Pat Condell: Welcome to Saudi Britain (subtitled)

Pat Condell rocks! His rant on sharia courts being established in Britain is no holds barred.

Click here for the subtitled video of Pat Condell’s latest: Welcome to Saudi Britain

Excerpt:

Over the last eleven years of this Labour government we’ve had in Britain the British people have seen their society subjected to social engineering on a massive scale by a misguided and arrogant liberal elite who, in their eagerness to fragment the fabric of our society, have actually succeeded in giving civilised values a bad name. Tolerance and diversity are good things on paper.  I’m sure we’d all vote for tolerance and diversity, but in practice they’ve become a nightmare of double-think and lies where the most unreasonable people in society are encouraged at every turn to be even more unreasonable.

Here’s a “lovely” email to Mr. Condell from a member of the religion of “peace”:

F**k you old bastard watch out buddy cause am coming we have lots of people where you live jihad is declared on you b*tch you dont ever insult islam or prophet muhammad(pbuh) sorry old bastard but i hope you had a fun time on earth cause your going to hell with the christians jews and athiest(s)

UPDATE 10.1.2008: YouTube took down Pat Condell’s latest video due to “terms of use violation”, LGF reported. It seems that YouTube would not allow any criticism against Saudi Arabia? That’s monumentally stupid for YouTube, unless they’re getting Islamic terrorist-network-backed funds?

Spurned Teleprompter Slams Obama in YouTube Video!

An angry Teleprompter made a YouTube video blasting Obama for spurning it, threatened ugly revelations to the public, unless Obama meet its certain accommodations if it is to help Obama wins the election.

LOL! A couple videos showing Obama fumbling around with what he was trying to say in front of his Obama-lovin’ audience without the Teleprompter. Just stay through the video to the end, it’s a hoot!

Video from Iowahawk.

The Future of a new world order – Dark and Unpredictable?

Well, the passage of the bailout bill failed big time recently. The European and Asian stock markets are about to be dealt with and the death knell of America’s global hegemony is to be sounded. *sigh* In that case, this 9/21st op-ed article from U.K.’s Daily Mail, is pretty much spot-on: Apocalype Now? New world order could have devastating implications for Western nations.

Excerpt:

America’s global dominance — already threatened by the emergence of rival economic powers such as China — may soon be coming to its end.

The U.S. will probably retreat inwardly, becoming isolationist, at any rate temporarily — opening the way to a new and even more menacing global order.

It is inevitable that America will soon withdraw from Iraq, leaving its bitter enemy, Iran, unchallenged as the dominant regional power.

China will become ever more assertive and will want to humiliate Washington by seizing control of Taiwan, something the White House will be powerless to resist. It will move on to threaten nearby India.

Africa will become the scene of proxy wars between China and the West, just as it was the scene of proxy wars between the United States and Soviet Russia for much of the post-war period.

China, much to U.S. fury, will also start to meddle in Latin America.

The world that will emerge from the Great Crash of 2008, therefore, will be dark and unpredictable.

Please read it all.

Then read the beginning of Red China’s global imperialism, from Peter Hitchens’ article: How China has created a new slave empire in Africa.

It’s funny how things are turning out for China nowadays: I used to read David Wingrove’s near-prophetic science fiction epic series, Chung-Kuo in the early 1990s. I hope David Wingrove could get his epic series re-printed someday.

Missouri Governor Slams Obama for Crackdown on Free Speech

Governor Matt Blunt (R) of Missouri slams the Obama campaign for using the state law enforcement officials to crackdown on critics of Barack Obama, as you can see his press conference’s statement released yesterday.

“Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts – not a free society.”

The Governor of Missouri is absolutely correct. Federal and state officials and politicians cannot goes after those who criticize them. The government and its officials are not above criticism or immune from free speech. You can see my blog, Rob’s Five Principles of Free Speech from March 15th of this year.

Clearly, the Obama campaign and their progressive/leftist ilk are engaging in an ongoing unrestricted warfare against right-wing bloggers, conservative critics and Christians just to silence and intimidate them. Those from the right are not likely to do anything against those from the left in the same manner, as Gov. Blunt pointed out: “Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them.”

It’s not that hard. Don’t resort to police state tactics. It’s a foolish and small-minded approach.

Note: the graphic above was done by yours truly. Click on it to expand.

Historical notation on the Sedition Acts: the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798.

Exposed: MSNBC Poll less American than Drudge Poll

Great detective job, Mike. Online Polls… who really won?

Excerpt:

But if you look at MSNBC’s traffic details approximately 21% of online readers went directly to MSNBC’s online poll came from the United States with 79% coming from foreign countries. It is well known that countries outside of the United States favor heavily Barack Hussein Obama for him to be the president. So, does that mean the 875,000 responses in MSNBC’s online poll vote doesn’t really count and it’s really some 183,000 votes (875,000 * 0.21) versus Drudge’s 387,000 (412,000 * 0.94) online voting result that came from American participants? Exactly how many Americans participated in these online polls on who won last night’s presidential debate? One thing that’s obvious and clear, approximately 21% of those who accessed MSNBC’s online poll vote page came from the United States when Drudge saw a 94% traffic rate coming from within the United States.

Face it: MSNBC (now MSDNC) is no longer American. More likely to sell America (and Democrats) out for the global audience they so cravely wanted. Mike’s detective work have garnered a lot of attention from political blogosphere, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and few others, now that MSDNC is bloviating over its stupid candy-ass online poll for the McCain/Obama debate.

Robriefs 9.26.2008

Robrief no. 1: Web-surfers should be aware of “clickjacking” attack in all browsers
From Macworld.com, a report about the dangers of “clickjacking” attack in all browsers.

Hansen’s research partner, Jeremiah Grossman, chief technology officer at WhiteHat Security Inc., explained how attackers could exploit clickjacking vulnerabilities.

“Think of any button on any Web site, internal or external, that you can get to appear between the browser walls,” Grossman said in an e-mail on Friday. “Wire transfers on banks, Digg buttons, CPC advertising banners, Netflix queue, etc. The list is virtually endless and these are relatively harmless examples. Next, consider that an attack can invisibly hover these buttons below the users’ mouse, so that when they click on something they visually see, they actually are clicking on something the attacker wants them to.”

Hansen seconded Grossman’s example with one of his own. “Say you have a home wireless router that you had authenticated prior to going to a [legitimate] Web site. “[The attacker] could place a tag under your mouse that frames in a single button an order to the router to, for example, delete all firewall rules. That would give them an advantage in an attack.”

Read it all. You all should be aware of this.

Robrief no. 2: The US a diminishing financial superpower?
I have been aware of a potential risk for a number of years that the United States of America may one day lose its financial superpower status, based on the latest financial turmoil within the US economy, all thanks to unchecked corporate greed and exploitation among the major financial institutions and giant lending companies in America. So, from FT.com, Peer Steinbrück, the German finance minister, blasted the US government for failing to stop the crisis in the first place by implementing stricter regulations, but, unfortunately, it’s too late and Steinbrück let it be known:

“The US will lose its status as the superpower of the world financial system. This world will become multi­polar” with the emergence of stronger, better capitalised centres in Asia and Europe, Mr Steinbrück told the German parliament. “The world will never be the same again.”

His were the most out­spoken comments by a senior European government figure since Wall Street fell into chaos two weeks ago.

He later told journalists: “When we look back 10 years from now, we will see 2008 as a fundamental rupture. I am not saying the dollar will lose its reserve currency status, but it will become relative.”

However, a large majority of American financial institutions, mainly banks, are not thoroughly affected by the crisis, since most of them do not engage in selling exotic products and risky assets, and riskier loans to those who cannot afford them long-term. Generally, many smaller banks remain unaffected and there’s no real risk of a bank run nationally. The problems steamed from the bigger Wall Street institutions and lending services that engaged in high-risk ventures, exotic/questionable assets, excessive short-sellings, riskier gambling with loans/credits and plain old greed.

Meanwhile, Washington Mutual just became JPMorganChase last night for only $1.9 billion and Seattle, Washington will see JPMC for the first time. See the acquisition history chart here, starting out from the Chemical Bank of New York in 1823. If JPMorganChase continues on its acquisition path with other banks in the future, it may become the largest bank in the world, potentially overtaking ICB of China, Bank of America, and HSBC of UK (see the world’s top largest banks).

Robrief no. 3: the first Presidential debate between Obama and McCain is tonight at 9 pm.
What I said above. Check it out. Theme is all about national security and foreign policy.

Christianity and Homosexuality: A Realist Perspective

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been paying modest attention to an embroiled debate among the deaf blogosphere about certain issues surrounding Christianity and homosexuality, especially it had started from a DeafVideo vlog few weeks ago, now since deleted from DVTV. Nevertheless, it had spilled over to here and here, then expanded to here and here. Now, don’t get all emotionally work up over this blog from me, just think and re-read it all carefully before. Neither deaf Christians nor deaf gays/lesbians are wrong about their own positions and opinions, no one can truly come to the same conclusions on either subject. One is inasmuch passionate about its beliefs as the other is.

To be a homosexual is a personal choice, just as one to be a Christian is a personal choice as well. To proclaim a specific life-affirming choice for a person’s lifestyle is fundamentally wrong. In fact, applying that choice in a “lifestyle” is totally inappropriate, as to use to describe someone’s particular (or peculiar, in some cases) living preferences based on a very specific personal choice for specific reasons. A choice is a choice is a choice that may last a lifetime or not. Period. People choose to be a gay or a Christian (or both) from a lifetime of experiences, struggles and consequences, whether on their terms or life happened. Moreover, I do not subscribe to the false notion that a human being is born gay, as the “born gay” idea had its wandering origins from Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, the pioneer gay founder of a German homosexual movement in the last half of the 19th century, which it seeks a legalization of sodomy, pedophilia and homosexual activities in a society not used to that kind of thing in the public consciousness. The four chapters of the nicely-researched “Born Gay Hoax” can be started here, especially recent studies have largely debunked the “born gay” theory.

This is not to say that the scientific research into homosexuality is without merit, in fact, more objective and unbiased studies are needed to further examine the deeper roots of homosexuality, without any influence or fund from moneyed same-sex activists, sexual psychologists and powerful organizations that wholly support the gay/lesbian cause to make everyone gay. Or even Christian or fundamentalist organizations seeking a favorable outcome to support underhanded efforts to criminalize homosexual acts in public and private environments. It must be free of political or religious considerations and let the public take it for what it can do for some, but not to blow it out of proportions.

The word, lifestyle, was first coined by an Austrian Jewish psychologist, Alfred Adler, in the last century. He described it as a collection of one’s values, behaviors and actions in his or her own environment, surrounded by personal attachment to cultural, religious and social aspects from his/her upbringing and representing to others as what he or she is all about. A person’s lifestyle is pretty much a boarded concept, if you will, since there are some things in a person’s life may apply as his or her ways of life to others. However, there are some things in a person’s life that he or she did not wanted others to know or share publicly. This is why I believe a person’s sexuality is rather a personal or private choice and whether that person’s sexuality is of no relevance to me in real life (in workplace, etc., for example). Do I need to be informed or aware that a person’s entire lifestyle is based solely on his or her preferred sexuality? That it makes any difference to anybody getting by the grinds and motions of life? Does it matter to everyone?

I believe in live-and-let-live philosophy and the Golden Rule. I work with gay and lesbian people, deaf and hearing, before, even few of my ex-bosses were gay and lesbian, they were pleasant and professional. I was even invited to a housewarming party of a gay couple who did an impressive work in renovating a 1900s-era house, which spurned a renaissance and renovation of old houses in an once high-crime, declining neighborhood. Columbus, Ohio is one of the most gay-friendly cities in America, although the city, especially within Central Ohio, have the largest growth of Christian denominations as well as small but fast-growing Muslim and Jewish communities.

Which bring to the subject of Christianity. Some Christians, in general (and depending on which denomination), are already open and being inclusive with gay and lesbian people, perhaps on a more humanistic and civil right ground, but not all Christians are of the same opinion in regarding to gays and lesbians, especially the choice of homosexuality in their lives.

To date, there is no established or definitive Christian position on homosexuality. There are many Christian denominations holding different views or interpretations on the Scriptures about homosexuality, some are more orthodox or strict than any other that’s holding a more liberal, open-minded position. Generally, the fundamentalists’ position on homosexuality is just this: they reject the unnatural and “sinful” way of people engaging in same-sex behaviors and actions. The Bible teaches the fundamentalists to love the sinners, for the sinners fall short the glory of God and needed to be taught and saved to the righteous path, for that the sins of man lead to hatred, depravity, immorality, violence, cruelty, evil and darkness among mankind. If the sinner is unrepentant and remains at his/her present choice(s), then the sinner cannot be saved and, therefore, be doomed to eternal damnation. Let me be clear, the Christian fundamentalists are not homophobic (which mean fear of homosexuals), it is just that they reject the sinful, unnatural practice of homosexuality among some people and they have every right to reject it outright, deeming it as impure and immoral to mankind.

I’m not saying of this from my perspective, but to put myself in the shoes of any Christian fundamentalist who saw all of man’s sins as abhorring and malicious to the very God who gave Life and Light to all of mankind and to the World. To some of you reading this blog, especially atheists, this may seem a fantastical ideal. But to the Christian fundamentalists, this matter to them the most, deaf or hearing. Every sinner’s soul matter the most to God. Otherwise, the three-faced Devil have them all in its fiendish grips to devour and sate its unending hunger, the doomed souls empower the Beast.

From a liberal Christian’s view, the sins of mankind must be addressed in a more, deeper and compassionate understanding of the problematic root causes and work to solve them by helping the sinners to improve or correct the problems themselves spiritually and personally. This is not to suggest the homosexuality can be corrected or fixed from there, but a deeper root cause have to be examined by one personally, perhaps caused by past life problems, family dysfunctions and/or abuses. For some, it may be of genetic nature that could seem as dysfunctional or, perhaps, deliberately “coded” by an unknown, mysterious factor that is yet to be identified scientifically.

Maybe it was the aliens from several tens of thousands years ago manipulating with primitive humans’ DNA and left some unidentified junk DNA codes in them? But seriously, human genome is a complex system consisted of 1.5% of identifiable codes and 97% of everything else, some largely unidentifiable.

Nonetheless, given the deep-seated anger that a majority of gays and lesbians have toward Christians over this sensitive subject of scriptural teachings about homosexuality and the “intolerable” Christian treatment of gays and lesbians, the problem may be more due to an ignorant and, mostly, misunderstood teaching of the Scriptures by those who either lived in the shadow of fear of sinners out to get them (paranoia, risk of persecution) or being ashamed of their sinful ways past or present (risk of repeating “mistakes”, living with past consequences). Christians, deaf or hearing, well-educated or not, needed not to get involved or engaged into the practice of intolerance, hatred, cruelty, violence or malice against gays and lesbians. To do that is sinful. It goes against what the Christ Jesus have taught through the Gospels.

Something about turning the other cheek, hmm?

Christians of all denominations needed to face up to the fact they are NOT appointed or anointed by God or the Christ Jesus to be the judge, jury and executioner of all mankind just because there are sins and sinners in the world. The job is reserved exclusively and solely to God alone.

Christians needed not to impose their Christian values and laws on everyone else who’s not Christian or whatever, especially gays and lesbians. It’s not right. How would Christians feel if Muslims, Jews or hedonistic atheists impose their values and laws upon them arbitrarily and without regard to their feelings? The world is not completely without limits on laws and values from all aspects of religion, culture and life, yet it would be extremely difficult to settle on a single set of laws and values that everyone on the planet would agree to that.

Christians, gays/lesbians, sinners, atheists, Muslims, Jews, you, me and, virtually, everyone else on God’s green Earth, live and let live.

Let God take care of all of us in the Day of Judgment. Our choices in life determine our fates.

NOTE: The Catechism of the Catholic Church on homosexuality is seen here. Other religions on homosexuality can be viewed here.

Power Outage Since Sunday

Hello, y’all. I did not have any power since Sunday afternoon, when the long “arm” of Hurricane Ike reached Ohio, giving the state, for the first time in Ohio’s history, a gust windstrom up to 75 mph! It was incredibly powerful, almost everything was knocked down: billboards, trees, power lines, telephone poles, traffic lights, signs, some roofs, shingles and all, dealership tents, etc. About 2/3rd of Ohio’s residents lost power, some towns and small cities have no power since then. What really sucked is that the unused frozen food have been thawed out and have to be tossed to trash, an unfortunate costly waste, not just for me, but for every resident who has a refrigerator with freezer.

Franklin County, where Columbus is located, has the largest number of residents who lost power – over 300,000 from Sunday. I just had power back on about 25 minutes ago. American Electric Power has been working hard day and night restoring power, clearing tree limbs or fallen trees from the lines and so on. Enormous, patient, difficult and dangerous work but the AEP guys and their auxiliary power service contractors should be applauded and acknowledged for it. They understand the residents’ concerns and grievances, because they have been trained to put themselves in the residents’ shoes. Great job, AEP guys.

However, there are still several thousand residents around central Ohio and beyond still waiting to get their power restored and some might not get it until next Monday. That’s a real bummer. The governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, have recently declared a statewide emergency, given the scope of damages and losses throughout Ohio.

In a way, Hurricane Ike gave Ohio a real taste of powerful gust winds as never before.

9.11.2008

Today is the 7th anniversary of the 9/11/2001 attacks. We must put aside all differences and stand together to honor and remember those who lost their lives in the largest terrorist attacks in the history of the United States of America. Below are the two pictures I took on 8th of August, last month. I say these powerful images should say it all for you.

Dedicated to all those who have lost their lives in the attacks and those who died serving and defending the country ever since. God bless America.

Dearest Ridor

Just came home from work, settled into my chair and read my today’s emails. Out of several emails, I see one from Ridor and boy, is he upset with me. I know Ridor since my years at Gallaudet in the early 1990s, in person but mainly know him from the intense VAX discussions over many different subjects. Not going into the details of that, these discussions were crazy fun or offensively bad (so bad that some of us were forced to go to see the Director of Student Life to address the problems and get our suspensions from the VAX system lifted or be on probation). Those were the days, long before the Internet became widely known and used by all. We were all young, dumb and full of it. Moving on.

Ridor is upset with me over two issues: one – that I did not bother to applaud or acknowledge the 10 deaf students who went to Denver for the DNC 2008 and I didn’t bother to transcend political affiliations and to build a common bridge with the Democrats. The other is that I have allowed, tolerated and approved Mike McConnell’s “incessant hatred for the Democrats” so far, which is all started from here.

*sigh*

Dearest Ridor, it is an Presidential election season, it’s always crazy and intense for everyone involved in it. Respectfully, it is great for these 10 deaf Democrats to go to Denver to participate in political activisim and the Democratic National Convention of 2008. I’m sure it must have been an incredible experience for them, getting to know all kind of political activities, peoples, the members of the media and maybe catch up with Democratic heavies or celebrities, including Obama himself. I strongly encourage anyone who’s d/Deaf and HOH to get involved in any kind of political activism, be it Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Reform, or whatever affiliation, take action to highlight the concerns and issues facing their friends and families, their community and their country. I even strongly encourage anyone who’s d/Deaf and HOH to support the ADA Restoration Act, as I frankly believe this must transcend all political affiliations, people with disabilities are real people with real concerns, not treated like second class citizens and be ignored or unheeded.

Some of my good friends and few family members are Democrats. My sister is one, a true blue Democrat (though, she prefers Hillary to Obama). I have done strong discussions with them over several issues, though, disagreements, arguments and disappointments abounded, as expected, but it doesn’t really change anything deeply between me and them. I still value their insights and inputs, their friendships and I still love my sister, too. Moreover, I still adhere to the rule of “agree to disagree” over these touchy subjects and leave it at that. I don’t hate all the Democrats, though, I might feel a little sorry for them or disappointment in them. Which bring up to your point about Mike’s “hatred for Democrats”.

There are all shades of Democrats, just as there are all shades of Republicans or any political affiliation. The views from either of them ranged far and wide, if I may say, extremely diverse. There are some hardcore Democrats (of the far left variety) just as there are some hardcore Republicans (of the far right variety). It’s not surprising their extreme views from either of them make those who stay close or lean to the center uncomfortable. Worse, a bridge cannot be built between them on some common grounds so as long as either of them remain stubbornly at their current positions and not to give in to weakness, due to the unfortunate fact their moderate/softcore peers are keeping their arms’ length at the hardcore peers, perhaps waiting for the day to fall back and count on them for political leverages and future opportunities. History is filled with ‘em.

In the game of politics, you cannot take a chance to build a bridge with someone on the other side for purely sincere or altruistic reasons, even when someone on the other side may have a knife behind his back while he’s extending a handshake to you. History is filled with this kind of deceit and betrayal between sides. You have to be very certain to know and understand the other side’s grievances and not fall back on your preconceived notions and prejudice toward them.

I don’t see anything of “incessant hatred” Mike has exhibited so far against the Democrats. If he did, he would be calling for the rounding up, putting them in the camps and trying all of them in show-trials, maybe executing some of them for spite. But that’s not Mike. What he doesn’t like from some of the Democrats (perhaps pointedly at the hardcore types) with their engagement in the dishonesty, the lying & smearing, the rumor-mongering or gossiping, the hyperventilating of something so unsubstantiated that it would spread like an uncontrollable wildfire and ending up ruining someone’s reputation based on some presumptions or lies. The case-in-point with some Democrats’ out-of-controlled attempt to smear and trash Sarah Palin and her own family matters just the day after Palin was picked to be McCain’s Vice President.

In my opinion, it is shameful and disgusting for the Democrats and liberals to resort to that kind of unacceptable dirty politics. Even more, I blame the mainstreamed media the most for helping them along. As a republican, why should I build a bridge with the Democrats on common grounds while they cannot control and behave their hardcore/far left supporters from attacking and smearing the Republicans and Americans who really care about the United States of America at all?

Over several years, I have been attacked by some Democrats and leftists for standing up and defending important American interests. Why? Because I can see the whole big picture. They can’t. They resorted to juvenile, intellectually-dishonest and small-minded tactics just to belittle me. These so-called “Democrats”

Think about that, Ridor.

Mike is a big boy. He can take care of himself and he does not need me to hush him up, wipe his nose and tell him to be a good boy. Looking at all of your past posts, I can see why Mike is pretty much pissed with you, a Democrat, for coming up with unsubstantiated claims about the Republicans, about Sarah Palin, for your vulgar insistence on getting him to answer your questions, for calling him with an inappropriate term, and for implying a homosexual rendezvous with him. I think you were just kidding at the last one, but Mike, being married for 15 years and all, thought it was really inappropriate for you to do that.

Nevertheless, I have so far encouraged and tolerated your very blunt and graphic posts in my blog, Ridor, just as I encouraged and tolerated Mike’s. I don’t believe in outright censorship just because you two have sharp and angry disagreements in my blog, beside editing or deleting inappropriate vulgar language and profanity. You and Mike are both big boys, if you guys really wanting to have a go at each other, I’ll provide the boxing gloves and I’ll referee. Let me know if you’re both interested.

For Mike, one last thing… ease up, man. I know, understand and empathize with you. Just lay off Ridor for awhile. Ridor is Ridor, there’s nothing you and I can do to change his mind. He just says it like it is and will continue to say it like it is. His posts and blogs will be held up to the public scrutriny, just like yours and mine. We hold ourselves to be accountable for all the things we say, write or blog, whether in person or online. Just as the Republicans and the Democrats (and all other politicial affiliations) hold themselves and their various peers accountable for their own core belief systems, statements and actions; because it does matter to their friends and families, their communities and their country, and perhaps one day we all find a good way to build the bridge between them on firmer, common grounds. Without knives behind their backs, without prejudice, deceit or betrayal.

We’re all humans.

PS – Know what, Ridor? These Republicans and Democrats working at the U.S. Congress and in the government. All day, they argue or debate hard in the halls or in the chambers, then, when the day is over, they goes to the pubs or restaurants, have beers, talk like friends and have a good time, for tomorrow is like another day to fight for the good of the country.

A word of advice to all others: once you cross the threshold of any political discussion, you are a fair game to others. Don’t back out just because you suddenly don’t like to discuss about politics or when the going get too tough for you. Actually, don’t be too easily intimidated. Know your subjects well, become more familiar with something you know a little about and read others’ responses to others to follow the flow of a tough or touchy debate. It can be helpful in some cases. Just learn and live.