In January 2009, the Twitter accounts of 33 celebrities were hacked including Britney Spears, Barack Obama, Fox News and Rick Sanchez of CNN.download here: http://filesharecentral.com/lethamiddle456540/Twitter
Duration : 0:2:12
The President-elect took to the golf course yesterday during his waning vacation. After a decent shot on the 18th hole a woman yelled, “this is better than your bowling game.”
Barack Obama’s golf swing reveals he’s an athlete (?), a duffer and fun to play with (?)
By Michael Bamberger
Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated
Golf.com has performed an important service. It has posted five photographs, taken by AP photographer Gerald Herbert, that shows President-elect Barack Obama on vacation in Hawaii playing golf. This is invaluable as we all know that nothing, not even a CNN special called “Obama Revealed,” reveals the soul as ruthlessly and efficiently as how one plays the old Scottish game.
John F. Kennedy nearly made a hole-in-one on the short par-3 15th at Cypress Point (the best-smelling hole in all of golf, if you like the mix of eucalyptus and brackish ocean water) while running for the presidency in 1960. Kennedy, considered by presidential golfing historians to be by far the most skilled of our golf-playing presidents, was relieved to see the ball stay out. He was trying to succeed Dwight Eisenhower as president, and not as First Golfer. The game then wasn’t the populist activity it has become. Kennedy, foolishly, allowed himself to be photographed taking a golf swing in fancy loafers, no socks. Still, he won West Virginia.
But Obama does not have to run from his golf. The guess here is that he’s an athlete and a duffer and fun to play with. (wtf?)
In Photo No. 1, the first thing that strikes you is that Obama is a lefthanded golfer who plays golf wearing a watch, just like Phil Mickelson. Also like Lefty, the future president wears his watch on his left hand. One reason golfers will wear watches while playing is that it helps give them a visual for a hand position — the hinging of the hand and wrist — at the top of the swing. President-elect Obama, on the other hand, likely wants to know what time it is. Which is a good thing.
Photo No. 2 shows Obama with one of his staffers, Eugene Kang. Looks like a smart, young affable guy, maybe something like the character Charlie Young on “The West Wing,” who always had President Martin Sheen’s suit jacket ready. Whatever Kang’s responsibilities may be, they evidently include being not just golf partner but caddie, as he appears to be carrying both a lefthanded putter and a righthanded one.
Photo No. 3 indicates that, as a golfer Obama is taking a page from 41. That is, he’s warming up with a short iron. Sure, he could skip the 8-iron and go straight to the driver, let the big dog eat, give the crowd a thrill and while he’s at it take out a little Rod Blago aggression. But it wouldn’t be prudent. As Tiger likes to say, “Take baby steps.” Superb knee flex, it should be noted. He looks like a basketball player.
In Photo No. 4, Obama’s follow-through is not a thing of beauty, but there’s much to admire here: the cargo shorts (nothing says regular-joe golfer like cargo shorts), the little baseball cap that brings to mind the little caps worn by touring everyman Joe Durant, the casual pushed-down socks. We might need golf fashion guru Woody Hochswender to explain the pushed-down sock look and who it works for and why, but in any event the president-elect is not looking like a man who is taking his vacation golf too seriously. Which is an accomplishment itself.
In Photo No. 5, Obama has gotten a ball airborne and is admiring its flight. Who can’t relate to that?
Enjoy it while you can, sir.
Duration : 0:0:34
US president Barack Obama released a $3.834 trillion budget proposal for the year 2011 today, February 1, 2010, projecting around $1.3 trillion deficit despite a three year non military discretionary spending freeze.
The Obamas budget includes a $6 billion investment in clean energy technologies, a $100 billion job package along with a $3 billion increase in elementary and Secondary Education spending for public schools.
The $100 billion job package includes tax breaks to small businesses that would in turn encourage employers to increase the hiring in companies.
The 2011 budget also seeks a 3 year non military discretionary spending freeze, one of the budgets many attempts to bring down the federal deficit. The plan calls for higher taxes on families who earn more than $250,000 a year, through the expiration of tax cuts implemented by former President George W. Bush in the year 2001 and 2003.
A levy fee on large banks means the government would regain $90 billion in losses stemming from the $700 billion rescue fund..
The budget would be highly debated and discussed in Congress where the Republican lawmakers will come out with their own ideas and what should have been included in the 2011 budget.
The Obama administration plans to unveil a defense budget on Monday that pours billions into drones, helicopters and special forces, reflecting a focus on fighting Islamist extremists rather than conventional armies.
The Pentagon’s spending priorities as well as its strategic vision — which is also due to be unveiled this week — are a product of the counter-insurgency campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan that have severely stretched the military.
The proposed 2011 defense budget comes to more than 700 billion dollars, a modest two percent increase, and unlike last year avoids sweeping cuts to major weapons programs, according to Pentagon officials and draft documents.
Despite alarm over the US government’s ballooning deficit, Obama has spared the military from belt-tightening efforts and will ask for 33 billion dollars for the current fiscal year to pay for a surge of 30,000 reinforcements in Afghanistan, said officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have already cost one trillion dollars since 2001, and the new budget calls for roughly 159 billion dollars to cover the costs of the US missions there — including about 11.6 billion to expand the Afghan security forces, officials said.
The budget asks for 9.6 billion for a range of helicopters — a lifeline for troops fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan’s rugged landscape — and 2.7 billion for unmanned drones and sensors used to hunt down insurgents.
The Pentagon sets a goal of nearly doubling the fleet of MQ-9 Reapers, unmanned planes that can carry precision-guided bombs, a coveted weapon that has transformed US tactics.
With special forces seen as serving a pivotal role in helping hunt down Al-Qaeda figures and training allied troops, the budget provides 6.3 billion dollars to provide equipment, training and 2,800 additional soldiers for the service.
In a longer-term strategy document mandated by Congress every four years, the Pentagon declares winning “today’s wars” as the military’s top priority, citing Afghanistan, Iraq and other unnamed countries where US forces can help to “dismantle terrorist networks,” according to a draft of the report.
Duration : 0:1:10
You know Republicans up the past 8 years so bad, all they have is revisionism and scare tactics . Example, No terrorist attacks happened during the Bush years ? Obama created the deficit ? Things are not getting better ? Republicans have all the answers after a year in exile ? All of this is a desperate attempt by Republicans to gain back power so they can up this country for another 8 years . Rachel Maddow illustrates very well what Obama has done since Bush left office . She also shows why the stimulus though not perfect , did keep a recession from turning into a great depression . Though the down turns not over . I feel we need a second stimulus, only to help home owners, small business, community banks (no big banks) , states to pay down their debt, unemployed . When there is a recession you don’t have a spending freeze (Hoover economics 101) . When a bridge is broken, you place up a temporary one until the bridge is fixed again . You don’t close the bridge .
Duration : 0:9:58
Christ’s words to his bride; John the Baptist’s words of praise to Christ, and the devout prayers he pours forth in Christ’s presence on behalf of Christians and especially for a certain knight. Through John’s prayers, the knight, with his own hands and with the helping hands of the glorious Virgin and of Peter and Paul, is armed and decorated with spiritual weapons, that is, with the virtues. Also, what each of these bodily weapons signifies, and about praying well.
Book 4 – Chapter 74 SAINT BRIDGET PATRON SAINT OF EUROPE PART IV
The good knight George had this intention, as did Maurice and many others, including the thief who hung on the cross. Without it, no one can lay a good foundation or come to his reward. The helmet should have two openings in front of the eyes to allow one to see in advance anything approaching. These openings are discernment concerning things to be done and caution concerning things to be omitted, for, without discernment and forethought, many things that seem good at the start turn out to be bad in the end.”
The Mother asked the knight again: “What do you still need, my son?” And he answered: “My hands are naked and have no armor.” The Mother said: “I will help you so that your hands will not be naked. Just as you have two bodily hands, you likewise have two spiritual ones. The right hand with which the sword is held symbolizes the work of justice. There should be five virtues like five fingers there. The first finger means that every just person must first be just to himself. This is done by guarding against anything in one’s speech, action, or example that might offend one’s neighbor so that one does not undo through one’s own disorderly behavior what one teaches to others or justly reprehends in them. The second finger means not to carry out justice or the deeds of justice for the sake of human favor or worldly greed but for the love of God alone. The third means not to show unjust fear of anyone nor to dissemble anything out of friendship nor to swerve away from justice for anyone’s sake, rich or poor, friend or foe.
The fourth means to be ready and willing to die for the sake of justice. The fifth means not only to do justice but also to love justice wisely. The result of this is that the sentence shows both mercy and justice, and the person who commits a lesser sin is corrected in one way, while the person who commits a greater is corrected in another way, and the person who sins from ignorance in one way, while the person who sins by design or malice in another way. Whoever has these five fingers should be careful not to sharpen his sword through impatience nor dull it through worldly pleasure nor drop it through imprudence or darken it through frivolity.
The left hand symbolizes godly prayer. This, too, has five fingers. The first is a firm belief in the articles of faith concerning the divine and human natures, putting it all into practice and believing all that the Holy Church, God’s bride, professes. The second is the refusal to sin deliberately against God along with the desire to make reparation for all the sins you have committed through contrition and atonement. The third is to entreat God to turn the love of the flesh into a spiritual love. The fourth is living for nothing else in the world but to give glory to God and to reduce the amount of sin. The fifth is never to rely on your own strength in any way but ever to fear God and to await death at any hour. There, my son, these are the two hands you should have. With the right hand you must brandish the sword of justice against the transgressors of justice. With the left hand of prayer you must plead for God’s help so that you never trust to your own righteousness nor become insolent toward God.”
Duration : 0:2:46
Barack Obama has vowed to make pay equality for women a top priority if elected president, an analysis of his Senate staff shows that women are outnumbered and out-paid by men.
Obama spoke in Albuquerque, N.M. last week said:
“Mr. McCain is an honorable man, we respect his service. But when you look at our records and our plans on issues that matter to working women, the choice could not be clearer, It starts with equal pay. Sixty-two percent of working women in America earn half or more of their family’s income. But women still earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2008. You’d think that Washington would be united it its determination to fight for equal pay”
The average pay for all 36 male employees on Obama’s staff was $55,962; and the average pay for all 31 female employees was $48,729.
The average pay for all 16 male employees on McCain’s staff was
$56,628; and the average pay for all 30 female employees was
$59,104.
Duration : 0:3:29
The Obamas – Barack, Michelle Obama, Malia Obama and Sasha Obama sit down for their first family interview together in Butte, Montana. They talk about family, love and politics.Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. born August 4, 1961 is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.Born to a Kenyan father and an American mother, he spent most of his early life in Honolulu, Hawaii. From ages six to ten, he lived in Jakarta with his mother and Indonesian stepfather. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, university lecturer, and civil rights lawyer before running for public office and serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. After an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.The following year, while still an Illinois state legislator, Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote. As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation for controlling conventional weapons and for promoting greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the current 110th Congress, he has sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel.Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as his top three priorities. He married in 1992 and has two daughters. He has written two bestselling books: a memoir of his youth titled Dreams from My Father, and The Audacity of Hope, a personal commentary on U.S. politics.Personal lifeObama met his future wife, Michelle Robinson, in 1988 when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin. Assigned for three months as Obama’s advisor at the firm, Robinson joined him at group social functions, but declined his initial offers to date. They began dating later that summer, became engaged in 1991, and were married in October 1992. The couple’s first daughter, Malia Ann, was born in 1998, followed by a second daughter, Natasha (”Sasha”), in 2001. Applying the proceeds of a $2 million book deal, the family paid off debts in 2005 and moved from a Hyde Park, Chicago condominium to their current $1.6-million house in neighboring Kenwood. The house purchase and subsequent acquisition of an adjoining strip of land drew media scrutiny in November 2006 because of financial links with controversial Illinois businessman Tony Rezko. In December 2007, Money magazine estimated the Obama family’s net worth at $1.3 million. Obama plays basketball, a sport he participated in as a member of his high school’s varsity team. He is left-handed. Before announcing his presidential candidacy, he began a well-publicized effort to quit smoking. “I’ve never been a heavy smoker,” Obama told the Chicago Tribune. “I’ve quit periodically over the last several years. I’ve got an ironclad demand from my wife that in the stresses of the campaign I do not succumb. I’ve been chewing Nicorette strenuously.” Replying to an Associated Press survey of 2008 presidential candidates’ personal tastes, he specified “architect” as his alternate career choice and “chili” as his favorite meal to cook. Asked to name a “hidden talent,” Obama answered: “I’m a pretty good poker player.”A theme of Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address, and the title of his 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope, was inspired by his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. In Chapter 6 of the book, titled “Faith,” Obama writes that he “was not raised in a religious household.” He describes his mother, raised by non-religious parents, as detached from religion, yet “in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known.” He describes his Kenyan father as “raised a Muslim,” but a “confirmed atheist” by the time his parents met, and his Indonesian stepfather as “a man who saw religion as not particularly useful.” The chapter details how Obama, in his twenties, while working with local churches as a community organizer, came to understand “the power of the African American religious tradition to spur social change”:He joined Trinity United Church of Christ in 1988. A megachurch with 10,000 members, Trinity is the largest congregation in the United Church of Christ. Obama family goes Unplugged on Access Hollywood! (pt 1 of 4)
Duration : 0:9:3
The glorious Virgin’s words explaining her humility to her daughter, and about how humility is likened to a cloak, and about the characteristics of true humility and its wonderful fruits.
Book 2 – Chapter 23 SAINT BRIDGET PATRON SAINT OF EUROPE PART I
Many people wonder why I speak with you. It is, of course, to show my humility. If a member of the body is sick, the heart is not content until it has regained its health, and once its health is restored the heart is all the more gladdened. In the same way, however much a person may sin, if he turns back to me with all his heart and a true purpose of amendment, I am immediately prepared to welcome him when he comes. Nor do I pay attention to how much he may have sinned but to the intention and purpose he has when he returns.
Everyone calls me ‘Mother of mercy.’ Truly, my daughter, the mercy of my Son has made me merciful and the disclosure of his mercy has made me compassionate. For that reason, that person is miserable who, when she or he is able, does not have recourse to mercy. Come, therefore, my daughter, and hide yourself beneath my cloak! My cloak is contemptible on the outside but very useful on the inside, for three reasons. First, it shelters you from the stormy winds; second, it protects you from the burning cold; third, it defends you against the rain-showers from the sky.
This cloak is my humility. The lovers of the world hold this in contempt and think that imitating it is a silly superstition. What is more contemptible than to be called an idiot and not to get angry or answer in kind? What is more despicable than the giving up of everything and being in every way poor? What seems sorrier to worldly souls than to conceal one’s own pain and to think and believe oneself unworthier and lowlier than everyone else? Such was my humility, my daughter. This was my joy, this my one desire. I only thought of how to please my Son. This humility of mine was useful for those who followed me in three ways.
First, it was useful in pestilent and stormy weather, that is, against human taunts and scorn. A powerful and violent storm wind pounds a person from all directions and makes him freeze. In the same way, taunting easily crushes an impatient person who does not reflect on future realities; it drives the soul away from charity. Anyone carefully studying my humility should consider the kinds of things I, the Queen of the universe, had to hear, and so he should seek my praise and not his own.
Let him recall that words are nothing but air and he will soon grow calm. Why are worldly people so unable to put up with verbal taunts, if not because they seek their own praise rather than God’s? There is no humility in them, because their eyes are made bleary by sin. Therefore, although the written law says one should not without due cause give one’s ear to insulting speech or put up with it, still it is a virtue and a prize to listen patiently to and put up with insults for the sake of God.
Duration : 0:4:29
Current & Twitter have teamed up for the very first time to integrate real-time Twitter messages (aka “tweets”) over major portions over the live Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates.
Tune in for Hack the Debate III // Town Hall Debate on Tuesday, 10/7 at 9pm EST/ 6pm PST.
Taking the town hall format a step further, we will broadcast as many of your debate tweets as possible right over Obama & McCain, in real time, on our live broadcast on Current TV and Current.com.
How to HACK THE DEBATE:
1. Tune in Tuesday, 10/7 at 9pm EST/ 6pm PST for the second Presidential Debate. Find Current TV on your local cable/satellite provider (see below) or visit http://current.com/debate to watch the live stream of our broadcast online.
2. Make sure youve registered with Twitter to participate: http://twitter.com/
3. During the debates, chime in by including “#current” in your tweet. Example: “This discussion about Russia makes me want to drink some wodka! #current”
4. You can follow along with other Current tweeters here by following #current on Twitter search: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23current
5. If you have any questions about participating, send us a tweet @current.
6. Host a Hack the Debate Screening Party! We made a digital party kit and everything: http://current.com/images/skins/hack_the_debate/images/htd_toolkit.zip
Get all the details and watch the live stream at http://current.com/debate and help us Hack the Debate!
Find Current on your TV:
USA
+DirecTV – Channel 366
+Dish network – Channel 196
+Comcast – Channel 107
+Time Warner: Channel 103 (New York City), Channel 142 (Los Angeles), other markets, check local listings
+Verizon FIOS – Channel 130
+AT&T U-Verse – Channel 189
UK & IRELAND
+ Sky 183
+ Virgin Media 155
ITALY
+ Sky Italia 130
(P.S. you dont need to trek to Tennessee, just your TV ; )
Duration : 0:0:31
Embarrassment is an emotional state experienced upon having a socially or professionally unacceptable act or condition witnessed by or revealed to others.
Some media outlets are reportedly avoiding any mention of Barack Obama’s deep-waisted bow to King Abdullah yesterday, claiming that Obama was only picking something up off the floor. The video shows that to be a ridiculous suggestion. Obama’s left hand stays visibly at his side throughout the entire bow, and his right hand remains engaged with Abdullah’s.
Duration : 0:0:32