Not so sure about it when you consider the bigger picture.
If you were United States (or in charge of its' most important , vital policies and operations), wouldn't you find it the only possible way , to rather err on the side of safety than otherwise? And by safety, if you talk of National Security, you would also have to consider long term foreign policy and domestic consequences not just immediate threats.
She claims that books or DVDs sold by her are non-political, this may very well be true since she can claim it's religious in nature. But what books and DVDs are sold there? What are the political imlications and consequences to US of selling them to public? Are there any books condemning anyone outside of her faith and calling for direct attack and conversion of "unbelievers"? If so (and we must presume that there is a possibility of it being so, based on what we know of religious literature so far), and if she directly profits from the activity of selling them, then wouldn't you, if you were the United States, find it contrary to your interests and even directly against it if ? And if you did, then why wouldn't you want to put this person on your "watch list". And if she has a husband who converted to her religion ,probably after reading those books, wouldn't you by default place him on the list too?
I mean, we are all grown up adults here. Just look at it with cold head. ACLU can say all it wants, but running a State , especially a State as powerful and complex as the United States, takes more than clapping hands and singing good happy songs like children.
It takes actions and some of them will inevitably have consequences that will ruin someones' career or cause some inconveninces, but when you look at bigger picture you always have to compare the cost to benefit and never allow the former outweigh the latter. Or else you have nothing to do with running a State or any large entity.
This is just something that ACLU, among with the rest, will have to live with. It's life, it's real and nothing like an imaginary f.airy tale.
So you'd automatically side with the Government of the day's views on everything then? If you keep following that path, you'll end up with a police state. Do you really want that?
Originally posted by Brit4064: It's one thing being stuck in the FBI namecheck for years, how about being on the terror watch list and not being able to get off it and as a result, loose your job? Crazy!
Name on government watch list threatens pilot's career
excellent story. this type of thing happens all too often . Hopefully, this lawsuit will bring some order/reason to who and why someone or group can get place on this so called "watch list"
@E
I too am one to side with reason. Except that there has not been a reason given. The watch list people need WATCHERS!
Iraq is the poster child for this type nonsense. The watcher and watch list people said there were wmd and danger to usa in Ira when, while actually it was a personal agenda and vendetta. Who can you trust, and Who do you trust
I too am one to side with reason. Except that there has not been a reason given. The watch list people need WATCHERS!
Iraq is the poster child for this type nonsense. The watcher and watch list people said there were wmd and danger to usa in Ira Roll Eyes when, while actually it was a personal agenda and vendetta. Who can you trust, and Who do you trust Wink
[quote]
Indeed. What really gets me is that he served in US military for 13yrs! So what if he converted to Islam and his wife is from Pakistan? Not all Muslims are terrorists. As you say, there's no reason given other than National Security.
OldE obviously defers to the "wisdom" of the US Government in such cases even when there's no reason given.
We voted Democrat. They'll be no need to sneak in anymore
I still got the Olympic fever! Shawn got a worthy reception from her hometown. Hopefully the other Olympians who gave the US honor in the last Olympics were given a grand welcome like this too. GO SHAWN! (And Nastia!)
Olympic gold medal-winner returns home By NIGEL DUARA, Associated Press Writer 15 hours, 39 minutes ago
Buzz Up Print DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)—The story, as told by Shawn Johnson, goes like this: She was headed to David Letterman’s show Monday from Chicago when the airline reported a problem.
Apparently, the pilot had an incident when he heard Johnson was on his plane.
“I guess he just like freaked out and hit his head,†Johnson said Tuesday to a crowd of thousands in her first appearance back to her hometown. “They had to take him to the hospital for stitches.â€
The hysteria continued Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Arena, where the gold-medal winning gymnast was feted with a reception worthy of a rock star.
Johnson, 16, won one gold and three silver medals at the Olympics. Iowa has seen Johnson in several iterations: her ever-present grin at the Beijing Olympics, a bronze sculpture in the Iowa Hall of Fame, and an all-butter representation kept in a cooler at the Iowa State Fair.
The rest of the nation has, too, as Johnson has garnered endorsements with major corporations like Coca-Cola, Adidas, McDonald’s and Hy-Vee. She has also appeared in television ads and on Coke cans, ice cream boxes and orange juice containers.
Though Johnson seems acclimated to the spotlight, her father Doug Johnson seemed less so.
Asked about the experience in Beijing, he said “It’s been really weird,†and compared the Chinese media to the American papar***i.
The crowd stood and cheered for Johnson’s parents. It gave a standing ovation to her two coaches and roared at a replay screen showing Johnson’s highlights.
And when the 4-foot-9-inch gymnast took the stage it was pandemonium.
Babies were bounced, little girls screamed and young men near the rafters held up signs proposing marriage.
Johnson was asked repeatedly about her prospects for the 2012 London Olympics. Her coach Liang Chow said she will take some time off before considering her next step.
“We would like more Olympics,†Chow said.
Johnson is scheduled to begin a 40-city gymnastics tour next week.
Oh and yes, London in 2012!
Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can.
This may sound like a suggested newlywed’s list for What To Pack on Your Honeymoon; it is, however, only an excerpt of the paraphernalia Douglas and Annie Brown utilized on their 101 day *** extravaganza detailed in Douglas Brown’s Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned On Their *** Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses!)
I know what you’re thinking—right, who are these people, hot 18 year olds? Probably with no job, no kids, no hang-ups of any kind. Certainly no responsibilities or, God forbid, any stress. You’d be wrong there. The Browns are in their early forties, both working, and with two young, rambunctious daughters. And their 101 day *** odyssey forged on despite everything from illness to arguments to long, irritating days at work.
After fourteen years together, ***, Brown writes, “had turned into a mere adequacy…Careers and age shifted our end-of-the-day enthusiasms from carnal athletics to pulling sheets to shoulders and whispering ‘good night’…more than three years after the birth of our second daughter, we did it about once a week, if we were lucky.â€
Sound familiar? So how did these two go from a once-a-week fling to 101 consecutive romps between the sheets? Believe it or not, it was NOT Douglas’ idea—it was Annie’s. After hearing about how men in Denmark who have not had *** in a hundred or more days form clubs to bond over their lack of loving (Note to Single Women: book a flight to Denmark immediately), Annie suggested that she and Douglas form their own exclusive “***-club†and have *** for one hundred consecutive days.
After some initial purchasing of massage oils, candles, libido enhancing herbal supplements, books with titles like The Yin Yang Butterfly: Ancient Chinese Sexual Secrets for Western Lovers, redecorating their bedroom as a “*** den†(removing all pictures of kids, family, and relatives; purchasing **** lights and bed accessories; stocking up on candles, incense and CDs like Tantric Music; installing a child-proof lock on the door) and plenty of high-quality lubricant, Douglas and Annie were off. Come Hell, high water, head colds, fussy, night-wandering little preschool aged girls, and just plain fatigue, the two succeeded in getting it on every day (sometimes at night, sometimes in the morning, a few times in the afternoon) for 101 days. They experimented with everything from ****ography (either a disappointment or hilariously ridiculous they decided) to bullet vibrators, to feathers, to unusual positions, to *** instructional videos, to Viagra and Cialis.
Sometimes everything clicked and the *** was great. Other times, getting it on was a mere act of will, a let’s-get-this-over-with-and-get-to-sleep-as-fast-as-possible challenge. However, by the end of the 101 days, both Douglas and Annie felt like their marriage had grown in ways they wouldn’t have dreamed possible. They touched more. They felt more in sync with one another’s feelings. “I feel closer to you than I have in years,†Annie told Douglas, “and that’s saying something, because it’s not like we exactly drifted away from each other.†Regular *** went from being “some sort of monumental event†to being a huge part of their lives; it put “muscle†into their already strong relationship.
Daily *** made both feel sexier than they had in years. Since they were now going out of their way to be more alluring to each other, they paid more attention to their health and physical appearance: Annie got a Brazilian wax job and wore lower cut tops; Douglas worked out and even attended yoga classes. Having more *** made them feel closer to each other which increased their communication; and greater communication made the *** even better. Do you see the connection here?
There is a lot of talk nowadays about communication in marriage and how important it is. Of course, that’s true, but those advice columns almost always focus exclusively on verbal communication. Talking candidly to your spouse is incredibly important, but what about the physical side of things? True communication between a husband and wife is not just verbal and emotional, it’s physical too. Take care of each of these and you’ll be well on your way to celebrating a golden wedding anniversary.
Have all the good s.ex you can, in all the ways you can, for as long as ever you can !
-- Sabuntium The Great
Posts: 928 | Location: Originally from: Galaxy of Centaurus A (also known as NGC 5128) | Registered: 06-26-2008
I thought about placing this in the Presidential immigration thread, but it does not quite fit, so this was my second choice.
quote:
Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 28 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Congress is putting the short-term future of renewable energy companies in jeopardy even as the presidential candidates and most lawmakers hail windmills, solar panels and biofuels as long-term solutions to high gasoline prices and global warming. ADVERTISEMENT
Some $500 million in investment and production tax credits will expire Dec. 31 unless Congress renews them. Without that help, solar and wind power companies say they will reverse planned expansions and, in many cases, cut payrolls and capital investment.
Schott Solar has visions of quadrupling its operation in Albuquerque, N.M., to reach 1,500 jobs and $500 million in investment. But the investment tax credit, company spokesman Brian Lynch said, is what makes solar power cost-competitive. Without it, expansion plans must be reconsidered.
"We don't want to build a giant factory that the market doesn't need or want," Lynch said.
The Solar Energy Industries Association says some 20 utility-scale solar power plants, many in California and together capable of producing power for a million homes, are at risk because of the uncertainty in Congress.
Proponents of wind power, a nascent industry that relies on skittish investors, are in a similar predicament. Greg Wetstone of the American Wind Energy Association says his group is predicting a loss of 76,000 jobs and $11.4 billion in investment if Congress allows its production tax credit to expire.
"Investors like to know what tax policies apply when they are putting millions of dollars down on a project. There's a pretty clear history that these projects are less likely to go forward without a credit," he said.
Congress let the credit expire in 2000, 2002 and 2004. In those three years, wind capacity installation dropped 93 percent, 73 percent and 77 percent, respectively, from the previous year.
Navigant Consulting, which advises on renewable energy technology, estimated that investments in wind and solar power in 2009 would amount to $26.6 billion with the credits; that would fall to $7 billion without them.
The credits are expected to total $334 million, according to congressional estimates.
"These companies are shutting down projects, firing people and it's Congress's fault," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Investment tax credits, available to homeowners and businesses that invest in solar power equipment, and the production tax credit, based on kilowatt hours of energy produced by wind, geothermal, biomass and other renewables, are only two of dozens of temporary tax breaks that die out after a year or two if Congress does not revive them.
This year Congress is considering tax-extenders worth more than $50 billion over the next decade. The production tax credit would cost $7 billion and two solar investment credits would cost $2.7 billion over 10 years.
In addition to breaks for renewable energy and energy conservation, several dozen other tax breaks are targeted to businesses and individuals. They include people paying state and local sales taxes; parents with higher education tuition costs; and teachers with out-of-pocket expenses.
Almost all the provisions are popular. But Senate Republicans have blocked consideration of tax-extender plans by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. GOP lawmakers are protesting efforts to offset the costs with other taxes or other items attached to the proposals. In the House, conservative Democrats promise to block any extension that adds to the deficit.
That's nothing new.
In 2006, Congress did not come together on a tax-extender deal until December, forcing the Internal Revenue Service to delay processing returns claiming several of the tax breaks. In 2007 Congress never agreed on extenders and again waited until December, causing more IRS disruption, to settle another annual tax crisis, the alternative minimum tax.
That tax was, enacted 40 years ago, was supposed to keep a tiny number of very rich people from avoiding taxes. But it never was adjusted for inflation and now reaches into the pockets of 4 million people, mainly upper middle-income. Millions more are threatened every year until Congress steps in, usually at the last possible moment. The Baucus bill has provisions to keep those affected by the tax from growing to 25 million, at a cost of $61 billion over the next decade.
"A big part of the problem is uncertainty," said Marie Lee, a tax analyst with the American Electronics Association. "Our companies are getting tired of this game."
The biggest concern for high-tech companies and manufacturers is the research and development credit, which expired at the end of last year. Some 17,700 corporations claimed $6.6 billion in credits in 2005, according to a recent study by Ernst & Young LLP. About 70 percent of that went to pay wages of scientists and engineers.
The credit has been allowed to expire 13 times since it was adopted in 1981. One repercussion, said Monica McGuire, executive secretary of the R&D Credit Coalition, is that more companies are taking their research dollars overseas.
"It's a global race for R&D dollars," she said, and the odds are not good when at least 20 developed nations offer tax incentives and the United States currently has nothing.
Putting expiration dates on tax breaks is a useful budget gimmick for lawmakers seeking to mask the growing federal budget deficit.
Because they are set to expire at a certain date by law, they do not count as revenue losses after that date even though most people assume Congress eventually will act to extend them. The Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 are the biggest extenders of all in this respect. Trillions of dollars will be added to the federal debt if Congress chooses to make them permanent after they are set to expire in 2010.
Tax breaks and investment credits for new, undeveloped industries is an excellent way to build up customer demand with leveraging the risk of these companies. I say expand renewable energy tax breaks for short and long term investment.
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams on Defense of the boston Massacre
Originally posted by Brit4064: [QUOTE] I too am one to side with reason. Except that there has not been a reason given. The watch list people need WATCHERS!
Iraq is the poster child for this type nonsense. The watcher and watch list people said there were wmd and danger to usa in Ira Roll Eyes when, while actually it was a personal agenda and vendetta. Who can you trust, and Who do you trust Wink
quote:
Indeed. What really gets me is that he served in US military for 13yrs! So what if he converted to Islam and his wife is from Pakistan? Not all Muslims are terrorists. As you say, there's no reason given other than National Security.
OldE obviously defers to the "wisdom" of the US Government in such cases even when there's no reason given.
The problem wit the government watch list is that very litle verification is done. What probably happened is that his name was stolen, or maybe he used the internet to post something, and someone decided to use "his name" to post some threatening idea. This is what happened to Sen Ted Kennedy and mumerous others.
this also points out that on paper an idea may sound good, but in practicality, it does not.
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams on Defense of the boston Massacre
The problem wit the government watch list is that very litle verification is done. What probably happened is that his name was stolen, or maybe he used the internet to post something, and someone decided to use "his name" to post some threatening idea. This is what happened to Sen Ted Kennedy and mumerous others.
It probably explains why I've been stuck in the FBI namecheck for more than 2yrs...and all the other thousands too.
We voted Democrat. They'll be no need to sneak in anymore
Originally posted by Brit4064: [QUOTE] I too am one to side with reason. Except that there has not been a reason given. The watch list people need WATCHERS!
Iraq is the poster child for this type nonsense. The watcher and watch list people said there were wmd and danger to usa in Ira Roll Eyes when, while actually it was a personal agenda and vendetta. Who can you trust, and Who do you trust Wink
quote:
Indeed. What really gets me is that he served in US military for 13yrs! So what if he converted to Islam and his wife is from Pakistan? Not all Muslims are terrorists. As you say, there's no reason given other than National Security.
OldE obviously defers to the "wisdom" of the US Government in such cases even when there's no reason given.
The problem wit the government watch list is that very litle verification is done. What probably happened is that his name was stolen, or maybe he used the internet to post something, and someone decided to use "his name" to post some threatening idea. This is what happened to Sen Ted Kennedy and mumerous others.
this also points out that on paper an idea may sound good, but in practicality, it does not.
Many articles are published on this subject. Nobody gets on the list by mere accident.
As to Sen. Ted Kennedy, there was very slight misspelling and the other person with very similar name is actually a wanted man. Sen. Kennedys' letter was published earlier on the net.
British Hackers Using Stolen American Credit Cards
by Tim Stevens, posted Aug 31st 2008 at 4:12PM
If you've heard the news about the millions of credit cards stolen from supermarket chains over the past year or so, you've probably started to trust your little slabs of plastic a little less than you did before. You're liable to be even more wary now, as word is being spread that British hackers are planning a mass assault on U.S. credit card accounts using numbers snagged from hacked security systems.
The BBC reports that the thieves are planning to take the numbers stolen from American security lapses and attach them to fake credit cards. They'll then hit stores with self-checkout lanes (where they're less likely to be noticed) and "cash out" -- **** all the funds out of the accounts they possibly can. Hopefully, if your card was one of the ones intercepted by the much publicized security leaks, it's already been canceled and you've been issued a new number, and if so, you have nothing to worry about. But, if your card was snagged and neither your bank nor you were made aware, you might want to keep an eye out for a very large U.K. withdrawal on your statements
I am surprised that credit/debit card security is behind the times here in the US to be honest.
I think it is way easier for credit card fraud here, so I guess it wouldn't have taken long for someone to find ways to do it in masses, if they got hold of some cards or numbers.
I am still amazed that you can allow your spouse/girlfriend/child to use your card when out shopping and sign for it. Before having to put in PIN numbers in machine to purchase with cards in UK, no one other than whose name is on the card itself could sign for it, unlike here. I think its time they increased the security on all cards over here so these kind of things won't happen. A stolen card would be useless if they didn't have the PIN or other security measure.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Bless America - God Bless Immigrants - God Bless Poor Misguided Souls Too Mr S.U.
And don't forget with the Pound being strong and nearly double than the $US, it will sure be a large withdrawal amount!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Bless America - God Bless Immigrants - God Bless Poor Misguided Souls Too Mr S.U.
(CNN) -- Suspected Al Qaeda militants disguised as security forces launched an explosive assault on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, Wednesday killing 10 Yemeni police and civilians, officials said.
Smoke billows near the U.S. Embassy compound in Sanaa, Yemen.
The attack involved two car bombs, a spokesman for Yemen's embassy in Washington said. Six attackers, including a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest, were also killed in the attack, Mohammed al-Basha said.
There were at least four explosions -- including at least one car bomb -- and sniper fire, a senior State Department official said.
Yemeni officials said the first car contained people in police uniforms who exchanged fire with Yemeni security forces, the officials said.
The second car exploded after it passed an outermost gate to the Embassy but before it reached a second protective barrier, the officials said.
But al-Basha said there were two cars packed with explosives involved in the attack.
The heavily fortified compound in the capital of Yemen -- the ancestral home of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden -- has previously been targeted in attacks.
A U.S. official told CNN the attackers initially opened fire outside the embassy's security gate, then there was the main explosion followed by a secondary explosion.
At some point, snipers positioned across the street from the embassy opened fire on Yemeni first responders as they arrived on the scene, the official said.
Those killed include six Yemeni policemen and four civilians, he said, noting that the number of wounded is unclear. No U.S. Embassy employees were killed, the official added.
Yemen believes al Qaeda is responsible for the attack, al-Basha said. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the the explosions "bear the hallmarks of an al Qaeda attack."
Media reports said Islamic Jihad in Yemen -- which is affiliated with al Qaeda -- has claimed responsibility for the attack, but CNN could not independently confirm those reports.
Trev Mason, a British national who lives near the embassy, said he saw "a massive fireball" near compound. Eyewitness tells of fireball outside embassy »
"We heard the sounds of a heavy gun battle going on," he told CNN. "I looked out my window, and we saw the first explosion going off -- a massive fireball very close to the U.S. Embassy.
"The gun battle went on for a further 10 to 15 minutes, followed by two further loud explosions."
The first explosion happened about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday (0615 GMT/2.15 am ET) and was followed by several secondary blasts, said U.S. Embassy spokesman Ryan Gliha. Gliha describes the aftermath »
Gliha was at the embassy at the time of the attack and said he felt the compound shake.
"We were all ordered to assume what we call a duck-and-cover position which is a position where we guard ourselves and bodies from potential debris," Gliha told CNN.
"From that vantage point, I can't tell you much after that except we did feel several explosions after the main explosion that shook the ground."
Al-Basha called it a "despicable and heinous act" particularly because it took place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The White House has condemned the bombing and vowed to "to increase our counterterrorism activities to prevent more attacks from taking place."
The U.S. official told CNN that Yemen's cooperation in fighting terrorism "needs to be better."
Witnesses told CNN they heard gunfire, and said they saw ambulances rushing from the scene.
The U.S. State Department has warned of violence that it attributes to Islamic extremists in Yemen. It has cited concern "about possible attacks by extremist individuals or groups against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses and perceived interests."
The State Department ordered the departure of all non-emergency American staff from the Embassy, along with their family members, in April, after attacks against the Embassy and a residential compound. That order was lifted last month.
In March, three mortar rounds landed near the Embassy, injuring Yemeni students at a nearby school and Yemeni government security personnel, the State Department said.
The next month, an expatriate residential compound in the Hadda neighborhood was attacked by mortar fire. Suspected extremists fired two mortar rounds toward the Yemen Customs Authority and Italian Embassy in April, as well, but no one was hurt.
Authorities in Yemen have been struggling to curb the activities of al Qaeda-linked groups, with militants seen as having free rein outside major cities, says CNN's International Security Correspondent Paula Newton.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: ProudUSC,
Barak: He still hasn't figured it out. You can't negotiate a political solution with a religiously based terrorist organization.
Here are quotes from Barack Obama at CNBC Democrat Presidential Debate. Followed with my rebuttals.
And what we should be doing is reaching out aggressively to our allies, but also talking to our enemies and focusing on those areas where we do not accept their actions, whether it be terrorism or developing nuclear weapons, but also talking to Iran directly about the potential carrots that we can provide in terms of them being involved in the World Trade Organization, or beginning to look at the possibilities of diplomatic relations being normalized....
You voted democrat. This country is not worth sneaking into any more.
Posts: 5756 | Location: San Antonio TX | Registered: 06-08-2007
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when, while actually it was a personal agenda and vendetta. Who can you trust, and Who do you trust 
Shawn got a worthy reception from her hometown. Hopefully the other Olympians who gave the US honor in the last Olympics were given a grand welcome like this too. GO SHAWN! (And Nastia!) 
