John's Blog

Video films made by the Taliban in Pakistan's troubled Swat valley show teenage boys being groomed as suicide bombers for revenge attacks against local security forces.

After the army began an operation to clear Taliban from the valley in May, fighters went from house to house demanding a boy or young man from each family, with recruits encouraged to volunteer for martyrdom missions.

Last week 24 people died and more than 300 were wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded outside a secret police headquarters in Lahore, and six policemen were killed when an attacker detonated explosives at a checkpoint in Peshawar.

Propaganda films obtained by The Sunday Telegraph in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, show boys of 14 or 15 recording farewell messages before climbing into vehicles filled with explosives.

You might recall the words of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), the former head of the Energy & Commerce committee, who said in April: "Nobody in this country realizes that cap and trade is a tax, and it's a great big one."

Well Mr. Dingell, it seems people are taking note. Last Thursday, Rep. Rangel made the following admission regarding the Waxman-Markey energy tax:

"Whether you call it a tax, everyone agrees that it's going to increase the cost to the consumer. At the end of the day ... if there's nothing there to repay [consumers] for their financial expenditures, it might be difficult to fight Republicans who call this a tax." (emphasis added)

Indeed, everyone agrees that this bill will increase costs. Everyone, that is, except for a small group of elites who absolutely trust the government to take away our money and redistribute it equitably (and presumably better than if Americans just kept their hard-earned dollars).

They are denying that an upfront cost, even if offset later, is still an upfront cost.

...wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences,” including appreciation for Latin-American cuisine, “would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

I'm a progressive Dem, always have been. Voting since Clinton's first term. Always voted dem. But I've always kind of known that "politics is about voting for the lesser of two evils". Hoping for the best, voted for Obama, celebrated when he won. But it's quickly becoming apparent, that we have been deceived on many fronts.

The record so far, the promises and the reality.

"I will begin to remove our troops from Iraq immediately."

That went from 6 months, to 16 months, to 23 months, and if you read the fine print it says "we will look at getting the troops out of Iraq" Meanwhile 30,000 more troops are going to Afghanistan.

Leaving Bush appointee Robert Gates as Sect of Defense, you have to ask how is Obama's defense policy going to be different from Bush's?

"Allow five days of public comment before signing bills." Obama promoted and voted for the $700 BIL bank bailout bill which was shown to the full congress minutes before the final vote.

Obama warned everyone that the stimulus package bill was an emergency situation and needed to be approved immediately or there would be economic catastrophe. The 1000 page bill was shown to congress less than 1 hour before the vote. Obama then went on a 4 day vacation before signing it.

Democracy is a sham if the separation of powers are ignored when the legislative passes a bill supported by the executive without even reading it.

"Tougher rules against revolving door for lobbyists and former officials." "No political appointees in an Obama-Biden administration will be permitted to work on regulations or contracts directly and substantially related to their prior employer for two years."

Tim Geitner, president of the NY Fed (the nations largest private bank,) appointed Secretary of Treasury.

Mark Patterson, top lobbyist at Goldman Sachs, Chief of Staff to Geitner.

Tom Daschel, received $1,000's from health care firms, withdrawn nominee as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

William Lynn, top lobbyist for Raytheon, appointed Deputy Sect of Defense.

Ignacia S. Moreno, corporate lawyer for GE the top superfund polluter, nominated for Assistant Attorney General for the Environment.

"Signed an executive order said to close Gitmo." The fine print says, we will look at closing Gitmo in one year.

Indefinite detentions without trial continue, renditions are continuing,military tribunals will continue, which means no basic rights like habeas corpus.

"Swore he was against the Patriot Act." Voted to re-instate the Patriot Act.

"Swore he was against the FISA wiretaps." Voted to legalize the FISA wiretaps.

"Swore he was against the retroactive telecom immunity. Said he would filibuster against it if necessary." Voted for retroactive telecom immunity.

"Swore to Unions he was against NAFTA, GATT." Got caught sending memo's to corporate leaders, don't worry, nothing will change.

Henry Kissenger, mass murderer, deposer of democracies in developing nations, has a position as an informal advisor. He is now on the record saying "His (Obama's) task will be to develop an overall strategy for America in this period when, really, a new world order can be created. It's a great opportunity, it isn't just a crisis." Kissinger also gave Obama his first job right out of college.

The central banks and Wall Street have taken over Washington in broad daylight.

Just like the '29 crash this collapse is intentional, then they ram through a taxpayer funded bailout for their crimes, then they loan the bailout money back to the government as a stimulus package.

Greenspan is on record on the McNeil Lehrer News Hour. Lehrer, "what is the proper relationship between the FED and the president of the US?" Greenspan, "the FED is an independent agency...there is no other agency that can overrule actions that we take...so long as that is in place...what the relationships are don't frankly matter."

State workers were outraged and anxious on Tuesday after learning that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to lay off 5,000 of them in the coming weeks.

This is an internet radio station that features all of your favorite original hits from the 40's 50's and 60's.

Those were the days of the crooners, of the divas, of the big bands and orchestras. From Sinatra to Doris Day, from Johnny Mathis to the McGuire Sisters, from Bing Crosby to Gordon Jenkins, they're all here as a part of the internet's largest and most varied playlist of this genre. Additional selections are added frequently.

Those were the days when lyrics really meant something, and when if a new composition were really top notch, it might appear simultaneously on the charts by three or four artists at the same time. If you are old enough to remember, or if like me, you discovered with great wonder the allure and timelessness of these great melodies many years later, then this is the internet radio station for you.

The name "Music from the Blue Light" was taken from the classic KGO radio program of the same name from the early 60's from San Francisco which celebrated what I have come to believe is the greatest music of all time

So sit back and relax and travel back to a more innocent time of bobby socks, 78 RPM records, and maybe even that first kiss.