GLOBAL AWARENESS 101 - Let your VOICE be heard and get involved. OUR future depends on it!

How To Stop Thinking, Worrying And Analysing And Just Start Creating! I Have To Admit That I Sometimes Suffer From Analysis Paralysis lol ;)

2012-01-29T03:03:00.000-08:00

How To Stop Thinking, Worrying And Analysing And Just Start Creating

Being the creative person you are, I’m pretty sure that at any one time you have probably a few hundred thoughts zipping around your mind, all vying for your attention.

They range from the trivial every day thoughts like “What shall we have for dinner tonight?” and “When is our car due a service?” to deeper concerns like “Is this dull pain in my stomach anything to be concerned about?” and “Will I ever be as creative as I was in my early 20s again?”.

Along with just about everything in between.

It’s ironic that although we’re capable of being highly creative and have a constant source of ideas pouring forth in our minds, the flip side is this equally infinite onslaught of thoughts and worries, all capable of distracting us, and at times it seems completely debilitating us from creating anything at all.

Then there’s that whole OTHER layer of worries about worrying, and analysis of analysing.

“If only I didn’t worry so much I could just get on and enjoy my life and what I want to create. I worry I worry too much, then that makes me worry even more! What’s wrong with me, I think I need to figure this out, think it through thoroughly, before I get to creating anything…”

Sound familiar?

I know as I was writing that last paragraph my own mind was saying: “Hey, that’s my line, did I give you permission to say it loud in public?”

What if we could just stop all the worries, thoughts and concerns? What if there was a switch that just stopped them all in an instant so we could get on and focus on creating what’s important to us, what we’re passionate about?

What if we could put them all in a huge box, chain it shut, put it in a dark corner down in the basement, lock the door and never see it again?

Well, that’s not going to happen. There’s no magic trick, no secret method to removing all those thoughts from your head. Not one that doesn’t involve invasive brain surgery at least.

But you know what? This is a GOOD thing!

Because as we said just now, all this thinking – all this endless activity in your mind – is the flip side of being creative and being able to pour out ideas like a barman pours out beers on a Saturday night in the busiest bar in town.

You know I said there wasn’t a trick or a secret to switching all your thoughts and worries off? Well, that is true, but there IS a way to deal with them far more easily, to all but eliminate their impact on hindering your creativity.

You can’t turn them off, but you can turn them down, and you can tune them out.

Imagine your mind as a radio, where you can tune into thousands of different channels. Whilst all these channels are still broadcasting a signal 24 hours a day, you can choose which channels you listen to, which you tune into.

So if you don’t want to listen to that annoying high pitched host of W.O.R.R.Y FM, then you don’t have to.

Actually imagine in your mind how this DJ sounds, endlessly rambling on with their fears and concerns. Then tune them out, turn them down. See them disappearing in your mind. Instead of being on full volume at the front of your thoughts, picture them fading away into grainy black and white and receding into the distance.

See them drifting away, become ever quieter and more transparent, their image and voice breaking up and fading like a ghost disappearing as day breaks. Imagine them just drifting into a single collected mass of your thoughts, a gentle low background presence that doesn’t concern you.

You know like when your in a building in a city and you can hear the traffic outside? You know it’s there, and if your bring your attention to it, you hear the rush by of every car, truck and bike. But most of the time it is just a background presence. You don’t need to listen, it’s just there, not doing any harm, whilst you get on with what you need to get on with.

Practice tuning out your own inner radio channels that have up until now distracted you.

Give them names, imagine the host’s face, give them a personality, rather than have them as an ominous floating fearful entity.

Then tune them our, watch them fade away into the soft background melee of sound you don’t need to focus on or pay any attention to.

The more you do this, the easier it will become.

In the meantime, just create.

Give yourself specific dates and times, mark it in your calendar, a short block of time each day. You only need 10 or 15 minutes to begin.

Building this daily creative habit, making full use of the time rather than endlessly worrying will make a huge change in your creative life.

You can start today, and I’m confident you will. Because we need to create, it’s not an option. It’s what we do. It’s what we must do.

So it’s goodbye W.O.R.R.Y FM, hello Creativity Central…

Mastery of Moods

2012-01-29T02:55:00.000-08:00

Mastery of Moods

This Too Shall Pass
[source: Osho International]

To think that "I am the mind," is unawareness. To know that mind is only a mechanism just as the body is, to know that the mind is separate.... The night comes, the morning comes: you don't get identified with the night. You don't say, "I am night," you don't say, "I am morning." The night comes, the morning comes, the day comes, again the night comes; the wheel goes on moving, but you remain alert that you are not these things.

The same is the case with the mind. Anger comes, but you forget -- you become anger. Greed comes, you forget -- you become greed. Hate comes, you forget -- you become hate. This is unawareness.

Awareness is watching that the mind is full of greed, full of anger, full of hate or full of lust, but you are simply a watcher. Then you can see greed arising, becoming a great, dark cloud, then dispersing -- and you remain untouched. How long can it remain? Your anger is momentary, your greed is momentary, your lust is momentary. Just watch a little and you will be surprised: it comes and it goes. And you are remaining there unaffected, cool, calm.

The most basic thing to remember is that when you are feeling good, in a mood of ecstasy, don't start thinking that it is going to be your permanent state. Live the moment as joyfully, as cheerfully as possible, knowing perfectly well that it has come and it will go -- just like a breeze comes in your house, with all its fragrance and freshness, and goes out from the other door.

This is the most fundamental thing. If you start thinking in terms of making your ecstatic moments permanent, you have already started destroying them. When they come, be grateful; when they leave, be thankful to existence (God). Remain open. It will happen many times -- don't be judgmental, don't be a chooser. Remain choiceless. Yes, there will be moments when you will be miserable. So what? There are people who are miserable and who have not even known a single moment of ecstasy; you are fortunate. Even in your misery, remember that it is not going to be permanent; it will also pass away, so don't get too much disturbed by it. Remain at ease.

Just like day and night, there are moments of joy and there are moments of sadness; accept them as part of the duality of nature, as the very way things are. And you are simply a watcher: neither you become happiness nor you become misery. Happiness comes and goes, misery comes and goes. One thing remains always there -- always and always -- and that is the watcher, one who witnesses.

Slowly, slowly get more and more centered into the watcher. Days will come and nights will come... lives will come and deaths will come... success will come, failure will come. But if you are centered in the watcher -- because that is the only reality in you -- everything is a passing phenomenon.

Just for a moment, try to feel what I am saying: just be a watcher....

Do not cling to any moment because it is beautiful, and do not push any moment because it is miserable. Stop doing that. That you have been doing for lives. You have not been successful yet and you will never be successful ever. The only way to go beyond, to remain beyond, is to find a place from where you can watch all these changing phenomena without getting identified.

Everything passes, but you remain. You are the reality; everything else is just a dream. Beautiful dreams are there, nightmares are there... But it does not matter whether it is a beautiful dream or a nightmare; what matters is the one who is seeing the dream. That seer is the only reality.

Mortal Kombat! Every Mortal Is Responsible For Their Own DESTINY!

2012-01-29T01:26:00.000-08:00

Woot Woot! Mortal Kombat is on Starz cable channel. It just started at 1:20am pst. There's nothing else on the tube right now. Sooooo glad Mortal Kombat is on! Never get tired of watching this timeless CLASSIC. GREAT PRINCIPLES!!! :D

"Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict." ~ by William Channing ♥

This is one of my all time favorite movies! It was just the OOMPH that I needed to kick it into HIGH gear! This movie has very many spiritual principles that are key to our conscious elevation. It also portrays the ongoing battle between LIGHT and darkness! Know this, the dark forces will not win. LIGHT WILL PREVAIL. I have posted the last half hour of this movie! However, I highly recommend that you watch this movie from the beginning so that you better understand what led up to this moment. It still blows my mind when I watch it. Let this movie inspire you to do the following:

You must Face your enemy.
You must Face yourself.
You must Face your worst fear.

♥♥♥ I Believe In Lღ√Ƹ Lღ√Ƹ Lღ√Ƹ ♥♥♥

2012-01-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

HAPPY SATURDAY everybody!!! I've been enjoying this day taking it easy, relaxing listening to Barbra Streisand albums... IN HEAVEN! ;) Must share this wonderful feeling! :D Enjoy this great uplifting song!

I Believe In Love by Barbra Streisand

(Feeling love is feeling good, I believe in love)

Yeah

(Feeling love is feeling good, I believe in love)

Yeah

Feeling love, that's all

That's enough for me

Yet I see, I see faces

Covered up and empty eyed

Empty spaces

Where there used to be a soul inside

Nothing and no one ever gets to you

Seems the wind could blow right through you

Believin' in gods that never knew you

I believe in love

I believe in feelin' good

And that's feelin' love

Now worry

Climbin' up your money tree

You've got to hurry

Monkey do what monkey see

You're on a one-way street and you're speeding

Missin' the signs you ought to be readin'

Passin' things you'll later be needin'

I believe in love, what?

I believe it nobody sold me

Always knew it, nobody told me

I believe in someone to hold me

I believe in love

I believe in love, I do

Yes, I believe in feelin' good

And that's feelin' love, yeah

(Feeling love is feeling good)

Feeling love, that's all

That's enough for me

I won't be, don't wanna be lonely

Sleeping in an empty bed

Shouldn't be only

A place to rest my head

But I don't want to find myself one day

Waking up and looking at Monday

With some what's his name left from Sunday

I believe in love, what?

I believe it nobody sold me

Always knew it, nobody told me

I believe in someone to hold me

I believe in love

I believe in feelin' good

Now everybody should

They believe in feelin' good

Believin' in, believin' in love, LOVE!

Thank God It's Friday... ♥

2012-01-27T22:59:00.000-08:00

Special Delivery Of HUGS!!! ♥

2012-01-27T22:55:00.001-08:00

─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ▄ ▌ ▐ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▌

─ ─ ─ ▄ ▄ █ █ ▌ █ ░ ♥ ░ ░ DELIVERY OF HUGS ░ ♥░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░▐

▄ ▄ ▄ ▌ ▐ █ █ ▌ █ ░ ░ ░ FOR EVERYONE! ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░▐

█ █ █ █ █ █ █ ▌ █ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▌

▀ (@) ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ (@)(@) ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ (@) ▀ ▘ ♥ ♥ ♥

...♥ Let's continue to send trucks loaded with hugs to our friends

You Matter And YOU Are LOVED! ♥

2012-01-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

No day is wasted in which I touch another person's life in any positive, meaningful way. And so it is that I enrich my days by giving something of myself whether through a warm smile, a kind word, a sympathetic ear, a gentle embrace or a simple helping hand.

"Love is always bestowed as a gift:

freely, willingly and without expectation.

We don't love to be loved; we love to love."

~ by Leo Buscaglia ♥

Food Traditions and Symbols of Chinese New Year

2012-01-22T19:58:00.000-08:00

Delish

Food Traditions and Symbols of Chinese New Year

written by Kiri Tannenbaum

Friday January 20, 2012

Don't put away your party hats and noisemakers just yet. January 23 is Chinese New Year, and of course, it is celebrated with a huge Chinese feast!

The meal is actually referred to as a "reunion dinner" — one in which extended families get together to ring in the new year and new season. Since the 20th century, the holiday has also been called Spring Festival, as, according to the lunar calendar, winter ends and spring officially begins on this day. The Chinese don't have to wait for a groundhog to tell them its time to stop hibernating. But they do have an animal or symbol associated with the turn of the calendar. This year marks the year of the legendary dragon, who's believed to have divine powers.

Historically on this day families would meticulously clean their home to exorcise huiqi that, according to the History Channel, were "inauspicious breaths, which might have collected during the old year." And they believed the Gods would be coming to inspect their homes. "Ritual sacrifices of food and paper icons were offered to gods and ancestors. People posted scrolls printed with lucky messages on household gates and set off firecrackers to frighten evil spirits. Elders gave out money to children," as the History Channel explains. But the most significant part of the celebration was the grand feast. Each course had particular meaning and each course meant to bring the family luck in the coming years.

Here are a few of the dishes that are eaten on this holiday:

Long Life Noodles are eaten to bring longevity. They are uncut noodles prepared in a variety of ways and the longer the better.

Oranges, usually Mandarin, are eaten and given out as something sweet and because, in some dialects, the name also means "luck."

Dumplings At this festive meal they have special significance because of their shape, symbolizing family togetherness. They are often prepared with all of the generations of the family and are eaten at midnight. Some dumplings are also eaten to represent wealth and are shaped like ancient Chinese coins.

Spring rolls, or egg rolls, are also considered to bring good fortune, as their shape resembles that of a gold bar.

Buddha's Delight is a dish we've seen on many Chinese take-out menus, but on this day it holds a special significance. This strictly vegetarian dish (no animals should be sacrificed in Buddhism) is packed with 18 ingredients (a lucky number) and usually includes bamboo shoots, mushrooms, dried lily buds, and beans.

Jin Duey are sesame-coated rice balls (yum!) made from a glutenous flour that puffs up when fried. It's believed that they bring growing fortune because they expand.

Sweet cakes are eaten to represent the sweet life. A chewy Sticky Cake, or Nian Gow, represents a family's cohesiveness and closeness.

The last course of fish is not served to be eaten, but to represent abundance of wealth of the family. Often, the fish comes out with the head and tail intact, as the Chinese word for fish also sounds similar to wish (funny, that's sorta what it sounds like in English). It is included on the table as hope that the new year brings each family member what they wish for.

Happy eating, and may all your wishes come true.

NFC Championship Game: GIANTS vs 49ers

2012-01-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

WooHoo! Get ready folks... the NFC championship game is about to start in 2 hrs. The NY Giants vs SF 49ers at 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST on FOX. :D

FYI: The AFC Championship Game between the Baltimore Ravens vs the New England Patriots already started at 12:00pm PST / 3:00pm EST on CBS.

Super Bowl is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5th, 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST on NBC.

GO Giants!!!

UPDATE 7:35pm: FINAL NY Giants 20 SF 49ers 17

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!
Super Bowl here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!

GIANTS YOU ROCK!!!

Goodbye Metal Rabbit... Hello Water Dragon! HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!! :)

2012-01-22T03:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Daily Horoscope

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2012!

Chinese Astrology makes a splash with the Year of the Water Dragon

written by Stephanie Dempsey

Sunday January 22, 2012

Happy Chinese New Year! In Chinese Astrology, 2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon, and the two-week worldwide celebration kicks off on January 23.

Dragon years always encourage growth and change. Now is not the time to think conservatively -- it's time to explore new frontiers in love, career and life. Because Water years emphasize polite negotiation, these adventures should be undertaken in a diplomatic, civil way. You'll definitely catch more flies with honey than vinegar during the Year of the Water Dragon.

This Chinese New Year will grant great rewards to innovative leaders. If you sense that an organization or relationship has grown stale, promote positive changes. Don't let naysayers shoot you down. Remain upbeat and optimistic with your suggestions, and inject humor into your proposals. Calculated risks are heavily favored throughout this energetic year.

Be sensitive to others this year. The more kindness and consideration you extend during a Water Dragon year, the more rewards you will reap. When you think in terms of what's best for the group or most beneficial for a relationship, you'll benefit greatly from all the prosperity this Chinese New Year has to offer. Anyone considering getting married or starting a business is in luck, and romances started during Dragon years are sudden, passionate and dramatic. The Year of the Water Dragon favors new endeavors of all kinds!

Happy Chinese New Year!!! :) Dragon Year, Fifth In Lunar Cycle, Signals Benevolence

2012-01-22T02:45:00.000-08:00

PhilStar new

Dragon year, fifth in lunar cycle, signals benevolence

written by Doreen G. Yu

Sunday January 22, 2012

Of the 12 animals that responded to Lord Buddha’s call to appear before him, the dragon is the only mythical creature, and the only one that can fly. So why was the dragon not the first but the fifth to arrive at Lord Buddha’s court, after the rat, ox, tiger and rabbit, but ahead of the snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig?

One legend has it that as the dragon was flying above the earth, it saw some villages suffering from drought and crops would not grow. The dragon made a detour to help the villages by blowing on the clouds and causing rain to fall on the dry villages.

Such is the benevolence of the dragon, a symbol of positive force and power in Chinese mythology.

The dragon is traditionally the symbol of the Chinese emperor, representing supreme spiritual power. The dragon also symbolizes celestial and terrestrial power, as well as wisdom and strength.

Chinese emperors were said to consult the dragon on matters of state, but the dragon did not take kindly to its advice being ignored. When the emperor does not heed its counsel, the dragon would cause storms by breathing on the clouds, or cause a drought by beating its tail to empty the lakes and rivers.

Not all dragons are created equal. The Chinese imperial dragon is depicted with five claws, while the common dragon has only four. (The Japanese dragon only has three claws.)

Chinese mythological hierarchy lists four, some even have nine kinds of dragons. The most important is, of course, the heavenly dragon (tian long), the celestial guardian that protects the heavens. The spiritual dragon (shen long) is in charge of the wind, clouds and rain, and is thus very important to the agricultural sector, a vital consideration in ancient and even modern China.

The earth dragon (di long) lives in palaces in the depths of the rivers and lakes, while the treasure dragon (fucang long) lives in caves deep in the earth and is in charge of all precious jewels and minerals.

The dragon is believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and bounty, thus the entrance of the Year of the Dragon tomorrow is being met with great excitement and anticipation.

Today, the eve of the new year, will be abuzz with festivity, with parades, dragon and lion dances and fireworks displays to bring the Year of the Rabbit to a close and usher in the much anticipated Year of the Dragon.

Ongpin street in the heart of Manila’s Chinatown will be closed to vehicles as the stretch of road will be turned into a public fair ground, with tents showcasing various traditional crafts like paper cutting, calligraphy, fan painting, acupuncture, feng shui (geomancy) consultations and fortune telling. Raucous dragon and lion dances will fill the streets.

In the homes of the Chinese Filipinos or Tsinoys throughout the country as it will be throughout the world among overseas Chinese communities, there will generally be much festivity and feasting, as families gather around the table (in ancient China, it still being winter, families gathered around the hearth) to share a sumptuous meal. Fowl – duck or chicken – is served whole, as is fish, the latter particularly significant, since fish (yu) is a homonym for bounty, as in the Chinese saying nian nian you yu, meaning bounty year after year. Noodles – the longer the better – symbolize longevity, and sweet sticky rice cakes – the ubiquitous tikoy – promote family togetherness (sticking together) and harmonious relations (sweetness).

The Year of the Dragon is believed to bring the Four Blessings of the East - wealth, virtue, harmony and longevity. The year is expected to be dynamic and vibrant, with opportunities abounding. Under the influence of the element of Water, this will be a yang year, flowing rather than stagnant. But it will not necessarily mean positive developments all around, as all that energy may just as easily lead to major crashes for those who do not augur well with the elements.

Those born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be imbued with its characteristics: vibrant, dynamic, bountiful, specially gifted. Dragons are said to be blessed with the positive energies of the sky and the earth this year. Thus there is a mad rush among couples to have a dragon baby; they have until Feb. 9, 2013 to do so in the hope that their precious bundle of joy may turn out to be the 21st century’s Placido Domingo, Sigmund Freud, Martin Luther King, Christian Dior or John Lennon.

The Water Dragon is said to be friendly, easy going, intelligent, quick-witted and eager to grab opportunities that come along.

Epic Ron Paul Animation

2012-01-21T22:27:00.001-08:00

Ron Paul's Speech After South Carolina Primary

2012-01-21T22:17:00.000-08:00

I've taken the following from the PBSNewsHour youtube video description:

Texas Congressman Ron Paul addressed a crowd of supporters in South Carolina after being projected to finish fourth in the Palmetto State's Saturday primary.

Paul pointed out that after Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, only 37 delegates have been allocated so far -- "something like 1.5 percent," he said. "This is the beginning of a long, hard slog."

The Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore Talks With Judge Napolitano And Agrees with Ron Paul on 0% Income Tax, Urges GOP to Adopt

2012-01-21T21:22:00.001-08:00

For those of you who think a 0% income tax is laughable and insane, please stop for a moment and think about this... we pay all kinds of taxes at the federal, state and local level. An "income" tax is one form of revenue and is obviously based on our hard earned income levels. By abolishing the "income" tax that allows for countless write-offs, our federal government can adopt a "Fair" tax or "Flat" tax that would charge a fixed percentage rate on ALL purchases aka a point of "sales" tax. That would be SUPER FAIR for people at ALL income levels as opposed to our current tax system where people and corporations get away with paying NO INCOME TAXES by taking advantage of the countless tax write-offs, thereby reducing their gross income so they can reduce the amount of federal taxes they pay or none at all.

I am only for instituting a "Fair" tax system if and only if we get rid of the federal "income" tax. I want to replace one with the other, not pile on an additional tax as in the Value-added tax adopted by the European Union that Mitt Romney wants to implement if he were to become president.

I would also like to state that class warfare would also be done away with entirely if we were to get rid of the "income" tax.

Fed Judge Refused To Add Santorum/Gingrich To Virginia's Republican Presidential Primary Ballot For Their Failure To Follow State Election Rules! Gingrich Didn't Make It On The Missouri Ballot Either!

2012-01-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

Tue., March 6, 2012: Virginia: open primary; 50 delegates up for grabs (Gingrich/Santorum counted out)

Sat., March 17, 2012 Missouri: binding caucus; 52 delegates up for grabs (Gingrich counted out)

Let me put these two states delegate count into perspective for you:
Iowa- 28 delegates have NOT been officially allocated yet.
New Hampshire- 12 delegates
South Carolina- 25 delegates

Total delegates distributed to date: 37
Virginia/Missouri delegates combined: 102

Side note: Even if we were to add the 28 delegates from Iowa, there would be a total of 65 delegates to date from the 3 states that have already held republican presidential primaries.

***********************************************************

NPR

Judge Rejects GOP Virginia Primary Ballot Appeal

written by AP

Friday January 13, 2012

Many of Mitt Romney's presidential challengers are having trouble fulfilling a fundamental requirement of running for public office: getting on the ballot.

Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman have all failed to qualify for the ballot in at least one upcoming GOP primary. The latest setback for those four candidates came Friday when a federal judge refused to add them to Virginia's Republican presidential primary ballot.

They have failed to file full slates of delegates with state or party officials, raising questions about whether these candidates have the resources to wage effective national campaigns.

And if one of them were able to marshal enough anti-Romney forces to challenge the front-runner, the ballot blunders could limit their ability to win delegates in key states.

The exception: Ron Paul, who appears to have avoided such pitfalls so far.

"This is why you need a real-life, no-kidding-around campaign," said Rich Galen, a GOP strategist and former Gingrich aide who is neutral in the 2012 race. "All these guys who have been crowing that they found a new way to run for president, it's like saying I'm inventing a new airplane, and it has only one wing."

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, won the first two contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire, and he is leading in the polls in South Carolina and Florida, the next two states to have primaries. Romney raised $56 million in 2011 for his campaign, giving him big financial and organizational advantages over his GOP rivals.

Those advantages are on display as many of his competitors miss deadlines or fail to collect enough signatures to meet ballot requirements in upcoming contests.

Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who came within a few votes of winning the Iowa caucuses, didn't get on the ballot in Virginia or the District of Columbia. His campaign also filed incomplete slates of delegates in Illinois and Ohio, which could limit his ability to win delegates in those key states.

Virginia has been a tough ballot to crack for several GOP candidates because the state requires campaigns to collect signatures from at least 10,000 registered voters. Romney and Paul were the only ones who made the ballot for the March 6 primary.

Perry sued, and was later joined in the lawsuit by Gingrich, Huntsman and Santorum. But on Friday, a federal judge in Richmond refused to add them to the ballot, saying the candidates should have challenged Virginia's primary qualifying rules earlier.

Santorum is the only major candidate who will be left off the ballot in the District of Columbia primary April 3, said Paul Craney, executive director of the DC Republican Committee. The party provides two ways to get on the ballot: Pay $10,000, or pay $5,000 and collect signatures from 296 registered Republicans in the heavily Democratic capital city.

"It's not easy, but it can be done, if you are a serious presidential candidate," Craney said. "All the presidential candidates who are serious about winning the nomination will be on the D.C. ballot."

Santorum adviser John Brabender acknowledged that Romney has more money and a larger campaign organization. But, he said, Santorum's campaign has gained resources and momentum since the close finish in Iowa. Romney, he said, has been running for president for the past six years, giving him more time to build his organization.

"It's a different campaign than it was earlier," Brabender said.

Huntsman, the former Utah governor, failed to get on the ballot in Arizona or Illinois.

The requirements to get on the GOP ballot in Arizona are pretty easy all you have to do is fill out a two-page form. Twenty-three candidates managed to do it properly, so they will be on the ballot for the state's Feb. 28 primary.

Huntsman, however, was left off the ballot because his filing had a photocopied signature and wasn't notarized, said Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett.

"If you can't get on the ballot around the country, you're a regional candidate, by definition," said Rich Beeson, the Romney campaign's political director. "Barack Obama is going to be on the ballot in all 50 states, and so will we."

Gingrich, the former House speaker, didn't make it on the ballot for primaries in Missouri or Virginia, though he has joined the lawsuit to get on the Virginia ballot and Missouri won't award any delegates based on its Feb. 7 primary. Instead, Missouri Republicans will hold caucuses March 17.

Perry, the Texas governor, made the ballot in Illinois, but he will only be eligible to win one delegate in the state's March 20 primary — a contest in which 54 delegates will be up for grabs.

It will take 1,144 delegates to win the nomination at the Republican national convention this summer.

Illinois has a unique way of awarding delegates to candidates. The winner of the state's GOP primary doesn't necessarily get any delegates. Instead, Republicans will vote for the actual delegates, who are listed separately on the ballot but are identified by the candidate they support.

Each of the state's 18 congressional districts will elect three delegates, for a total of 54. To appear on the ballot as a delegate, candidates had to collect signatures from at least 600 registered voters in the district where they are running.

Only one Perry delegate filed signatures by the deadline, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Gingrich, Paul and Romney filed full slates, while only 44 Santorum delegates filed signatures.

South Carolina Republican Primary, 2012

2012-01-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

CNN Election Center: GOP Delegate Calculator

(Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina counted)

Newt Gingrich: 25 projected delegates

Mitt Romney: 14 projected delegates

Ron Paul: 10 projected delegates

Rick Santorum: 8 projected delegates

Total Number of delegates: 2286

Number of delegates needed to win: 1144

*************************************************************

Reuters

South Carolina Primary

written by Greg Giroux

Thursday January 19, 2012

How many delegates are at stake?

South Carolina Republicans will send 25 delegates to the national convention, or 1.1 percent of the national total of 2,286. The Republican National Committee stripped South Carolina Republicans of half their delegates because they’re holding a primary before Feb. 1, in violation of national party rules.

How are the delegates allocated among the candidates?

South Carolina uses a “winner-take-all” system to award delegates. A candidate is awarded 11 delegates for winning the primary, plus two delegates for each congressional district won. South Carolina has seven districts beginning with the 2012 election.

South Carolina allocates its delegates differently than New Hampshire, which awarded its 12 delegates in proportion to the vote share candidates received in the Jan. 10 primary. Iowa’s Jan. 3 caucuses were non-binding and didn’t award any of the state’s 28 Republican delegates to candidates.

FYI: In 2006, Gingrich Backed Censoring The Web

2012-01-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

Politico

In 2006, Gingrich backed censoring the web

written by Josh Gerstein

Saturday January 21, 2012

At Thursday night's debate in South Carolina, Newt Gingrich painted himself as a friend of a free and open Internet, but in the past he's talked up pretty radical proposals to curtail free speech online.

The question Thursday was about the Stop Online Piracy Act, legislation that has the support of the entertainment industry and powerful members of the House and Senate, but is now on life support after running into a firestorm of criticism from Internet users, tech companies like Google, and activists who shut down websites in protest earlier this week.

"You have virtually everybody who's technologically advanced, including, you know, Google and YouTube and Facebook and all the folks, who say this is going to totally mess up the Internet, and the bill in its current form is written really badly and leads to a range of censorship that is totally unacceptable. Well, I favor freedom," Gingrich said. "The idea that we're going to preemptively have the government start censoring the Internet on behalf of giant corporations' economic interests strikes me as exactly the wrong thing to do."

But back in 2006, Gingrich argued censoring the Internet would be the right thing to do when it comes to Islamic radicals who use the web to organize jihad against the U.S.

"We need to get ahead of the curve rather than wait until we actually literally lose a city, which I think could literally happen in the next decade if we're unfortunate," Mr. Gingrich said during a speech in New Hampshire, according to a story I wrote at the time for The New York Sun. "We now should be impaneling people to look seriously at a level of supervision that we would never dream of if it weren't for the scale of the threat."

Gingrich's aides posted the audio on the web at the time, but the file seems to be gone now. My recollection is that the former House speaker didn't go into great detail, but suggested that a group of retired judges or other respected individuals should be empowered to shut down websites that foment anti-American violence. He did not explain how the U.S. would take down sites on servers beyond the reach of U.S. law.

At the time, Gingrich conceded that the kinds of controls he was proposing for the web would trigger "a serious debate about the First Amendment," but he said the intrusion was needed because of the apocalyptic nature of the threat posed by Islamic terrorists.

"This is a serious, long-term war," Gingrich said. "Either before we lose a city or, if we are truly stupid, after we lose a city, we will adopt rules of engagement that use every technology we can find to break up their capacity to use the Internet, to break up their capacity to use free speech, and to go after people who want to kill us to stop them from recruiting people."

Obviously, terrorists pose a more significant threat than intellectual property pirates. So, Gingrich could distinguish his positions on those grounds. But both proposals raise serious questions about their practical effectiveness and the degree to which they'd block speech that's lawful right now.

In any event, Gingrich's 2006 statements show that he's not entirely averse to "preemptively hav[ing] the government start censoring the Internet" for some reasons and that he's far from being a champion of unfettered free speech on the Web.

The CIA Exposes the Truth About Ron Paul's Foreign Policy! Plus A Bonus Video

2012-01-21T03:09:00.000-08:00

BONUS VIDEO

Glenn Beck finally gets it... Listen to Glenn passionately reason with one of his listeners who tries to justify voting for another progressive. The far-left and the far-right are two sides of the same progressive coin. Both leading us down a very dark path with the same end game in mind.

Another BONUS video to punctuate my point...

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu's Address to Congress May 24, 2011:

My friends we don't have to do nation building in Israel. We're already built. You don't need to export democracy to Israel. We've already got it. You don't need to send American troops to Israel. We defend ourself.

Newt Gingrich Repeats His Support For Ethanol Fuel Subsidies!!! Oil Industry Subsidies $21 Billion vs Ethanol Subsidies $60 Billion

2012-01-20T12:30:00.000-08:00

None of the GOP debates has asked the presidential candidates key pertinent questions about our economic recovery, wasteful government spending, corporate welfare, corporate and state bailouts and our individual rights. I want to know how the Republican Presidential candidates feel about subsidies? Do they plan to continue them or abolish them?

Newt Gingrich wants to continue using farmland that should be used for our FOOD SUPPLY for alternative ethanol fuel and use US taxpayer dollars to pay for it.

Oil Industry Subsidies $21 Billion - Ethanol Subsidies $60 Billion [source: Reason.com]

***************************************************

New Hampshire Union Leader

Gingrich repeats his support for ethanol fuel subsidies

written by Mark Hayward

December 22, 2011

Looking for votes in Iowa, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich touted his support for ethanol on Thursday and said it would be part of his all-American energy plan.

Gingrich said he voted for gasohol as a congressman during the Reagan administration. He said his later support for ethanol subsidies was key to getting the program implemented.

“If I have to choose between the next billion dollars (for energy) going to Iraq or Iowa, I prefer Iowa,” Gingrich said. Gingrich complimented Iowa on its investment in alternative energy, noting that the Hawkeye State is second to the country of Denmark in wind-generated power.

Gingrich has been a strong supporter of ethanol subsidies while campaigning in Iowa, according to the website Politico. The website reported that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been non-committal about continuing ethanol subsidies, although he supported them in the past to get the industry on its feet.

Gingrich spent most of Thursday in Virginia. Thursday night, he hosted a telephone town hall for Iowa voters. Frequently during the event, he or his host encouraged listeners to press numbers on their keypad to commit to supporting Gingrich at the upcoming Jan. 3 caucuses.

In response to one question, Gingrich said Attorney General Eric Holder played the race card when speaking about some of the critics of the Fast and Furious gunrunning debacle. In speaking to the New York Times, Holder said more extreme elements of his critics were attacking him because of his and the President’s race.

“It’s all they’ve got left,” Gingrich said. “They can’t argue the facts. All they’ve got left is the race card,” he said.

Gingrich said he believed government officials were using Fast and Furious to discredit honest Americans by creating a false trail, which would eventually be used to implement gun control.

Gingrich said he had called for Holder’s resignation more than a year ago. House Republicans should subpoena Justice Department records about Fast and Furious, and if Holder does not comply, the House should cut off the department’s funding, Gingrich said.

Gingrich urged his listeners to take time off this weekend to celebrate Christmas and reflect on the miracle that happened 2,011 years ago.

******************************************************

Biofuel Digest

Gingrich the lonely Republican in supporting ethanol subsidies

written by Meghan Sapp

November 3, 2011

In Iowa, four out of five Republican candidates for US President say that it’s time to end ethanol subsidies because it’s not the government’s place to support one source of energy over another.

Newt Gingrich was the only candidate at a manufacturing forum held Tuesday that supported ethanol subsidies, while two current frontrunners Mitt Romney and Herman Cain weren’t in attendance at all.

Myth busted: Yes, The NDAA Does Apply To Americans, And Here's The Text That Says So!

2012-01-20T00:37:00.000-08:00

Here you have it... I haven't had time to read through the final NDAA bill Pres Obama just signed into law. Thank God there are millions of other concerned Americans. That way if one of us drops the ball, I feel confident that there is someone out there who will pick it up.

FYI: Republican Presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum support this new legislation and plan to keep it in place. Dr. Ron Paul staunchly opposes this legislation.

*************************************************

Natural news

Myth busted: Yes, the NDAA does apply to Americans, and here's the text that says so

written by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

Sunday January 1, 2012

In the aftermath of the signing of the NDAA by the traitorous President Obama, some citizens remain completely hoodwinked by the language of the bill, running around the internet screaming that the law "does not apply to American citizens."

This is, naturally, part of the side effect of having such a dumbed-down education system where people can't even parse the English language anymore. If you read the bill and understand what it says, it clearly offers absolutely no protections of U.S. citizens. In fact, it affirms that Americans are subjected to indefinite detainment under "existing authorities."

Let's parse it intelligently, shall we?

First off, the offending section of the bill that used to be called 1031 was moved to 1021. Here is the title:

SEC. 1021. AFFIRMATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES TO DETAIN COVERED PERSONS PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

The two relevant sections to consider are titled and stated as follows;

(d) CONSTRUCTION. -- Nothing in this section is intended to limit or expand the authority of the President or the scope of the Authorization for Use of Military Force.

By PARSING the language here, we must split it into two sentences based on the "or" operator. This statement essentially means:

• Nothing in this section is intended to LIMIT the authority of the President or the scope of the Authorization for Use of Military Force.

• Nothing in this section is intended to EXPAND the authority of the President or the scope of the Authorization for Use of Military Force.

In other words, this section places no limits whatsoever of the "authority of the President" to use military force (against American citizens). Keep that in mind as you read the next section:

(e) AUTHORITIES. -- Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.

This section "e" is the section that the hoodwinked people on the internet are running around saying "protects American citizens" from the NDAA. But where do they dream up such language? If you read section (e) again, you'll discover it says nothing whatsoever about protecting American citizens from the NDAA. Instead, here's what it really says when parsed into two sentences based on the "or" operator:

• Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing LAW relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.

• Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing AUTHORITIES relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.

In other words, section (e) only says that it does not alter "existing authorities" relating to the detention of US citizens.

So to answer the question about whether this affects U.S. citizens, you have to understand "existing authorities."

What are those "existing authorities?"

Existing authorities already allow indefinite detainment and the killing of American citizens

As everyone who studies history well knows, the Patriot Act already establishes an "existing authority" that anyone suspected of being involved in terrorist-related activities can be arrested and detained without trial. If you don't believe me, just Google it yourself. This is not a debated issue; it's widely recognized.

Furthermore, President Obama already insists that he has the authority to kill American citizens merely by decree! As Reuters reported on October 5, 2011, a "secret panel" of government officials (who report to the President) can decide to place an American citizen on a "kill list" and then murder that person, without trial, without due process, and without even being arrested.

Importantly, as Reuters reports, "Two principal legal theories were advanced [in support of the kill list authority] -- first, that the actions were permitted by Congress when it authorized the use of military forces against militants in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001."

Are you getting this yet? So the authority ALREADY exists for the President to order the killing of an American citizen. All that is required is that they be suspected of being involved in terrorism in any way, and not a shred of evidence is required by the government to support that. There is no trial, no arraignment, no evidence and not even a hearing. You are simply accused and then disappeared.

Thus, the authority already exists, you see, and the NDAA openly states that "Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing AUTHORITIES..."

In other words, the NDAA does nothing to protect American citizens, and it piggy-backs on the Patriot Act as well as Obama's executive "kill list" justifications to essentially place all Americans in the crosshairs of government murderers or military action.

Rep. Justin Amash, a Congressman from Michigan, explains:

The key to subsection 1021(e) is its claim that sec. 1021 does not "affect existing law or authorities" relating to the detention of persons arrested on U.S. soil. If the President's expansive view of his own power were in statute, that statement would be true. Instead, the section codifies the President's view as if it had always existed, authorizing detention of "persons" regardless of citizenship or where they are arrested. It then disingenuously says the bill doesn't change that view.

Storing food could get you labeled as a terror suspect

So then, you might be wondering, "What kinds of activities could get me accused of being involved in supporting terrorism?"

And here's the kicker, because all the following activities could cause you to be arrested, detained, interrogated and even murdered all under U.S. law, thanks to Obama:

• Criticizing the federal government.

• Using cash to purchase things.

• Storing food and medical supplies.

• Owning a firearm and storing ammunition.

• Standing still and minding your own business near a government building.

• Writing something down on a piece of paper near a government building.

• Using a pair of binoculars.

• Protesting for animal rights in front of a medical lab.

• Protesting your government (or Wall Street).

• Requesting to take more than a couple thousand dollars out of your bank account in cash.

You see, under existing authority, you could be labeled a "terror suspect" for engaging in any of these activities, and then LEGALLY arrested, detained, interrogated or even killed by the U.S. government, all under Obama's authority (or whatever next President takes over in Washington and perhaps does far worse things with that power...)

You are already enemy combatants, folks. The NDAA does absolutely nothing to protect you from its provisions. In fact, it openly states that it does not limit existing authorities -- authorities which already claim the right to subject you to indefinite military detention merely for being "suspected" of involvement with "terrorism," which could be interpreted to apply in practically any situation.

Please click HERE to read the entire article... VERY DETAILED!

R.I.P. Bill of Rights 1789 - 2011 :(

2012-01-20T00:33:00.000-08:00

Natural news

R.I.P. Bill of Rights 1789 - 2011

written by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

Sunday January 1, 2012

One of the most extraordinary documents in human history -- the Bill of Rights -- has come to an end under President Barack Obama. Derived from sacred principles of natural law, the Bill of Rights has come to a sudden and catastrophic end with the President's signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a law that grants the U.S. military the "legal" right to conduct secret kidnappings of U.S. citizens, followed by indefinite detention, interrogation, torture and even murder. This is all conducted completely outside the protection of law, with no jury, no trial, no legal representation and not even any requirement that the government produce evidence against the accused. It is a system of outright government tyranny against the American people, and it effectively nullifies the Bill of Rights.

In what will be remembered as the most traitorous executive signing ever committed against the American people, President Obama signed the bill on New Year's Eve, a time when most Americans were engaged in the consumption of alcohol. It seems appropriate, of course, since no intelligent American could accept the tyranny of this bill if they were sober.

This is the law that will cement Obama's legacy in the history books as the traitor who nullified the Bill of Rights and paved America's pathway down a road of tyranny that will make Nazi Germany's war crimes look like child's play. If Bush had signed a law like this, liberals would have been screaming "impeachment!"

Why the Bill of Rights matters

While the U.S. Constitution already limits the power of federal government, the Bill of Rights is the document that enumerates even more limits of federal government power. In its inception, many argued that a Bill of Rights was completely unnecessary because, they explained, the federal government only has the powers specifically enumerated to it under the U.S. Constitution. There was no need to have a "First Amendment" to protect Free Speech, for example, because there was no power granted to government to diminish Free Speech.

This seems silly today, of course, given the natural tendency of all governments to concentrate power in the hands of the few while destroying the rights and freedoms of their own people. But in the 1780's, whether government could ever become a threat to future freedoms was hotly debated. By 1789, enough revolutionary leaders had agreed on the fundamental principles of a Bill of Rights to sign it into law. Its purpose was to provide additional clarifications on the limitation of government power so that there could be absolutely no question that government could NEVER, under any circumstances, violate these key principles of freedom: Freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, freedom from illegal searches, the right to remain silent, the right to due process under law, and so on.

Of course, today's runaway federal government utterly ignores the limitations placed on it by the founding fathers. It aggressively and criminally seeks to expand its power at all costs, completely ignoring the Bill of Rights and openly violating the limitations of power placed upon it by the United States Constitution. The TSA's illegal searching of air travelers, for example, is a blatant violation of Fourth Amendment rights. The government's hijacking of websites it claims are linking to "copyright infringement" hubs is a blatant violation of First Amendment rights. The government's demand that all Americans be forced to buy private health insurance is a blatant violation of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution -- the "commerce clause."

Now, with the passage of the NDAA, the federal government has torpedoed the entire Bill of Rights, dismissing it completely and effectively promising to violate those rights at will. As of January 1, 2012, we have all been designated enemies of the state. America is the new battleground, and your "right" to due process is null and void.

Remember, this was all done by the very President who promised to close Guantanamo Bay and end secret military prisons. Not only did Obama break that campaign promise (as he has done with nearly ALL his campaign promises), he did exactly the opposite and has now subjected all Americans to the possibility of government-sponsored kidnapping, detainment and torture, all under the very system of secret military prisons he claimed he would close!

"President Obama’s action today is a blight on his legacy because he will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law," said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Obama's signing statement means nothing

Even while committing an act of pure treason in signing the bill, the unindicted criminal President Obama issued a signing statement that reads, in part, "Moving forward, my administration will interpret and implement the provisions described below in a manner that best preserves the flexibility on which our safety depends and upholds the values on which this country was founded..."

Anyone who reads between the lines here realizes the "the flexibility on which our safety depends" means they can interpret the law in any way they want if there is a sufficient amount of fear being created through false flag terror attacks. Astute readers will also notice that Obama's signing statement has no legal binding whatsoever and only refers to Obama's momentary intentions on how he "wishes" to interpret the law. It does not place any limits whatsoever on how a future President might use the law as written.

Please click HERE to read the entire article... very detailed.

FLASHBACK: Guess How DHS Defines Who Is A Terrorist Now: 2nd ‘Domestic Extremism’ Report Includes ‘Alternative Media,’ ‘Tax Resisters’ In Lexicon

2012-01-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

WND news

Guess how DHS defines who is a terrorist now

written by Drew Zahn

May 2, 2009

Two weeks before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security penned its controversial report warning against “right-wing extremists” in the United States, it generated a memo defining dozens of additional groups – animal rights activists, black separatists, tax protesters, even worshippers of the Norse god Odin – as potential “threats.”

Though the “Domestic Extremism Lexicon” was reportedly rescinded almost immediately, Benjamin Sarlin of The Daily Beast recently obtained and published online a copy of the unclassified memo, dated March 26, 2009.

While many of the groups listed in the lexicon – such as Aryan prison gangs and neo-Nazis – may indeed be widely considered extremists, others will likely take offense at being described as a potential “threat.”

For example, the memo defines the “tax resistance movement” – also referred to in the report as the tax protest movement or the tax freedom movement – as “groups or individuals who vehemently believe taxes violate their constitutional rights. Among their beliefs are that wages are not income, that paying income taxes is voluntary, and that the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which allowed Congress to levy taxes on income, was not properly ratified.”

The report, however, continues in its assessment of tax protesters, asserting that members “have been known to advocate or engage in criminal activity and plot acts of violence and terrorism in an attempt to advance their extremist goals.”

Similarly, the lexicon concludes its definition of “black separatists” by asserting, “Such groups or individuals also may embrace radical religious beliefs. Members have been known to advocate or engage in criminal activity and plot acts of violence directed toward local law enforcement in an attempt to advance their extremist goals.”

In his blog piece titled “Who You Calling an Extremist?” Sarlin writes, “Partisans leapt to decry the first DHS memo as part of a Democratic conspiracy to marginalize right wingers. But it became clear that DHS’s broad descriptions of extremists were symptomatic of an ongoing agency problem that crossed ideological lines.”

The lexicon states its purpose is to provide “definitions for key terms and phrases that often appear in DHS analysis that addresses the nature and scope of the threat that domestic, non-Islamic extremism poses to the United States.”

Apparently, the DHS analyzes the “threat” level of Internet news websites like WorldNetDaily, for the lexicon defines “alternative media” as “a term used to describe various information sources that provide a forum for interpretations of events and issues that differ radically from those presented in mass media products and outlets.”

The term “black power,” widely used in a variety of contexts, also merits a definition in the lexicon: “A term used by black separatists to describe their pride in and the perceived superiority of the black race.”

The DHS memo also includes precursors to the ill-fated “Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” report, which prompted outrage from legislators and a campaign calling for the resignation of DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.

For example, the lexicon contains virtually the same broad-stroke language the right-wing extremism report used.

“Rightwing extremism,” the lexicon defines as those “who can be broadly divided into those who are primarily hate-oriented, and those who are mainly antigovernment and reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority. This term also may refer to rightwing extremist movements that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”

The lexicon further points to those who oppose driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.

“Anti-immigration extremism,” the lexicon defines as “a movement of groups or individuals who are vehemently opposed to illegal immigration, particularly along the U.S. southwest border with Mexico, and who have been known to advocate or engage in criminal activity and plot acts of violence and terrorism to advance their extremist goals. They are highly critical of the U.S. Government’s response to illegal immigration and oppose government programs that are designed to extend ‘rights’ to illegal aliens, such as issuing driver’s licenses or national identification cards and providing in-state tuition, medical benefits, or public education.”

Unlike the right-wing extremism report, however, the lexicon includes definitions of extremism across a broad spectrum of issues: anarchy, animal rights extremism, black nationalism, Cuban independence, environmentalism, Jewish extremism, Mexican separatism, right-wing militias, white supremacists, the anti-war movement and more.

Among the more curious groups the DHS appears to be monitoring is the “racial Nordic mysticism” group, defined as “an ideology adopted by many white supremacist prison gangs who embrace a Norse mythological religion, such as Odinism or Asatru.”

Among the more comical definitions is the description given of what “racist skinheads” wear, enabling law officers, it appears, to identify skinheads by their preferred brand of footwear:

“Dress may include a shaved head or very short hair,” the report states, “jeans, thin suspenders, combat boots or Doc Martens, a bomber jacket, and tattoos of Nazi-like emblems.”

Sarlin, who first publicized the memo, reports that a spokesperson for DHS told him the memo was recalled “within minutes” of being issued but declined to offer any details on the reasons for its withdrawal.

President Obama Signs Indefinite Detention Of American Citizens Without Due Process Into Law On New Year's Eve! It's Official Folks! :/

2012-01-20T00:22:00.000-08:00

I know this news is 3 weeks old. But I wanted to share this news with you after some of the internet chatter and dust has settled. The mainstream media didn't even report this news to the general public. You would think the media would want the public to be informed about this information that could adversely affect them.

The Department of Defense Dictionary of Military Terms defines terrorism as:

The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.

I also read President Obama's statement he made after signing this bill into law and he is speaking out of both sides of his mouth. His behavior is seriously PASSIVE-AGRESSIVE.

Oh and for those of you who vehemently support President Obama, when has his word ever meant anything? He gave himself the power to detain Americans indefinitely without due process, but then tells Americans he won't use it. LOL! Yeah right. He has already used the power he gave himself to assasinate US citizens aboad who have been deemed a terrorist. What makes you think he won't use this if it is in his best interest. This is how government heads in other nations detain political prisoners who oppose their government publicly. China, Russia, Syria and Iran are good examples. These countries round up anyone who vocally opposes their government on the pretext that they are government terrorist.

President Obama could have line item vetoed this indefinite detention provision. Oh that's right, it was President Obama who requested that provision: NDAA Military Detention of Americans. The video below: Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) on Senate floor explaining it was President Obama who requested the provision for indefinite military detention of American citizens without charge or trial.

ACLU

President Obama Signs Indefinite Detention Into Law

written by Amanda Simon

Saturday December 31, 2011

President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today, allowing indefinite detention to be codified into law. As you know, the White House had threatened to veto an earlier version of the NDAA but reversed course shortly before Congress voted on the final bill. While President Obama issued a signing statement saying he had “serious reservations” about the provisions, the statement only applies to how his administration would use it and would not affect how the law is interpreted by subsequent administrations.

The statute is particularly dangerous because it has no temporal or geographic limitations, and can be used by this and future presidents to militarily detain people captured far from any battlefield.

Under the Bush administration, similar claims of worldwide detention authority were used to hold even a U.S. citizen detained on U.S. soil in military custody, and many in Congress now assert that the NDAA should be used in the same way again. The ACLU believes that any military detention of American citizens or others within the United States is unconstitutional and illegal, including under the NDAA. In addition, the breadth of the NDAA’s detention authority violates international law because it is not limited to people captured in the context of an actual armed conflict as required by the laws of war.

We are extremely disappointed that President Obama signed this bill even though his administration is already claiming overly-broad detention authority in court. Any hope that the Obama administration would roll back those claims dimmed today. Thankfully we have three branches of government, and the final word on the scope of detention authority belongs to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the scope of detention authority. But Congress and the president also have a role to play in cleaning up the mess they have created because no American citizen or anyone else should live in fear of this or any future president misusing the NDAA’s detention authority.

The ACLU will fight worldwide detention authority wherever we can, be it in court, in Congress, or internationally.

The Obama Administration Is Spying On You And NOT For Reasons Of National Security!!! WOW! :/

2012-01-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

On the Record

The Obama Admin Is Spying On You And NOT For Reasons Of National Security

written by Greta Van Susteran

Saturday January 14, 2012

I think this spying on Americans by the Obama Administration is outrageous! What do YOU think?

The Federal Government is spying on you and NOT for national security reasons! If they wanted to know how the citizens feel about something (see below) why not an open survey instead of spying!???!!

But it gets worse: WE PAID for it!!! We are now paying – by our tax dollars - for our government to spy on us for reasons unrelated to national security!

But it gets worse: Homeland Security didn’t even do it themselves! They hired a private contractor! So we paid Homeland Security their salaries and they then went out with our tax dollars and hired an outside firm to spy on us for a non national security reason.

And guess how much it cost taxpayers? Read the article and you will be really, really angry.

And here are more questions: who at Homeland Security authorized the spying? the paying of a private contractor?

This is a bit like Solyndra in that buried deep in our government are people wildly spending our tax money for ridiculous reasons with absolutely no accountability.

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The New York Times

Federal Contractor Monitored Social Network Sites

written by Charlie Savage

Friday January 13, 2012

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security paid a contractor in 2009 to monitor social networking sites — like Facebook, blogs and reader comments on a news article — to see how the residents of Standish, Mich., were reacting to a proposal to move detainees from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to a local prison there, according to newly disclosed documents.

While it has long been known that the department monitors the Internet for information about emerging threats to public safety like a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, the documents show that its Social Networking/Media Capability program, at least in an early stage, was also focused on “public reaction to major governmental proposals with homeland security implications.”

A department official said Friday that the social network monitoring program did not produce reports about public opinion, but instead focused exclusively on monitoring crises like hazardous material spills, shooting incidents and natural disasters.

Still, the newly disclosed documents show that in August 2009, during an early test of the program, a contractor compiled reactions among residents of Standish, Mich., to the short-lived detainee proposal. It found that most people “were opposed to the plan,” arguing it could make the community a terrorist target, but that others characterized these concerns as “hysteria.”

To produce the report about Standish, the contractor used “Facebook, Twitter, three different blogs and reader comments” on an article on The Washington Post’s Web site, highlighting “public sentiments in extensive detail,” according to a summary of the report that was included as an example in a “Social Networking/Media Capability Analyst Handbook” dated February 2010.

Asked about the Standish report on Friday, department officials provided a series of explanations. After initially accepting it as something produced by the program, an official later said the report was instead created by a contractor as a sample during a period when the social networking component of its media monitoring program was still being designed. It started on a small scale in January 2010 and expanded the following June.

Chris Ortman, a department spokesman, acknowledged that the report was included in the February 2010 handbook, but he said it was there “only as an example of a weekly report format.” No such report on public sentiment was ever distributed as a working document of the department’s National Operations Center, which runs the monitoring program, he said.

He added that the handbook had since been revised and no longer included that example because it “does not meet our operational requirements or privacy standards,” which “expressly prohibit reporting on individuals’ First Amendment activities.”

The report about Standish residents was part of nearly 300 pages of documents about the monitoring program obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Ginger McCall, director of the group’s Open Government Program, said it was appropriate for the department to use the Internet to search for emerging threats to public safety. But, she said, monitoring what people are saying about government policies went too far and could chill free speech.

“The Department of Homeland Security’s monitoring of political dissent has no legal basis and is contrary to core First Amendment principles,” she said.

She also pointed out that while other sample reports in the February 2010 handbook discuss content that is inappropriate and should be removed, the Standish one does not. “This Standish report is being held up, as is, as an example that should be emulated,” she said.

While the names of blog and mainstream news sources are logged in the sample reports, the documents show that such reports — whatever their topic — are not to include personally identifying information; for example, a quotation taken from Twitter would say it came from “a Twitter user” rather than citing a specific Twitter account.

In an interview on Friday, John Cohen, the department’s principal deputy counterterrorism coordinator, said the broader media-monitoring program dated to 2006 and had evolved over time. He said that it had extensive privacy protections and that policy makers had decided that they did not want reports like Standish because they were not helpful.

“Today this capability is focused solely on rapidly identifying and obtaining information regarding events that are ongoing, and providing information that can help inform an effective response to that event,” he said, describing the reports as covering only topics like “major traffic accidents, haz-mat spills, reports regarding suspicious packages, shootings, etc.”

This week, Reuters reported on a department privacy review related to the monitoring efforts that described the news media channels the program covers. The Reuters report received significant attention after The Drudge Report, a popular news aggregation Web site, highlighted that Drudge was on the list.

Many of the newly disclosed documents relate to the department’s efforts to outsource some of its “media monitoring and social media/networking support services.” In early 2010, for example, companies seeking the contract had to spend 24 hours monitoring news media coverage.

They were asked to produce short reports about threats and hazards, as well as “any media reports that reflect adversely on the U.S. Government and the Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) ability to prevent, protect and respond, to recovery efforts or activities related to any crisis or events which impact National Planning Scenarios.”

The documents indicate that in May 2010 a procurement official awarded an $11.3 million contract to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.

One passage in the documents raised another question. It says the program should also compile reports about the department and other federal agencies, including “both positive and negative reports on FEMA, C.I.A., C.B.P., ICE, etc., as well as organizations outside of D.H.S.”

While most of the acronyms stand for agencies dealing with emergencies, border security and the like, “C.I.A.” usually refers to the Central Intelligence Agency. However, Mr. Ortman said it was a typo — intended as “C.I.S.,” the department’s Citizenship and Immigration Services bureau.

The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security Watches Dozens Of Popular Social Media Oultlets

2012-01-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

Reuters news

Homeland Security watches Twitter, social media

written by Mark Hosenball

Wednesday January 11, 2012

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's command center routinely monitors dozens of popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks and news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report, according to a government document.

A "privacy compliance review" issued by DHS last November says that since at least June 2010, its national operations center has been operating a "Social Networking/Media Capability" which involves regular monitoring of "publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites and message boards."

The purpose of the monitoring, says the government document, is to "collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture."

The document adds, using more plain language, that such monitoring is designed to help DHS and its numerous agencies, which include the U.S. Secret Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency, to manage government responses to such events as the 2010 earthquake and aftermath in Haiti and security and border control related to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

A DHS official familiar with the monitoring program said that it was intended purely to enable command center officials to keep in touch with various Internet-era media so that they were aware of major, developing events to which the Department or its agencies might have to respond.

The document outlining the monitoring program says that all the websites which the command center will be monitoring were "publicly available and... all use of data published via social media sites was solely to provide more accurate situational awareness, a more complete common operating pictures, and more timely information for decision makers..."

The DHS official said that under the program's rules, the department would not keep permanent copies of the internet traffic it monitors. However, the document outlining the program does say that the operations center "will retain information for no more than five years."

The monitoring scheme also features a five-page list, attached to the privacy review document, of websites the Department's command center expected to be monitoring.

CONTROVERSIAL SITES

These include social networking sites Facebook and My Space - though there is a parenthetical notice that My Space only affords a "limited search" capability - and more than a dozen sites that monitor, aggregate and enable searches of Twitter messages and exchanges.

Among blogs and aggregators on the list are ABC News' investigative blog "The Blotter;" blogs that cover bird flu; several blogs related to news and activity along U.S. borders (DHS runs border and immigration agencies); blogs that cover drug trafficking and cybercrime; and websites that follow wildfires in Los Angeles and hurricanes.

News and gossip sites on the monitoring list include popular destinations such as the Drudge Report, Huffington Post and "NY Times Lede Blog", as well as more focused techie fare such as the Wired blogs "Threat Level" and "Danger Room." Numerous blogs related to terrorism and security are also on the list.

Some of the sites on the list are potentially controversial. WikiLeaks is listed for monitoring, even though officials in some other government agencies were warned against using their official computers to access WikiLeaks material because much of it is still legally classified under U.S. government rules.

Another blog on the list, Cryptome, also periodically posts leaked documents and was one of the first websites to post information related to the Homeland Security monitoring program.

Also on the list are JihadWatch and Informed Comment, blogs that cover issues related to Islam through sharp political prisms, which have sometimes led critics to accuse the sites of political bias.

Also on the list are various video and photo-sharing sites, including Hulu, Youtube and Flickr.

While a DHS official involved in the monitoring program confirmed the authenticity of the list, officials authorized to speak for the Department did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Obama Admin Gives DHS Green Light To Monitor American Journalists Including Bloggers. UGH! :/

2012-01-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Yes this is true! If you would like to read the 23 page DHS pdf report titled, Publicly Available Social Media Monitoring and Situational Awareness Initiative Update, please click HERE.

RT news

Homeland Security monitors journalists

written by Staff

Saturday January 7, 2012

Freedom of speech might allow journalists to get away with a lot in America, but the Department of Homeland Security is on the ready to make sure that the government is keeping dibs on who is saying what.

Under the National Operations Center (NOC)’s Media Monitoring Initiative that came out of DHS headquarters in November, Washington has the written permission to retain data on users of social media and online networking platforms.

Specifically, the DHS announced the NCO and its Office of Operations Coordination and Planning (OPS) can collect personal information from news anchors, journalists, reporters or anyone who may use “traditional and/or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed.”

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s own definition of personal identifiable information, or PII, such data could consist of any intellect “that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information which is linked or linkable to that individual.” Previously established guidelines within the administration say that data could only be collected under authorization set forth by written code, but the new provisions in the NOC’s write-up means that any reporter, whether someone along the lines of Walter Cronkite or a budding blogger, can be victimized by the agency.

Also included in the roster of those subjected to the spying are government officials, domestic or not, who make public statements, private sector employees that do the same and “persons known to have been involved in major crimes of Homeland Security interest,” which to itself opens up the possibilities even wider.

The department says that they will only scour publically-made info available while retaining data, but it doesn’t help but raise suspicion as to why the government is going out of their way to spend time, money and resources on watching over those that helped bring news to the masses.

The development out of the DHS comes at the same time that U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady denied pleas from supporters of WikiLeaks who had tried to prevent account information pertaining to their Twitter accounts from being provided to federal prosecutors. Jacob Applebaum and others advocates of Julian Assange’s whistleblower site were fighting to keep the government from subpoenaing information on their personal accounts that were collected from Twitter.

Last month the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk Massachusetts District Attorney subpoenaed Twitter over details pertaining to recent tweets involving the Occupy Boston protests.

The website Fast Company reports that the intel collected by the Department of Homeland Security under the NOC Monitoring Initiative has been happening since as early as 2010 and the data is being shared with both private sector businesses and international third parties.

The U.S. Feds Shut Down File-Sharing Site Megaupload One Day After Web Protest

2012-01-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

The Hill

Feds shut down file-sharing site one day after Web protest

written by Brendan Sasso

Thursday January 19, 2012

The Justice Department seized Megaupload.com, one of the world's most popular file-sharing sites, and several of its related sites on Thursday.

Prosecutors charged seven employees of Megaupload with criminal copyright infringement, conspiracy to commit racketeering and other charges.

Each faces up to 55 years in prison.

Megaupload, which operates sites such as Megavideo.com and Megapix.com, claimed to receive 50 million daily visitors, accounting for 4 percent of total Internet traffic. According to court documents, Megavideo.com was the world's 52nd most frequently visited website.

The crackdown comes just one day after a massive Web protest against legislation to expand the power of law enforcement and copyright holders to go after infringing websites.

Prosecutors accuse Megaupload's owners of generating more than $175 million in criminal proceeds and more than half a billion dollars in harm to copyright owners.

The authorities seized 18 domain names related to Megaupload and $50 million in assets.

New Zealand police arrested four of the alleged Megaupload employees in New Zealand on Thursday at the request of U.S. officials. Three of the alleged employees remain at large.

Megavideo allowed users to watch 72 minutes of video for free after first viewing an advertisement. Premium users could watch unlimited amounts of video.

According to the indictment, the employees selectively complied with requests from copyright owners to remove infringing content. They would often remove a single link to an infringing video while leaving the actual video in place, according to court documents.

Prosecutors accuse the defendants of illegally hosting movies including "Thor," "Bad Teacher" and movies in the "Lord of the Rings," "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" franchises. Some of the files were uploaded just days after a film's theatrical release, according to prosecutors.

Although law enforcement can seize U.S. sites for failing to comply with copyright law, they have little power to shut down foreign sites with no U.S. assets. The proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act would empower the Justice Department and copyright holders to force U.S. search engines to delete links to the infringing sites.

Web companies argue the bill would stifle innovation and censor speech by forcing sites to police user-generated content.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), sponsor of the Protect IP Act, applauded the crackdown but said new tools are needed to go after foreign sites.

“Today’s action by the Department of Justice against the leaders of MegaUpload.com shows what law enforcement can do to protect American intellectual property that is stolen through domestic websites. Unfortunately, there are no tools in the arsenal to protect that same American intellectual property from theft by websites hosted and operated overseas," Leahy said in a statement.

"Why should we give greater protections to criminals engaging in the same conduct overseas? Meaningful legislation to stop online infringement and piracy by foreign rogue websites will protect American workers, American consumers and America’s economy.”

U.S. Feds Shut Down Megaupload And Arrest Executives In Massive Copyright Case! So Why Are The Dems Pushing For PIPA and SOPA?!

2012-01-19T22:20:00.000-08:00

Wired Magazine

Feds Shutter Megaupload, Arrest Executives

written by David Kravets

Thursday January 18, 2012

Megaupload, the popular file-sharing site, was shuttered Thursday and its executives indicted by the Justice Department in what the authorities said was “among the largest criminal copyright cases ever brought by the United States.”

Seven individuals connected to the Hong Kong-based site were indicted on a variety of charges, including criminal copyright infringement and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Four of the members of what the authorities called a five-year “racketeering conspiracy” were arrested Thursday in Auckland, New Zealand, the authorities said.

One of those arrested was Kim Schmitz, aka Kim Dotcom, Megaupload’s founder. His attorney, Ira Rothken of California, said neither he nor his 37-year-old client, who resides in Hong Kong and New Zealand, was given the opportunity to surrender. Dotcom was arrested without notice, he said.

“We’re looking into what’s going on,” Rothken said in a telephone interview.

Visitors to the Megaupload site, which gets about 50 million hits daily and claims 4 percent of all internet traffic, were greeted with a message from the Justice Department. ”This domain name associated with the website Megaupload.com has been seized pursuant to an order issued by a U.S. District Court.”

Swizz Beatz, Megaupload’s chief executive, was not implicated in the indictment but is embroiled in a legal spat with Universal Music over a Megaupload promotional video.

The government said the site facilitated copyright infringement of movies “often before their theatrical release, music, television programs, electronic books, and business and entertainment software on a massive scale.” The government said Megaupload’s “estimated harm” to copyright holders was “well in excess of $500 million.”

Unsealed Thursday, the five-count indictment from the Eastern District of Virginia came as the Justice Department said it seized 18 domains in all connected to Megaupload. The agency said it executed more than 20 search warrants in the United States and eight countries, seizing $50 million in assets.

Megaupload, which often charges its 150 million registered members for its file-sharing service, was on the recording and movie industries’ most-hated lists, often being accusing of facilitating wanton infringement of their members’ copyrights. The indictment claims it induced users to upload copyrighted works for others to download, and that it often failed to comply with removal notices from rights holders under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. But the site routinely removed uploaded child pornography, according to the indictment.

The money laundering charges are connected to allegations Megaupload paid users for uploading infringing content under an “uploader rewards” program.

Others indicted include:

*Finn Batato, 38, a citizen and resident of Germany, chief marketing officer.

*Julius Bencko, 35, a citizen and resident of Slovakia, graphic designer.

*Sven Echternach, 39, a citizen and resident of Germany, head of business development.

*Mathias Ortmann, 40, a citizen of Germany and resident of both Germany and Hong Kong, chief technical officer co-founder and director.

*Andrus Nomm, 32, a citizen of Estonia and resident of both Turkey and Estonia, software programmer.

*Bram van der Kolk, aka Bramos, 29, a Dutch citizen and resident of both the Netherlands and New Zealand, programmer.

The indictment alleges that Dotcom owns 68 percent of Megaupload.com, Megaclick.com, and Megapix.com, and 100 percent of the registered companies behind Megavideo.com, Megaporn.com and Megapay.com. The feds allege that in 2010 alone, Dotcom personally made more than $42 million.

The feds also say that over the last five years, PayPal has transferred more than $110 million in payments from users buying premium accounts that grant access to copyrighted works from “computer servers located around the world.” Non-premium customers could watch no more than 72 minutes of a video at a time, according to the indictment.

The feds also added that a number of those arrested, including Dotcom, uploaded and downloaded infringing material to Megaupload.

According to the indictment, the defendants generated revenue through subscriptions and online advertising. Subscriptions cost as “little as a few dollars a day” or $260 per lifetime. The indictment claimed the site took in $150 million in subscription fees overall and $25 million in advertising over a five-year period.

“Before any video can be viewed on Megavideo.com, the user must view an advertisement,” the indictment said.

The indictment says Megaupload did not host a search function on its site but instead relied on the sites that Dotcom owned and thousands of third-party “linking” sites pointing to copyrighted content on Megaupload. These third-party sites participated in the “uploader rewards” program and, according to the indictment, were paid “financial incentives” for their “linking” services.

Meantime, in what appears to be retaliation, an apparent DDoS protest by Anonymous, the websites Justice.gov, UniversalMusic.com and RIAA.com were all down Thursday afternoon.

Republican Presidential Candidates Stand Together To Oppose Piracy Law aka PIPA

2012-01-19T22:12:00.000-08:00

The Associated Press

Republicans stand together to oppose piracy law

written by Staff

Thursday January 19, 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- Standing in near unison, the four remaining contenders seeking the Republican presidential nomination are condemning a proposed anti-online piracy law that its critics say is overly aggressive.

Mitt Romney says the law is "far too intrusive" and too broad. He says if the Stop Online Piracy Act becomes law, it could stop job creation and hurt the economy.

Newt Gingrich says the law pre-emptively censors the Internet on behalf of corporations. He says there are patents and copyrights to protect creators' rights and that, if someone is stealing, then the owners should sue under existing laws.

Rick Santorum says he doesn't like the law but adds that the Internet is not somewhere "where anyone can do anything they want." And Ron Paul says the bill threatens freedom.

SOPA and PIPA Explained Simply... Great Video!

2012-01-19T21:15:00.000-08:00

What’s Next for SOPA and PIPA?

2012-01-19T21:11:00.000-08:00

Cato Institute

What’s Next for SOPA and PIPA?

written by Julian Sanchez

Wednesday January 18, 2012

With popular sites all over the Internet “going dark” to protest well-intentioned but ill-considered antipiracy legislation, the Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT-IP Act are shedding supporters faster than Anthony Weiner on a Twitter spree. But as I explain in a Cato podcast today, neither is dead yet: Rep. Lamar Smith has pledged to continue marking up SOPA next month, and PIPA is still set for a cloture vote next week.

In a huge about-face, given their prior intransigence on this point, both have said they’re prepared to remove, at least temporarily, an onerous and controversial provision to require DNS blocking of accused “rogue sites,” which is an encouraging sign. But if DNS blocking was the worst piracy-fighting proposal on the table, it’s hardly the only one.

The Justice Department and private copyright owners can still seek to have entire foreign sites branded as infringers, triggering an array of remedies that would still deter technological investment and innovation, and still impose serious burdens on American companies and ordinary Internet users. Contrary to the claims of SOPA and PIPA supporters, copyright holders have often been perfectly able to sue the foreign “rogue sites” they cite as evidence new legislation is needed… the problem is that sometimes, they lose. Instead of all that messy litigation, SOPA and PIPA would establish one-sided hearing mechanism that mocks true due process. Any site a single friendly judge deems “rogue” would still be starved of advertising and subscription revenue. American search engines and other “information location tools” would still have to filter their content to redact any links to the shunned site. As Wikileaks has learned, repressive regimes have long known, and the Supreme Court acknowledged in Citizens United, economic regulation can silence speech (and run afoul of the First Amendment) as effectively as overt censorship.

That means we’re bound to see many more stories like the one entrepreneur Dmitri Shapiro tells: His innovative company Veoh won repeated copyright lawsuits filed by movie studios, but was still killed off by the cost of litigation. SOPA and PIPA will ensure that future lawsuit targets lack the means to fight back—which almost certainly means they’ll never get off the ground in the first place.

Such fears are hardly “hypothetical,” as Rep. Smith likes to argue, given industry’s ugly history of abusing copyright law to squelch competition and criticism. Remember, at the end of the day, that the market position of major studios and record labels is very much bound up with their control of traditional distribution channels. Artists don’t need to be signed to a major label in order to record a great album—but they’re key to marketing the album and getting it into stores.

Any large platform that gives creators an easy way to reach audiences directly, or gives consumers easier mobile access to their legal content, will inevitably do two things: It will enable some amount of copyright infringement, because that’s what digital communications technologies tend to do, and it will cut out incumbent middlemen by circumventing their distribution channels. Industry complains loudly (and often rather dishonestly) about the first effect; the more serious long term threat to their business models is the second.

We’ve already seen a decade of futile efforts to stop unauthorized circulation of copyrighted materials online by “cracking down” ever harder. More new regulations aren’t likely to do the job—but the collateral damage they inflict will keep rising. As a recent and very thorough study by the Social Science Research Council argues, and Netflix has already shown within the United States, the most effective remedy for piracy is to make content easily available online at an attractive price. Since it’s become a “political fact” that we Must Do Something Right Now to reduce online infringement, why not try that?

Rand Paul Promises To Filibuster ‘Censor The Internet’ Legislation SOPA And PIPA

2012-01-19T21:04:00.000-08:00

The Daily Caller

Rand Paul promises to filibuster ‘censor the Internet’ legislation

written by Steven Nelson

Wednesday January 18, 2012

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul announced Wednesday that he would filibuster any attempt by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring the Protect IP Act (PIPA) to a vote.

PIPA, the Senate version of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), is being sponsored by Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy and pushed by Reid as a “job creator.”

The bills would ostensibly crack down on online copyright infringement, but critics contend that the legislation would also challenge free speech and the ability of large websites to function.

Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, the sponsor of SOPA, announced Tuesday that the bill would continue to undergo markup in the House Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, in February.

An unprecedented online protest by companies opposed to the bills occurred Wednesday. Online encyclopedia Wikipedia, social news website Reddit and the classifieds site Craigslist all blocked their U.S. versions in protest and directed visitors to contact their elected officials.

“Both PIPA and SOPA give the federal government unprecedented and unconstitutional power to censor the Internet,” Paul said in a statement. “These bills enable the government to shut down websites that it deems guilty of violating copyright laws.”

Paul continued: “While we support copyright protections, we are also concerned about websites being shut down without their day in court, and making innocent third parties bear the costs of solving someone else’s problems.

“I will not sit idly by while PIPA and SOPA eliminate the constitutionally protected rights to due process and free speech. For these reasons, I have pledged to oppose, filibuster and do everything in my power to stop government censorship of the Internet,” Paul said.

This Is My Wish For You... ♥

2012-01-16T00:15:00.000-08:00

This is my wish for you:

Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.

HAPPY Monday!!! I Hope You Have A Skip In Your Step And A Song In Your Heart As You Go About Your Day! ;)

2012-01-16T00:12:00.001-08:00

You know I had to leave you with a good LAUGH!!! :D

40 Inspirational Movie Speeches in 2 Minutes!!!..... I Love It ♥ Great Job Matthew!

2012-01-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

Matthew Belinke did an AMAZING job putting this video together. You are so going to love this video message!!! :) I PROMISE... ♥ Enjoy! :) I have provided a transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT:

Shame on you. This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're going to let it be the worst. And I guarantee a week won't go by in your life you won't regret walking out, letting them get the best of you. Well, I'm not going home. We've come too far! And I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause. A day may come when the courage of men fails... but it is not THIS day. The line must be drawn HERE. This far, no further! I'm not saying it's going to be easy. You're going to work harder than you ever worked before. But that's fine, we'll just get tougher with it! If a person grits his teeth and shows real determination, failure is not an option. That's how winning is done! Believe me when I say we can break this army here, and win just one for the Gipper. But I say to you what every warrior has known since the beginning of time: you've got to get mad. I mean plum mad dog mean. If you would be free men, then you must fight to fulfill that promise! Let us cut out their living guts one inch at a time, and they will know what we can do! Let no man forget how menacing we are. We are lions! You're like a big bear, man! This is YOUR time! Seize the day, never surrender, victory or death... that's the Chicago Way! Who's with me? Clap! Clap! Don't let Tink die! Clap! Alright! Let's fly! And gentlemen in England now abed shall know my name is the Lord when I tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our Independence Day!

Now It's Time To Watch The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards Starting At 8et/5pt On NBC! Hosted By The Hilarious Ricky Gervais!

2012-01-15T16:52:00.000-08:00

NFL Divisional Playoffs: GIANTS vs Packers

2012-01-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

WooHoo! Get ready folks... the NFL divisional playoffs game is about to start in 10 mins. The NY Giants (no. 4 seed) vs GB Packers (no. 1 seed) at 1:30pm PST / 4:30pm EST on FOX. :D

GO Giants!!!

UPDATE 5:00pm: FINAL NY Giants 37 GB Packers 20

Giants totally ROCK!!! WooHoo!!! :D

Join Me Down The Rabbit Hole...

2012-01-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

This is an 8 minute video clip taken from the movie, "What the Bleep Do We Know". Someone put together a compilation of different segments leading us all to a higher level of understanding and consciousness. Why are we here? Time and space? Enjoy!

"How can any man or woman sin against such a Greatness of mind. How can any one little carbon unit on earth in the back waters, indeed the milky way, the boondocks, betray God Almighty. That is impossible. The height of arrogance is the height of control of those who create God in their own image." ~ From What the Bleep Do We Know

I can only show you the door... YOU are the one that has to walk through it...

FREE your mind! Expand your level of awareness. Make an effort to remove the limitations that have been placed on you throughout your lifetime. We are finite beings living in an infinite Universe. Dare to step outside of the box of conventionality. You can only grow as a person if you choose to explore outside of your comfort zone and overcome your fears one at a time.

Fear, hate, and discrimination are forms of oppression and bondage. These emotions are what limit our evolution as human beings. They are forms of very low frequency. Meaning negative energy.

Our behavior is domesticated and our thinking is conditioned from birth. The authority figures I speak of and who influence us throughout our lifetimes are our parents, family, friends, teachers, community and government. All with the intent to maintain a standard. But who set the standard and which one is correct? Do we dare question the status quo?

Why don't you start first by talking directly to God. There is NO formal way for you to talk to Him. Just talk to Him in private just as you would another person. Trust me, you will start getting ALL of the answers you seek. Then God will reveal to you His standard and NOT the standards that have been set forth by MAN!

There have been several teachers throughout the history of man sent from up above to guide us to re-discover our Higher Self. However, it IS our responsibility to make that effort and re-connect 'WAKE UP' to the Source of our Being, our Existence. God = LOVE, Truth and Light

You have to wonder why HISTORY keeps repeating itself ?!?! People in positions of power will always use our weaknesses and our fears to manipulate, control and destroy the fabric of our Being! We keep looking to authority figures for answers, still unaware that the answers we seek, the TRUTH, lay dormant within ourselves.

Darkness can NOT exist where there IS Light

The Secret To You...

2012-01-15T12:33:00.000-08:00

Save this video clip and use it to EMPOWER yourself daily! Begin your day by reading these declarations out loud. In effect, you are saying to the Universe I AM!

We must first learn to love, respect and value ourselves before we can love, respect and value others. Thereby being able to give to others unconditionally. It starts from the inside out.

Sure the current state of affairs may be in turmoil. However, you can choose to be at cause instead of effect. You can decide NOT to become a victim of your circumstances. But to see this as a challenge for you to overcome! You MUST be determined to not let the negative forces that surround you have control over you. Don't let the dark forces steal your peace and your joy! Don't let the outside World dictate who you are or how you feel! Get to know yourself and strenghten your resolve. You are a unique and authentic person as God created you to be! Do NOT let anybody make you feel ashamed of who YOU are!!!

FEAR IS your greatest enemy and FEAR is another form of Oppression. People are taught to substitute fear for reason. DO NOT allow fear to seep into your spirit. CHOOSE to be happy and find peace in the midst of the storm no matter what. Try smiling even if you don't feel like it, listen to music that inspires you, watch a movie that inspires you or better yet, say out loud "I choose to BE happy". Watch and see how doing these things quickly changes how you feel. Surround yourself with positive forces!

The seeds of discouragement can not take root in a grateful heart.
What are you grateful for today?

The Secret of The Universe!

2012-01-15T12:32:00.000-08:00

This is a 4 minute beautiful calming video that will help alleviate all of our angst and soothe our souls. God knows we need it right now. Enjoy!

You don't have to be defeated by life! Whether your situation was caused by bad choices or by forces beyond your control. Just know that you are NOT your possessions, your title or status. People place so much importance on these things that they don't realize they are in essence 'devaluing' themselves and void in spirit. There is so much more to life that is far more enriching than you can imagine!

God is ABLE to make ALL grace abound toward me; every favor and earthly blessing come to me in abundance, so that I may always and under ALL circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient! = meaning possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation. [2 Corinthians 9:8]

That IS God's promise to YOU! God loves YOU soooo much! God is just waiting for you to invite Him in... You can start by saying, "God I need you right now." God will NEVER abandon you. He IS always faithful.

Get to know God. Spend time with God by talking to Him... God will answer you in many different ways; a song on the radio, something someone says on television, a movie, a billboard, nature, a neighbor, a friend, a book you're reading, or even in a dream in the form of a message.

You'll be able to tell the difference between a dream and a message. Because you'll remember every detail, it feels real and you never forget it. It's kind of like the experience people who have near death experience (NDE) have, only you do not die! God will also speak directly to your spirit. But you have to be receptive and be able to discern His spirit.

Give yourself strength/confidence by declaring to yourself every morning, I know that - "I AM a child of the most high God" - "I AM God's perfect creation" - "I AM a victor and NOT a victim" "I WILL to will Thy WILL Lord, show me The Way" "No Weapon formed against me shall prosper!" - "God help me become a better person."

Visit my pre-Christmas post to hear God's Love Letter To YOU!

I CHOOSE: ♥ An Inspirational Poem ♥

2012-01-15T00:23:00.001-08:00

I CHOOSE

by Bernadette Ballezza

I choose to be happy.

I choose to live in a kind universe.

I choose to find things in common with the people that come into my life, celebrating our similarites and honoring our differences.

I choose to trust that this life isn't a random life.

I choose to reach out and help another, knowing I can make a difference, even though I may never witness the outcome.

I choose to pursue an honorable career.

I choose to believe we are all here for a reason, a good reason.

I choose friends who will restore me with support, joy and kindness and offer me the opportunity to do the same for them.

I choose to search for authentic meaning in my daily experiences.

I choose to welcome life's lessons.

Don't You Quit!!!

2012-01-15T00:22:00.000-08:00

Don't You Quit

An Inspirational Poem
written by C. W. Longenecker

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that...
You Must Not Quit.

Don't Give Up! Your Dreams May Be Closer Than You Think!

2012-01-15T00:16:00.001-08:00

Don't Give Up!

Your Dreams May Be Closer

Than You Think!

written by Vicki Silvers

There may be times when you feel

as if you have taken a million steps towards

your dreams, and acted on your plans, only to find

yourself in the same place that you began from.

At times like this, you must not give up.

You must continue on. Though you may feel

lost, bewildered, and alone, continue to believe

in yourself. Do not allow discouragement and

doubt to blur your vision and wash away

your dreams. Visualize your way beyond the

detours, standstills, and obstacles.

You will realize your dreams. You have

worked hard and taken so many productive

steps in a positive direction that you are bound

to succeed. Whatever the hurt of the moment

may be, it will pass. Tomorrow is always a

new dawn. Today, you must pause, rest, catch

your breath, and then look ahead. Each step

will bring you closer to your dreams. The

rainbows and the love that you deserve are in

sight. Happiness is just around the next turn.

How to Follow Your Dreams! Pt 2 of 2 ENJOY! :)

2012-01-15T00:14:00.001-08:00

How to Follow Your Dreams

written by Ralston Heath

If your subconscious is screaming, "Run away! Run away!" then pay attention. These warnings usually happen for good reasons. For example, wedding jitters are perfectly normal. While ignoring abusive behavior, which doesn't seem to be declining (despite promises to the contrary), is not normal. If there are warnings take heed, and go to plan B, or if need be, change your goal. Make sure that the goal is your goal, and not what someone else says is your goal.

As you accomplish a goal and see yourself a little bit closer to your dream, re-asses. Is the next step logical or was it made without enough information. Do you really need to accomplish that next goal or is there a different goal to set and achieve? Change as needed. Do you really need to take underwater basket weaving 101 to become a nuclear scientist? Do you really need to watch TV for four hours every night? Look at yourself and see what you are doing. Can you do better?

Every time you set a goal write it down. Keep it in a journal, or a notebook. Review your writing daily to keep your mind fresh. In addition, it is very effective to write a start date when you set a goal, and a completion date when you accomplish the goal. It is a very satisfying feeling to look through your notebook and see that you are indeed completing goals, and moving towards your dream. So let us quickly move through the process so you can see how the process works. Let us say your dream is to be the president's limousine driver. You must now work from there backwards to where you are now.

To drive the president you must be trained to drive the executive limousine, an excellent driver, and a member of the secret service. To be in the secret service requires an impeccable reputation and a willingness to serve. There are three major goals in the dream. The first is to be an excellent driver. The second is to be a member of the secret service, and the third is to be trained to drive the executive limousine. (You know that tank that looks like a car)

So let us start with the first major goal. Become an excellent driver. We will have to break it down into a couple of regular goals. To be an excellent driver you must first be a licensed driver. To become a licensed driver now becomes a regular goal. The steps from there to here are: to become a licensed driver you must pass a drivers test. To be able to take the drivers test you must pass a written test; to pass the written test you must study; to study you must first have a book; to get the book you must know where to get it.

The next step is we now write down the tasks to accomplish the goal. Write them down in the reverse order you thought of them, and add a start date.

June 1st
Find out where the drivers books are
Get a copy of the book
Study the book
Go to Department of Motor Vehicles and take written test
Pass written test
Take practical driving test
Pass test, get drivers license

Each task is a miniature goal in itself. Once you have completed a task move on to the next. If you find out there is another step, you must take add it in to the list. For example, we found out after taking the written test that you have to have a bit of experience to pass the practical test, so you add the task "Practice driving."

As each step is taken you write down the completion date. As you review your journal you see that you are making progress towards your first goal. When you have accomplished your first goal (to become a licensed driver), you re-asses and make sure you are on the right path. Then, set your next goal, keeping it in line with your dream.

There you go, you now have an idea of what to do. I cannot make you do it; you have to do it yourself. Do you want a good life where people will respect you, or is the couch just too comfortable? It's your life - go and live it.

Be Blessed.

How to Follow Your Dreams! Pt 1 of 2 ENJOY! :)

2012-01-15T00:13:00.001-08:00

How to Follow Your Dreams

written by Ralston Heath

Do you know what you want to be? To truly live is to follow your heart, to realize that you can achieve your dream and be who you were meant to be. Whether you are just starting this journey of life as a youth fresh out of grade school, or a middle age person, it is time to live your life.

During your life you have made a mistake or two, and you have to live with them. However you can overcome your past and create your dream future. To do that you need to know what your dream is. Did you truly want to grow up to be the night clerk at the motel, or the weekend cashier at the convenience store? If so congratulations, you do not need to read this article. If not, then you need to remember what it was that you wanted to be. Write it down and realize that it is not too late to start.

You have your dream, and you want to live it. Well, to get there you need to take a few steps along the way. Nobody ever (and I do mean nobody) accomplishes their dream life by wishing. You have to work at it a little bit at a time. You have to make progress a step at a time. You simply cannot wish to be able to be the next Mister or Miss Universe and expect them to mail you your prize from the comfort of your couch; you have to get off your gluteus maximus and go work out.

So you know your dream, but how do you get there? First you must resolve a path. Then decide what steps to take to get there. To determine what those steps are you have to set goals. Sometimes you even have to put deadlines on those goals. Goals are simply stepping-stones. You set a goal to achieve something then set tasks to achieve that goal.

Whenever you are setting a goal or two, you sometime find that your path has been blocked. Always research several alternative ways to reach your goal. You should do this just in case the most obvious path comes out short of the end. Let us say that the university you wanted to attend won't accept you so you are crushed and your dream of becoming a nuclear scientist begins to fade. So who says you had to go there? Maybe you can go to an alternate university, and the end will be the same. When you are a nuclear scientist, do they quote you and say you're a Harvard nuclear scientist or a University of Florida nuclear scientist? No-they simply say you are a nuclear scientist.

Be prepared to change and adapt. Have a few plans ready to go. Even a loose idea of a plan is better than nothing. If plan "A" does not work have a plan "B" ready to take its place. This avoids that trapped feeling you get when you realize that the goal that you were after has been taken out of your reach. This is similar to the way people plan a road trip. You look at the map and see the different possibilities to get from point A to point B. Say there is a blizzard or construction, or it is simply blocked; you merely back track a bit and resume your journey from another direction. Sometimes plan B is more enjoyable and more appropriate for the journey than your first choice.

Systematically re-check and as needed redefine your goals. It's not worth the wasted time to struggle to meet a goal that no longer fits with your life. During obvious stopping spots along the way, take a day to sit back check yourself about how you are reacting to reaching this milestone. Are you happy, or relieved? Are you excited, and want more? Conversely are you scared, with slight overtones of dread or entrapment?

As you grow into your new self some nervousness is to be expected. As you reach out in a totally new direction in your life, it is only fair to expect that not all feelings you have will be super positive. There is some mourning to go through for the loss of your old life, and growing pains in your new life. Take time to just have fun, to balance your priorities. To love, laugh, cry, and otherwise allow yourself to be a normal person. However, take an occasional planned time out to make sure that you aren't ignoring obvious Warnings.

Inspiring Life Quotes... ♥

2012-01-14T22:49:00.000-08:00

NFL Divisional Playoffs: BRONCOS vs Patriots

2012-01-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

WooHoo! Get ready folks... the NFL playoffs game is about to start in 10 mins. Broncos (no 4 seed) vs Patriots (no 1 seed) at 5pm PST /8pm EST on CBS.

Oh and FYI, I've been a Broncos fan since the early 90's! This will be a nail biting game! SO EXCITED! :D

Now let's see if I have everything I need... Chips and dip = CHECK, tub of Red Vines = CHECK, Samuel Adams beer in hand = CHECK! Yep I'm ready! :D

GO BRONCOS!!!

UPDATE 8:30pm PST: FINAL- NE Patriots 45 Denver Broncos 10 :(

The Sky Full of Stars... What More Do You Need?

2012-01-14T01:10:00.001-08:00

This beatiful message below should help you put things into perspective. But I would also like to share one of my own personal messages that helped me in my early 20's. My boss/mentor used to always tell me "Don't sweat the small stuff." To which I asked, "What is the small stuff." and he replied, "EVERYTHING." :)

The Sky Full of Stars... What More Do You Need?

[source: OSHO International]

Misery is an indication that you are going astray, a natural indication that you have lost track of truth. Bliss simply says that you are falling in line with the whole. Things are becoming harmonious, the garden of the Beloved is coming closer: the air feels cooler, winds bring the fragrance of the flowers, freshness, a new thrill, a new enthusiasm. Then you are moving towards the garden of the Beloved. Maybe you cannot see yet, but the direction is right.

Sometimes it happens that you become one, in some rare moment. Watch the ocean, the tremendous wildness of it -- and suddenly you forget your split, your schizophrenia; you relax. Or, moving in the Himalayas, seeing the virgin snow on the Himalaya peaks, suddenly a coolness surrounds you and you need not be false because there is no other human being to be false to. You fall together. Or, listening to beautiful music, you fall together. Whenever, in whatsoever situation, you become one, a peace, a happiness, a bliss, surrounds you, arises in you. You feel fulfilled. There is no need to wait for these moments -- these moments can become your natural life. These extraordinary moments can become ordinary moments -- that is the whole effort of Zen.

Don't wait for some great bliss to descend on you. It never happens. Great bliss is nothing but small pleasures accumulating in your being. The total of all the small pleasures is the great bliss. Eating, enjoy it. Drinking, enjoy it. Taking a bath, enjoy it. Walking, enjoy it. Such a beautiful world, such a beautiful morning, such beautiful clouds... what else do you need to celebrate? The sky full of stars... what more do you need to be prayerful? The sun rising from the east...what more do you need to bow down? And amidst a thousand and one thorns a small roseflower arises, opening its buds, so fragile, so vulnerable, yet so strong, so ready to fight with the wind, with the lightning, with the thunderings. Look at the courage... what more do you need to understand trust?

Your Incomparable Uniqueness... ♥

2012-01-14T01:09:00.001-08:00

Your Incomparable Uniqueness

[source: Osho International]

- Osho, Where do Individuality and Ego separate?

- Individuality means your uniqueness -- not compared with anybody else. Your incomparable uniqueness: that is individuality. Individuality is beautiful; that's how God has made you -- as an individual. Ego is comparison. Ego is your invention. God has not given you any ego; he has certainly given you an individuality.

Ego is comparison: you think yourself more intelligent than the other, you think yourself more superior than the other -- or inferior. You think yourself more beautiful than the other. Then you are bringing ego in: the moment you compare yourself with somebody, the conclusion that comes out of the comparison is ego. If you stop comparing then you are there -- tremendously beautiful and unique. All superiority or inferiority, all anxiety of where I am, where I stand, who is above me and who is below me, are ego problems. The superior person suffers, the inferior suffers; both suffer -- because even the superiormost cannot have a state where he can be satisfied.

Abraham Lincoln was not very beautiful, his face was ugly. And that was a torture. In fact, when he stood for the presidentship, eh had no beard. In his campaign, a small girl suggested to him, "If you grow a beard, you will look a little better." Hence, he grew the beard. But he remained constantly aware of his ugliness. He became the president... but whenever he would see a beautiful face he would feel hurt.

Napoleon Bonaparte was not very tall, just five-five -- just exactly my size. He remained disturbed for his whole life. Now, nothing is wrong in being five-five. What is wrong in being five-five? -- I have never felt any problem in it! And what is going to happen if you are five-seven or five-eight? Nothing is going to happen, you will be the same -- five-five or five-seven or five-nine makes no difference. But he was tremendously troubled -- he was so conscious of it. One day he was trying to fix a picture on the wall and the picture was a little higher than him, and his bodyguard said, "Sir, I am higher than you, I will do it." He said, "Stop! Never utter such a word. You are taller, not higher."He was very conscious about it -- "Higher? Say you are taller; don't say higher!" Now, if even Napoleon is not happy, who can be?

People who compare can never be happy. These trees are happy -- the smaller tree does not bother about the higher tree. They never bother about each other: the smaller is smaller and the higher is higher. In fact, the higher and the taller and the smaller and the lower are human terms -- they don't exist in the world of trees. A rosebush is as happy as a big oak tree; there is no problem about it. Not even a rosebush, but just a small leaf of grass is as happy as any lotus flower. It makes no difference.

God is showering on everybody -- on the rosebush, on the grassleaf, on the lotus flower... he is showering everywhere. And the whole existence is happy; only man has got into trouble. The ego arises with comparison. Individuality you have, unique individuality you have. With comparison how many problems arise!

Just a few days before, one woman was saying to me that she cannot accept her body. But why? -- because she is a little fatter. Now, why compare? How can you be fatter if you don't compare? Mm? -- you must have some idea of a thinner woman, and you must be comparing. I don't see any problem in the woman directly. I looked at her: she is a beautiful woman, a unique woman, an individual -- but unnecessarily in anxiety, in deep anguish, suffering. She cannot believe that anybody can love her, because she is a little fat.

And who has given the idea? How do you decide what is standard? Nobody has any idea what is standard; all averages are just false. Nobody knows how much fat is needed for a particular body -- only the body itself knows. Listen to your body, love your body, and don't compare. Now this comparison will create such trouble that she may miss her whole life. Because of comparison she cannot love. And she will create such trouble that she will not allow anybody to love her, because she cannot trust anybody who can love her. That man must be perverted: how can you love an ugly woman? -- your idea of beauty must be perverted, or you must be deceiving.

She cannot trust anybody -- if somebody comes and says to her, "I love you," she will distrust them. She cannot love herself -- how can YOU love her? Impossible. You must have some other design, you must have some other idea behind it: you may be interested only in sex, or you may be interested in something else -- in her money, or something else -- but you cannot love her. Because how can you love her? -- she cannot love her own face in the mirror. And even if you persist, she will try in every way to destroy your love, so she can prove that she was right and you were wrong. Now it is very difficult to find a lover who will take that much trouble to convince you. she will remain loveless. And when there will be no love coming, her idea will become more and more fixated: I am ugly. And she is not ugly at all.

In fact, I have never seen an ugly person in my life. How can a person be ugly? Have you ever seen any ugly crow? Impossible! Have you ever seen an ugly cow? Impossible. Have you ever seen an ugly tree? Impossible. All is beautiful as it is... but with human beings you bring comparison, and immediately trouble starts.

Don't compare, there is no need. Comparison is one of the greatest calamities that has fallen on humanity. You are perfect as you are.

Love yourself, respect yourself. If you are not going to respect yourself, who is going to respect you. If you are not going to love yourself, who is going to love you?

People don't respect themselves, and expect everybody else to respect them. They don't love themselves, and want the whole world to fall in love with them. Now you are asking impossibles -- these things cannot happen. Love yourself, respect yourself -- and a person who respects himself never compares. Comparison is a disrespect.

Now, if you summarize all this, it means: to be an egoist is to be very disrespectful towards yourself. To be an individual is perfectly good, but to be egoistic is disrespectful.

I'm Baaaaaack! :)

2012-01-14T01:05:00.000-08:00

I missed you... ♥

Hello Hello Hello everybody!!! I'M BACK.... So sorry I've been MIA and made you worry. Believe me, it was not intentional. It has been a crazy busy week for me. Lot's of FUN though. Great start to the New Year! I hope all of you have had a great week too! The weekend is here! YAAAY! :)

Sending you lot's of LOVE and giving you a great BIG HUG! :D

New Hampshire Republican primary, 2012

2012-01-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

New Hampshire Republican primary, 2012

[source: wikipedia]

The 2012 New Hampshire Republican primary is a presidential primary contest, which took place on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. New Hampshire historically is the first state in the nation to hold presidential primaries, and moved its date up from February after Florida moved its primary date to January 31. Because New Hampshire has a proportional-delegate primary, the state's 12 national delegates will be allocated in proportion to candidates' percent of the popular vote.

In 2012, a record 33 Republican candidates filed to appear on the ballot in New Hampshire, including various single-issue activists, protest candidates, and perennial candidates. For instance, Stewart Greenleaf, who had no interest in becoming President, registered for the ballot to promote the issue of government spending in the Republican Party. Under New Hampshire's lenient ballot access laws, a candidate is only required to pay $1,000 to the state's treasury, and needs no party approval or petitions for placement.

Results with 95% (285 of 301) Precincts reporting:

1. Mitt Romney, 95,668 votes; 39.38%; 7 delegates

2. Ron Paul, 55,456 votes; 22.83%; 3 delegates

3. Jon Huntsman, 40,906 votes; 16.84%; 2 delegates

4. Newt Gingrich, 22,919 votes; 9.43%; 0 delegates

5. Rick Santorum, 22,706 votes; 9.35%; 0 delegates

6. Rick Perry, 1,710 votes; 0.70%; 0 delegates

The 2012 Republican presidential primaries are the selection processes in which voters of the Republican Party will choose their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 presidential election.

There are 2,286 delegates.
A candidate must accumulate 1,144 delegate votes to win.

Total Delegate Count Per Candidate Up To Date

Mitt Romney - Total delegate count = 23 pledged

Ron Paul - Total delegate count = 10 pledged

Rick Santorum - Total delegate count = 8 pledged

Rick Perry - Total delegate count = 4 pledged

Newt Gingrich - Total delegate count = 3 pledged

Jon Huntsman - Total delegate count = 2 pledged

According To A New CBS News Poll Released Late On Monday Shows Mitt Romney and Ron Paul Tie Pres Obama In A General-Election Matchup!

2012-01-09T21:48:00.000-08:00

National Journal

Poll: Romney, Paul Tie Obama

written by Steven Shepard

Monday January 9, 2012

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, run neck-and-neck with President Obama in a general-election matchup, according to a new CBS News poll released late on Monday that shows the two front-runners in Tuesday's New Hampshire GOP primary running stronger against the president than their fellow Republicans.

Romney posts a two-point lead over Obama, 47 percent to 45 percent, within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. He leads Obama, 45 percent to 39 percent, among independent voters.

Obama's lead over Paul is just one point, 46 percent to 45 percent, as Paul leads among independents by 7 points.

The president posts more significant leads over the other GOP candidates, but against each he is below the critical 50-percent threshold: He leads former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 49 percent to 41 percent; former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, 48 percent to 41 percent; Texas Gov. Rick Perry, 49 percent to 42 percent; and former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., 47 percent to 43 percent.

Among all adults, just 45 percent of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing as president, slightly worse than the 47-percent approval rating he posted last month. Among independents, 38 percent approve of Obama's job performance, while 49 percent disapprove.

Results released earlier Monday among Republicans who said they intend to vote in their state's presidential nominating contest showed Romney running slightly ahead of the rest of the field, but nearly a third of Republicans are undecided or seeking a candidate not currently in the race.

The CBS News poll was conducted Jan. 4-8, surveying 1,413 adults, for a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. The poll includes a subsample of 1.247 registered voters.

Good Morning Everyone! HAPPY MONDAY! These Pics Always Make Me Crack Up! ♥♥♥ I Hope You All Have A Fantastic Day With A Smile On Your Face, A Song In Your Heart And A Skip In Your Step! ♥♥♥

2012-01-09T03:39:00.000-08:00

WooHoo!!! My Two Teams Broncos (AFC West) And Giants (NFC East) Won The NFL Playoffs Wild-Card Games Today!!! Move On To The Divisional Playoffs!

2012-01-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

The Denver Broncos (AFC West champions no. 4 seed) will go to New England to play the Patriots (AFC East champions no. 1 seed) next Saturday night at 8:00pm EST on CBS.

The NY Giants (NFC East champions no. 4 seed) will go to Green Bay to play the Packers (NFC North champions no. 1 seed) next Sunday afternoon at 4:30pm EST on FOX.

*********************************************

The schedule for the other four teams playing in the NFL playoffs next weekend is as follows:

Sat. Jan 14th New Orleans Saints (NFC South champions no. 3 seed) at San Francisco 49ers (NFC West champions no. 2 seed), 4:30pm EST on FOX.

Sun. Jan 15th Houston Texans (AFC South champions no. 3 seed) at Baltimore Ravens (AFC North champions no. 2 seed), 1:00pm EST on CBS.

Faith Quotes To Refresh Your Spirit...♥

2012-01-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

A Special Message From Jesus. I Don't Care If You Know The Bible Cover To Cover And Have It Memorized, That Proves Nothing So Does Satan!

2012-01-08T03:44:00.000-08:00

There is NOT one person on this planet today who has lived a perfect "sinless" life. If they claim they have, they are lying to you. This applies to self-righteous people with a holier than thou attitude. Do they NOT KNOW that this attitude in and of itself is a sin?!

Seven Woes

[Matthew 23 NIV]

1. Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2. "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5. "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6. they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7. they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

8. "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11. The greatest among you will be your servant. 12. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 14. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

15."Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

16. "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17. You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18. You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19. You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20. Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

23. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the LAW—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

25. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

27. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

29. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31. So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

33. "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34. Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

37. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38. Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

It's What's In Your HEART That Counts With God! This Is A Very Special Message From Jesus (Yeshua) For Those Of You Who Pretend To Know God...

2012-01-08T03:39:00.000-08:00

Romans 2 (New Living Translation)

God’s Judgment of Sin

1. You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4. Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

5. But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11. For God does not show favoritism.

12. When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written LAW, show that they KNOW His LAW when they INSTINCTIVELY OBEY IT, even WITHOUT having heard it. 15. They demonstrate that God’s LAW is WRITTEN in their HEARTS, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

The Jews (Christians) and the Law

17. You who call yourselves Jews (Christians) are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18. You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

21. Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22. You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23. You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

25. The Jewish (Christians) ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26. And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27. In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews (Christians) who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

28. For you are not a true Jew (Christian) just because you were born of Jewish (Christian) parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29. NO, a true Jew (Christian) is one whose HEART is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of HEART produced by God’s Spirit. And a PERSON with a changed HEART SEEKS praise from God, NOT from people.

Food For Thought... Subject: Gays vs. Criminals; Who Is The Real Threat To Society? Now Please Discuss Among Yourselves RE-POST From 05/22/09

2012-01-08T03:33:00.000-08:00

I have a message for every gay, lesbian, transgendered, transexual and I cannot forget to include hermaphrodite. If you have never been told this by another human being, then allow me to be the first to say God loves you so much. God has always loved you. God has never stopped loving you. You are a child of the most High God. You have always been His child. You have never stopped being His child. God understands the pain you have felt when your family, your friends, your community and your church abandoned you and left you to fend for yourself in this cruel world. God LOVES YOU as you are and God wants to embrace you right where you are and heal every wound. God almighty is your Heavenly Father, He is your Creator. God wants to have a personal relationship with you. Don't allow the evil religious zealots to keep you from knowing your Heavenly father. God is God ALL by Himself. God doesn't need a religious label or organization to make Him so. We are born alone and we die alone. Your earthly journey and spiritual growth is between you and God and nobody else! God has a purpose and plan for you. It could very well be how His earthly representatives treat you? Therefore, I ask you today to seek God's love and presence from right where you are. Talk to Him. Tell Him I need You in my life God. I want to get to know You God. Help me to feel Your presence God. This is your way of opening the door to your heart and allowing Him in. Allow yourself to be enveloped and transformed by His LIGHT and His LOVE! I promise you that God's LOVE is beyond anything you have ever felt or even imagined. There is absolutely no comparison! God will replace all your emotional pain, tears, feelings of lonliness, feelings of isolation and feelings of abandonment with an abundance of His Eternal Love, Peace, Joy and Happiness! But most importantly being in God's presence will give you FREEDOM!

Now I have a special message for every homophobic person on this planet. I ask that you please hear me out. I would like to share my perspective and observations for the past 39 years of my entire life.

I would first like to begin with my childhood experience. Growing up my parents had many gay friends. I didn't know they were gay at the time. As a child I didn't distinguish the differences because I only saw and felt was LOVE and RESPECT. They were couples who had loved each other for 5, 10 and even 20 years. They became an extension of my family as I would call them auntie or uncle. Some even had children who were my childhood friends. It wasn't until I reached Junior High that I was introduced to labels and discrimination. I heard classmates calling a male classmate a 'faggot' and then harassed him repeatedly, eventually leading to a vicious attack that landed him in the hospital. I don't even think the kid was gay, they ONLY thought he was. Let me point out that I grew up in a very nice suburban neighborhood. These were not street thugs, they were regular clean cut boys. Now let me ask you, as a child who do you think I thought was the EVIL person(s)? The boys who name called, harassed and beat up another boy? or the boy who did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to provoke this reaction? If you truly love God and know Him, then I believe your answer would be the former. Who do you think these boys learned that hateful behavior from? Their parents and their church. They were TAUGHT TO HATE. A child comes into this world still connected to God and knows nothing other than LOVE! Until their environment causes them to feel and think otherwise...

Now let me jump forward to the present day. My mom currently lives near Cedar Sinai hospital in Los Angeles which is adjacent to West Hollywood, a well known Gay community in Los Angeles. Let me first say that West Hollywood has to be the cleanest most well kept city in Los Angeles County. I have brought up my mom's location to point out that you don't find gay people knocking door to door recruiting heterosexual (straight) people to convert to gaydom. You don't find gay people at schools trying to recruit, kidnap or rape children. You don't find gay people drunk in the streets having orgies in public. It is not the Sodom and Gomorrah pastor's like to preach. Not even on the weekends. In fact, my mom couldn't feel safer. Everybody minds their own business and helps out when necessary. Now I on the other hand live smack dab in the middle of all the major studios in Los Angeles. I know I too am surrounded by gay people. I honestly couldn't distinguish who was gay and who was not. Frankly, I don't care. All I see are law abiding tax paying citizens who take care of our community. What gay people do in the privacy of their home and who they love is none of my business period. In the same way what a heterosexual (straight) person or couple does in the privacy of their home and who they love is none of my business period. They are two consenting ADULTS! As long as they are good hearted people, kind and respectful to all of humanity that to me are important qualities of ANY HUMAN BEING.

If you believe in INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS then it should very well apply to all and not a select few. Gay couples should at least be allowed to be protected under a civil union law that prevents their straight family members from scavenging assets like vultures upon a gay partner's death. Thus, leaving the surviving partner with NOTHING! Did you know that gay couples don't have hospital visitation rights, only 'family' members are allowed? They are NOT able to personally say 'good bye' to their partner on their death bed! How wrong is that!? Look, their life has nothing to do with you. Their life is between them and God. As Jesus once said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's." [Matthew 22:15-22] Jesus also said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." [Matthew 22:34-40]

Let me ask you this, have you ever heard about a gay criminal? Do you know of any gay murderers, gay rapist, gay child molestors, gay pimps, gay drug dealers, gay gangsters, gay thieves, gay terrorists? I want you to seriously think about that for a moment. Because the only answer you will discover is NO. I bet you never stopped your hatred long enough to even consider this question.

I believe your attention is entirely misguided and missplaced. It is heterosexual (straight) men of every race who commit all of the crimes I mentioned above. Perhaps a small percentage of these crimes are attributed to (straight) women. Everyday we hear news about a (straight) man committing a murder or a woman was raped by a (straight) man. The pedophiles across America and around the world are (straight) men who molest children and destroy their lives. Let me point out that most of these child molestor's reported are the (straight and married) father, uncle or pastor of their church. Why do you think prostestution exists? The answer is because of paying customers that are (straight and sometimes married) men. Who goes to sex brothels around the world? The answer (straight) men. Who do we hear that is keeping our teens as sex slaves in America? The answer is (straight) men and women. The gangsters who sell drugs, steal, kill and destroy communities across America are ALL (straight) men and women. Who do you think ALL of the children in our foster care system belong to? Yep, you guessed right UNFIT (straight) men and women. And the radical muslim terrorists, well that's another no-brainer, they are all (straight) men! I AM ONLY SHARING FACTS with you that I want you to seriously think about. Therefore, who do you think DESERVES your attention? Who do you think is a GREATER THREAT to society. If you are in your right mind and truly love God, even if you didn't know God, I have no doubt you have answered the (straight) CRIMINALS who are out to DESTROY the fabric of our being! PLEASE STOP DEFLECTING attention away from THE TRUTH! Let's get real here! It is these heterosexual (straight) human parasites and perverts that are abominations in the eyes of the LORD.

Satan comes to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY! These are the criminals. Do you have ANY idea how awful you appear to God when He see's His earthly representatives hunt down homosexual people to harass, beat-up and sometimes KILL (MURDER) innocent souls who have committed NO CRIMES? You have focused your attention on these people, YET there are MILLIONS of God's children Ophaned, MILLIONS of God's children sexually abused by pedophiles, MILLIONS of God's children being kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery and slave labor, MILLIONS of God's children DYING from starvation and disease, MILLIONS of God's children being KILLED on the streets by gangsters! As long as everything I mentioned CONTINUES to EXIST, you have no right to evoke your self-righteous indignation upon gay people who make up a tiny percentage of the human population. You have CONVENIENTLY FORGOTTEN that they have to answer to God, BUT SO DO YOU! We ALL reap what we sow.

One last thing, Sodom and Gomorrah is every (straight) sexual and massage parlor across America and have you seen the commercials for 'Girls Gone Wild'??? These ordinary looking college students are all (straight) young men and women who are filmed having orgies at all spring break locations. How about the (straight) married couples who like to attend 'swing' parties? This term means they can have sex with whomever they want for the night. Anything goes! Divorce is prevalent among (straight) couples. How about those graphic (straight) pimping gangster rap videos filled with sexuality and violence? This is what is INFLUENCING YOUR CHILDREN!

I'm just pointing out that it is time for the religious community to reflect upon themselves. You claim to be representatives of God. Well it's time you start acting like it. Your hateful actions and words scare people away from knowing God. In fact, I believe you're the reason why there are so many atheists! You DON'T GET TO CHOOSE who can be in God's presence. You will pay dearly for being selective. Aren't you supposed to be a reflection of God? I don't care if you know the bible cover to cover and have it memorized, that proves nothing so does Satan. It's what's in your HEART that counts! A beacon of LIGHT serves NO PURPOSE if it's shrouded in darkness!

The Pope and the church PROTECTING CHILD MOLESTING PRIESTS at the expense of God's innocent defenseless children is the HIGHTEST and GROSSEST kind of IMMORALITY that has ever been displayed. This is who the RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY should be CONDEMNING! Your complacency speaks volumes... evil protecting evil.

Inspirational Quotes... ((( ♥ )))

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

Because You Loved Me Lyrics...

2012-01-07T20:33:00.001-08:00

I am posting this message for those of you who are unable to view and listen to the video and for all of my international readers who need to translate. This song always brings tears to my eyes reminding me of ALL God has done for me and what He's brought me through and where I am today. I'm still standing and with a HUGE smile on my face! I'm standing on a solid Rock that God has placed me on. This is my foundation now. I also know that I have goodness and mercy following me every where I go like having two body guards. But the BEST part is having God's LOVE LIVE in my spirit ALWAYS and is shining through me. I can't even begin to imagine my life now without feeling God's presence on a daily basis. I wouldn't want to know. Because once you have felt Him and you have heard Him nothing and no one compares. There is no way you would want to go back to living a 'normal' life.

God wants to do the same for you. Imagine confidently knowing that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Imagine confidently knowing that God is in control and will always take care of ALL of your needs. Imagine confidently knowing that God will always have your back. That is why you must keeping moving forward. All you have to do is be perceptive to His guidance and follow through until He leads you to your DIVINE DESTINY! This requires you to TRUST and BELIEVE in Him, with ALL your HEART, ALL your MIND and ALL your SOUL. God will speak to your Spirit. God will nudge you. God will embrace you and love you unconditionally. Just know that God, your Heavenly Father is keeping you safe in the palm of His hand. That is how precious you are to Him. Yes YOU. You are His child. God loves you sooooo much. He is just waiting for you to call to Him and invite Him into your life. God wants so much to have a personal relationship with you. Please read and memorize Psalm 23 and the Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9.

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Because You Love Me ~ by Celine Dion

For all those times You stood by me

For all the TRUTH that You made me see

For all the JOY You brought to my life

For all the wrong that You made right

For every dream You made come true

For all the LOVE I found in You

I'll be forever thankful baby

You're the one who held me up

Never let me fall

You're the ONE who saw me through through it ALL

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the BEST there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith cause You believed

I'm everything I am

Because You LOVED me

You gave me wings and made me fly

You touched my hand I could touch the sky

I lost my faith, You gave it back to me

You said no star was out of reach

You stood by me and I stood tall

I had Your LOVE I had it ALL

I'm GRATEFUL for each day You gave me

Maybe I don't know that much

But I know this much is true

I was BLESSED because I was loved by You

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the BEST there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith cause You believed

I'm everything I am

Because You LOVED me

You were ALWAYS there for me

The tender wind that carried me

A LIGHT in the dark shining Your love into my life

You've been my INSPIRATION

Through the lies You were the TRUTH

My world is a BETTER PLACE because of You

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the BEST there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith cause You believed

I'm everything I am

Because You LOVED me

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the BEST there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith cause You believed

I'm everything I am

Because You LOVED me

I'm everything I am

Because You LOVE me...

Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion

2012-01-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

I am re-posting this message for my new readers. This song by Celine Dion titled, 'Because You Loved Me' is very precious to me. It perfectly conveys my LOVE for God. I have dedicated this song to God, my Heavenly Father.

As I mentioned in my previous spiritual weekend post, I have my own personal relationship with God. However, I must add that it wasn't easy for me to reach this level of Nirvana. I was just as stubborn as the next person thinking I had everything under control. Well, guess what I discovered the HARD way, that the only thing I have absolute control over is MYSELF. Little ole me! It was about 7 years ago when my personal change occurred and I let go. The KEY word here is 'personal'. This was not a church or a cult thing. It was my own personal experience with my Creator. I can honestly say from true experience that I AM GRATEFUL for this transformation. I can be surrounded by chaos, people close to me can say evil things to my face to try to stir up old dramas or attempt to open up healed wounds and I still have inner peace. How can that be you ask? Because I've been Spiritually HEALED. That is the beauty of knowing God. When you get filled with the Holy Spirit, your past get's CLEANSED away and your spirit get's RENEWED. God does not want to condemn you and God is not some mysterious force outside of you. If God is energy and the source of all things and you are also energy, then that would mean that you are a part of Him, right? Connect to your SOURCE and choose LIFE!

You know after I had my experience, I had family members and friends try to get me to try this religion or that spiritual group etc. I would tell them that I have never belonged to any group why would I want to start now. Then they tried the alternative and tell me that my thinking was all wrong. I would tell them it's not a way of thinking. Geez! It's a way of BEING, living, breathing, walking in God's love, peace and LIGHT!

The point I'm trying to make from my friends and family experience is that the ONE thing I am absolutely secure in and that nobody can take away from me is God's love for me and my love for God. My experience is mine alone and nobody can ever ever change that...

YOU ARE The World...

2012-01-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

I am re-posting this message for my new readers. This is a 6 1/2 minute mini documentary video clip of Jiddu Krishnamurti recorded in 1966. I want to introduce you to this man because his teachings are quite profound. He is one of many great teachers throughout history that help change human consciousness. Although, I do wish many of you would get past the religious zealots and open your heart and mind to Jesus (Yahshua). I can honestly guarantee that He is very real.

I'd like to explain why I am exposing you to many different teachings. You see my mom was raised Catholic and always felt like she was either going to heaven or hell no in between. So she decided NOT to baptize me and to allow me to choose what spiritual path I wanted when I felt I was ready. She figured Jesus didn't get baptized until he was 30 years old so it couldn't be a sin. My mom however did raise me with a strong foundation of love, values and principles. I am grateful to my mom for making this decision on my behalf. I am also extremely grateful to my mom for NOT raising me in a sheltered environment...

So in order to find myself I began my quest at an early age studying all religions, philosophy and quasi spiritual teachings. I have the utmost respect for them all. The funny thing is that they all teach you the same thing, perhaps in different ways. But the central theme or core if you will are love, respect, compassion and self awareness. I am happy to say that I have now grown into my own spiritual awareness and I do have my own personal relationship with God. However, my journey does not end there... the learning is infinite!

That in itself is what I hope to accomplish with this blog, helping others achieve a higher level of awareness, self discovery and love for oneself and all things. So with all this being said, allow your spiritual journey to begin now, not tomorrow, or the next day. Because today is all you have now and tomorrow is not guaranteed.

NFC and AFC Wildcard Weekend Schedule

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

NFC and AFC Wildcard Weekend Schedule

NFC wildcard game schedule

The Green Bay Packers, the No. 1 seed, and San Francisco 49ers, the No. 2 seed, will both be idle this weekend.

Sat Jan 7th Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints, 8pm EST on NBC.

Sun Jan 8th Atlanta Falcons at NY Giants 1pm EST on FOX.

The final seeding for the NFC playoff picture is as follows:

No. 1: Green Bay Packers

No. 2: San Francisco 49ers

No. 3: New Orleans Saints

No. 4: New York Giants

No. 5: Atlanta Falcons

No. 6: Detroit Lions

AFC wildcard game schedule

The New England Patriots, the No. 1 seed and the Baltimore Ravens, the No. 2 seed will both be idle this weekend.

Sat Jan 7th Bengals at Texans 4:30pm EST on NBC.

Sun Jan 8th Steelers at Broncos 4:30pm EST on CBS.

The final seeding for the AFC playoff picture is as follows:

No. 1: New England Patriots

No. 2: Baltimore Ravens

No. 3: Houston Texans

No. 4: Denver Broncos

No. 5: Pittsburgh Steelers

No. 6: Cincinnati Bengals

The Compassion of Dr. Ron Paul

2012-01-06T02:55:00.001-08:00

Rick Santorum Has Such Comtempt Toward INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM! He Refers to this as RADICAL INDIVIDUALISM! He Spits On The U.S.A.!

2012-01-05T20:14:00.000-08:00

O...M...G! An absolute must watch video. Rick Santorum has such a high disregard for our INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM and our privacy rights! He refers to this as RADICAL INDIVIDUALISM! He spits on the U.S.A.! I don't want America to become a Theocratic nation. We are a FREE REPUBLIC! What part of LIFE, LIBERTY and the pursuit of happiness do you not understand Rick Santorum? I agree with David Boaz from the Cato Institute who said, "Rick Santorum openly dislikes the fundamental political idea of America!" It's no wonder Rick Santorum supports all of the invasion of privacy laws IMPOSED UPON US by both President Bush and President Obama.

Rick Santorum said during a recent radio interview, "One of the criticisms I make is to what I refer to as more of a Libertarianish right. They have this idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do, government should keep our taxes down and keep our regulations low, that we shouldn't get involved in the bedroom, we shouldn't get involved in cultural issues. That is not how traditional conservatives view the world. There is no such society that I am aware of, where we've had radical individualism and that it succeeds as a culture."

Understanding Unalienable Rights

[source: Freedom Advocates]

Why do we use the term unalienable instead of inalienable? Inalienable rights are subject to changes in the law such as when property rights are given a back seat to emerging environmental law or free speech rights give way to political correctness. Whereas under the original doctrine of unalienable rights, these rights cannot be abridged.

Webster's 1828 dictionary defines unalienable as "not alienable; that cannot be alienated; that may not be transferred; as in unalienable rights" and inalienable as "cannot be legally or justly alienated or transferred to another."

US Declaration of Independence reads, "... that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

This means that human beings are imbued with unalienable rights which cannot be altered by law whereas inalienable rights are subject to remaking or revocation in accordance with man-made law.

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And Rick Santorum has the NERVE to criticize Sharia Law when he wants to impose the same on Americans with a Catholic religious zealot man-made law/beliefs. That is also known as a THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. All of my readers know that I stand against Sharia Law. But I also stand against any form of religious government. Keep your religious beliefs in the church, synogogue, temple, and mosque. This is America that honors Freedom of Religion and you have the right to practice or believe whatever you want. Oh and by the way Mr. Santorum, you told a crowd full of college students in New Hampshire today that our national motto was "E Pluribus Unum." That's incorrect. Our national motto is "In God We Trust." I would think a religious man like you would know that. Most especially someone running for President of the United States. I'm not religious and I know and believe in that phrase.

H/T Weasel Zippers

Santorum On Sharia, “We Need To Define It And Say What It Is. And It Is Evil"

Santorum added, “Sharia law is not just a religious code. It is also a governmental code. It happens to be both religious in nature an origin, but it is a civil code. And it is incompatible with the civil code of the United States.”

Mitt Romney, the Value-Added Tax, and America’s European Future! GREAT PIECE!

2012-01-05T00:42:00.000-08:00

Definition of 'Value-Added Tax - VAT'

A type of consumption tax that is placed on a product whenever value is added at a stage of production and at final sale. Value-added tax (VAT) is most often used in the European Union. The amount of value-added tax that the user pays is the cost of the product, less any of the costs of materials used in the product that have already been taxed.

Investopedia explains 'Value-Added Tax - VAT'

For example when a television is built by a company in Europe the manufacturer is charged a value-added tax on all of the supplies they purchase for producing the television. Once the television reaches the shelf, the consumer who purchases it must pay the value-added tax that applies to him or her.

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International Liberty

Mitt Romney, the Value-Added Tax, and America’s European Future

written by Dan Mitchell

Wednesday January 4, 2012

My Iowa caucus predictions from yesterday were hopelessly wrong, probably because I was picking with my heart rather than my head. As I noted a couple of weeks ago, Mitt Romney’s openness to a value-added tax makes him a dangerously flawed candidate, and I hoped Iowa voters shared my concern.

In a column for today’s Wall Street Journal, I elaborated on those concerns, explaining why a VAT is bad fiscal policy. I had three main points. First, I noted that the big spenders need a VAT in order to achieve a European-sized welfare state in America.

… the left needs a VAT. It is the only realistic way to collect the huge amount of revenue that will be necessary to finance the mountainous benefits promised by our entitlement programs. Which is exactly what happened in Europe, where welfare-state policies only became feasible after VATs were adopted, beginning in the late 1960s.

Second, I explained that the left favors this giant tax on the middle class because they want more money and soak-the-rich taxes don’t generate much revenue.

First, there aren’t enough wealthy people to finance big government. According to IRS data from before the recession, when we had the most rich people with the most income, there were about 321,000 households with income greater than $1 million, and they had aggregate taxable income of about $1 trillion. That’s a lot of money, but it wouldn’t balance the budget even if the government confiscated every penny—and if it did, how much income do you suppose would be available in year two? Second, higher tax rates don’t raise as much revenue as expected. Upper-income individuals are far more likely to rely on interest, dividends and capital gains—and it is much easier to control the timing, level and composition of capital income, so as to avoid exposing it to the tax man.

Third, I debunked the foolish notion that a VAT creates a “level playing field” for American exporters.

…some manufacturers are willing to overlook the VAT’s flaws because the tax is “border adjusted.” This means that there is no VAT on exports, while the tax is imposed on imports. For mercantilists worried about trade deficits, this is a positive feature that they claim will put America on a “level playing field.” But that misunderstands how a VAT works. Under our current tax system, American goods sold in America don’t pay a VAT—but neither do German-produced goods or Japanese-produced goods that are sold in America because their VAT tax is rebated on exports. Meanwhile, any American-produced goods sold in Germany or Japan are hit by a VAT, as are all other goods. In other words, there already is a level playing field. To be sure, there will also be a level playing field if America adopts a VAT. But it won’t make any difference to international trade. All that will happen is that the politicians in Washington will get more money whenever any products are sold.

But I didn’t limit myself to economic analysis. I also warned that Mitt Romney might be an even greater threat on this issue than Barack Obama.

Unsurprisingly, President Obama is favorably inclined toward a VAT, having recently claimed that it is “something that has worked for other countries.” And yet it’s unlikely that the president would propose a VAT, in large part because he is fixated on class-warfare tax hikes. If he did, almost every Republican in Congress would be opposed, even if only for partisan reasons. But what if a VAT sympathizer like Mr. Romney wins next November and decides that his plan for a lower corporate tax rate is only possible if accompanied by a VAT? There will be quite a few Republicans who like that idea because they want to do something nice for their lobbyist friends in the business community. And there will be many Democrats drawn to the plan because they realize that they need this new source of revenue to enable bigger government. That’s a win-win deal for politicians and a terrible deal for taxpayers.

This point deserves some elaboration. Why is the VAT a do-or-die issue?

Simply stated, the United States is in grave danger of becoming a European-style welfare state. Indeed, that will automatically happen in the next few decades because of demographic changes and poorly designed entitlement programs.

This is why there is a desperate need to reform programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. But politicians almost certainly won’t adopt the needed reforms if they have the ability to instead confiscate more money from taxpayers – especially if they have a new tax like the VAT, which is a money machine for bigger government.

Ironically, it appears there’s more danger of that happening with Romney in the White House.

Ronald Reagan And Ron Paul Both Cut From The Same Cloth

2012-01-04T19:15:00.000-08:00

Ronald Reagan And Ron Paul Both Cut From The Same Cloth.

I have typed a transcript of the first 1:30 minutes of President Ronald Reagan's speech. Believe me, this speech will knock your socks off. This is exactly what we are facing today only much worse than what he describes.

But I have an uncomfortable feeling that this prosperity isn't something on which we can base our hopes for the future. No nation in history has ever survived a tax burden that reached a third of its national income. Today 37 cents out of every dollar earned in this country is the tax collectors share and yet our government continues to spend $17 million a day more than the government takes in. We haven't balanced our budget 28 out of the last 34 years. We've raised our debt limit 3 times in the last 12 months and now our national debt is one and half times bigger than all the combined debts of all the nations of the world. We have $15 billion in gold in our treasury. We don't own enough. Foreign dollar claims are $27.3 billion and we've just had announced that the dollar of 1939 will now purchase 45 cents in its total value.

As for the peace that we would preserve. I wonder who among us would like to approach the wife or mother who's husband or son has died in South Vietnam and ask them if they think this is a peace that should be maintained indefinitely. Do they mean peace or do they mean we just want to be left in peace. There can be no real peace while one American is dying some place in the world for the rest of us.

*****************************************

Please compare and contrast both their stand on foreign policy. You'll note that they both feel the same. Please compare and contrast their stand on tax, inflation and gold reserves. You'll note that they both feel the same. Please compare and contrast their stand on fiscal responsibility. You'll note that they both feel the same. Please compare and contrast their stand against BIG government. You'll note that they both feel the same. Please compare and contrast their stand on privacy rights, civil liberties and individual freedom. You'll note that they both feel the same. Please compare and contrast their stand in defense of our US constitution that includes our bill of rights. You'll note that they both feel the same.

So you have to ask yourself why is the media and Washington D.C. big government establishment trying really hard to belittle Dr. Ron Paul's presidential campaign?

"I am not among those who fear the people. They, and not the rich, are our dependence for continued freedom. And to preserve their independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude."

~ by Thomas Jefferson

one of America's Founding Fathers
and author of our Declaration of Independence

The Federal Government (Obama Admin) Is Proposing To Grant A Permit Allowing WIND FARM Developer To LEGALLY KILL Golden Eagles!!! >:/

2012-01-04T18:26:00.000-08:00

MSNBC news

Feds propose allowing wind-farm developer to kill golden eagles

written by James Eng

Wednesday January 4, 2012

The federal government is proposing to grant a first-of-its-kind permit that would allow the developer of a central Oregon wind-power project to legally kill golden eagles, a regulatory move being closely watched by conservationists.

The Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday released a draft environmental assessment that would allow West Butte Wind Power LLC to kill as many as three protected golden eagles over five years if the company fulfills its conservation commitments.

It’s the first eagle “take permit” application to be received and acted on by U.S. Fish and Wildlife under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. (“Take” means to kill, harass or disturb the birds, their nests or their eggs.)

The legislation, enacted in 1940, prohibits anyone from killing or disturbing any bald or golden eagles without a permit from the Interior Department.

Regulations adopted in 2009 enabled the agency to authorize, for the first time, the “take” of eagles for activities that are otherwise lawful but that result in either disturbance or death. In this case "taking" would be the killing of eagles hit by the wind turbines' huge blades.

Public comments on the draft environmental assessment of the Wind Butte project will be accepted until Feb. 2.

The permit, if ultimately issued, stipulates that there must be no net loss to breeding populations of golden eagles from the wind farm project. That means for every protected bird permitted killed, developers must contribute to conservation efforts for breeding them. [<== Does this make ANY sense to you? (emphasis mine)]

“Our goal is to maintain stable or increasing populations of eagles protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act," said Chris McKay, assistant regional director for Migratory Birds and State Programs in the Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Region.

"Regulations under the Act allow us to issue permits for activities that are likely to take eagles provided the activity is otherwise lawful and the taking is not the purpose of that activity, the take is unavoidable even though advanced conservation practices are being implemented, and the take is compatible with eagle preservation," McKay said in a press release.

California-based West Butte Wind Power LLC is proposing to build a 104-megawatt wind energy generation facility on ranchland in Oregon’s Deschutes and Crook counties, consisting of up to 52 wind turbines. Electricity generated by the project could power as many as 50,000 homes.

Conservation groups expressed cautious optimism at the government’s proposal to award the eagle take permit.

“This is a type of project where it’s appropriate for them to issue this kind of permit,” said Liz Nysson, energy policy coordinator with the Oregon Natural Desert Association She noted that only a small number of golden eagles are believed to be in and around the area where the wind turbines will be built.

“I say ‘cautious optimism’ because we fear that the agency is going to go forward and start issuing these permits … for a multitude of golden eagles every year, and that would be a bad use of the policy,” Nysson said.

It's not mandatory for wind-power projects to apply for the eagle "take" permits.

Kelly Fuller, wind campaign coordinator for the American Bird Conservancy, praised West Butte for being the first company to apply for one. She described the latest development as “precedent-setting,” according to the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, a bipartisan group of the nation’s governors dedicated to expanding the development of wind energy.

Fuller said the eagle permit process gives conservationists more opportunity to participate in the development process.

She said the conservancy group will ask Fish and Wildlife to extend its public comment period an additional 30 days beyond the Feb. 2 deadline, according to the Wind Energy Coalition.

Clearing up the Iowa Delegate Misconception

2012-01-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

Daily Paul

Clearing up the Iowa Delegate Misconception

Wednesday January 4, 2012 at 14:25

Ok I'm writing this so that once and for all, people understand what happened with the delegate process last night in Iowa.

It is a tiered system of delegate weeding out.

1) Level One: Precinct level. At each precinct, as many delegates as you want can sign up. Needless to say at the precinct I was at, 70% of them were Ron Paul supporters.

2) Level Two: County level.

3) Level Three: District level.

4) Level Four: State Level.

At the next county and state level, a weeding out process occurs by two things. a) Who wants to pay the fee to go to the next level and b) at some point you start to vote delegates ahead by forming coalitions.

For example, in 08 we joined forces with Huckabee and entirely blocked out McCain delegates.

5) Level Five: Republican National Convention.

When people say "delegates" this is what we are ACTUALLY talking about. At the state level we decide who gets to go to the RNC. We most likely won't get all the delegates, but I predict we will get way more than any other candidate. It will be MONTHS before we find any of this other stuff out, however because the county delegate meeting is in March.

So in summary: No delegates to the RNC were decided last night. Only delegates at the precinct level volunteered to work their way up the food chain to try go to the RNC, or to try get their buddies to go to the RNC. It is wedding caked shaped where the delegate number gets smaller and smaller until only the RNC delegates remain.

Republican Party Presidential Primaries, 2012

2012-01-04T02:04:00.000-08:00

Republican Party Presidential Primaries, 2012

[source: wikipedia]

Superdelegates

According to the Republican National Committee's Council's Office, there are 132 superdelegates in 2012, delegates whose votes are not bound by their state's results. As only 6% of the total delegates, the Republican superdelegates are not expected to have the same impact the Democratic superdelegates had on the 2008 primary. Of the 132 superdelegates, as of December 27, 2011, 12 had endorsed Romney, 3 had endorsed Perry, and 1 had endorsed Santorum.

Convention

The 2012 Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place the week of August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida, one week before the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Date of caucuses

The 2012 Iowa Republican caucuses were originally scheduled to begin on February 6, 2012, much later than the date in 2008, which almost immediately followed the beginning of the year in January 2008. On September 29, 2011, the entire schedule of caucuses and primaries was disrupted, however, when it was announced that the Republican Party of Florida had decided to move up its primary to January 31, in an attempt to bring attention to its own primary contest, and attract the presidential candidates to visit the state. Because of the move, the Republican National Committee decided to strip Florida of half of its delegates. Also as a result, the Iowa Republican Party, along with New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada then sought to move their caucuses back into early January. All but Nevada, who agreed to follow Florida, confirmed their caucus and primary dates to take place throughout January, with Iowa deciding to hold their contest on January 3, 2012.

NH will be penalized from 23 delegates to 12, SC from 50 to 25, FL from 99 to 50, AZ from 58 to 29 and MI from 59 to 30.

Tue., January 3, 2012 Iowa: nonbinding caucus; 28 delegates

Tue., January 10, 2012
New Hampshire: semi-closed primary; 12 delegates

Sat., January 21, 2012 South Carolina: open primary; 25 delegates

Tue., January 31, 2012 Florida: closed primary; 50 delegates

Sat., February 4, 2012 Nevada: binding caucus; 28 delegates

February 4–11, 2012 Maine: nonbinding caucus; 24 delegates

Tue., February 7, 2012
Colorado: nonbinding caucus; 36 delegates

Minnesota: caucus; 40 delegates

Tue., February 28, 2012
Arizona: semi-closed primary; 29 delegates

Michigan: open primary; 30 delegates

Sat., March 3, 2012 Washington: binding caucus; 43 delegates

Tue., March 6, 2012
Alaska: binding caucus; 27 delegates

Georgia: open primary; 76 delegates

Idaho: binding caucus; 32 delegates

Massachusetts: semi-closed primary; 41 delegates

North Dakota: nonbinding caucus; 28 delegates

Ohio: open primary; 66 delegates

Oklahoma: closed primary; 43 delegates

Tennessee: open primary; 58 delegates

Vermont: open primary; 17 delegates

Virginia: open primary; 50 delegates

March 6–10, 2012 Wyoming: nonbinding caucus; 29 delegates

Tue., March 10, 2012
Kansas: binding caucus; 40 delegates

U.S. Virgin Islands: caucus; 9 delegates

Tue., March 13, 2012
Alabama: semi-closed primary; 50 delegates

American Samoa: caucus; 9 delegates

Hawaii: binding caucus; 20 delegates

Mississippi: open primary; 40 delegates

Sat., March 17, 2012 Missouri: binding caucus; 52 delegates

Sun., March 18, 2012 Puerto Rico: binding caucus; 23 delegates

Tue., March 20, 2012 Illinois: open primary; 69 delegates

Sat., March 24, 2012 Louisiana: open primary; 46 delegates

Tue., April 3, 2012
Maryland: closed primary; 37 delegates

Texas: open primary; 155 delegates

Washington, D.C.: closed primary; 19 delegates

Wisconsin: open primary; 42 delegates

Tue., April 24, 2012
Connecticut: closed primary; 28 delegates

Delaware: closed primary; 17 delegates

New York: closed primary; 95 delegates

Pennsylvania: closed primary; 72 delegates

Rhode Island: semi-closed primary; 19 delegates

Tue., May 8, 2012
Indiana: open primary; 46 delegates

North Carolina: semi-closed primary; 55 delegates

West Virginia: semi-closed primary; 31 delegates

Tue., May 15, 2012
Nebraska: semi-closed primary; 35 delegates

Oregon: closed primary; 29 delegates

Tue., May 22, 2012
Arkansas: open primary; 36 delegates

Kentucky: closed primary; 45 delegates

Tue., June 5, 2012
California: top two primary; 172 delegates

Montana: semi-closed primary; 26 delegates

New Jersey: closed primary: 50 delegates

New Mexico: closed primary: 23 delegates

South Dakota: closed primary: 28 delegates

Tue., June 26, 2012 Utah: closed primary; 40 delegates

To be announced
Guam: nonbinding caucus; 9 delegates

Northern Mariana Islands: nonbinding caucus; 9 delegates

Iowa Republican Presidential Caucuses, 2012 Results

2012-01-04T01:32:00.000-08:00

UPDATE 1/4/12 at 3:09pm: I just went back to wikipedia to check on the projected delegate vote count and sure enough what I shared with you at 1am has now been changed by "whomever" using the Associated Press analysis conveniently put out today. You don't think we know what you're up to? Someone went in and removed the "Note" that I shared with you at the bottom of this page that I took from wikipedia at 1am this morning and replaced it with the following:

Selection of delegates

The Iowa Republican caucus is the first part in a "multi-step process" to elect the state's 25 pledged delegates to the 2012 Republican National Convention. The January 3 caucuses ("precinct caucuses") elects delegates to county conventions. These county conventions, in turn, elect delegates to the four congressional-district conventions on March 10, who elect three national delegates each. Each congressional-district conventions also appoint two members to a "slate committee" which chooses 13 additional delegates. These 13 delegates are voted on at the Republican Party of Iowa state convention on June 18. Notably, even the 25 pledged delegates are not bound to support any candidate at the national convention. Unlike the majority of states, Iowa RNC delegates are free to vote for any candidate for president or vice president.

According to the Associated Press, the Iowa Republican system "puts a premium on getting the most votes in individual congressional districts. If a candidate's supporters can control a congressional district convention, they can choose national delegates and slate committee members who support their candidate." A January 4 AP analysis projected that Romney and Santorum, who each won two of Iowa's congressional districts, would win 13 and 12 delegates, respectively, assuming there are no changes in their support as the campaign continues. Although Paul ran a close third in the voting, he "was shut out of delegates because he didn't win any of Iowa's four congressional districts."

**************************************************

I wanted to get more clarity about the delegate selection because I felt there was something fishy about the dramatic delegate vote projection change in Iowa. The Daily Paul wrote a piece this afternoon titled, "Clearing up the Iowa Delegate Misconception". I have taken the following snipit from the article:

"When people say "delegates" this is what we are ACTUALLY talking about. At the state level we decide who gets to go to the RNC. We most likely won't get all the delegates, but I predict we will get way more than any other candidate. It will be MONTHS before we find any of this other stuff out, however because the county delegate meeting is in March.

Iowa Republican caucuses, 2012 Results

[source: wikipedia]

There are 614,913 registered Republicans as of January 3, 2012.

100% of the vote reported:

Turnout was 19.9% of the registered voters.

Iowa Republican caucuses, January 3, 2012.

1. Mitt Romney 30,015 votes; 24.6%; 7 delegates votes projected
2. Rick Santorum 30,007 votes; 24.5%; 7 delegates votes projected
3. Ron Paul 26,219 votes 21.4%; 7 delegates votes projected
4. Newt Gingrich 16,251 votes; 13.3%; 2 delegates votes projected
5. Rick Perry 12,604 votes; 10.3%; 2 delegates votes projected
6. Michele Bachmann 6,073 votes; 5.0%; 0 delegates votes projected
7. Jon Huntsman 745 votes; 0.6%; 0 delegates votes projected
8. No Preference 135 votes; 0.1%; 0 delegates votes projected
9. Other 117 votes; 0.1%; 0 delegates votes projected
10. Herman Cain 58 votes; 0.1%; 0 delegates votes projected
11. Buddy Roemer 31 votes; 0.0%; 0 delegates votes projected

Totals 122,255 votes; 100.0%; 25 delegates votes from Iowa

Note: Iowa's delegates are not directly chosen by the caucuses, but by district and state conventions which occur later in the cycle. The shown delegate counts are projections provided by the media. 25 delegates are chosen by the convention, and 3 are unpledged RNC delegates for a total of 28.

The 2012 Republican presidential primaries are the selection processes in which voters of the Republican Party will choose their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 presidential election.

There are 2,286 delegates. It takes 1,144 delegate votes to win.

Iowa Caucus: The Trouble With My Uncle, Rick Santorum

2012-01-03T16:49:00.000-08:00

FYI: Iowa Caucus facts via Roll Call. Unlike Democratic caucuses, Republicans will vote by secret ballot at tonight's Iowa Caucus. Party registration in Iowa: 37 percent unaffiliated/others, 33 percent Democrat, 30 percent Republican. There will be only one round of voting in the GOP caucuses tonight. The 25 delegates will be divided among the candidates based on results.

************************************************

The Daily Caller

The trouble with my uncle, Rick Santorum

written by John Garver

Tuesday January 3, 2012

If you want another big-government politician who supports the status quo to run our country, you should vote for my uncle, Rick Santorum. America is based on a strong belief in individual liberty. My uncle’s interventionist policies, both domestic and foreign, stem from his irrational fear of freedom not working.

It is not the government’s job to dictate to individuals how they must live. The Constitution was designed to protect individual liberty. My Uncle Rick cannot fathom a society in which people cooperate and work with each other freely. When Republicans were spending so much money under President Bush, my uncle was right there along with them as a senator. The reason we have so much debt is not only because of Democrats, but also because of big-spending Republicans like my Uncle Rick.

It is because of this inability of status quo politicians to recognize the importance of our individual liberties that I have been drawn to Ron Paul. Unlike my uncle, he does not believe that the American people are incapable of forming decisions. He believes that an individual is more powerful than any group (a notion our founding fathers also believed in).

Another important reason I support Ron Paul is his position on foreign policy. He is the only candidate willing to bring our troops home, not only from the Middle East, but from around the world.

Ron Paul seems to be the only candidate trying to win the election for a reason other than simply winning the election.

This year, I’ll vote for an honest change in our government. I’ll vote for real hope. I’ll vote for a real leader. This year, I will vote for Ron Paul.

Report: Obama Agreed To Release High-Ranking Taliban Leaders From Gitmo In Exchange For Taliban Opening Political Peace Office In Qatar! :o

2012-01-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

Wow now I understand why Vice President Joe Biden recently said the Taliban are not our enemy, the Taliban are our friends. So let me get this straight, our American soldiers have been killing our "Taliban friends" and being killed by our "Taliban friends" in Afghanistan for the past 10 years? This is INSANE! Do you seriously trust them to keep their word? I sure as heck don't. They despise the United States. I thought the whole purpose of the U.S. military in Afghanistan was because we were "at war" with the Taliban in response to the 9/11 attacks that they were responsible for supporting along with Al-Qaeda. Now they are our "friends". So our soldiers DIED in vain and trillions of US taxpayer dollars have been spent in vain? WOW! I'd like to share some Taliban background with you followed by the news article.

Taliban-controlled Afghanistan—with previously established connections between the groups, administered with a shared militancy, and largely isolated from American political influence and military power—provided a perfect location for al-Qaeda to relocate its headquarters. Al-Qaeda enjoyed the Taliban's protection and a measure of legitimacy as part of their Ministry of Defense, although only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

The Taliban (meaning "students" in Arabic) is an Islamist militant and political group that ruled large parts of Afghanistan and its capital, Kabul, as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from September 1996 until October 2001. It gained diplomatic recognition from only three states: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The main leader of the Taliban movement is Mullah Mohammed Omar.

While in power, the Taliban enforced one of the strictest interpretations of Sharia law ever seen in the Muslim world, however most of the criticism on their interpretations came from leading Muslim scholars. The Taliban became notorious internationally for their treatment of women. Most Taliban leaders were influenced by Deobandi fundamentalism. Many also strictly follow the social and cultural norm called Pashtunwali. The Taliban movement is primarily made up of members belonging to Pashtun tribes, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.

From 1995-2001, Pakistan is widely alleged by the international community to have provided support to the Taliban in their rise to power and fight against anti-Taliban forces, though Pakistan vigorously denies it. Al Qaeda also supported the Taliban with regiments of imported fighters from Arab countries and Central Asia. In the late period of the war, of an estimated 45,000 force fighting on the side of the Taliban, only 14,000 were Afghans. The Taliban and their allies committed massacres against Afghan civilians and conducted a policy of "scorched earth" (burning wide areas of fertile lands) during their rule from 1996-2001. The Taliban's former ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, in late 2011 stated that cruel behaviour under the Taliban was necessary.

After the attacks of September 11, 2001 the Taliban was overthrown by Operation Enduring Freedom. Later it regrouped as an insurgency movement to fight the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (established in late 2001) and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). It uses terrorism as a specific tactic to further its ideological and political goals. Today the Taliban operate in Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan. Apart from inside Afghanistan, US and Afghan senior officials say one of their headquarters is in or near Quetta, Pakistan. The Taliban engage in attacks against the civilian population. According to a report by the United Nations, the Taliban were responsible for 2,477 civilian casualties (76 percent of all casualties) in the first six months of 2010.

BRING OUR TROOPS BACK HOME NOW!

********************************************************

H/T Weasel Zippers

The Guardian UK

Taliban leaders held at Guantánamo Bay to be released in peace talks deal

written by Julian Borger, and Jon Boone in Kabul

Tuesday January 3, 2012

US agrees in principle to releasing top officials from Afghanistan insurgent group in exchange for starting process of negotiations.

The US has agreed in principle to release high-ranking Taliban officials from Guantánamo Bay in return for the Afghan insurgents' agreement to open a political office for peace negotiations in Qatar, the Guardian has learned.

According to sources familiar with the talks in the US and in Afghanistan, the handful of Taliban figures will include Mullah Khair Khowa, a former interior minister, and Noorullah Noori, a former governor in northern Afghanistan.

More controversially, the Taliban are demanding the release of the former army commander Mullah Fazl Akhund. Washington is reported to be considering formally handing him over to the custody of another country, possibly Qatar.

The releases would be to reciprocate for Tuesday's announcement from the Taliban that they are prepared to open a political office in Qatar to conduct peace negotiations "with the international community" – the most significant political breakthrough in ten years of the Afghan conflict.

The Taliban are holding just one American soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, a 25-year-old sergeant captured in June 2009, but it is not clear whether he would be freed as part of the deal.

"To take this step, the [Obama] administration have to have sufficient confidence that the Taliban are going to reciprocate," said Vali Nasr, who was an Obama administration adviser on the Afghan peace process until last year. "It is going to be really risky. Guantánamo is a very sensitive issue politically."

Nasr, now a professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, said the Taliban announcement on the opening of an office in Qatar was a dramatic breakthrough.

"If it had not happened then the idea of reconciliation would have been completely finished. The Qatar office is akin to the Taliban forming a Sinn Féin, a political wing to conduct negotiations," Nasr said, but added: "The next phase will need concessions on both sides. This doesn't mean we are now on autopilot to peace."

Michael Semple, a former EU envoy in Afghanistan who has maintained contact with senior Taliban figures, agreed that the deal represented a critical moment.

"This is at last a real process," Semple, now at Harvard University, said. "There is a long list of things we don't have and there has been no progress on substantive issues. But now there is a certain amount of momentum. Every discussion over the past couple of years has been heavy on western enthusiasm with nothing substantial from the other side."

This time, he said, it was clear that the top Taliban council – including its reclusive leader, Mullah Omar – was on board with the proposal. In return, Semple said he thought the release of a few prisoners from Guantánamo Bay was politically feasible for the Obama administration, even in an election year.

"The prospect of ending a costly war in Afghanistan is sufficiently attractive for the Obama administration to move forward with it," Semple said.

"Even if all five of these people they release went straight back to Quetta [the Taliban stronghold in Pakistan] to rejoin a fight, it wouldn't make any real difference."

Negotiations over the opening of a Taliban political office and the release of prisoners have been underway for more than a year in secret contacts in Germany and in the Gulf between US and Taliban officials, but have been continually held up by political obstacles on all sides.

The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, had preferred Saudi Arabia or Turkey to host the Taliban political bureau, but dropped his opposition to Qatar under heavy US pressure.

Tuesday's announcement was made by email by a Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid.

"Right now, having a strong presence in Afghanistan, we still want to have a political office for negotiations," Mujahid said. "In this regard, we have started preliminary talks and we have reached a preliminary understanding with relevant sides, including the government of Qatar, to have a political office for negotiations with the international community."

The announcement was strongly endorsed by former officials who served under the Taliban regime in the 1990s, many of whom have been pushing for an overseas Taliban "address" for years.

"Everyone now agrees on the need for an office: the government, the foreigners and the Taliban," said Mohammed Qalamuddin, one-time head of the Taliban regime's "vice and virtue" police. "Now is the time to talk face to face with the Taliban and ask them what they want and why they are fighting."

He said that a number of leading Taliban took part in the secret talks that led to agreement with Qatar, including the former Taliban ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Shahabuddin Dilawar, the former deputy foreign minister Sher Mohammad Stanekzai and Tayeb Agha, a top aide to Mullah Omar, the mysterious Taliban leader who, even in power, only ever met with a handful of western diplomats.

"The important thing is that all these men are operating with the approval of Mullah Omar," he said.

It is not clear when the office will open, and there is also likely to be disagreement on the role of the Kabul government. A senior Afghan government official said the Karzai administration had accepted the creation of a Taliban office in Qatar only after demanding assurances from foreign powers that any peace process must be kept under the firm control of the Afghan government.

"If it is not led and owned by the Afghan government, it will fail," the official said.

However, Tuesday's Taliban statement said the group was only interested in talking to the "United States of America and their foreign allies," Mujahid said.

Western diplomats hope the opening of an office in Qatar will also lessen Pakistan's control of the Taliban. Pakistan plays host to most of the Taliban leadership, which it sees as an important bargaining counter in negotiations over the future of the region.

Gore-Mobile Recalled As A Fire Hazard! Fisker Karma Luxury Plug-in Hybrid Priced At $103,000 Received $529 Million U.S.Taxpayer Dollars For US GREEN Jobs. Manufactured In Finland!

2012-01-03T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Daily Mail

Gore-mobile recalled as a fire hazard

written by Don Surber

Sunday January 1, 2012

Crony capitalism not only is a pain in the national wallet, but products from crony capitalists pose a physical danger. Fisker Automotive — fronted by Democratic eco-millionaire Al Gore — received a half-billion federal “loan” 2 years ago to make luxury electric cars.

Not only was this a sweetheart from the Obama administration, but the deal financed the manufacture of unsafe electric lemons.

From the New York Times:

Fisker Automotive is recalling all 239 of its 2012 Karma luxury plug-in hybrid cars because of a fire hazard, according to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Prices on the 2012 model start at $103,000, including the destination charge.

In a report filed recently on the agency’s Web site, Fisker said some hose clamps were not properly positioned, which could allow a coolant leak. “If coolant enters the battery compartment an electrical short could possibly occur, causing a thermal event within the battery, including a possible fire in the worse case,” the company told the safety agency.

Fisker said the problem was discovered on Dec. 16, when workers at the Valmet Automotive assembly plant in Finland noticed coolant dripping. Fisker said it was not aware of any consumer complaints, warranty claims or “any other reports related to this condition.” It said fewer than 50 vehicles were in the hands of consumers.

So for $529 million, taxpayers received less than 50 automobiles sold (apparently) to people who can afford the $89,000 sticker price. The New York Times report failed to mention Al Gore’s connection to this dubious enterprise, but a Wall Street Journal on September 25, 2009, did:

WASHINGTON — A tiny car company backed by former Vice President Al Gore has just gotten a $529 million U.S. government loan to help build a hybrid sports car in Finland that will sell for about $89,000.

The award this week to California start-up Fisker Automotive Inc. follows a $465 million government loan to Tesla Motors Inc., purveyors of a $109,000 British-built electric Roadster. Tesla is a California start-up focusing on all-electric vehicles, with a number of celebrity endorsements that is backed by investors that have contributed to Democratic campaigns.

The awards to Fisker and Tesla have prompted concern from companies that have had their bids for loans rejected, and criticism from groups that question why vehicles aimed at the wealthiest customers are getting loans subsidized by taxpayers.

Add the Chevy Volt — another fire hazard when charging — and you have a nice pipeline from the Treasury to the wallets of the FOO (Friends Of Obama).

I love these liberal imbeciles who buy this global warming crap. They are snotty as they cite “science,” which is based on what is best questionable data (in the case of the Nobel Peace Prize winning 2007 IPCC report: outright lies). They repeat Al Gore’s lines about Big Industry opposing this, when in fact Big Business pockets many an alternative energy tax credit or other subsidy.

The only green jobs are the green that goes from the taxpayer into Democratic operatives such as billionaire George “Solyndra” Kaiser and Democratic hacks like Al Gore.

Christian Persecution Around The World The Past Couple Of Months

2012-01-03T02:50:00.000-08:00

Christian Persecution Around The World The Past Couple Of Months

I have taken the following headlines from The Persecution Times. There are many more headlines, if you care to read them please visit their website. I want you to see what is happening to Christians all around the world. This is only a snapshot.

Please visit Persecution.org - International Christian Concern for more indepth global news coverage by region.

12/31/11: Lao Officials Force Christians to Recant their Faith before allowing a Burial

DUBLIN, December 30 – Officials this week forced Christians in a Lao village to give up their faith in order to bury a family member in the village graveyard, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).

In Huey, Ad-Sapangthong district of Savannakhet Province, where immediate burial is essential in the hot tropical climate, the village’s eight Christian families quickly began to arrange a funeral for the deceased, a woman who died on Christmas Day who went by the single name of Wang. On Monday (Dec. 26), however, village officials ordered that her body be buried according to Buddhist funeral rites or be taken to a burial ground in Savannakhet city, HRWLRF reported.

12/28/11: Laos authorities move Christians to animal pen in Boukham village

On Wednesday (Dec. 28), sources close to district officials told HRWLRF that they suspected two people were directly responsible for the refusal of a Christian burial in Huey village as well as the Dec. 16 arrests of eight Christian leaders for gathering some 200 church members for a Christmas celebration in Boukham village.

Following the release of one of the Christian leaders, Boukham village authorities have moved six of the detained Christians to an animal pen, blocked visits from family members and banned direct delivery of food, local sources told HRWLRF.

12/28/11: Muslim Extremists in Uganda Throw Acid on Bishop

KAMPALA, Uganda (Compass Direct News) – Islamic extremists threw acid on a church leader on Christmas Eve shortly after a seven-day revival at his church, leaving him with severe burns that have blinded one eye and threaten the sight in the other.

12/25/11: Iranian Authorities raid church two days before Christmas

AHVAZ, IRAN (ANS) – Two days before Christmas, State Security agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran, attacked the Assembly of God Church in Ahvaz, and detained the pastor, the Rev. Farhad Sabok-Rooh, and his wife.

“All those present, including children attending their Friday school, were arrested, mobile phones confiscated, and church building thoroughly searched by the plainclothes agents who refused to identify themselves,” said the FCCN story.

“A number of computers, all audio-visual equipment, and hundreds of copies of Christian books, were seized and removed; Church attendees were relieved of their mobile phones and were taken on two buses to an unknown destination.

12/23/11: Village officials in Laos threaten to evict entire church from village unless they give up their faith

DUBLIN (Compass Direct News) – Nearly 50 Christians await their fate today after officials in Natoo village, southern Laos, on Wednesday (Dec. 21) summoned four of their leaders and warned that they would evict the entire church “within 24 hours” if they refused to give up their faith.

Officials told the Christians they had forfeited their right to live in the village because of their faith, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) reported.

11/10/11: Police Detain, Beat Christian Converts from Islam in India

NEW DELHI (Compass Direct News) – Police in India’s Kashmir Valley detained and beat converts from Islam and were expected to arrest Christian workers after Muslim leaders alleged that Muslim youth were being “lured” to Christianity.

Police in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley picked up seven converts who were recently baptized in All Saints Church in Srinagar, a local Christian who spoke to the converts after their release on Nov. 2 told Compass. Srinagar is the summer capital of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir and the main city of the Kashmir Valley.

11/08/11: Burma Army Attacks Church, Shooting and Torturing Worshipers

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has received a report from sources inside Kachin State, Burma alleging that soldiers from the Burma Army shot at worshipers in a church in Wai Maw Township two days ago. The congregation was expelled from the church, and soldiers reportedly looted church donation boxes. The house of one church member, Mr Jumphpawk Hawng Lum, was burned down. At least fifty church members are taken to work as forced porters for the Burma Army.

10/31/11: Coptic Christian Student Murdered by Muslim Classmates for Wearing a Cross

CAIRO, EGYPT (ANS) — In mid-October Egyptian media published news of an altercation between Muslim and Christian students over a classroom seat at a school in Mallawi, Minya province.

Egyptian journalist Mary Abdelmassih, writing for AINA — Assyrian International News Agency, says the altercation lead to the murder of a Christian student.

NIGERIA: President Declares State Of Emergency After Christmas Attacks Church Bombings By Radical Muslim Group Boko Haram!

2012-01-03T01:49:00.000-08:00

The Telegraph UK

Nigeria's president declares state of emergency after Christmas attacks

written by Nick Squires, Laura Heaton in Nairobi

Sunday January 1, 2012

Nigeria's president has declared a state of emergency in areas of the country hit by a growing Islamist insurgency, amid escalating violence in Africa's most populous nation.

The move came in response to dozens of attacks blamed on Boko Haram, an Islamist group that claims ties to al-Qaeda, most recently a wave of bombings over Christmas that killed nearly 50 people.

The state of emergency will apply to the states of Plateau, Niger, Yobe and parts of Borno, where Boko Haram traditionally has its base, President Goodluck Jonathan said.

Security forces will have more powers to seal off international border crossings and conduct searches and arrests under the new decree.

Locals reported more military patrols and check points in the affected areas, while tanks patrolled the streets of Maiduguri, a remote city in the north-east and the crucible of the insurgency led by Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden".

Addressing the country for the first time since the Christmas attacks, the president said the spiralling violence had "threatened our collective security and shaken the foundations of our corporate existence as a nation".

"Terrorists have taken advantage of the present situation to strike at targets in Nigeria and retreat beyond the reach our law enforcement personnel," the president said, calling for the armed forces to create a special unit dedicated to counter-terrorism.

"It has become imperative to take some decisive measures necessary to restore normalcy in the country," he said.

Andrew Azazi, the national security adviser, said: "The security forces will have more powers in those areas to work, to arrest suspects, to make searches without necessarily getting all the evidence."

The emergency measures would remain in force "until the situation improves," he said.

Human rights groups fear that the increased powers handed to the military will be abused.

"The declaration of a state of emergency will not stop or reduce the spate of violence across the affected areas, but will simply be a blank cheque for human rights violations by security agents," said Shehu Sani, a rights activists in the north of the country.

The president made a visit at the weekend to the church where the bloodiest Christmas attack occurred – St Theresa's, a Catholic church on the outskirts of Abuja.

He branded Boko Haram a "cancerous" network which was determined to tear Nigeria apart but vowed that it would be "crushed".

Hundreds of people were killed during 2011 in attacks blamed on the group, mostly in the north-east of Nigeria. It is believed to have several factions, and there has been intense speculation over the extent of its links with extremist groups in other countries, including the North African branch of al-Qaeda.

The Christmas attacks prompted Christian leaders to warn that they would defend themselves if the violence continued, raising fears that it intends to exploit the already fractious divide between the mostly Christian south and the mainly Muslim north.

Adding to the sense of national crisis, a long-running land dispute reignited at the weekend in the south-eastern state of Ebonyi, leaving at least 50 people dead.

Fighting broke out between the Ezza and Ezilo communities, both of whom practice subsistence farming and have fought over access to land since 2008.

Abdullah Onimode, the regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, told The Daily Telegraph it was unclear what sparked the latest round of violence.

He said it had been thought that the conflict was over – the two communities have coexisted peacefully since March 2010.

Both the Ezza and Ezilo are Christian, Mr Onimode said, emphasising that the violence in Ebonyi state is not related to the sectarian strife elsewhere in the country.

NIGERIA: Radical Muslim Group Boko Haram Gives Christians 3-Day Deadline To "Move Away," Before Attacks Target The Community!

2012-01-03T01:42:00.000-08:00

The Telegraph UK

Nigeria: al-Qaeda-linked group gives Christians 3-day deadline

written by Laura Heaton in Nairobi

Monday January 2, 2012

An al-Qaeda linked terrorist group has escalated its threats to foment civil war in Nigeria by handing out a three day deadline to leave to Christians before it launches an offensive against government troops.

Boko Haram warned Christians living in the country's predominantly Muslim north that they have three days to "move away," before attacks target the community.

Abul Qada, the spokesman who claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day bombings on behalf of the group, threatened Nigerian soldiers deployed to quell violence in the north.

"We find it pertinent to state that soldiers will only kill innocent Muslims in the local government areas where the state of emergency was declared," Abul Qada said. "We would confront them squarely to protect our brothers."

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in four areas hardest hit by spiraling violence on Saturday.

The president vowed to "crush" the insurgency, which has "shaken the foundations of our corporate existence as a nation."

Under the president's orders, security forces operating in Borno, Plateau, Niger, and Yobe state were given expanded powers to make arrests and conduct searches in an effort to track down Boko Haram affiliates.

Nigerian security forces have arrested "hundreds" of "foot soldiers" in connection with bombings that left at left at least 40 people dead and dozens more injured last weekend, the police chief said last Thursday. But the masterminds of the violence remain at-large.

Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, has staged attacks in Nigeria since 2009.

The head of the Christian Association of Nigeria condemned the government for its failure to make a "convincing high profile arrest" to demonstrate its intent to curtail the group.

An opposition group claimed it would be "futile" to expect Jonathan's administration to find a lasting solution to the security challenge on its own.

The Action Congress of Nigeria said Sunday that President Jonathan's state of emergency would need to be supplemented by a mobilisation of other segments of society against Boko Haram.

"It is like the way armed robberies have continued despite the numerous road blocks dotting the country. The robbers simply avoid the road blocks on their way to carrying out their nefarious activities," said Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party's national publicity secretary.

"We don't have to wait until the entire country is put under emergency rule," Mohammed said, calling for the government to convene a security summit that would draw together political, religious and traditional leaders from around the country.

"If we all fail to act now, no one will be spared of the consequences, irrespective of their party affiliation or religious leaning," Mohammed said.

Attacks by Boko Haram claimed at least 500 lives in 2011, including scores of Nigerian soldiers and police.

But the group's recent targeting of civilians and high profile targets raise concerns both about the group's interest in sparking wider religious conflict in the country and its links to other Al-Qaeda affiliates in the region.

An August attack on the UN headquarters in the capital of Abuja killed 23.

HUNGARY: Tens Of Thousands Protest Against Government

2012-01-03T01:33:00.000-08:00

Reuters news

Tens of thousands protest against Hungary government

written by Marton Dunai

Monday January 2, 2012

Tens of thousands of Hungarians protested in Budapest on Monday against the government and its new Basic Law in a show of anxiety over what they see as the ruling Fidesz party's moves to weaken democratic institutions and cement its powers.

Centre-right Fidesz, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, won a two-thirds majority in elections in 2010 and has rewritten a large body of law since, drawing accusations at home and abroad that it has undermined democratic checks and balances.

The Basic Law, which replaced the previous constitution as of January 1, recasts rules governing many walks of life in what Fidesz calls a completion of a democratization process that started in 1989 when communism collapsed.

Parliament forged ahead with the legislation despite a plea from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a rethink and a letter from European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso asking Orban to withdraw two key bills.

The dispute has cast doubt over talks with the European Union and IMF about a new financing agreement, seen as crucial for Hungary to shore up market confidence.

Popular discontent has added to pressure on Orban's government, and some 30,000 protesters gathered outside the Budapest Opera House to voice their disquiet as Fidesz and government leaders arrived for a gala celebrating the Basic Law.

Sandor Szekely, co-chairman of the Solidarity movement which organised the rally, told Reuters the heavy-handed ways of the government had generated unprecedented opposition unity and cooperation between political and civilian activist groups.

"It looks like a real coalition is in the making," Szekely said. "This Basic Law basically unwinds the checks and balances that we created in 1989. If we manage to replace this government and its system, we will have to revert to 1989 once again.

"If they hadn't ruined the economy along with democratic values, the anger might be less intense, but they systematically ruin everyone, so people are enraged," he said.

Opposition liberal and Socialist MPs were detained by police in a protest late last month.

Critics say the new laws curtail the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court in key matters like the budget, rewrite the electoral system in a way that favors Fidesz, and could erode the independence of the central bank.

A new media law also drew strong criticism and journalist protests recently. The new Basic Law will also allow Fidesz appointees to control key public institutions well beyond the government's electoral term.

YARDSTICK

Fidesz politicians have been adamant that the Basic Law improves the legal framework of life in Hungary.

"Despite political debates we think it is an important value that for the first time, a freely elected parliament created the Basic Law," said Gergely Gulyas, a Fidesz MP who co-wrote the legislation and guided it through the assembly.

"It is absolutely suitable to being the yardstick by which life is measured. While it is important for the government to reassure international leaders about its intentions, criticism has mostly concerned areas where they have no jurisdiction."

Fidesz's public support dropped to 18 percent last month but the fragmented opposition has been unable to capitalise, leaving 54 percent of voters with no party to support. Analysts have said grassroots movements could fill that void.

They have also said the government must change course or risk leaving the country isolated at a time when it needs all the support it can get to remain able to refinance its debt.

Chinese President Says Hostile Forces Seek To Westernize, Divide Nation Using Culture! Apparently China Doesn't Want The Chinese To Embrace FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION!

2012-01-03T01:29:00.000-08:00

They don't want the Chinese people to think for themselves. Imagine, this is what the Occupy movement in America wants for our country... Marxist Communism. :/ Perhaps we should STOP manufacturing American products in China so their people would not be influenced by our ideas, our products. Is that what you want President Hu? To isolate your country again so that your marxist communist party can have complete control over your people?

*****************************************************

Associated Press

Hu: Hostile forces seek to westernize, split China

written by Gillian Wong

Tuesday January 3, 2012

BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has told Communist Party members that hostile forces abroad are trying to westernize and divide the country with their cultural influence and that officials must remain vigilant against such efforts.

The party magazine Seeking Truth [<== LMAO! what a joke! yeah their truth after censorship. (emphasis mine)] this week published an excerpt of a speech by Hu to party leaders in October in which he said China is facing a difficult ideological struggle.

"We must clearly see that international hostile forces are intensifying the strategic plot of westernizing and dividing China, and ideological and cultural fields are the focal areas of their long-term infiltration," Hu said.

Hu did not specify who the hostile forces are, but Chinese leaders have tried to bolster their legitimacy with a more demanding public by depicting China as being engaged in an ideological and cultural war with the West.

Hu's remarks are part of the Communist Party's broader push to reinforce socialist principles in an attempt to counter calls by liberal Chinese for "universal values" such as freedom of expression, which state media often portray as Western concepts unsuited to China's unique circumstances.

Chinese leaders are under pressure from a public that is upset over income inequality, corruption and other ills of rapid growth and that feels empowered by rising prosperity and social media to criticize the government.

To compete for ideological influence, party leaders have said China must create more cultural products like books, films and art to attract Chinese and foreign audiences. As part of efforts to wrest back Communist Party control over cultural industries, China also recently said it would limit reality TV shows and other light fare shown on satellite television stations.

"We should deeply understand the seriousness and complexity of the ideological struggle, always sound the alarms and remain vigilant, and take forceful measures to be on guard and respond," Hu said in the speech, made at an annual policy meeting of the party's Central Committee - 365 members of the power elite.

China has stepped up a campaign to boost its influence by making movies that promote Chinese culture or the Communist Party's legitimacy. These include "Beginning of the Great Revival," a film to celebrate the Communist Party's 90th anniversary, and the 2009 blockbuster "The Founding of a Republic" marking 60 years of Communist rule.

The government also has mounted concerted efforts to police the Internet and, after "Arab spring" protests ousted autocrats in Egypt and Tunisia, to intimidate Chinese political activists from launching a similar movement.

Last month, Beijing and other city authorities ordered Internet microblogs to require users to register with their real names, a tightening of rules aimed at controlling China's rapidly growing social networks. Last year, microblogs helped mobilize 12,000 people in the northeastern city of Dalian to successfully demand the relocation of a petrochemical factory.

CHINA: Violence Erupts As Police Knock Down Mosque For Being An 'Illegal Religious Place'

2012-01-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

The Daily Mail UK

Violence erupts in China as police knock down mosque for being an 'illegal religious place'

written by Lee Moran

Tuesday January 3, 2012

Fighting broke out between crowds of Muslims and police when a mosque was demolished - for being an 'illegal religious place'.

Violence erupted in the town of Hexi, in China's northwest Ningxia region, after 1,000 officers arrived to help police the knocking down of the building.

More than 50 protesters were injured and 100 arrested after several hundred members of China's Muslim Hui minority tried to stop the demolition.

Sources from the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy. said two people died in the clashes.

An employee who answered the phone at the town police station confirmed officers had fought with protesters and said 80 people were detained, but denied any deaths.

The employee added that police demolished the mosque after the violence.

The Communist government closely monitors religious activity and is said to be worried that mosques and other houses of worship might become centres for anti-government agitation.

The Hui are one of several Muslim minority groups in China.

They include descendants of Muslim immigrants from Central Asia, members of China's majority Han ethnicity who converted to Islam and several other groups.

2012 Resolution Above All Else

2012-01-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of my Readers Around the Globe! Your Love and Support is Very Much Appreciated.

2012-01-01T15:33:00.000-08:00

"Thank You" in 90 languages (alphabetical order)

Afrikaans - Dankie
Albanian - Faleminderit
Arabic - Shukran
Armenian - Shenorhakal yem
Bengali - Dhonyobad
Bulgarian - Blagodaria
Burmese - Chezu tinbade
Cambodian - Ar kun
Catalan - Gracies
Cantonese - Do jie
Czech - Dekuji
Cherokee - Wado
Chichewa - Zikomo
Chinese (Mandarin) - Xie xie
Croatian - Hvala
Danish - Tak
Dhivehi (Maldives) - Shukriyya
Dutch, Flanders - Dank je
English - Thank you
Esperanto - Dankon
Estonian - Aitah
Ethiopian - Ameseginalehu
Filipino - Salamat
Finnish - kiitos
French - Merci
Frisian - Tankewol
Gaelic - Go raibh maith agat
German - Danke schoen
Greek - Efharistó
Hawaiian - Mahalo
Hebrew - Toda
Hindi - Danyavad
Hungarian - köszönöm
Icelandic - Takk fyrir
Indonesian - Terima kasih
Italian - Grazie
Japanese - Arigato
Kinyarwanda - Murakoze
Korean - Go mop sum nee dah
Laotian - Kop-Jai
Latgalian - Paljdis
Latin - Gratias ago
Latvian - Paldies
Lithuanian - Aciu
Luganda - Webale
Macedonian - Blagodaram
Malay - Terima kasih
Malayalam - Nanhi
Maori - Kia Ora
Marathi - Abhari Ahe
Náhuatl (Aztec) - Tlazocamati
Nepali - Dhanyabad
Norwegian - Takk
Ojibwe - miigwetch
Persian - Motshakeram
Polish - Dziekuje
Papiamento - Danki
Pashto - Ta shakur
Portuguese - Obrigado (if you're male)
Portuguese - Obrigada (if you're female)
Punjabi - Shookria
Rapanui - Maururu
Romanian - Multumesc
Russian - Spasiba
Rwanda - Ulakoze
Samoan - Fa'a fetai
Serbian - Hvala
Setswana - Ke a leboga
Shona- Tatenda
Sioux - Pilamaya
Sinhalese - Bohoma isthuthei
Slovakian - D'akujem
Slovenian - Hvala
Spanish - Gracias
Swahili - Asante
Swedish - Tack
Tagalog - Salamat
Taiwanese - Do sha
Tamil - Nandri
Telugu - Dhanyavaadhaalu
Thai - kob khun krap (to male)
Thai - kob khun ka (to female)
Turkish - Tesekkur, Sagol
Ukranian - Dyakuyu
Urdu - Shukriya
Uzbek - Rahmat
Welsh - Diolch
Vietnamese - Ca'm on
Yoruba (Nigeria) - O Se
Zulu - Ngiyabonga