August 6, 2013 by the real Aj

Our Daily Thread 8-6-13

Good Morning! 🙂

On this day in 1787 sixty proof sheets of the Constitution of the United States are delivered to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In 1862, during American Civil War, the Confederate ironclad CSS Arkansas is scuttled on the Mississippi River after suffering damage in a battle with USS Essex near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In 1965 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.

And in 1988 the Tompkins Square Park Riot in New York City spurs a reform of the NYPD, held responsible for the event.

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Quote of the Day

“Theirs is not to make reply: Theirs is not to reason why: Theirs is but to do and die.”

Alfred Lord Tennyson “The Charge of the Light Brigade”

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Today is Lucille Ball’s birthday, and since we’re fans around my house….

Not many birthdays to choose from, but this guy performed this song on TV (American Bandstand) for the first time on this day in 1960. I couldn’t find that one, but I did find one from 2 days later on Dick Clark’s Saturday Night Show.

And this one is just because I like it. 🙂

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QoD

Anyone have any requests? Songs or artists, what would you like to hear?

August 6, 2013 by the real Aj

Prayer Requests 8-6-13

Who can we pray for today?

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

²And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

³For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

⁴Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

⁵I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

⁶I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

⁷Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

⁸Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

⁹Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

¹⁰Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

¹¹Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

¹²And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

August 6, 2013 by the real Aj

News/Politics 8-6-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First a story that shows how misguided this admins policies are, and how too often, he and the govt sides with the extremists. They get special treatment, his victims get denied benefits. It’s sickening.

From NBC/Dallas/Ft.Worth “NBC 5 Investigates has learned the accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan receives extraordinary treatment in jail while victims of the attack argue they have been forgotten and mistreated by the U.S. Army.”

“Victims of the Fort Hood massacre told NBC 5 Investigates the Army’s efforts to provide for Hasan’s needs do not match the treatment they have received since the shooting. They feel the Army has gone the extra mile for Hasan but not for them. “

“Howard Berry said his son was constantly bothered by what he saw as a lack of consideration such as the Army denying victims of the massacre Purple Heart medals and other combat-related benefits while insisting the shooting was not an act of terrorism – a classification Fort Hood shooting victim Logan Burnett strongly disputes.”

Watch the video at the link.

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Meanwhile the White House meets with an imprisoned Muslim Brotherhood leader in Egypt.

From YahooNews “The second-most senior U.S. diplomat has met with the imprisoned deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to a senior official, a sign that the United States is ramping up its attempts to mediate Egypt’s political crisis.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns traveled late Sunday night to the notorious Tora Prison, a jail in the middle of Cairo that has housed some of Egypt’s most famous prisoners, to meet with Khairat el-Shater, the official said.”

“The United States is furiously mediating between the military and Brotherhood, trying to help Egypt stabilize after the military takeover a month ago. Egypt has long been the United States’ most important Arab ally, and U.S. officials are eager to see the military avoid any steps that could lead to civil war.”

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Again, we back the wrong horse. These arms came from us. We armed the extremists.

From FoxNews “Jihadists in Egypt’s lawless Sinai Peninsula are using U.S. weapons to carry out attacks against the temporary government in the wake of the military’s ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, according to the embattled nation’s Interior Ministry.

The government office posted an official statement on its Facebook page along with images of an exploded missile that hit the third floor of a building in the city of el-Arish last week. The post said terrorist forces targeted the North Sinai Security Directorate office with a ballistic missile that struck the third floor facade of the building, leaving three soldiers injured. While attacks in the Sinai, which borders Gaza and is a haven for terrorist activity, have become commonplace, the prospect that militants have U.S. weapons typically fired from helicopters at their disposal is especially alarming.”

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Meanwhile, others suffering the extremist’s wrath get a cold shoulder, and no help from this admin, even as they were/are murdered in large numbers.

From TheTelegraph “Tens of thousands Syriac Christians – members of the oldest Christian community in the world – have fled their ancestral provinces of Deir al-Zour and Hasakah in northeastern Syria, residents have said.”

“Conflict in the area, desperate economic conditions, lawlessness, and persecution by rebel groups born from the perception that Christians support the regime, remain the main reasons for why Christian families are fleeing the area.

The growing presence of radical jihadist groups, including al-Qaeda, has also seen Christians targeted.”

As in Egypt, we arm and assist the radicals, but not their victims.

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OK, Boko Haram has been accused of heinous crimes by the International Criminal Court. Good. Now what do you plan to do about it?

From ABCNews “The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says that after a preliminary investigation she believes that acts attributed to the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram are likely crimes against humanity.

“Information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that since July 2009 Boko Haram has launched a widespread and systematic attack that has resulted in the killing of more than 1,200 Christian and Muslim civilians in different locations throughout Nigeria,” Fatou Bensouda wrote in a report issued Monday.

She said the potential crimes against humanity include murder and persecution. But she said she will only move to a full-fledged investigation after further study and depending on whether Nigerian authorities themselves are willing and able to prosecute “those who appear to bear the greatest responsibility.”

So basically nothing, because the Nigerian authorities can’t stop them or bring them to justice. They can’t do it alone.

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And baseball has finally cracked down.

From FoxSports “Defiant till the end, Alex Rodriguez is intent on evading baseball’s most sweeping punishment since the Black Sox scandal.”

“Rodriguez was suspended through 2014 and All-Stars Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta and Everth Cabrera were banned 50 games apiece Monday when Major League Baseball disciplined 13 players for their relationship to Biogenesis of America, a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.”

“Others agreeing to 50-game bans included Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and outfielder Fernando Martinez; Philadelphia pitcher Antonio Bastardo; Seattle catcher Jesus Montero; New York Mets infielder Jordany Valdespin and outfielder Cesar Puello; Houston pitcher Sergio Escalona; and free agent pitchers Fautino De Los Santos and Jordan Norberto.”

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August 5, 2013 by the real Aj

Our Daily Thread 8-5-13

Good Morning!

Yep, it’s happened again.

Monday. 😯

And on this day in 1833 the village of Chicago was incorporated.

In 1861 the U.S. federal government levied its first income tax. The tax was 3% of all incomes over $800.

In 1884, on Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor, the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty was laid.

In 1923 Henry Sullivan became the first American to swim across the English Channel.

In 1944 Polish insurgents liberated a German labor camp in Warsaw. 348 Jewish prisoners were freed.

And in 1974 President Nixon said that he expected to be impeached.

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Quote of the Day

“It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.”

Neil Armstrong

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We have some guitar players with birthdays today.

It’s Rick Derringer’s birthday.

It’s also Greg Leskiw’s.

And just because I like them, some Piano Guys with Lindsey Stirling. 🙂

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Anyone have a QoD?

August 5, 2013 by the real Aj

Prayer Requests 8-5-13

Who has a request or praise to share today?

Psalm 142

1 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

²I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

³When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

⁴I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

⁵I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

⁶Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

⁷Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

August 5, 2013 by the real Aj

News/Politics 8-5-13

What’s interesting out there today?

Open thread, as always.

First up, over the weekend the FBI conducted raids in more than 70 cities. They rescued more than 100 teens, mostly runaways and kids from broken homes, from sex-trafficking operations. Well done FBI.

From NBCNews “The sting resulted in the arrest of 159 “pimps” from San Francisco to Miami who were involved in the commercial exploitation of both adults and children, said Ronald Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s criminal investigative division.

It was the FBI’s largest action to date focusing on the recovery of sexually exploited children, and took law enforcement agencies to streets, motels, casinos and social media platforms, Hosko said. He said he hoped it would focus attention on sex trafficking, “this threat that robs us of our children.”

“The sweep was the seventh iteration of Operation Cross Country, part of a partnership begun a decade ago by federal authorities and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to address child prostitution.

The sting, over three days beginning Friday, demonstrate “how many of America’s children are being sold for sex every day, many on the Internet,” said John Ryan, the center’s president and CEO.”

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More on the threat that closed, and continues to keep closed, numerous overseas facilities. Security in the states has ramped up as well.

From ABCNews “On the day that almost two dozen U.S. embassies and consulates across North Africa and the Middle East are closed following the identification of a significant threat from an al-Qaeda affiliate, a senior U.S. official is providing new details about the communications intercepted from the terrorists, telling ABC News that al-Qaeda operatives could be heard talking about an upcoming attack. The official described the terrorists as saying the planned attack is “going to be big” and “strategically significant.”

“The part that is alarming is the confidence they showed while communicating and the air of certainty,” the official said, adding that the group — Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula — appeared to have a media plan for after the attack.

Authorities do not know the exact target of the planned attack, according to the official.”

Bill Kristol points out a painful truth. Despite the President’s rhetoric, reality shows al-Qaeda is alive and well.

From TheDailyCaller “Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol remarked on Sunday that President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign rhetoric on foreign policy stood in stark contrast to the turmoil in the Middle East stirred by threats from al-Qaida, pointing out that the U.S. closed 22 embassies throughout the Muslim world.

“Four years ago President Obama gave a much heralded speech as outreach to the Muslim world,” Kristol said. “And now, four years later we are closing embassies throughout the Muslim world. A year ago, the president said al-Qaida is on the run. And now we seem to be on the run.”

“I’m not criticizing the decision to close the embassies. That’s probably the right thing to do for the sake of trying to save American lives and others, but it’s a terrible thing,” he added. “That you know, just a year ago boasting al-Qaida is on the run and Osama bin Laden is dead.”

Or is it all yet another distraction tactic? Yes, cynical, I know.

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Some leakers are more equal than others. The White House will be all over this I’m sure. 🙄

From TheJerusalemPost “Unnamed US officials leaked information Thursday on alleged Israeli air strikes in Syria, and told The New York Times they expect an additional attack by Israel in the near future.

The sources, described by the Times as “American intelligence analysts,” discussed what they said were classified assessments, according to which a July 5 IAF strike on a Syrian facility housing Russian surface-to-sea missiles in Latakia failed to destroy them all.”

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It’ll be fun to see how the White House responds to this…

From FoxNews “A new petition on the White House website asks the administration to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.

The request was posted on petitions.whitehouse.gov on July 7 and quickly garnered more than the 100,000 signature requirement for the Obama administration to officially consider the request.”

“The “We the People” petition program, which was set up by the White House late last year, stipulates that all requests must receive some sort of response from the administration when150 signatures are added within the first 30 days and the petition gains 100,000 signatures by the second 30 days.”

The 100,000 in 30 has been met.

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Planned Parenthood is forced to pay the state of Texas 4.3 million dollars for Medicaid fraud. But as expected the media response is to act like the 3 monkeys. Hear nothin’, see nothin’, speak nothin’. You know the drill.

From NewsBusters “In the first week of February 2012, the Big Three networks lunged to the defense of Planned Parenthood when the Susan G. Komen Foundation (very temporarily) withdrew its donation to abortion giant (about $680,000 the previous year). Network reporters whacked Komen, promoting “outrage and disappointment engulfing the Internet.”

But Mollie Hemingway of Get Religion pointed out that Planned Parenthood in Texas was recently forced to pay the state of Texas $4.3 million for Medicaid fraud. Where was the “outrage and disappointment” engulfing the media? The networks didn’t notice. Even the local newspaper coverage was terrible.”

“Planned Parenthood trotted out the usual corporate line that settlement wasn’t an admission of guilt — which might be the shriveled fig leaf the “mainstream media” would use to say it’s not newsworthy. But wait — Texas isn’t the only state where this fraud might be occurring, as the Heritage Foundation reported:

Alliance Defending Freedom’s recent analysis of state and federal audits of family planning programs suggests that in 12 states, Planned Parenthood affiliates overbilled Medicaid for more than $8 million. One federal audit of New York’s Medicaid family planning program reported that certain providers, “especially Planned Parenthoods,” had engaged in improper practices resulting in overpayment.”

Shhhhh….. It’s a secret. 🙄

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Well I guess this was way overdue. She should just take him up on his offer and tell the truth.

From TheNYPost “Twenty-five years after accusing an innocent man of rape, Tawana Brawley is finally paying for her lies.”

“She still owes Pagones $431,000 in damages. And she remains defiantly unapologetic.

“It’s a long time coming,” said Pagones, 52, who to this day is more interested in extracting a confession from Brawley than cash.

“Every week, she’ll think of me,” he told The Post. “And every week, she can think about how she has a way out — she can simply tell the truth.”

Sharpton threw her under the bus. Isn’t it time she returned the favor?

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One less RINO?

Sure! 🙂

From FoxNews “The first woman to graduate from The Citadel has announced her plans to challenge U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Republican primary in 2014.

Nancy Mace announced her candidacy Saturday at a GOP breakfast in Goose Creek.

Mace told the audience that she thinks government is out of touch, and that while it has worked its way into every corner of American lives, the country isn’t better off for it.”

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August 3, 2013 by the real Aj

Our Daily Thread 8-3-13

Good Morning!

It’s Saturday! 🙂 Yay! 🙂

On this day in 1492 Christopher Columbus left Palos, Spain with three ships. The voyage would lead him to what is now known as the Americas.

In 1900 Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. was founded.

In 1914 Germany declared war on France. The next day World War I began when Britain declared war on Germany.

In 1923 Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th president of the U.S. after the sudden death of President Harding.

In 1933 the Mickey Mouse Watch was introduced for the price of $2.75.

In 1949 the National Basketball Association (NBA) was formed.

In 1958 the Nautilus became the first vessel to cross the North Pole underwater.

And in 1981 U.S. traffic controllers with PATCO, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, went on strike. They were fired just as President Reagan had warned.

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Quotes of the Day

“God gives every bird his worm, but He does not throw it into the nest.”

“What the detective story is about is not murder, but the restoration of order.”

P. D. James

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In 1963 the Beach Boys released this song.

Today is Ed Roland’s birthday.

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Anyone have a QoD?

And does anyone else own a Mickey Mouse watch?

August 3, 2013 by the real Aj

Prayer Requests 8-3-13

Who has a request or praise to share today?

Psalm 141

1 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

²Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

³Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

⁴Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

⁵Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

⁶When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

⁷Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

⁸But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

⁹Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

¹⁰Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

August 3, 2013 by the real Aj

Rants! and Raves! 8-3-13

It’s Saturday! So time for…….

Rants! 😦

and

Raves! 🙂

August 3, 2013 by the real Aj

News/Politics 8-3-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First up, something that will make you say “hmmmmm….”

From TheBlaze “The Obama administration is “changing names” of the Benghazi survivors and “creating aliases” to keep them hidden from congressional investigators and the American people, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) told Greta Van Susteren on Thursday night. He also said the administration is “dispersing them around the country” to keep them out of sight.”

“Gowdy’s stunning claims were overshadowed by CNN’s bombshell report that revealed there were “dozens” of CIA operatives on the ground in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, the night of the deadly attack that killed four Americans. Meanwhile, the CIA is taking “unprecedented” to keep whatever it was doing in Benghazi a secret, according to the report.

“Stop and think what things are most calculated to get at the truth? Talk to people with first-hand knowledge. What creates the appearance and perhaps the reality of a cover-up?” Not letting us talk with people who have the most amount of information, dispersing them around the country and changing their names,” Gowdy said.

Good thing this a “phony scandal” and not a real. Otherwise this might look bad. 🙄

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Next up, of course he did. Your elite rulers and staff don’t need to worry about their healthcare costs rising. That’s just for us commoners.

From WhiteHouseDossier “The Obama administration has granted members of Congress and their staffers an exemption from a provision of Obamacare that could have cost them thousands of dollars a year in added health insurance costs, according to Politico.”

“Congress currently allots itself generous health coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Nearly 75 percent of premiums are taken care of. But under Obamacare, our representatives and their worker bees will be thrown onto the health care exchanges like millions of Americans – without the FEHB subsidy. Fair is fair, right?”

No. They’re special.

More here from RollCall

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Next up, how easy is it to get multiple ObamaPhones, which is not supposed to be allowed? Really easy.

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Here’s one you’ll like. The prosecutor’s office in the George Zimmerman case is being sued by the man who blew the whistle on prosecutorial misconduct and evidence tampering. Sweet.

From FoxNews “The former information technology director for Florida State Attorney Angela Corey is reportedly suing for wrongful termination.

Jacksonville.com reports that Ben Kruidbos sued Corey’s office Thursday, claiming he was illegally fired in June following his testimony that prosecutors did not submit all information to George Zimmerman’s defense team in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26, 2012.”

“Kruidbos, according to the lawsuit, could not be fired for testifying in a judicial proceeding in response to a subpoena. It also claims that the firing was retaliation for his testimony in the Zimmerman case.”

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And lastly, some more good news. 🙂

From NationalReview “Quinnipiac is out today with a national poll on a broad array of issues. One of the issues they polled was a 20-week limit on abortion, which has been in the spotlight between the House’s passage of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and Wendy Davis’ infamous filibuster and the subsequent passage of a 20-week limit in Texas.”

Women (60 percent) are 10 points more likely to back the 20-week limit than men (50 percent).