From The Marston Chronicles
We have watched with amusement as we read comments from our World News section here on The Marston Chronicles. Several snide news articles and comments have been made about how the American economy has slid into recession. Usually they accuse us of spending money like drunken sailors not just at the governmental level but at the personal level as well. One must wonder just what they think has been keeping their own mostly socialistic economies afloat lo these many years.
Now that the American consumers have reacted to the layoffs, credit crunch and home price deflation by being more frugal in their purchases, they are buying far fewer foreign imports. No more American tourists on a fling in foreign lands. The end result has been that other countries are feeling the economic pinch far worse than the United States is. Just what made these folks think that we could crash and burn economically and that they would still be peachy keen?
Here is just a sample of how wrong they have been:
China’s economic downturn has cost the jobs of 20 million rural migrants, prompting a call from the Communist Party’s security chief for efforts to calm possible unrest.
O2/03/09: Hundreds of British workers walked off the job Monday, part of a rising tide of industrial unrest sweeping Europe as the continent's economic downturn worsens.
02/03/09: Greek farmers demanding more aid from the government are the latest to protest in the European nation, as the ruling party’s popularity slides.
01/31/09 NY Times: Protesters held demonstrations throughout Russia on Saturday, offering largely subdued, but pointed criticism of the government’s economic policies as the country continues to sink deeper into an economic morass.
NPR.org, January 30, 2009 · As the global economic downturn sinks in, some people in Europe are expressing their economic pain in the form of strikes and protests.
Jan. 29, 2009: More than 1 million protesters took part, with tens of thousands of youths, retirees and unemployed people marching across towns and cities, police said.
This is a link to an Iceland news broadcast (in Icelandic) that shows just how tense the situation in Iceland is becoming. It appears that Olafur Orn Klemensson (and associate), an economist at the Central Bank of Iceland pushed protesters.
An outstanding and frequently updated blog about the Iceland economic crisis by a native Icelander. Chock full of videos and information about the current state of economic affairs in Iceland. This blog is a must read!
N.Y. Times Article: Riots broke out once again in the Baltic states on Friday, this time in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, where a group of 7,000 gathered to protest planned economic austerity measures.
N.Y. Times Jan 14, 2009: Violent protests over political grievances and mounting economic woes shook the Latvian capital, Riga, late Tuesday, leaving around 25 people injured and leading to 106 arrests.
Ariz. police say they are prepared as War College warns military must prep for unrest; IMF warns of economic riots
We Will All Go Down Together
“I, Barack Hussein Obama, Do Solemnly Swear…”
Cross posted at the Partisan Report
That is the question that is being kicked around by few folks in various parts of the nation. Will he or will he not use his full name to include, of course, the Muslim one ‘Hussein?’
In the past Obama opted not to be referred to using his middle name. Apparently it was a sensitive issue.
The Los Angeles Times brings up food for thought in their article Obama's inaugural oath
The article points out that no problem existed when President Bush swore in as George Walker Bush, and later added that 'W' has become his presidential nickname so affectionately given to him by the left -- not to mention, a major motion picture was also titled appropriately as W.
Well, by golly, then Barack should be able to use his full name that includes the common Muslim name. Americans just need to embrace the multicultural aspects of our nation. If it seems a little odd and, dare say, foreign to American ears where most are used to hearing more common American names that is something that will have to be gotten over. And quick, too. Because progress is in the making and the world will stop being mad at us when we finally decide to shake off that pesky regressive American-Anglo tradition. Terrorist everywhere will lay down their arms at such a gesture. Who knows, those who are already in cities waiting to unleash the next Mumbai will have a change of heart and finally love us. Stripped of such evil intent, the "Hussein" in Obama's full name shouldn't be taboo. Nor should the idea of an openly Muslim citizen deciding to seek the presidency. That point was made eloquently by former Secretary of State Colin Powell when he endorsed Obama. "Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?" Powell asked. "The answer is no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with a 7-year-old Muslim American kid believing he or she could be president?"
Most Muslim Americans believe in and are pursuing the American dream, and as Powell also noted, they are sometimes dying for it. Last year, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a survey concluding that American Muslims are "largely assimilated, happy with their lives and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world." The survey also found that "Muslim Americans reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries."
By larger margins? I bet if that same question was presented to American 'majorities' there would be a flat our rejection and repudiation of the cowardly, devilish, Islamist murders.
Here is some more scoop from the Pew Forum that the LA Times conveniently left out.[Continuation of the same information] However, there is somewhat more acceptance of Islamic extremism in some segments of the U.S. Muslim public than others. Fewer native-born African American Muslims than others completely condemn al Qaeda. In addition, younger Muslims in the U.S. are much more likely than older Muslim Americans to say that suicide bombing in the defense of Islam can be at least sometimes justified.
I don't know about you but that has mainstream written all over it. We truly are ONE people with all the same beliefs, desires and loyalties as the next.
There is some agreement: "Many doubt that Arabs were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Just 40% of Muslim Americans say groups of Arabs carried out those attacks."
I believe that puts them right in the middle of mainstream Hollywood and other bizarre elements of the Left.
Couture de Guerre
Back in July, hanging out with a few choice bff killing time the night before the super secret neocon coven at Davidson College kicked off the "Committee Of Five" grand strategy session, the Peninsula Yacht Club was the place to be.
The DJ slapped on the number one on Great Satan's Hit Parade - Katy Perry's runaway smash chick on chick tune "I Kissed A Girl."
"I kissed a girl and I liked it, the taste of her cherry chapstick.
I kissed a girl just to try it, hope my boyfriend don't mind it.
It felt so wrong, it felt so right. Don't mean I'm in love tonight."
Natch, the unfun brigade (ancient, elderly and prob wouldn't recognize a good time if it sat on their face) quickly screamed "Unclean!" and launched into a boring, pessimistic diatribe about how culture was circling the drain.
Your truly (after several illicit imbibations later informed were 'Fuzzy Navels") totally disagreed - and using the tune's middle eight to point out (with especial emphasis on the last line)
"Us girls we are so magical - Soft skin, red lips, so kissable
Hard to resist so touchable Too good to deny it
Ain't no big deal, it's innocent"
They were not entirely convinced.
A fortnight back, plotting a party posse panzer blitz to Georgia (almost like Russia) to a future alma mater - opening weekend at Fraternity Row was heralded as a full blown blow out. Hot guys, free booze and live music at every frat.
So after careful prep, inspection and travel a BMW load of hot! sassy, classy, sexyful hillbilly grrls - scented, sweet, soft, sophisticated and wearing nearly 2K dollars worth of au currant couture hit town right before dark. In short order party posse quickly discovered a rocking party and viola!
We gave each other the "Hey! We are the hottest grrls here!" look.
Faster than one can say "democratic imperatives" we were courted, dancing and enjoying the players gunning their engines and kicking their Messerschmitts in a dive to make a play.
We were on fire! Magnetic and irresistable - and all together with it.
When the band took a break, escorts quickly escorted party posse into the sanctum santorium (kind of a combo lounge, sitting room, library looking place. Tons of books, comfy chairs and of course, a fully stocked bar) for an especial beverage from private reserves. An antique engravingly etched objet d'art punch bowl with a psychadelic grape colored elixir on ice.
Party posse's royal taster intell'd it was like pure grain alcohol and grape Kool Aid - with a dash of Red Bull - the infamous "purple panty remover"
More guys and girls showed up. It was cool - party posse was maintaining air superiority, when the break music cranked up with Katy Perry's tune from a month past.
Two girls (who were way too tall) started kissing. Like French style.
Instantly all the gallant, chivalrous, hot! guys who were mesmerized by our every breath - instantly xformed into uncouth heathens, ran over with every other guy in the room and started yelling and screaming "pushy!" (only they weren't saying 'pushy') and high fiving each other and left us in the dust.
It was devastatingly completely clear - transparently, and seemingly counterminiously.
This was the front line in the 'Culture War'
Appearantly, it doesn't really matter how smart, beautiful, high class, educated, connected, designer dressed a girl is. - hotties are totally ignored thanks to two off the rack K Mart ho's sucking face.
Launching the counterattack with a half remembered adage -
Party posse quickly hopped up and up and siezed the high ground - the bar. No one could get a drink without getting through us.
This was it - the moment to regain the iniative -
When in Athens do as the Athenians do?
Pic -"Fun and Games at SAE
