A Study in Obedience

Obedience: the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance.

God's Top Ten List

Godless Christopher Hitchens's review of God's Ultimate Top 10 List.

Why I Regret Voting For President Obama

Why I Regret Voting For President Obama

I was sent this article - and what can I say?

First, I post everything that is sent to me.

Second, this pretty much sums up the disappointment I hear in, well, everyone who was swept up in the Kool-Aid days of 2008. Hope and Change isn't working out the way everyone hoped.

And that's on both sides of the isles.

I might also add, this was written by one of his supporters!

The tl;dr is this one quote,

"It was clear after just 90 days what a mistake I'd made. My taxes have gone up and my quality of life has gone down. Hope has given way to disgust and I see now that change is simply a euphemism for "big government."

Must. Buy. Groceries

I think I'll pick up some bubblegum too.

You First

Obama Warns Karzai to Focus on Tackling Corruption

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, now assured of a new term, was urged by President Obama “to write a new chapter” in his government’s legitimacy.

Mr. Obama told reporters afterward, is “a sense on the part of President Karzai that, after some difficult years in which there has been some drift, that in fact he’s going to move boldly and forcefully forward and take advantage of the international community’s interest in his country to initiate reforms internally. That has to be one of our highest priorities.”

The administration wants Mr. Karzai and the Afghan government to put into place an anticorruption commission to establish strict accountability for government officials at the national and provincial levels, senior administration officials said Monday.

In addition, some American officials and their European counterparts would like at least a few arrests of what one administration official called “the more blatantly corrupt” people in the Afghan government.

Mr. Karzai then turned to Obama and said, "Hey, wait a minute, you're from Chicago, right? F* you - you first, *sshole!"

I think the irony of this situation puts Mr. Obama in the pole position for, you guessed it...

BLASPHEMES HYPOCRITE OF THE WEEK

Not So Fair Use, Fairey

Obama poster artist Shepard Fairey paints himself into a corner.

After he admitted that he was lying about which Associated Press photo he used for his 'Hope' poster, his lawyers say they're withdrawing from his copyright case over fair use. Dang.

This has been an important case about fair use, based on artist Shepard Fairey's claim that he had the right to use a news photo to create his Barack Obama "Hope" poster - but he lied, and now his Hopes have collapsed.

His attorneys -- led by Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project at Stanford University -- said that they would withdraw from the case and that the artist had misled them by fabricating information and destroying other material. Oh, was that wrong?

Fairey, 39, a Los Angeles-based street artist with a long, often proud history of breaking rules, admitted that he didn't use the Associated Press photo of Obama seated next to actor George Clooney he originally said his work was based on -- which he contended would have been covered under "fair use," the legal claim that allows exceptions to using copyrighted work without having to pay for it.

Instead he used a picture the AP has maintained was his source -- a solo photo of the future president that is seemingly closer to Fairey's red, white and blue image of Obama, with the caption "HOPE."

Fairey said he first made an error, then tried to cover it up by submitting false images and deleting others.

The distinction over which photo he used is crucial because fair use can sometimes be determined by how much a new work altered the original.

Fairey sued the not-for-profit news cooperative in February, after it said that it owned the copyright and demanded credit and compensation. He said he didn't violate the copyright because he dramatically changed the image.

The AP countersued in March, saying uncredited, uncompensated use of an AP photo violated copyright laws and threatened journalism.

"Shepard Fairey has now been forced to admit that he sued the AP under false pretenses by lying about which AP photograph he used," said Srinandan R. Kasi, AP vice president and general counsel. "Mr. Fairey has also now admitted to the AP that he fabricated and attempted to destroy other evidence in an effort to bolster his fair-use case and cover up his previous lies and omissions."

Kasi said Fairey's admission struck "at the heart" of the artist's defense that he was protected by fair use. Kasi added that the AP would continue to pursue its countersuit alleging that Fairey willfully infringed the AP's copyright.

It was not immediately clear from the statements issued and from Fairey’s lawyers’ motion to amend whether Fairey would continue with his case, but a person close to Fairey said that the artist would. The person was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Falzone said in a statement that the legal team's decision to withdraw had nothing to do with the "underlying merits" of Fairey's case.

"We believe as strongly as ever in the fair-use and free- expression issues at the center of this case, and believe Shepard will prevail on those issues," Falzone said.

Laurence Pulgram, an intellectual property lawyer who represented the online music-sharing service Napster in a copyright fight with the band Metallica, said Saturday that Fairey's case was in trouble.

"This was a brain-dead move by Mr. Fairey, and it could be the turning point. His lawyers will still be able to argue that he made a 'fair use' under copyright law, but it's a whole lot less likely that the court or jury will think that what he did was actually 'fair' if he has lied and tried to mislead the entire world about what use he made," Pulgram said.

Fairey said in a statement Friday that he was wrong about which photo he used and that he tried to hide his error.

"In an attempt to conceal my mistake, I submitted false images and deleted other images," Fairey said. "I sincerely apologize for my lapse in judgment, and I take full responsibility for my actions, which were mine alone."

He said he was taking steps to correct the information and regretted that he hadn't come forward sooner.

Although he said he was "very sorry to have hurt and disappointed colleagues, friends, and family," Fairey said that the real issue was "the right to fair use" so artists can create freely.

Most of this article, it should be noted, has been cut'n'pasted without any permission.

White House Needs Informants

Have you had a debate with your co-workers about Health 'Insurance' Reform? An argument at the stall at the ball game? How about a fist fight with your wife at the kitchen table? Well, if you know anyone who dared to publicly oppose the government's plan to take over healthcare - the White House wants you to report that person (or persons) ASAP.

I mean, other than this site...

Found on the White House.gov website:

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

Emphasis added by me to, you know, add emphasis.

What exactly is this word “disinformation?” It seems to be used to describe opposition. So, the White House wants to be informed of any forwarded emails or blog posts or any “casual conversations” that could be taken as opposition to their health care overhaul plan? Okay.

The White House has not offered an explanation of what they plan to do all the tips on policy opposition they receive from citizen informers. Perhaps a little re-education?

To quote Ron Paul, “It is still surreal that in a free country we are talking only about HOW government should fix healthcare, rather than WHY government should fix healthcare.”

Hear hear, Doctor. But just one thing... who ever said we were a free country? Anymore anyway?

Thanks to RedState for looking at the White House.gov blog

Posters Put Panties in Bunch

The outrage de jour is over a couple of posters in LA showing President Barack Obama as the Joker.

It's unclear who created the image and who is posting it across the city. No one has taken credit so far. They don't want to be killed by the Obama groupies, no doubt.

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson is calling the depiction, politically mean spirited and dangerous. Wha?

Hutchinson is challenging the group or individual that put up the poster to have the courage and decency to publicly identify themselves.

"Depicting the president as demonic and a socialist goes beyond political spoofery," says Hutchinson, "it is mean-spirited and dangerous. We have issued a public challenge to the person or group that put up the poster to come forth and publicly tell why they have used this offensive depiction to ridicule President Obama."

Urban - made up - Roundtable non-profit so I can draw a salary and get quoted on the news Hutchinson... What?! A witch hunt to find the Joker? Come on, Earl! You can't have it both ways! Oh no. You want the first amendment - you got it. Because you don't like it? Waaaah. It's not like they made Obama to look like Curious George (hehe, remember that one?)

So where was Earl when we made all that anti-president Bush propaganda stuff? Oh, it was okay then because Bush was not in Earl's camp. Earl gets to decide when the spiggot of free speech is fine and dandy and when it's 'mean-spirited and dangerous'? I love hypocrites and that's why...

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson is BLASPHEMES HIPOCRITE OF THE WEEK!

Congrats Earl! Just send me $50.00 to me so I can ship your free T-shirt. Meanwhile, here are some more 'mean-spirited and dangerous' sh*t that didn't bother Earl.

Fed Gets More Power

The Washington Times is reporting that the Federal Reserve, already arguably the most powerful agency in the U.S. government,

[Stop right there - It should read -- "The Federal Reserve, an international banking cartel charted by the US Federal Government through the1913 Federal Reserve Act and arguably the most powerful entity in the U.S., will get sweeping new authority to regulate any company whose failure could endanger the U.S. economy and markets under the Obama administration's regulatory overhaul plan.]

...will get sweeping new authority to regulate any company whose failure could endanger the U.S. economy and markets under the Obama administration's regulatory overhaul plan.

The FED is as much a part of the Federal Government as Fed Ex. Okay?!

But back to the plan... The final plan due to be released on Wednesday -- which originally aimed to streamline and consolidate banking and securities regulation in one or two agencies -- now is expected to sidestep most jurisdictional disputes and simply impose across the board standards to be applied by all financial regulators, according to administration and industry sources. Awesome. Soak it in.

Imagine if Halliburton had been handed THIS much power over the Defense budget under Bush? They would have impeached Bush in a heartbeat. Now, the Democrats wouldn't have been able to - but I stand by the analogy.

Audit the Fed, then END THE FED.

Give Back. Give Back What?

Michelle Obama tells students to “give back”

by Doug

Yesterday Michelle Obama giving a commencement speech at the University of California, Merced’s graduation ceremony. Of course, there were the obligatory brief self-bio that every commencement speech-writer inserts about his or her own life, and Michelle Obama was no different. She talked about where she came from, and what she has achieved. And she encouraged those who will become successful in their careers to “give back” to society. This coming from the family who gave less than 5% of their income over the past ten years to charitable giving, but who has no problem raising taxes on the wealthy in the name of “public good.”

Michelle Obama is an idiot. I’m sorry, I’m being mean. She’s not really an idiot, she’s probably just ignorant, can’t make basic observations about U.S. society and culture, or ignores what is strikingly obvious in most instances because her bias against the wealthy and successful blinds her to what actually goes on in an economy.

Her first assumption is that when somebody becomes successful in America, it is at somebody else’s “expense.” Unfortunately, Michelle, we live in a society primarily based upon freedom of choice (something I believe she touts with regards to some topics such as abortion, but not others). That means that if somebody wants to be successful by acquiring other people’s money (legally), they must offer something in return (it’s why you say “thank you” to the owner of the coffee shop as he says the same back to you when you buy a cup of coffee). If I want what you have (sounds kinda greedy, doesn’t it?), I have to provide you something in return (perhaps the best way to handle the notion of greed in society). If you don’t like what I want to provide you, I can’t have your money. In general, this is how things work legally. It’s how our legal structure is setup.

So when these successful businesspersons provide great things for society such as home construction, cabinet manufacturing, automobiles, quilts, or even family counseling, they are engaging in trade—both parties inherently become wealthier. If that were not true, the trade wouldn’t take place (why would I trade something that I believe would make me “poorer”?). The only instance this doesn’t take place is through coercive methods; anytime one is coerced to do something he wouldn’t do voluntarily, there is not a “mutual gain.”

Michelle Obama believes that “giving back” is not voluntary generous giving (though she may accept this). What Michelle is doing is subtle: get young minds to believe that (1) what they are doing is not in and of itself a service to society, therefore (2) “giving back” means later being okay with some of your markers of success (i.e., money) to be taken from you in the name of “public service” (with or without the voluntary giving piece). If I were trying to get society to be okay with coercive generosity, I’d say this is a great way to redefine taxation into some quasi-voluntary activity.

The Obamas may believe that private charity can have positive impacts upon society. They may also believe in businesspersons who are generous and do not take advantage of “the little guy,” and therefore provide something good for society. So along those lines, Michelle’s admonitions are acceptable. But knowing where she comes from, her advice is at best laughable and at worst hypocritical. But they act as if they believe that the government is the source of all (at least most) good in society, and that top-down planning of an economy and society is the best way to achieve nirvana in this life.

Feel free to visit Doug @ An Unquiet Voice on the link

Fake Crisis?

Dear Cap'n

The economy crisis, is it a fake?

I’m looking around me and i still see people eating at restaurants, i see people buying and buying like as if they are epileptic in a middle of a seizure, and although there were some mass dismissals in the industry, yet, there are many jobs available.

so what’s going on?

do we ignore the situation and just act as if everything is ok ? or….is it really ok.. and the crisis is exaggerated by someone who wants to cause a chaos that will lead to a war?

Economy in these days is driven a lot by our emotions, even much more then logic.. emotions influence us much more then proofs and facts.

Don’t listen to the papers or all other authorities that are financed by companies. they create panic and a snowball effect that innocent people fall into.

Be smart, test it by your own, do research, collect facts and proofs, don’t go blindly after those who “do the hard work” for you and come up with their conclusions that may be wrong. and remember - Smart people are those who check the reality by their own, even if it takes an effort..

From Yair Brainin

Hmmm... Yair Brain in. "Yar Brain In"? Without getting into a Strongbad voice, first I'm going to say congratulations upon using your own eyes and experience rather than listening to those folks who are on the street corners and 24 hour news pundits screaming about the end of the world.


While I agree that I also see people driving everywhere, still filling up their SUV's at the local Costco and Target stores, I also have noticed the sheer volume of traffic has gotten a little thinner. I'm also guessing you don't know any old Boomers who were about to retire? Ask those folks who are rattled by their 401K's and pensions back to 1997 levels how many new cars and fancy restaurants they've tried out lately.

Which kind of leads to a thought I was having - which was that I think it's time we all just decide that the "Crisis" is over, and just go about living our lives.

There's a choice to be made. We either go right back to pointless consumerism that cares more about American Idol results and what color the newest iPod Phone matches our shoes, or we're going to throw off our clothes, form communes, tear up our lawns for collective farming, recycling our poo and sing Koombia until the sun goes down.

Me? I've decided I'm not going to participate. 

Thanks for writing in.

Obama's Potty Mouth

In the odd chance you haven't heard this yet...

In his bestselling autobiography, Dreams From My Father, President Obama introduces us to his high school friend, “Ray,” who, like him, is bi-racial. Who, also like him, is casting about to find his place in the world. But, who, unlike him, has a potty mouth that would make a sailor blush.

Best of all? When reading the audiobook version of his bio, Obama does impressions of Ray’s manner of speech. Swear words and all. It’s awesome. And it’s a way of talking we probably won’t be hearing from him now that he’s POTUS. Maybe?

“You know that guy ain’t shi+. Sorry-ass motherf+cker ain’t got nothing on me.” (MP3)

This shi+’s getting way too complicated for me.” (MP3)

“There are white folks, and then there are ignorant motherf+ckers like you.” (MP3)

“You ain’t my bitch, nigga! Buy your own damn fries!” (MP3)

“Sure you can have my number, baby!” (MP3)

“Blam!” (MP3)

Me? I'm puttin' these in my phone as ringtones.

Not Going Anywhere

“There are millions of reasons to continue this race: people in Pennsylvania and Indiana and North Carolina and all of the contests yet to come, this is a very close race and clearly I believe strongly that everyone should have their voices heard and their votes counted and that includes Michigan and Florida.”

Then, she added: “There is a lot still to be done and I’m looking forward to campaigning hard over the next several months.”

This just hours after Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, said Mrs. Clinton “has every right, but not a very good reason, to remain a candidate for as long as she wants to.”

“Superdelegates should exercise their right and their responsibility to determine who they think would be the best president and who would be the best nominee to defeat John McCain in the fall,” Mrs. Clinton said. “That’s the way our process is set up. That’s the way it will operate.”

On the campaign trail, Sen. Obama mentioned that the race was akin to a good movie, which had lasted too long.

Clinton added, "I like long movies."

Nancy Surrenders

Without getting any concessions from Bush on the Iraq funding bill, it appears that the opposition has folded and completely given up.

Pelosi, Hoyer, Obey, Emanuel- all caved to the statue of Bush. I have a feeling the discussion after the meeting went something like this, "Oh well, time to go on break for Memorial Day! Hey that's okay, Iraq will just end when Bush is out of office. But we'll LOOK strong by kind of pretending to stand up to him for a few minutes. Okay, you're right, a couple seconds."

And the part that no one seems to have figured out - This war isn't going to end when Bush leaves office. (Shock!) What's this you say? Hey, check the banner.

Believe it or not, the D or the R's are not going to end the war.
If you think they are - you. are. wrong.

The big question I wonder - was this an engineered failure, or are these people really that stupid?

They keep thinking that Bush is a dunce.

I think of this battle much like that of Luke Skywalker just before he left to 'talk' to the Emperor. "Do not underestimate the power of the Emperor." were Yoda's final words.
Did Luke listen? Hell no - and what happened? Electric hell fire flew out of the Emperor's hands, and that pretty much almost killed him.

Now, granted, Yoda didn't exactly tell him, "Hey, this wrinkled up prune is a Dark Lord of the Sith and threw the friggin' Senate at me once." Luckily for Luke, all of his Daddy issues were resolved at the right moment. But that's not my point. The point is that the Democrats continue to underestimate Bush on every opportunity that is handed to them.

They just keep failing.

These are our leaders? These people expect to win by a landslide next election? They had better start showing more brains than, "well, we're for whatever Bush is against." That hasn't worked in 2 presidential elections.

It should be mentioned, that the Dems won the last Congressional election. Or, the other side of that black/white coin is that the Repubs lost because of two words: Mukaka and Abramoff. And even with that, it was a close horse race. Then there's our Vice President who almost was kicked out without so much a kiss goodbye in the Senate.

Bottom line. Stand up. Be leaders. Or shut your mouth and don't be surprised when you are replaced by even more incompetent people from the oposing party in 'o8.