a column for the Huffington Post slamming Christine O’Donnell and offering this amazing wisdom:

“Which brings me to the one succinct phrase that could keep the Democrats in power in 2012: “We’ll legalize pot.” I’m not saying this just to get cheap applause. I’m saying it because reliable surveys tell us that there’s only one thing that will rouse our precious youth to the polls the way Jackass in 3D got them out to the theaters, and that’s pot. It’s the unwritten second half of Obama’s slogan. “Yes We Can…Get High at the Mall.”

Read all of the gems from Bill Maher on DOB’s quote page Read it here.

The motivation is simple: Bill wants everyone to get high. He’d probably be funnier if the audience was stoned out of their minds, but Maher drives home another motivation:

Bill Maher has been using current events — particularly politics — as comedic fodder for more than a dozen years. Earlier this month, the comedian made his Internet television debut with "Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher," a 30-minute weekly program on Amazon.com. Bill Maher has been using current events — particularly politics — as comedic fodder for more than a dozen years. Earlier this month, the comedian made his Internet television debut with "Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher," a 30-minute weekly program on Amazon.com.Bill Maher has been using current events — particularly politics — as comedic fodder for more than a dozen years. Earlier this month, the comedian made his Internet television debut with "Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher," a 30-minute weekly program on Amazon.com. AP/Damian Dovarganes

In the legalization of marijuana, the Democrats finally could have something they’ve always wanted: a wedge issue. Remember wedge issues? Things like gay marriage and prayer in school and other bulls**t that Republicans used for years to get hillbillies to the polls? That’s how Bush got elected in 2004 — Karl Rove put gay marriage on the ballot in eleven key states, knowing that all the Christian s**t-kickers would come out against boys kissing and stick around to pull the lever for Bungles the Clown.”
Like most on the Left, Maher thrives on the opportunity to rail on the right, especially the Christian right. To Maher and the leftists on Capitol Hill, we’re all just a bunch of ignorant “hillbillies” who can’t think for ourselves and it was all just a grand conspiracy by Karl Rove to strike down gay marriage initiatives.
I wish I could ask Bill how that worked in California where 70 % of the Obama supporters, who were also Black, voted down gay marriage.

Read here: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/10/bill-maher-tells-dems-secret-to-victory-legalize-pot/

Virgina Ironside: Abortion is Kindness

2010-10-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

Virginia Ironside: If I were the mother of a suffering child I mean a deeply suffering child I would be the first to want to put a pillow over its face If it was a child I really loved, who was in agony, I think any good mother would.
When I heard about this interview, I expected a screaming match, a miscue or a comment which would be followed by a retraction and an apology.
In fact, the others on the panel give Ms. Ironside an “out” and she refuses. “Abortion is the act of a loving mother” - I was shocked.

“If a baby’s going to be severely disabled or totally unwanted, surely an abortion is the act of a loving mother. Life is only a gift if the person living it feels cherished, loved and wanted and sadly, the world is full of unwanted children. To go ahead and have a baby, knowing that you can’t give it some kind of stable upbringing seems to me to be cruel.
“There is an argument that parents will love a severely disabled child and that a fatherless child will get all the love it needs from its mother, and some argue that the parents of a disadvantaged child will become better people. We all love the feeling of doing good, but to create a child who may well be going to suffer all its life is very, very unfair and no good parent, and no good mother, would want to impose that suffering on a child.”

The arrogance and condescending attitude isn’t really new, but is no less shocking and difficult to digest. Virginia Ironside almost drifts into citing Hitler with her visions of absolutes and having all of the answers.

Read State of the Nation at www.deskofbrian.com

This article here at: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/10/virginia-ironside-on-bbc-abortion-is-kindess-as-most-are-unfit/

Eric Stoltz in 'Back to the Future' - thank goodness for "change"

2010-10-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

This summer we celebrated the 25th anniversary of “Back to the Future” and even though it’s months later, I felt it interesting to reflect on what could have been…or rather, what would not have been.

Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly

As most “Back to the Future” fans know, Eric Stoltz was cast in the role of Marty McFly for 6 weeks of filming before Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg deemed him “too intense” for the role and let him go.
Thanks to Gary David Goldberg, the BTTF was then able to get Michael J. Fox, their first choice for Marty. Fox had at first been unable to play the role, due to a scheduling conflict with his TV series “Family Ties” but now Goldberg allowed him to juggle the two projects, and the rest is history! For a while, this picture was one of the ones in existence of Stoltz as Marty McFly.
Interesting Note: The costume that Eric Stoltz is wearing was described as Marty’s 1985 outfit in the novelization of Back to the Future by George Gipe. A T-shirt with a U.S. Patent Office facsimile on it [of a guitar], and green [Converse] shoes.

Production started on November 26, 1984 and by Christmas, Spielberg had declared Stoltz wrong for the comedy.
Steven Spielberg, says that Zemeckis checked with him before making the switch.
“[Zemeckis] showed me the first five weeks of shooting that he had put together, aAnd he said, ‘I just don’t think we’re getting the laughs I was hoping we would get.’ ”
Spielberg feels the decision “was absolutely correct.”

Read more of the article, see the video and pictures here at: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/10/eric-stoltz-in-back-to-the-future-woulda-coulda-glad-they-didnt/

www.deskofbrian.com

NewWorldSon interview and Concert review

2010-10-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Listen to the new NewWorldSon CD, a self titled album featuring their hit song “There is a Way”, and you may scratching your head trying to figure out their sound. Before a concert near Tampa, I was able to spend time with drummer Mark Rogers who described NewWorldSon as “Four guys, with similar backgrounds, who love soul, jazz, reggae, ska, funk…our music can’t just be put in a single style.”

Photo/http://www.bigbangdist.com

As I learned about the Canadian foursome, I was struck by their passion.
NewWorldSon was forged out of a Tuesday night jazz club gig, supported by their local church in St. Catharines in Ontario, Canada.
“People from the church supported us as a great outreach. It was good music. The more bolder we performed, the more successful we became” but Rogers went on to admit “We questioned if the audience would want to here gospel.”
It would be understated to describe the subsequent three years as a meteoric rise in popularity, including eight months on the road opening for the Newsboys.
“The performances all over the world were exciting. We all worship the same God and music brings people together” Rogers says of the tour. NewWorldSon surely sharpened their skills and the concert at Bell Shoals Baptist Church exceeded all of my expectations.

NewWorldSon, Rich Moore on bass 10/08/10 Bell Shoals Baptist Church Photo/Brandon Jones

Lead singer Joel Parisien immediately took control and energized the crowd during “You Set the Rhythm”, dancing a jig that engaged his fans and when Parisien opened “Listen to the Lord” with his beatbox, even the most stubborn concertgoer abandoned their seat to stand and cheer.
“Our prayer is to have a good time with you, fellowship with you and in all honesty, for some Southern hospitality” Parisien confessed to the crowd who then joined in a “spiritual calisthenics” with an organized “soul clap” to get everyone’s juices flowing.

Read article here: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/10/newworldson-interview-concert-review/

Ground Zero Mosque response: Fred Phelps to build anti-gay church near Stonewall

2010-10-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

Maybe you see this coming since they are going to build a mosque next to ground zero. (Read Here: Commission clears way for ground zero mosque)

So, to the supporters of the mosque (the panel vote was 9-0 and the New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the idea) so would a Westboro, anti-gay church build next to the location of the Stonewall riots be approved?

Where is the new line America?

Are we drawing lines for freedom of religion or freedom of speech?

I’m struggling with the concept of the mosque for many, many reasons, but be careful NOT to infringe on their freedom to practice religion. Are these wohabe (radical extremist) Muslims or peace loving American Muslims?

So, here’s the challenge:

To the supporter: would you support the Fred Phelps, gay hating Baptist Church being built adjacent to the Stonewall Inn as I stated?

To the opposition: weren’t you screaming about suppression of Christian practices, especially as Christmas and Easter?

What church would be acceptable at or near ground zero? What is politically correct or incorrect?
This is the modern fight for “freedom of religion” and “freedom of speech” – can you and will you fight for the opinion or RIGHT even if you completely disagree in your gut?

Read more here: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/08/fred-phelps-to-build-anti-gay-church-next-to-stonewall-inn/

Stimulus Bill: the latest receipt on Wasteful Spending

2010-09-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

As we close in on the election, I’ve noticed Democrats aren’t touting their February 2009 Stimulus Bill, which as revised by the Congressional Budget Office, cost $862 billion.
In December 2009, the LA Times reported $157,8 billion in stimulus funds had been spent to save 640,320 jobs. Wow, that’s only $246,346 per job!
Woohoo! We redirected, borrowed, or printed nearly $250,000 to save a job.
Isn’t the government efficient?
In October of 2009 the government released the data that the “average payroll employee (for October 2009) was $59,867. The government spends FOUR TIMES the average salary to “Create a Job”. Using their ridiculous figures and the average payroll – that would have been 2.4 million jobs.
So this was the recent headline:
NIH, spent $823,200 of economic stimulus funds in 2009 on a study by a UCLA research team to teach uncircumcised African men how to wash their genitals after having sex. (read http://deskofbrian.com/2010/09/how-have-we-spent-the-stimulus-823000-went-to-african-genital-washing-program/)
Let’s review what we’ve spent some of this money on…
Mapping Radioactive Rabbit Feces                                 $300,000
University of Hawaii: Honey Bee Study                                               $210,000
Oregon Fishermen:Lost Crab Pot Recovery                    $700,000
Mark Penn (repay Hillary Clinton campaign debt)                     $5,970,000
Univ. of Arizona/Ariz State: Ant Research                            $970,000
Connecticut insect research                                                  $2,300,000
Duluth, Minn. Snow Making Facility (15th in yearly snowfall)       $6 million
Minn. (Heart of Beast) socially conscious Puppet Show    $100,000
Penn State fossil research in Argentina                           $1,570,000
Lockheed Martin: study supersonic corporate Jet              $4,700,000
Washington State visitor center(closed in 2007) repairs                 $554,763
National Institute of Health:study college students sex lives      $219,000
California College students to poll African election patterns $230,000
Study how cocaine effects monkeys’ brains                                             $147,000
Study on ‘Why Young Men Don’t Like Condoms’                        $221,000
Tennessee Mall: Geothermal heating (mall’s nearly empty)        $5,000,000
Study Buffalo, NY residents’ drinking habits                              $400,000
Boynton, Oklahoma: replace 5 year old sidewalks                                  $90,000
Sunset Strip renovation                                                                $1,000,000
Lancaster, PA Train Station(not used for decades) Renovation   $9.38 million
Facebook privacy study                                                                      $498,000
Turtle Tunnel in Tallahassee, Florida                                             $3,400,000
Wichita, Kansas: Spay and Neuter pets                                       $380,000 – this includes an undisclosed amount for roads as well
Georgia Tech University study on improvised music                      $762,372
“Dance Draw” – UNC: Charlotte (interactive dance)                           $750,000
Land purchase Arizona and Colorado Spring Training Facilities    $30 Million
Connecticut WNBA team’s practice facility                                             $50 million
Light rail tunnel under the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh              $62.5 million
Fire Stations in San Antonio (2 stations)                                                  $73 million

Read more: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/09/stimulus-bill-the-latest-receipt-on-wasteful-spending/

www.DeskofBrian.com

Does the Huffington Post have all of the answers?

2010-09-21T03:54:00.000-07:00

Newsweek’s article on the Huffington Post and Arianna Huffington ask a very interesting question: Has the Huffington Post figured out the future of journalism?
“The Huffington Post, attracted 24.3 million unique visitors last month, five times as much traffic as many new-media rivals, more than The Washington Post and USA Today, and nearly as many as The New York Times. HuffPo’s revenue this year will be about $30 -million—peanuts compared with the old-media dinosaurs, but way better than most digital competitors. And HuffPo has finally started to eke out a profit.”
The article mentions how Newsweek is/was for sale and how these traditional journalism outlets are bleeding cash. Their costs are too high, the product can no longer compete with the timeliness of Internet news and are incredibly bias and prejudiced in their reports.
So how and why is the Huffington Post so successful?
They cashed in and built a brand attracting the “Bush haters” and are reaping amazing benefits. The Huffington Post is very timely with their news and have a flashy, attractive website that is incredibly user friendly.
I and, DOB, share a similar mission statement: “HuffPo’s mission, Huffington says, is “to provide a platform for a really important national conversation.”

Read the rest of the article: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/08/does-the-huffington-post-have-the-answers/

Ryan Hughes interview

2010-09-20T04:12:00.000-07:00

My family had the honor of attending a fundraiser for LifeCare of Brandon, a non-profit organization which offers counseling and support for women enduring an unplanned pregnancy or a past abortion.
This benefit concert was headlined by Ryan Hughes and his “To Be Determined” band which was an amalgam of artists playing guitar, sax, drums, and provided backup vocals. It was an amazing show and I took the opportunity to talk to Ryan briefly about the experience.
Brandon Jones: “New Day” is the first song on your album “Step Out Again” and, in my opinion, it’s a great concert anthem song, so tell me a little about how it came to be and how you approach it with the audience.
Ryan Hughes: I have always loved the verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Romans 8:1 similarly reminds us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
I believe that more than ever people need to know that they are not bound to be what they’ve been in the past. Instead there is new life and freedom moving forward in Christ. In many ways our lives are yet “to be determined” by the choices we make. Accepting Christ into our lives is a choice we can make which brings us into a “New Day”.
Brandon Jones: I think it’s a great message.
One of the great moments of the show was when you brought your two sons up on stage to join you and your wife, Patty, in a number. I know it makes you proud, but tell me did this experiment start and could we expect more of it.
Ryan Hughes: Life is full of blessings that we often are too busy to recognize, I appreciate you mentioning it. It was truly a highlight for me to share the stage and a ministry moment with my entire family. Prior to the night of the concert, we had only performed together as a family once before. I am glad I chose to include them, and I will continue to include them in the future.
Both boys are self-taught, and simply play from the passion that God has placed in their hearts. Patty has been with me since I started in ministry, and helps share the workload for keeping our group together.
BBJ: That’s amazing. God has truly blessed your family with an incredible musical talent.

Read more here: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/08/interview-with-musician-ryan-hughes/

www.Deskofbrian.com

Stephen Hawking & his juvenile assault on God to sell a book

2010-09-18T04:20:00.000-07:00

Stephen Hawking is one of the greatest minds of our century (that’s what we’re told), which is why it’s so frustrating to witness him being exploited, or worse, exploiting science to make a buck. His publisher was thrilled to release the following provocative anti-theisitic statements from Hawking’s new book “The Grand Design”: “Because there are laws such as gravity, the Universe can and will create itself out of nothing. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the Universe going” and “How did the universe begin?…does not require the intervention of some supernatural being or god.”
I’ve received several emails asking if I’m planning to respond – I wanted to wait to see the book for myself. Meanwhile, atheists pound their chests as though they’ve just held up Madusa’s head to defeat the Kraken and they haven’t read one page. I personally laughed at some of the comments that I’ve read by atheists describing how “they’re basically smarter than the rest of us” and can don an arrogant smile like a Hybrid driver pulling away from the gas pump.
While Hawking and his comrades have made careers out of their wild speculations, their assertions are hardly new or prophetic. The theory of the “vacuum fluctuation” (to imply that matter can simply spontaneously appear, created out of “nothing”) has been combined with the string theory, M-theory and other elements of quantum physics to hypothesize scenario after scenario to support the “everything from nothing” (i.e. Big Bang) theory.
Hawking’s statement is no big deal. It’s not original, it’s not certain, and even it were true: it’s no threat to authentic faith in God.
From Hawking’s “A Brief in Time”

There are something like ten million million million million million million million million million million million million million million (1 with eighty zeroes after it) particles in the region of the universe that we can observe. Where did they all come from? The answer is that, in quantum theory, particles can be created out of energy in the form of particle/antiparticle parts. But that just raises the question of where the energy came from. The answer is that the total energy of the universe is exactly zero.

The problem is that his statement of absolutism is just a theory. “In quantum THEORY” particles can do whatever the scientists dream up.
So in this latest send up, “The Grand Design”, the genius Hawking fails to illustrate any but another tier on the house of cards of “hypothetical science” My favorite is Hawking trying to explain “M-theory is not a theory in the usual sense. It is a whole family of different theories.”

Read the rest of the article: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/09/stephen-hawking-his-juvenile-assault-on-god-to-sell-a-book/

www.DeskofBrian.com

"Degrassi" is Disgraceful, even for teens

2010-09-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

Life is not an episode of “The Waltons” or “The Cosby Show” but television shows, especially kids’ shows integrate the most liberal or extreme scenarios into their storylines normalizing the behavior.

“Degrassi”, or more specifically, “Degrassi: The Next Generation” is the flagship show of TeenNick which was revamped in 2009 and features the long running Canadian show. (Note to be confused with Canadien as in Montreal Candadiens, see comments below-BBJ)

TeenNick sounds like a safe haven for parents to unleash their children for some mindless television time. Unfortunately, you need to be concerned.

This is “Degrassi”:

*Jimmy tries to advance his sexual relationship with girlfriend Ashley, he learns that his physical disabilities have caused him to have some erectile issues
*Episode entitled: “It’s Raining Men” – teens Marco and Dylan go on a date, have their first kiss after season long tension including a GLAAD mixer
*One character is caught snorting cocaine and that character joins the first to “find out what it’s like”
*The Coach takes KC to a hotel, gets him drunk, watches porn with him, shows his gun and hires KC a hooker.

Sex, drinking, suicide, even some drug use, getting DRUNK…”Degrassi” delivers it all.

“Part of making stories about the next generation involves tackling social issues relevant to today’s adolescents, even if that means pushing the envelope of what’s conventionally seen in youth-oriented programs” said co-creator and producer Linda Schuyler.

Read the rest of the article: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/06/degrassi-is-disgraceful-even-for-teens/

Why Faith Matters: Burning Quran, Ground Zero Mosque & Tony Blair - how to make sense of it all

2010-09-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

With recent headlines of protests and animosity surrounding a "Community Center" aka mosque, being built at Ground Zero and a Preacher (Terry Jones) organizing a burning of the Quran, it is clear that we are witnessing a resurrection of religious tensions more publicly.

Blair discusses his concern for his atheist father's fate, telling a teacher: "I'm afraid my father doesn't believe in God." Amazingly the child received a healthy response: "That doesn't matter. God believes in him. He loves him without demanding or needing love in return."

Blair continues:

"...faith matters because it inspires people to act and raise their sights beyond themselves. Sadly, religion can be distorted into violent extremism. Having spiritual beliefs has never rendered a person incapable of doing wrong or evil. But far more often, faith can be a force for good."

As the fervor surrounding the Quran burning stirred throughout the week, I discussed it with several individuals and my Pastor send me the response from the Assembly of God (my denomination) Superintendent, George O Wood:

Assemblies of God denounces burning of Qur'an

In what has become a national furor, a small non-denominational church, Dove World Outreach Center, in Gainesville, Florida, has announced plans to burn copies of the Qur'an on Saturday, September 11 ‹ the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

As the church has reportedly made claims of Pentecostalism, the Assemblies of God, the overall ninth largest denomination in the United States and one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States, has made it clear it has no ties with the church and has publicly objected to the burning.

"I don't believe that [burning the Qur'an] is respectful toward the
very people we want to love into the Kingdom," states AG General Superintendent George O. Wood. "It only drives Muslims farther away from the Lord Jesus and reinforces the false notion that followers of Jesus are crusaders from the Middle Ages."

Just as Blair calls for find "common values to bring us together", we need to strive to bridge gaps not divide people further.

Wood continued:

"Such actions as these only make it more difficult to effectively
witness to Muslims. Our focus should be on sharing the
amazing love of God that brought Jesus into this world to die for
our sins, not engaging in activities that only drive people farther away from Christ."

Amen.

Read more at "State of the Nation" on DeskofBrian.com:

http://deskofbrian.com/2010/09/why-faith-matters-burning-quran-ground-zero-mosque-tony-blair-how-to-make-sense-of-it-all/

The Declaration of Our Founders

2010-07-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

"State of the Nation" is posted regularly on DeskofBrian.com, read this post here: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/07/the-declaration-of-our-founders/

The scene is the Continental Congress July 4th, 1776 as the thirteen colonies announce they are now independent states.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The war between the colonies and Britain waged on for over a year before that glorious day in July.

Thomas Jefferson had said (Nov. 29, 1775):

Believe me, dear Sir: there is not in the British empire a man who more cordially loves a union with Great Britain than I do. But, by the God that made me, I will cease to exist before I yield to a connection on such terms as the British Parliament propose; and in this, I think I speak the sentiments of America.

This most cherished documented is the greatest symbol of liberty. The concept of individual freedom was not new, but what the Jefferson draft provided was self-evident truths.

I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will
cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance. - John Adams

Deliverance indeed.

Jefferson presented Natural Law instead of "natural rights theory" substituting "the pursuit of happiness" for property as an inalienable right. The emphasis shifted from personal choice to public service.

After listing the grievances with the King, the official Declaration is made:

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.—And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The greatest document is forged.

So beyond the fireworks, parades and hot dogs is the birth of this country. As we look at the toils of the world we should recognize that these men sacrificed their reputations, fortunes and lives to make a dream come alive....America.

Why would Bill Clinton compare Tea Partiers to Timothy McVeigh?

2010-04-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at "State of the Nation" at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/whywouldbillclintoncompareteapartierstotimothymcveigh

Bill Clinton commemorated the anniversary of the horrific Oklahoma City Bombing by comparing Tea Party protesters to Timothy McVeigh, blaming advocates of small government for the bombing fifteen years prior.

Clinton is claiming that McVeigh and others:

"...took to the ultimate extreme an idea advocated in the months and years before the bombing by an increasingly vocal minority: the belief that the greatest threat to American freedom is our government, and that public servants do not protect our freedoms, but abuse them."

For the most point, the Tea Party protesters have been non-violent, vocal dissent against big government, endless spending, encouraging the principles of the Constitution and our Founding Fathers. Bill Clinton, along with the extreme left, the mainstream media want to stigmatize the group by associating them with Timothy McVeigh and his ilk.

Unconscionable.

One might jump to the conclusion that President Clinton is truly maligning the Tea Party members, strategizing with the Obama administration in the transparent campaign to marginalize the Tea Parties.

I'll take a different look and assert that Bill Clinton is behaving as Bill Clinton always has and always will, in his best interest.

President Clinton may want us to believe he's naive, but in fact, I believe is using the opportunity to re-write history.

Timothy McVeigh has revealed to the world why he bombed the Federal Office in Oklahoma City and that's the government's action in Waco, Texas two years prior.

"I explain herein why I bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. I explain this not for publicity, nor seeking to win an argument of right or wrong. I explain so that the record is clear as to my thinking and motivations in bombing a government installation.
I chose to bomb a federal building because such an action served more purposes than other options. Foremost, the bombing was a retaliatory strike; a counter attack, for the cumulative raids (and subsequent violence and damage) that federal agents had participated in over the preceding years (including, but not limited to, Waco.) From the formation of such units as the FBI's "Hostage Rescue" and other assault teams amongst federal agencies during the '80's; culminating in the Waco incident, federal actions grew increasingly militaristic and violent, to the point where at Waco, our government - like the Chinese - was deploying tanks against its own citizens. "

McVeigh equates the bombing to hitting a government location in Serbia NOT a protest against "big government" or massive government spending.

McVeigh's actions are heinous, criminal and deplorable on every level and Clinton's efforts to distort McVeigh's intentions to label Americans practicing their free speech is nearly as deplorable.

The Waco Siege ended on April 19, 1993 and two years later, to the day, Timothy McVeigh enacted his distorted and twisted form of justice. Fifteen years later, a former President attempted to politicize the horrors of that day to re-write and protect his legacy and slander protesters.

Pathetic day in history on every level.

http://www.digital-exp.com/doco/TimothyMcVeigh.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/19/ED5I1D1191.DTL

"Avengers" taking shape & Mostow speaks on "Namor"

2010-04-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at "State of the Nation" at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com:

http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/pop-culture-other-topics/avengerstakingshapemostowspeaksonnamor

A "Sub-Mariner" movie aka "Namor" made me snicker at first. The shallow character would be a super-hero version of "Species" or possible a "Frankenstein" tale, but never anything remotely interesting.

Well, then Universal hired Jonathan Mostow to write and direct the film.

Universal still holds control of "Namor" while Marvel pursues an "Avengers" climax to their growing universe. Collider.com just reported the latest on the film and Mostow's commitment to a great script.

Mostow, director of "Surrogates" and "Terminator 3" said on camera that it's tangled in a "shroud of secrecy" as it is in development.

Meanwhile Hayley Atwell (TV's "The Prisoner", Woody Allen's "Cassandra's Dream") joins the cast on "The First Avenger: Captain America" as Peggy Carter. In the comic books, Peggy Carter is a French Resistance fighter that
hooks up with Steve Rogers and his team of Invaders during World War
II. Carter is the aunt of Sharon Carter, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and
Rogers' modern love interest in the current Marvel Comics continuity.

Joss Whedon will direct "The Avengers" and has been given unilateral control to tweek Captain America, "Ant-Man" and basically anything tied to the franchise. Edgar Wright, director of "Ant-Man" tweeted this week that he and Whedon have met:

“I just met Joss Whedon for the first time. Speculation commence!”

"Iron Man 2" director Jon Favreau speaks out that Cap and Thor make a cameo in "IR2":

"I want it to be completely self-contained because a lot is going to happen between now and the next chapter. You've got 'Thor,' you've got 'Captain America ' and you've got ' Avengers.' I
don't know how all of that is going to impact this little handmade
story of ours that we've been doing over the last two films… You want
to leave some things open, you know, to be like a food cache for them
to set things up that can be paid off later and lean toward where we think
things are going… But we can't leave it like 'Empire' where you're
waiting to see it resolved. It's not a cliffhanger. We had to tuck this
whole story in. And that be said, we had like eight different
storylines going and opened up the door, especially with both the good
guys and the bad guys, for a larger story to be told. That's just
responsible filmmaking. But if you just watch this movie, it's
self-contained. It's not like 'Two Towers.' " - Favreau

An Italian website "BadTaste" confirms:

"One thing that will excite the public instead of enthusiasts is the extra scene that appears after the credits of Iron Man 2,"
says the site, based on their source which they consider "100% secure."
But what will the scene consist of? "Well, we say that the scene will
cover Captain America and Thor!"

Chris Evans as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor -- it's becoming a reality.

http://www.collider.com/2009/08/12/director-jonathan-mostow-provides-an-update-on-namor-flick-the-sub-mariner/

http://movies.ign.com/articles/108/1083707p1.html

http://www.comicvine.com/news/thor-and-captain-america-in-iron-man-2/140920/

What Can We Learn From Aldous Huxley?

2010-04-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

THE MIKE WALLACE INTERVIEW
Guest: Aldous Huxley
5/18/58

WALLACE: This is Aldous Huxley, a man haunted by a vision of hell on earth. A searing social critic, Mr. Huxley 27 years ago, wrote Brave New World, a novel that predicted that some day the entire world would live under a frightful dictatorship. Today Mr. Huxley says that his fictional world of horror is probably just around the corner for all of us. We'll find out why, in a moment.

(OPENING CREDITS)

WALLACE: Good evening, I'm Mike Wallace. Tonight's guest, Aldous Huxley, is a man of letters, as disturbing as he is distinguished. Born in England, now a resident of California, Mr. Huxley has written some of the most electric novels and social criticism of this century.

He's just finished a series of essays called “Enemies of Freedom,” in which he outlines and defines some of the threats to our freedom in the United States; and Mr. Huxley, right of the bat, let me ask you this: as you see it, who and what are the enemies of freedom here in the United States?

HUXLEY: Well, I don't think you can say who in the United States, I don't think there are any sinister persons deliberately trying to rob people of their freedom, but I do think, first of all, that there are a number of impersonal forces which are pushing in the direction of less and less freedom, and I also think that there are a number of technological devices which anybody who wishes to use can use to accelerate this process of going away from freedom, of imposing control.

WALLACE: Well, what are these forces and these devices, Mr. Huxley?

HUXLEY: I should say that there are two main impersonal forces, er... the first of them is not exceedingly important in the United States at the present time, though very important in other countries. This is the force which in general terms can be called overpopulation, the mounting pressure of population pressing upon existing resources.

WALLACE: Uh-huh.

HUXLEY: Uh... this, of course, is an extraordinary thing; something is happening which has never happened in the world's history before, I mean, let's just take a simple fact that between the time of birth of Christ and the landing of the May Flower, the population of the earth doubled. It rose from two hundred and fifty million to probably five hundred million. Today, the population of the earth is rising at such a rate that it will double in half a century.

WALLACE: Well, why should overpopulation work to diminish our freedoms?

HUXLEY: Well, in a number of ways. I mean, the... the experts in the field like Harrison Brown, for example, pointed out that in the underdeveloped countries actually the standard of living is at present falling. The people have less to eat and less goods per capita than they had fifty years ago;

and as the position of these countries, the economic position, becomes more and more precarious, obviously the central government has to take over more and more responsibility for keeping the ship-of-state on an even keel, and then of course you are likely to get social unrest under such conditions, with again an intervention of the central government.

So that, I think that one sees here a pattern which seems to be pushing very strongly towards a totalitarian regime. And unfortunately, as in all these underdeveloped countries the only highly organized political party is the Communist Party, it looks rather as though they will be the heirs to this unfortunate process, that they will step into the power... the position of power.

WALLACE: Well then, ironically enough one of the greatest forces against communism in the world, the Catholic Church, according to your thesis would seem to be pushing us directly into the hands of the communists because they are against birth control.

HUXLEY: Well, I think this strange paradox probably is true. There is, er..., it's an extraordinary situation actually. I mean, one has to look at it, of course, from a biological point of view: the whole essence of biological life on earth is a question of balance and what we've done is to practice death control in the most intensive manner without balancing this with birth control at the other end. Consequently, the birth rates remain as high as they were and death rates have fallen substantially. (COUGHS)

WALLACE: All right then, so much, for the time being anyway, for overpopulation. Another force that is diminishing our freedoms?

HUXLEY: Well another force which I think is very strongly operative in this country is the force of what may be called of overorganization. Er... As technology becomes more and more complicated, it becomes necessary to have more and more elaborate organizations, more hierarchical organizations, and incidentally the advance of technology is being accompanied by an advance in the science of organization.

It's now possible to make organizations on a larger scale than it was ever possible before, and so that you have more and more people living their lives out as subordinates in these hierarchical systems controlled by bureaucracy, either the bureaucracies of big businesses or the bureaucracies of big government.

WALLACE: Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Now the devices that you were talking about, are there specific devices or er... methods of communication which diminish our freedoms in addition to overpopulation and overorganization?

HUXLEY: Well, there are certainly devices which can be used in this way. I mean, let us er... take after all, a piece of very recent and very painful history is the propaganda used by Hitler, which was incredibly effective.

I mean, what were Hitler's methods? Hitler used terror on the one kind, brute force on the one hand, but he also used a very efficient form of propaganda, which er... he was using every modern device at that time. He didn't have TV., but he had the radio which he used to the fullest extent, and was able to impose his will on an immense mass of people. I mean, the Germans were a highly educated people.

WALLACE: Well, we're aware of all this, but how do we equate Hitler's use of propaganda with the way that propaganda, if you will, is used let us say here in the United States. Are you suggesting that there is a parallel?

HUXLEY: Needless to say it is not being used this way now, but, er... the point is, it seems to me, that there are methods at present available, methods superior in some respects to Hitler's method, which could be used in a bad situation. I mean, what I feel very strongly is that we mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology.

This has happened again and again in history with technology's advance and this changes social condition, and suddenly people have found themselves in a situation which they didn't foresee and doing all sorts of things they really didn't want to do.

WALLACE: And well, what... what do you mean? Do you mean that we develop our television but we don't know how to use it correctly, is that the point that you're making?

HUXLEY: Well, at the present the television, I think, is being used quite harmlessly; it's being used, I think, I would feel, it's being used too much to distract everybody all the time. But, I mean, imagine which must be the situation in all communist countries where the television, where it exists, is always saying the same things the whole time; it's always driving along.

It's not creating a wide front of distraction it's creating a one-pointed, er... drumming in of a single idea, all the time. It's obviously an immensely powerful instrument.

WALLACE: Uh-huh. So you're talking about the potential misuse of the instrument.

HUXLEY: Exactly. We have, of course... all technology is in itself moral and neutral. These are just powers which can either be used well or ill; it is the same thing with atomic energy, we can either use it to blow ourselves up or we can use it as a substitute for the coal and the oil which are running out.

WALLACE: You've even written about the use of drugs in this light.

HUXLEY: Well now, this is a very interesting subject. I mean, in this book that you mentioned, this book of mine, “Brave New World,” er... I postulated it a substance called 'soma,' which was a very versatile drug. It would make people feel happy in small doses, it would make them see visions in medium doses, and it would send them to sleep in large doses.

Well, I don't think such a drug exists now, nor do I think it will ever exist. But we do have drugs which will do some of these things, and I think it's quite on the cards that we may have drugs which will profoundly change our mental states without doing us any harm.

I mean, this is the... the pharmacological revolution which is taking place, that we have now powerful mind-changing drugs which physiologically speaking are almost costless. I mean they are not like opium or like coca... cocaine, which do change the state of mind but leave terrible results physiologically and morally.

WALLACE: Mr. Huxley, in your new essays you state that these various "Enemies of Freedom" are pushing us to a real-life “Brave New World,” and you say that it's awaiting us just around the corner. First of all, can you detail for us, what life in this Brave New World would you fear so much, or what life might be like?

HUXLEY: Well, to start with, I think this kind of dictatorship of the future, I think will be very unlike the dictatorships which we've been familiar with in the immediate past. I mean, take another book prophesying the future, which was a very remarkable book, George Orwell's “1984.”

Well, this book was written at the height of the Stalinist regime, and just after the Hitler regime, and there he foresaw a dictatorship using entirely the methods of terror, the methods of physical violence. Now, I think what is going to happen in the future is that dictators will find, as the old saying goes, that you can do everything with bayonets except sit on them!

WALLACE: (LAUGHS)

HUXLEY: But, if you want to preserve your power indefinitely, you have to get the consent of the ruled, and this they will do partly by drugs as I foresaw in “Brave New World,” partly by these new techniques of propaganda.

They will do it by bypassing the sort of rational side of man and appealing to his subconscious and his deeper emotions, and his physiology even, and so, making him actually love his slavery.

I mean, I think, this is the danger that actually people may be, in some ways, happy under the new regime, but that they will be happy in situations where they oughtn't to be happy.

WALLACE: Well, let me ask you this. You're talking about a world that could take place within the confines of a totalitarian state. Let's become more immediate, more urgent about it. We believe, anyway, that we live in democracy here in the United States. Do you believe that this Brave New World that you talk about, er... could, let's say in the next quarter century, the next century, could come here to our shores?

HUXLEY: I think it could. I mean, er... that's why I feel it so extremely important here and now, to start thinking about these problems. Not to let ourselves be taken by surprise by the... the new advances in technology. I mean the... for example, in the regard to the use of the... of the drugs.

We know, there is enough evidence now for us to be able, on the basis of this evidence and using certain amount of creative imagination, to foresee the kind of uses which could be made by people of bad will with these things and to attempt to forestall this, and in the same way,

I think with these other methods of propaganda we can foresee and we can do a good deal to forestall. I mean, after all, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

WALLACE: You write in Enemies of Freedom, you write specifically about the United States. You say this, writing about American political campaigns you say, "All that is needed is money and a candidate who can be coached to look sincere; political principles and plans for specific action have come to lose most of their importance. The personality of the candidate, the way he is projected by the advertising experts, are the things that really matter."

HUXLEY: Well, this is the... during the last campaign, there was a great deal of this kind of statement by the advertising managers of the campaign parties. This idea that the candidates had to be merchandised as though they were so-called two-faced and that you had to depend entirely on the personality.

I mean, personality is important, but there are certainly people with an extremely amiable personality, particularly on TV, who might not necessarily be very good in political... positions of political trust.

WALLACE: Well, do you feel that men like Eisenhower, Stevenson, Nixon, with knowledge aforethought were trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the American public?

HUXLEY: No, but they were being advised by powerful advertising agencies who were making campaigns of a quite different kind from what had been made before. and I think we shall see probably, er... all kinds of new devices coming into the picture. I mean, for example, this thing which got a good deal of publicity last autumn, subliminal projection.

I mean, as it stands, this thing, I think is of no menace to us at the moment, but I was talking the other day to one of the people who has done most experimental work in the... psychological laboratory with this, was saying precisely this, that it is not at the moment a danger, but once you've established the principle that something works, you can be absolutely sure that the technology of it is going to improve steadily.

And I mean his view of the subject was that, well, maybe they will use it up to some extent in the 1960 campaign, but they will probably use it a good deal and much more effectively in the 1964 campaign because this is the kind of rate at which technology advances.

WALLACE: And we'll be persuaded to vote for a candidate that we do not know that we are being persuaded to vote for.

HUXLEY: Exactly, I mean this is the rather alarming picture that you’re being persuaded below the level of choice and reason.

WALLACE: In regard to advertising, which you mentioned just a little ago, in your writing, particularly in “Enemies of Freedom,” you attack Madison Avenue, which controls most of our television and radio advertising, newspaper advertising and so forth. Why do you consistently attack the advertising agencies...

HUXLEY: Well, no I... I think that, er... advertisement plays a very necessary role, but the danger it seems to me in a democracy is this... I mean what does a democracy depend on? A democracy depends on the individual voter making an intelligent and rational choice for what he regards as his enlightened self-interest, in any given circumstance.

But what these people are doing, I mean what both, for their particular purposes, for selling goods and the dictatorial propagandists are for doing, is to try to bypass the rational side of man and to appeal directly to these unconscious forces below the surfaces so that you are, in a way, making nonsense of the whole democratic procedure, which is based on conscious choice on rational ground.

WALLACE: Of course, well, maybe... I... you have just answered this next question because in your essay you write about television commercials, not just political commercials, but television commercials as such and how, as you put it, "Today's children walk around singing beer commercials and toothpaste commercials." And then you link this phenomenon in some way with the dangers of a dictatorship. Now, could you spell out the connection or, have... or do you feel you've done so sufficiently?

HUXLEY: Well, I mean, here, this whole question of children, I think, is a terribly important one because children are quite clearly much more suggestible than the average grownup; and again, suppose that, er... that for one reason or another all the propaganda was in the hands of one or very few agencies, you would have an extraordinarily powerful force playing on these children, who after all are going to grow up and be adults quite soon. I do think that this is not an immediate threat, but it remains a possible threat, and...

WALLACE: You said something to the effect in your essay that the children of Europe used to be called 'cannon fodder' and here in the United States they are 'television and radio fodder.'

HUXLEY: Well, after all, you can read in the trade journals the most lyrical accounts of how necessary it is, to get hold of the children because then they will be loyal brand buyers later on. But I mean, again you just translate this into political terms, the dictator says they all will be ideology buyers when they are grownup.

WALLACE: We hear so much about brainwashing as used by the communists. Do you see any brainwashing other than that which we’ve just been talking about, that is used here in the United States, other forms of brainwashing?

HUXLEY: Not in the form that has been used in China and in Russia because this is, essentially, the application of propaganda methods, the most violent kind to individuals; it is not a shotgun method, like the... the advertising method. It's a way of getting hold of the person and playing both on his physiology and his psychology until he really breaks down and then you can implant a new idea in his head.

I mean the descriptions of the methods are really blood curdling when you read them, and not only methods applied to political prisoners but the methods applied, for example, to the training of the young communist administrators and missionaries. They receive an incredibly tough kind of training which may cause maybe twenty-five percent of them to break down or commit suicide, but produces seventy-five percent of completely one-pointed fanatics.

WALLACE: The question, of course, that keeps coming back to my mind is this: obviously politics in themselves are not evil, television is not in itself evil, atomic energy is not evil, and yet you seem to fear that it will be used in an evil way. Why is it that the right people will not, in your estimation, use them? Why is it that the wrong people will use these various devices and for the wrong motives?

HUXLEY: Well, I think one of the reasons is that these are all instruments for obtaining power, and obviously the passion for power is one of the most moving passions that exists in man; and after all, all democracies are based on the proposition that power is very dangerous and that it is extremely important not to let any one man or any one small group have too much power for too long a time.

After all what are the British and American Constitution except devices for limiting power, and all these new devices are extremely efficient instruments for the imposition of power by small groups over larger masses.

WALLACE: Well, you ask this question yourself in “Enemies of Freedom.” I'll put your own question back to you. You ask this, "In an age of accelerating overpopulation, of accelerating overorganization, and ever more efficient means of mass communication, how can we preserve the integrity and reassert the value of the human individual?" You put the question, now here's your chance to answer it Mr. Huxley.

HUXLEY: Well, this is obviously... first of all, it is a question of education. Er... I think it's terribly important to insist on individual values, I mean, what is a... there is a tendency as a... you probably read a book by Whyte, "The Organization Man", a very interesting, valuable book I think, where he speaks about the new type of group morality, group ethic, which speaks about the group as though the group were somehow more important than the individual.

But this seems, as far as I'm concerned, to be in contradiction with what we know about the genetical makeup of human beings, that every human being is unique. And it is, of course, on this genetical basis that the whole idea of the value of freedom is based.

And I think it's extremely important for us to stress this in all our educational life, and I would say it's also very important to teach people to be on their guard against the sort of verbal booby traps into which they are always being led, to analyze the kind of things that are said to them.

Well, I think there is this whole educational side of... and I think there are many more things that one could do to strengthen people, and to make them more aware of what's being done.

WALLACE: You're a prophet of decentralization?

HUXLEY: Well, the... yes... if it... it's feasible. It's one of the tragedies, it seems to me. I mean, many people have been talking about the importance of decentralization in order to give back to the voter a sense of direct power. I mean... the voter in an enormous electorate field is quite impotent, and his vote seems to count for nothing.

This is not true where the electorate is small, and where he is dealing with a... with a group which he can manage and understand... and if one can, as Jefferson after all suggested, break up the units, er... into smaller and smaller units and so, get a real, self-governing democracy.

WALLACE: Well, that was all very well in Jefferson's day, but how can we revamp our economic system and decentralize, and at the same time meet militarily and economically the tough challenge of a country like Soviet Russia?

HUXLEY: Well, I think the answer to that is that there are... it seems to me that you... that production, industrial production is of two kinds. I mean, there are some kinds of industrial production which obviously need the most tremendously high centralization, like the making of automobiles for example.

But there are many other kinds where you could decentralize quite easily and probably quite economically, and that you would then have this kind of decentralized, like after all you begin to see it now, if you travel through the south, this decentralized textile industry which is springing up there.

WALLACE: Mr. Huxley, let me ask you this, quite seriously, is freedom necessary?

HUXLEY: As far as I am concerned it is.

WALLACE: Why? Is it necessary for a productive society?

HUXLEY: Yes, I should say it is. I mean, a genuinely productive society. I mean you could produce plenty of goods without much freedom, but I think the whole sort of creative life of man is ultimately impossible without a considerable measure of individual freedom, of initiative, creation, all these things which we value, and I think value properly, are impossible without a large measure of freedom.

WALLACE: Well, Mr. Huxley, take a look again at the country which is in the stance of our opponent anyway, it would seem, anyway it would seem to be there, Soviet Russia. It is strong, and getting stronger, economically, militarily, at the same time it's developing its art forms pretty well, er... it seems not unnecessarily to squelch the creative urge among its people. And yet it is not a free society.

HUXLEY: It's not a free society, but here is something very interesting that those members of the society, like the scientists, who are doing the creative work, are given far more freedom than anybody else. I mean, it is a privileged aristocratic society in which, provided they don't poke their noses into political affairs, these people are given a great deal of prestige, a considerable amount of freedom, and a lot money.

I mean, this is a very interesting fact about the new Soviet regime, and I think what we are going to see is er... a people on the whole with very little freedom but with an oligarchy on top enjoying a considerable measure of freedom and a very high standard of living.

WALLACE: And the people down below, the 'epsilons' down below...

HUXLEY: Enjoying very little.

WALLACE: And you think that that kind of situation can long endure?

HUXLEY: I think it can certainly endure much longer than the situation in which everybody is kept out; I mean, they can certainly get their technological and scientific results on such a basis.

WALLACE: Well, the next time that I talk to you then, perhaps we should investigate further the possibility of the establishment of that kind of a society, where the drones work for the queen bees up above.

HUXLEY: Well, but yes, but I must say, I still believe in democracy, if we can make the best of the creative activities of the people on top plus those of the people on the bottom, so much the better.

WALLACE: Mr. Huxley, I surely thank you for spending this half hour with us, and I wish you God speed sir.

HUXLEY: Thank you.

WALLACE: Aldous Huxley finds himself these days in a peculiar and disturbing position: a quarter of a century after prophesying an authoritarian state in which people were reduced to cyphers, he can point at Soviet Russia and say, "I told you so!" The crucial question, as he sees it now, is whether the so-called Free World is shortly going to give Mr. Huxley the further dubious satisfaction of saying the same thing about us.

Republicans reveal their Big Government side for political gain

2010-04-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/republicansrevealtheirbiggovernmentsideforpoliticalgain

Attention all you Tea Party members, Tea Baggers if you watch MSNBC, this is an update for all of the naive FOX watchers and Republican loyalists -- they are lying to you.

President Obama spoke again this week to support financial regulatory reform. Blaming "lobbyists" and corruption is always at the core of his lectures while proclaiming we can't allow "history to repeat itself"

You may have heard tough language of opposition, especially from Scott Brown: "Shame on the president" as Brown "complained that President Barack Obama was derailing bipartisan negotiations on Wall
Street reform for short-term political gain." (Politico article, see below)

I heard and saw clips as I surfed through the news. Of course, the Republicans hot air will fill a room if it will benefit their political gains.

Because the Massachusetts Senator said this:

"The bottom line is, where there are problems [on Wall Street], we
should fix them. I’m not
going to vote on anything or make any statements until I read the
bills,” (adding he'd take a hard look at the proposals and get up to speed)

Where's all of Scott Brown's Ronald Reagan language about "government being the problem, not the solution"?

All we have to do is look to the former Republican Presidential nominee John McCain, who

"... formed an unlikely alliance with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to
propose reinstating the Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act, which
separated commercial banking from investment banking. That law was
repealed in the late 1990s, and many critics say it allowed for the
growth of mammoth and risky
investment banks. Fully reinstating the law would be further
than the Obama administration has proposed."
-Politico

One aide said McCain's vote on Financial Regulatory Reform will "will depend entirely on his analysis of how it plays among Arizona
primary voters"

Politics...Politics...Politics.

“I’m looking at everything. I have not made any decisions.” - Olympia Snowe

“We need to prevent large financial firms from holding taxpayers hostage. I’m still looking at issues.”
- Susan Collins

“I think we all want to see financial regulation take place; I really do. These things
are very solvable. It just takes a little grind-it-out work.” - Bob Corker

The letter to Harry Reid from the Republicans stated:

"As currently constructed this bill allows for
endless taxpayer bailouts of Wall Street and establishes new and
unlimited regulatory powers that will stifle small businesses and
community banks."

In Senator Richard Shelby's letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner we read how this is a slush fund for the Treasury to use as
they see fit, would encourage bailout over bankruptcy and explain how
this is the government running financial interests.

That is what the Tea Party and many motivated individuals are fighting to stop. Unfortunately, the Republicans are no different that their socialist counterparts on the far Left - power is more important and they don't care what we think.

Do NOT be fooled by the liars on the right. Look at their voting records, read between the lines and find the Constitutionalists that will fight to save this country.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/gop-leaders-echo-luntz-democrats-wall-street-reform-bill.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/16/AR2010041603436.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20100416/pl_politico/35887

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/04/sen-richard-shelby-r-al-lays-out-his-objections-to-dems-wall-street-reform-proposal.php?page=2

Farewell and Wake Up

2010-04-17T04:03:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/pop-culture-other-topics/farewellwakeup

Coping with the loss of my 27-year-old Stepbrother has been extremely difficult for my parents, understandably. But equally as difficult is the reality of consequences for a lifetime of sinful behavior.

The reckless, sinless world where personal responsibility is often cast aside, basically consumed my brother as he failed to escape.

In the Bible, Paul speaks to these consequences in Romans 1:18-32 (NIV):

¹⁸The wrath of God isbeing revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

²¹For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave
thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts
were darkened. ²²Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and
reptiles. ²⁴Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual
impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵They exchanged the truth of
God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the
Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

²⁶Because of this, God gave them over to
shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for
unnatural ones. ²⁷In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were
inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with
other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their
perversion. ²⁸Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God,
he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰slanderers, God-haters,
insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they
disobey their parents; ³¹they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³²Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do
these very things but also approve of those who practice them.In moments of crisis and despair we set aside our lives and ask why?

Just as Paul looked out over pagan Rome, we look out over the modern world, especially America where debauchery is king. From Caligula to Nero, Paul had witnessed the Roman onslaught and persecution of Christians as the Emperor led society down the road of wickedness (as he describes)

How is that different than today? What do we need to wake up and see the parallels and therefore, understand the disappointment, frustration and ultimately, anger from our Creator.

My Stepbrother was always a good-willed kid, but seemed to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the "bad kids". Time and punishment never resolved his judgments and it ultimately cost him his life.

He made his decisions, will we learn from his mistakes and heed Paul's warnings?

Star Wars Uncut and the Haters

2010-04-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/pop-culture-other-topics/starwarsuncutthehaters

"Star Wars Uncut" http://starwarsuncut.com/ is a project to have fan film short segments from the original "Star Wars: A New Hope" film, splice them together with the original sound for....well, amusement.

From the site:

Hello!

You and 472 other people have the chance to recreate Star Wars: A
New Hope.
Below is the entire movie split up into 15 second clips.
Click on one of the scenes to claim it, film it, and upload it. You
can have up to three scenes!
When we're all done, we'll stitch it all together and watch the magic
happen.

You can watch some of the clips of the completed segments.

Star Wars: Uncut Trailer

The Huffington Post report that the film is set to premiere in Copenhagen describing it as "going to be awesome" touting the "Do it Yourself" charm.

I'm not sure I'll go that far, but it looks completely entertaining and a great time. So, with that said, cue the haters.

Sure I don't want to see another George Lucas incarnation of the "Star Wars" films, especially in 3-D. To Lucas I'd say: Let the legacy breathe and work on new material.

Recently however, the "Star Wars" hate squad stated the following on a local website:

I'll never understand the appeal of Star Wars beyond Lucas's ability to
sell the hell out of his brand for every last penny...

The world would be a better place had Star Wars never been made...In
my opinion its a gimmick movie but thats just my opinion...

I think the firs Star Wars wasnt made in mind as a marketing tool. in
fact it was so low budgeted that the studio nor the actors had much
faith in it. was it a gimmick? in a way. Lucas basically couldnt get
Lord Of The Rings or Flash Gordon (or was it Buck Rogers?) off the
ground and i think he knew that his claim to fame was American
Graffitti. so what did he do? easy make an old fashioned sci-fi film
that was one part Lord of the Rings (Obi Wans fate at the hands of Darth
Vader at the loading bay and Gandalfs demise at the hands of the Balrog
at the exit or Moria are exact.) and one part the sci-fi space operas
like Flash Gordon that the American Graffitti loving Baby Boomers used
to watch. that equals a hit. and it was. so maybe it was a gimmivk but
to me it was more of a calculated career move by Lucas.

Star Wars is over-rated, and it is a gimmick movie. Lucas does not have
an original idea in the movie, or in the series. I grew up with Star
Wars, though, so it is a part of my youth, and that is why I love it,
despite its flaws. Star Wars, not counting effects, would not do well if
it were released today.

My first viewing of Star Wars came when I was like...18 or something...I
had seen both Return Of The Jedi and Empire in the theaters when they
were re-released with the new and improved FX (barf!) and thought they
were ok...Its just...Considering the hype built around that movie it was
somewhat disappointing when I finally saw it...I'll always blame Lucas
for being the godfather of modern crappy movies...Or atleast the guy who
hooked it on steroids...

Maybe it's because I wasn't around for the hype surrounding the initial
releae of Star Wars, but the movie doesn't do much for me. I mean, I
like the bar scene as much as the next guy, but I've seen Star Wars
once, maybe twice and that's enough for me.

As I've also asserted: time and place. If you were a child during the "Star Wars" craze, you were consumed into the frenzy. It changed science fiction, it changed the toy industry, the marketing for films, merchandise in meals for kids - "Star Wars" really did change everything.
Gimmick?

I can understand the perspective in hindsight, but it was break through film with blue screen technology and model work that were unprecedented.

I really hope the "Fan Film" actually takes off and gets some sort of distribution because it really does seem like fun.

Seems like a better way to spend a few bucks than lining the pockets of an unrepentant, alcoholic drug addict dressed in a brightly colored iron suit playing a womanizing, alcoholic superhero.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/13/star-wars-uncut-fans-recr_n_536332.html?fbwall
Star Wars debate comments from:

http://www.crazedfanboy.com/npcr10/popculturereview523.php

From 1953 to Today, Looking Back in 3-D

2010-04-17T03:51:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/pop-culture-other-topics/untitledpost-2

April 8, 1953, nearly 50 years ago, the first big studio 3-D movie was officially introduced to the mainstream public. "Man in the Dark" was produced by Columbia Pictures and followed Robert Stack in Arch Oboler's "Bwana Devil" (a small production) to usher in the 3-D craze and boom.

Wired Magazine:

"Man in the Dark was a noir film starring Edmond O'Brien, a remake of the 1936 Ralph Bellamy movie, The Man Who Lived Twice. As 3-D it was underwhelming -- the climactic roller-coaster scene was described as flat -- and it apparently wasn't much of a flick, either, at least not to a New York Times critic who called it "a conspicuously low-grade melodrama."

The Globe in New York was the setting as Hollywood would fully embrace the "3-D" film technology and, as they say, the rest is history.

Now our local multiplex is again full of 3-D films. Maybe you endured "Alice in Wonderland" or enjoyed the scenic "Avatar" on an IMAX 3-D sceen. Well, strap yourself in, the list of upcoming 3-D experiences is longer than my grocery list. "Toy Story 3", the 4th Shrek film (Shrek: Forever After", Dreamwork's "Oobermind" and "Dispicable Me" are the creme of the crop for kids and "Harry Potter", "Tron", Joe Dante's "Hole" and a remake of "The Gate" will give adults a dose of the 3-D movie watching.

There is also those nightmarish rumors that "Star Wars" will be re-re-released in 3-D.

Everything seems to come full circle and 3-D technology took a few years to recoup from the disastrous "Jaws 3" but now, nearly 50 years later, fans are still thirsty for the lifelike realism 3-D films delivers.

It's hard to believe is all really exploded with a "Man in the Dark" and a small film with Robert Stack.

For the fanboys: Yes I know "Bwana Devil" was NOT the first 3-D film, but it was the first one in "Natural Vision" (first color stereoscopic 3-D feature). I also know that "Power of Love" in 1922 is officially considered the first 3-D film, however; the point of the article is the recognition of the anniversary of the 1950's 3-D popularity.

Foes to Infiltrate the Tea Parties

2010-04-17T03:46:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/foestoinfiltratetheteaparties

The website http://www.crashtheteaparty.org/ is the epicenter of the anti-Tea Party movement advertising plans to infiltrate Tea Party rallies with phony signs, make wild claims on TV interview and exaggagerate extremist stereotypes to discredit Tea Party members.

From the website:

Who We Are: A nationwide network of Democrats, Republicans and Independents who are sick and tired of all that loose affiliation of racists, homophobes and morons; who constitute the fake grass-roots movement which calls itself "The Tea Party."
What We Want: To dismantle and demolish the Tea Party by any non-violent means necessary.
How We Will Succeed: By infiltrating the Tea Party itself! In an effort to propagate their pre-existing propensity for paranoia and suspicion...we have already sat quietly in their meetings, and observed their rallies.
Whenever possible, we will act on behalf of the Tea Party in ways which exaggerate their least appealing qualities (misspelled protest signs, wild claims in TV interviews, etc.) to further distance them from mainstream America and damage the public opinion of them. We will also use the inside information that we have gained in order to disrupt and derail their plans.

I know and have met several people who attended Tea Party rallies and that includes several minorities and women who would contradict these ridiculous stereotypes.

So this proves several points

Tea Parties are a threat otherwise there wouldn't be a movement to destroy them.
Tea Parties are NOT full of racist, homophobic morons are there wouldn't be a need to implant them.
Tea Party members can spell or there wouldn't be a need to portray them as illiterate.
Tea Party members are not extremists because the "fools" interviewed and portrayed by the media may already be plants.

Stefanie Schappert reporfts that: "Although Crash’s website states that they will take down the tea party “by any non-violent means necessary”, the anonymous founder of the group (known as the “Mad Hatter” or Twitter name “tpartycrasher”) tweeted this on April 8th:

“When Glenn Beck dies, I plan to pour a pint of whiskey on his grave. I hope he doesn't mind if I run it through my kidneys first!!!.”

To quote Robert Ditmar's Examiner piece on this story (sited below):

"This sounds just like the totalitarian tactics of radicals such as Saul Alinsky. It just proves the lying, liberal leftist hypocrites cannot tolerate any intelligent challenges to their ridiculous dreams of a socialist, Utopian left-wing communist paradise-on-Earth society."

Of course it would be easy enough to dismiss this group as extremist fringe themselves, but they are NOT the only group.

The Coffee Party (http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/content/how-destroy-tea-party-make-them-our-friends-and-allies)a phony left-wing group posing as Conservatives, an offshoot of the Tea Party Movement, but rooted in the goals of stereotyping the Tea Party members as radical extremists. "The Coffee Party" was established by Annabel Park who volunteered for Democrat Jim Webb's Senate campaign and President Obama's 2008 campaign - not exactly aligned withe the Tea Parties.

The outrage over the Health Care Reform Law would have waned over the months, but these idiotic efforts will only backfire and motivate more Tea Party participants. I'm sure it would....NO, I KNOW IT WOULD be easier if every opponent of Barack Obama was a racist, sexist, homophobic moron, but unfortunately, America is better than that.

Sooner or later groups like these will find that out.

Why I think the Tea Party is done

Move over Tea Party, Coffee Party is the new buzz

http://www.examiner.com/x-25570-Grand-Rapids-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m4d12-The-Left-Wings-Organized-Effort-to-Destroy-the-Tea-Party

http://newsbusters.org/?q=blogs/lachlan-markay/2010/04/11/lefty-group-tries-infiltrate-tea-parties-offensive-signs-will-msm-ta

http://www.examiner.com/x-41774-NY-Tea-Party-Examiner~y2010m4d10-Crash-the-Tea-Party-group-threatens-to-infiltrate-and-destroy

Arctic Sea Ice Returns to Normal Levels

2010-04-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/hot-topics/global-warming-climate-change-whatever-else-they-ll-call-it/arcticseaicereturnstonormallevels

Despite all of the SUVs and abuse of the environment by Al Gore's standards, the earth continues to change climate - it colder. A historical winter and yielded so other news of relief, the Arctic Ice levels with return to normal.

From the NSIDC:

Barring an about face by nature or adjustments, it appears that for the
first time since 2001, Arctic Sea ice will hit the “normal” line as
defined by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) for this time
of year.

Some of the statements released:

The Danish Meteorological Institute shows Arctic ice extent at the highest level in their six year record.

The Norwegians (NORSEX) show Arctic ice area above the 30 year mean.

Dr. Walt Meir on the cause:

Basically, it is due primarily to a lot more ice in the Bering Sea,
as is evident in the images. The Bering ice is controlled largely by
local winds, temperatures are not as important (though of course it
still need to be at or at least near freezing to have ice an area for
any length of time). We’ve seen a lot of northerly winds this winter in
the Bering, particularly the last couple of weeks.

Yes, they make my head hurt too - temperature are not as important...sigh. That's his quote, the article had the statement in parenthesis so I'll assume they added it.

From Dr. Mark Serreze of NSIDC:

“It’s nice to see a little recovery over the past couple of years,
but there’s no reason to think that we’re headed back to conditions
seen in the 1970s,” said NSIDC Director Mark Serreze, also a professor
in CU-Boulder’s geography department. “We still expect to see ice-free
summers sometime in the next few decades.”

Referring to the "Death Spiral Theory" that the Ice will just suddenly melt away by 2013. Read it here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7139797.stm

Some expects and blogs published how there is some recovery.

"...sea ice appears to have turned the corner as of Sept 13th data. While
that is just one data point, it turned the corner about this time last
year, and the year before."

One Global Warming blog:

So now that Arctic ice has returned to normal extent and area, we
eagerly await the explanation from the experts about how that fits into
the “death spiral” theory. Richard Feynman famously said “Science
is the belief in the ignorance of the experts.”

and

Time will tell. 2010 is looking promising for sea ice
recovery again. After all, who wouldn’t want the Arctic Sea ice
to recover? WUWT is predicting a recovery again this year, which we
started mentioning as a prediction last fall.

So given what we know today, what will NSIDC highlight
in their April Sea Ice News?

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/climate_change_happening_before_your_eyes

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/09/15/arctic-sea-ice-melt-appears-to-have-turned-the-corner-for-2009/

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/03/31/arctic-sea-ice-about-to-hit-normal-what-will-the-news-say/#more-17970

General George Patton Quotes

2010-04-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

Originally Posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/notable-quotes/gen-george-patton-quotes

I just don't think we have men like this anymore.

A good plan, violently executed now, is better
than a perfect plan next week.

A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution
applied ten minutes later.

America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why
America has never, and will never, lose a war.

A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood.

By perseverance, study, and eternal desire, any man can become great.

Do everything you ask of those you command.

Do more than is required of you.

Fixed fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity.

Good tactics can save even the worst strategy. Bad tactics will destroy
even the best strategy.

I always believe in being prepared, even when I'm dressed in white
tie and tails

I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.

If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.

If I do my full duty, the rest will take care of itself.

In case of doubt, attack.

It’s the unconquerable soul of man, not the nature of the weapon
he uses, that insures victory.

Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.

Live for something rather than die for nothing.

May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic
in men.

Never let the enemy pick the battle site.

No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Success is how you bounce on the bottom.

The leader must be an actor.

The soldier is the army.

There is only one type of discipline, perfect discipline.

War is simple, direct, and ruthless.

Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.

You’re never beaten until you admit it.

You shouldn't underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate
him.

Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and
hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tire, more hungry. Keep punching.

In landing operations, retreat is impossible, to surrender is as
ignoble as it is foolish. above all else remember that we as attackers
have the initiative, we know exactly what we are going to do, while the
enemy is ignorant of our intentions and can only parry our blows. We
must retain this tremendous advantage by always attacking rapidly,
ruthlessly, viciously, and without rest.

An Army is a team; lives, sleeps, eats, fights as a team. This individual heroic stuff is a lot of crap.

War is the supreme test of man in which he rises to heights never approached in any other activity.

No sane man is unafraid in battle, but discipline produces in him a form of vicarious courage.

A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is
lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times,
fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the
imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what
fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.

In war the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the
offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.

Wars might be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who leads that gains the victory.

Many, who should know better, think that wars can be decided by
soulless machines, rather than by the blood and anguish of brave men.

Tanks are new and special weapon-newer than, as special, and certainly as valuable as the airplane.

An incessant change of means to attain unalterable ends is always
going on; we must take care not to let these sundry means undue
eminence in the perspective of our minds; for, since the beginning,
there has been an unending cycle of them, and for each its advocates
have claimed adoption as the sole solution of successful war.

Untutored courage is useless in the face of educated bullets.

The obvious thing for the cavalryman to do is to accept the fighting machine
as a partner, and prepare to meet more fully the demands of future warfare.

Many soldiers are led to faulty ideas of war by knowing too much about too little.

Dr. Weiss's Secrets & Warnings about the economy -- psst: there's a lot of debt

2010-04-06T03:51:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/drweissssecretswarningsabouttheeconomy--pssttheresalotofdebt

Dr. Martin Weiss published these 11 staggering facts that
every American needs to know — and that every investor won't be able to
succeed without ...

11 startling facts that Obama and Bernanke do
NOT want you to think about

FACT #1:

The official national debt now stands at $12.68 trillion — an amount equal
to about 88.5% of all the goods and services our economy produces in an
entire year.
FACT #2:
Contingent obligations for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid,
veterans, and pensions now stand at an additional $108 trillion over
and above the "official" national debt.
FACT #3:
State, county and local governments are nearly $3 trillion in debt.
Many can't pay and will ultimately demand that Washington assume
responsibility for that debt as well.
FACT #4:
Total federal, state and local government indebtedness now stands at a
mind-blowing $123.6 trillion.
FACT #5:
Last year, Washington added $1.4 trillion to the debt. In this fiscal year,
the Obama administration will add another $1.6 trillion!
FACT #6:
In addition to funding the current trillion-dollar-plus deficits, the U.S.
Treasury must borrow MORE each year to replace bills, notes and bonds that are maturing.
FACT #7:
This record-shattering borrowing by the Treasury has resulted in a Mt.
Everest of Treasury obligations being dumped onto the market, which
naturally depresses bond prices and drives interest rates higher.
FACT #8:
In adesperate attempt to keep interest rates low, the Bernanke Federal
Reserve has created $1.25 trillion out of thin air to buy
mortgage-backed securities ... another $300 billion to buy U.S.
Treasuries ... and yet another $170.6 billion to buy other government
bonds — a total of nearly $1.7 trillion in all.
FACT #9:
From September 10, 2008 to March 10 of this year, Bernanke increased
the nation's monetary base from $850 billion to $2.1 trillion — a 250%
increase in just 18 months.
FACT #10:
Despite this massive money-printing, the yield on the benchmark 10-year
Treasury note has STILL risen by more than one-fifth — from 3.2% to
3.86% — since December.

FACT #11:
Because of this massive money-printing, the U.S. dollar has lost nearly
10% of its value in the past 12 months alone.
The President and the Treasury Department have colluded with the Fed to create economic slavery for our country. On the surface, Democrats present that they are for the "little man" when in fact, they have driven a biggest wedge between the "Haves" and "Have Nots".

More and more people with suffer when the debt reality unravels, leaving multitudes destitute and dependent on government entitlement programs.

As the Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel said: "No crisis should be wasted" so this explosion of poverty, broke retirees, overwhelmed nursing homes, and bankrupt State budgets will allow the Federal government to grab (and hold) more power.

Are you preparing for this economic disaster? Do you even understand what any of this means or do you still have your head in the sand, believing the propaganda that "the economy is recovering", "can't happen in America" or the biggest lie: "The Republicans still have time to fix this."

http://www.uncommonwisdomdaily.com/11-startling-facts-that-obama-and-bernanke-do-not-want-you-to-think-about-4-9117

Judge Napolitano: Supreme Court may save us from Obamacare...someday

2010-04-06T03:47:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/untitledpost-2

Newsmax released Judge Andrew P. Napolitano's interview with Ashley Martella

"The Constitution does not authorize the Congress to regulate the state governments. Nevertheless, in this piece of legislation, the Congress has told the state governments that they must modify their regulation of certain areas of healthcare, they must surrender their regulation of other areas of healthcare, and they must spend state taxpayer-generated dollars in a way that the Congress wants it done.

"That's called commandeering the legislature. That's the Congress taking away the discretion of the legislature with respect to regulation, and spending taxpayer dollars. That's prohibited in a couple of Supreme Court cases. So on that argument, the attorneys general have a pretty strong case and I think they will prevail.”

Napolitano on the longstanding precedent of state regulation of the healthcare industry makes the new federal regulations that much more problematic:

"The Supreme Court has ruled that in areas of human behavior that are not delegated to the Congress in the Constitution, and that have been traditionally regulated by the states, the Congress can't simply move in there and the states for 230 years have had near exclusive regulation over the delivery of healthcare. The states license hospitals. The states license medications. The states license healthcare providers whether they're doctors, nurses, or pharmacists. The feds have had nothing to do with it.

"The Congress can't simply wake up one day and decide that it wants to regulate this. I predict that the Supreme Court will invalidate major portions of what the president just signed into law…"

The judge also says he would rate President Obama as one of the worst presidents in terms of obedience to constitutional limitations.

"I believe we have a one party system in this country, called the big-government party. There is a Republican branch that likes war and deficits and assaulting civil liberties. There is a Democratic branch that likes welfare and taxes and assaulting commercial liberties.

"President Obama obviously is squarely within the Democratic branch. The president who had the least fidelity to the Constitution was Abraham Lincoln, who waged war on half the country, even though there's obviously no authority for that, a war that killed nearly 700,000 people. President Obama is close to that end of lacking fidelity to the Constitution. He wants to outdo his hero FDR."

For those who oppose healthcare, the Fox legal expert says, the bad news is that many of the legal challenges to healthcare reform will have to wait until 2014, when the changes become fully operational.

Until then, there would be no legal case that individuals had been actually harmed by the law. Moreover, Napolitano says it takes an average of four years for a case to work its way through the various federal courts the final hearing that's expected to come before the Supreme Court.

"You're talking about 2018, which is eight years from now, before it is likely the Supreme Court will hear this," he says.

Other issues that Napolitano addressed during the wide-ranging interview:

He believes American is in danger of becoming "a fascist country," which he defines as "private ownership, but government control." He adds, "The government doesn't have the money to own anything. But it has the force and the threat of violence to control just about anything it wants. That will rapidly expand under President Obama, unless and until the midterm elections give us a midterm correction – which everyone seems to think, and I'm in that group, is about to come our way.
Napolitano believes the federal government lacks the legal authority to order citizens to purchase healthcare insurance. The Congress [is] ordering human beings to purchase something that they might not want, might not need, might not be able to afford, and might not want -- that's never happened in our history before," Napolitano says. "My gut tells me that too is unconstitutional, because the Congress doesn't have that kind of power under the Constitution."
The sweetheart deals in the healthcare reform bill used that persuaded Democrats to vote for it – the Louisiana Purchase, Cornhusker Kickback, Gatorade Exception and others – create "a very unique and tricky constitutional problem" for Democrats, because they treat citizens differently based on which state they live in, running afoul of the Constitution's equal protection clause according to Napolitano. "So these bennies or bribes, whatever you want, or horse trading as it used to be called, clearly violate equal protection by forcing people in the other states to pay the bills of the states that don't have to pay what the rest of us do," Napolitano says.
Exempting union members from the so-called "Cadillac tax" on expensive health insurance policies, while imposing that tax on other citizens, is outright discrimination according to Napolitano. "The government cannot draw a bright line, with fidelity to the Constitution and the law, on the one side of which everybody pays, and the other side of which some people pay. It can't say, 'Here's a tax, but we're only going to apply it to nonunion people. Here's a tax, and we're only going to apply it to graduates of Ivy League institutions.' The Constitution does not permit that type of discrimination."
Politicians from both parties routinely disregard the Constitutional limits imposed on them by the nation's founding document, Napolitano says. "The problem with the Constitution is not any structural problem," says Napolitano. "The problem with the constitution is that those who take an oath to uphold it don't take their oath seriously. For example, just a month ago in interviewing Congressman Jim Clyburn, who's the No. 3 ranking Democrat in the House, I said to him, Congressman Clyburn, can you tell me where in the Constitution the Congress is authorized to regulate healthcare? He said, 'Judge, most of what we do down here,' referring to Washington, 'is not authorized by the Constitution. Can you tell me where in the Constitution we're prohibited from regulating healthcare.' Napolitano says that reflects a misunderstanding of what the Constitution actually is. "He's turning the Constitution on its head, because Congress is not a general legislature," he says. "It was not created in order to right every wrong. It exists only to legislate in the 17 specific, discrete, unique areas where the Constitution has given it power. All other areas of human area are reserved for the states."
Napolitano says that members of Congress infringe on Constitutional rights because they fail to recognize its basis. "They reject Jefferson's argument, in the Declaration of Independence, that our rights come from our Creator, therefore they're natural rights, therefore they can't be legislated away," Napolitano says. "They think they can legislate on any activity, regulate any behavior, tax any person or thing, as long as the politics will let them survive. They're wrong, and with this healthcare legislation, they may be proven wrong, in a very direct and in-your-face way."

http://newsmax.com/Headline/Andrew-Napolitano-barack-obama/2010/03/26/id/354008?s=al&promo_code=9A73-1

Disturbing 2010 Census Video

2010-04-06T03:34:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com :http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/disturbing2010censusvideo?pli=1

The government propaganda just continues as the political themes are interwoven with dependency on the government in this Census Video.

"Are you ready to party?"

YEAH!

"Health care for the kids..."

uh what?

"Brown like that...I'm Black like that..."

What's he talking about?

"A lot of things on the wish list

health care, tuition..."

"government assistance"

"Count me in."

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that the song is made public within week or so or the health care reform bill being signed and as President Obama deepens the government's role in tuition costs.

Yep, must be a coincidence.

Abigail Adams: Remember the Ladies

2010-03-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

March 31, 1776

Abigail Adams wrote this to her husband John Adams:

"I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.

"Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.

"Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.

"That your sex are naturally tyrannical is a truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute; but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up -- the harsh tide of master for the more tender and endearing one of friend.

"Why, then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity?

"Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the (servants) of your sex; regard us then as being placed by Providence under your protection, and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness."

Do you ever hear Abigail's name mentioned by Feminists or Women's Rights Groups? I certainly have not.

A woman's right to vote was nearly 150 years later, in 1920.

Abigail was surely ahead of her time.

More quotes and exhanges John Adams Famous Quotes

PHOTOGRAPHY OF DOROTHEA LANGE | AN AMERICAN ARCHIVE– HARD TIMES

2010-03-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian: www.DeskofBrian.com -- read it here: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/photographyofdorothealangeanamericanarchive%E2%80%93hardtimes

Remembering the Great Depression, face to face, should help us understand the gravity of a weakened America. Our rising debt will dwarf those from World War II and the 1930's.

Are we to prepare? If so, how?

Thanks to Steve Beasley, a friend in New Zealand, who I hope to meet face to face someday.

California, February 1936.
”Destitute peapickers in California; a 32 year old mother of seven
children.” This iconic image has become known as “Migrant Mother” is one of a series of photographs that Dorothea Lange made of Florence Owens Thompson and her children in Nipomo, California. Lange was concluding a month’s trip photographing migratory farm labor around the
state for what was then the Resettlement Administration.

February 1939. Calipatria,
Imperial Valley. Car on siding across tracks from pea packing plant.

Twenty-five year old itinerant, originally from Oregon. “On the road eight years, all over the country, every state in the union, back and
forth, pick up a job here and there, traveling all the time.”

November 1936. “Daughter of migrant Tennessee coal miner. Living in American River camp near Sacramento, California.”

December 1935. “Resettled farm child. From Taos Junction to Bosque Farms project, New Mexico.”

See all of the photos with descriptions here:

http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/photography-of-dorothea-lange-an-american-archive-hard-times/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

Bill Maher's crudely urges on Democrats

2010-03-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian: www.DeskofBrian.com -- read it here: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/billmaherscrudeurgesondemocrats

From March 26, 2010 Bill Maher's show on HBO Bill Maher offers advice to President Obama: tell the populace to kiss his ass, made vulgar references to Tiger Woods and the John Edwards affair, comparing health care to violence sex acts. Maher says to tell the Republicans to "Go F*** themselves" as Obama "drags the ignorant hillbilly half into this century." One last Sarah Palin joke and Maher completes his update on how the left see politcs, Obama's "socialism" and the rest of America.

Here's a word President Obama should take out of his Teleprompter:

Bipartisanship. People only care about that in theory, not in practice.
The best thing that happened this year is when Obama finally realized
that and said: "Kiss my black ass, we're going it alone George W. Bush
style." [applause]

Now, two months ago, conservative Fred Barnes
wrote, "the health care bill is dead with not the slightest prospect of
resurrection." Well, if it's dead, you just got your ass kicked by a
zombie named Nancy Pelosi. Seriously, the last time a Democrat showed
balls like that John Edwards' girlfriend was filming it.

And yet, even before the Democrats got to take a single victory lap, they
were being warned not to get drunk with power. I disagree. All you
Democrats do a shot and then do another. Get drunk on this feeling of
not backing down and doing what you came to Washington to do. [applause]

Do not listen to the people who are now saying that nothing else big
should be attempted for a while because health care was so rough.
Wrong. Because I learned something watching the lying bullies of the
right lose this one. When they’re losing, they squeal like a pig. They
kept saying things like, the bill was being "shoved down our throats."
Or the Democrats were "ramming it through." The bill was so big they "couldn't take it all at once." [laughter]

And you know what? I realized listening to this rhetoric that it reminded me of something.
It reminded me of Tiger Woods' text messages to his mistress that were
made public last week, where he said, and I quote: "I want to treat you
rough, throw you around, spank and slap you and make you sore. I want
to hold you down and choke you while I f*** that ass that I own. Then
I'm going to tell you to shut the f*** up while I slap your face and
pull your hair for making noise." Unquote. [laughter]

And this, I believe, perfectly represents the attitude the Democrats should now
have in their dealings with the Republican Party. [applause]

Yes, it does. That's what they should be saying to the Republicans: "Shut
the f*** up while I slap your face for making noise! Now pass the
cap-and-trade law, you stupid b*tch, and repeat after me, ‘global
warming is real.’" [applause]

The Democrats need to push the rest of their agenda while their boot is on the neck of the greedy, poisonous old reptile. Who cares if cap-and-trade bill isn't popular,
neither was health care. Your poll numbers may have descended a bit,
but so did your testicles.

So don't stop. We need to regulate the banks, we need to overhaul immigration, we need to end corporate welfare including at the Pentagon, we need to bring troops home from
everywhere, we need to end the drug war, and we need to put terrorists
and other human rights violators on trial in civilian courts --
starting with Dick Cheney. [applause]

Democrats, in conclusion, Democrats in America were put on earth to do one thing: Drag the ignorant hillbilly half of this country into the next century, which in
their case is the 19th. And by passing health care, the Democrats saved
their brand.

A few months ago, Sarah Palin mockingly asked them: "How's that ‘hopey-changey’ thing working for you?" Great, actually, thanks for asking. And how's that whole ‘Hooked on Phonics’ thing working out for you? [laughter]

Bill Maher Quotes

Harris Poll: 40% believe Obama a socialist

2010-03-31T14:45:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian: www.DeskofBrian.com -- read it here: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/harrispoll40believeobamaasocialist

The polarization of America continues as President Obama signed the Health Care Reform Bill into law this week despite poll indicate only 25% favor the bill.

We've heard and seen allegations of violence, horrible bigotry, death threats and more violence.

DOB's Robert Herriman posted:

This is out of control! Road rage over a Obama bumper sticker

Are we out of control or headed there?

Harris Poll released this week found:

40 percent of Americans say Mr. Obama is a socialist

33% think he's a Muslim

25% think he was not even born in the U.S.(he's not eligible to be president and is a "domestic enemy that the U.S.
Constitution speaks of")

Shocking? Not to me.

As I've proclaimed during the Bush administration, the divide between parties is a chasm that is hard to bridge. President Obama campaigned on being capable of uniting the parties, but he struggled to resolve feuds in the Democratic Party to push Health Care Reform.

One example from the Harris Poll:

67 percent of both Republicans and conservatives said Mr.
Obama was a socialist, compared with 14 percent of Democrats and 15
percent of liberals.

Well, at least we have 14-15% of honest liberals and Democrats.

"These new numbers are shocking but not surprising - they detail the
extent to which 'wingnuts' are hijacking our politics. This poll should
be a wake-up call to all Americans about the real costs of using fear
and hate to pump up hyper-partisanship," John Avlon, author of
"Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America" told the Harris
pollster.

Not surprising?

Of course, it's the right-wing brainwashing machine (aka "wingnuts" in this instance) but does that include Al Sharpton who said this:

"...then we'd have to say that the American public overwhelmingly voted for socialism when
they elected President Obama."

Sharpton tells US: Obama is a socialist

"We are playing with dynamite by demonizing our president and dividing
our country in the process. Americans need to remember the perspective
that Wingnuts always forget - patriotism is more important than
partisanship," Mr. Avlon said.

Yes, but was Mr. Avlon worried about these partisan attacks when Bush was being attacked and called "Hitler" nearly daily.

In a 2007 Rasmussen Poll found that 35% of Democrats thought that Bush knew about the
9/11 attacks in advance, and that another 26% weren't sure. Partisan? Dangerous?

I actually with Mr. Avlon, we're in dangerous territory. So where to go from here? What will wake you up that there is only a degree of difference between the two parties and most of political actions are done for political gain only.

I was not hard enough on Bush as I should have been, of course, most people only agreed with me while I railed on Bush over Social Security, illegal immigration or spending. It was always about a stolen election and the war.

So let me challenge you to do some soul searching.

If the Health Care Reform Bill outrages you, where are you on Bush and the ridiculous spending on Medicare Prescription Drugs?

Why is the Iraq War, Patriot Act and Gitmo so outrageous under Bush, but now just a quiet backdrop under Obama? Where's the protesters?

Yes Bush ran deficits, but if that upset you, where are you on Obama's spending which is THREE TIMES the worst under Bush?

I'm not with the 14% that think Obama is the anti-Christ or the 20% that feel he's a racist.

But I have serious concerns and questions about the actions of this President and his administration.

He appears to be fulfilling his campaign promise of "transforming" America, unfortunately, he's not simply fixing it.

Maybe some people are just now figuring that out.

Read also:

Is there any difference between the war policy of Obama and Bush?

Why I struggled to identify with President Obama? Liberals: Please help.

President Obama and his inconsistencies with the Patriot Act

Commentary: Obama intends to overthrow American capitalism

When did the US President become a "king"? What happened to "checks and balances"?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/25/even-average-americans-have-harsh-words-for-obama/

http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/Poll-40percent-Obama-Socialist/2010/03/25/id/353810?s=al&promo_code=9A46-1

Pic: http://bartgordon.net/2009/03/01/obamas-first-40-into-the-abyss/

Food Fascists attack Happy Meals & Toys

2010-03-27T05:46:00.000-07:00

Original posting of "State of the Nation" at The Desk of Brian: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/foodnazisattackhappymealstoys

There's been a lot of headlines featuring the policing of our diets, our foods - especially with the health care reform passing.

Two articles here on DOB:

The Fat Police are out in full force

Salt Ban latest in Nanny State efforts

Now we can add an attack on Happy Meals, or at least, the toys inside.

The Mercury News report that Santa Clara, California is again the epicenter of the assault by the Food Nazis. County Supervisor Ken Yeager is leading the charge to eliminate the dolls, race cars or toys from all of the happy meal, kid meals and the like, as he cites these toys are enticing children to eat the unhealthy foods.

"They want the toy and have no idea what's in the food," Yeager said. "You can't expect a 3-year-old to say there are too many calories in that hamburger."

Especially since the Food Nazis found success in mandates on menus, the charge will be to end your freedom "to feast on fried, fatty fast-food."

As Denise Bertacchi rightly described in here Examiner piece:

This same county in Silicon Valley issued a law in 2008 that required chain restaurants to include a calorie count on their menus, which was later adopted by the state of California. And trends that start in California often spread to the rest of the nation.

Back to the Mercury News:

"Yeager hopes his colleagues will agree at today's board of supervisors meeting. If they do, they'll ask county officials to look into regulating kid meals with toys. The result could range from an outright ban on toys to restricting them to healthful meals. Yeager said the regulation would be the first of its kind in the nation."

Wow, ban the toys...eat this apple or you can't have that Hot Wheel.

I personally never really let my kids eat McDonald's too often, let alone an expensie Happy Meal, but when they did IT WAS A REWARD!

The Mercury News sites a parent that uses the toy as an incentive as well, but the goal here is control. The parents can't handle their responsibility, so we need the State of California to interene and "regulate" kid's meals.

Sin (also commonly called Vice) Taxes are a reality and will now accelerate in areas to regulate our diets and behaviors.

I didn't stand up when they taxed cigarettes,

because I didn't smoke.

I didn't stand up when they taxed alcohol,

because I wasn't much of a drinker.

I didn't stand up when they regulated kid's meals,

I didn't have small kids.

I didn't speak up when they regulated salt,

it didn't really matter to me....

on and on and on...

When will you speak up?

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_14734665?nclick_check=1

http://www.examiner.com/x-3599-St-Louis-Motherhood-Examiner~y2010m3d23-Should-Happy-Meal-toys-be-banned-from-your-childs-fast-food-meal

Social Justice revisited with a great post by an old friend

2010-03-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

Original posting of "State of the Nation" is at The Desk of Brian (www.DeskofBrian.com) Read it here: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/socialjusticerevisitedwithagreatpostbyanoldfriend

I recently posted an article on Glenn Beck vs. Social Justice in the churches: Beck instigates "Social Justice" debate over codewords at churches

There was immediate fallout from Beck's comments and frankly, I agree his assertion: "social justice" is a leftist codeword and does NOT belong in the church.

Of course, this is the very treacherous waters, dealing with religion AND politics, and close to home, the tensions rose.

I posted the following on Facebook, which led to a great exchange, and a fantastic post by an old friend of mine that I wanted to share with the DOB Universe.

Brandon: I guess we don't talk about religion and politics because it reveals a lot about a person's character, beliefs, moral compass and how they see the world -- dangerous waters indeed

TG: ..or as Abe Lincoln said: "Its better to stay silent and be thought a fool, than speak and remove all doubt."

DS: I say what ever I feel like,I still pay taxes, and know I'll pay a lot more come tomorrow! Be heard America!

CB: I say religion is man made...But having a personal relationship with JESUS is spiritually needed ...As far as politics are concerned . . . When Jesus runs for president then I will vote lol .

TERRY B:

You're completely right Brandon but they are the best of topics! And between TG's Abe quote and your opening statement I think Proverbs 17:28 would plug in well.

" Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is
counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of
understanding."

Unfortunately I believe we have a lack of teach-ability
in our "I'm right" society. Nobody wants to be wrong and it's easier to be passive with a smile or blame the other guy.

Pride is a major killer in our culture and you can argue with it all day long and get nowhere. It's definitely easier to let the train go, if you will. The other passive stance thinks if I should open my mouth on such topics, my position just might be discredited. It's too bad folks are so thin
skinned on such topics. We'd be better by far if we would simply enter the "dangerous waters" for it has also been said that "smooth sea never made a good sailor".

Would many drown, most likely.

But you wouldn't have as many casualties if you start this thinking early. Many would probably learn to use the oars of teach-ability and the sails of discernment. So I say, hoist the sails and pull the anchor and go out into the treacherous waters!

Oh, CB you're right on target. Religion puts the burden of justification on man and his efforts to obtain God. Christianity on the other hand is God's work through Jesus Christ and His substitutional sacrifice in order to reach down to man.

Now as for waiting until Jesus comes in order to cast a vote, be
mindful we are not voting for a Pastor (that would be nice) but a leader with discernment, backbone who will need to make "good"
compromises.

I do believe we need to be active as Christians, to
exercise our vote and to speak out at injustices. At the same time we always need to be mindful that this world seeketh not after the things of God.

Don’t put any hope in man or a political party, government is
man led.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will
remember the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7

OK overkill I know.

I don't know, maybe to much coffee? I think DS has it right with his last statement, "Be heard America"

Hope you all have a great day.

I obviously removed the other poster's names and made some minor edits to Terry's post.

To Terry: Guilty as charged.

I was politically ignorant and oblivious to the world affairs as a whole. 9/11 changed that for me and began reading: everything left and right...from Al Franken to Rush Limbaugh.

I was horrible to argue or debate (many would say I still am) but I'm working hard to be more patient and listen to other stances.

I'm shocked by two major things:

1. Smart people, college educated, know absolutely nothing and refuse to ever consider that their pre-determined "belief" are incorrect or need to be re-evaluated.

2. As Terry well articulated, the role of the Christian is not to hold blind faith in some politician or leader. I despise the marginalizing of Christians as mindless sheep following some proverbial Evangelical talking head to fall in line behind the Republican party.

The topic at hand was a shocker for me because "social justice" is historically a codeword for the Leftist, Progressive Movement's socialist agenda.

It may still mean "charitable works" or "helping the poor" to some folks, but not to progressives. To the left "social justice" is that old pesky Joe the Plumber line: redistribution of wealth, including property and taxation, under the disguise of helping the impoverished as well as, perpetuating the leftist agenda: promotion of global warming and penalizing offenders, granting amnesty for illegal immigrants and providing reparations for previous offenses.

Witnessing "social justice" redefined by SOME churches under the veil of Christ's will for charity, mercy and grace to promote political agendas and allegiances is VERY DANGEROUS.

Thanks again Terry, I appreciate you letting me post your comments on DOB.

Pic: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ng35b-c3qOE/SQY_sQtQ6XI/AAAAAAAAAKw/N_YC-KBIHcI/s400/socialJustice-w4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://clearnote.blogspot.com/&usg=__XnWDhPXZtfQZXrJoX0Fkjyk4Nys=&h=400&w=243&sz=23&hl=en&start=14&sig2=zK8I7SXB86PI6WgwNHlPgg&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=7P_dZpgj5JJMKM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=75&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522social%2Bjustice%2522%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=kPCpS_aQEpqutgeU6pS7BQ

1965: Gus Grissom & "Gemini 3" really Launched the Space Program

2010-03-27T05:20:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.DeskofBrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/pop-culture-other-topics/1965gusgrissomgemini3reallylaunchedthespaceprogram?pli=1

March 23, 1965 Major Virgil Grissom and Lt. Cdr. John Young completed the world's first maneuverable manned spacecraft through a near-perfect flight of four hours and 54 minutes.

Gemini 3 blasted off from Cape Kennedy as America's first two-person space flight.

This was truly the beginning of a whole new era in man's travel into space.

Check out this photo gallery from "Life":

http://www.life.com/image/50544947/in-gallery/40312/the-space-race-gemini-3

Amazing!

"Molly Brown", as the craft was named, flew nose forward, backward, upside down -- all on their three-orbit journey. The spacecraft's maneuverability was integral to the space program's development and freedom from total control on earth of basic operations.

From the debriefing:

"Molly Brown" lifted off so smoothly that neither Grissom nor Young felt anything. Their real cues were seeing the mission clock on the instrument panel start running and hearing Cooper announce it from mission control. There was less noise than they had heard on the moving-base simulator in Dallas. When the first-stage engine cut off two and a half minutes later, acceleration plunged from six gravities to one. The second-stage engine ignited, bathing the spacecraft in a flash of orange-yellow light that disconcerted Young for the moment it took him to realize that this was a normal product of fire-in-the-hole staging - that is, second-stage ignition before, instead of after, separation. The launch vehicle had slightly exceeded its predicted thrust, but a warning from Cooper prepared the pilots for the larger than expected pitchdown when the second stage took over the steering. Young, who had never been in space before, was entranced by his view of Earth's horizon and the sense of rapid motion as second-stage thrust built up.

It reads better than most novels or the dribble excreted by Hollywood these days.

John Young smuggled a corn beef sandwich aboard, an incident that resulted with the crewmen being reprimanded when they returned to Earth and subsequent crews were warned against pulling similar stunts. Evidently, there was concern that bread crumbs from the sandwich could be harmful to the electronics aboard Molly Brown.

"Oh boy," Commander young said to President Johnson by radiophone from the aircraft carrier after pickup from the Atlantic. "The only thing wrong with it was it didn't last long enough."

Cape Kennedy NASA officials bragged how the Gemini did things that the Russians had never said they could do with their Vostok and Voshkod craft.

First time a manned spacecraft had used rocket power for real alterations of its flight path

First time re-entry into the earth's atmosphere had been controlled (Essential to the Apollo Project)

The nickname he gave the capsule is a reference to the musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." After Major Grissom's first ride in space on July 21, 1961 -- and he is the only man to do it twice -- his Liberty Belle 7 capsule sank in the Atlantic.

After a rust-colored cloud of smoke and steam flashed from the tail of the two-stage rocket and the first manned Gemini flight was airborne.

Three minutes later, Maj. L. Gordon Cooper Jr., who almost two years ago made the nation's last manned flight, said from his communicator's position in the control center:

"You're on your way, Molly Brown!"

"Yeah, Man," Major Grissom replied.

45 years later: "Yeah Man" still feels like the appropriate response. In an era where astronauts were heroic icons, this larger than life launch set the table for a climactic decade of space travel.

Sure seems like light years from where we are today.

Last summer we remembered the first moon walk in my old CFB "State of the Nation" column (at the bottom): http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/state-of-the-nation-from-crazed-fanboy-may-oct-2009/sotn-week-07-13-09

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0323.html#article

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4203/ch10-5.htm

See also: "GT-3 Debriefing," pp. 3-2 through -6; "GT-3 Flight Crew Self-Debriefing," NASA Program Gemini working paper No. 5026, 3 June 1965, pp. 2-1, 3-2; "GT-3 Mission Report," pp. 7-11, -20, -21; "Air-to-Ground Voice," p. 3; Grissom and Young, "Molly Brown was OK," p. 41.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_3#cite_note-1

Healthcare and YOU

2010-03-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at Desk of Brian: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/thehealthcarebillyou

Analysis from WebMD (only from a benefits stand point, NOT cost or taxes etc...)

Beginning immediately:

Children up to the age of 26 can remain on their parent's plan
People with "pre-existing" conditions are eligible for a government federally funded "High Risk" insurance plan
Small businesses could qualify for a tax credit for the cost of premiums
Insurance plans will no longer have lifetime caps
Insurance companies can no longer cancel policies if a patient gets sick
Pre-existing conditions for children cannot be banned or prohibited

Four years from now, 2014:

Insurance marketplaces, called "Exchanges" will be set up instates to offer competitive pricing on health policies for individuals and small businesses that don’t have coverage
People with any pre-existing condition would no longer be denied coverage
All lifetime and annual limits on coverage would be eliminated Medicaid would be expanded to cover more low-income Americans

Also in 2014:

ANY person who did not obtain medical coverage would pay a penalty of $95 or 1% of income, whichever is greater (that penalty would rise to $695 or 2.5% of income by 2016)
The bill would exempt the lowest-income people from that insurance requirement
Medicaid would be expanded to cover those under age 65 with an income of up to 133% of the federal poverty level
To make coverage more affordable, the legislation would offer premium subsidies for people with incomes more than 133% but less than 400% of the federal poverty level ($29,327 to $88, 200 for a family of four)
People in their 20s would have the option to buy a lower-cost "catastrophic" health plan

Small Businesses:

Employers with 50 or more workers would face fines for not providing insurance coverage
Businesses with smaller workforces, though, would be exempt
Companies would get tax credits to help buy insurance if they have 25 or fewer employees and a workforce with an average wage of up to $50,000

Large Employers:

Large employers would run their health plans as they do now, so there won’t be much change. Even though they have more insurance-buying clout, large businesses have seen steadily rising insurance premiums over the past decade without reform, as medical costs have increased. That pattern isn’t likely to change much, at least immediately.

All per WebMD, not me.

Regarding the uninsured, here's the Washington Post's Ezra Klein breaking that down for us:

About a third of the remaining uninsured are illegal immigrants, who are ineligible for coverage through the program. Then there are some folks who have incomes below the individual mandate threshold. Under the terms of the individual mandate, if coverage would cost more than 8 percent of their monthly income, they can skip it. Other people will decide to pay the individual mandate's $750 penalty rather than purchase insurance. Still others will be eligible for public programs such as Medicaid but won't sign up. So the population of the uninsured will be far reduced, and primarily composed of illegal immigrants, the few people who can't afford their insurance and aren't getting subsidies to help them purchase it, and people who have decided to pay the penalty rather than purchase insurance.

I want ever fact and aspect of this proposal to be put forth, so as it self-destructs, we can come back and show them why this failed, why we are NOT supporting go forward with MORE socialized medicine -- it will happen.

It happened with Medicare, Medicaid and even Social Security.

Americans wanted reform, just not this reform. We cannot afford it, it still leaves countless holes, destroys the private insurance companies' ability to do business and put an enormous burden on taxpayers to carry this financial burden.

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20100322/faq-how-health-care-reform-will-affect-consumers-employers

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/03/who_is_left_uninsured_by_the_h.html

Prager right on debt, wrong on name

2010-03-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at State of the Nation by Brandon Jones at DeskofBrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/pragerrightondebtwrongonname

This is a great article. I've been screaming for over two years, these are socialists, bent on destroying our way of life and I've been attack at nearly every turn. Dennis Prager is among the Conservative talking heads that REFUSED to call them what they are - leftists, socialists, marxists or fascists.

Well, while he finally catches up on the debt and the pending economic destruction, he refuses to call them socialists - only leftist.

It's a start.

Here's his article "Why Democrats Don't Care about $9.7 Trillion Debt"

As reported by The Washington Post, "President Obama's proposed
budget would add more than $9.7 trillion to the national debt over the
next decade, congressional budget analysts said Friday."

CNN adds, "Of that amount, an estimated $5.6 trillion will be in interest alone."

The Post continues: "The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) and the White
House (are) ... both predicting a deficit of about $1.5 trillion this
year -- a post-World War II record at 10.3 percent of the overall
economy. But the CBO is considerably less optimistic about future
years, predicting that deficits would never fall below 4 percent of the
economy under Obama's policies and would begin to grow rapidly after
2015.

"Deficits of that magnitude would force the Treasury to continue
borrowing at prodigious rates, sending the national debt soaring to 90
percent of the economy by 2020, the CBO said."

CNN adds that "By 2020 the (CBO) estimates debt held by the
public would reach $20.3 trillion, or 90 percent of GDP. That's up from
53 percent of GDP in 2009."

I suspect that most Americans, if asked whether these numbers
trouble the Democratic leadership and President Obama, would answer in
the affirmative.

They would be wrong.

They would be wrong not because the Democratic Party or the president are economically illiterate or bad individuals, but because the Democratic Party and the president are
leftists. And most Americans, including most Democrats, do not
understand the left. They may understand liberalism; but President
Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and most Democratic representatives
and senators are not liberals; they are leftists. And most Americans do
not understand the difference between liberal and left. They do not
realize, for example, that there is no major difference between the
American Democratic Party and the leftist social democratic parties of
Western Europe. They do not know that from Karl Marx to Obama, the left
(as opposed to liberals) has never created wealth because it has never
been interested in creating wealth; it is interested in redistributing
wealth.

Therefore, unprecedented and unsustainable debt, a debt that
will negatively affect most Americans' quality of life, renders the
dollar increasingly undesirable, and undermines America's prestige and
power in the world -- these developments do not particularly disturb
the left. They may trouble the president, the Democratic Party, and
others on the left on some political level, but that pales in
comparison to what the left really wants: a huge government overseeing
a giant welfare state and a country with far fewer rich Americans.

Achieving those goals is far more important than preventing a

decline in the American quality of life. The further left one goes, the
more contempt one has for the present quality of American life in any
event. The left regularly mocks many of the symbols of that life --
from the three-bedroom suburban house surrounded by a white picket
fence to owning an SUV (or almost any car) because Americans should be
traveling on public buses, trains and bicycles.

As for the dollar, I can bear personal testimony to the

decline of the dollar's prestige. I am writing this column in Morocco.
In Casablanca, my wife and I and another couple hired a Moroccan driver
for the day. And when it came time to pay, the man refused to accept
dollars; he wanted to be paid in either Euros or Moroccan dirhams. Yes,
dirhams rather than dollars. But the demise of the dollar as the
world's currency disturbs the left as much as does America's not
getting a gold medal in curling at the Winter Olympics.

And as for America wielding less power in the world, that is
a positive development for the American left. It is the world community
as embodied in the United Nations that should wield power throughout
the world, not an "overstretched," "imperialist" and "militarist"
United States.

I used to believe that left and right have similar goals for

America, that they just differed in the means they wanted used to get
there. I was mistaken. The left has a very different vision of America
than those who hold the founding values of America, most especially
individualism and small government. And if the price of a once in a
lifetime possibility of getting to a giant welfare state dominated by
the left is America's steep financial decline, that is a price fully
worth paying.

http://www.dennisprager.com/columns.aspx?g=cfdb2a56-da46-4102-b514-79060407e6b0&url=why_democrats_dont_care_about_$97_trillion_debt

Florida Rail not generating Florida jobs

2010-03-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at Desk of Brian, DeskofBrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/hot-topics/florida-high-speed-rail/floridarailgeneratingjobsnotfloridajobsthough

The Kansas City Business Journal reports: Florida's rail received the $1.25 billion from the Federal government for the initial phase to service Tampa to Orlando. The Stimulus Bill funds were thought to create jobs, but this project will be employing companies from other states.

HNTB Corp, a Kansas City firm, will join Wilbur Smith Assoc. from South Carolina under the DOT's newly created "Florida Rail Enterprises."

The article states: "The HNTB/WSA team will provide overall program support and oversight
for planning, design, public outreach, vehicle and systems integration, operations, construction, project controls and procurement of all contracts for the Florida high-speed rail program."

"It’s exciting to see the return on the investment we made in
high-speed rail. I’m confident that our momentum will
continue to grow as more funding is released."
- Peter Gertler, HNTB’s high-speed rail services chairman

No surprise that Peter Gertler is an Obama supporter and made a donation to his campaign. Wilbur Smith Assoc. is a firm advocating the Obama agenda -- from their site is a link "Five Ways to Speak Like Obama" and tons of links to story defending the President, his agenda and the Democrats.

The Stimulus Bill has proved time and time again that it was more about fulfilling political promises and deepening alliances than creating jobs.

Charlie Crist and Florida supporters of this Rail program should be ashamed of themselves having misled Floridians, cramming this down our throats and not helping the unemployed in their own state.

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2010/03/15/daily40.html

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Gertler&fname=Peter

Sweden government seize child from Home school family

2010-03-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

Originally post at Desk of Brian, DeskofBrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/swedengovernmentseizechildfromhomeschoolfamily

This story broke at end of December and I began research to discuss the assault home schooling families. I discovered Homeschooling Illegal in Germany and that German home school refugees granted asylum in Tennessee so it should not have surprised me hear this story out of Sweden:

In Gotland, Sweden, "a Christian home schooling family could permanently lose custody of their only child simply because they home-school. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) are joining forces as legal advisors to the family in order to persuade the Swedish government to return the seven-year-old child to his parents." (Lifesitenews.com)

"Parents have the right and authority to make decisions regarding their children’s education without government interference," said ADF Legal Counsel Roger Kiska, who is based in Europe. "This is about a socialist government trying to create a cookie-cutter child in its own image. Without help, the parents in these cases are really powerless since the system is so one sided."

I couldn't agree more.

Combined with the crackdowns and threats from EU countries like Germany, it appears Europe is intolerant to allowing parents primary authority to educate their children.

Dominic Johannsen was forcibly remoed from his parents in June 2009 as the family was boarding a plane to moe to India (the Mother's home nation.) The officials had NO WARRANT and did not charge the parents with any crime.

The officials stated "they believe home schooling is an inappropriate way to raise a child and insist the government should raise Dominic instead."

Remember, the family was relocation from Sweden to India when the abduction occurred and Yes, I feel it was an abduction.

In December, the Johanssons lost their case in Swedish court citing "government was within its rights to seize the child" noting the child's vaccination record was incomplete, and also claiming "home-schoolers do not perform well academically and are not well socialized."

"It is so inhuman, it is so cruel how these people are treating this family," Mike Donnelly, an HSLDA attorney involved with the case, told LifeSiteNews.com. "They are treating this family like they are criminals, like they somehow did something to hurt this boy."

"They were taking care of him for seven years and he’d never been sick. He was always provided with what he needed and plenty of toys and opportunities to learn," said Donnelly.

Up next I'll examine this pattern of eliminating home schooling in the US following Europe's precedent. No warrant, bogus accusations, false claims -- this is all part of the fascist attack against home schooling.

Battle over Nigeria

2010-03-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at Desk of Brian, DeskofBrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/battleovernigeriarageson

CNN reports: 11 people were murdered Wednesday near Jos, a region of Nigeria that has been convulsed by violence between Muslims and Christians.

"Muslim herdsmen, some dressed in military uniforms, attacked a predominantly Christian village at about 1 a.m. Wednesday near the city of Jos, close to where a machete-wielding Muslim group killed hundreds in a mostly Christian town this month, said Choji Gyang, special adviser on religious affairs to the governor of the Nigerian state of Plateau."

Last week 500 more Christians were murdered as Muslims attempt to control Nigeria. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi says Nigeria should be divided in two to avoid more bloodshed.

A wave of killings south of Jos targeted defenseless Christian women and children as the battle between the Muslim north and the Christian south is leaving hundreds dead.

"The Nigerian government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law, and that human rights are respected as order is restored," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

There has been a lot of destruction of houses and property and many people managed to flee," said Robin Waubo, a spokesman from the International Red Cross.

Bob Hoskins, Founder of Christian mission group OneHope claimed: "The goal of the Muslims, of course, is to establish sharia law in that whole region. And, they're being supported by people like Gaddafi who sends literally millions of dollars in."

"We're being encouraged by the government to go into the schools, to share our Biblical literacy program, and to share Christ with the children" Hoskins continued as OneHope has met resistance as workers have been beaten by radicals.

Hoskins' missionairies are boots on the ground reporting: "Our workers go into the villages, and there's so little available to them..." and that's were their outreach begins.

The Book of Hope and The Godman film are great outreach tools. Hoskins says the ministry tools are effective and as these young people turn to Christ, Hoskins says, "They start a study group under a tree somewhere," and that's how churches are established.

OneHope has a goal of distributing 1.2 million copies of the Book of Hope this year. They need your help. Hoskins says it doesn't take a large commitment to have a huge impact. "It's incredible to believe that for 33-cents we can engage a child with the Word of God that can change an entire community, and actually result in a church being started -- in an area where its 90 to 100-percent Muslims."

The region is embroiled in a battle between Christians and Muslims and the Nigerian government has done little to qwell the violence. With feuds over oil resources compounding this tension, I doubt we've seem the last of these mass murders.

Donate to OneHope here: http://onehope.net/pages/page.asp?page_id=61608

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/03/17/nigeria.violence/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-killings-spark-fears-of-wider-conflict-1918359.html

http://www.frostillustrated.com/full.php?sid=7196&current_edition=2010-03-17

State of the Nation

Former Senator Chris Dodd Leading The MPAA Support Of SOPA

Radio host says Obama could shoot animals or be evil and still beat Ron Paul

VIDEO Ron Paul Big Dog Ad

Egypt church bombing one year later - still no answers

Obama gains more power with defense bill signing

Best & Worse Movies 2011

Movie Talk: Spielberg references in Super 8

Half of citizens on some sort of government assistance

US wants no fly zone for moon

Ron Paul Agrees With Americans: Two Party System Is Broken

Pastor addressing sex & the church

Randall Whitney, Abortionist testifies: babies sometimes born alive, left to wiggle around & die

Ron Paul Iowa Debate

Mr President, please stop blaming everyone else for the economy

US Post Office nearly broke again

Ron Paul discussing "Super Congress"

Oops...Steven Spielberg gets carried away in yacht

Obama patronizes America’s citizens: we’re not ‘professional politicians’

Bill Maher leads the liberal sexist attacks on Michele Bachmann & Sarah Palin

Dear Michele Bachmann, careful what you say…the liberals make lists

Catwoman, a black eye, & masked man on ‘Dark Knight Rises’ set

Donald Duck to celebrate his 77th birthday

Hillary Clinton compares Arizona shooter to Islamic Extremists

MSNBC, Olberman rants on Tea Party

The Legacy of Betty White on her 89th Birthday

Arthur Suydam, artist for "Marvel Zombies", is coming to Tampa

January 20, 1961 John F Kennedy inaugural address

Review: "Batman: The Dark Knight #1"

Hillary Clinton compares Arizona shooter to Islamic Extremists

“The Dark Knight Rises” rumors – Tom Hardy to play Hugo Strange?

Christmas Memories: “Christmas Story” & the Leg Lamp

Leftists Delusions of Obama's Accomplishments

MSNBC anchor Lawrence O’Donnell: “I am a Socialist”

Tonight is the night…the debut of the Teleprompter in Indian Parliament sponsored by US taxpayers

30 Stupidest “Star Wars” characters – you decide

Jaxxon

Election Exhaustion and Voter Apathy

Michelle Obama's speech divides right from left

Joy Behar's mental comments reveal liberal hypocrisy

Bill Mahers offers Democrats advice to win

Virgina Ironside: Abortion is Kindness

Eric Stoltz in 'Back to the Future' - thank goodness for "change"

NewWorldSon interview and Concert review

Ground Zero Mosque response: Fred Phelps to build anti-gay church near Stonewall

Stimulus Bill: the latest receipt on Wasteful Spending

Does the Huffington Post have all of the answers?

Ryan Hughes interview

Stephen Hawking & his juvenile assault on God to sell a book

"Degrassi" is Disgraceful, even for teens

Why Faith Matters: Burning Quran, Ground Zero Mosque & Tony Blair - how to make sense of it all

The Declaration of Our Founders

Why would Bill Clinton compare Tea Partiers to Timothy McVeigh?

"Avengers" taking shape & Mostow speaks on "Namor"

What Can We Learn From Aldous Huxley?

Republicans reveal their Big Government side for political gain

Farewell and Wake Up

Star Wars Uncut and the Haters

From 1953 to Today, Looking Back in 3-D

Foes to Infiltrate the Tea Parties

Arctic Sea Ice Returns to Normal Levels

General George Patton Quotes

Dr. Weiss's Secrets & Warnings about the economy -- psst: there's a lot of debt

11 startling facts that Obama and Bernanke doNOT want you to think about

Judge Napolitano: Supreme Court may save us from Obamacare...someday

Disturbing 2010 Census Video

Abigail Adams: Remember the Ladies

PHOTOGRAPHY OF DOROTHEA LANGE | AN AMERICAN ARCHIVE– HARD TIMES

Bill Maher's crudely urges on Democrats

Harris Poll: 40% believe Obama a socialist

Food Fascists attack Happy Meals & Toys

Social Justice revisited with a great post by an old friend

Brandon: I guess we don't talk about religion and politics because it reveals a lot about a person's character, beliefs, moral compass and how they see the world -- dangerous waters indeed

1965: Gus Grissom & "Gemini 3" really Launched the Space Program

Healthcare and YOU

Prager right on debt, wrong on name

Florida Rail not generating Florida jobs

Sweden government seize child from Home school family

Battle over Nigeria

11 startling facts that Obama and Bernanke do
NOT want you to think about