Clipmarks | Us olympics Clips

Obama Has Won The 100 Metres at The 2012 London Olympics

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:32:17 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Thus, with President Wilson alone, the Nobel Peace Prize death toll is over 50 million and counting.

Occasionally the peace prize has gone to actual peace negotiators but usually, per Teddy Roosevelt, when there was nothing left to negotiate. Carlos Saavedra Lamas got his in 1936 for mediating between Bolivia and Paraguay in the Chaco War (1932-35). Both nations were exhausted, 100,000 soldiers were dead, and the Chaco was--as it had been and remains--a vast, useless weed patch. Likewise, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan (1976) and John Hume and David Trimble (1998)--the four of them were standing around when, after 500 years, the fool residents of my ancestral homeland ran out of ammo and beer.

Of course, if you go around giving prizes left and right (mostly left) for more than a century, you're bound to give some to worthy people once in a while. With the Nobel committee this usually involves the Red Cross (1901, 1917, 1944, 1963). But the Red Cross doesn't bring peace . . .

Clip Source: www.weeklystandard.com

Nobel left most of his huge fortune to an endowment that funds the prizes named after himself. Beginning in 1901 five Nobels have been awarded pretty much annually. They are given for chemistry, physics, medicine, literature "of an ideal tendency," and peace. Since 1969 there's been a sixth prize, for economics--to no good effect, judging by my 401(k). I don't know enough about chemistry, physics, medicine, or literature of an ideal tendency to say whether these prizes have done harm. But the peace prize stinks.

Theodore Roosevelt got the 1906 prize for ending the Russo-Japanese War after it was over. Never mind his role in starting the Spanish-American War, an altogether less worthwhile conflict. We conquered Puerto Rico! And the 1919 honoree, Woodrow Wilson, gave us America's participation in World War I, and then, with his Versailles Treaty, he gave us everybody's participation in World War II. "Woody's World" is with us right down to the present day in places such as Kosovo.

Tags: nobel peace prize award-chemistry physics medicine, obama

US Treasury REALLY wants the Dollar to DISINTEGRATE

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:42:15 GMT

clipped by: leevardi
clipper's remarks: .its the only way they can pay back the DEBT

Clip Source: www.thedailycrux.com

The White House's secret plan for the dollar

Now I'll let you in on an awful secret. The US, despite all its BS talk, really wants a lower dollar. The fact is that the US is doing absolutely nothing to defend the dollar.

Of course, if the Fed wanted to defend the dollar they could halt their mass printing of dollars, and they could raise interest rates. And Bernanke could win the 800 meter race at the next Olympics at Rio.

But let's be rational - how in God's name is the US going to pay off trillions in debt? By raising taxes? Impossible. They could renege on the debt like Argentina - unthinkable. But there is a way - they'll try to minimize the importance of the debt with a cheaper devalued dollar.

That's the time-honored US way, but loyal Americans don't believe it. If they did, gold would be selling at $4000 an ounce.

Obama Nobel a Bid to 'Emasculate' US

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:30:58 GMT

clipped by: jay8h

Clip Source: www.newser.com

Limbaugh: Obama Nobel a Bid to 'Emasculate' US

Rush, fellow conservatives jump all over award

(Newser) – Rush Limbaugh doesn’t think the Nobel committee members were trying to honor President Obama—he thinks they’re trying to “emasculate" the United States. “With this ‘award’ the elites of the world are urging Obama, THE MAN OF PEACE, to not do the surge in Afghanistan,” he wrote in an e-mail to Politico. “They love a weakened, neutered US.” He added that he thought the award was a “greater embarrassment” than losing the 2016 Olympics.

Other conservatives sounded the same theme. “Utterly ridiculous,” said one GOP strategist. “The credibility of the Nobel Peace Prize has … hit rock bottom.” Mike Huckabee, with his eye on Obama's job, struck a slightly less inflammatory note: "The better response is simply to allow those on the left to explain what he did in his first two weeks as president that merited such recognition."

Barack Obama - Peace Prize

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:47:14 GMT

clipped by: yochai

Clip Source: www.time.com

The last thing Barack Obama needed at this moment in his presidency and our politics is a prize for a promise.

By now there are surely more callouses on his lips than his hands.

So when reality bites, it chomps down hard.

Maybe the prize will give him more power, new muscles to haul unruly nations in line. But peacemaking is more about ingenuity than inspiration, about reading other nations' selfish interests and cynically, strategically exploiting them for the common good. Will it help if fewer countries come to the table hating us? To a point. But it's a starting point, not an end in itself.

Americans are longing for a president who is more bully, less pulpit.

There comes a time when a President needs to take a real risk — and putting his prestige on the line to win the Olympics for his home town does not remotely count.

Sometimes the words come first. Sometimes, its better to let actions speak for themselves.

Chicago’s “Good Times” Canceled: DynOmite!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:36:20 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: All I have to say is, where the hell were our international protocol and intelligence teams? Why didn’t someone over at the State Department tell us about this Danish policy before we put everything on the line to bring the Olympic games to the capital of Pay-To-Play cities? We just assumed that we would be treated to the same fawning adulation and deference we get in the USA: the country that invented free speech.

We arrived with soaring expectations, only to have the whole thing blow up in our face.

Thanks, State, once again. I’m beginning to think that Hillary didn’t really want that job.

Insults are under threat in many countries. The World Press Freedom Committee earlier this year published a survey, "The Right to Offend, Shock or Disturb," which details how laws against insults are being used to squelch free speech, including opposition to the government.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704471504574451712299324476.html

Clip Source: michellesmirror.blogspot.com

So I’m glancing through the WSJ this morning and happen upon L. Gordon Crovitz’s column, “More Insults, Please”. He’s explaining how the publishing of Muhammad cartoons in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten – especially that one with the stick of dynamite in his turban - caused protests, rioting and other mayhem across the Muslim world.

Offending cartoons courtesy of Fausta’s Blog

I thought they were kind of cute, but apparently some do not share my keen wit and ability to reflect on such images. But I digress.

in a speech he gave last Saturday in New York, Kurt Westergaard, the cartoons’ creator (currently living in Copenhagen under 24 hour police protection), remarked:

"As the Danish tradition is for satire, we say you can speak freely, you can vote, you can speak out any time, but there's only one thing you can't do—you can't be free of being mocked or being offended," Mr. Westergaard said in a speech in New York City. "That's the condition in Denmark."

Tags: chicago pay-for-play, copenhagen, danish muhammad cartoons, protests, rioting and other mayhem, olympics 2016, clinton sec of state

Olympic BId - GOP lauds US failure; tossers

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:07:24 GMT

clipped by: beanz

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

Right-Wingers Root Against U.S., Then Celebrate Olympic Bid Failure

Their hatred of Obama apparently overpowers their supposed love of country.

[Video]

The criticisms have included mocking “fat people” in Chicago, gushing that Rio is just plain “awesome,” and saying that Chicago is too violent and doesn’t deserve the event. Watch a compilation

So how will all these conservatives who have been rooting against the United States react now that their rhetoric has become reality? On Twitter, former Bush spokesman Scott Stanzel cautioned Republicans against gloating: “Note to GOP officials/consultants – resist the temptation to pile on about Chicago losing the Olympic bid just because Obama made the pitch.” His message didn’t reach RedState’s Erick Erickson, who immediately wrote:

Hahahahaha. I thought the world would love us more now that Bush was gone. I thought if we whored ourselves out to our enemies, great things would happen. Apparently not.

Tags: olympics

Obama’s Olympic failure will only add to doubts about his presidency

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:48:31 GMT

clipped by: n2sooners

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

There has been a growing narrative taking hold about Barack Obama’s presidency in recent weeks: that he is loved by many, but feared by none; that he is full of lofty vision, but is actually achieving nothing with his grandiloquence.

Chicago’s dismal showing today, after Mr Obama’s personal, impassioned last-minute pitch, is a stunning humiliation for this President. It cannot be emphasised enough how this will feed the perception that on the world stage he looks good — but carries no heft.

his troubled reform the US health insurance system

Obama also scrapped a plan for a missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland

Putin, and the Chinese, remain fiercely opposed to sanctions

his Afghan strategy

This has all added to the perception that Mr Obama’s soaring rhetoric — which captured the imagination during last year’s election — is simply not enough when it comes to confronting the myriad challenges of the presidency. His spectacular Olympic failure will only add to that.

Tags: failure, obama, olympics, politics

Roland Burris: Bush is to blame for OIC rejecting Chicago

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:35:50 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: www.current-movie-reviews.com

Senator Rowland Burris of Illinois, the Senator who was appointed to fill President Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, blames George Bush for Chicago not getting the

Olympics

in 2016. Burris stated in an interview, shortly after the announcement, that the image of the U. S. has been so tarnished in the last 8 years that, even Barack Obama making an unprecedented pitch for the games could not overcome the hatred the world has for us as a result of George Bush.

Beijing National Stadium (bird's nest) designer didn't get an invitation to the Opening Ceremony ?!!

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:43:56 GMT

clipped by: syncopath
clipper's remarks: Q: You’ve coined the phrase, “pretend smile,” as a label for China’s Olympic effort. Why?
Ai: I did say it’s a “pretend smile.” I was questioning whether it’s possible for a society that doesn’t have democracy to excite the joys and celebrations of its people.

Q: What disappoints you about China’s Olympic effort?
Ai: The biggest disappointment is that China has fallen short of its promises, which is, “One World One Dream,” or to show the world a “New China, New Beijing, New Olympics.” I doubt there’s anything new here. What we’re seeing are the deep-rooted lack of courage and confidence, and the want for real happiness and civil participation. Instead, we see more of inept management and a blind sense of self-defense.

Q: How can China benefit from the Olympics?
Ai: Maybe China and its people will further realize that today’s world cannot be divided. China has common political, cultural and economic interests with the rest of the world. The only way for it to produce wonders is

Clip Source: olympics.blogs.nytimes.com

Q: What inspired you in designing the National Stadium? Can you describe the design process?

Ai Weiwei: The design concept for the National Stadium came from a complete “emptiness,” when Herzog & de Meuron and I were talking about the initial plan before we started on the actual design. We emptied our minds, which made it possible for us to find the best points from aesthetics and practicality.

The entire design process was carefree and fun, it seemed very clear and obvious, free of any obstructions of traditional notions.

Q: Are you going to the opening ceremony?

Ai: I’m not attending the opening ceremony, I’m not interested in it, and I haven’t received any invitation.

I’ve always thought of this ceremony as a product of government bureaucracy, rather than a natural celebration and expression generated among free citizens.

Volunteers hold national flags as they prepare to enter the Olympic National Stadium during a rehearsal.

China's Flag To Fly Over White House.

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:50:30 GMT

clipped by: bookwormy
clipper's remarks: It is time for a second American Revolution. This is Bull Sh#t!

Clip Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn

China's national flag to go up in White House on Sept 20

The national flag of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will be hoisted at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on September 20, media reported Sunday.

Chinese associations in the United States had applied to hold a ceremony in front of the US President’s residence to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of PRC.

Chen Ronghua, chairman of Fujian Association of the United States, told reporters that their application was approved not only because of the sound Sino-US relations but also because China is a responsible country.

"Many Americans admire China due to the success of last year’s Beijing Olympics," said Chen.

China's National Flag To Go Up in White House on Sept 20 By Hou Lei

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:05:24 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: "Many Americans admire China due to the success of last year’s Beijing Olympics," said Chen.

More than 1,000 people will attend the ceremony and the performances held after it, according to Zhao Luqun, who will direct the performances.

Zhao said the performances will demonstrate the friendship, magnanimous spirit and kindness of modern Chinese people.

Clip Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn

The national flag of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will be hoisted at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on September 20, media reported Sunday.

Chinese associations in the United States had applied to hold a ceremony in front of the US President’s residence to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of PRC.

Tags: at the american white house, chinadaily.com.cn, chinas national flag

Russian sports: Getting serious

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:09:44 GMT

clipped by: aklimento
clipper's remarks:

Clip Source: www.moscowtopnews.com

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that a state doping control system should be established for Russian sports and tougher penalties may be introduced for those who break the rules.

"Every provision should be made and a state [doping] control mechanism established, and we should act vigorously. If necessary, let's also discuss moves to toughen penalties," Putin said at a meeting of the presidential council on sports development and arrangements for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Russia has always been serious about her sports and the credibility attributed to her sportspeople. Doping is an international phenomenon which premeates throughout the world of sport and practically all its modalities.

Tags: doping, bodybuilding, sports, fitness, records

Download Chariots of Fire Full movie (DVD,DivX,iPod,PDA - cheap)

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:40:11 GMT

clipped by: Gomipol
clipper's remarks: Download Chariots of Fire Full movie (DVD,DivX,iPod,PDA - cheap)

Clip Source: download-full-movie-direct-links.blogspot.com

Download Chariots of Fire Full movie (DVD,DivX,iPod,PDA - cheap)

Sporting events today bear fit hostile, fuming affairs where the adage, more many times than not, is "get at all costs." Exhibitions of opportune honour are approximately as rare as selflessness. Every one is entirely for themselves, and the displays of athletes like Albert Belle, John McEnroe, and Dennis Rodman can hold back in the desire like a chunk of indigestible matter. So it's restoration to look back at an times when success didn't marketability isolation, spleen, and hatred of anybody's rivals. Chariots of Shelling, the Oscar-winning 1981 mist, transports us to the 1924 Olympics, and, in the alter, highlights such commendable qualities as commitment, grit, and fraternity.

Download Chariots of Fire Full movie (DVD,DivX,iPod,PDA - cheap)

Starring: Ian Charleson, Ben Cross, Nigel Havers, Cheryl Campbell, Ian Holm

Director: Hugh Hudson

Tags: download chariots of fire full movie (dvd, divx, ipod, pda - cheap)

Canada - The World Is Watching

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:34:07 GMT

clipped by: Johanna_G

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

More than 1 million seals have been slaughtered in the last 4 years during the annual Canadian seal massacre. With the Vancouver Olympics fast approaching, Canada has a chance to better its image by ending this slaughter.

Seals are being shot or beaten over the head in Canada RIGHT NOW. Help us end abuse like this here http://www.peta.org.uk/donate/ctt/W2E...

[Video]

Tags: animal rights, seal slaughter

Putting things into perspective: What if George W. Bush had…

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:43:16 GMT

clipped by: disenchantedcitizen
clipper's remarks: GW and his neocons raised a lot of concerns about what we expect from our president. He fell short of those expectations many times. Many of us fear our government more since his being in office, many of us have lost a lot from his being in office, and many of us are embarrassed at having elected him.

So, somebody please remind me why Obama was seen as such a great change for the better.

Clip Source: www.freerepublic.com

What If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current on their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on “Earth Day”, would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 10 weeks -- so you'll have three years and nine-and-a-half months to come up with an answer.