And the Saga continues.....
Monday, December 22, 2008
Smart People in Charge of Science....now that's Novel....
Picking the best people for the tech and science positions, seems almost too smart for a President of the United States to do.... But that's what's happening under an Obama administration...
(CNN) — President-elect Barack Obama named his science and technology team Saturday with a pledge to ensure that “facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology.”
“It’s time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore America’s place as the world leader in science and technology,” he said in his Saturday radio address, in an apparent offhand swipe at President Bush.
“It’s about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient,” Obama said, adding that government support had been essential for the greatest scientific breakthroughs of recent history, like the development of the Internet.
“Because the highest purpose of science is the search for knowledge, truth and a greater understanding of the world around us."
Obama announced that Harvard University professor John Holdren will serve as assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Environmental scientist and marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco of Oregon State University was his pick for administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The president-elect also named Nobel Prize-winning Harold Varmus, a former Director of the National Institutes of Health, and Eric Lander of MIT and Harvard, a leader of the Human Genome Project, as co-chairs of the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Time to snip it!
After posting this blog I was also given an argument against this study, please check this out as well..
http://www.circumcisionandhiv.com/2008/12/and-here-we-go-again.html
Studies Look at Health Benefits of Male Circumcision in Black, African Men
HIV risk appears to be lower among U.S. black men who have been circumcised and are considered at high risk of contracting the virus than among black men who have not been circumcised, according to a study published on Wednesday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Reuters reports. Two other studies in the journal also examine the benefits of male circumcision to prevent the spread of disease and infection.
For one of the studies, CDC researcher Lee Warner and colleagues looked at black men living in Baltimore and found that 10% of those who were at high risk of HIV and were circumcised had the virus, compared with 22% of those who were not circumcised.
According to the report, "Circumcision was associated with substantially reduced HIV risk in patients with known HIV exposure, suggesting that results of other studies demonstrating reduced HIV risk for circumcision among heterosexual men likely can be generalized to the U.S. context."
Ronald Gray of Johns Hopkins University and colleagues in an editorial accompanying the study noted that in the U.S., circumcision is less common among blacks and Hispanics. However, blacks and Hispanics are the most at-risk of groups for contracting the virus. "Thus, circumcision may afford an additional means of protection from HIV in these at-risk minorities," they wrote.
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend routine circumcision for infants, and as a result, Medicaid does not cover the procedure, according to the editorial. The editorial adds that "this is particularly disadvantageous for poorer African-American and Hispanic boys who, as adults, may face high HIV exposure risk" (Fox, Reuters Health, 12/17). The study is available online. The editorial also is available online.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/print_report.cfm?DR_ID=56166&dr_cat=5
http://www.circumcisionandhiv.com/2008/12/and-here-we-go-again.html
Studies Look at Health Benefits of Male Circumcision in Black, African Men
HIV risk appears to be lower among U.S. black men who have been circumcised and are considered at high risk of contracting the virus than among black men who have not been circumcised, according to a study published on Wednesday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Reuters reports. Two other studies in the journal also examine the benefits of male circumcision to prevent the spread of disease and infection.
For one of the studies, CDC researcher Lee Warner and colleagues looked at black men living in Baltimore and found that 10% of those who were at high risk of HIV and were circumcised had the virus, compared with 22% of those who were not circumcised.
According to the report, "Circumcision was associated with substantially reduced HIV risk in patients with known HIV exposure, suggesting that results of other studies demonstrating reduced HIV risk for circumcision among heterosexual men likely can be generalized to the U.S. context."
Ronald Gray of Johns Hopkins University and colleagues in an editorial accompanying the study noted that in the U.S., circumcision is less common among blacks and Hispanics. However, blacks and Hispanics are the most at-risk of groups for contracting the virus. "Thus, circumcision may afford an additional means of protection from HIV in these at-risk minorities," they wrote.
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend routine circumcision for infants, and as a result, Medicaid does not cover the procedure, according to the editorial. The editorial adds that "this is particularly disadvantageous for poorer African-American and Hispanic boys who, as adults, may face high HIV exposure risk" (Fox, Reuters Health, 12/17). The study is available online. The editorial also is available online.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/print_report.cfm?DR_ID=56166&dr_cat=5
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Blackwater getting the boot!?!
According to the AP, a State Department advisory panel decided yesterday that Blackwater should no longer provide private security for U.S. diplomats in Iraq. The panel suggested Blackwater's license to operate in Iraq not be renewed next year.
This comes less than a week after the DOJ made public the manslaughter charges for five
Blackwater guards involved in the 2007 Nisour Sqaure shooting that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.
Considering how much the Bush administration has defended Blackwater over the years, and considering the State Department just renewed Blackwater's contract last year and once granted immunity to those involved in the Nisour Square shooting, this is a major blow to this mercenary firm.
While President-elect Obama has said previously that the difficulty of banning Blackwater from Iraq outright would be replacing their guards with more U.S. troops, last week's high-profile indictment coupled with yesterday's advisory panel report no doubt raises the pressure to rid us of Blackwater and bring this war profiteer to justice.
Cheney Saddam......
Recently Vice President Dick Cheney gave an interview covering several topics from the invasion of Iraq to the torturing of people at good ole' G-Bay.....
Cheney Defends His Torture Policies
"I have been ... focused very much on whatwe needed to do to defend the nation."– Dick Cheney, December 15, 2008
Saddam Defended His Torture Policies
"I'm doing it for Iraq. I'm not defendingmyself. But I am defending you."– Saddam Hussein, December 5, 2005
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
KARL: Now, President Bush recently said that his greatest regret was that the intelligence was wrong on weapons of mass destruction. Is that your biggest regret?
CHENEY: No, I wouldn't -- I understand why he says that. I certainly share the frustration that the intelligence report on Iraq WMD generated but in terms of the intelligence itself, I tend to look at the entire community and what they've done over the course of the last several years. Intelligence -- it's not a science, it's an art form in many respects and you don't always get it right.
I think while I would mention that as a major failure of the intelligence community, it clearly was. On the other hand, we've had other successes and failures. I think the run-up to 9/11 where we missed that attack was a failure. On the other hand we've had great success since 9/11 in terms of what the intelligence community has contributed overall to the defense of the nation, to defeating al Qaeda, to making it possible for us to do very serious damage to our enemies.
KARL: You probably saw Karl Rove last week said that if the intelligence had been correct we probably would not have gone to war.
CHENEY: I disagree with that. I think -- as I look at the intelligence with respect to Iraq, what they got wrong was that there weren't any stockpiles. What we found in the after action reports, after the intelligence report was done and then various special groups went and looked at the intelligence and what its validity was. What they found was that Saddam Hussein still had the capability to produce weapons of mass destruction. He had the technology, he had the people, he had the basic feed stocks.
They also found that he had every intention of resuming production once the international sanctions were lifted. He had a long reputation and record of having started two wars. Of having brutalized and killed hundreds of thousands of people, some of them with weapons of mass destruction in his own country. He had violated 16 National Security Council resolutions. He had established a relationship as a terror sponsoring state according to the State Department. He was making $25,000 payments to the families of suicide bombers.
This was a bad actor and the country's better off, the world's better off with Saddam gone and I think we made the right decision in spite of the fact that the original NIE was off in some of its major judgments.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Myspace Beat Jacking Episode 3!
Still going! Feeling the all white, looks like an old Bad Boy video.....
www.myspace.com/myspacebeatjacking
www.youtube.com/myspacebeatjacking
www.myspace.com/streeztrumentals
www.myspace.com/myspacebeatjacking
www.youtube.com/myspacebeatjacking
www.myspace.com/streeztrumentals
President Bush ducks Flying Shoe
This is Hilarious!
But you gotta admit, bush got some quick moves! That would have hit dead center if it was Cheyney, or Mccain!
Iraq faced mounting calls on Monday to release the journalist who hurled his shoes at George W. Bush, an action branded shameful by the government but hailed in the Arab world as an ideal parting gift to the unpopular US president.
Colleagues of Muntazer al-Zaidi, who works for independent Iraqi television station Al-Baghdadia, said he "detested America" and had been plotting such an attack for months against the man who ordered the war on his country.
"Throwing the shoes at Bush was the best goodbye kiss ever... it expresses how Iraqis and other Arabs hate Bush," wrote Musa Barhoumeh, editor of Jordan's independent Al-Gahd newspaper.
Hundreds of Iraqis joined anti-US demonstrations to protest at Bush's farewell visit on Sunday to Iraq, which was plunged into a deadly insurgency and near civil war in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion.
The Iraqi government branded Zaidi's actions as "shameful" and demanded an apology from his Cairo-based employer, which in turn called for his immediate release from custody.
Zaidi jumped up as Bush was holding a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday, shouted "It is the farewell kiss, you dog" and threw two shoes at the US leader.
The shoes missed after Bush ducked and Zaidi was wrestled to the ground by security guards. He is currently being held by the Iraqi authorities, a source in Maliki's office said without elaborating.
Al-Baghdadia issued a statement demanding Zaidi's release "in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people."
"Any measures against Muntazer will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime," it added.
But the government called for the channel to apologise, saying: "This action harms the reputation of Iraqi journalists and journalism in general."
Saddam Hussein's former lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said he was forming a team to defend Zaidi and that around 200 lawyers, including Americans, had offered their services for free.
"It was the least thing for an Iraqi to do to Bush, the tyrant criminal who has killed two million people in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Dulaimi.
"Our defence of Zaidi will be based on the fact that the United States is occupying Iraq, and resistance is legitimate by all means, including shoes."
Zaidi's colleagues in Baghdad, where he had worked for three years, said he had long been planning to throw shoes at Bush if ever he got the chance.
"Muntazer detested America. He detested the US soldiers, he detested Bush," said one on condition of anonymity.
Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. After Saddam's statue was toppled in Baghdad in April 2003, many onlookers pelted it with their shoes.
But young Iraqi woman Oum Mina said she didn't consider Zaidi a hero.
"Bush is our enemy. But when you invite your enemy into your home, you don't treat him this way. This could destroy the image of Iraqis."
Protestors in Sadr City, the bastion of radical anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, however, threw shoes at passing US military vehicles, while in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, the crowds chanted "Down with America."
"All US soldiers who have used their shoes to humiliate Iraqis should be brought to justice, along with their US superiors, including Bush," said Ali Qeisi, head of a Jordan-based Iraqi rights group.
"The flying shoe speaks more for Arab public opinion than all the despots/puppets that Bush meets with during his travels in the Middle East," said Asad Abu Khalil, a popular Lebanese-American blogger and professor at Stanislaus University in California at angryarab.blogspot.com
An Iraqi lawyer said Zaidi risked a miminum of two years in prison if he is prosecuted for insulting a visiting head of state, but could face a 15-year term if he is charged with attempted murder.
"We fear for his safety," said Muzhir al-Khafaji, programming director for the television channel, adding that Zaidi had been arrested before by the Americans and that there were fears that more of its 200 correspondents in Iraq would be detained.
But in Libya, a charity headed by Moamer Kadhafi's daugher Aisha announced it was going to award Zaidi an "order of courage" for his actions.
But you gotta admit, bush got some quick moves! That would have hit dead center if it was Cheyney, or Mccain!
Iraq faced mounting calls on Monday to release the journalist who hurled his shoes at George W. Bush, an action branded shameful by the government but hailed in the Arab world as an ideal parting gift to the unpopular US president.
Colleagues of Muntazer al-Zaidi, who works for independent Iraqi television station Al-Baghdadia, said he "detested America" and had been plotting such an attack for months against the man who ordered the war on his country.
"Throwing the shoes at Bush was the best goodbye kiss ever... it expresses how Iraqis and other Arabs hate Bush," wrote Musa Barhoumeh, editor of Jordan's independent Al-Gahd newspaper.
Hundreds of Iraqis joined anti-US demonstrations to protest at Bush's farewell visit on Sunday to Iraq, which was plunged into a deadly insurgency and near civil war in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion.
The Iraqi government branded Zaidi's actions as "shameful" and demanded an apology from his Cairo-based employer, which in turn called for his immediate release from custody.
Zaidi jumped up as Bush was holding a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday, shouted "It is the farewell kiss, you dog" and threw two shoes at the US leader.
The shoes missed after Bush ducked and Zaidi was wrestled to the ground by security guards. He is currently being held by the Iraqi authorities, a source in Maliki's office said without elaborating.
Al-Baghdadia issued a statement demanding Zaidi's release "in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people."
"Any measures against Muntazer will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime," it added.
But the government called for the channel to apologise, saying: "This action harms the reputation of Iraqi journalists and journalism in general."
Saddam Hussein's former lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said he was forming a team to defend Zaidi and that around 200 lawyers, including Americans, had offered their services for free.
"It was the least thing for an Iraqi to do to Bush, the tyrant criminal who has killed two million people in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Dulaimi.
"Our defence of Zaidi will be based on the fact that the United States is occupying Iraq, and resistance is legitimate by all means, including shoes."
Zaidi's colleagues in Baghdad, where he had worked for three years, said he had long been planning to throw shoes at Bush if ever he got the chance.
"Muntazer detested America. He detested the US soldiers, he detested Bush," said one on condition of anonymity.
Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. After Saddam's statue was toppled in Baghdad in April 2003, many onlookers pelted it with their shoes.
But young Iraqi woman Oum Mina said she didn't consider Zaidi a hero.
"Bush is our enemy. But when you invite your enemy into your home, you don't treat him this way. This could destroy the image of Iraqis."
Protestors in Sadr City, the bastion of radical anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, however, threw shoes at passing US military vehicles, while in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, the crowds chanted "Down with America."
"All US soldiers who have used their shoes to humiliate Iraqis should be brought to justice, along with their US superiors, including Bush," said Ali Qeisi, head of a Jordan-based Iraqi rights group.
"The flying shoe speaks more for Arab public opinion than all the despots/puppets that Bush meets with during his travels in the Middle East," said Asad Abu Khalil, a popular Lebanese-American blogger and professor at Stanislaus University in California at angryarab.blogspot.com
An Iraqi lawyer said Zaidi risked a miminum of two years in prison if he is prosecuted for insulting a visiting head of state, but could face a 15-year term if he is charged with attempted murder.
"We fear for his safety," said Muzhir al-Khafaji, programming director for the television channel, adding that Zaidi had been arrested before by the Americans and that there were fears that more of its 200 correspondents in Iraq would be detained.
But in Libya, a charity headed by Moamer Kadhafi's daugher Aisha announced it was going to award Zaidi an "order of courage" for his actions.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Busta Apologizes for "Arab Money"
Ok this has been a topic I have taken up everytime I've heard this song, wether on the radio or in the club. From the get go I thought that it was Disrespectful for Busta to have done this song, especially with the state of the world today. But just like hiphop to soak up this contraversial track, vs any lyrical spitting tracks busta has put out in his career, eventually someone had to speak out.... Enter Iraqi Born MC Narcicyst .......
Thanks to Reign from Def Sounds for the article
Busta Rhymes' "Arab Money" has been the subject of controversy lately, as many in the Muslim community were upset about his supposed "mocking" of the culture in the hook of the song.
Iraqi-born MC, Narcicyst, was outraged at the lack of respect he felt was discrimintaing to his culture. Hours after an interview in which he voiced his displeasure, he received a phone from none other than Busta Rhymes himself. Speaking for over 30 minutes, Busta supposedly explained how he was only paying homage to the Arab culture.
Iraqi-born MC, Narcicyst, was outraged at the lack of respect he felt was discrimintaing to his culture. Hours after an interview in which he voiced his displeasure, he received a phone from none other than Busta Rhymes himself. Speaking for over 30 minutes, Busta supposedly explained how he was only paying homage to the Arab culture.
“It was a thorough explanation and he was a very respectful man,” stated Narcicyst. “He explained to me his experience as an African-American man in the States and [it] seemed to me as an experience that I can correlate as an Arab being in the Middle East and having been displaced from my nation and seeing my country being bombarded in the media, being misrepresented.”
Since the apology, Narcicyst also agreed to pull the track he was going to release titled, "The Real Arab Money", which was a response to Busta's.
“This is an example of how two people can come together and create something bigger than them,” The Narcicyst concluded. “I’m a strong believer in truth and breaking stereotypes down and not allowing people to box you in. And this whole experience has been a huge eye opener for me. This is what Hip-Hop is about. Two brothers from another mother can come to a peaceful and just conclusion for all sides.”
I still say Busta should stop the album from being played, and be a bigger man, and we should no longer request it on the radio.....
Well that's just my 2 cents...
Monday, December 8, 2008
Myspace BeatJacking Part duex!
F.A.M.E. has released the second episode of the MyspaceBeatJacking Project!
Check it out!
Myspace beat Jacking Episode 2
Show some love and add the pages!
http://myspace.com/myspacebeatjacking
http://youtube.com/myspacebeatjacking
Check it out!
Myspace beat Jacking Episode 2
Show some love and add the pages!
http://myspace.com/myspacebeatjacking
http://youtube.com/myspacebeatjacking
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Shout out to Positive Black Business!
On Tuesday November 4, 2008, America experienced the most monumental feat in its history as Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. On that night, minorities overcame the largest glass ceiling in this country’s history. Often times it is taught but not encouraged that with hard work “you can be whatever you want to be” however it was understood that the Office of the President was exclusively for white males, because until now it was.
Barack Obama’s accomplishment is not just his alone, it is an accomplishment for race relations in America, it is a testament to the many leaders and heroes who sacrificed their lives so that men and women would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
On Monday January 20, 2009 in Washington D.C President Elect Barack Obama will be sworn into office; it is the mission of Make It Happen Inc. to not only encourage but also transport individuals to experience this historic event. In order to subsidize the costs for this endeavor we have designed several t-shirts that support Barack Obama, his symbolism of change and evolution. Proceeds from each t-shirt purchased will ensure that someone will have the opportunity to be a part of history, and be inspired by what this day truly symbolizes. If you do not wish to purchase a t-shirt, we welcome monetary donations in any increment, which will be applied towards the costs of transportation for students and community members of Philadelphia to Washington D.C. on this historic day.
Make It Happen Inc. would like to thank you in advance for your support.
See you in D.C!
“This moment in history epitomizes the American Dream and proves with hard work and dedication, one can achieve their dreams.”
Cedric D. Shine
One of my fellow Bloggers and good friend is getting the world ready for the trip down to D.C. for the inauguration, and I'm sure much more coming down the line! Make sure to stop through and check out some of the designs!
Barack Obama’s accomplishment is not just his alone, it is an accomplishment for race relations in America, it is a testament to the many leaders and heroes who sacrificed their lives so that men and women would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
On Monday January 20, 2009 in Washington D.C President Elect Barack Obama will be sworn into office; it is the mission of Make It Happen Inc. to not only encourage but also transport individuals to experience this historic event. In order to subsidize the costs for this endeavor we have designed several t-shirts that support Barack Obama, his symbolism of change and evolution. Proceeds from each t-shirt purchased will ensure that someone will have the opportunity to be a part of history, and be inspired by what this day truly symbolizes. If you do not wish to purchase a t-shirt, we welcome monetary donations in any increment, which will be applied towards the costs of transportation for students and community members of Philadelphia to Washington D.C. on this historic day.
Make It Happen Inc. would like to thank you in advance for your support.
See you in D.C!
“This moment in history epitomizes the American Dream and proves with hard work and dedication, one can achieve their dreams.”
Cedric D. Shine
One of my fellow Bloggers and good friend is getting the world ready for the trip down to D.C. for the inauguration, and I'm sure much more coming down the line! Make sure to stop through and check out some of the designs!
Myspace Beatjacking
Our boy F.A.M.E. is back at it again with this new Real Rap TV programming!
http://www.myspace.com/myspacebeatjacking
Myspace Beat Jack #1
http://www.myspace.com/myspacebeatjacking
Myspace Beat Jack #1
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