Why photojournalists are important

Also historians. Abraham Lincoln in the White House, 1864, upon having won his second nomination for POTUS. [via hudsonette]

Ten Years After - Part Two

I successfully avoided most of the 9/11 TV tributes which at this point seem mostly designed to draw ratings rather than honor the dead. But this was one moment at the Ground Zero ceremony that I really wanted to see and missed live.



I really did get goosebumps watching this. As far as I'm concerned, they could have let this stand as the whole tribute.

[More posts daily at the Detroit News.]

We got sandy beaches

It's actually a beautiful afternoon here today but I'm dreaming of the beach and thinking about all my friends up north who are awaiting yet another winter blizzard. So to cheer us all up a few streaming webcams.

Mission Beach, CA.

Miami Beach, FL.

Palm Beach, FL.

Pink Pony, Alabama Gulf. This one has controls. You can actually zoom in close enough to almost identify people walking on the beach.

This boat don't float

I love when this stuff happens. Construction at the World Trade Center site unearths an archeological find.

By Wednesday, the outlines made it plain: a 30-foot length of a wood-hulled vessel had been discovered about 20 to 30 feet below street level on the World Trade Center site, the first such large-scale archaeological find along the Manhattan waterfront since 1982, when an 18th-century cargo ship came to light at 175 Water Street.

The area under excavation, between Liberty and Cedar Streets, had not been dug out for the original trade center. The vessel, presumably dating from the mid- to late 1700s, was evidently undisturbed more than 200 years.

Not quite as cool as digging up, say, dinosaur bones or the lost city of Atlantis, but still an interesting find. Sadly, it's apparently going to dissolve quickly into dust now that they've exposed it to the open air.

Happy Independence Day

Well even though freedom ain't quite what it used to be, this is still a great country and there's always hope we can save it all over again from the corporate demons that threaten its soul. And speaking of soul, I always wished this was our national anthem.



Leon Russell did a nice cover of this one too. For the traditionalists who prefer the current anthem, take your pick. Via Doug J, a really nice rendition by Marvin Gaye or the 60s classic from Jimi Hendrix.

Also, in honor of the holiday, fun interactive google logo today. Enjoy your celebrations and be careful shooting off those fireworks.

[More posts daily at the Detroit News.]

US Air pilot lands in Hudson River - Updated

This is the kind of pilot you want on your next flight. The media is calling it a crash but really the pilot landed that plane safely. A US Airways twin engine plane carrying 150 passengers apparently hit a flock of geese as they were gaining altitude and lost both engines over Manhattan. The pilot managed to land the plane in the only safe place possible -- the Hudson River. All passengers reported injuries but none appear to be major. Incredible. As one airline consultant put it, "Ditching an aircraft is a significant accomplishment on the part of the pilot, as opposed to crashing one. There’s no place for an airplane of that size to land in Manhattan.”

Really. If he had hit a building they would all have been dead. The pilot deserves a commendation. [photo WNBC]

Update: I'm glad to see the pilot, "Sully" Sullenberger, is being hailed as a hero. He already has a fan club on Facebook. He deserves it. I'd also note in passing that no one seems to mention that the Hudson River is a very busy port and it just adds to the awesomeness that he managed to land that plane safely without hitting any boats either.

[More posts daily at The Detroit News.]

Bush apologists grasp at straws

I'm almost amused by the disconnect. Yet another Bush apologist posits that our clueless current occupier of the White House will be remembered more kindly by historians because he "kept us safe." Their evidence? We haven't been attacked by terrorists on US soil since 9/11.

But by the same logic, we could say Bush presided over the greatest, most damaging, successful terrorist attack on US soil in the history of our nation. An attack that was successful only because he failed to heed clear warnings. Not to mention presiding over the greatest failure of emergency response ever, namely Katrina, whose victims are still displaced. I wonder how safe they feel? [Longer version of how Bush failed here at DetNews.]

[More posts daily at The Detroit News.]

A Common Sense Republican

expatbrian

I know. It sounds like an oxymoron. But this is the most sensible commentary on the election and it's probable impact that I have read from either side of the isle.

I'm a lifelong Republican - a supply-side conservative. I worked in the Reagan White House. I was the chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for five years. In 1994, I helped write the Republican Contract with America. I served on Bob Dole's presidential campaign team and was chief economist for Jack Kemp's Empower America.

This November, I'm voting for Barack Obama.

Larry Hunter offers up a brief but down to earth, reasonable argument for his decision to switch sides for the good of the country. I like it and I think it's well worth a read by repubs and dems alike. It's about time that we crawled out of our political party boxes and started thinking about what is ultimately the best for the nation at this absolutely critical point in time.

These past eight years, we have spent over a trillion dollars on foreign soil - and lost countless lives - and done what I consider irreparable damage to our Constitution.

If economic damage from well-intentioned but misbegotten Obama economic schemes is the ransom we must pay him to clean up this foreign policy mess, then so be it. It's not nearly as costly as enduring four more years of what we suffered the last eight years.

Here here. Read it. Pass it on.

AMERICAN WOMAN

expatbrian


While Serena and Venus Williams get ready to face each other AGAIN for the championship at Wimbleton, Dara Torres won the women's 100 meter freestyle at the US Olympic trials, setting a world record in the process. Not earth shattering in and of itself until you find out that she is 41 years old and this will be her 5th Olympic games.

When she climbed out of the pool, American Woman was blasting over the loudspeakers.

She's not the only one, of course. The American swimming contingent is looking extremely strong and I just can'te wait to see them perform. But as an ex swimmer, I gotta tell you - still being able to compete, let alone being competitive, let alone winning, and let alone setting a world record at the age of 41 is absolutely spectacular and unprecedented.

These awsome performances by our outstanding young athletes just make me so damn proud. And it's good to feel that again for a change and after so long.

Happy Independence Day

By Libby

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone. Don't drink and drive and remember what this holiday is really about. Support your local rabble rousers.

Update: And fly your flag proudly, as Fogg will do today, not in support of our wrongheaded leaders or their misbegotten policies, but in defiance of power. Brilliant post. Read the whole thing.

Nelson Mandela - a legacy

expatbrian

Nelson Mandela, former prisoner, former anti-aparthied activist, former president of the ANC, has been taken off of the US terrorism watch list-finally. As unbelievable as it may sound, this Nobel Peace Prize winner has been on the terrorism watch list because of his anti-aparthied and anti-racism activities. In other words, because he has devoted his life to ridding South Africa of the racism imposed by a white minority government, and was imprisoned for 27 years fighting for equality for his people, the US puts him on the terrorist watch list.

Actually, it fits right in with the racist, scared-to-death-of-anyone-who-doesn't-look-like-us mania that's so pervasive in the US these days.

Mandela is in high demand world wide as a trusted advisor and mediator and is perhaps the most well respected elder statesman alive and still active. How respected is he?

He can get anyone on the phone. "When Mandela calls, the president takes the call, no question," said a White House spokesman.

This is a man who has made a difference, and a positive one for his people. This is a man who commands respect and deserves it. This is a man who will maintain a revered legacy and take his place in the history books as someone who devoted his life to peace and the advancement of mankind.

George W. Bush, you are no Nelson Mandela. You couldn't shine his shoes.

John McCain: Traitor or Moron?

expatbrian

John McCain exposed himself as a fellow traitor to the US constitution with this response to the US supreme court decision on Guantanamo Bay detainees.

"The United States Supreme Court yesterday rendered a decision which I think is one of the worst decisions in the history of this country," McCain said to applause from a crowd of supporters in New Jersey.

"Our first obligation is the safety and security of this nation and the men and women who defend it," he continued. "This decision will harm our ability to do that."

No John, the first obligation of our government and of it's president, as stated in the oath of office. is to uphold the constitution of the United States in all instances. And the function of the Supreme Court is to make judgements based on their reasonable interpretation of that document. That's the law. It doesn't change depending on which country our current enemy comes from or what warfare techniques they choose to employ.

If you want to be President of the United States, it's about goddamn time you started acting like one instead of a too old Alzheimer's patient who can't make up his mind. Our country needs leadership, not another two bit oil whore like the current megalomaniac. And part of that leadership, indeed the most important part of that job, is to uphold the constitution that this country has depended upon and grown successfully under for over 200 years.

You don't understand the economy, you don't have a clue about the needs of poor and working class Americans, you publicly change your stance on issue after issue and don't even realize it, and now you have publicly said that you support violating the law as set forth in the US constitution. You also seem to believe that you are better equipped to interpret the constitution than the justices that have been appointed to do so. That's not called being presidential, John, that's called being a traitor and a moron.

cross posted from World Gone Mad

Obama, watch your back - Update

expatbrian

Apparently I'm not alone in my fears concerning Obama's future health or lack thereof. Hillary seems to be planning on it as well. I just read this good article which points out that she has invoked this "Kennedy assassination" imagery not just this once, but several times over the last few months. Watch the Olberman videos in the same article to hear more.

In a previous post I expressed my worry that, if Obama selected a VP more conservative than himself, he would be taking the chance of becoming a target because, should he be unable to serve, that VP would step directly into the White House. It seems that Hillary is fantasizing about just such a scenario.

Yesterday it was reported that members of her staff are holding secret meetings with Obama people about Hillary joining the ticket. Is she doing that to cover both bases? It's pretty obvious that if Obama were to drop out of this race anytime before the general election, Hillary would be the only democratic candidate and would probably win the White House. But what happens if Obama were to suffer tragedy after being elected? The only way that Hillary could take his place is by being the VP. Otherwise she is not anywhere in the chain of ascension. Its the only reasonable explanation for her staying in the race at all.

Clinton knows that she hasn't got a chance in hell of winning the nomination now under normal circumstances, but if she hangs in there and makes it miserable for Obama and the party, they may offer the VPship just to get her out of the race. In other words, she is willing to hurt the party's chances in the general election in order to implant herself in the the line to the throne. If so, she's as bad as Bush was in 2000 and 2004.

Also, by bringing up the possibility of a Bobby Kennedy like tragedy, she invokes the fears of the democratic voting public who she hopes will say to themselves, 'she's right. If something happens to Obama we want to make sure that our second choice - Hillary - gets in. Not some VP that we know nothing about.'

I'm surprised she didn't bring up the imagery of John Kennedy as well. In one paragraph she could have vividly invoked the horror of those two nightmares. Why didn't she just say,

"Bobby Kennedy getting shot and killed during his campaign and John Kennedy getting shot and killed while in office just goes to show you how important it is to have a good solid second candidate or VP waiting in the wings to take their place."

For all practical purposes, that's exactly what she is saying. And it's disgusting and abhorrent.

This may sound fatalistic and conspiratorial. But this is Washington and when it comes to the fight for the White House, anything goes. And after all of the underhanded, conniving and despicable tactics that Clinton has pulled (refer to Olberman again) I don't trust her and wouldn't put anything past her. I think she has become a real and present danger to Obama, and not just as a competitor for the nomination.

I go back to my earlier recommendation. Obama should name a VP that the rich and powerful Republicans just cannot stomach. Hillary does not fit that mold. It may be the only way to insure his longevity.

cross posted from World Gone Mad

Buy a car - get a gun for FREE!!

expatbrian

This story, that didn't make the US headlines (why would it?), was on BBC. A Missouri car dealer has quadrupled his sales by offering a free handgun with every auto purchased. This could only happen in the US of A.

Customers can choose between a gun or a $250 (£125) gas card, but most so far have chosen the gun. Owner Mark Muller said: "We're just damn glad to live in a free country where you can have a gun if you want to."

Muller, reaching under his sagging belly to scratch his balls as he spit out a wad of chaw, said that he's sold 30 vehicles in the last 2 days and every customer except one guy from Canada has chosen the gun over the gas card. No surprise. And where did this marvelous idea come from?

"We did it because of Barack Obama. He said all those people in the Midwest, you've got to have compassion for them because they're clinging to their guns and their Bibles. I found that quite offensive. We all go to church on Sunday and we all carry guns."

Well, of course you do. What with those terrorists just itching to invade Butler, what choice do you have? Hell, if you buy a car from Max Motors you can carry two! Or why not ten or twenty or a thousand guns! Goddammit, this is Amer'ca and in Amer'ca we got rights!

Uh um, constitutional rights aside, it's a little bit of a stretch to use Obama as an excuse to distribute more firearms, especially off of a used car lot.

What's really offensive here is not Obama's remarks. It's the fact that we live in a country where a car salesmen can give away handguns like gift certificates and no one cares. It doesn't even make the news. (I wonder if they're packin' even when they march into church each Sunday to show what good Christians they are)

I'm sure Butler is a nice, quiet little town and I'm sure the population's average IQ is well over 70. But I just have a funny feeling that I won't be visiting them any time soon.

Author's note: This marks the 500th post at World Gone Mad. I thought perhaps I should do some special post but this one is as good as any.

Memory Lane: Easy Rider

It's Sunday night and as usual, I'm surfing through YouTube looking for some nice music to end the week. Besides, it's only 8:30 am where Libby and Fogg are so I have to wait for them to drag their lazy butts out of bed and post something. Anyway, I ran across this and just couldn't resist.

I'm certainly no movie expert although I do watch my share of films. I just know what I like and what I don't. It's been amost 40 years since Easy Rider was released. I still enjoy the movie and its great soundtrack. Like Woodstock, Vietnam, Kent State, The Black Panthers, Mario Savio, The Beatles, and so many other people and events, I think Easy Rider helped define those times.

It was nominated for 10 awards including two Oscars and it won a few. It opens with the great Steppenwolf song, Born to be Wild. Here's a video I found with a few of the other great songs from this memorable movie.

Obama, watch your back

expatbrian

Now that Obama has basically bagged the nomination (is Hilary ever going to do the right thing and quit?) the questions are getting more frequent and pointed about a possible running mate. I fear that if Obama chooses someone more conservative, in order to bridge the gap - someone more to the liking of the Repubs - especially the big business boys, that his life will immediately be in danger.

Obama, if he honors what he has said in his speeches, is an enormous threat to many huge industries. Anyone who profits from the wars considers him an enemy. I think he is in formidable danger already but if he makes it into the White House and especially if he has a more conservative VP, I don't think its being overly fatalistic to believe he will be a target. And a serious target of these folks will become a dead president. We do that in America. We kill leaders with progressive ideas. Obama fits the mold.

And keep in mind, once McCain became a shoe-in, there was a drive to get Republican voters to vote for Hilary in an effort to stop Obama. Republicans prefer her and, to me, that means she should NOT be the running mate. I'm not worried about that because I don't think Obama would do that anyway.

Whoever the running mate is, I hope it's someone that is even more frightening to the Republicans than Obama is. That will help insure his safety.

cross posted at World Gone Mad

Oh Baby, Ohio

By Libby

It happened 38 years ago, today.



Rest in peace Kent State Four.

The absurd "furor" over Reverend Wright

The only reason there is a "furor" as the press likes to say, is because the Repubs and the press who are so firmly snuggled up in their pockets have created one. And the only credibility Obama has lost in my eyes is due to him feeling that he has to address it as if it is valid.

If Obama is responsible for what Wright says, or anyone else for that matter, doesn't it follow that the victims of Catholic abuse are also responsible for the actions of their pedophile priests? After all, these priests were once the victim's "reverends" too.

And what about the rest of us. Are we somehow responsible for the misdeeds and even the misspeaks of our former bosses, colleagues, and pastors? Are children held accountable for the independent actions of their parents? Are newspaper subscribers responsible for whatever might be printed in the oped? Any sane person would agree that that would be ridiculous.

Is Wright an independent, fully grown adult? Yes. Did Obama tell him what to say or encourage it in any way? No. Does Obama or anyone else have the power to control what Wright says? I doubt it.

Hilary tells a blatant lie trying to show herself to be some kind of macho war mistress, having to run for cover under a barrage of bullets to visit the troops, and that actually serious incident has disappeared from the press. But Obama, who is leading the race and is a real threat to the Republican criminal cartel, is still all over the news because of something someone else said that has nothing to do with him.

The only good part of this whole dirty business is that it shows - no, proves how embarrassingly petty the press, the republican party and all the Americans who eat this crap up as if it is gospel really are. The whole rest of the world is laughing their asses off because we are publicizing what all of them have known all along. That even with all of the riches and blessings we have, we are still just a petty, racist country and really no better than anyone else.

The other, less important news

expatbrian

I haven't posted much about politics lately. I'm pretty much bored and disgusted with the whole thing. It's just a repeat of all past election seasons with all the candidates telling us daily how bad the other candidates are and how only they can and will save us and the world. Of course, none of them can or will.

My home page is Google News and right now, in the long list of stories there, there is just one Iraq related story and that is about Petraeus getting promoted. It seems the war is no longer of any interest to the American people. Lots of news about Mugabe, Dalai Lama, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Jordan, and of course Texas religious fanatics, a new house full of murdered people in Chicago, a grizzly bear that some idiot decided could be tamed and the very latest on American Idol. Somehow American soldiers being brutally killed everyday didn't have the pazazz necessary to make the news.

So in case anyone is interested, and the evidence is strong that no one is, during the Pennsylvania primary this is what else was going on.

Pvt. Ron Harrison,26 of New Jersey, was killed by a "non-combat" injury near Baghdad.

Spc Steve Christofferson, 20 from Wisconsin, was blown up by an IED in Bayji.

Sgt Adam Kohlhaas, 26 of Missouri was blown up at the same time.

Two as yet unidentified Marines were blown up by an IED in Ramadi.

Another as yet unidentified Marine was blown up by an IED in Basra.

Four as yet unidentified Marines were wounded in those explosions.

A few bodies were found in and around Baghdad but they can't all be identified because they didn't all have heads.

I'm sure the families of the dead and wounded soldiers cared about it. That's probably about 100 people or so. The other 320 million of us apparently can't be bothered.

Michelle Obama on Colbert

by expatbrian

I don't know about you, but I would love to have this charming, intelligent woman as my first lady. Colbert hit it on the head when he said she would be the next Jackie. Compare Michelle Obama to our recent first ladies, inicluding Hillary. I think she is definitely a cut above. Ok, Ok, I'm in love and I admit it.