International Action Day "Freedom not fear - Stop the surveillance mania!" on 11 October 2008

Stoppt die Vorratsdatenspeicherung! - International Action Day "Freedom not fear - Stop the surveillance mania!" on 11 October 2008

A broad movement of campaigners and organizations is calling on everybody to join action against excessive surveillance by governments and businesses. On 11 October 2008, concerned people in many countries will take to the streets, the motto being "Freedom not fear 2008". Peaceful and creative action, from protest marches to parties, will take place in many capital cities.

Surveillance mania is spreading. Governments and businesses
register, monitor and control our behaviour ever more thoroughly. No
matter what we do, who we phone and talk to, where we go, whom we are
friends with, what our interests are, which groups we participate in -
"big brother" government and "little brothers" in business know it more
and more thoroughly. The resulting lack of privacy and confidentiality is putting at
risk the freedom of confession, the freedom of speech as well as the
work of doctors, helplines, lawyers and journalists.

The manifold agenda of security sector reform encompasses the
convergence of police, intelligence agencies and the military,
threatening to melt down the division and balance of powers. Using methods of mass surveillance, the borderless cooperation
of the military, intelligence services and police authorities is
leading towards the construction of "Fortresses"
in Europe and on other continents, directed against refugees and
different-looking people but also affecting, for example, political
activists, the poor and under-priviledged, and sports fans.

People who constantly feel watched and under surveillance
cannot freely and courageously stand up for their rights and for a just
society. Mass surveillance is thereby threatening the fabric of a
democratic and open society. Mass surveillance is also endangering the work and commitment of civil society organizations.

Dix soldats français ont été tués en Afghanistan

Dix soldats français ont été tués en Afghanistan - Asie-Pacifique - Le Monde.fr

Dix parachutistes français de la force de l'OTAN en Afghanistan ont été tués dans une embuscade tendue par des talibans. Vingt et un militaires français ont également été blessés mais leur "état sanitaire est maintenant stabilisé", a indiqué le ministre de la défense, Hervé Morin. Les combats se sont déroulés lundi à une soixantaine de kilomètres à l'est de Kaboul et se sont poursuivis dans la nuit.

Nato cools relations with Russia after emergency summit on Georgian crisis

Nato cools relations with Russia after emergency summit on Georgian crisis - Telegraph

At an emergency summit in Brussels the 26 Nato states said that they were "seriously considering" the implications of Moscow's actions over their failure to withdraw their troops from Georgia in accordance with a ceasefire agreement.

Separately, they agreed to set up a new forum known as a Nato-Georgia Commission to deepen ties with Tbilisi.

The Alliance condemned Russian military action in Georgia as "disproportionate and inconsistent with its peacekeeping role" in the joint statement, stressing that "there is no military solution to the unresolved conflicts."

Although Russia has repeatedly announced it is pulling out the troops which poured into the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkazia to support rebel militias, little evidence of the withdrawal has emerged on the ground.

McKinney Isn’t Whitebread Enough To Be A Green

The Try-Works » Blog Archive » McKinney Isn’t Whitebread Enough To Be A Green

The mighty James Benjamin found a couple of tidbits about the Colorado Greens which he was kind enough to leave in the comments. The first being a piece from the co-chair of the Green Party of Colorado, which Dr. Benjamin titled, “McKinney isn’t whitebread enough to be a Green.”

I am the co-chair of the Green Party of Colorado, but I am not supporting Cynthia McKinney for President.

Colorado Green Party candidates this year are exceptional and I support them whole heartily: Bob Kinsey for U.S. Senate; Art Goodtimes for San Miguel County Commissioner; Scott Zulauf for Jefferson County Commissioner; Jerry Lacy for Custer County Commissioner; Joe Calhoun for Congress-CD 2; and Tony D’Lallo for State House District 34.

There have been internal Green Party controversies involving the Green Party of Colorado and the McKinney presidential campaign that have raised very serious concerns for me — structurally the McKinney campaign is disorganized, uncommunicative, and there have been incidents of a dismissive attitude towards state and local Green Party groups. These failings in operation are seriously at odds with the Ten Key Values that make the Green Party distinctively different from the major political parties.

The Color Cycle In Interracial Dating (Amongst Women)

Gender and Race - I've noticed that Depending on the Race and Gender usually determines who you date interracially.

With White Women it's Black Men
White Men it's Asian Women
Asian Men it's White Women
Black Men - it's ANYTHING
Indian Women - it's White Men
Latin Women in American - Black Men

The common denominator falls to white because non white races value white! above the other non white races.

More mixed people are White and something else, than Non-White and Non-White!

But then again this is AMERICA! a Majority White Country! Soo... Which one is it?

Fair and Lovely
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jthAkr...

Black Women More Likely to Die in Childbirth than Whites or Latinas

Think Girl » Black Women More Likely to Die in Childbirth than Whites or Latinas

A probing 90-question review promises to unravel the stubborn knot of questions about why as many as 139 women died from pregnancy-related complications in New York state between 2003 and 2005 and why New York City continues to be a leader in maternal mortality.

For more than two years, a voluntary maternal mortality review conducted in the state has been struggling with its own life-and-death problem: the disappearance of New York City hospital participation.

In bad taste: John McCain's ten worst jokes

US Elections - Times Online - WBLG: In bad taste: John McCain's ten worst jokes

To his supporters, a ribald wit with a healthy disrespect for political correctness; to his critics, a reckless foul-mouth - John McCain has often attracted attention for cracking jokes that might politely be described as “offbeat”.

Today, liberal tempers flared once again after the Republican nominee quipped that Guantanamo was “one of the nicest places in the world to live in” during a Q&A at the Aspen Institute (see the video below). So on the occasion of this latest demonstration of his legendary humour, we’ve compiled a list of McCain's ten worst “jokes”.

1. The rape joke. During his 1986
Senate campaign, he told the following joke in front of a number of
journalists: “Did you hear the one about the woman who is
attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly
and left to die? When she finally regains consciousness and tries to
speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contently and to feebly
ask, 'Where is that marvelous ape?'"

2. The “Bomb Iran” song. Earlier
in his presidential campaign, McCain was asked by a participant at a
town hall meeting when the US “should send an air mail message to
Tehran”. He replied: “Do you know that old Beach Boys song,
Bomb Iran?” before proceeding to sing “Bomb bomb
bomb” to the tune of the hit Barbara-Ann

3. The one about killing Iranians. In July,
McCain was asked by reporters on the campaign trail about data showing
a ten-fold increase in US exports to Iran during Bush’s
presidency, with a particular rise in tobacco exports. “Maybe
that’s a way of killing them,” he replied, chuckling awhile
before adding: “I meant that as a joke.” Iran,
understandably, was not so amused.

4. The Chelsea Clinton joke. At a Senate
Republican fundraiser in 1998, when Chelsea was just 18, he took aim at
both her appearance and that of the then attorney-general . "Why is
Chelsea Clinton so ugly?" he asked guests. "Because her father is Janet
Reno."

5. The one about waterboarding. Despite
previously condemning primary rival Rudy Giuliani for comparing the
race to torture, McCain made a similar reference at a press conference
with Florida governor Charlie Crist in January this year. When Crist
was asked by reporters whether McCain had pressured him for his
endorsement, McCain, a torture victim himself, interjected: "It was
just waterboarding."

6. The other ones about waterboarding. About
a month later, McCain made a very similar joke reported in the New York
Times. With his presidential hopes apparently fading, a number of his
staff had deserted the campaign, only to return when McCain resurrected
his bid with a New Hampshire victory. There was, he jibed "a
short period of waterboarding to find out what they did in their
absence."

7. The Fidel joke. In February amid reports
of Castro’s failing health, McCain told a town hall in Indiana,
"I hope he has the opportunity to meet Karl Marx very soon."

8. The Alzheimers jibe. Shortly after
President Reagan had been diagnosed with the degenerative illness,
McCain made the following joke at a Republican fundraiser. “ Do
you know the best thing about having Alzheimer's?” he
asked. “You get to hide your own Easter eggs.”

9. The IED joke. When appearing on the
admittedly satirical (and liberal-leaning) programme The Daily Show
earlier this year, McCain joked that he'd brought host John Stewart an
improvised explosive device as a gift from Iraq. The jibe drew
criticism from relatives of US soldiers, over 1,700 of whom have been
killed by IEDs.

10. The one about the French. In
an interview with Fox News, McCain aimed at America’s allies in
Afghanistan. "You know," he began, "the French remind me a little bit
of an aging actress of the 1940s who is still trying to dine out on her
looks but doesn't have the face for it."

But despite his penchant for a little not-so-gentle ribbing, McCain
doesn't cope very well on the receiving end. During his 1992 Senate
campaign, a little inter-spousal teasing got out of control when, in
front of aides and three reporters, his wife Cindy playfully twirled
his hair and noted that he was thinning a little on top. His reply? "At
least I don't plaster make-up on like a trollop, you c**t."

Bernie Mac: Oct 5 1957- Aug 9 2008 gone but never forgotten

Bernie Mac is dead. Bernie died from complications of pneumonia. He will be missed by his many fans. His many prized performances include Bernie Mack in the Kings of comedy, FRIDAY, BOOTY CALL,Players Club, Charlies Angles, Def Comedy Jam and The Bernie show. We love you Bernie RIP

Guess who- part 5 of 13

The Late Bernie Mac at his best.

Tribute to Bernie Mac

RIP Bernie Mac. You'll be greatly missed by all!

Bernie Mac DEAD at 50 (NewsTV) RIP

CHICAGO (AP) — Bernie Mac, the actor and comedian who teamed up in the casino heist caper "Ocean's Eleven" and gained a prestigious Peabody Award for his sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show," died Saturday at age 50.

"Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.

She said no other details were available and asked that his family's privacy be respected.

The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.

Recently, Mac's brand of comedy caught him flack when he was heckled during a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama.

Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine, Mac joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language. The performance earned him a rebuke from Obama's campaign.

But despite controversy or difficulties, in his words, Mac was always a performer.

"Wherever I am, I have to play," he said in 2002. "I have to put on a good show."

Mac worked his way to Hollywood success from an impoverished upbringing on Chicago's South Side. He began doing standup as a child, and his film career started with a small role as a club doorman in the Damon Wayans comedy "Mo' Money" in 1992. In 1996, he appeared in the Spike Lee drama "Get on the Bus."

He was one of "The Original Kings of Comedy" in the 2000 documentary of that title that brought a new generation of black standup comedy stars to a wider audience.

"The majority of his core fan base will remember that when they paid their money to see Bernie Mac ... he gave them their money's worth," Steve Harvey, one of his costars in "Original Kings," told CNN on Saturday.

Mac went on to star in the hugely popular "Ocean's Eleven" franchise with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

His turn with Ashton Kutcher in 2005's "Guess Who" topped the box office. It was a comedy remake of the classic Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn drama "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" — with Mac as the black dad who's shocked that his daughter is marrying a white man.

Mac also had starring roles in "Bad Santa," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Transformers."

In the late 1990s, he had a recurring role in "Moesha," the UPN network comedy starring pop star Brandy.

The comedian drew critical and popular acclaim with his Fox television series "The Bernie Mac Show," which aired more than 100 episodes from 2001 to 2006.

The series about a man's adventures raising his sister's three children, won a Peabody Award in 2002. At the time, judges wrote they chose the sitcom for transcending "race and class while lifting viewers with laughter, compassion — and cool."

The show garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Mac.

"But television handcuffs you, man," he said in a 2001 Associated Press interview. "Now everyone telling me what I CAN'T do, what I CAN say, what I SHOULD do, and asking, `Are blacks gonna be mad at you? Are whites gonna accept you?'"

He also was nominated for a Grammy award for best comedy album in 2001 along with his "The Original Kings of Comedy" co-stars, Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric The Entertainer.

In 2007, Mac told David Letterman on CBS' "Late Show" that he planned to retire soon.

"I'm going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit," Mac told Letterman. "I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977."

Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago. He grew up on the city's South Side, living with his mother and grandparents. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist church.

In his 2004 memoir, "Maybe You Never Cry Again," Mac wrote about having a poor childhood — eating bologna for dinner — and a strict, no-nonsense upbringing.

"I came from a place where there wasn't a lot of joy," Mac told the AP in 2001. "I decided to try to make other people laugh when there wasn't a lot of things to laugh about."

Mac's mother died of cancer when he was 16. In his book, Mac said she was a support for him and told him he would surprise everyone when he grew up.

"Woman believed in me," he wrote. "She believed in me long before I believed."

BREAKING NEWS= Bernie Mac Dies at 50

RIP brother bernie. You'll be truly missed.