Letter from defense team to Gov Quinn re: Thomson

December 15, 2009

Presidential memo re: Thomson
Joint statement from Gov Quinn/Sen Durbin

Letter to Gov Pat Quinn from the Secy of State, Secy of Defense, Secy of Homeland Security, Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General concerning the acquisition of Thomson Correctional Center to house federal prisoners (DOJ) and Gitmo detainees (DoD). It will need to be supermaxed but this is a ridiculous statement:

The facility was built in 2001 to maximum security specifications, and after acquisition it will be enhanced to exceed perimeter security standards at the nation’s only “supermax” prison in Florence, Colorado, where there has never been an escape or external attack.

None of that matters. These will be Gitmo detainees, who are already seen as martyrs and whose deaths would only enhance their status. That prison will be target number one and the terrorists won’t have far to travel since the Chicagoland area has the largest settlement of Arab Americans in the country. Rep Mark Kirk just got a huge Christmas present.

Letter follows

POTUS Memo re: Thomson Correctional Center

December 15, 2009

Letter from defense team to Gov Quinn
Joint statement from Gov Quinn/Sen Durbin

Authentic memo from POTUS to the Secretary of Defense and Attorney General re: acquisition of Thomson Correctional Center. Part of the prison will be used by the DOJ for federal prisoners and part for the Dept of Defense Gitmo detainees.

Memo follows

Guess who’s coming to Illinois? Gitmo terrorists

December 15, 2009

Presidential memo re: Thomson
Letter from defense team to Gov Quinn
Joint statement from Gov Quinn/Sen Durbin

Yep. That memo was “leaked” on purpose on Friday. Thomson Correctional Center – present home to approx 200 minimum security prisoners – is going to house anywhere from 30-90 avowed American killers from Guantanamo Bay.

(photo)

And just 22 miles from the new mecca?

A nuclear reactor.

WH Official:

Closing the detention center at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of Al Qaeda. [It] is an important step forward as we work to achieve our national security objectives.

Right. Bringing terrorists onto American soil and opening the door to possible dismissal and giving the rest of the muslim hater wannabes a target is protecting our national security.

Sen Dick Durbin and Gov Pat Quinn, who are both ecstatic about the idea, will be at the WH for the announcement this afternoon. Their joint comments on the leaked memo.

With this, barry has just opened the possibility of a Republican winning his senate seat.

WGN News report

barry gives himself a “good, solid B plus” (text/video)

December 14, 2009

barry was asked by Oprah during her Christmas at the White House special what grade he would give himself. He said – in all seriousness – a good solid B plus. Oprah looked a little taken aback.

A look at the recent Quinnipiac poll is a tad more in touch with reality.  Only 46% of Americans give him at least a passing grade and the other 44% disapprove, including 49% of military families, 50% of men and 51% of independents.

His handling of healthcare: 38 approve – 56% disapprove.

On his proposed healthcare reform: 38% approve – 52% disapprove.

His handling of the economy: 41% approve 41 – 54%  disapprove.

Only 29% of folks are at least somewhat satisfied with how things are going – 71% are dissatisfied, with 39% very dissatisfied.

B+?

NY Daily News poll since barry’s declaration:
A 7%
B+9%
B 6%
C 7%
D 16%
F 54%

Something has definitely happened between Oprah and the Obamas. It was written all over their body language – especially barry’s. I go into it in a different post. There’s no doubt Oprah missed that state dinner on purpose.

TPMTV

Transcript follows

50 Cent & Susan Boyle?

December 14, 2009

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews/CD

Found this in the drafts.

What are the chances Ms Boyle’s ever even listened to rap?

Of course, 50 Cent is looking for some free hype but it would be interesting…50 Cent and Susan Boyle singing a duet. Wonder how she’d do rapping and grabbing her nether regions – she’s got the Boyler swivel down.

Would rather hear her with Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and/or Bono.

From a July interview with the UK Daily Mirror. (Photo)

50 Cent:

Susan Boyle is hot right now. I got to get her on a track, for real. We’d make a hit. Everyone is talking about her, the lady from Britain’s Got Talent. She’s got an amazing voice, and together we’d get everyone dancing. I’m always looking to do something new, and she’s cool, so I’ll ask somebody to let her know.

Now this is a stretch.

I’d love to take her clubbing, show her around my world. She’d have a great time.

Seeing his gunshot wound scars would be excitement enough for Ms Boyle.

Polanski: “I couldn’t equate what had happened that day with rape in any form”

December 14, 2009

Polanski/Goldberg/rape posts

This shows what Polanski thinks about what he did. It’s why the odds are very high that he had done it before and probably after. From Polanski’s autobiography.

POLANSKI:

I was incredulous.

I couldn’t equate what had happened that day with rape in any form.

He can’t equate drugging and penetrating (in all manners) a 13 year-old girl – with rape in any form. Makes you wonder what he does consider to be rape.

His allies made clear what they think. Whoopi Goldberg (who didn’t know the specifics of the case – even the next day when she was “clarifying” her words) said it wasn’t rape rape and Gore Vidal called the raped child a “young hooker”.

60 Minutes: barry re: crashers

December 14, 2009

barry on 60 Minutes with his giggle buddy Steve Kroft. The show was taped shortly after the crashers and the producer throws in the question at the end.

Transcript follows

PEOPLE Q & A: Ms Boyle

December 15, 2009

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews/CD

Some of the Q & A Ms Boyle did with PEOPLE’s Monica Rizzo.

What do you do when you get stressed out from your hectic life?
I go home to Scotland. I take time out. I see my friends and family. I shop in the local shops. I always say that I take baby steps anyway so that I can handle each step as it comes along.

What do you miss about your former way of life before this all happened?
I still have my former life. I still live in the same house. My life hasn’t changed. I travel more. I see places I never thought I would see. There is nothing I miss because I have everything I had before – it’s just a little more interesting now.

Have you met any American celebrities who are fans of yours?
I met Donny Osmond. He was very nice. We talked about how important it was to stay grounded. He bought me some purple roses and they were very beautiful.

What’s the best perk of being famous?
I do like getting made up. When I have my hair done and my makeup and then put on one of my performance dresses, I do feel the part. And that feels good.

Has fame gone to Pebbles’s head?
Pebbles is blissfully unaware of everything that is going on. She lives with a very lovely lady while I am away working and she is thriving. I visit her when I can and I can travel knowing that she is in safe hands and being pampered.

What would you say to all the Susan Boyles out there?
To anyone who has a dream I say follow that dream. You are never too old. It is never too late. And dreams can become a reality.

MTV News’ #8 Woman of the Year: Susan Boyle

December 15, 2009

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews/CD

Funny place for Ms Boyle to show up – MTV.

MTV News #8 Woman of the Year.

She was also named one of NBC’s 2009 People of the Year but didn’t make it into Barbara Walter’s 2009 10 Most Fascinating People List. Captain Sullenberger didn’t either – though Adam Lambert did.

The rest of MTV News’ top 9 (men and women) will be revealed throughout the week and on Friday the MTV News’ Man and Woman of the year will be named.

#9  Kardashian Sisters

Susan Boyle story: TV Guide Network’s #1 all-time special

December 14, 2009

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews/CD
Rundown of  TV Guide’s: “The Susan Boyle Story”
TV Guide’s “The Susan Boyle Story” (video)

Have to say I didn’t know that scrolling channel aired original programming or even that it had a name. Turns out, it is the TV Guide Network and the Susan Boyle special it aired last night: “I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story” easily became its #1 all time rated TV special.

Here’s an excerpt from the  TV Guide  Network’s Press Release [emphasis added]

“I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story,” which premiered exclusively on TV Guide Network on Sunday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, became its #1 rated television special in history, the network announced today. The television special, which delivered a 1.0 coverage rating (788,500 HH) for the 8:00 p.m. telecast, also over-delivered with the network’s key demos. It achieved a triple digit increase (404 percent) with persons 25-54 over the prior year, and the combined 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. telecasts reached 4.1 million households and 4.8 million viewers (p18+). The historic ratings performance indicates positive momentum for TV Guide Network, as it undergoes a major transformation to become the destination for premier entertainment programming.

[...]

“I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story” will encore this week on TV Guide Network at the following dates and times:

• Monday, December 14, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and 11:00 p.m. ET/PT
• Thursday, December 17, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and 11:00 p.m. ET/PT
• Friday, December 18, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
• Saturday, December 19, at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT

Ms Boyle’s Q & A with PEOPLE:

Q: What’s it like having your own television special?

A: It’s a very humbling experience. I loved every second of it. I finally feel like the dream is a reality. When the show was made, I can honestly say that it was the best two days of my life. The producer, Nigel Hall, made me a beautiful show.

Jay Leno humor: Tiger Woods, crashers, Biden

December 14, 2009

A few chuckles from Jay Leno show tonight.

JAY LENO:

Hear about the 5 American Muslims who went to Pakistan and tried to join up and become terrorists with al Qaeda?

They were rejected because they lacked the proper credentials and references.

Isn’t that unbelievable?

Do you realize it is harder to get into al Qaeda than it is to get into the White House??

If you saw 60 Minutes last you night, you heard President Obama say never again will an uninvited guest sneak into the White House….

….so more bad news for Joe Biden.

***

Here’s something that goes against conventional wisdom…According to a study done at the University of Minnesota, casusal sex does not lead to low self-esteem or cause psychological damage…

…it can damage your Escalade and marriage and even your mother-in-law’s stomach but, hey, your self-esteem will be just fine.

***

According to TMZ, a congressman was supposed to award Tiger with the Congressional Gold Medal – our highest civilian honor – and then had to withdraw it because of the scandal…which seems odd to me.

What’s it up to now? 15 mistresses?

That seems like something members of Congress would would give you a medal for!

Dec 10th Polanski appellate court hearing

December 11, 2009

Polanski/Goldberg/rape posts

Hey hysops313.

Yes, there was a hearing about Polanski on December 10th.

A three-judge appellate court panel heard arguments. Nothing was presented about the case in chief and the panel will not be deciding on whether the case is dismissed – just if a trial court judge can consider a motion to dismiss the case against Polanski without him being present.

The ruling being appealed was made in February by LA Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza. He denied a motion to dismiss request by Polanski’s lawyers – based on the fact Polanski was not present.

Prosecutors had hoped the admitted rapist would be there but he’s sequestered in his multi-million dollar ski chalet in Gstaad Switzerland – where he will be until the extradition is ruled on. They argued that the case should stand until Polanksi is extradited.

Samantha Geimer – the girl now woman that he raped – is still requesting the case be dropped and her lawyer Larry Silver was present. She was the reason Polanksi was given such a sweet deal – she didn’t want to testify. And the coward fled and the case continues three decades later with everyone in the world able to read her testimony.

Polanski’s lawyer, Chad Hummel argued the case can be decided without Polanski physically present and that it should be dropped because of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. And that if the charge is not dismissed, there should be an evidentiary hearing on the legal mistakes alleged (in the HBO documentary about the case) to have been made by the judge and others.

As far as I know – there has not been a ruling.

No one made comments after the hearing.

Source: CNN

60 Minutes: barry-Kroft another giggly interview

December 14, 2009

It starts out fine – barry defensive about Afghanistan – and then when Kroft asks him what he’s going to do about the corrupt government and the drug trade – barry laughs.

[hand transcribed]

KROFT: [Afghanistan] Most difficult decision in your presidency so far?

BARRY: Yes. Because when you go to Walter Reed, and you travel to Dover, and you visit Arlington and you see the sacrifices that young men and women and their families are making, there is nothing more profound. It is a solemn obligation on the part of me as Commander-in-Chief to get this right.

Now it’s clear why he went to Arlington and Dover.

KROFT said that his West Point speech was very analytical, detached, not emotional, tone professorial, no exhortations or promises of victory.

BARRY: That was actually probably the most emotional speech that I’ve made in terms of how I felt about it…There is not a speech I made that hit me in the gut as much as that speech.

Because he didn’t believe what he was saying? He would never be behind it if he was still a senator.

KROFT: Most Americans, including the Dems don’t think it’s worth fighting…why did you go ahead?

BARRY: Because I think it’s the right thing to do, and that’s my job. If I was worried about what polled well, there are a whole bunch of things we wouldn’t have done this year.

KROFT: Staked your presidency on?

BARRY: There are a whole bunch of things that I’ve stake my presidency on.

KROFT: The West Point speech was greeted with a great deal of confusion –

BARRY: I don’t agree with that statement.

KROFT: You do?

BARRY: I absolutely do. 40M people watched it and I think a whole bunch of people understood what we intend to do.

KROFT: It raised a lot of questions and some people thought it was contradictory – that’s a fair criticism.

BARRY: I don’t think it is a fair criticism. On the one hand I said we’re be sending in additional troops now – on the other hand by July 2011, we’re going to move into a transition phase where we’re drawing our troops down.There shouldn’t be anything confusing about that.

Then he talks about the Surge in Iraq – though stops short of saying it was a good idea. Then talks about what will happen in July 2011.

BARRY: Look – as the Commander in Chief, obviously, I reserve the option to do what I think is going to be best for the American People at that time and our national security.

Says it’ll be clear by the end of Dec 2010 if it’s working.

KROFT: Why set a deadline?

BARRY: In absence of a deadline, the message we are sending to the Afghans is it is business as usual this is an open-ended commitment.

KROFT: The main reason we are doing this is al qaeda – why 30K troops when there may be fewer than 100 al qaeda fighters in Afghanistan?

barry says the epicenter of extremism is the border of Pakistan-Afghanistan and that Pakistan is going to have to cooperate.

(8:00) Kroft says the country is not really a country and the government is corrupt and then asks: How are you going to deal with this?

(8:14) BARRY LAUGHS. Ha-ha-ha.

BARRY: The reason I laugh is because this is really hard. There’s not a question you asked that I haven’t asked in meetings and that I don’t ask myself. I don’t have the luxury of choosing between the ideal and what exists on the ground. I have to make decisions based on how, given where we are right now, how do we get to the best possible place.

KROFT: Let’s change the subject – jobs.

BARRY talks a sip of water. We can talk about Afghanistan some more.

Then they chat about the economy, jobs and Wall Street and barry starts giggling again.

(11:00) Kroft asks why it’s taking so long.

BARRY: Everything appears to take long in Congress – we can talk about healthcare if you want.

They giggle and have a friendly repartee. barry shows more emotion talking with Kroft than he does anywhere else.

There is a definite weird strangeness….one wonders why…

Then barry says the healthcare bill is “deficit neutral and will actually bring down the deficit.”

KROFT: You think it’s going to pass before Christmas?

BARRY: I think it is going to pass out of the senate before Christmas.

KROFT: Are you going to be involved in that process?

BARRY: I’ve been involved the whole time.

Ms Boyle: “I would get the belt everyday”

December 13, 2009

Susan Boyle posts/videos/interviews

Hello Mrs Edwards.

The video (here) is a news report about this interview, which was her first since the end of the Britain’s Got Talent Tour and the making of her album. Ms Boyle talked with the UK Daily Record’s MARK JEFFRIES. Here are quotes from that interview, which was published November 17.

Ms Boyle talks about being bullied, getting disciplined with the belt, her learning “disability”, her mom’s death, her visit to the Priory (doesn’t remember much), her album (music is a release from emotional difficulties as a child) and is she looking for a boyfriend?

Not covered is her relationship with her family, how close they are, and whether she was “expected” as the youngest to care for her mother.

[emphasis added]

School, learning “disability”, being bullied, discipline:

There was discipline for the sake of discipline back then and you are looking at someone who would get the belt every day.

‘Will you shut up, Susan!’ Whack!

But the majority of my childhood was quite happy until I started getting bullied. There’s nothing worse than another person having power over you by bullying you and you not knowing how to get rid of that thing.

I was often left behind at school because of one thing or another. I’m just a wee bit slower at picking things up than other people. So you get left behind in a system that just wants to rush on.

I don’t think the resources were there for me back then at school. Teachers have more specialised training now.

I had a slight disability and instead of saying ‘right I have this disability’ and concentrating on it, I had to find my abilities and concentrate on that instead.

And this feels like a good way of making up for that.

Mother’s death in 2007:

After mum died, it didn’t fully register until maybe six months after when the loneliness set in and there was nobody except my cat. When you lose someone as powerful as your mum, you feel as if a part of you is taken away it does things to your confidence. My confidence was pretty down at that time. I told myself that, though she’s not here physically, mentally and spiritually she is. That’s what keeps you going.

I have my faith, which is the backbone of who I am.

The Priory:

I don’t really remember much about it after the final. I went there with extreme exhaustion. I hadn’t slept properly for about a week and I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was in there for three days and I’ve never felt so tired, but I look back on it now and it was a necessity.

Her album:

The whole things has come together so well, beyond my wildest dreams.

The album itself is like a reflection on my whole life.

A boyfriend?

Och, there’s no time for that now! I’m far too busy! What a laugh.

I dream about security, I dream about one day finding the right person.

My advice to those who dare to dream is don’t give up.

If I can do it, anyone else can too.

The Dalai Lama re: POTUS Nobel Peace Prize

December 10, 2009

Source of quotes from an interview with Sky News. (Full video of interview)

The Dalai Lama on barry’s Nobel Prize on other things. Recall barry refused to meet with him in Washington because he was pandering to China.

Would not a man truly seeking world peace talk to Nobel Laureate the Dalai Lama as well as China and the rest of the rogue gallery?

(Nobel 1:30)

The DALAI LAMA:

Obama Nobel Peace Prize:

When it was announced, people were very, very happy.

I think if you are realistic, it may have been a little early but it doesn’t matter, I know Obama is a very able person.

Sometimes these individual persons rely on different advice from different people so like former President Bush junior, as a human being I really love him, really wonderful person, very honest, very truthful.

But I think due to his advisers’ views, some of his policies have been a disaster.

I think the Nobel Peace Prize gives [Obama] more encouragement and also gives him more moral personal responsibility.

I think that he already expressed his concern about nuclear weapons, a ban, a total ban of nuclear weapons These things are, I think, very, very important. He may not implement it within a few years but serious thinking, serious vision about that is very, very essential.

He is very young and energetic so we have to wait.

Climate change:

Now I think at government level it is taken more seriously but sometimes they consider their national interest is more important than global interest. Big nations are still part of the world so if there is global warming or some tragedy then they will still suffer. So the global issue is all our issue, irrespective of big nation or small nation.

Of course big nations, if they take an interest, I think their effort may be more effective because of their larger size.

World problems make him depressed?

No, depressed is of no use. Better to remain optimistic and make effort, effort, then no regret.

If you are depressed and lost hope then, I think, at the end of our life we may develop regret. If I do something, maybe some positive things might happen but if I miss that, then you feel much regret. So it’s better to remain optimistic and make effort. Effort, determination then you feel no regret.

We try our best but then reality is impossible to materialise, ok, then no problem.

He’s hoping to meet with barry soon.

Army: Mass inoculation of recruits at Ft Jackson

December 12, 2009

Updated H1N1 posts/symptoms/vaccine

At Fort Jackson – the Army’s largest training camp – mass inoculations are underway for the 40K recruits heading home for the holidays.

It is the site of the Army’s first death from complications of H1N1. Spc CHRSTOPHER HOGG of Deltona, FL died Sept 19th from H1N1 pneumonia.

Dept of Defense purchased 2.7M doses of H1N1 vaccine, which has to be obtained from the CDC, unlike the seasonal vaccine that comes directly from manufacturers.

Army vaccinations began 2 weeks ago

Mandatory for all active duty unless there are contraindications

Expect to administer a total of 15K doses at Ft Jackson

End of this week – should have 9K vaccinated

Next week another 2K

Source: MSNBC

Norwegians not happy re: POTUS Nobel events snub

reposting another missing post

Houston elects first openly gay mayor: Annise Parker

December 13, 2009

Silverton OR: first transgender mayor

Who knew?

Texas of all states – a state where gay marriage is against the law and Houston voters rejected a referendum to offer benefits to same-sex partners of city.

Houston has elected its second female and first openly gay mayor: ANNISE D PARKER

She beat former city attorney GENE LOCKE 53.6% vs 46.4% in the Dec 12 runoff election (neither Democrat had secured 50% of the vote in November) with only 16.4% of the electorate voting.

Born May 17, 1956 (53)
Native Houstonian
Life partner, CATHY HUBBARD
Together since 1990
Two adopted children

Spent 20 years in the private sector (oil – gas)
Also co-ran private businesses

1997 – 2003: At-large member of Houston City Council
2001: “Council Member of the Year”
2002: “Distinguished Local Elected Official Award”
2003-2009: City comptroller

Serves on boards of the Holocaust Museum and Girls Inc.
Advisory board member: Houston Zoo, the Montrose Counseling Center. Trees for Houston

Will be sworn in in January – replacing 3 term-limited BILL WHITE

Source: CNN

barry poster book: “Design For Obama”

December 12, 2009

Source: UK TELEGRAPH

Design For Obama – Posters for Change: A Grassroots Anthology

Collection of barry artwork – 200 posters.

How many have not already been on the internet for a couple of years?

What would be interesting is if they interviewed the artists and asked them what they thought of barry now.

Steven Heller (Author), Aaron Perry-Zucker (Editor), Spike Lee (Editor)

New Game: Jade Buffum
O-Bama: Rene Garcia Jr

Obama Superman: Mr Brainwash

Do you see anything concrete in the poster below?

Probama Nation: Sara Bacon

Did The Right Thing: Don Button

Barack Obama Joint?

2008 TIME Man of the Year

(LISA JACK)

barry quote

SNL Weekend Update: Danish prostitutes

December 12, 2009

Updated

Danish prostitutes are offering complimentary “services” to the delegates attending the Climate Conference — as a means of getting back at the mayor.

Seems the mayor wanted the sex workers (whatever the term) to disappear for the duration of the conference. So he notified their places of business – 160 hotels – urging them to not refer hotel guests.

Really all he could do, since sex for money is a legitimate business in Denmark.

Not sure what he’s thinking about.

Hundreds of dignitaries  + thousands of protesters = hundreds of thousands of dollars

Instead the workers are exchanging their services for one of the mayor’s  postcards.

Saturday Night Live Weekend Update

SETH MEYERS:

Prostitutes in Copenhagen have reportedly offered free sex to delegates attending UN global warming summit…though if you sleep with a prostitute at the global warming summit make sure you cap your emissions.

About Eliot Spitzer:

It was rumored this week that disgraced former governor Eliot Spitzer is considering a run for state comptroller…though I’m not sure if that’s the right job for a guy who obviously can’t comp-trol himself.

CDC: 1 in 6 Americans have had H1N1

December 11, 2009

Updated H1N1 posts/symptoms/vaccine

CDC
April through mid-October
Sickened: 22M
Killed: 4K

April through mid-November (after second spike)
Sickened: 50M (estimates 34M – 67M)
15% vs seasonal flu 5-20%
Hospitalized: 200K
Killed: 10K

More than 75% of deaths ages 18-64
Though death toll my rise in those over 65 once the secondary cause of death added

CDC analysis of 100 deaths
Approx 80% ages 20 through 59
45% obese

American Indians and Alaska Natives have died at a rate four times greater than other demographics (4 in 100K vs 1 in 100K), which may be due to the higher rate of preexisting conditions like diabetes and asthma.

Source: CBS

Blago’s lawyers: 2 of 8 stolen computers recovered

December 12, 2009

Chicago PD recovered 2 of the 8 computers stolen via break-in from Blagojevich’s lawyers’ – the Sam Adams – office on Dec 4th. Neither appeared to have sensitive information stored.

Of course it’s a perfectly random burglary.

A few movie plotlines: Blagojevich couldn’t get his case delayed…barry wants to know what Rezko said…Rahm Emanuel looking for information on himself and Valerie Jarrett…Senate Candidate #5…unsavory friends of Blagojevich…his brother Rob (can sever case)…Gov Quinn…Patrick Fitzgerald…impeachment committee…Michael Madigan…Desiree Rogers…Second City….Jungle Patti…Rod himself.

The stolen computers did have evidence stored – including the still(?) secret wiretaps. If by any chance it was anything other than random, whoever took the computers will know how to extract whatever is on them.

Source: Chicago Breaking News

The tale of the real St Nicholas

December 12, 2009

Interesting story about the real St Nicholas, who lived 1,700 years ago in Myra, a city in modern-day Turkey. He dropped three bags of gold through the window of a poor family for the three daughters’ dowry. Evidently the first bag of gold fell into a stocking – hence Christmas stockings.

CBN

William Bennett talks about his new book:  The True Saint Nicholas – Why He Matters To Christmas.

Explosive-laced chewing gum kills Chemistry student

December 12, 2009

I thought this was some sick joke but it’s a tragic death. A 25 y/o Ukrainian chemistry student had a habit of dipping his chewing gum in citric acid to increase the tartness. Unfortunately, he dipped his gum into some type of explosive powder that looked similar and blew his jaw off, killing him. His family heard a loud “pop” and when they entered his bedroom they found him dead and disfigured on the floor.

Vladimir Likhonos

Source: KTLA

Biden: “Chris is getting the living hell beat out of him”

December 12, 2009

Updated

VP Joe Biden was working the room at a fundraiser for Sen Chris Dodd (D-CT) and let er rip. Can’t blame him. Geithner should have taken the heat for the AIG bonuses and Dodd should never have lied about it. And no one could foresee his diagnosis of prostate cancer. And some of VP Biden’s anger has to be directed at barry since he never backed Dodd up even though he knew about the bonuses when he was still a voting senator.

BIDEN on DODD

[He is] the single most gifted legislator in Congress, now that Teddy Kennedy’s gone.

Sen Dodd is on both the financial and healthcare committees: Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs and Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, as well as Foreign Relations and Senate Rules and Administration

BIDEN: Chris Dodd is the first United States senator that has simultaneously chaired two major committees in a moment of genuine national crisis. And had he got either of those jobs wrong, the consequences for America would be dire….

No way he can effectively chair both. He shouldn’t chair both. And not a lot of folks think he’s got either right.

BIDEN: Chris is getting the living hell beat out of him, the living bejesus beat out of him. Why? Because he’s being a leader. This is going to be a hell of a race and it’s an uphill race, but Chris Dodd will prevail.

The AIG bonuses did him in and lying about it sealed his fate. His approval rating was as low as 33% (March 2009).

November 2009 Quinnipiac Poll:

1. CT voters disapprove 54 – 40 of the job Dodd is doing
2. Say 53 – 39 that he doesn’t deserve reelection
3. Gave him a MINUS 7 (42 – 49) favorability rating

Not looking too good considering one of his prospective opponents is a former World Wrestling Entertainment executive.

barry’s brother named Chinese “volunteer image ambassador”

December 12, 2009

barry toasts his mother at Nobel dinner

December 12, 2009

Video of the day: Japan’s Christmas penguins

December 12, 2009

Japanese’s Matsue Vogel Park aquarium: Christmas cheer waddles in with five African Penguin siblings in their Santa Claus outfit.

NTDTV

Uganda bans female genital mutilation

December 12, 2009

Jakarta: bronze statue of 10 y/o barry

December 12, 2009