Shortly after the House of Representatives concluded tonight's vote on health insurance reform, President Obama released the following statement:
Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people.The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare. And it is legislation that is fully paid for and will reduce our long-term federal deficit.Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America. Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.
Hi FriendThere is a new group that just started on Facebook that I thought Organizing for America members may be interested in joining. Please see United Against Racism -
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/354956/80588439?m=9dc74a6eUnited Against Racism
posted by David Apperson
TO OUR DEAR FELLOW PRAYER WARRIOR FRIENDS--
WE ALL KNOW HOW CRITICAL THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE IN THE BATTLE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM, AS PRESIDENT OBAMA PREPARES FOR HIS ADDRESS TO CONGRESS REGARDING THIS MATTER ON SEPTEMBER 9TH. SO WE CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR PEOPLE OF PRAYER RIGHT NOW TO BE PRAYING FERVENTLY FOR HIM, THAT GOD GUIDE, DIRECT, INSPIRE, PROTECT HIM, ETC.
IF WE DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LORD IN ALL OF THIS, HERE'S PSALM 127:1--"UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE, ITS BUILDERS LABOR IN VAIN. UNLESS THE LORD WATCHES OVER THE CITY, THE WATCHMEN STAND GUARD IN VAIN."
EVERYONE OBVIOUSLY PRAYS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, SOME ADVOCATE FASTING AND SINGING PRAISES TO THE LORD AS WELL. ANYWAY, ALL OF THIS IS WORKING, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND TO OUR AWESOME GOD WHO HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS, AND SO WE ARE NOW ON THE VERGE OF WITNESSING A GREAT BLESSING TO SOON TAKE PLACE BEFORE OUR EYES.
A WORD OF WARNING HOWEVER--PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO PRAY WITH HATE, IT BACKFIRES ON YOU WITH A CURSE. THAT IS WHY THE OPPONENTS IN THIS ISSUE ARE NOT WINNING AND ARE NOT GOING TO WIN, EVEN IF APARENTLY QUITE A FEW OF SO CALLED "PEOPLE OF PRAYER" ARE PRAYING AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA. MANY ARE DOING SO WITH A HATEFUL SPIRIT, AND AGAIN WE CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS FOR THEM.
"MAY ALL WHO HATE ZION (GOD'S RIGHTEOUS, JUST AND COMPASSIONATE WAYS) BE TURNED BACK IN SHAME...MAY THOSE WHO PASS BY NOT SAY 'THE BLESSING OF THE LORD BE UPON YOU.'" --FROM PSALM 129. ALSO RECALL THAT THE PROPHET BALAAM WAS CALLED UPON TO CURSE GOD'S PEOPLE IN BEHALF OF MOAB, BUT THE CURSE TURNED INTO A BLESSING AND BALAAM AND MOAB WERE THE ONES EVENTUALLY CURSED.
SO "PRAY IN HARMONY WITH HEAVEN" AS ONE MEMBER OF A PRAYER GROUP WE BELONG TO REMINDED US, AND OUR PRAYERS WILL SURELY BE ANSWERED. (BY THE WAY, WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN THE GROUP "OBAMA PRAYER TEAM" ON THIS OFA WEBSITE. BE SURE TO GET ON ITS E-MAIL LISTSERVE AND JOIN US IN LIVELY PRAYER AND DISCUSSION.)
OUR GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD BE WITH YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR FAITHFUL PRAYERS IN BEHALF OF PRESIDENT OBAMA, HIS FAMILY, HIS ADMINISTRATION AND FOR THE MANY IN NEED OF HEALTH CARE. THANK THE ALMIGHTY GOD, JEHOVAH OF ARMIES THAT "HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER" AND HIS BELOVED SON, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS THE CHRIST, AMEN.
"LET'S KEEP PRAYING MORE THAN EVER THAT GOD'S WILL BE DONE"
LOVE AND ALOHA FROM JASON AND LINDA IZUMI, KONA, HAWAII.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19, 2009--
SORRY FOR POSTING THIS SO LAST MINUTE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE OF FAITH TO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A 40 MINUTE "FAITH CONFERENCE CALL WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA"
AT 5PM EASTERN, TEL NUMBER IS--347-996-5501. JUST CALL IN OR--
YOU MAY RSVP AT--www.faithforhealth.org/join-the-call. may submit a question. OR JUST CALL IN(?)
HOPE MANY OF YOU WILL DO THIS, AND LET'S DISCUSS, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS! ALOHA!
DEAR PRAYER FRIENDS, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENDURANCE, THANK YOU ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL GOD WHO HEARS ALL OUR PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS, WHO HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT TIME IN HISTORY WHEN BADLY NEEDED REFORMS IN THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE OUR VERY EYES, DESPITE VISCIOUS OPPOSITION BY THE ENEMY!
THE BATTLE FOR CHANGE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE IS FURIOUS, THE ENEMY IS OUTRAGED, WE NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF PRAYERS, ONLY THE GREAT LORD WITH HIS POWERFUL HEAVENLY ARMY CAN WIN THIS FOR US, FOR THE SAKE OF THE POOR AND OF HIS FAITHFUL. THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW THE VICTORY IS TO THE PRAISE AND GLORY OF OUR AWESOME GOD! PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE VERY MUCH NEEDED IN THE DAYS TO COME, FOR MANY VARIOUS REASONS, BUT---
ONE AREA WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PRAYER WARRIORS TO PRAY FOR IS FOR SEVERAL SPECIFIC MEMBERS OF THE SENATE WHO ARE LISTED BELOW. THE BATTLE IS TIGHT AND VERY IMPORTANT IN THE SENATE AND THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, IN PARTICULAR. WHAT EVERYTHING BOILS DOWN TO IS THAT THE "PUBLIC OPTION" THAT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE HEALTH-CARE-HEALTH-INSURANCE-BUDGET WOES OF THIS COUNTRY IS NOW MAINLY GOING TO BE DECIDED THERE.
WE THANK GOD ALMIGHTY FOR MOVING THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SIDE IN FAVOR OF THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSALS. GOD BLESS THOSE PRECIOUS SOULS FOR STANDING UP FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, THANK YOU!
HOWEVER, IN THE SENATE, THE SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT IS VERY, VERY CLOSE. WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER PRAYING THAT THE FOLLOWING SENATORS (WHO HAVE NOT YET MADE OR BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A CLEAR PUBLIC STAND IN FAVOR OF THE PRESIDENT) BE MOVED BY THE LORD IN THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS, TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS REGARDING THE REFORMS IN DISCUSSION---
BLANCH LINCOLN (AR) (FINANCE COMMITTE MEMBER)
MARK PRYOR (AR)
MARK BEGICH (AK)
JON TESTOR (MT)
MAX BAUCUS (MT) (FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR)
BILL NELSON (FL) (FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER)
OLYMPIA SNOWE (ME) (FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER)
KENT CONRAD (ND) (FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER)
TOM CARPER (DE)
PRAY THAT THEY NOT BE DECIEVED BY THE ENEMY WHO IS BENT ON CONFUSING/SCARING/BRIBING ETC. THEM AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD. HEAVENLY FATHER GUARD THEM FROM BEING COMPELLED TO MAKE ANY SELF SERVING DECISION, ALMIGHTY GOD, PLEASE GIVE THESE IMPORTANT SOULS HEARTS OF MERCY, SELFLESSNESS AND COMPASSION AND MINDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE, KNOWLEDE, WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING TO BE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS, MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE O PRECIOUS SAVIOUR!
IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO CONTACT, PHONE, WRITE, E-MAIL, ETC. THESE SENATORS AS WELL.
ALSO DO NOT FORGET TO PLEASE PRAY FOR THE GOOD HEALTH AND VITALITY, IN MIND BODY AND SPIRIT OF AILING SENATORS BYRD AND KENNEDY. GOD PLEASE BLESS THESE WONDERFUL LEADERS, FORGIVE THEM OF THEIR SINS, REMEMBER ALL THEIR HARD WORK, MANY YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE, PLEASE RESTORE THEIR GOOD HEALTH TO THEM, ALLOW THEM PLEASE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING VOTE, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
GOD BE WITH ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU DEEPLY.
JASON AND LINDA IZUMI FROM KONA, HAWAII
"HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER" PSALM 118
AT LONG LAST, AN ANSWER TO OUR PERSONAL PRAYERS---HUFFINGTON POST CURRENTLY HAS A HEADLINE FEATURING SEVERAL IN DEPTH, ILLUMINATING ARTICLES ON THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF SERIOUS "PREVENTATIVE MEASURES," IF "HEALTHCARE FOR ALL" IS TO BE SUSTAINABLY SUCCESSFUL AT ALL.
WE URGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE GO TO THE HUFFINGTON POST WEBSITE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (BEFORE EXPIRATION) TO READ THE ARTICLES BY ORNISH AND WEIL. (WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PROVIDE A LINK SO YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THIS ON YOUR OWN.)
WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS CAN BE APPRECIATED BY VERY MANY PEOPLE, GOD FEARING OR OTHERWISE, BUT TO US AS CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WE APPRECIATE THE BODIES OUR CREATOR HAS MADE FOR EACH OF US, AS WELL AS THIS PLANET HOME WHICH HE SPECIFICALLY COMMANDED US TO CARE FOR, THE ISSUE OF "PREVENTION OF DISEASE" IN THE HEALTH CARE REFORM ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. IT MAY VERY WELL BE TRULY (OR SHOULD BE) THE CENTRAL ISSUE IN THIS DEBATE AS THE AUTHORS SUGGEST.
OKAY, YES, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT A HORRENDOUS MESS WE HAVE ON OUR HANDS, AND WHAT A HUGE BATTLE TO WAGE IF WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE OF THE NIGHTMARISH COALITION OF UNSYMPATHETIC ENTITIES RIGHT NOW STARING US DOWN ---DRUG COMPANIES, INSURANCE CORPORATIONS, THE JUNK FOOD INDUSTRY, GREEDY DOCTORS, THE DEVIL HIMSELF, ETC. ETC.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE POSTING THIS IN PRAYER GROUPS SINCE WE BELIEVE ONLY THE ALMIGHTY GOD CAN AND WILL HELP US TO GET THIS RIGHT (SINCE HE IS A LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT US) AND WE BELIEVE VERY PASSIONATELY IN THE POWER OF PRAYER! SO IF ANY OF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO REVIEW THE ABOVE ARTICLES, WE HOPE YOU WILL BE MOVED TO PRAY ABOUT THIS!
(BTW WE BELIEVE PRESIDENT OBAMA UNDERSTANDS THIS VERY WELL HIMSELF, BUT IS--WISELY--KEEPING LOW ABOUT IT. BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED, AND THANK GOD TO KNOW THAT A VOICE IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT--THIS CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT OF--DISEASE PREVENTION!)
GOOD WILL, GOOD HEALTH, LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU AND TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND FAMILY, IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS, AMEN! FROM JASON AND LINDA IZUMI, KONA, HAWAII, ALOHA!
"PLEASE PRAY NOT ONLY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE, BUT FOR THE BEST OF HEALTH FOR EVERYONE!"
TO ALL OUR PRAYER FRIENDS AND OTHERS OUT THERE WITH SINCERE HEARTS--IT'S OBVIOUS TO MOST OF US HOW OUTRAGEOUS LIES AND DECEPTION HAVE BEEN FLYING RAMPANT ALL AROUND US LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, LIKE A PLAGUE STRAIGHT FROM HELL. BUT EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS THAT SO MANY SEEMINGLY ORDINARY, GOOD PEOPLE ARE BEING TAKEN IN BY THEM!
SO WE THOUGHT WE POST THIS MESSAGE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO KNOW BETTER TO TAKE HEART THAT THIS IS BECAUSE TRUE, GREAT, POSITIVE REFORM IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE, BUT TO THE DISMAY OF THE OBSCENELY RICH AND POWERFUL. MAY WE POINT OUT THAT THE GOOD OLE BOOK SAYS BABLYLON THE GREAT IS DESTINED TO FALL AT SOME POINT, AND MAY BE WE ARE WITNESSING AT LEAST A PART OF THIS PROPHECY'S FULFILLMENT(?) ANYWAY, SHE ISN'T GOING DOWN WITHOUT A TERRIFIC FIGHT (WHICH WE CAN HARDLY IMAGINE WILL BE LIKE IN THE DAYS TO COME!) BUT DOWN SHE WILL GO, TO OUR REJOICING, AND TO THE GLORY OF THE GREAT AND ALMIGHTY GOD, THANK YOU LORD, AMEN!
THE "FALSE PROPHET" ENTITY, AS CAN BE EXPECTED, IS WORKING ALONG WITH HER, DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BEST AT DOING---DECEIVING, AND UNFORTUNATELY TOO MANY ARE BEING SUCCESSFULLY DECEIVED! THAT'S TOO BAD SINCE THE PROSPECTS OF THE FALSE PROPHET AND IT'S FOLLOWERS ARE NOT VERY GOOD--SEE REVELATION 19:19-21.
SO LET'S KEEP IN PRAYER AND IN HIS WORD THAT WE NOT GET DECEIVED, OUR LOVED ONES NOT GET DECEIVED, ALL SINCERE ONES NOT GET DECIEVED. MAY WE KEEP IN FAITH THAT THE TRUE GOD HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE A CHAMPION OF THE POOR AND MEEK, WHILE OPPOSING THE PROUD AND GREEDY. MAY THE ULTIMATE ONE OF GRACE, MERCY AND COMPASSION BRING RELIEF VERY SOON TO THE COUNTLESS SOULS IN URGENT NEED OF PROPER AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. SO MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD INSPIRE, GUIDE AND STRENGTHEN ALL THOSE IN THE FRONT LINES OF THIS IMPORTANT, HISTORIC BATTLE, IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING. LOVE AND BLESSINGS FROM JASON AND LINDA IZUMI FROM KONA, HAWAII, THE AMERICAN STATE WHERE PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA WAS BORN 48 YEARS AGO YESTERDAY, AND WHERE WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IN THE WORLD SO MANY HAVE BEEN (AND SO EASILY!) DECEIVED TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE! ALOHA!
DEAREST PRESIDENT OBAMA, WE JUST WANTED TO SEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 48TH BIRTHDAY, AND TO SAY YOU ARE DOING A SUPERB JOB IN THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF OUR LAND! WE ARE WITH YOU A 100 PER CENT, PRAYING FOR YOU EVERY DAY .
WE ARE HAPPY TO DECLARE YOU WERE BORN AT HONOLULU'S KAPIOLANI HOSPITAL IN OUR STATE OF HAWAII, U. S. A. ON AUGUST 4, 1961. WE FEEL SORRY FOR ANYONE WHO INSISTS OTHERWISE----MAY THE GOOD LORD BRING THEM TO THEIR GOOD SENSES SOON SO THAT THEY CAN GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND START DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE FOR A "CHANGE."
ACTAULLY WHEREVER YOU WERE BORN, WE DON'T REALLY CARE----WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY AND THANKFUL YOU WERE BORN, PERIOD!
MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD KEEP PROTECTING AND GUIDING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION, AND MAY HE KEEP GRANTING YOU SUCCESS WITH ALL THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS, IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN!
ALOHA AND BLESSINGS FROM JASON AND LINDA IZUMI FROM KONA, HAWAII.
Do you think it is far-fetched to design applications in United States classrooms, using mathematics and sports? Science, physics and chemistry can also be blended with sports for an interdisciplinary learning experience for students at all levels.
My article on "The Nitty-Gritty of the NFL Football" and an article in the Official Pro Football Hall of Fame Yearbook (2007) discuss the characteristics and "Evolution of the Football." On pages 100-104 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame magazine, you learn that the football is not a pigskin. You see images of the early football in 1894, the Duke Football, and the White Football in 1956.
Once more, you read:
"On January 1, 2006, New England Patriots backup quarterback Doug Flutie converted the NFL's first successful dropkick since 1941. He converted an extra point in the fourth quarter of the season-ending game against the Miami Dolphins.
"Prior to Flutie's kick, the league's last successful dropkick was on December 21, 1941--two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor--when Ray "Scooter" McLean drop-kicked an extra point as the Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants, 37-9, in the NFL championship game."
Why is the above quote so important? Here is the answer:
"Changes to the football made the art of drop-kicking significantly more difficult due to the more erratic bounce (physics) of a tapered ball.
"The upward bounce of the older, rounder version of the ball was much more predictable (physics and mathematics)."
The NFL archives enlighten the 2009 fans, telling us that in 1899 the Official Football Rules Book contained a definition to include the descriptive shape.
The 1899 Rules Book says that "the football used shall be of leather, enclosing an inflated rubber bladder. The ball shall have the shape of a prolate spheroid."
Prolate spheroid? You mean to say that the football officials knew the mathematics term, prolate spheroid! Yes, and it could mean that the students in 1899 may have known and loved mathematics more than the students in 2009.
Well, it's clear to me that there is so much knowledge embedded in the world of sports that we must be like "gold diggers." We should, perhaps, chisel through the surface and get to the deeper things that need to be revealed in the world of sports.
Why? We need to motivate our students to the highest level of excellence, again, so as to maintain our position and rank in an international setting.
In January 2009 at the Joint Mathematics Meeting, in Washington, D.C., there were several sessions, conducted by mathematicians, disseminating information on sports and mathematics. One session was led by Howard Penn of the United States Naval Academy.
The topic I prepared for presentation in the 2009 Washington, D. C. meeting was titled, "New Ways of Assessing NFL Players." The inspiration came from the observation that many NFL players who made outstanding contributions to the sport, have been misrepresented by statistics which lacked the dimensionality to describe their intensity and integrity as sportsmen.
Data was collected from public databases. Mathematical modeling was used to compare players, and interesting results were evident. I tagged a term "sport's prodigy" because some guys were able to set records in a much shorter time frame than others.
The argument could go like this: Just as we marvel over the 13 year-old B/R writers who publish such powerful and outstanding work at such a young age, there are NFL players who performed on the playing field, doing marvelous feats, yet their career was not long.
Bleacher Report encourages us to give credit where credit is due. As a sports writing site, we, then, must give credit to the players when credit is due.
It's the 21st century. We need not rant and rave about who is the better player. We must, I believe, use more sophisticated analysis and assessment strategies to measure and identify impact in the games, and in the entire sports industry.
Not only have I and other B/R sportswriters been perceived as underrated, there are many sportsmen of my generation who have been both underrated, and I might add, berated.
They have been berated by faulty reasoning, and incomplete analysis with gaps in understanding.
In some cases, too little emphasis has been placed on athletic performance, and too much on personal challenges which are intimately connected with, in my opinion, the culture of the sports and entertainment industry.
There have been growth and "forgiveness" in the media recorded images of the lives of some great sportsmen. For example, Kobe Bryant and Majic Johnson have been able to move forward in their lives, although human error put pimples on their careers in the past.
So how do we use these ideas in the classroom?
We teach cognitive, affective and psycho-motor skills. The content for the cognitive lessons can be draw from sports databases.
The biographical sketches of the stars who achieved, stumbled in some social or legal way, and then are in recovery and redemptive stages, can be used to educate in the affective domain.
Finally, the archival records demonstrating superior athletic skills, feats of endurance, courage and compassion, can be used to teach in the psycho-motor domain.
In early October 2009, another conference, sponsored by the U. S. Department of Education will convene in Washington, D. C. I will be there representing the National Association of Mathematicians, and my good experiences of learning more about sports through my interactions with the Bleacher Report (B/R) will be shared with some of my colleagues.
Many of the articles on B/R are loaded with wisdom, knowledge and analysis in each of the cognitive, affective and psycho-motor domains. The concepts in these domains are taught in curriculum and instruction.
Once we eradicate the "warts" on our complexion, we will display a beautiful image of the creative uses of the Bleacher Report.
B/R is an excellent outlet to demonstrate that sports can entertain, educate and even elevate academic achievement in America, if we collaborate and put our best foot forward.
One of the amenities of our mission is to share the concept:
Sports can help entertain, educate, and elevate academic achievement in America, and in the international community.
Finally, one good way to get started on this mission is to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame website or contact Mr. Jerry Csaki, the education director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio.
When can you get started? My answer: In a few days the 2009 Enshrinement Ceremonies will begin. Not only should you be there for that historical event, but also spend a little time visiting the education division of the Hall of Fame.
As President Obama recently related to me regarding local service; "Now is our time to work together, reaffirm our enduring spirit, and choose our better history."
It is our responsibility as Americans to vote, and vote we must. And now is the time to plan, prepare and promote our principles. I invite all citizens of of this great country of ours to post a message on one of 1000 election blogs.
1000 Election Blogselection-blogs.blogspot.com
This Admistration is really working on behalf of the American People.
WoW...There are So many Americans without Health Insurance. It is a shame that some elected officials are not insterested in the plight of the Uninsured.I just spent a few hours reading ( I made it to page 363, of course I had to take a break in between pages) some of the American people health challenges, storys/life challenges on the health blog and It was very heart rendering to hear/read about their horrendous plights/experiences.
If these Great Americans Life Stores don't change the minds and hearts of some fo the "fence stragglers" in office, then I don't know what will?
Thank the Lord that we finally have an Administration in Office That Undestands and Gets its.
After a long day of campaigning on July 8, candidate Barack Obama arrived at his Chicago headquarters for a three-hour brainstorming session about a suddenly hot issue: energy and climate change.
He had summoned a cross section of experts, including top executives from three utilities and two oil companies, the chief energy economist of an investment bank, a climate scientist, a California energy and environment expert, an oil consultant-historian, and several campaign staffers. Despite the late hour, one participant recalled, "He walked in as if he had just gotten up after a refreshing night's sleep to lead a class. He was clearly there to harvest information and then do something with it."
Now, four months into his presidency, Obama has elevated energy and climate issues to near the top of his agenda; he's made them pop by packaging them as ways to create "green" jobs and reduce U.S. dependence on imports of foreign oil. Favoring pragmatism over moral suasion, the president is attempting to make a sharp shift in national policy on an issue that many voters have yet to embrace as a priority, advisers and lawmakers say.
His efforts, combined with those of congressional Democrats, have already pushed forward groundbreaking initiatives. February's stimulus act lavished money on projects for renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy research. This month, the White House announced that it had negotiated corporate, state and environmentalist support for higher fuel-efficiency and tailpipe-emissions standards that would clamp the first nationwide limits on greenhouse gases.
President Obama, "We'll extend an open hand if you'll unclench your fist." Rob [bob-pol]
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1892432,00.html
Signs of Spring: U.S.-Latin America Relations Thaw
By Tim Padgett Sunday, Apr. 19, 2009
President Barack Obama stands in front of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (R) during an official photograph session at the 5th Summit of the Americas, April 18, 2009. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
When I started covering Latin America 20 years ago, a leftist source asked what books I'd read to help myself understand the region's manera de pensar, or psyche. I fidgeted and mentioned Octavio Paz's Labyrinth of Solitude. He shrugged. José Martí's Our America? Eh. How about everything by Gabriel García Márquez? (Although I had to admit that was to impress women.) He shook his head and handed me Eduardo Galeano's The Open Veins of Latin America — the same book Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez made a show of giving Barack Obama on Saturday before Obama's meeting with South American leaders at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Read the subtitle of Galeano's 1971 work — Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent — and you know why the left-wing, anti-U.S. Chavez would present it to a U.S. President. The book's thesis is that Spain, then Britain, the U.S. and Latin oligarchs ransacked Latin American resources, from copper to crude, bleeding the region of its natural wealth and its sovereign dignity. But even if you don't subscribe to its Marxist-tinged polemic, The Open Veins is one of the best introductions to the longstanding Latin grievances that keep producing populist leaders like Chávez. It was an appropriate gift for Obama — not because he's clueless about that manera de pensar, but because he proved at the Trinidad summit to be the first U.S. President to get it. "We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms," to Latin America, he told the gathering. "But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations." (See TIME's photos of the guerrilla armies of Colombia)
If it's genuine, it's hard to overestimate how important that promise is to Latin Americans, who've experienced a lot more heavy-handed interventionism and condescending disregard than they have partnership from either Republicans or Democrats in Washington. It not only heartened Latin leaders in Trinidad, it disarmed them. The summit could have easily deteriorated into another yanqui-bashing fest over the U.S.'s role in the global economic crisis or its antiquated trade embargo against Cuba. But Obama had even Chávez feeling "great optimism" that his nation's icy relations with the U.S. will thaw, starting with the return of each other's ambassadors, expelled last year, to Washington and Caracas.
That bonhomie was hardly assured beforehand. Obama and Chávez had been critical of each other in recent months, with Obama suggesting that Chávez supported Colombian guerrilla violence and Chávez suggesting, as a result, that Obama was an "ignoramus." To many observers it was a toss-up whether Chávez — who has pledged that he and his leftist allies in the region will not sign the gathering's final declaration, to protest the fact that communist Cuba is still not invited to these summits — would upbraid Obama in Port of Spain or, given Obama's international popularity, reach out to him. But they shared a warm handshake Friday night, during which Obama tried his Spanish (mucho gusto, or "pleased to meet you") and Chávez insisted, according to a Venezuela communiqué, "I want to be your friend."
So, it seems, does the rest of the region after this summit. To most Latin Americans, Obama could not present a starker contrast to his predecessor, George W. Bush, whom Chávez once called "the devil" and whose relations with the hemisphere were strained at best. Even Bill Clinton as President didn't set foot south of the border until five months into his second term. Latin America, according to many experts, has the worst gap between rich and poor of any region in the world — a big reason why the U.S. has so many immigration-policy headaches. And what Obama gave the region this weekend was a reason to think that it could finally set aside its 20th-century resentments — which, admittedly, have too often been exploited by Latin leaders as an excuse for their own epic failings and iron fists — and move on to 21st-century development. To believe, that is, that the U.S. now appreciates what Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told TIME in a recent interview — that it's not smart policy for the U.S. to be such a rich country "surrounded by so many poor people."
Obama also seems to understand now that he and the hemisphere won't get too far in correcting that situation until they get past the Cuba problem. It turned out to be the summit's marquee issue, largely because other Latin leaders see the embargo as a reflection of how Washington treats them as well. Before leaving for Trinidad, Obama eliminated restrictions on Cuban-American travel and remittances to the island — a gesture that effectively threw the ball, as Obama said, into Havana's court. To everyone's surprise, Cuban President Raul Castro — who is making a serious push to have his country readmitted to hemispheric groups like the Organization of Americans States — responded by saying he was "willing to talk" about matters like the scores of jailed dissidents in Cuba. Obama kept the ball rolling, suggesting in Port of Spain that the U.S. "seeks a new beginning with Cuba" in a speech that Latin presidents like Argentina's Cristina Fernández de Kirchner called a big step toward "re-stabilizing" U.S.-Latin American relations.
Obama needs to follow Trinidad's feel-good rhetoric with more concrete programs, although he and Latin America know he can't do much in the short term thanks to the U.S.'s economic calamity. Many Latin American officials in recent months have told TIME they're not looking for much for now; but they do want to make sure Obama shifts hemispheric priorities away from the U.S. obsession with free trade and the drug war to development concerns like education, alternative energy and democratic institution-building, which the U.S. President did engage in Trinidad.
At the same time, if Chávez and other Latin leftists want Obama to read Galeano, they in turn should read Obama. In his own books, like The Audacity of Hope, Obama lays out the common-sense, post-ideological political philosophy that has led to the U.S. shift on Latin America that so many in the region are now applauding. It's something Latin America's yanqui-bashers, if they want to keep receiving applause from Latin voters themselves, should keep in mind.
Opposite Approaches to Handling an Adversary
1. Bush's Method- Cold War, No communication- leading to Misunderstanding, Mistrust, and possible WAR.
2. Obama's Method- Extend an Open Hand, Listen, Understand, Negotiate, Come to terms- leading to PEACE.
"If I Make an Enemy my FRIEND, have I not one less Enemy!",... Jesus , Rob [bob-pol], racggg@gmail.com
> On Sat, Apr 18, 2009 at 7:16 AM, Blacks4Barack ! <Blacks4Barack@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hugo Chavez to President Obama:'I Want To Be Your Friend' PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Presidents Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez have met for the first time, shaking hands as the Summit of the Americas gets under way in Trinidad and Tobago.Photos released by the Venezuelan government show the two smiling and Obama touching Chavez on the shoulder.The Venezuelan presi dency says Obama initiated the handshake. It quotes Chavez as telling Obama he hopes for better relations between their nations.Chavez also reportedly said Friday: "With this same hand I greeted Bush eight years ago. I want to be your friend."As recently as last week, Chavez expressed a desire to "reset" relations with Washington.It's A New Day !B4B--Posted By Blacks4Barack ! to Greg Jones' BLACKS 4 BARACK ! BLOG at 4/18/2009 07:11:00 AM
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Presidents Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez have met for the first time, shaking hands as the Summit of the Americas gets under way in Trinidad and Tobago.
Photos released by the Venezuelan government show the two smiling and Obama touching Chavez on the shoulder.
The Venezuelan presi dency says Obama initiated the handshake. It quotes Chavez as telling Obama he hopes for better relations between their nations.
Chavez also reportedly said Friday: "With this same hand I greeted Bush eight years ago. I want to be your friend."
As recently as last week, Chavez expressed a desire to "reset" relations with Washington.
It's A New Day !
B4B
The Dow is Up!!!!
The Nasdaq is Up!!!
The S & P is Up!!!!!
Now the silly talking heads are up in arms about a simple greeting...how pathetic can the media really be?
The king’s heart is the hand of the lord, as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will,” who is the Originator of change, the power behind change, the organ of change and the outcome of change. In others word it will empower you to overcome the employer’s no, the banker’s no, the lender’s no, the government’s no, and the judge’s no! And experience God’s yes, in his timing and according to his will. How? One principle, one precept and one prayer at a time!
- Dr. Ralph A. Martino.
Wow. American Express must be getting desperate. In a bid to RID itself of customers, Amex will give you a $300 prepaid credit card if you cancel your account. According to CreditMattersBlog, it is offering the deal under the guise of enabling customers to "simplify" their finances.
I sure hope that they get a bailout deal from the American People.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/23/cancel-amex-get-300_n_169168.html
Jewish and Arab Neighbors Hold Hands for Peace Last Saturday 300 Jews and Arabs from the Wadi Ara region of Israel demonstrated against the harming of innocent civilians in Gaza and the surrounding Israeli region. The rally was organized by NIF grantee Awareness for You, which runs empowerment courses for Arab women in the village of Kfar Kara.
"I only expected about 90 people to attend the rally," explained Amna Ka'anana, "so I was surprised when we had 300 people all dressed in white and holding olive branches, about half and half Jews and Arabs. Many of the drivers who passed by, both Jews and Arabs, called out their support."
In addition to being a forum to voice concern over the conflict in Gaza, the rally was also an opportunity for the Jews and Arabs of Wadi Ara to come together. Among the many banners, one carried by an Arab read "Neighbors call for peace," while another carried by a Jew said "Jews and Arabs hand in hand."
Ka'anana said: "We sent a message of peace and coexistence to all of Wadi Ara, to all of Israel and to the entire world."
Ka'anana, who is an Orthodox Muslim, received NIF's London-Yaari Scholarship in 2007 for her work in women's empowerment. Last year she received the Knesset Speaker's Prize for Quality of Life.
When the fighting erupted in Gaza last month, she feared that the tensions could spill over into violent conflicts between Jews and Arabs in Wadi Ara. She invited several dozen Jewish and Arab activists to her home to discuss the situation, and they hit upon the idea of the Shabbat rally.
"I have always wanted to initiate social activities that bring Jews and Arabs together," explained Ka'anana, "so that we can understand one another's culture. Now the war has taken matters in a different direction. At the end of last week's rally many people started crying and that started me crying."
The rally ended with Jewish and Muslim prayers. Awareness for You plans similar peaceful rallies, with increased expected turnout, every Shabbat while the fighting continues.
barackobama.com sources:
1. http://arabamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3 2. http://jewishamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3 3. http://faith.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3
Also see Spirit of Reconciliation
Reverend Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Selected to Give Sermon at the National Prayer Service
Washington, D.C. - The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced today that General Minister and President Dr. Sharon E. Watkins of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has been selected to give the sermon at the National Prayer Service on Wednesday, January 21st. The National Prayer Service will be held at the National Cathedral at the conclusion of Inaugural activities and will celebrate America's diversity of faith. Reverend Dr. Sharon Watkins will be the first woman to deliver the sermon at this traditional Inaugural event.
"I am truly honored to speak at this historic occasion," said Reverend Watkins. "My prayer when I preach is always that God will use me to bring a Gospel message that is uplifting and appropriately challenging to those who hear it. I hope that my message will call us to believe in something bigger than ourselves and remind us to reach out to all of our neighbors to build communities of possibility."
Reverend Dr. Sharon E. Watkins has served as General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada since 2005. She is the first woman to hold this position. As General Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she is the general pastor of the 700,000-member denomination. As General President, she is the chief executive officer for the denomination, responsible for overseeing the work of the church's various structures. She is serving a six-year term that extends through 2011.
Dr. Watkins has an extensive background of service both in this country and abroad. She is a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches based in Geneva, and serves on the WCC's Permanent Committee for Consensus and Collaboration. In 2006, she was a representative at the World Council's General Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil. She is the former pastor of Disciples Christian Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where she served for eight years. Reverend Watkins holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Phillips Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from the Yale Divinity School, and a Bachelor's Degree in French and Economics from Butler University. She is married to Reverend Dr. Richard (Rick) H. Lowery, Interim Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky. They have two children, Bethany and Christopher.
The National Prayer Service, a tradition dating back to George Washington, will include prayers, readings and hymns delivered by religious leaders spanning a diverse array of faiths. More information about the event will be forthcoming.
For the latest information on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, please visit www.pic2009.org.
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