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Chicago Corruption, What Is New?

2009-01-03T12:24:00.006-06:00

Chicago, Illinois is the third largest city in the world, but one of the most corrupt cities when it comes to politics. As far back as the mob days, with Al Capone, and the current 2006 indictment of Governor George Ryan, politics and corruption have worked hand in hand within the Democratic Party, occasionally the Republican Party, within the city walls. With some of the most recent events, Chicago is constantly reminded of the scandals that have corrupted the city.

In 2003, Rod Blagojevich replaced Governor George Ryan's seat, because of a scandal. In 2006, Governor Ryan was indicted and is now serving a six year sentence. Governor Rod Blagojevich has become the next man on the list for corruption as a part of the "Chicago Political Machine" by attempting to sell President-Elect Barack Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.

It seems bribery is the norm when it comes to electing officials in the state of Illinois. Even after Governor Blagojevich's arrest, he continues to keep his seat. He went back to work on his 52nd birthday as if nothing happened and clearly showed no concerns or shame in the accusations.

Governor Blagojevich has been asked by all lawmakers to step down, yet he refuses. Recently, a motion was filed to remove the governor from his powers by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and she was refused with no real explanation. A request for impeachment by Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Mike Madigan was put into place and will be reviewed by the house committee. At this time, all reviews have been put on hold and will resume in January 2009.

With Governor Blagojevich's willingness to fight and move forward with his daily responsibilities, on December 30, 2008 Governor Blagojevich announced publicly that President-Elect Barack Obama's Senate seat replacement was Roland Burris. To everyone's disgust and dismay, Governor Blagojevich legally has the power and the right to choose the replacement, but unfortunately the chosen one will always follow the shadow of the governor and will have to battle to keep the appointment.

Common Sex Dreams

2009-01-02T15:25:00.000-06:00

A study done by Antonio Zadra from the University of Montreal shows 8% of men's and women's dreams are sex dreams. There are some common dream types that have been noted which include the following: ex-lovers, celebrity or public figures, same sex relationships, or mystery relationships.

One of the common dreams is having a relationship with an ex-lover. Twenty percent of women’s dreams include someone from the past, while men only have someone from the past about fourteen percent of the time. There is also the thought that dreaming of an ex could be that the person you are currently seeing has qualities that your ex possessed, or just that they remind you of your most recent experiences.

Another dream is making love to a celebrity or some type of public figure. Women were much more likely than men to have this dream. It is also thought that having a relationship with a public figure means that you are wishing to elevate your status somehow. Being in the public eye could also mean that you are concerned about what people think about your relationship, or that you want people to see you in the “spotlight.”

A same sex relationship dream doesn’t mean that you are subconsciously attracted to the same sex. It could simply mean that your subconscious is exploring an experience that your waking mind would not want to.

Having a sexual encounter with a stranger or mystery man is not uncommon amongst women. This often means that women are looking for something different and exciting from their partner. It has also been interpreted as being about someone who they would like to get to know on a deeper level.

Erotic Dreams

2009-01-02T12:13:00.000-06:00

There are a few common themes when it comes to erotic dreams. Each of these themes have a different meaning, which will be examined here.

The dream with the faceless lover is quite common. The thing to remember with this dream is that it is not so much about the faceless lover, this dream is meant to tell you something about you. What is it about this encounter that you find gratifying, both physically and emotionally? This dream is often an indication of a romantic life that is incomplete, so if you can figure out what it is about this dream that is so appealing, you may be able to identify what it is that is missing from your waking life.

The dream about the celebrity lover is quite common with young people. Although it is often not the celebrity themselves that the dreamer finds so appealing, but a role that the actor played. If this is your dream, it is often an indication of your own unfinished pursuits. Your dreaming mind may be trying to tell you that you need to finish something.

It is quite common to dream about an ex partner. This is especially the case if you are recently out of the relationship. It is natural to dream of things that marked a major life change, such as the end of a relationship. It can also be an indication to be cautious, especially if you are in a new relationship. These dreams can also signify progress toward feeling whole again after getting out of that relationship.

Unemployment Rate in America

2008-12-31T12:06:00.000-06:00

What are the causes of unemployment? Why do the rates fluctuate? Is the economy in a down ward trend? These are all questions that are asked by many Americans each day. Just when you think your job is secure and you are on the road to success, you find a pink slip sitting on your desk. You just got laid off and you don’t understand why. The unemployment rate in June of 2008 was 5.5 percent and rose to 6.7 percent by November of this year.

This rate is the average of all states. Each state has it’s own fluctuations on unemployment. For instance Alabama went from 4.7 percent in June to 6.1 percent in November while Colorado went from 5.1 percent to 5.8 percent during the same time frame. Missouri went from 5.7 percent in June to 6.7 percent in November while Ohio went from 6.6 percent to 7.3 percent during the same time frame.

Fuel costs go up, then the cost of food goes up, because it cost more to ship it around the U.S. The price of clothing goes up for the same reason. Unfortunately every time prices increase, pay does not. When prices increase, people cut back on their spending. They aren’t making more money, so they can’t spend more money. When they don’t spend money, then the demand for products decreases.

When the demand for products decreases, and the manufacturers or growers aren’t making a profit, then they cut back on the number of employees they have. It’s a vicious cycle, but it has been happening in this country for years and years. It differs from state to state depending on what that state contributes. For example, many farm states unemployment is seasonal.

The Basic Interpretation Of Three Common Dreams

2008-12-30T12:43:00.000-06:00

People of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and generations share common dream motifs. Indeed, psychologists suggest that our shared dreams serve to connect, rather than splinter, us as a human race. Here are three of the most common dream experiences shared by fellow beings worldwide.

Falling dreams are quite common in the world of dreams. Falling is an indication of insecurity, instability, and general anxiety in your waking life. These feelings may reflect the way you feel in a personal or professional relationship, in which you have lost your foothold and cannot find a means to deal with the trials of daily life.

By contrast, flying dreams suggest a sense of self-confidence, empowerment, and personal vision. In your waking life, this translates to feeling ‘on top of a situation’ or ‘having risen above’ something difficult or challenging. It may also mean that you have gained a different perspective on the situation.

Naked dreams suggest feelings of vulnerability and/or shamefulness in either your public or private waking life. Dreams of being unclothed, partially or completely, may indicate something you may be hiding, or want to hide, from others in your waking world. Experiencing a naked dream may be a warning that you are trying to be somebody that you are not; or that you are fearful of being ridiculed in a relationship wherein you wish to show your feelings.

These are but three of the most common dreams shared by humankind. It is by no means a definitive list. Indeed, our dreams are universal and time-honored memorabilia that serve to witness the commonality within human-kind.

Common Dreams

2008-12-30T12:19:00.002-06:00

There are many ways to interpret dreams. Often times, people have a dream throughout their life, that can be interpreted into something that has affected them while they were a child. Other times, people have an assortment of dreams, that, when interpreted, can mean many interesting things.

A common dream that many people have is to dream of teeth. It is thought in many areas of dream interpretation that this translates into a lack of being understood. In other words, if one dreams of losing their teeth, or that their teeth are falling out, they may feel as if they are not communicating effectively, or that they are not being understood.

It is very common to have dreams about being naked in public. Often, this translates into feeling vulnerable in your waking life. If you dream of showing up to work naked, perhaps you feel vulnerable, or taken advantage of at work.

Lastly, another common dream is to have someone chase you. If you dream of this, it often is interpreted as a figurative example of your anxieties. It is thought that to dream of being chased is your mind's way of dealing with fears and anxieties you may have.

Dreams are our mind's way of interpreting our emotions while we sleep. By extracting the common and prevalent symbols in our dreams, we may be able to learn from them and understand more about what our subconscious is saying to us.

Is Bisphenol A Dangerous?

2008-12-30T12:09:00.001-06:00

Bisphenol A (BPA)is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic. This type of plastic is used to manufacture some water bottles and baby bottles, and is found in resins used to line the metal in canned foods. The question has risen as to whether this chemical actually seeps into our foods and liquids at levels which are harmful.

According to the FDA, BPA is not a danger to humans based on the research conducted. The human body processes BPA faster than the rodents tested in the labs, which shows that there would be no substantial amount of the chemical stored in the body if it is exposed through plastics. Even with these findings, the concern still lingers regarding the compound's danger to children.

In 1952, it was found that BPA would provide a strong coating to plastics. This coating enabled manufacturers to produce items like CDs, sunglasses, storage containers, water bottles, medical devices, dialysis machines and much more. BPA was one of the most produced chemicals in the world. Reduction in the production could dramatically effect our economy and will require us to make changes in our lives.

It is said that daily use of products which require Bisphenol A are not where the danger lies. Rather, it is the age and heating of the plastic that activates the chemical and releases it into our food and water. It is said that BPA is released more rapidly in older packaging than newer.

Is the level of BPA which we are exposed to enough to require manufacturers to regulate the amount produced? Some experts claim that the potential harm is minimal and that regulating this chemical is not necessary. Others feel that any risk is high enough that regulating is essential.

The US National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) report found that BPA has minimal effects in people and that exposure to Bisphenol A is low. The NTP reported no concern regarding BPA exposure for any age group. However, the report does state that further research is required to ensure complete understanding of BPA and its effects on humans.

Update on Madonna and Guy

2008-12-29T16:25:00.001-06:00

Pop star artist Madonna and her long time husband Guy Ritchie have called it quits and are finalizing their divorce in January. Madonna has spoken to the press about it and describes the divorce as a very disturbing, sad time in her life. The pop star has told reporters that her heavy workload and her children are what help her through each day.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie want the public to understand that this is a hard time for their whole family, just as divorce is hard for any other human beings. These two celebrities have two children together and want everyone to understand the deep consideration of protecting the welfare of their kids. Many rumors have surfaced with the monetary settlement that is estimated at 137 million dollars. News articles have said that Ritchie will receive the home they had together in Wiltshire, South England along with the London Pub named The Punch Bowel.

The tabloids have spread many unknown facts about this divorce and many different stories on what lead to the breakup. No one is one hundred percent certain on how much money and property values will be divided between the couple. Both Madonna and Ritchie want to maintain a certain amount of dignity and privacy through this time in their lives. Madonna not only has two children to worry about, but also an older daughter from a previous relationship. One thing both have said is this divorce will not end up messy because both carry high standards for family and privacy.

So Sad About SAG

2008-12-28T16:23:00.000-06:00

There is a big "rush rush" in Hollywood, but not because of the economy or to get movies released before the Oscar nominations. Rather, people are rushing due to the possibility that the SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) is heading for a strike. Some production companies are scrambling to get as many movies and television segments finished as possible before the strike occurs. Marathon talks between Hollywood's largest actors union and producers broke down early Saturday, Nov. 22nd after 27 hours.

The contract between SAG and Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television ended in June. The main issue in contention between the two has to do with how actors would be paid when movies and TV shows are distributed through the "new media," such as mobile phones and the internet. SAG is now preparing to launch a full-scale education campaign in support of a strike referendum.

The producers' group is pointing out the fact that SAG is the only major Hollywood guild that has failed to negotiate a labor contract in 2008, and the producers also did not hesitate to point out that SAG was doing so in a time of economic crisis. They are demanding that SAG accept terms similar to those contracts concluded over the past year with six other unions that represent writers, directors, stagehands, casting directors and a similar actors union.

SAG represents over 120,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide.

A strike by SAG would definitely cause some major problems for the film industry, as was seen earlier this year when the Writers Guild of America strike stopped virtually all work.

The film industry is anticipating a strike by SAG, in addition to the WGA strike, which was recently resolved. A list of 300 high-priority film projects is reportedly circulating around talent agencies in an effort to get as many films and television episodes "in the can" before the strike.

Scandal in the Land of Lincoln

2008-12-27T16:22:00.000-06:00

While still in the throws of celebrating one of the greatest victories in the history of the state, Illinois is now faced with one of the biggest scandals. The scandal being the allegations that Governor Blagojevich attempted to auction off the now vacant Senate seat of president-elect Barack Obama.

The Republican National Committee has tried to use the scandal as a means to show that the promises of transparency and new politics in president-elect Obama's camp have been less than forthcoming and that the handling of the scandal has been disappointing. The Republican National Committee sees it as a clear example of political power. If this can be used to slow Obama's momentum throughout the transition, it is considered a worthwhile endeavor.

Blagojevich was arrested on December 9, 2008, in what prosecutors called a "political crime spree." Blagojevich dodged an attempt by the attorney general to have him temporarily removed from office or stripped of the bulk of his powers when the State Supreme Court rejected a motion to have Blagojevich declared unfit to govern.

Ed Genson, Blagojevich's attorney, dismissed wiretapped conversations in which Blagojevich discussed ways to profit from his ability to fill Obama's seat, stating the validity of the evidence is in question.

Meanwhile Blagojevich has defied calls to step down and has vowed to have his day in court. Blagojevich has continued to go to work as usual as if the scandal is just talk.

While Republicans are eager to score points in the wake of the scandal, they might do well to heed the advice of Senator John McCain when he said "we should try to work constructively together."

Isabelle Dinoire

2008-12-26T12:03:00.000-06:00

Isabelle Dinoire is a French divorcee who is best known for having the first successful, facial transplant. After allegedly taking an overdose of pills, in May 2005, she passed out and her Labrador tried to wake her. According to theories, the dog became more frantic when she didn’t wake and began scratching at her face. Even though everyone involved believes the dog was trying to help her, it was unfortunately put down.

When Ms. Dinoire awakened she didn’t even know she was injured until she tried to smoke a cigarette and couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t stay in her mouth. When she looked in the mirror she was horrified by what she saw. Her lips were completely gone and her nose and the areas around her nose and mouth were totally mutilated. Amazingly, she didn’t seek help because she was too ashamed and embarrassed. Instead she put a loose bandage over her face. It is said she also had a feeding tube when she did go to the hospital, but there was no mention where it came from. When she did go to the hospital she was unable to eat, barley able to speak and was having difficulty breathing. In a strange twist of fate, the donor was a young woman who committed suicide by hanging herself.

After waiting for approval, for four months, the first partial face transplant was performed November 27, 2005, by Professor Bernard Devauchelle and Professor Jean-Michel Buvernard in Amiens France. Ms. Dinoire will have to take anti rejection medications for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, she has resumed smoking which can increase the chances of rejection. She has full sensation in the new tissue and full use of muscles, which allow her to smile, eat and breathe easier.

Coming Soon - Dreams

2008-09-24T12:53:00.003-05:00

Coming soon there will be articles on this site related to dreams, dreaming, dream interpretation, dream psychology. Stay tuned!!

100k+ Now Hiring - Microsoft Dynamics GP and SL

2008-09-16T11:52:00.001-05:00

I am currently working with a recruiter to find job candidates for positions he’s filling for MS Gold Certified partners. If you’ll check out my website www.nvcresearchservices.com you can see the Opportunities. Please refer interested people to my website and contact me. Thanks!

General Motors Buys Out 19,000

2008-06-21T21:53:00.000-05:00

On May 30th, General Motors announced that 19,000 of its hourly workers - or approximately 25% of its current workforce - have accepted buyouts on their contracts and will depart the company in the next month. This deal was made in the light of rapidly dropping demand for light trucks and sport utility vehicles because of higher gas prices and a shifting consumer culture that is beginning to disdain the showy, high consumption status symbols that GM based its business around selling.

The buyout signifies trouble for the United Automobile Workers union, as 4,200 workers at Ford Motor Company also took out similar buyouts in recent months. The union is facing a rapidly eroding base of members as the American auto industry continues to lose market share and the market for cars shrivels. As gas prices are fundamentally driving the automobile market, these American manufacturers will either have to shift their strategies rapidly or face further cutbacks. Since the year 2000, Ford, GM and Chrysler have shed over 269,000 employees, and the gross domestic auto sales for 2007 were the lowest since 1994.

As the companies combined lose well over $50 billion every year, it's likely that they will not survive in their current capacity without being bought out by other companies, merging or simply going out of business altogether. However, the UAW has signed new agreements allowing the companies to hire new workers at significantly lower wages than before, signaling that labor might be on board for a recovery, as the survival of the union itself is at stake now.

Electronic Paper

2008-06-20T21:52:00.000-05:00

Since the advent of the computer age, one of the more compelling visions of the future has been one in which paper has become obsolete, with all books and other printed texts replaced by electronic media. One of the biggest problems with this vision, however, has been display technology - cathode-ray tube monitors were notoriously hard on the eyes, and even the most modern miniaturized LCDs can produce headache-inducing eyestrain after even a brief period. If people were going to be able to read entire books electronically, something better had to be devised.

The latest generation of ebook readers utilize this something better, and it's called electronic paper. Electronic paper displays utilize a thin display filled with charged particles and dye, and utilize electric fields to manipulate these particles to change the color of the paper. In its most basic form, a charged "pixel" will appear white, while an uncharged one will appear black. This allows the flat display to produce images or text, without needing a constant stream of electricity to maintain the display as LCD screens do. The result is a display which resembles nothing more than a sheet of paper, but whose text and images can be changed with the press of a button.

The advantages of e-paper displays are huge. Since a static display requires no energy, battery life for these devices are greatly enhanced. E-paper displays also cannot "burn-in" as other displays can when showing static images for long periods of time. Unfortunately, e-paper displays are currently expensive to manufacture, most in the current marketplace are small and require bulky battery and processor add ons to function, and response time is slower than LCD screens. But the technology shows considerable potential for the future.

Tasmanian Tiger DNA Resurrected in Mice

2008-06-19T21:51:00.000-05:00

The Tasmanian tiger, also known as thylacine, is an Australian dog-like marsupial that was hunted to extinction in the early 1900s. The last known thylacine died in captivity during the mid 1930s. Now for the first time ever, scientists have been able to resurrect a tiny bit of its DNA.

Scientists injected a DNA sequence from the Tasmanian tiger into some mice fetuses. Though the DNA isn't a gene, it's a sequence that controls a gene responsible for the development of cartilage and bone. The thylacine's DNA sequence thrived in the mice, and it has given scientists and opportunity to gain a little more insight into the Tasmanian tiger's biology.

Although this is the first time any sort of DNA from an extinct animal has been implanted in another creature, this does not mean we can resurrect the Tasmanian tiger or the dinosaurs. This is really about getting a better understanding of how the genes in extinct species worked. Even if we could recreate a kind of woolly mammoth, we might at most succeed in making a very fuzzy elephant. Although the animal might look remarkably like a mammoth, it would still be an elephant. It would take many years and lots of funding to even reach that point. In other words, don't expect a Jurassic Park any time soon.

Still, this DNA experiment is an exciting development. Although it isn't and never will be a substitute for protecting species from extinction, it could eventually give us a better insight into how dinosaurs and other ancient creatures evolved.

Salmon Bikinis

2008-06-18T21:50:00.000-05:00

No, we are not reporting on swim wear for fish. SKINI of London is the Chilean fashion designer, Claudia Escobar's new ultra-mini bikini made from salmon skins. That's right bikinis and trousers made from treated (and formerly discarded) skin from salmon. The bikini costs about $500 and the trousers are approximately $1,500. In answer to the obvious question, no, they do not smell fishy. The bikini supposedly dries faster that other materials, and doesn't sag. The bathing suits are durable and elastic with Lycra trim.

Escobar worked on the materials for four years. She has worked with the women of the Mapuche Indians of South America to treat the fish skins based on their own methods of treating goat skins. In an article from Yahoo!News, Escobar is quoted as saying that the workers receive half of the sale price and that there is almost no overhead. She is also interested in the wool shed (not sheared) from highland sheep. She has been recruiting people with knowledge of traditional knitting techniques.

Lest you think that cloth from fish skin is impossible, let me introduce you to the Hezhe or Yupi Tribe of Northern China. The word Yupi means fish skin. Their ancestors made clothing made of fish skin. They used the skin of the silver carp or chub to make dresses and trousers. They would remove the skin from the fish. Dry the skin and then remove the scales. The skin was then pounded with a wooden mallet until it was a cloth as soft as cotton cloth. Clothing was made by sewing the clothes together to form a dress that was knee length with short sleeves and no collar. It was decorated in various ways. The material was said to be durable and resist water. It also was resistant to cold.

Cook Tops Download Charts

2008-06-17T21:49:00.000-05:00

Another "American Idol" champion has been crowned, and it hasn't taken the public long to voice its approval. Just days after winning the seventh season of America's favorite karaoke contest, David Cook is already ruling the iTune charts. The 25-year-old rocker's first single, "The Time of My Life," held down the No. 1 spot on iTunes, while the three songs he performed during the "American Idol" finale rounded out the top four.

Cook, a native Missourian who was tending bar before deciding to audition for the glorified talent show, won the "American Idol" crown over 17-year-old charmer David Archuleta. A record 97.5 million votes were cast to determine the winner, with Cook receiving 12 million more votes than Archuleta.

Now that he's an overnight success, Cook is eager to please his newfound fans with his first album. He intends to make the record his own, neglecting proven standards in favor of his own original material. Cook won't be able to begin working on the album, which should feature plenty of rock and roll, until he and the other top Idol finishers complete a three-month U.S. tour that kicks off in July.

While their respective musical styles are vastly different, Cook credits Frank Sinatra with influencing his musical career. He recalls reading an article once in which Sinatra confessed to always focusing on the lyrics of his songs. This prompted Cook to take a step back and really feel the lyrics of his won songs until he found an emotional connection. And now fans across the country are experiencing a similar connection with Cook.

Stunning Turn In Texas Sect Case

2008-06-16T19:24:00.001-05:00

The headlines surrounding the raid at the polygamist sect in Texas have captured the attention of the entire nation. Rumors of child abuse and sexual perversion have been mixed with concerns about civil liberties and freedoms of religious expression. Over 400 children were taken from their parents when they left the compound and were handed over to the State of Texas in the child welfare system.

What once may have seemed like an open and shut case now seems to be veering in an entirely different direction. The sect, led by convicted felon Warren Jeffs, was assumed to be doing extensive harm to the younger members of the community. Underage girls were reportedly being married against their will to older men within the sect. Officials raided the compound following a call from a girl who said that she was 16 years old and had been raped and beaten by her much-older husband.

However, in the weeks following the raid it appeared that the call that launched the entire operation may have been a hoax. Furthermore, the courts have recently ruled that the state of Texas had not established any incidences of child abuse that would have necessitated the removal of the children from their homes. The ruling came out of a Texas appeals court, which said that the state had no legal or factually sufficient grounds for the removal of the children. There was no word, however, on when or if the children would now be returned to their parents.

American Airlines Announces New Fees and Cuts

2008-06-15T19:24:00.000-05:00

As fuel prices soar, the effects reach parts of Americans’ lives that they may not have anticipated. Now it’s not more expensive just to travel by car, but by plane. Since airlines are having an increasingly difficult time covering their cost since fuel prices have increased 80 percent in the last year, they’re starting to do what every company would do: shift the burden of cost to the customers.

As a result, many airlines are starting to charge extra fees for things that normally have been free for American travelers. For instance, starting on May 5, Delta started charging passengers an extra $25 for checking a second bag onto a flight, and many other airlines are starting to do the same.

American Airlines, however, the largest air carrier in the world with 960 aircraft in its service, announced an even more drastic step: any baggage checked at all would be fined. For the first checked bag alone, passengers will be slapped with a straight up $15 fee. Furthermore, this fee only applies to those who are obviously already on a budget: those who buy discount coach passenger seats. Those who could clearly afford the $15 fee—those in first and business class—don’t have to pay the fee.

Along with making it more expensive to fly, American Airlines also announced that they will be reducing their services by taking out up to 85 aircraft out service. This will, of course, reduce the number of options for destinations and flight times for passengers.

Trouble in Brooklyn

2008-06-14T19:24:00.000-05:00

The year 1991 marked a turning event within the neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. During that year, a 7-year-old black child collided with a car driven by a Hasidic driver. Since that time, violence between Hasidic Jews and the black community within Crown Heights has escalated. Recently, the son of a black New York City police officer was killed by a Hasidic man causing a large amount of extreme violence within the neighborhood all over again.

As if it were a scene straight out of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” Crown Heights is crawling with police officers on patrol, Hasid’s keeping a watchful eye, and blacks watching their backs. While recent incidents have caused tempers to flare, most of the racial tension within the neighborhood began to grow to new heights when a civilian patrol group began to walk the streets at night. This group is called the “Shmira,” and it consists of mostly Hasidic men. Those that are not of the Hasidic faith have been reporting acts of violence since the group came into power, and many are relating this group of Jewish extremists to the Italian Mafia. As far as the police goes, blacks claim that the NYPD is only concerned about the Jewish man, while Jews claim that the police force is out to protect the blacks – in short, it is a lose/lose situation.

For now, leaders of both sides of this community are urging their own to work together, though it seems as though the fighting will not stop until many are brought to justice for their crimes. In many ways, the Crown Heights area has been relatively calm throughout the past five years, though many anticipate that things are about to get a lot worse during the next few months. As police men stand on tops of buildings and street corners, the one Hasidic Jewish man that killed an officer’s child is still on the loose.

Senator Lieberman Wants Terrorist Videos Removed from YouTube

2008-06-13T19:24:00.000-05:00

Senator Joe Lieberman has been butting heads with Google recently. He's opposed to Islamic terrorists posting videos on YouTube. In an open letter to Google, he asked the company to remove all videos uploaded by these terrorist and extremist groups. Groups like al-Qaeda are increasingly relying on the Internet to find new followers and train them in the use of weapons, and Senator Lieberman believes they should have no presence whatsoever on YouTube.

Google reviewed the videos Lieberman mentioned and removed several that violated YouTube's community guidelines, namely for containing violence and hate speech. However, Google refused to remove all videos posted by Islamic extremist groups. Google said in their blog, "While we respect and understand his views, YouTube encourages free speech and defends everyone's right to express unpopular points of view." Google also said that it would be impossible to review each video posted on YouTube, because hundreds of thousands of new videos are uploaded each day. Google relies on its users to flag inappropriate videos for deletion.

At the moment, there's not much the senator can do about Google's decision. Google and other web hosts are protected by a law that allows free, uncensored speech on the Internet. Although web hosts can and usually will delete objectionable content, in most cases they can't be sued for choosing not to exercise this authority.

Many of the al-Qaeda videos are also protected under the umbrella of free speech. The right to free speech means that for the most part, people are allowed to express unpopular opinions and radical ideas--even if other people find them offensive.

Stock Tip: Don't Purchase Disney

2008-06-12T19:23:00.000-05:00

According to a recent report on Barron's Online, Disney's stocks may be headed south for a rather long stay. Shares in the theme-park operator and media god, have seen better days in the NYSE and NASDAQ. Even those who take up residence in the "House of Mouse" are reducing their personal investment in the corporation.

Chief Financial Officer for Disney; Tom Staggs and Alan Braverman, General Counsel, have reportedly sold a whopping 100,000 shares of Disney each. This was the first sale of stocks for both in over two years and the amount of stocks sold should make Disney investors sit up an take notice. Anyone who was planning to buy shares (which are relatively low right now), may also want to take note. However, sales like these are never a guarantee of impending doom, but they are a sure sign of things to come in the near future. Remember that these two men are on the inside track of this game.

The forthcoming (some argue already here) recession and the ever increasing gas prices across the country, one of the first things to decline is entertainment. Disney is the very definition of entertainment and as such, would be one of the first to show declining value. The other side of this coin is, summer vacation is upon us and parents will be looking for inexpensive things to do with the kiddos, so maybe we shouldn't count Disney out just yet. This year the theme-park is offering many specials for their visitors, which is very attractive to parents in this declining market. The true test for Disney's wear-withal will be seen by October, when the kids are back in school and the summer numbers have been tallied.

Bush's Trip to the Middle East

2008-06-11T19:23:00.000-05:00

After the latest message from Osama Bin Laden that the main reason driving Al Qaeda terrorists in attacks such as 9/11 is the cause of the Palestinian people, President Bush emphasized to the Israeli Parliament the same issue. During his five-day trip to the Middle East and Africa this past week, President Bush continued to promote democracy as the only road for Middle Eastern countries to pursue for world peace and also met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and told him he was “absolutely committed” to a Palestinian state.

This statement was made amidst critical remarks by other Middle Eastern states that he was favoring Israel too much while neglecting the Palestinians. President Bush was received with much pomp and party by the Israelis, welcoming him to the 60th anniversary of the birth of their country. He stayed three days in Jerusalem, went on a tour to the ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea, received a private viewing of the Dead Sea scrolls, and met extensively with Israeli leaders.

But the President also spent some time at the Red Sea resort town Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. While there, he addressed an audience of leaders and told Middle Eastern countries that they must do three things to help their countries get along in the world and with the West: expand their economies, offer equal opportunity to women and embrace democracy.

Bush hinted that as the United States looked more and more towards alternative sources of fuel, the gas dependent economies of many Middle Eastern countries would falter, and so Bush advised them to look into other markets before that happened.

Bulls Land First Pick

2008-06-10T16:42:00.000-05:00

The 2008 NBA season was a nightmare for the Chicago Bulls. Picked by many to be a power in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls underachieved from day one, finishing with a terrible 33-49 record. That was good for 11th in the conference. Yet every dark cloud has a silver lining. The disastrous season earned the Bulls a spot in the NBA Draft Lottery. And as hard as it is to believe, the Bulls actually won something, coming away with the first pick in this summer's Draft.

It was a rather shocking triumph for Chicago. The Bulls only had a 1.7-percent chance of winning the lottery. The club will likely choose between Kansas State forward Michael Beasley and Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. Both players were freshmen this season. Beasley averaged 26.5 points and an NCAA-best 12.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Rose led Memphis to the brink of a national championship. It's believed the Bulls will opt for Rose, since finding a star point guard can be extremely difficult in today's NBA.

Of course, Chicago's good fortune came at the expense of the Miami Heat, who finished with an NBA-worst 15-67 record. Despite owning a 25-percent chance of winning the top draft pick, the Heat found a way to lose again, slipping to the No. 2 spot. The rest of the top five will feature, in order, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Draft will be held on June 26 in New York City.