Clipmarks | n2sooners's Comments

Hey Congress! Georgia Attacked South Ossetia First!

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:56:07 GMT

clipped by: blueridge
clipper's remarks: Let Congress know who is being overlooked in the US-Russia-Georgia conflict--the people of South Ossetia who want and prefer Russian rule since their declaration of independence from Georgia years ago--whom Georgia attacked and invaded, killing civilians! Russia responded.

Congress needs to stop listening to White House propagandists and see the real story, before they start a new Iraq conflict, with Russia, and even towards world war (i.e. NATO versus Russia and allies)! And Congress needs informed people to help wake them up to these documented facts:

The Ossetians, a divided people with one section living within Russia on the north side of the Caucasus mountains, and the other in Georgia, generally felt more comfortable with Russian rule than as part of the new, post-Soviet Georgian state. A small and nasty war with Tbilisi in 1990-92 led to a declaration of independence

Is it not the Ossetians that have the stake in all this, who will govern and rule them?

Clip Source: www.opendemocracy.net

South Ossetia: the avoidable tragedy

Georgia and Russia have stumbled into a war that need not have happened.

The epicentre is South Ossetia, which is home to both ethnic Ossetians and Georgians (the latter accounting for about a third of the 70,000 population). The destruction there has been appalling, and it looks as though many hundreds of civilians have died, in the first place as a result of the initial Georgian assault of 7-8 August 2008.

Ossetians fleeing the conflict-zone talk of Georgian atrocities, including the indiscriminate killing of civilians.

in a second wave of violence, Georgians - from Gali in Abkhazia to Gori in the north of the country - are fleeing and dying.

Behind the explosion

Saakashvili went for the military option. The Georgian military launched a massive artillery attack on Tskhinvali, followed the next day by a ground assault involving tanks. This against a city with no pure military targets, full of civilians

Ossetians

felt more comfortable with Russian rule

Tags: georgia, south ossetia, russia, bush, nato

Russia Preparing To Splinter Georgia After Sarkozy-Brokered Armistice

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:58:15 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: LINK TO FULL ARTICLE FOLLOWS:
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2373322

Clip Source: www.jamestown.org

The Kremlin is not honoring the French-brokered agreement on cessation of hostilities and troop withdrawal from Georgia. Russian troops are roaming and rampaging at will through parts of Georgia and are preparing to seize chunks of its territory for the long term. Meanwhile, Russia brandishes the threat to dismember the entire country. Such threats reflect Moscow’s goal to reduce Georgia to political obedience by changing the country’s government.

In the process, Moscow embarrasses French President Nicolas Sarkozy by casting doubt on his promise to secure the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. The Russians are even asking Georgia through Sarkozy to accept larger “security zones” under Russian control in Georgian territory, as a price for implementing the Sarkozy-brokered agreement, which heavily favors Russia in the first place (see EDM, August 13).

Tags: russian troops, medvedev/saakashvili, sarkozy brokered cease-fire

Doctors Can't Deny Lesbians Care on Religious Grounds

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:56:45 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

The California Supreme Court today ruled unanimously that doctors cannot cite their religious beliefs as grounds to deny gay and lesbian patients medical care.

Justice Joyce Kennard ruled that two Christian fertility doctors who refused to artificially inseminate a lesbian couple cannot claim a free speech or religious exemption from California's anti-discrimination law.

The ruling extends a state law barring sexual orientation-based discrimination to the medical profession.

In 1999, after a year of surgeries and hormone treatments — all covered by insurance — Benitez was finally ready to get pregnant. But at the crucial moment, her doctor refused to do the procedure for "religious" reasons.

Benitez is a lesbian and sued her doctors under California's civil rights laws, charging that they discriminated against her because of her sexual orientation.

Tags: medical, gay, lesbian, religion, belief, discrimination

Phelps-Cavic frame by frame

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:30:14 GMT

clipped by: n2sooners

Clip Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Tags: phelps, olympics, swimming, gold, sports

Roseanne Barr: Angelina Jolie 'Evil,' Brad Pitt 'Vacuous'

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:21:34 GMT

clipped by: dl211
clipper's remarks: "Miss Jolie says she likes [John] McCain too and hasn't decided who to endorse....huh? Aren't you supposed to be somewhat enlightened, or do you not know that the African daughter you hold in every picture had parents who suffered and died because of the Republican party's worldwide economic assault on Africa over the last few decades since Reagan?"
She claims that Jolie's "Thai and Vietnamese sons" are also "victims of America's right-wing military incursions too."
Roseanne writes that "it might be good for your Asian and African children's self-esteem to know you support" Barack Obama, a man of color, "for the leader of the free world."
She signs off: "Now go back to making your movies about women who love to handle big guns that shoot hundreds of people to death.

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Roseanne Barr: Angelina Jolie 'Evil,' Brad Pitt 'Vacuous'

Roseanne Barr slams Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in a post on her Web site, calling Jolie the "evil spawn" of actor Jon Voight and Pitt her "vacuous hubby."

"Your evil spawn Angelina Jolie and her vacuous hubby Brad Pitt make about $40 million a year in violent, psychopathic movies and give away three of it to starving children, trying to look as if they give a crap about humanity as they spit out more dunces that will consume more than their fair share and wreck the earth even more," Roseanne writes in a post titled "Jon Voight."

She also attacks the actress for recently saying she is undecided about the presidential election.

Tags: roseanne, jolie, pitt, rant

Russian's Break Agreement As Usual

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:35:11 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: 14.08.08 13:19 Declaration of U.S. support to Georgia has increased the aggression of Russia and instead of pulling out from the city of Gori, they have reinforced their positions there, ousted Georgian police and journalists from the city. Reporters say they are hearing explosions from the entrance of the city; Ossetian gunmen have abducted several vehicles of various TV crews, reportedly, Niva, Jeep and Mercedes type cars. Russians did not stop the robbers. Ossetian militant was even threatening the reporter of the Rustavi2 with a gun.
Despite numerous evidences of various reporters, Russian general denies the abduction. Georgian Security Secretary, who was waiting for the settlement of situation in the city, and the team of reporters have been evacuated from the city. Russian general says he is no responsible for the security of journalists and says no exact date when Russian will leave the city.

Clip Source: rustavi2.com

Russians plunder military bases in Samegrelo

17.08.08 17:17

Russian soldiers have plundered whole Region of Samegrelo, Georgia before their departure from the areas of the country beyond the conflict zone of Abkhazia. Soldiers of Russian regular army have completely plundered Senaki military base and taken away all they could place on their vehicles and the military vehicles of Georgian defense ministry as well. Russian soldiers are stealing dishes, furniture, household appliances, blankets, computers, power generators, radiators and even toilet units. What they cannot take away with them they are destroying. The whole bases in Senaki as well as Poti coastal guards have been destroyed.

Russians burn woods in protected areas

Russians plunder military bases in Senaki, Poti

Ossetian gunmen kidnap Georgians

Turkish journalists came under fire in S.Ossetia

Russians arrest Georgian reporters

Police reveals facts of plunder

Justice minister reports prison break

Tags: georgia, russian funded ossetian militia, russian military, plunder, kidnappings, journalists evacuated, senaki/poti coastal guards destroyed

Kristol: Powell to endorse Obama, speak at DNCC

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:56:34 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Powell spokeswoman denies it

Clip Source: www.dailykos.com

Kristol: Powell to endorse Obama, speak at DNCC

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will endorse Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, Weekly Standard Publisher Bill Kristol told FOX News exclusively on Thursday.

“He may well give a speech at the Democratic convention explaining his endorsement of Obama,” Kristol said, citing inside sources. “For whatever reason I think he has decided he’s going to endorse Obama. I think [Powell] has a high respect for Senator McCain, they go back a long way.”

Kristol continued, “This is not an absolute done deal, but these people are very confident that Powell will endorse Obama.”

Kristol said sources told him Powell will “quite possibly” speak at the Democratic convention on the same night as Obama’s vice-presidential selection and former President Bill Clinton.

Powell's spokeswoman

“There’s absolutely no truth to it whatsoever,” Cifrino told FOXNews.com

Tags: powell, obama

Despite Assurances, McCain Wasn’t in a ‘Cone of Silence’

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:42:10 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Senator John McCain was not in a “cone of silence” on Saturday night while his rival, Senator Barack Obama, was being interviewed at the Saddleback Church in California.

Members of the McCain campaign staff, who flew here Sunday from California, said Mr. McCain was in his motorcade on the way to the church as Mr. Obama was being interviewed by the Rev. Rick Warren, the author of the best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life.”

The matter is of interest because Mr. McCain, who followed Mr. Obama’s hourlong appearance in the forum, was asked virtually the same questions as Mr. Obama. Mr. McCain’s performance was well received, raising speculation among some viewers, especially supporters of Mr. Obama, that he was not as isolated during the Obama interview as Mr. Warren implied.

Nicolle Wallace, a spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, said on Sunday night that Mr. McCain had not heard the broadcast of the event while in his motorcade and heard none of the questions.

I Own Your Web 2.0

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:48:21 GMT

clipped by: The REAL Napster
clipper's remarks: Looks like this guy will laugh all the way to the bank. Others, will not.

Clip Source: www.informationweek.com

U.S. Grants Patent For Broad Range Of Internet Rich Applications

The patent--issued on Valentine's Day--covers all rich-media technology implementations, including Flash, Flex, Java, Ajax, and XAML, when the rich-media application is accessed on any device over the Internet, according to the patent holders.

Potentially tens of thousands of businesses--not only software makers employing its business processes, but companies offering rich media on their Web sites--could be subject to licensing fees when they use rich-media technology over the Internet.

patent has been granted to a relatively unknown California Web-design firm for an invention its creator says covers the design and creation of most rich-media applications used over the Internet. The patent holder, Balthaser Online Inc., says it could license nearly any rich-media Internet application across a broad range of devices and networks.

if you got a rich Internet application, it is covered by this patent."

Tags: internet, rich media, patents

McCain tax plan: $1B to each of 8 corporations

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:33:06 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: A billions dollars! For Exxon! For Wal-Mart! You've got to be kidding!

Clip Source: sage

Eight companies — Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., Bank of America Corp., AT&T, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Microsoft Corp. — would each receive over $1 billion a year.

McCain would deliver about $4 billion in tax cuts to the five largest oil companies. He would also hand over $2 billion to the top 10 health insurance companies. Unlike the highest-rung of the corporate ladder, much of the rest of Wall Street refuses to be bought off. Those employees are giving more to Obama than to McCain.

While McCain caters to the rich, Barack Obama’s tax plan “offers three times the break for middle class families” than the proposals of John McCain. To clarify the contrast in the two candidates’ plans, consider this fact: John and Cindy McCain would reap over $300,000 from McCain’s own tax plan. By contrast, both the Obamas and McCains would receive a substantial, albeit much smaller, savings under Obama’s plan (see a comparison here).

Tags: mccain

Pandora May Shut Down Due to Rising Royalty Fees

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:27:57 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: www.macrumors.com

The Washington Post reports that the popular web radio service Pandora is close to shutting down entirely due to recent increases in royalty fees that affect web streaming services.

Pandora has become relevant in the Apple world since the release of their iPhone music application called Pandora Radio [App Store]. The free application allows users to tune into personalized streaming radio stations based on their favorite artists, songs, or classical composers. Pandora currently is the 7th most popular application on Apple's iTunes App Store.

According to the Washington Post, last year a federal panel ordered a doubling of per-song performance royalties that Web radio stations had to pay to performers and record companies. Pandora is a venture capital funded business which currently makes money through web-based advertising. In the near future, however, Pandora plans to introduce subtle in-stream ads to combat rising costs

Tags: pandora, technology, iphoe, app store, web, streaming

Voters Should Pass a Minimal Civics Test

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:38:37 GMT

clipped by: jatfla
clipper's remarks: I completely agree AND I believe only those who pay taxes should be *granted* the privilege of voting.

Clip Source: www2.hernandotoday.com

Voters Should Pass A Minimal Civics Test

I have never been an advocate of the popular notion that "everyone should vote." Some people look at me as if I am somehow un-American when I say that I am not in favor of encouraging people to vote who would otherwise never darken the door of a polling place. I really don't want someone on the streets of Hollywood, who just failed to identify the vice president of the United States on one of Jay Leno's "Jay-Walking" segments, helping to select the person who will lead my government for the next four years.
So here is a basic, common-sense test that every American wishing to exercise the right to vote should answer

1.) Name the three branches of the federal government.
2.) Name the current president and vice president of the United States.
3.) How long have they served?
4.) How long is the president allowed to serve?
5.) How many members are there in the U.S. House of Representatives?

Leftist Economic Nonsense

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:42:42 GMT

clipped by: Rustee
clipper's remarks:

It was astonishing to hear Maxine Waters openly discuss nationalizing the oil industry. She was talking to the heads of America’s oil companies, and she was a little worked up, so it was also possible to say that it was just one person, speaking impulsively in a moment of anger, and easily dismissed.

What left most conservatives and libertarians staring in slack jawed wonder was when Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) stood before the press and advocated nationalizing the oil refineries. While most have known about the socialist beliefs of the left, what surprised them was the matter of fact manner in which they were suggesting socialist controls over the oil industry.

Finally, the socialist trifecta was complete with Obama supporter Malai Lazu, of the non-profit group Oil Change International calling for “price controls” on Neal Cavuto’s “Your World.” As she simply put it, “When Congress can set prices, Congress can set prices.”

Clip Source: www.allamericanblogger.com

For thousands of years, governments have attempted to set the price of different products with disastrous results.

This was all done for the “salvation of the people.”

Throughout history, it has been shown that price controls are good for creating three things:

Shortages

In the free market, a producer knows what it takes to create a product.

When government enters the picture, they don’t consider the creation cost.

Rationing

The government now enters the scene again and tells people how much of a product they are allowed in a specific time. So, if the Democrats nationalize the refineries and shortages follow, it is likely to see them tell you how many gallons of gas you can have per month.

If the government’s allotment isn’t enough, there is only one place to turn.

Black Markets

The black market is created as a result of the state. Always.

Setting prices on gasoline and oil will not do what the socialists in Congress claim it will do. History shows it never has, and never will.

Tags: economics

Debunking 'Truths' About Offshore Drilling

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:55:35 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: No, the United States cannot drill its way to energy independence. But with the roaring economies of China and India gobbling up oil in the two countries' latter-day industrial revolutions, the United States can no longer afford to turn its back on finding all the sources of fuel necessary to maintain its economy and its standard of living. What's required is a long-term, comprehensive plan that includes wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels and nuclear -- and that acknowledges that oil and gas will be instrumental to the U.S. economy for many years to come.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

According to the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS), while there are an estimated 18 billion barrels of oil in the off-limits portions of the OCS, those estimates were made using old data from now-outdated seismic equipment.

In the case of the Atlantic Ocean, the data were collected before Congress imposed a moratorium on offshore drilling in 1981. In 1987, the MMS estimated that there were 9 billion barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. By 2006, after major advances in seismic technology and deepwater drilling techniques, the MMS resource estimate for that area had ballooned to 45 billion barrels.

According to the MMS, between 1993 and 2007, there were 651 spills of all sizes at OCS facilities (in federal waters three miles or more offshore) that released 47,800 barrels of oil. With 7.5 billion barrels of oil produced in that time, that equates to 1 barrel of oil spilled per 156,900 barrels produced.

That's not to minimize the danger. But no form of energy is perfect

Tags: offshore drilling, atlantic ocean, gulf of mexico

Obama's birth certificate in high demand

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:01:16 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.honoluluadvertiser.com

Hawai'i birth certificates — just as with death, marriage and certain divorce documents — are released only to people with a "tangible interest,"

The Obama campaign said it has posted a copy of his birth certificate at www.fightthesm ears.com in response to Internet chatter that the Illinois senator is not a natural-born citizen. But the posting has done little to curb the nearly weekly requests to the Health Department for copies of the original, Okubo said.

Some skeptics point to the lack of an official state seal on the birth certificate posted on the Obama campaign Web site.

But seals often are placed on the back of the birth certificate, Okubo said, "and whether it shows through depends on how much force was put into it."

Others wonder why a large black rectangle appears next to the words, "CERTIFICATE NO."

"The thing that's redacted is just our file number," she said. "Potentially, if you have that number, you could break into the system."

Tags: politics, obama, birth, official